October 5, 2020

"Has Trump guaranteed himself the win by getting coronavirus and showing a more human side?"

Asks somebody on Quora. The top-rated answer comes Mark VandeWettering:
No, I don’t think so. If there is one thing I have to give Trump, his popularity has been remarkably consistent throughout his Presidency. Not actually good, mind you, but at least consistent. But I think that this bout with COVID-19 so close to the election isn’t going to actually boost him, and very well might hurt him. First of all, he’s sick because of his disdain for the consensus opinions for science and medicine.... Trump’s policies couldn’t even protect himself. He’s likely to recover... He apparently hasn’t learned much at all about showing a more human side. His followers will likely continue to follow, all the while tutting about how we should show empathy for him as he recovers in a luxurious, dedicated suite at Walter Reed. But I don’t think he’s going to gain a lot of followers.
Second-highest rated, from Wayne Spillett:
In what way does catching a disease show his human side? What this shows is that the flagrant disregard that Trump and other White House staff have not only shown but also actively encouraged hundreds of thousands of supporters to show is dangerous and stupid. Hicks continued to attend events when she felt unwell with Covid-19 symptoms, and it seems that she is the cause of the outbreak of the disease in the White House, not just the Trumps but numerous others that they have all been in close, unprotected contact with....
Oh, for a second I thought Spillett was insulting the rural folk who attend Trump rallies: "Hicks continued to attend events...."
Now, after completely failing to take the situation seriously, the 74 year-old Patron Saint of Hamburger Abuse is not only infected, but hospitalised.... The only way he can show a more human side coming out of this is to admit that he has been wrong the whole year, to behave responsibly from here on in, and to make sure the rest of the White House and the rest of the Republican party behave responsibly also so that the public doubters can see that behaviour in action....
"Hospitalised.... behaviour"... I don't think this is an American.

Anyway... I read a bunch more comments and no one was answering "yes." Notice that the question is framed in a super-strong way — "guaranteed himself the win" — that seems designed to force "no" answers. For a more interesting and fruitful conversation, the question should be:

Can Trump take advantage of the misfortune of his illness and use it as an opportunity to infuse his campaign with new spirit and meaning? 

161 comments:

Bay Area Guy said...

No guarantee of a win. But the polls are jerry-rigged (just like in 2016), and Nate Silver plays the role of Bob Mueller (to gloss over and protect the jerry-rigging).

It's a 50-50 race. Biden has the advantage with popular vote, but Trump has the advantage with the electoral vote. Trump has Ohio and Florida locked down. He starts with 259 or 260 EVs (Maine is goofy), and needs just 1 rust belt state to win (Minn, Mich, Wisc, or Penn).

That's the fact, Jack.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

I have mixed feelings about the lack of mask wearing...

In any case.. People are sick of the this virus imported from the hostile (want democrats to win) Chinese government.

If Trump and the people around him suffer mild symptoms .. perhaps that is a breakthru?
This virus is related to the common cold. Much more serious yes- but the same variety ... and at some point, like the common cold, we will ALL probably all get it.

n.n said...

No, his opponents have shown their transhuman side, while Trump has demonstrated his resilient Pro-Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness fervor. His success to end Obama's wars; address progressive prices under Obamacare; developing energy sufficiency, clearing regulatory monopolies, and exposing the political myth that allows the Green Blight to progress; and standing up to 16 trimesters of witch hunts, warlock trials, protests, and diversity have guaranteed him the win. #HateLovesAbortion

Achilles said...

As I said before Trump will recover. He will tie it to the American recovery.

We are all recovering from Wuhan Chinese Coronavirus and it is time to reopen the country.

We will remember that China did this to us and their allies the democrats want to make it as bad as they can.

I think there may also be some timely ads showing that without New York and New Jersey and the malfeasance of their governors the death rates from Covid-19 are flu level in the rest of the country.

There may also be some ads that show unemployment by state.

Guess which states have the highest unemployment and who runs them.

it is an object lesson.

Ken B said...

My guess is this hurts him.
1 Corona is his biggest weakness right now, costing him support with over 60s. I don’t think a heavy focus on it helps.
2 He needs debates, this might kill debates.
3 It distracts from rioting and general left wing nuttery.

Who knows though. The premature grave dancing from some of the media might help.

Balfegor said...

He can, yes, but will he? I don't know. He has the instincts of a showman, and coronavirus fits neatly into a conventional story arc, as the major setback our hero has to confront before the final all out struggle that ends in climactic victory. But he doesn't seem to want to milk it for its dramatic potential.

chuck said...

All those folks citing "science" is hilarious. They aren't even familiar with events over the last 9 months, let alone "science".

wendybar said...

If Trumps policies didn't protect him, what makes these crazy lefties think that Joe Biden ignoring the threat, and not banning China and then Europe from coming here would have been a better policy?? WHEN did they shut down the subways?? When did they shut down NYC and SAN FRANCISCO?? Trump was doing what HE could do. The rest lies with the Governors of the states, whom Trump let do THEIR JOBS. It wasn't Trumps job to decide what each state should impliment. And the left wing Governors did a TERRIBLE job, by forcing the infected into Nursing homes, and now lying about it and claiming they didn't when there is an EXECUTIVE ORDER that Cuomo signed that says otherwise.

rehajm said...

First of all, he’s sick because of his disdain for the consensus opinions for science and medicine...

via Sean Davis:

Trump, who was wearing a mask in the limo, threatened the lives of his Secret Service drivers.

Masks prevent transmission of coronavirus.

Again, pick one, libs.


It's 'SCIENCE'!

Achilles said...

There is also a wonderful contrast between humans who wish the president well and the jackals who wish for everyone to die.

There will also be a nice sub note in history for the animals who support mass transportation and kept the trains going in New York City and New Jersey.

iowan2 said...

The experts told us we could not stop the spread of the virus.

So what's with the conclusion that "the Presidents policies" caused him to be infected? Is everybody anti science, and bent on ignoring the experts?

Birkel said...

Trump will win every state he won in 2016 plus several he lost.
Data - not the MSM polling nonsense - such as voter registration numbers reveal the truth.
Democraticals will be shocked.

Meanwhile, the major Las Vegas newspaper endorsed Trump.
That state flips.

Blacks will vote for Trump in modern era record numbers.
Many will stay home because Biden is uninspiring.
Trump wins 40% of Latinos.

Sorry, Democraticals.

Achilles said...

I find it curious that the CDC refuses to tell us how many people died of Covid.

This graph tells us how fraudulent this whole thing is.

They are purposely conflating pneumonia, flu, and COVID-19.

This is a joke.

All of it.

Nobody is taking this seriously. This is so utterly ridiculous.

NorthOfTheOneOhOne said...

For a more interesting and fruitful conversation, the question should be:...

Ah, but there's the rub! Quora is not known for it's interesting and insightful questions. In fact, most of them are pretty stupid and/or loaded.

Temujin said...

You'll see me tut-tutting to the voting booth on Nov. 3.

Expat(ish) said...

Why would anyone on Quora be answering a question more abstract than "how do you fix a toaster?"

-XC

JK Brown said...

I believe Trump's illness and apparent quick turnaround, and hopefully quick recoveries by the others reported as testing positive, will force the current conditions in the virus to be acknowledges. What has struck me is how many in the media, even barring their despicable hopes, seem to still view the virus as it was when NYC, et al, where "filling refrigerated trucks". Understandable since almost all live in one of the 50 counties, covering 25% of the population, that account for 49% of the deaths.

It will help Trump as it is likely to shift the sub-conscious beliefs about the virus to more current information.

Ice Nine said...

To your question: No. The Covid damage is done.

I understand why Trump did the ride yesterday. He is clearly getting better - perhaps to be discharged today - and after all the lying and hysteria-mongering by the Dems since he was diagnosed, he needed to show the American people that he was OK. But it was, IMO, a politically very risky move. It was a coin flip on risk/reward.

He again broke the standard rules, this time for quarantine; you cannot get around that fact. And it was Trump who did it, not his doctors. Do we think this was his doctors' idea, or wish? It certainly was not.

The Dems/MSM have done great damage to him with their months of lying Covid propaganda. And that damage was increased by his contracting the disease after being cavalier about masks (and it doesn't matter what anyone thinks about masks, pro or con - the optics of that was always terrible). Their Covid hysteria campaign is in high gear now, and I see no reason to believe that it won't hurt Trump even more.

And now the ride. Be assured that his enemies are watching those Secret Service agents like hungry vultures. If one of those guys tests positive soon, stick a fork in Trump.

Mike Sylwester said...

Practically everyone who voted for Trump in 2016 will vote for him again in 2020. Plus, a lot of people who did not vote or who voted for third-part candidates in 2016 will vote for Trump this time.

There seem to be a significant number of people who voted for Trump in 2016 but are irked that he does not wear a mask and that he talked too much at his COVID press conferences. Practically all such people will come around and vote for Trump after all.

The most important variable is that a significant number of Black males sat out the 2016 election.

1) Will they vote in 2020?

2) If so, then for whom?

The answers to those two questions do not depend significantly on the COVID issue. Rather, the answers depend on whether those Black males will fall for the racism hysteria that the Democrats have been trying to whip up.

Owen said...

I think Trump gains a little whenever these vicious haters spout off. They are doing their considerable best to alienate voters, because their insane hatred will be associated with the Biden brand, and very much to its detriment. Who wants to vote for a guy whose loudest followers are no better than ghouls?

rehajm said...

Has Trump guaranteed himself the win by...

I'm convinced there's something Democrats are guaranteeing a win by running the four corners offense in the courts on the swing state counting, ensuring no candidate with 270, then taking their fight tot he house floor...

Nancy Pelosi doesn't visit the midwest because she likes the people. She's making sure Democrats on the ground understand their role and is tallying votes for the future House...

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Overall I doubt it changes much. The people who hate him still hate him, they are mixed with feelings of secret glee and irritation that Trump has the disease and is so cavalier about it.

If Trump is really ill, that will be bad for him.
If Trump responds to the drug therapies in the positive - he needs to come out and say something like..

'I know the press will poo poo anything positive I say about any particular drug protocol, so I am going to keep quiet - but I responded really well to the drug therapies I was given, and if you get covid - you all should have the same access to these drugs that I had. Not hard to do, if only the media will allow it.'
...,but the media care more about Trump-hate than they do about finding a cure or positive relief from symptoms.'

MikeR said...

Think I agree with the answers. No one would vote for someone because they got sick.

Sebastian said...

"he’s sick because of his disdain for the consensus opinions for science and medicine"

What "consensus" opinions? What evidence of disdain? What evidence of causality in linking presumed disdain to getting infected? This must be a believer in "believe the science."

"He’s likely to recover"

Which tells us . . .

Anyway, there are no guarantees cuz prog and MSM disdain for Trump is stronger than Trump's disdain for anything.

Greg The Class Traitor said...

Trump has guaranteed himself a win because seeing fat, out of shape 74 year old Trump recover quickly from Covid-19, and having all the other high-profile people who caught it do the same, makes the clear point that our nation's cowering fear response to Covid-19 is insane

It's not a death sentence. It's not a justification for lockdowns and destroying the economy. It's just a highly contagious disease.

If you're elderly or have a bunch of co-morbidities, you should take care. But the rest of us should just get on with our lives.

And the Democrats won't let us do this.

So if you pay attention to reality, you will vote straight ticket Republican. Not because the Republican candidates are so good. But because giving power to Democrats is just so bad for all of us

wildswan said...

when Trump and many top Republicans and advisors get the Rona in a blaze of publicity AND RECOVER in a blaze of publicity, this makes the point that contracting the disease is generally not that terrible in most age/health groups and that the economy and the schools should be allowed to re-open. Trump has been calling for the economy to re-open and we can see that he and his inner circle and his party are ready to take their chance with the rest of us in a reopened society. Biden is hiding from the Rona, something that the essential workers, the medical people, the armed forces, the police, the firemen, the first responders, the farmers, the ranchers, and the miners have never been able to do. How can Basement First Biden lead them and the rest of us out of pointless, life-destroying Lockdowns and Phases?

tim maguire said...

It's too soon for anybody to know if this helps, hurts, or nothings Trump's re-election chances. Any speculation is just that. Guesses almost certainly shaded by personal bias.

Semi-related: I have noticed, even among lefties with the decency to not openly root for Trump's death, is a hope that getting the disease will lead him to see the error of his ways and come to understand how right liberals are about everything and how he should show his new-found wisdom by becoming more liberal. Because everything is a political opportunity to these people.

c365 said...

Trump got sick because of his disdain. Does that go for the millions of mask wearing covid+ individuals? Do you think a mask and cowering attitude wards off covid?

This story is as old as the book of Job. Blame the unfortunate one for the circumstances beyond their control.

Maybe our society can grow up some day when they realize 90% of adults carry the Ebstein Barr Virus, and 70% of adults randomly samples have a respiratory virus of some kind.

We all carry all kinds of viruses and it's not because we're not careful. They literally rain down from the sky.

roesch/voltaire said...

Trump’s recklessness and disregard for public safety is why nearly 500 senior military leaders and ex national advisors have endorsed Biden, and why more voters are waking up to his reckless character.

Stay Safe said...

Trump has made fools of his supporters.

Mattman26 said...

So many false premises, so little time.

Trump never claimed the virus was non-existent, and never claimed he was impervious to catching it. What he showed, via his actions, is that there are important things to do other than hiding from a virus. That's a lesson America could use these days.

Even if Trump were to die from this (and I don't think he will, and certainly hope he won't), that wouldn't serve to disprove anything he has said or done. Life carries risks.

A ship is safe in a harbor, but a harbor is not what a ship is for.

Pianoman said...

Shorter version of top-rated comments: "He had it coming."

Amazing how the Left has embraced their inner Leviticus. COVID-19 truly is the most adaptable disease in history. It's so smart it can punish your political enemies.

Reminds me of those who attack Florida for voting GOP. When hurricane season hits, the Left screeches that "Florida had it coming" for being anti-climate change.

Cosmic Retribution, and all that.

D.D. Driver said...

Can Trump take advantage of the misfortune of his illness and use it as an opportunity to infuse his campaign with new spirit and meaning?

This one is easy:

"But for life-saving therapeutics that are available to me only because I am president: I would be dead now. But you shouldn't need to be president to survive this disease, and you should entrust your life--the life of your parents and grandparents and spouse--on mask! That is an irrational amount of faith placed upon a piece of fabric.

The bureaucrats and their democrat apologists think you should wear a mask and wait in the basement until they believe its safe to come outside.

I'm trying to light a fire under the bureaucrats to approve life-saving therapeutics, NOW. We know they work. Look at me. We know they are safe. It's just antibodies like the antibodies that your own immune system produces. These treatments need to be made available now. Not in 18-months when they are no longer relevant. You should not need to be the President to receive life saving care"

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

Trump disregarded what, the Trump Guidelines? Trumps Task Force put out the guidelines and the Secret Service and Trump both day he followed them. He did not wear a mask when appearing, but then neither does Nancy. In fact we know Nancy flaunted the rules in private. Will it be her fault if she gets it too? At what point do these naysayers have to offer evidence for their Fever dreams of Trump flouting guidelines? Without proof it’s just words.

Yancey Ward said...

So, a president couldn't avoid a virus, vote him out? What happens if Biden catches it- they all turn on a dime and say vote Biden in because of it?

I think reasonable people see Trump and his staff like essential workers- they couldn't hide in their basements working from home and ordering everything from Amazon and Grubhub. Laslo Spatula nailed this divide way back in March- Eloi vs Morlocks. Countries in Europe have had lockdowns and mask mandates since the Spring and they are getting hit with second and third waves of new cases right now. Argentina has been on lockdown with mask mandates since April before they even had an outbreak- same with Peru. Go look at their Worldometers graphs.

What do you think would have happened if COVID had shown up in 1990? Then, almost no one who worked in a factory, store, school, or office could have "worked" from home. We basically have a divide today between people who can survive while being completely isolated from other people, and those who cannot. Those who can are the Karens of the world, ironically as it may be- like Joe Biden who doesn't have to face any voters at all in this campaign, even the few who try to turn out for his empty parking lot speeches in a mask.

gerry said...

Has Trump guaranteed himself the win by getting coronavirus and showing a more human side?

President Trump's trolling talents will be a wonder to behold.

Stay Safe said...

Trump now looks extremely foolish. This is the biggest political pratfall of all time.

Mattman26 said...

For the left, it will be the thrill of (seeming) victory and the agony of defeat in the course of one short week.

Having gotten the Covid, if he walks out of the hospital in the next day or so, and is holding rallies and participating in debate in a couple weeks, the left's spirit will be utterly crushed.

Good practice for November.

Spiros said...

I can't think of a single humanizing anecdote about Donald Trump!!!

Unknown said...

> First of all, he’s sick because of his disdain for the consensus opinions for science and medicine.... Trump’s policies couldn’t even protect himself.

Policies... Is there anything they can't do?

He could have been the President who extinguished the common cold

if we all just sacrificed and obeyed...

rcocean said...

No one can do anything that would GUARANTEE them a win. Trump, so far, has faced the illness with courage and his own brand of humor. He's been upbeat and positive, and even wen to the trouble of thanking/waving at the supporters who showed up at the Hospital.

That should win him some points. But with the American public who knows how many. And yes, the 2nd person is NOT an American. I'm getting tired of Englishman, Irishmen, Australians, etc. always commenting on US politics as if they are Americans who have some skin in the game. we even get British royalty (by marriage) popping off and English & Canadian crazies coming to the USA to assassinate Trump. If you're not an American just butt out, foreigner - go write about your OWN country!

Mike Sylwester said...

Achilles at 11:47 AM
This graph tells us how fraudulent this whole thing is.

I think your link is mistaken.

hstad said...

Interesting highlight of a never-Trumper or Democrat - good talking points like!

1."... he’s sick because of his disdain for the consensus opinions for science and medicine.."
Really? What consensus - oh he means the conflicting advice from our betters like Fauci who waffled back an forth about masks and no scientific literature exists stating unequivocally that masks actual help against virus. Scientific confusion on this virus and false tests?
2. "...Trump’s policies couldn’t even protect himself..." Oh, you mean the advice given by Fauci et.al. which President Trump followed?
3. "...He apparently hasn’t learned much at all about showing a more human side..." Politics has a "human side"? What planet does this guy live on?
4. "... how we should show empathy for him as he recovers in a luxurious, dedicated suite at Walter Reed..." Really, I guess President Trump should be in a basement or one room to conduct the business of the nation? Which Democratic President has not had the same accommodations.

Hell this is a set up propoganda piece disguised as some kind of common man revelation. Pure political B.S.

Hey Ann - you do know we are in the end run of the 'Political Season'? Trust me, nothing that you've seen or read, from both sides is there by accident or organically grown from real voters. Everything in planted by both sides by the MSM.

gerry said...

If one of those guys tests positive soon, stick a fork in Trump.

I wonder if the people in the vehicle with President Trump all have positive Covid antibody tests?

Stick another fork in the Progressive/Democrat Biden campaign.

bagoh20 said...

Would you rather have had Covid and recovered like 99.99% have, or still be unexposed and without any real protection except a sheet of fabric that leaks all around its perimeter and has pores large enough for a platoon of virus to fit through shoulder to shoulder, and which invites people to get much closer than they would otherwise. I wish I had gotten it already.

rcocean said...

The election will come down to turnout in the battleground states and the extent to which the courts allow the D's to cheat and commit voter fraud.

I tend to be on the pessimistic side, but then I was sure Trump would lose in 2016. I always have to remind myself that these 4 years of Trump are all gravy. His 2016 nomination was a 50-1 shot, and the Stupid R's were absolutely determined to nominate Yeb! and lose to Hillary. And they would have too. Fortunately, Trump (almost single-handedly) pulled out an upset.

The Press and the D's want to nominate a 78 senile old fool and a VP with very little brains and almost no Federal experience. But who cares? Once trump leaves, they don't care if the USA goes to hell, just that it goes with the D's in charge.

Readering said...

Trump's favorability ratings started to decline around the time Spicer denied he owned a bathrobe. He needs to ditch the power suit and be filmed at the hospital in a bathrobe and slippers if he wants to seem human. Preferably not the white terrycloth number from old snap shots. Go with something like Reagan wore photographed in.

Gregg said...

It seems we are grouping Covid sufferers into two groups: The "innocent" victims who caught the virus through no fault of their own -vs- People like Trump who get what they deserve because of naughty behavior.

Disease is a moral failing, not a physical one. :(

Readering said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
wendybar said...

roesch/voltaire said...
Trump’s recklessness and disregard for public safety is why nearly 500 senior military leaders and ex national advisors have endorsed Biden, and why more voters are waking up to his reckless character.

10/5/20, 12:12 PM

Yeah, The Deep State tends to stick together. We get it.

Greg The Class Traitor said...

If Covid-19 is so weak that it couldn't even take out "President Comorbidities" AKA "Donnie Two-Scoops", how in the world can it be strong enough to justify locking down the country?

It can't

But that's what the Democrats are doing, and would do more of if elected

So vote Republican

Gunner said...

Senior military and national Endless War proponents hate Trump. Good.

Greg The Class Traitor said...

roesch/voltaire said...
Trump’s recklessness and disregard for public safety is why nearly 500 senior military leaders and ex national advisors have endorsed Biden, and why more voters are waking up to his reckless character.

No, R/v Trump's unwillingness to send of American troops to die in wars we aren't willing to win "is why nearly 500 senior military leaders and ex national advisors have endorsed Biden".

Because there's a lot more graft available when you're fighting an interminable war, than there is from winning and then bringing the troops home.

So yeah, the people who are losing their gravy trains are upset with Trump. This is not a failure on Trump's part

Readering said...

Maybe also offer space in his suite to Hope and Kayleigh. The hicks seem to like that stuff, and KM proclaimed herself essential personnel, if you catch my drift.

MartyH said...

If Trump is more energetic than Biden at the next debate then Trump will win. If Trump can’t debate he will probably lose.

Mikey NTH said...


I thought the two answers could be reduced to:


"Thief! Trumpy! We hates you! We hates you forever! Preeeeessssscioooouussssss!"

320Busdriver said...

There has to be a reckoning for those who attempted, and still attempt, to destroy a campaign, then a President elect, and now President.

That the majority of our msm is complicit along with high ranking pols and certainly the lefts candidate, who exemplifies what a swamp creature is( see the graft and corruption around nearly ALL of his family) and refuses to report or even ask questions is a low point for this nation. Why would we reward those who have undertaken the most criminal of conspiracies with all the power to fundamentally change our nation.

If Biden is elected, those who planned and executed this charade will never be brought to justice and the weaponizing of our government will continue and we will be no better than any banana republic. Our freedoms will continue to be eroded. We will deserve exactly what we get.
GOOD and HARD

Static Ping said...

Trump is quite skilled at turning negatives into positives. If he wasn't he would never have been President, and for that matter he probably would have lost all his money and be a footnote, if that. The impact of this development is difficult to gauge as you are dealing with a man with an unusual set of skills.

That said, the Twitter creatures that have been hoping for his death since the diagnosis are certainly not helping Biden. Jen Rubin's mental breakdown is not helping either, thought that may be a net neutral given that almost no one that could be persuaded to vote for Trump pays any attention to her anyway. The fact that Trump in the hospital is more lively than Biden in his basement is not a good look for Biden either.

wild chicken said...

I don't think it helps and he just looks reckless.

Also I he's roided up to look energetic. He'll ultimately pay for that with a crash.

Roost on the Moon said...

We are all recovering from Wuhan Chinese Coronavirus and it is time to reopen the country.

Achilles!

That anyone would listen to anything this man says on any topic whatsoever after this spring and summer... That someone can be so wrong, so publicly, for months, and then continue on, shameless... it boggles the mind. Hundreds of thousands dead, nothing learned, no regrets.

I can understand being optimistically skeptical in April. But please, to anyone who updates their beliefs when faced with evidence, take Achilles' dogmatic assertions with the spirit in which they're offered: blind will, ego, and the illusion that if you never admit you were wrong, nobody will ever know.

320Busdriver said...

Meanwhile, Deblahsio is locking down another dozen communities in Queens and Brooklyn.. Enjoy your bread and circuses NY..

Readering said...

Of course, with his luck, FLOTUS would get wind of my plan and send him Chris Christie and Mike Lee to quarantine instead.

AllenS said...

Trump will recover from the Chinese Communist Wuhan Flu Disease just like the 99+% of Americans who test positive.

Michael K said...

wildswan said... [hush]​[hide comment]
when Trump and many top Republicans and advisors get the Rona in a blaze of publicity AND RECOVER in a blaze of publicity, this makes the point that contracting the disease is generally not that terrible in most age/health groups and that the economy and the schools should be allowed to re-open.


what is most interesting, and which might become more curious with time, is the fact that all the prominent people now getting infected are Republicans. This might cut two ways. Disdain for masks or a targeted hit job?

Bay Area Guy said...

Our warrior friend, @Achilles sez:

They are purposely conflating pneumonia, flu, and COVID-19.

This is a profoundly important statement, lost in the muck of presidential politics, ever-shifting Covid "science" and leftist lockdowns.

It is true, too.

If you look at the FIRST papers on Covid-19 in Nature in early 2020, they are all talking about pneumonia.

In essence, this "new" virus merely causes pneumonia. Yes, pneumonia can be serious, but nobody freaks out or closes down a country due to pneumonia.

Carry on, Comrades.

ConradBibby said...

I really don't think Dems are capable of reasoned analysis on a question like this. They're too invested in their preferred narratives to think clearly and realistically about the situation.

Assuming Trump is in fact already recovering, having suffered no serious or lasting medical consequences, then this clearly helps him. (a) It "humanizes" him at the very basic level of showing that he and his family are subject to the same misfortunes that ordinary people experience. (b) It gives him street cred in talking about covid and the appropriate national response to it. It's no longer possible to reject what he says about it based on the idea that he's never experienced it personally or it hasn't touched the lives of his loved ones. (c) It demonstrates that covid isn't the guaranteed death sentence that a lot of people on the left still want to portray it as.

BamaBadgOR said...

Trump will come out ahead because of his illness in part because it keeps him from saying offensive things for a few days and because it will also show that an old fat guy can beat the dreaded plague. Once he is back up and at 'em, Biden's lockdown threat will seem ridiculously unnecessary.

n.n said...

They are purposely conflating pneumonia, flu, and COVID-19.
...
Nobody is taking this seriously. This is so utterly ridiculous.


Conflation, confusion, and collateral damage. It's serious; but, aside from the deaths in Planned Parent (e.g. New York, New Jersey, Washington), some hot spots with poor sanitation (e.g. construction sites), and social stigmatization and denial of early treatments, mortality has been comparable to seasonal flu. The collateral damage, however, has been excessive and progressive. That said, people are not driven by em-pathetic appeals nor motivated by what passes as scientific intuition. It's more than likely that Trump's group was infected with the virus through close contact, likely a fecal/oral transmission (i.e. contamination).

cubanbob said...

roesch/voltaire said...
Trump’s recklessness and disregard for public safety is why nearly 500 senior military leaders and ex national advisors have endorsed Biden, and why more voters are waking up to his reckless character."

Swamp creatures.....but keep drinking the Kool Aid.

Kate said...

I don't tut.

J Lee said...

I'd think if not just Trump, but everyone who supposedly caught the virus at the same location, including the morbidly obese Chris Christie, comes through without any major complications, it probably turns into a net plus for Trump and those who've been saying the strict lockdowns pushed by some governors (most, but not all, Democrats) were overblown, and the people whose jobs are still shuttered or constrained should be allowed to get back work on normal schedules.

BUMBLE BEE said...

Who's afraid of the big bad Wuhf - big bad Whuf - big bad Whuf?
By Easter next year everybody will have had it. Some gonna win, some gonna lose, but everybody plays the game. It is what viruses do, after all.

Drago said...

roesch/voltaire: "Trump’s recklessness and disregard for public safety is why nearly 500 senior military leaders and ex national advisors have endorsed Biden, and why more voters are waking up to his reckless character."

LOL

Add r/v to the list of democraticals and moron Perma-War idiots that are very very very upset Trump refuses to start new wars.

Hey r/v, if you want war so much go on and sign up! I understand they sometimes make allowances for age and if you are lucky they might make allowance for stupidity as well.

Mark said...

Herman Cain unavailable for comment.

John said...

all the other high-profile people who caught it do the same

I have Herman Cain on line 2.

Iman said...

roesch/voltaire said...
Trump’s recklessness and disregard for public safety is why nearly 500 senior military leaders and ex national advisors have endorsed Biden, and why more voters are waking up to his reckless character


Knowing how Obama-Biden decimated the military and jettisoned approximately 200 senior military leaders who weren’t gung ho with his wigged-out policies, my 45 years of personal observations of Biden’s clown act/character/ and remembering what Robert Gates said about Biden being wrong about every fucking major issue that the nation faced over several decades... well, you can go and try to sell your crazy elsewhere.

Jason said...

roesch/voltaire: Trump’s recklessness and disregard for public safety is why nearly 500 senior military leaders and ex national advisors have endorsed Biden, and why more voters are waking up to his reckless character.

Congratulations Biden on receiving the coveted Military-Industrial Complex endorsement!

Ooh, now THERE'S a shocker.

Jason said...

This just in: Biden polls well among government employees and people with sweet federal pensions that come in no matter what the lockdown rules are.

The rest of us have businesses and jobs that rely on businesses.

Larry J said...

roesch/voltaire said...

Trump’s recklessness and disregard for public safety is why nearly 500 senior military leaders and ex national advisors have endorsed Biden, and why more voters are waking up to his reckless character.


I spent 13 years on active duty in the military and have worked for 25 years as a defense contractor. A person doesn't make flag rank without being political. Anyone who has served in uniform has seen that. This statement by them reminds me of the classic demotivational poster by the humor site Despair.com. The poster reads, "Consulting: If you're not part of the solution, there's good money to be made by prolonging the problem." How many of those nearly 500 senior military leaders went on to lucrative gigs at defense contractors? Answer: nearly all of them. Trump is trying to get the US out of the forever war in Afghanistan. Defense contractors see that as a potential hit to their income. Follow the money.

I Have Misplaced My Pants said...

recklessness and disregard for public safety is why nearly 500 senior military leaders and ex national advisors have endorsed Biden

I'm sure all those people being Obama guys has nothing to do with their Biden endorsements.

Larry J said...

roesch/voltaire said...

Trump’s recklessness and disregard for public safety is why nearly 500 senior military leaders and ex national advisors have endorsed Biden, and why more voters are waking up to his reckless character.


I spent 13 years on active duty in the military and have worked for 25 years as a defense contractor. A person doesn't make flag rank without being political. Anyone who has served in uniform has seen that. This statement by them reminds me of the classic demotivational poster by the humor site Despair.com. The poster reads, "Consulting: If you're not part of the solution, there's good money to be made by prolonging the problem." How many of those nearly 500 senior military leaders went on to lucrative gigs at defense contractors? Answer: nearly all of them. Trump is trying to get the US out of the forever war in Afghanistan. Defense contractors see that as a potential hit to their income. Follow the money.

I Have Misplaced My Pants said...

Also, it isn't Trump's disregard for whatever whatever that caused him to get the virus. People are such medieval, superstitious idiots. Biology gonna biology. The virus doesn't care how many largely empty, largely symbolic, largely placebic actions you took. Either you're going to get it or you're not, and most people are going to get it.

It never ceases to amaze me how many supposedly intelligent people think they are in control of things they can't even influence, let alone get the best of.

steve uhr said...

Could someone here justify the decision of the entire Trump family to refuse to follow the rules and wear masks at the debate? Distain doesn't begin to describe it. More like criminal negligence

Craig said...

The pure hatred in these highly-rated comments that Althouse has highlighted is off-putting to decent people who have not been brainwashed by the media and social media.

Unfortunately, we are now the minority. The Hate Party takes over permanently January 2021.

Crimso said...

"First of all, he’s sick because of his disdain for the consensus opinions for science and medicine"

Like Cindy Sheehan, I have complete moral authority: I've had the Wuhan virus, and I am a biomedical scientist. I'd like the commenter to provide evidence for his assertion. I spent the past 7 months isolating, wearing a mask in public, and generally following the guidelines of the moment. I still got it (and still don't know from where). To quote Jeff Goldstein: "It's a virus." It'll get you sooner or later. The commenter's attitude is scarcely different from saying gays get AIDS due to God's wrath.

Nonapod said...

he’s sick because of his disdain for the consensus opinions for science and medicine

What utter nonsense. If Trump really had complete disdain for "the consensus opinions for science and medicine" he wouldn't have taken all the precautions that he had clearly been taking in the first place. He would have just behaved as he always had pre-covid, with no mass testing of all the white house personnel and none of the social distancing he's been doing for months. And he certainly wouldn't have given the daily Covid press briefings with Faucci.

I don't know why but many of these commenters seem to lack the ability or capacity for real critical thinking.

I Have Misplaced My Pants said...

Scott Adams thinks Trump may come out of this with a new superpower: empathy.

I dunno. I am dubious. Not sure I'm with Mr. A on this one. I don't think anyone is changing his or her mind at this point.

Unrelated, but interesting fact: Saturday was the last day in Texas to have your request for a mail-in ballot postmarked. Every mailbox cluster in my neighborhood was crowbarred open Saturday night and the outgoing mail was stolen. I have lived here for nearly 11 years and have never heard of anything like this happening. It will be interesting to see what gets reported about the investigation. If it was some local idiots they will be caught quickly as everyone has security cameras and someone will have grabbed a license plate. If it was a directed thing I imagine it would be more cleverly executed.

Oso Negro said...

"First of all, he’s sick because of his disdain for the consensus opinions for science and medicine...."

Yes. In the scientific opinion of the commenter Mark VandeWettering, Trump is sick because of his disdain. Disdain is what causes the virus.

bagoh20 said...

Putting safety toward a single threat in life above all else you do, is reckless. The idea that you are being careful is myopic. It's like driving a car and staring constantly at the speedometer, because you were told that speed kills.

Bilwick said...

It's always amusing to me (because I like mocking hypocrites) when "liberals" and other State-shtuppers" explain their antagonism to Trump because of his handling of the Kung Flu. If Trump could wave his magical presidential wand and make the 'Rona vanish and all the oldsters Cuomo killed rise from the dead, these sadomasochistic jackwagons will always support the more statist candidate.

Birkel said...

No, roesch/voltaire.

All that military brass wants to get back on the CIA off-book bandwagon by which money was diverted into various player's' pockets.
Gun running from Benghazi to ISIS in Syria was only one such operation.
Why kiss all that Obama ass if it's not even good for getting rich as civilians?

Those hogs all want into the trough.
Pigs get fed.
Hogs get slaughtered.

Aggie said...

"The only way he can show a more human side coming out of this is to admit that he has been wrong the whole year, to behave responsibly from here on in, and to ...."

Yesssss....Trump must abase himself before us to beg pardon for his wrongthink, so that we may continue to gloat and tell him he's still unworthy.

Peak ridiculous has been reached. The press is now telling us that Trump is irresponsibly and unnecessarily putting Secret Service lives at risk by venturing out to greet crowds. We're to pretend that Secret Service lives are never at risk when they are venturing out into crowds with the President, and that catching a bullet is far less serious than catching a cold.

MadTownGuy said...

What's the over-under on someone licking a door knob or surreptitiously coughing on a folder or piece of paper to share the malady on purpose? I'm not always given to conspiracy theories but when I am, they're believable.

Dave Begley said...

In answer to Ann's question: Of course!

Trump is a showman. He will pound his recovery home in the next debate.

From my screenwriting experience (Frankenstein, Part II), I can tell you that after the All is Lost scene, our Hero goes on and triumphs.

Achilles said...

roesch/voltaire said...

Trump’s recklessness and disregard for public safety is why nearly 500 senior military leaders and ex national advisors have endorsed Biden, and why more voters are waking up to his reckless character.

Who kept mass transit going all through this?

Where are the most deaths in the US concentrated?

Which states purposely shipped Covid positive patients to nursing homes and who was in charge of those states?

Who actually has blood on their hands?

Democrats you piece of shit.

Pianoman said...

@c365: "This story is as old as the book of Job."

Oldest book in the Bible, so you could argue it's one of the oldest morality stories in human history.

doctrev said...

For real, haven't the Twitter addicts noticed that Donald Trump has vastly improved his Twitter following since the corona outbreak started? Not that it matters: Donald Trump is still alive, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg is still dead. Judgment is passed.

Francisco D said...

People who state that Trump is ignoring the science need to specify what scientific advice he has ignored. That has not given into the hair-on-fire hysteria generated by the Dems is not the same as being reckless or downplaying the threat. There threat was always overhyped.

Before history was rewritten, the Dems were complaining about Trump's daily Wuhan virus press briefings with ... wait for it ...

... THE SCIENTISTS!

Dave Begley said...

I'm expecting Trump to say in the next debate, "I beat COVID. I can certainly beat Sleepy Joe."

Todd said...

First of all, he’s sick because of his disdain for the consensus opinions for science and medicine....

What a pile of ignorant crap! He is sick because it is a virus and eventually everyone will be exposed and some will get sick, exactly how EVERY OTHER VIRUS works!

Remember "2 weeks to flatten the curve"? The goal was not zero illnesses EVER, it was to flatten out the spread so that as folks got sick there was hospital space for them.

What an asshat...

I'm Not Sure said...

"First of all, he’s sick because of his disdain for the consensus opinions for science and medicine...."

Global Cooling/Global Warming/Climate Change called- they want their consensus opinions for science back.

"He’s likely to recover..."

What's that you said about consensus opinions, again?

Readering said...

Trump tweets he feels better than 20 years ago. Revealing his real reason for dropping out of Trump 2000 Reform Party bid?

Readering said...

In bid to appear human, Trump, surrounded by a phalanx of government doctors (to whose salaries he contributed no taxes), proclaims, "don't be afraid of covid." If I was Biden I would be leary of sharing a room with that guy.

Tom T. said...

The comments from a lot of Trump's opponents remind me of the things people used to say about AIDS patients bringing the disease upon themselves.

Readering said...

Leery.

SensibleCitizen said...

Trump will survive this easily which will give seniors hope in the event they are infected. Good people will have empathy for him and Melania.

Having gotten the virus, he no longer needs to worry about catching it which eliminates the risk of him getting very ill at a crucial point in his presidency.

No one could be certain that Biden would survive this, and that's a risk if he's elected.

On the balance, this helps Trump.

unknown said...

If anything’s going to hurt Trump, it’ll be the nagging questions about his health. None of that other crap matters. No one who was on the fence about his pandemic response is going to now think, “hey he really screwed it up I guess.”

Trump may benefit from people identifying with him and his struggle, a lot of undecideds are praying for him and want to see him recover. He may be hurt by concerns that he’s now going to have lung problems or fatigue or whatever.

I Callahan said...

Trump’s recklessness and disregard for public safety is why nearly 500 senior military leaders and ex national advisors have endorsed Biden, and why more voters are waking up to his reckless character.

All are swamp creatures. They would have endorsed Biden anyway. And as for people "waking up to his character" - there isn't a person who voted in 2016 who doesn't know or didn't know then what Trump was or wasn't.

You could attempt an honest comment every once in a while.

Michael said...

Alas, the lefties are again infuriated by Trump and the fact that a fat 70 plus man did not die from the virus and in fact kept working through it. The fixation on the number of cases begins to have less and less impact when we see the number of recovered people walking around after a bout with a low and temporary fever and a few days fatigued. We shut the economy down and put 38 million people out of work for this?

Trump has proved his point not the opposite. .

CWJ said...

"Trump’s recklessness and disregard for public safety is why nearly 500 senior military leaders and ex national advisors have endorsed Biden, and why more voters are waking up to his reckless character."

r/v's comment reminds us that there may not be a single human failing that has not been attributed to President Trump at one time or another after winning the Republican nomination in 2016.

OK, now tell us the positive reasons these 500 solons have for endorsing Biden. Not Trump is a sufficient reason to endorse no one, not endorse Biden.

Robert Cook said...

"It's not a death sentence."

Not for most, no. But for some, it is.

Given how many have been infected with the virus in just six or so months worldwide, the number of those who have died has been significant, with nearly a quarter of a million people dead from the virus in the US alone. In just over six months.

(And, of those who doe not die, a percentage suffer significant illness, with some experiencing lasting complications after recovery. There's also the serious costs to those who have been hospitalized.)

Robert Cook said...

"Alas, the lefties are again infuriated by Trump and the fact that a fat 70 plus man did not die from the virus and in fact kept working through it."

And "kept working through it?" How do you know? A few photos of him propped up behind a desk is not proof he has continued to work. In fact, throughout his term, the most significant work he has done, on the evidence, is issuing endless tweets on Twitter.

Robert Cook said...

"Having gotten the virus, he no longer needs to worry about catching it which eliminates the risk of him getting very ill at a crucial point in his presidency."

It hasn't been determined that once having had COVID-19 one is immune from getting it again.

Robert Cook said...

"Trump tweets he feels better than 20 years ago."

One of his insignificant lies, but a lie. He is 20 years older, is noticeably heavier, (and he just looks terrible), there's no way he feels better today than he did 20 years ago.

gilbar said...

nearly 500 senior military leaders and ex national advisors

that's how their letter reads, but if you READ the signatures you'll see what they mean is:
Nearly 500 people, which include senior military leaders and ex national advisors.
The list has 489 signatures
i went through and counted NON military people; and i counted about 290 of them.
These included such folk, as "Senior Military Spouse Advisors" (wives)
and Governors; including my own Governor Tom Vilsack, former Secretary of Agriculture
[now, THERE'S a national security advisor!]

So, MORE THAN half the list of "nearly 500 senior military leaders" are NOT military
i counted people like:
....Master Chief Petty Officer Bobby R. Lee, Jr., USN (Ret) [this was only Mcpo]
....Sergeant Major Patricia Mack McCollough, USMC (Ret) [17 Sergent Majors]
as 'senior military leaders', cause; well, why not? IF they're going to count Wesley Clark as a 'senior military leader', we might as well count E-9's

y'all should read the list of names! they are VERY (non) IMPRESSIVE


CWJ said...

Speaking of recklessness, I just clicked over to the Swedish covid stats. Like a wildfire it looks like it quickly burned through the population and now is gone except for some glowing embers. In spite of a steady drip of hundreds of daily new cases, deaths have been in the single digits, in fact zero as in zero over the last four days reported.

It really looks like all our efforts have strung this thing out rather than provide us with more than zero sum protection populationwise. Individually perhaps yes, but in total I think no.

5M - Eckstine said...

Trumps a mythological hero. Fighting the Chinese Dragon virus with its eight headed democratic caucus. A vote is a sword. Swing it rightly and mightily.

Mattman26 said...

From Trump's "going home" tweet: "Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life."

Amen. Maybe the best thing he's ever said.

Michael K said...

Cook is on a roll. Lots of hate. Understandable.

mikee said...

I, for one, look forward to seeing Biden's face, when Trump coughs during the opening moments of the next Presidential debate.

Michael K said...

Blogger Readering said...
In bid to appear human, Trump, surrounded by a phalanx of government doctors (to whose salaries he contributed no taxes),


Yeah cause he donates his $400 k salary, unlike Joe did for 47 years.

You are getting close to parody

Yancey Ward said...

"It really looks like all our efforts have strung this thing out rather than provide us with more than zero sum protection populationwise. Individually perhaps yes, but in total I think no."

Exactly. Same destination, but we took the turn at Albuquerque, and El Paso, and Phoenix, and Bakersfield.....

bagoh20 said...

What do you guess the odds are for getting Covid if you always wear a mask vs only when you consider it a worthwhile situation, which is how Trump has done it?

Now multiply that by all the contacts you could have over the entire year of grocery shopping touching things others have, getting gas, having family and coworkers go around their world and return to you every day. Now consider that the mask doesn't really protect the wearer, but does encourage others get closer to them. In my opinion, in the long run,the odds are about the same that you will get it either way. Maybe the more careful person will get is later, but still getting it.

The person who is less careful meanwhile will 1) get more done. 2) live a better life, 3) be less fearful, 4) not encourage people to get too close, 5) get immunity sooner and that's damned valuable to you and others. Much more valuable than wearing a mask. A mask won't stop you 100% from passing on the virus or getting it, but immunity will.

bagoh20 said...

"So, MORE THAN half the list of "nearly 500 senior military leaders" are NOT military"

You mean a anti-Trumper lied, or believed a lie. That's like the sun coming up every day.

Greg The Class Traitor said...

Actually D.D. Driver

Remdesvir is available for "compassionate use" to more than just the President. But other than that it was a good line, and I'm sure he'll use something like that

Michael said...

Is this the land of the free and the home of the brave, or the land of the ninny and home of the bully? There are no other issues.

Francisco D said...

Robert Cook said...
"It's not a death sentence."
Not for most, no. But for some, it is.


Same for driving cars and riding bikes. We get a shitload of biking deaths here in Tucson.

Maybe we should shut down car, truck and bike production. It will most certainly save lives.

Robert Cook said...

"Cook is on a roll. Lots of hate. Understandable."

Ha! The always Hostile Doc sees "hate" in my completely unhateful comments. No surprise.

Sara D said...

In some countries in Europe there is a spike in Covid19,also in Norway where I am.
With a popl. of 5.3 million we have: 14 421 positive cases, 275 dead and 27 hospitalised.
Masks are not mandatory, I have seen very few using them. We are very good at social distancing,and hand sanitizers are now part of life.
Thumbs up for the President and the First Lady,I just sent my Absentee Ballot(Reg. since76)

Robert Cook said...

"The person who is less careful meanwhile will 1) get more done. 2) live a better life, 3) be less fearful, 4) not encourage people to get too close, 5) get immunity sooner and that's damned valuable to you and others."

It has not been determined that once having had COVID-19 one is immune from getting it again.

Also, how does a person who chooses not to wear a mask "get more done" or "live a better life" or "be less fearful?"

Wa St Blogger said...

The letter from the (almost) 500 includes the following...

The letter praises Biden for his morality, integrity and experience.

and...

"Joe Biden has the character, principles, wisdom, and leadership necessary to address a world on fire. That is why Joe Biden must be the next President of the United States; ..."

Morality?
Integrity?
Character?
Principles?
Wisdom?
Leadership?

Lots of buzzwords, none of them coming close to describing Biden. Having a guy suffering from clear mental decline is not the person you enthusiastically endorse for "a world on fire".

If they were honest, they should have stopped with: "we fear we cannot control Trump, so we want one of our own in the big chair." That would have been a more honest reason. This letter won't rope in a single Trump voter, but it will grab a few LIV fence sitters, and maybe get a few less enthusiastic voters to cast a ballot they might not have before, but it is hardly reliable barometer of either candidate's fitness for the office.

Bruce Hayden said...

“Peak ridiculous has been reached. The press is now telling us that Trump is irresponsibly and unnecessarily putting Secret Service lives at risk by venturing out to greet crowds. We're to pretend that Secret Service lives are never at risk when they are venturing out into crowds with the President, and that catching a bullet is far less serious than catching a cold.”

SS in the car with him were apparently gowned gloved, masked, and wearing eye protection. The masks, gowns, and gloves were fairly obvious from the side. Didn’t look carefully enough to see the eye protection, but will go with those who claimed such, until proven wrong.

Readering said...

Michael K you are getting close to stalking.

Narayanan said...

Achilles said...
I find it curious that the CDC refuses to tell us how many people died of Covid.
---------==========
table looks like something on actuarial exam
- where you have to figure out probability of subset of risk (in 5 minutes)
>>>> will give it a try
>>> (could not finish the exam)

Greg The Class Traitor said...

Robert Cook said...
It has not been determined that once having had COVID-19 one is immune from getting it again.

Well, if you're not immune from getting it again after getting it once, and it's therefore not possible to make a vaccine, then the lockdown's are pointless.

Either we're going to spend the entire rest of our lives locked down (which isn't going to happen), being infected once means you're immune to being infected again, or else we just need to end all lockdowns now and get on with our lives.

Pick one

Which is it?

SeanF said...

Robert Cook: It has not been determined that once having had COVID-19 one is immune from getting it again.

If getting it doesn't confer immunity, then there'll never be a vaccine. So how long are you going to wear a mask? How long are you going to keep your economy shut down?

daskol said...

I would bet the better phrased question in Althouse's form will still get the same type of response, because it still includes the word Trump in it, and invites people to imagine him winning. People don't think up a response to that question, they feel it, and then they spew it. Chunks of Trump hate come up easy.

Greg The Class Traitor said...

Robert Cook said...
"Trump tweets he feels better than 20 years ago."

One of his insignificant lies, but a lie. He is 20 years older, is noticeably heavier, (and he just looks terrible), there's no way he feels better today than he did 20 years ago.


He was sick with the flu. Which means fever, body aches, pains, and generally felt miserable.

Now he isn't.

I find it completely believable that the first day after not feeling miserable, he feels GREAT!

Two days form now? Probably not. But immediately after no longer being sick?

Yeah, I can see that.

You could, too, if you weren't so obsessed with TDS

Robert Cook said...

"What do you guess the odds are for getting Covid if you always wear a mask vs only when you consider it a worthwhile situation, which is how Trump has done it?"

You don't wear a mask to protect against becoming infected with COVID; you wear a mask to reduce the likelihood you might infect others, and they, in turn, wear their masts to reduce the likelihood they may infect you.

bagoh20 said...

"It has not been determined that once having had COVID-19 one is immune from getting it again."

Why do people get over Covid-19? How do they end up testing negative for the virus after having billions of copies in their body? Their antibodies destroyed the virus. It doesn't stop doing so the day after you recover. Immunity may have a time limit, but it absolutely does exist for some time. It could be months or it could be a lifetime. Either one is good news and slows the spread either way.

I know dozens of people who have it, and nobody twice. I haven't heard of anyone getting it twice except three cases in one early study which ended up being due to false positives.

"Also, how does a person who chooses not to wear a mask "get more done" or "live a better life" or "be less fearful?"

Do you believe you can live an equally productive and satisfying life hiding in your home, and avoiding others? Maybe some can, but not the vast majority of us, and the economy shows that pretty clearly. Does hiding at home and avoiding people mean you are more or less fearful?

These are really easy things to understand. Why do you need to pretend they aren't?

bagoh20 said...

"I find it curious that the CDC refuses to tell us how many people died of Covid.

They have published that 6% of Covid deaths are from Covid alone, so that's an incredibly small number of deaths. If you have no other illness, it's way down the list of things to worry about. Somewhere below falling headfirst into a bucket of water.

Jason said...

Readering Trump, surrounded by a phalanx of government doctors (to whose salaries he contributed no taxes)

Holy crap, how did you get through the whole tax news cycle and come up with that absolutely retarded takeaway?

The truth is that Trump overpaid his taxes by millions.

You didn't grasp that, because you are a low-information voter.

roesch/voltaire said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Michael K said...

Blogger Readering said...
Michael K you are getting close to stalking.


No, I am just choosing the weakest of the herd. A very old tactic.

effinayright said...

" First of all, he’s sick because of his disdain for the consensus opinions for science and medicine.... Trump’s policies couldn’t even protect himself. "

**************ass--holish on so many levels....

Since WHEN has Trump shown disdain for science and medicine...Fauci has never said that, so how does this asshole know? Show us Trump expressing his disdain!!!

Since when did Trump or anyone else guarantee that his policies would offer him absolute protection?


effinayright said...

Cook nitpicked:
It has not been determined that once having had COVID-19 one is immune from getting it again.
******************

Well, the dashboard says we've had 7/6 million cases.

Can you provide the number of people who recovered and got reinfected?

Not to say it can't happen, but.. has it, and to any statistically significant number of people?

effinayright said...

Ken B said...
My guess is this hurts him.
1 Corona is his biggest weakness right now, costing him support with over 60s.
*********

I know quite a few elderly people, and not ONE blames Trump for covid.

They can see where the greatest numbers of cases are, and the much higher ratios of covid deaths/population and they are in Dem-controlled states, especially in New England.

bagoh20 said...

" Biden "is someone you can trust and... humble enough..."

It doesn't matter who said it. That's a stupid thing to say and completely counter to the evidence of 47 years. You can't make it true by having stars on your hat. I sure you don't even believe it any more than the General does, but it sounds nice if Trump pissed you off.

tim in vermont said...

Biden "is someone you can trust and... humble enough to respect people who see and have served"

You mean “sent into combat with his war mongering votes all the why bragging about the procurements he has done 'for the troops’"

How many lives could he have saved by lobbying against the Iraq War, he and HIllary, when they were in a position to do so? No, Joe Biden is about sending the red state jobs that people could do with minimal education and that still payed decently over to China, while sending red state boys over to fight and die in whatever sandbox the globalists are playing in at any given time. It’s a double screwing, the soldiers he sent to war come home to no jobs.

tim in vermont said...

"but it absolutely does exist for some time. It could be months or it could be a lifetime. “

It is well known that it is months.

tim in vermont said...

"No, I am just choosing the weakest of the herd. A very old tactic.”

It’s almost as if they put their ideas up here and don’t expect them to be examined critically. They think we are CNN reporters taking talking points from Joe Biden’s handlers. We should just swallow everything Readering says, I guess, no matter how ridiculous. Maybe he is thinking of another blog where nobody pushes back on his hot house flower type ‘thoughts’ because everybody with different point of view has been banned. Meaning pretty much every lefty blog. You would think that if they had the better ideas, they would enjoy hammering the righties, rather than banning them, but no.

tim in vermont said...

“It has not been determined that once having had COVID-19 one is immune from getting it again.

Also, how does a person who chooses not to wear a mask "get more done" or "live a better life" or "be less fearful?”

You know Robert, you can talk about this until you are blue in the face. It doesn’t matter that the two points you make here are absolutely true. Except I think that they really are afraid of the masks. If you wear a mask, it’s a sign that you are not in denial, and complete denial is what they crave the most. I saw a comment on another site that suggested that wearing a mask was 'acting Asian’ in so many words, so there is that whole component too.

And it has been determined that you can get it again, and it’s been less than a year and people have caught it twice already.

Robert Cook said...

"Do you believe you can live an equally productive and satisfying life hiding in your home, and avoiding others? Maybe some can, but not the vast majority of us, and the economy shows that pretty clearly. Does hiding at home and avoiding people mean you are more or less fearful?"

Who says one has to hide at home and avoid people? I live in NYC and I have gone out almost every day since the shut down in March, to run errands, to go to the store, etc., etc. I wear a mask when I go out but I have never felt any fear leaving my apartment. I have ridden the subways every week since the shutdown, when virtually no one else was on the trains, to now, when the numbers of rider are increasing every week.

The economy is seriously damaged, and there has to be a way to reopen businesses in such a way to minimize risk, of course. But, when some areas "open up," one sees crowds of people gathering close together without any masks or social distancing, and, voila, infections spike. People are stupid. Just because there is an opening up does not mean to throw away your masks and crowd together as if COVID-19 never happened. There should be a continuum of measured change, not an abrupt either/or, all or nothing.

Oso Negro said...

Blogger tim in vermont said...
Except I think that they really are afraid of the masks. If you wear a mask, it’s a sign that you are not in denial, and complete denial is what they crave the most. I saw a comment on another site that suggested that wearing a mask was 'acting Asian’ in so many words, so there is that whole component too.


Or it could be that you wear a mask as a sign of your submission. You probably won't mind getting your chip inserted either, will you Tim? For the common good.

minnesota farm guy said...

The pantywaists of the world who have been having a field day with the Chinese Flu really have no idea how many people are willing to trust their own judgments as far as their health is concerned, or how frustrated those people have become with the behavior of our "little Hitlers". What Trump just proved was: there is at least one effective treatment for this flu; that there is effective hospital care available (look at any state's utilization rate and there is plenty of space); that you don't have to cower in the corner if you contract the disease; and, once again, that he is a fighter whether it is illness or bullshit from the Dems.

bagoh20 said...

So Tim, how many people have gotten it twice? Unless it's a lot, nobody knows how long the immunity lasts, and if it last only months, the vaccine won't help, and you will be wearing a mask the rest of your life, and you will infect people anyway. We'll see if it goes that way.

bagoh20 said...

" I live in NYC and I have gone out almost every day since the shut down in March, to run errands, to go to the store, etc., etc. I wear a mask when I go out but I have never felt any fear leaving my apartment. I have ridden the subways every week since the shutdown, when virtually no one else was on the trains, to now, when the numbers of rider are increasing every week."

Do you believe that a mask protects you in those places from airborne and surface viruses?

Readering said...

Michael k I hope you packed lots of provisions. You could be on the trail a long time. (Already have been!)

Terry Ott said...

Some of the most inane comments, made by several here and many others everywhere, centers on the notion that Trump (and other deplorables) failed to “follow the science”. “THE” science??? There is such a thing? Is that science chilsled on stone tablets somewhere? Do the leading “experts” from all over the globe get together and hash out what theories and blocks of evidence affecting to “the science” are paramount and/or indisputable? Nope. Give me a laptop and a couple of hours of undivided time, and I will find believable, authentic, and sincere persons disagreeing on almost every aspect of Covid-19. In no small part this is because of ego, educational backgrounds, real world experiences, and allegiances to certain interests (financial, career aspirations, and mentors) and politics. It’s a big puzzle.

Rusty said...

When I here "scientific consensus" I want to slap that person. If science were a consensus gravity would still be a constant.

daskol said...

You don't wear a mask to protect against becoming infected with COVID; you wear a mask to reduce the likelihood you might infect others, and they, in turn, wear their masts to reduce the likelihood they may infect you.

Cook is right, which is why this tyranny is of the indomitable sort, per CS Lewis. It's for our own good.