Anti-vax psychology: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/im-not-anti-vax-experts-explain-why-people-who-havent-been-inoculated-against-covid-19-are-clarifying-their-decisions-154802481.html . This article caused me to recall a college phrase I haven’t heard or thought of in 50 years: “I call bullsh*t”. The anti-vax folks are either misinformed or (more likely) irrational and oppositional. When your pediatrician gave your kids the measles vaccine, did you do research? No. Why? Because vaccines are well-established as one of the greatest medical advances in history, and your child can’t go to school without the vaccine (it’s mandated). And you trust your doctor.
What research would one do for the COVID vaccines? That 200 million Americans have been fully or partially vaccinated, with only a handful having serious side effects? Meanwhile, 670,000 have died of the disease since January of 2020. The risk-reward analysis is shamefully obvious.
The dude quoted in the article says he’s not anti-vax, but is anti losing his own choice in his personal medical matters. Okay, the choice to vaccinate has been there for you since January of this year. If you actively chose to not get vaccinated, why is that?
The unvaccinated represent such a danger to themselves and children under 12 (not yet eligible to be vaccinated) that vaccination levels must increase through mandates. The disease is so contagious, those who remain unvaccinated are likely to contract COVID. Not only are they at personal risk of serious illness or death, they endanger others. And now, many communities have lost access to hospital care because the COVIDiots are occupying all the beds.
Bottom line: Except for the very rare case of someone allergic to the vaccine components, there are almost no reasons for a medical exemption. The argument for religious exemption is also tenuous, and many religious leaders reject exemptions. Cut the political crap. Cut the psychological crap. Take the damn shot. The shot is normally given in the shoulder, but for you, bend over.
WSJ: Anti-vax psychology, Part 2: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-real-reason-you-and-your-neighbor-make-different-covid-19-risk-decisions-11632063600 . While the scientific bent of this research is commendable, it is not obvious where “an extrovert in Japan” ranks relative to an average American.
Alabama shrinks: https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/19/health/us-coronavirus-sunday/index.html . Alabama recorded more deaths than births in 2020. COVID deaths are the major factor behind this statistic, accounting for more than 10% of deaths in the state.
NIH chief expects booster access expansion in coming weeks: https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-anthony-fauci-2b5ad37d2cb5772ccb8a0590223785f5 . This would be the right thing to do. Francis Collins would not make this statement without some foreknowledge that it will come to pass. Again, my view remains that booster access should include everyone over 50, with ongoing consideration of further broadening. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/health-experts-urge-patience-on-wider-use-of-covid-19-booster-shots-11632084136 .
COVID is the most important issue to voters, and they don’t like the GOP message: https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/19/politics/republicans-message-covid-2022/index.html . Here’s the 2022 election playbook for Democrats: run against Orange Julius and his “second-rate imitations”, who are literally killing their base with their COVID response. It’s (a) powerful; and (b) true.
Another religious leader rejects religious exemption from COVID vaccine: https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/572866-baptist-rev-jeffress-says-there-is-no-credible-religious . The broad use of fetal cell research means the objectors would have to abstain from many common medicines, including Tylenol, Ibuprofen and Pepto Bismol.
North Dakota: Facts don’t matter, and we don’t care: https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-pediatrician-joined-the-school-board-during-covid-19-her-face-mask-recommendations-could-cost-her-the-job-11632052800 . Another “let our kids die” group speaks up.
Biden vaccine mandates on solid legal ground: https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2021/09/court-precedents-appear-to-back-bidens-national-coronavirus-vaccine-order-legal-experts-say.html .
Nine lions and tigers at National Zoo treated for COVID: https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/09/17/1038295149/national-zoo-tigers-lions-covid-coronavirus . Dorothy responds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HrfbV16-FQ . Again, COVID infects many species. Eradication is not possible with current medical technology.
WSJ: Texas doctor says he violated Texas abortion law: https://www.wsj.com/articles/texas-doctor-says-he-defied-state-law-by-performing-abortion-11632090167 .
Travel outside Texas for abortions begins: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/we-ve-been-preparing-post-roe-world-ripples-texas-abortion-n1279462 . Again, the Texas law, which is unlikely to survive for long, is causing ripple effects in other states. The Texas law will ultimately only affect the poorest individuals. Arguably, that violates their civil rights due to its disproportionate impact.
WSJ: Priority projects in the infrastructure bill: https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-the-infrastructure-bill-would-help-fix-first-11632043801 .
WSJ: We ignore GOP hypocrisy, that’s our job: https://www.wsj.com/articles/democrats-press-ahead-with-debt-limit-vote-amid-standoff-with-gop-11632049201 . First, these regular crises with the debt limit are ridiculous, no matter which party is in power. Second, the debt limit must be raised periodically to pay for past appropriations just now being spent. And third, this year’s raise reflects last year’s record deficit, caused by GOP spending and their obscene tax cut for the rich. Now the GOP wants to force this required increase on Democrats for political purposes. You stink, Mitch.
Senate parliamentarian rules immigration reform must drop from reconciliation package: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/09/19/democrats-immigration-reform-spending-bill-512898 . This inclusion never seemed allowable. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/immigration-measure-cant-be-included-in-3-5-trillion-package-senate-parliamentarian-says-11632098206 .
Meanwhile, House Democratic leadership concedes curtailment of reconciliation package likely: https://www.investing.com/news/economy/senior-house-democrats-concede-likely-scaleback-of-35-trillion-biden-spending-bill-2620146?fr=operanews& . My guess would be a 20% or so reduction, to $2.8 billion. However, the competing priorities threaten to blow up the entire bill with the Democrats having such thin margins in both houses. Still, the Democrats have to pass something, or they can kiss their majorities goodbye.
Trouble in the Abbott and Costello-DeMentis show: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/pandemic-politics-fuel-long-shot-republican-challenges-texas-gov-greg-n1279372 . How nuts are these people? A primary mud fight could help the Democrats, although Abbott remains relatively popular. And again, the 2022 elections are a political eternity away. Meanwhile, the Democrats may have found a high-profile challenger: https://www.axios.com/scoop-beto-plans-texas-comeback-governors-race-33a3ae1a-4c58-4e7a-9e44-26342d3128c9.html .
More controversy for Abbott: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/anti-trump-group-tv-ad-blasting-texas-gov-greg-abbott-pulled-before-start-of-ut-rice-football-game/ar-AAOC0Jh?li=BBnb7Kz . The Lincoln Project ads were very effective against Orange Julius. Their focus on Abbott this early tells you deep pockets are ready to take him down. And then there’s the polling: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/572923-support-for-abbott-plunging-in-texas-poll . We don’t know McConaughey’s political affiliation: https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2021/04/28/matthew-mcconaughey-governor-political-interests-and-more-we-know/7323029002/ .