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Reports of protests are overblown. A few incidents around the country, but nothing major.

5 (45.5%)

A few major incidents in capitals, but nothing much in DC.

5 (45.5%)

A major incident in DC, but nothing much around the country.

0 (0%)

More than 10 capitals have major upheavals, but nothing much in DC.

0 (0%)

A major incident in DC plus more than 10 capitals with significant upheavals.

1 (9.1%)

More than half the capitals around the country have problems with protesters, but DC is quiet.

0 (0%)

DC has major problems, while more than half the capitals around the country also have considerable trouble with protesters.

0 (0%)

Huge disruption to the day.

0 (0%)

Total Members Voted: 9

Voting closed: January 19, 2021, 10:49:21 PM

[josh]

All evidence points to China making some poor early decisions and hoping to conceal the virus early.  But after that, most of China's actions have been a model on how to contain and respond to a viral outbreak. 

"Poor early decisions" is a very kind way to talk about imprisoning doctors and journalists.

They could have stopped international flights a lot sooner than they did.

Taiwan took measures early on, including inspecting plane passengers coming from Wuhan starting Dec. 31, banning Wuhan residents on Jan. 23, suspending tours to China on Jan. 25, and eventually banning all Chinese visitors on Feb. 6.

Six countries imposed travel restrictions even before the World Health Organization declared a global health emergency on Jan. 30. Another six announced travel restrictions that same day, followed by 11 countries (besides the United States) announcing restrictions Jan. 31.

But most countries imposed the restrictions immediately. By the time Trump’s restrictions took effect Feb. 2, an additional 15 countries had taken similar actions — and in some cases enacted even tougher bans. But in any case, that adds up to 38 countries taking action before or at the same time the U.S. restrictions were put in place.

It's pretty doubtful that the US would have acted sooner, though there is a chance they could have started on resources sooner. OTOH, a bunch of the other countries that we interact with had done something and made a 2nd hand difference here.

[josh]

It's the behavior and mentality of the guilty.

There are guilty folks who confess and/or self-flagellate.

These are the guilty who don't feel any contrition.

[bodiddley]

All evidence points to China making some poor early decisions and hoping to conceal the virus early.  But after that, most of China's actions have been a model on how to contain and respond to a viral outbreak. 

"Poor early decisions" is a very kind way to talk about imprisoning doctors and journalists.

That was part of the concealment strategy.
China is not an open society.  Media is state-controlled and mostly state-owned.
The gov't doesn't like bad news being disseminated without state-approval (and spin), especially through hard to control social media outlets.

China's weakness is that there is no independent media and suppression of info leads to coverups and delays.  China's advantage is that people comply with safety guidelines and strong implementation is possible. 

After a poor early start, partly when the scope of the problem wasn't understood well, I believe China genuinely tried to save people's lives and have the best possible health outcomes.

After a different but equally poor start, with a good deal of advance notice/info, Trump and the US mostly shrugged and hoped it wouldn't be too bad.

[LarryBnDC]

Former first lady Michelle Obama says in her upcoming Netflix documentary Becoming that it was a “slap in the face’’ that black Americans failed to show up to vote in the 2016 presidential election, according to the New York Post.

“It takes some energy to go high, and we were exhausted from it … when you’re the first black anything,’’ Obama said, referring to her and her husband, former President Barack Obama, of their failed efforts to help elect Hillary Clinton. You know, the day I left the White House, it was painful to sit on that stage, and then a lot of our folks didn’t vote — it was almost a slap in the face,” the former first lady added.
“It wasn’t just in this election, but every midterm, every time Barack didn’t get the Congress he needed, that was because our folks didn’t show up,” she said during another point in the film. After all that work, they just couldn’t be bothered to vote at all. That’s my trauma.

Look, it's Ward pretending to care about Blacks!

Interesting reaction.

We’re 13% of the population yet we’re expected to save white people from themselves time and again.

I view it as happening as a side effect when you save yourselves, rather than as a primary goal.

First thing analysts say after Democrats lose an election is “black turnout wasn’t at historic levels” never mind the fact 90% of their vote went to the party. Never mind all the GOP voter suppression. Fuck! If Democrats could just break even with white people...

Yes, they do, unless first thing is "if only the youth vote came out more!" But it's either of those 1st and the other 2nd.

90% is vital. And yes, higher turnout would be nice, even when it is at record levels! Nor is that the only group.

Breaking even with white folks is hard for the Dems, because of the degree of scared they (we?) are. But the percentage of white folks is dropping every election year, which means that while it would still be great to break even or better, it gets less vital or at least it has seemed to.

Except if they don’t throw this motherfucker out it will be the last election for a good while. Even if the Democrats win Moscow Mitch has stacked the federal judiciary with young stupid ideologues enough to stymie change for years...

This nation is dying of whiteness...

Harris-Pompeo matchup for 2024...

You do know Pompeo is an End Of Days lunatic, right?

[kiidcarter8]

I have no idea

Just read today for the first time that he might be interested in the top post

[josh]

https://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/new-claim-that-enemies-of-us-developed-trump-in-lab?fbclid=IwAR01VXS62cy_miVDLE50FS2IkFFvHvr_sbyZHOc1lUeqMphN43N0wfQrosc

[josh]

I have no idea

Just read today for the first time that he might be interested in the top post

https://washingtonmonthly.com/2020/01/07/pompeo-aligns-u-s-foreign-policy-with-the-christian-zionists/

[bambu.]

I said they shouldn't choose Biden, that there'd be trouble, baggage.
They should've chosen a 'cleanskin'.
Now look what's happening.

[bodiddley]

One allegation from 17 27 years ago.

And the alleged victim has changed her story or at least reported different levels of abuse over time (from being made uncomfortable, to possible sexual harassment, to sexual assault).

Not that I would have gone with Biden, and it seems the usual DEM move of selecting the most obvious senior DEM (Mondale, Gore, Hillary) rather than an exciting politician.  Trump should lose badly.  But the GOP has won a few times in my lifetime with losing candidates (Bush, Bush, Trump).  So we'll have to see if Biden can put things together for a few months.  So much ammunition to use v. Trump.  Biden just needs to look competent, serious and not senile.  And shouldn't be afraid to trot out Obama now and then as/if necessary.

[josh]

I said they shouldn't choose Biden, that there'd be trouble, baggage.
They should've chosen a 'cleanskin'.
Now look what's happening.

You don't get it.

They would have invented garbage, no matter who it was who won the nomination. Same way they did with Kerry and Clinton.

And if it was anybody but Sanders, the Sanders people would have been getting it going first. If they can't have him, then a certain small, but significant part of them wants the world to bern.

Anybody with enough of a record to win would be subjected to the same bullshit kinds of attacks. And we have enough ignoramouses like you living in our country, without your help, who will use it as a pretext to shoot themselves and everybody else in the foot for the "leader" you have spent most of the last 3.33 years praising to high heavens.

[josh]

One allegation from 17 years ago.

27.

[josh]

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/30/coronavirus-sweden-economy-to-contract-as-severely-as-the-rest-of-europe.html?__source=sharebar%7Cfacebook&par=sharebar&fbclid=IwAR1mHdjYLASIxz5XRBcoWHPJwydmhrBSTrKWK3tbC5WLtEhRbqTEvGa2-bM

Higher death count/deaths per million, but all the economic downsides.

Clearly, Sweden's way was superior.

[bodiddley]

One allegation from 17 years ago.

27.

Yup.  A mistype.
I've been trying to proofread my posts to protect for bad typing, but didn't notice the number mistake.

And 27 years is a long time.  That was very early Clinton Admin.
Statute of limitations exist for a reason.  As evidence, witnesses and investigational ability all severely wither after a decade or more.  (also, so the gov't can't hang the threat of prosecution over someone for their whole life).  How do you defend yourself; how do you prove anything either way?

The GOP playbook for quite some time is attack the opponents strength.  Swiftboating Kerry; going after Hillary's competence with email server, etc).  Biden's stock in trade is being a good guy; so they'll try to undermine that.  Also, he wants to show that he is competent as a contrast to Trump.  So they'll call him senile and corrupt.

Gonna be a nasty campaign.
Interesting wildcard will be rallies.  Trump thrives on them; Biden doesn't.  if the virus holds up, will be to Biden's advantage if large political rallies can't be held, or if Trump holds them and the news is how dangerous and irresponsible they are.  Still amazes me that people flock to hear Donald Trump of all people espouse political and social views.  But here we are and have been.  I'll give him credit that he can be entertaining in a crank-rant sort of way, and he does know how to play to his audience.  But largely he's wearing out his welcome in this country.

[bodiddley]

Maybe kiid can run through how it could be a Trump landslide ...

[LarryBnDC]