Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

“Just close your eyes and kiss the girl and go where the tilt-a-whirl takes you.” ~OzarkHillbilly

Sometimes the world just tells you your cat is here.

Sadly, media malpractice has become standard practice.

Never entrust democracy to any process that requires Republicans to act in good faith.

Is it irresponsible to speculate? It is irresponsible not to.

The next time the wall street journal editorial board speaks the truth will be the first.

I have other things to bitch about but those will have to wait.

Republicans in disarray!

Republicans are radicals, not conservatives.

Hot air and ill-informed banter

Let me file that under fuck it.

It is possible to do the right thing without the promise of a cookie.

They traffic in fear. it is their only currency. if we are fearful, they are winning.

Someone should tell Republicans that violence is the last refuge of the incompetent, or possibly the first.

Cancel the cowardly Times and Post and set up an equivalent monthly donation to ProPublica.

Lick the third rail, it tastes like chocolate!

Relentless negativity is not a sign that you are more realistic.

Jesus, Mary, & Joseph how is that election even close?

Wake up. Grow up. Get in the fight.

I’ve spoken to my cat about this, but it doesn’t seem to do any good.

They don’t have outfits that big. nor codpieces that small.

Celebrate the fucking wins.

The fight for our country is always worth it. ~Kamala Harris

No offense, but this thread hasn’t been about you for quite a while.

You are here: Home / Healthcare / COVID-19 / Monday Evening Open Thread: “Presidential” Discharge

Monday Evening Open Thread: “Presidential” Discharge

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“Happy hypoxia”?

… Nevertheless, many sick Covid-19 patients appear to be doing well even when their lung function is poor, a condition doctors have nicknamed “happy hypoxia.”

“Of course, we like to see that he is feeling good, but it doesn’t put him in a category that’s essentially mild Covid,” Dr. Choo said.

Steroids may also give a false impression of the patient’s state. The drugs are also known to affect mood, causing euphoria or a general happiness. Steroids can also disrupt sleep, leading to insomnia, irritability or depression….

It has been suggested that the Trump White House is being run from the Simpsons writers’ room…

Reader Interactions

295Comments

  3. 3.

    Baud

    advisers are fearful he leaves because he wants to, and then takes a turn for worse and goes back, which would have both physical and political implications

    Or worse, he could be completely recovered and start acting like himself again.

  4. 4.

    SiubhanDuinne

    “Presidential Discharge”

    Okay, that’s just disgusting.

     

    ETA: Or what Jim, Foolish Literalist said, more succinctly and more onomatopœically.

  5. 5.

    jl

    My understanding is consistent with Katie Mack’s re Johnson. The window for a crash after initial mild to moderate symptoms, young or old, fit or not, extends out to at least a week, until almost two weeks. Trump had problems early on. He’s still on meds that are administered in hospital, unless you have the equivalent of a mini acute care suite at your home. So, another dangerous stunt. Probably solely for Trump’s weird psychology.

    I think the Trumpster/GOP complex’s attempt to spin Trump’s diagnosis into alpha male braggadocio, taunting Biden and Harris to take similar risks, can only be explained that way.

    Seems to me that pitch won’t fly with the vast majority of people, who do not, absolutely do not not not not see having to rush the hospital with unstable vital signs, trouble breathing, that justify getting a massive cocktail of experimental and intensive treatments for unstable health status as an alpha male victory that they want to emulate in any way. Good chance it is just desperate spin to try to salvage horrible behavior and messaging that Trump is forcing on them.

  6. 6.

    Van Buren

    Spokesman just said Trump isn’t going to cower and hide..better tell that to Vietnam era Trump.

  7. 7.

    Roger Moore

    @Baud:

    Jared will be disappointed he’s not in charge anymore.

    Who says Trump will actually be back in charge? Or that he was ever in charge rather than delegating everything to Jared in the first place?

  8. 8.

    Elizabelle

    We don’t need no steroids to be happy.

    Voting Trump’s ass [alive or dead] out on November 3rd (or to hear in days after) will make us plenty happy.

    Just voting makes us happy.  Vote, vote, vote.

  9. 9.

    SFBayAreaGal

    Saw someone post this on their Facebook page and I “borrowed” it and posted this on my Facebook page. The comment describes exactly how I feel.

    “Well, that’s a big surprise. Seems I’ve tested negative for sympathy.”

  10. 10.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Abby D. Phillip @abbydphillip· 15m
    The WH pool reports that aides began installing lights outside of the entrance to Walter Reed, presumably preparing for Trump to make a dramatic exit.

    these fucking people

  12. 12.

    What Have The Romans Ever Done for Us?

    If that Regeneron stuff worked like magic maybe he’s OK. If not…seems like a turn for the worse is probable. It would be great if we found something that works like magic on this thing though, even if it means Trump goes back to being his insufferable self.

  14. 14.

    sanjeevs

    Pastor Greg Laurie tested positive.

    Was at the Barret Rose Garden thing and just before that was with Mike Pence at a prayer march

  15. 15.

    jl

    @Baud: Fact that the steroid treatment quickly produces ‘roid rage’ or euphoria, in up to 30 percent of patients hasn’t been discussed enough.

    If Trump hasn’t passed off authority of office to Pence while he’s on it, the whole GOP should answer for that negligence.

    Wonder if Trump has that side effect and it is affecting his judgment, from the very low baseline.

  16. 16.

    Elizabelle

    @What Have The Romans Ever Done for Us?:   I’d be OK if Regeneron worked … for other people.

    I haz no sympathy for Trump in matters of his health, when he’s been sociopathic towards the Americans who depended on actual leadership to protect their lives.  He failed, failed, failed.

  17. 17.

    Steeplejack

    Trump just did his little walk from the doors of the hospital to his SUV. Thumbs-upping, fist-pumping. What a pompous ass.

    He was wearing a mask. Yee-haw.

  18. 18.

    Benw

    Screw everything around this orange asshat and his dumb henchdoctors. I’m going to the library (masked!) to print out some D&D character sheets and then watching the MNF Double “Covid” Header

  19. 19.

    West of the Rockies

    Well, his grand exit was boring and p.o. pointless.  Someone has to disinfect those banisters.

  22. 22.

    The Thin Black Duke

    Trump is the captain of the Titanic yelling “FUCK YOU, ICEBERG! YOU’RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME!!!”

  23. 23.

    Rihilism

    “Presidential Discharge”!!!!???

    AL you’ve out-done yourself!

    Is there a word/phrase (preferentially German) for laughing hysterically and vomiting at the same time???!!!

  24. 24.

    laura

    I’m guessing there’s more than a scant few jackals who have experience with a friend or loved one who went AMA and it ended as one would expect. I’m unaware of AMA working out well – for the patient and those who were unable to stop them. Nightmare fuel.

  26. 26.

    Martin

    @What Have The Romans Ever Done for Us?: The Regeneron isn’t the problem, it’s the Dexamethasone. You only get Dex for Covid if you’re quite sick, because it makes the condition worse in mild cases.

    Trump is going to return to Walter Reed within a week, but this time on a gurney.

  27. 27.

    Bill Arnold

    Open thread, so woot, a CDC document update, that is an improvement.
    How COVID-19 Spreads – CDC
    For the record, here’s the web.archive.org link for today:
    How COVID-19 Spreads – CDC – web.archive.org 2020/10/05
    Much improved language about airborne spread. In the “Protect yourself and others” section they now have social distance and masks before hand washing in the bullet list.
    Still a big fail though; they need to move hand washing to just above surface cleaning, and below “Avoid crowded indoor spaces and ensure indoor spaces are properly ventilated by bringing in outdoor air as much as possible.” and “Stay home and isolate from others when sick.”
    Here’s the highlights from their current bullet list, which needs to have hand washing moved down two places.

    – Stay at least 6 feet away from others, whenever possible. …
    – Cover your mouth and nose with a mask when around others. …
    – Wash your hands often with soap and water. …
    – Avoid crowded indoor spaces and ensure indoor spaces are properly ventilated by bringing in outdoor air as much as possible. …
    – Stay home and isolate from others when sick. …
    – Routinely clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces. …

    Anyway, now that the CDC guidelines have been updated, let’s publicly reprimand Trump(s) and Republicans whenever they are in violation of the CDC guidelines.

  29. 29.

    Wyatt Salamanca

    @Elizabelle:

    Voting Trump’s ass [alive or dead] out on November 3rd (or to hear in days after) will make us plenty happy.

    That would certainly be nice, but I won’t be fully satisfied until Trump has to report to prison after being successfully prosecuted by the NY Attorney General or the Manhattan District Attorney.

    This President is a mass murderer and has committed numerous other crimes.  He belongs behind bars.

  30. 30.

    jl

    Finally, just an IMHO, if Trump had included some humanity and humility in his presidential persona, there would be a very good chance that the diagnosis and hospitalization would not have hurt him politically. People would judge him from that perspective.

    But the way he has insisted on presenting himself, it’s a fall from superman to that obnoxious fat old alcoholic chain cigar smoker at the small town Elk’s lodge who acts like a child. Except he waddles so slowly he can’t move fast enough to make much trouble or get in the way. Not a good look. Strongmen should avoid appearing ridiculous, weak and contemptible at any cost. His base don’t care and are locked in anyway, so no upside for him with his childish stunts. (apologies to normal children everywhere).

    That is apart from what seems to be majority opinion in the country that Trump’s diagnosis in large part due to his disgraceful irresponsibility and negligence.

    Hope he does get well quickly. I think he’s done enough damage to himself politically with this mess. Biden was winning before the covid diagnosis, so I’d prefer to get back to that normal asap. No reason to throw wildly unpredictable dangerous factors into the mix. Trump is pure bad news in any position of power.

  35. 35.

    Adam L Silverman

    Here’s what you need to know about the steroid treatment he’s on. This thread was written by a medical doctor who had to be on it following surgery. This isn’t like men who are on supplemental testosterone* or women who are on supplemental estrogen because their bodies aren’t producing enough.

    * One of the apparent souvenirs brought home by Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines serving in Iraq over the past 17 years is abnormally low levels of testosterone. One of my students at USAWC is one of the top physiology researchers and specialists at Army Medical and he told me this has been a huge problem for returning Service members. Men in their 30s, 40s, and 50s with the testosterone levels of a 90 year old. It is most likely related to all the crap we were exposed to from the burn pits for destroying everything from food waste to technological waste, as well as the fact that they used “grey”/non-potable water in the showers, sinks in the latrines, and to wash our clothes. Supposedly it had been treated, but it wasn’t treated enough to be potable.

  37. 37.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    @Martin: I assume he’s now basically addicted to the dex and is going to keep taking it in high doses, longer and more than is recommended.

    What sort of signs should we be looking for that that’s happening aside from continuing to tell us how great he feels?

    Edit: I guess Adam mostly hit that at #35, but that is mostly about the mental health side effects. Can we expect any physical deterioration that would be apparent at press appearances?

  38. 38.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Steeplejack:

    What’s that weird thing he’s been doing recently, where he gives two or three little quick pats to handrails, his pockets, etc.? I’ve only recently started noticing it, although it’s possible he’s had it as a nervous tic for a while.

  39. 39.

    rikyrah

    Ok,

    Can we all agree that he’s been LYING ABOUT HAVING COVID-19?

     

    Joe,

     

    You and Kamala better bring those protective plastic booths to the next debates.

    The DNC needs to invest in them for every Democratic Candidate running that’s agreed to debate a Republican.

  40. 40.

    TS (the original)

    Nothing but disgust and horror with the trump tweet. He is about to turn the US into Sweden & argue that it doesn’t matter that 50% of the population gets covid.

    Those wimps that get sick and die just aren’t real Americans.

  43. 43.

    lamh36

    Good evening BJ!

    Today was the first day at work at the new job. Word of the day: Confusion/???

    For the most part, it was just me shadowing the current supervisor and seeing what her workload consists of. I don’t have administrative access in a lot of the systems yet, but I should by the end of the week.

    Day 1: Uneventful. I met some folks, but not enough. I did meet the head Pathologist so that was cool. Tomorrow I’ll have better questions

  44. 44.

    CaseyL

    So the magic drug cocktail worked?  Excellent!

    Now distribute its components to hospitals around the country – at cost.

  45. 45.

    Delk

    I went AMA while taking an experimental HIV med. Walked home. Ran into a friend that was horrified at my appearance and told me to go back. Wouldn’t listen. Lasted three days before I went back. Stayed about two months on agony.

  48. 48.

    jl

    @Bill Arnold: Marm Kilpatrick is an expert in the epidemiology of zoonotic infectious diseases, both in wildlife and in humans (natural, since that comes with the zoonotic territory). He has a good evaluation of the new CDC guidance.

    @DiseaseEcology

    CDC’s updated webpage on how COVID-19 is spread & prevention tips is now (almost) in line with science!
    (WHO please do the same!)

    (Hooray! only 10 months into epidemic & when Trump in hospital so maybe isn’t paying attention?)
    Thread

    https://twitter.com/DiseaseEcology/status/1313193505276133376

    I think the critical issue is that the CDC got beyond the silly and incorrect argument about whether a fixed amount of transmission is due to droplets versus aerosols. Very probably, most of the virus come out of a person’s mouth as droplets, and aerosolization is due to an intersection of factors, such as vigorous respiration in a closed area with poor ventilation.

  50. 50.

    Mike in NC

    Not a gambler, but it sure seems like the odds of Fat Bastard being rushed back to Walter Reed before Friday are better than 50-50.

    “Typhoid Trump: Flush the Turd on November Third”

  52. 52.

    Elizabelle

    @Cheryl Rofer:   Poor Secret Service.  Maybe they’re like the healthcare workers of NYC:  cannot safely go home to see their families and loved ones.  Because of threat of exposing them to what Trump could care less he is throwing off and around.

  54. 54.

    Elizabelle

    @ThresherK:   NPR was breathlessly covering the earlier press conference.  They promised Mike Pence would speak next.  (Right into the timeslot for All Things Considered.)

    Hello music.  (Was just in the car for a few minutes, driving to VOTE early in person.

  57. 57.

    Steeplejack

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    I read it as a sort of “checking my balance” thing, probably unconscious. Especially the bannister. As for tapping his side, that could be another kinesthetic thing; “I feel okay, but just checking.” Performing some minor motion and having the sensory feedback come back “normal” is reassuring on a micro level.

  61. 61.

    Elizabelle

    @Wyatt Salamanca:   Yes, Trump belongs behind bars.  As does a lot of his administration.

    For death by depraved indifference of tens of thousands of Americans.  Way in excess of what a competent POTUS who cared and believed in science would have experienced.

    Lock him up.  No freedom for Trump.

  66. 66.

    jl

    @TS (the original): Some of the original herd immunity fanatics are in DC today peddling their wares.

    BTW, I think there is a widespread mistaken impression that the two countries, Japan and Sweden, that are most often cited as pursuing some kind of herd immunity strategy, were doing it out of pure choice. Both countries have statutory and constitutional constraints that make extreme shut downs and other control measures that restrict individual liberty very difficult, and some impossible.

    The bigshots in Sweden have been so coy and confusing about what they were doing, that is hard to tell whether they personally thought a herd immunity approach was a good idea. But that is irrelevant, since it is unclear whether it was feasible for those countries to implement more coercive measures.

    Sweden’s constitution decides its exceptional Covid-19 policy
    Lars Jonung. VoxEU 18 June 2020

    https://voxeu.org/article/sweden-s-constitution-decides-its-exceptional-covid-19-policy

    Edit: lesson for me is that it is unclear whether any respectable country with respectable leadership choose a herd immunity policy as the best approach. I say respectable to exclude places like Brazil. UK is semi-respectable, since even a Trump knock-off like Johnson had the sense to back off once the huge costs for very uncertain result became clear.

  69. 69.

    Baud

    @JaySinWA:

    Sanjay Gupta said dex makes you feel better but it suppresses the immune system, which is a problem when fighting COVID.  That’s what they have to watch out for now.

  70. 70.

    Steeplejack

    Whatever clock Brian Williams is looking at is always a minute slow—or maybe my Internet connection has a huge lag time. LOL. He often makes a verbal note of the exact time, as if it’s not plastered all over the screen, and he never agrees with the time on the screen. Hmm, that shoots down the “lag “time theory.

  71. 71.

    Wyatt Salamanca

    More idiocy from Republican senators

     

    Kelly Loeffler @KLoeffler

    US Senate candidate, GA-Special

    “COVID stood NO chance against @realDonaldTrump!”

    https://www.mediaite.com/news/covid-stood-no-chance-kelly-loeffler-blasted-for-tweeting-meme-of-trump-literally-fighting-the-coronavirus/

     

    John Kennedy (R-LA) “We have learned two things, among others, but two things stood out in my mind. Number one, it’s very contagious. Number two, it’s not nearly as lethal as the experts told us it was going to be.”

    https://www.mediaite.com/tv/sen-kennedy-coronavirus-not-nearly-as-lethal-as-the-experts-told-us-it-was-going-to-be/

  75. 75.

    Adam L Silverman

    @debbie: That is probably part of it. The cause is my speculation given that so many of us who deployed to Iraq came back with something wrong: like my digestive/GI issues.

  76. 76.

    jl

    @Wyatt Salamanca: Sure, the average person will figure ‘hey, if I get so sick I have to go to the hospital, and if I can get world-class, cost and trouble is no obstacle, treatment, then I might be sick as a dog, but come through and not die’ and say to themselves ‘hey, what’s the problem, what me worry?’

    Edit: 10 percent chance of dying over the next month is way too high for most people, and if enough high profile older GOPers get the disease, there very probably be some high profile deaths over the next month, since, law of averages kicks in pretty soon. Really a ghastly situation, even if they are whistling happily past the graveyard.

  78. 78.

    JaySinWA

    @Baud: Immune suppression is a plus in preventing cytokine storms, which is why the declared use was assumed to mean things were bad and I suppose why it is bad for mild cases.

  81. 81.

    Baud

    @JaySinWA:

    Immune suppression is a plus in preventing cytokine storms

    That may be why they gave it to him, even if it’s use was not called for.

  83. 83.

    TS (the original)

    @Wyatt Salamanca:

    US Senate candidate, GA-Special

    She will need the GA voter suppression to win this – and we will, unfortunately will probably see that happen.

  84. 84.

    Gin & Tonic

    @SiubhanDuinne: As soon as my dear wife saw the closer video of Trump at the top of the stairs she said “look, he’s struggling to breathe.” She has been involved in treating multiple Covid cases.

  85. 85.

    mali muso

    @Adam L Silverman: I have a good friend who has Meniere’s disease as a result of her service in Iraq.  Took years of fighting with the VA for her to get listed as disabled and she still suffers debilitating vertigo and other issues.

  86. 86.

    mrmoshpotato

    .@peterbakernyt and I reported today that advisers are fearful he leaves because he wants to, and then takes a turn for worse and goes back, which would have both physical and political implications

    Italics mine because

    Fuck ’em.

    Fuck ’em.

    and go fuck yourself, Mags.

  87. 87.

    Adam L Silverman

    @debbie: And on that note, I’m going to go do a TRX workout in the definitely not climate controlled driveway gym and then walk the dogs!

  89. 89.

    Wyatt Salamanca

    @Baud:

    @jl:

    I’ve heard several pundits describe John Kennedy as one of the smarter more thoughtful Republicans serving in the Senate, but I’ve seen no such evidence.

  90. 90.

    hueyplong

    Hypothetically, if Trump had a daily Adderall habit, would he now be off it cold turkey or would he be combining it with his COVID meds.

    Recreational Adderall is after my time.

  93. 93.

    Adam L Silverman

    @mali muso: The majority of people I know have something that they didn’t have before they deployed. From the mildly annoying like my GI issues to people with very aggressive cancers. The dog and pony show that the VA does in an attempt to not have to spend money on this stuff is a disgrace. I don’t even get that because I went in a civilian capacity. So I just have one more preexisting condition for my private insurance.

  94. 94.

    jl

    @BruceFromOhio: Drunk driving is not as lethal as we think, maybe. Many do it hundreds of times (before they kill themselves, or someone else, or get nabbed).

    Using a cheap jack heater is for unapproved purposes is not as lethal as we think. You can use it hundreds of times before it malfunctions and you die of carbon monoxide poisoning.

    Eating random plants in your garden…

    One could go on…

  95. 95.

    Mai Naem mobile

    @Ceci n est pas mon nym: he’s going to swell up like a fucking balloon. Years ago Jerry Lewis was on tv and he looked like he’d put on a bunch of weight. He said it was because of the steroids he was on. Also they’re going to have to worry about fluid overload so I am guessing they’ll have him on a diuretic and that brings it’s own problems with electrolytes etc. Physically – look for a freaking catheter or incontinence  because he’s going to be peeing like a horse if they put him on a diuretic. This is a stupid man. If they made this all up  for politics they’re even dumber than I thought.

  96. 96.

    lamh36

    fuq’er looked like he was barely breathing on that balcony. He gonna be back at WR by the end of the week…BET.

    Oh and he’s got on his orange makeup again.  That’s probably why he left WR…his pale azz couldn’t shellack on that orange tanner on his face

  97. 97.

    Roger Moore

    @Martin:

    You only get Dex for Covid if you’re quite sick, because it makes the condition worse in mild cases.

    A slightly bigger explanation: dexamethasone is an immune suppressant.  People I work with have used it in their research to make mice susceptible to infections they would otherwise be able to shake off.  The thinking is that the patients’ immune systems are overreacting and damaging their bodies more than the virus is, so tamping down the reaction is going to improve their chances.  That’s obviously something you only do for patients who are gravely ill; if they looked like they were recovering on their own, you’d leave their immune systems be.

  98. 98.

    jl

    @Wyatt Salamanca: As I IMHO’d above, I think this asinine and I hope unconvincing, spinning has been forced on the GOP and Trumpsters by Trump’s BS, perhaps enhanced by steroid treatment.

  99. 99.

    Hoodie

    @JaySinWA: I recall seeing early studies from China that steroids were counterproductive in early Covid cases. BTW, Drum’s observations about psychiatric effects of corticosteroids is at odds with the literature, which says that these effects usually occur early in the course of treatment.  I imagine he’s talking about the crash and depression after you have the initial euphoria.  Trump’s tweets look like classic steroid euphoria.

  102. 102.

    JaySinWA

    @Adam L Silverman: My understanding, mostly from people here on this blog is that the burn pits have always been a military staple. They burn pretty much everything but randomly so it would be hard to know what toxic stuff you were exposed to. Built in random long term ill effects and plausible deniability for VA benefits.

  103. 103.

    Mai Naem mobile

    Orange Dbag has taken off the story on Eric Trumpov going to New Yawk for the meeting with the AG  to talk about his family finances. And the taxes. And Melania working her fucking ass off on fucking Christmas decorations.

  111. 111.

    piratedan

    well, let say for the sake of argument that this fucker manages to skate to a “recovery”, fine, congrats you lucky bastard…. it still doesn’t excuse him for not doing anything at a federal level to deal with the pandemic.  I’m not gonna get pissed off because he hasn’t keeled over already, I will manage to stay pissed off due to every fucking other thing he is doing.

    Nothing has changed except for some ill advised Conservative crowing over a dubious achievement of a President doped up off his gourd not following medical advice and checking himself out of some high end quality care to end up in some residential high-end quality care.

    If he dies in a week or gets re-admitted, I still won’t be happy because there’s nothing about any of this shit to be happy about…. people are still going to get sick and all this jackass has done is made it easier for more people to be willfully stupid and infect yet more people.

  112. 112.

    Steeplejack

    @Baud:

    I can’t wait for this to be retweeted by Herman Cain’s Twitter account.

    Or John Kennedy’s survivors.

  113. 113.

    Kay

    An overwhelming majority of voters believe the Senate should prioritize coronavirus relief over confirming Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, a new Hill-HarrisX poll finds.
    Seventy-four percent of registered voters in the Sept. 30-Oct. 1 survey said the Senate should first pass a new COVID-19 relief bill.
    By contrast, 26 percent of respondents said the Senate should confirm Barrett first.

    Republican ideas are insanely unpopular.

  114. 114.

    Martin

    @Ceci n est pas mon nym: The increased blood pressure will catch up with him, as will the mania. He already has serious problems with impulse control. What’s left of his verbal filters will be gone.

    But he’s going to believe he’s more well than he is. At some point that check comes due, and he’ll crash. He’s always been dependent on the people around him being living guardrails, and maybe the WH medical staff can prop him up through this, but my  guess is his behavior either gets more erratic, or he hits that Covid wall and heads back to Walter Reed on his back.

  122. 122.

    MomSense

    I feel a little bit better since I caught him the close up of tRump at the top of the stairs.  He is having trouble breathing.

  123. 123.

    Aleta

    @Aleta:  “Operation Trump Freedom”    “carried out with speed and boldness the the world had never seen before”

    “we sent experimental drug miracles to strike at the heart of the virus”

    “Doctors said it was one of the swiftest recoveries in history”     “We have shown the world how great”

  124. 124.

    JaySinWA

    @Hoodie: Yes, his “evil dex” articles have been about the depression and other side effects of long term use. He didn’t really hit on the euphoria, he has talked about that before.

  126. 126.

    ballerat

    White House is not contact tracing super-spreader Rose Garden event

    The White House has decided not to trace the contacts of guests and staff members at the Rose Garden celebration 10 days ago for Judge Amy Coney Barrett, where at least eight people, including the president, may have become infected…

    They must be very afraid of what they will find. Barrett or her children could be the source. Or they could uncover more R senators who will need to isolate if they are positive (even if they don’t want to), which takes them unable to confirm her.

    And hell yes these R senators would expose the entire Senate to covid for this seat if they could pretend they didn’t know they were positive.

    This is going to cost them more votes. It’s going to harden the gap. I guess someone decided the SS Trumptanic has already struck the iceberg; it’s sinking and now they are desperate to get Barrett’s nomination into a lifeboat.

  127. 127.

    moops

    Well, it takes a while for steroids to really do you in, so Trump will be on steroids until the election, in increasing doses.   I’m surprised this wasn’t the go-to move after the debate even without the COVID superspreader event.   Enhance Trump with chemicals to hit the campaign trail hard and show off his awesome energy.  They’ll supplement with stimulants and painkillers, then begin a nighttime unconsciousness regime to counteract the steroid insomnia.   He’ll go psychotic but it will be sort of hard to tell and the media will carry water to make the election a horse race again.

     

    He’ll close the polling gap unless COVID round 2 puts him on his ass.

  129. 129.

    MoCA Ace

     Steroids can also disrupt sleep, leading to insomnia, irritability or depression….

    I recommend a touch appropriate dose substantial dose all the propofol.  Paging Dr. Murray!

  130. 130.

    artem1s

    @Yutsano: 
    Thursday afternoon is my bet. He’s going to be jacked up on dex, media attention and his own delusion for about 48 hours. By Thursday morning he’s going to be feeling pretty shitty. He’ll try to hold out for Friday stock market close but won’t make it. He won’t be walking to Marine One this time either.

  133. 133.

    gwangung

    @lamh36: This is his “He looks tired” moment.

    Even if he’s doing relatively well, every tremor, every seeming moment of weakness is going to be magnified and commented up, and will go viral on social media.

  134. 134.

    Aleta

    @Aleta:   “The war on Covid is not over, yet it  (cough)  is not endless.”

    “We do not know the day of final victory, but (cough cough) we have seen the turning of the tide.”

    “No virus will weaken my (cough cough) resolve or (cough) god’s (cough) purpose”

    “We will press on (cough cough) (cough) to vic(cough).”

  135. 135.

    randy khan

    @ThresherK:

    ABC Evening News is covering this like it was the last helicopter out of Saigon.

    As I recall, that was not exactly a triumph.

  136. 136.

    moops

    Yes, Dex is a strong immune suppressant.  You use it in COVID cases to stop the immune over-response, or to help the person fight off pneumonia.  Not sure how the latter works, but the former is a known treatment for advanced cases and not something you put into the early patient.  But then, Trump can order any treatment he wants I guess.  Trump’s treatment has been nuts.

  140. 140.

    Matt McIrvin

    @TS (the original):

    He is about to turn the US into Sweden

    The US is already doing way worse than Sweden, has been almost all year. (Don’t believe the American right-wing propaganda about how they just said fuck it and let it roll; while some of their lockdown provisions were relatively lax, Sweden has been doing more to control COVID than much of the US.)

  141. 141.

    mrmoshpotato

    A little-known clause in HIPAA says that negative news about the President’s health must not be disclosed under severe penalties.

    Is that clause in Russian?

  145. 145.

    Martin

    @ballerat: Contact tracing would expose that the timeline we’ve been given is false. It tells you who got it and when, and they’re covering that up.

  146. 146.

    Kay

    @JaySinWA:

    They are counting on popularity not mattering if they control the courts

    It still matters though. I guarantee you a lot of Republicans will think it matters when they’re all running for President in 2024.
    After their unpopular court overturned or halted a lot of very popular things.

  149. 149.

    PPCLI

    @Wyatt Salamanca: It’s especially appalling to hear a Louisiana senator say this because of how hard Louisiana has been hit by the disease. Say you set aside states that were hit massively hard right at the beginning and then got the spread under control by June (NY, NJ, Conn. Mass.)

    Of the remaining states, Louisiana has the worst deaths/million rate. Over 1 in 1000 people have died of Covid in Louisiana since March. It takes a special kind of vile to be so indifferent to the lives of the people you represent.

  152. 152.

    randy khan

    @moops:

    Well, it takes a while for steroids to really do you in, so Trump will be on steroids until the election, in increasing doses.   I’m surprised this wasn’t the go-to move after the debate even without the COVID superspreader event.   Enhance Trump with chemicals to hit the campaign trail hard and show off his awesome energy.  They’ll supplement with stimulants and painkillers, then begin a nighttime unconsciousness regime to counteract the steroid insomnia.   He’ll go psychotic but it will be sort of hard to tell and the media will carry water to make the election a horse race again.

    I really think that scenario is unlikely (not the part about trying to juice him up, although I think that he won’t need any convincing and might even suggest it himself).

    First of all, all the movement in the last week or so has been the other way – there was a pretty good poll out today that had Biden up by 7 in Arizona, which would be kind of unbelievable except for everything else we’ve been seeing.

    Second, his act isn’t working any more.  That’s why he’s behind.  And a hyped-up version of that act won’t help him because it’s only going to emphasize the things people don’t like.  Today’s tweet was kind of a perfect example because people who are scared are unlikely to take his word for it when he says it’s no big deal.

  155. 155.

    laura

    @SiubhanDuinne: my grandfather did that when he was anxious and he did it All The Time as his dementia increased and his sense of self confidence melted away, never to return. If/when you’re familiar with that pat a pat pat, you can’t unseen it.

  159. 159.

    PPCLI

    @moops: Polls have been amazingly stable. There might be a bit of tightening, but it’s hard to see over the top manic Trump performances changing the basic dynamic. Trump’s problem has not been lack of rabid energy.

    Of course, the horse race addicted media will do what they can to create false excitement, and that might mean a point or two, and there might be effective October surprises coming that work better than the catastrophic failures they’ve rolled out so far. I’m not relaxed by any means. But I’m not worried about the scenario you describe.

  164. 164.

    The Moar You Know

    Now distribute its components to hospitals around the country – at cost.

    @CaseyL: great idea. Unfortunately, with the Regeneron antibody “cocktail”, simply not possible. It will always be a (very, very, very expensive) niche drug as there is simply no way to make enough for even a substantial fraction of Americans.

  165. 165.

    VeniceRiley

    Oh man, I went to look at the video. Man cannot breathe. Truly struggling for air.  Keep the suite ready, Walter Reed. I’m sure he’s already on supplemental oxy the second he went inside. He does not fell great, I guarantee you.

  167. 167.

    What Have The Romans Ever Done for Us?

    @JaySinWA: I was in Sweden last summer. I am shocked they took the herd immunity approach to be honest.

    My main takeaway is that the perils of socialism are wildly overblown – didn’t see a single dwelling in poor repair. All the cars looked less than 5 years old, not a single broken down jalopy anywhere. The whole country seemed like the upper middle class to wealthy parts of the US.

    We even had a short interaction with their socialized medical system. Service was competent, fast and cheap. I could easily see myself living there.

  169. 169.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @BruceFromOhio:

    Fifty clams to Raphael Warnock because Loeffler.

    Funny. I sent him $50 earlier today when I saw that idiotic video, for the same reason.

    Loeffler is toxic, arrogant, and supremely stupid. Not a good combination.

  173. 173.

    Martin

    @WaterGirl: Yeah. I mean, even beyond this, look at the degree he’s willing to put himself and everyone else at risk to stay in power. He’s knowingly infectious and walking around the WH without a mask.

  175. 175.

    Peale

    I do like that so many physicians and whatnot are willing to go on TV and diagnose the President as unhinged by steroids. Whether he is or not, its a refreshing break from that old coot from Harvard who they trotted out each election to diagnose the Democratic candidates as insane and in need of treatment from Dukakis to Obama, who’d look at the answers to inane questions about favorite foods and find them “all so troubling. Just so troubling.”  Trump is so bad that Biden could bite the head off of a bunny in front of a room full of white upper middle class school children and people wouldn’t bother to comment.

  177. 177.

    Ken

    @mrmoshpotato:

    A little-known clause in HIPAA says that negative news about the President’s health must not be disclosed under severe penalties.

    Is that clause in Russian?

    Having just had the dubious pleasure of annual HIPAA re-certification, I can confirm that clause exists – in that any news about any patient’s health must not be disclosed without the patient’s permission.

    Which means when the doctors freely provide positive health news, but retreat behind HIPAA when asked about negative news, it’s because Trump told them to answer that way.

  180. 180.

    Jay

    @JaySinWA:

    the burn pits were always known to be a toxic mess, TomDispatch covered them regularly.

    Bechtel got billions in Taxpayer funds to build proper incinerators, but like most “projects” in Iraq and Afghanistan, they never got built.

    It’s no surprise that the VA is in full bore denial, they were in full bore denial after the Vietnam War about the effects of Agent Rainbow Colour Palate, and in full bore denial after the Gulf War about DU/Chemical Weapons/Oilfield toxins.

  183. 183.

    Peale

    @lamh36: We knew they would start rolling out a vaccine this month and demand that they cover up any hint that the vaccine causes any problems. There’s a reason why we’re looking to Canada and the EU to determine whether what the FDA approves is safe.

  185. 185.

    tomtofa

    A couple of random observations – I hope he holds out until the town hall debate; that will be fun with the cocktail of drugs he’ll be on by then. And I’d like to see a breakdown of what an average person in his situation would spend on the treatment course and medical attending staff he enjoyed at WR.

  187. 187.

    Ruckus

    @lamh36:

    It’s not easy to be the boss and be good at it. I’ve been the boss of my own business for 18 yrs and a department head for 11 yrs when I worked in pro sports. The first week of that 11 yrs wasn’t horrible, I’d worked for them in a part time hobby position for 20 yrs before that. It still took a while to get into the groove and work hard at not being that guy. You sound like you’ll do just fine, because you are worried about being a decent boss.

  191. 191.

    TS (the original)

    @Matt McIrvin:

    Sweden has been doing more to control COVID than much of the US.

    Scary thought that.

    I read trump’s tweet and wonder why I haven’t sued my state government because they haven’t allowed me to visit my granddaughter – who lives in a different state – for the past 6 months.  Might be because I believe the science and want to keep everyone safe.

  195. 195.

    randy khan

    It’s beginning to look like Kayleigh McEnany is a superspreader all by herself – two of her assistants now have tested positive.

    That brings the current known White House count up to 20 – the Trumps, 6 political staffers, 2 Senators, 5 guests at the Barrett event, 3 journalists, and 2 housekeeping employees.  More to come, I’m sure.

  197. 197.

    TS (the original)

    @Martin:

    Contact tracing would expose that the timeline we’ve been given is false

    Contract tracing can also reveal the source of a cluster – which the White House/administration/trump/ does not want anyone to find out.

  198. 198.

    Peale

    @tomtofa: I honestly don’t. As Kay has indicated, the town hall audience questions tend to be better than those of Media who just want to instigate fist fights. While I can’t stand undecided voters, the audience does tend to take its job more seriously than the overpriced punditry. I’d hate to find out later than large number of audience members ended up frightened because spitforbrains couldn’t shut up.

    Although it would be fun if they circulated air by using such strong blowers and filters that the orange started flaking off his skin.

  202. 202.

    Ken

    @WaterGirl: 8 million dollars for the dose he got. That’s not likely to be a winner for anyone but a few millionaires.

    And even they will need the help of the Protecting America’s Job Creators Act, which will increase the FICA rate by 0.5% and use the funds to procure the drug for persons with a net worth over 10 billion dollars.

  203. 203.

    Elizabelle

    Anybody who watches Biden and then votes for Trump?  Fuck ’em.  Too stupid or greedy.

  204. 204.

    CarolPW

    @lamh36: That’s great! One of my favorite things in 2008 was the Bark Obama stuff. Yes, we really need a pet in the White House.

    And congratulations on your first day!!

  205. 205.

    Elizabelle

    The hedge fund manager is a Republican thinking of supporting Biden.

    No shit.

    “Science matters.”  (So do numbers.)

  206. 206.

    Peale

    @Omnes Omnibus: I’m assuming Modo has also been put on ice for this election, but where is Camille Paglia opining that even as a deranged and sick nut, Trump oozes more sexual appeal than any dem? Has COVID finally muzzled the GOP appeal to the reactionary lesbian dominatrix wannabe voter?

  208. 208.

    Patricia Kayden

    at socially distanced town hall event on MSNBC, Biden started answering a question and realized there were some spread out voters seated behind him. "Pardon my back," he said and pivoted to face them. can you *imagine* Trump ever doing something decent like that?— Eric Boehlert (@EricBoehlert) October 6, 2020

  210. 210.

    Elizabelle

    What is this macho thing: I’m not going to wear a mask.  Does it hurt you?  Be decent ….

  214. 214.

    lamh36

    @Elizabelle:  I saw NBC say it’s all “undecided” voters at this townhall.

    IMHO there are no true “undecided” voters at this point. Only folks who are looking for excuses to vote for Chump over Biden…I mean the choice is so clear.

    I think, anyone who claims to still be undecided less than 30 days til an election is just doing it for attention.

  215. 215.

    jl

    @TS (the original): Both Finland and Sweden are doing much much better than the US is now, both on cases and deaths per capita. Even the good right-minded states in the US have a serious ‘last mile’ problem, they can’t get the prevalence low enough to safely reopen as over 20 other countries, rich middle and poor income, have done.

    As I noted in comment above, Sweden has some serious constitutional impediments to coercive measures, including shut downs. And as another commenter noted, Sweden has tried to compensate by some targeted measures, far superior health education and public awareness campaigns, protection of workers in isolation, etc. and those can compensate for other weaker measures. Sweden has been more careful in reopening schools, also.

    The US is just a mess across the board.

  219. 219.

    Peale

    @Patricia Kayden: “Unable to understand courtesy and decency and what motivates them, GOP operatives assume that that means those attendees saw something that would prove once and for all that Biden is cheating. The wires to the person who is feeding him answer. The pump that injects him with the energy giving blood of children.”

  220. 220.

    prostratedragon

    “Phenomenal patient”
    “look at ‘the tweets’ as a gauge of Trump’s mental fitness”

    That Dr. Conley is really a master.

  221. 221.

    gbbalto

    @VeniceRiley: Could you please provide a link? I cannot find it anywhere. Thanks!

     

     

     

     

    ETA – I assume it’s a video of him entering the WH

  222. 222.

    Bill Arnold

    @debbie:
    @SiubhanDuinne:

    What’s that weird thing he’s been doing recently, where he gives two or three little quick pats to handrails, his pockets, etc.? I’ve only recently started noticing it, although it’s possible he’s had it as a nervous tic for a while.

    Oh that? That’s the real D.J.Trump. The extradimensional parasite that possesses him has taken over his right cerebral hemisphere, and the (slightly damaged, clearly) left hemisphere (which controls the right side of his body) is allowed to do these little tics even when the parasite is in control. (Shitty brain, so it makes him take stimulant drugs. Obviously.)
    Or maybe the other way around, if you prefer. :-)
    Guy is so fucking weird.
    He may have right hip/leg pain, perhaps arthritis, hard to tell. And his right foot visibly dragged again as he came out the door.

  223. 223.

    burnspbesq

    @feebog:

    I’m with you on Thursday, but after 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. He will consider it highly important not to tank the stock market so his family has a chance to get out before the shit hits the fan.

  224. 224.

    Wyatt Salamanca

    @Baud:

    Biden has manners.  It’s quite a difference from Trump.

    Biden has shown more class and dignity in the past 4 days than Trump has shown in  74 years.  Trump is the Jabba the Hutt of American politics.

  225. 225.

    Alison Rose

    @Adam L Silverman: Not to discount her knowledge at all, but I was gonna share the Twitter thread to FB and wanted to confirm her bona fides…looks like she’s a law professor and sociologist, not a medical doctor, unless I’ve missed something?

  226. 226.

    Ken

    @Peale: that old coot from Harvard who they trotted out each election to diagnose the Democratic candidates as insane

    It really is remarkable how many of the Republican lies over the years have come true with Trump, isn’t it?  I’m also thinking of the pundit – was it Krauthammer or Will – who insisted Obama was a narcissist because of the number of times he used “I” when speaking.

    And of course we’ve had a really fast turnaround on the accusation that one of the debate candidates is using performance-enhancing drugs.

  228. 228.

    jl

    @jl: And by some measures, Finland now more ‘reopened’ and lax on restrictions than Sweden. Both doing far better than the US on cases and deaths for months now. Many ways to get the job done. Not their fault the US can’t find one.

  230. 230.

    low-tech cyclist

    @Adam L Silverman: they used “grey”/non-potable water in the showers, sinks in the latrines, and to wash our clothes. Supposedly it had been treated, but it wasn’t treated enough to be potable.

    Nothing wrong in and of itself for using ‘grey’ water to shower and shave and wash your face. When I was young, I attended a summer camp on the banks of the (tidal) Mattaponi River, and they pumped water straight out of the river to the showers and toilets, and to the sinks where we washed our hands and faces.  We were warned not to drink the stuff, but I don’t recall anyone getting sick from having washed with it.

    I expect, though, that the ‘grey’ water you and your compatriots used in Iraq was a good deal more iffy than water from a Southeastern tidal estuary.

  231. 231.

    laura

    @Peale: I’m of the opinion that Camille Paglia was the lesbian voter forced to choose to vote for trump in the recent bedbug Steven’s recent op ed.

    Lamh36! Way to work a new gig – wishing you success and career advancement.

  235. 235.

    Mai Naem mobile

    @prostratedragon: that’s why his name is Dr Con-Ley. I genuinely feel sorry for the bunch of Dr Conleys out there who are going to be confused with this guy and there’s got to be quite a few Dr. Conleys – it sounds like a common name. Same goes for Ronny Jackson.

  236. 236.

    cain

    @ballerat: They must be very afraid of what they will find. Barrett or her children could be the source. Or they could uncover more R senators who will need to isolate if they are positive (even if they don’t want to), which takes them unable to confirm her.

    They are going to develop symptoms soon regardless. They won’t be able to show up if they have a fever or anything else. It won’t take long after the initial diagnosis.

    It’s not like the virus will stay hidden until it is identified. It’s gonna keep on doing its thing – and meanwhile they’ll spread it all over the place probably to other colleagues and friends.

    God knows how many of their donors got it at that event.

  238. 238.

    TS (the original)

    @MisterForkbeard:

    How has trump behaved for the past 4 years. This lot don’t have rules from other folks, they make their own.

    McConnell and Trump – two peas in the pod when it comes to the rules of government.

  239. 239.

    gene108

    @Kay:

    If it isn’t going to flip an upcoming Senate election in KY, it does not matter what the rest of the world thinks.

    KY voters, right now have a ridiculously outsized ability to shape the future of US politics for the next decade.

  241. 241.

    BruceFromOhio

    @lamh36:

    I think, anyone who claims to still be undecided less than 30 days til an election is just doing it for attention.

    I think anyone who claims to still be undecided less than 30 days til an election could be dealing with some other far more personal and important matter that has taken up all of their spare moments, or is as dumb as a fucking box of rocks.

  244. 244.

    Mai Naem mobile

    @Ken: I am willing to bet they’re going go use a huge mask on Donnie to hide the oxygen tubing. Bigger mask than Biden’s.

  246. 246.

    Kirk Spencer

    @lamh36:  5 minutes? Aren’t you breaking a city ordinance or something? I mean, everyone I know here has at least a half an hour drive. (Mine’s just over half an hour if I leave before the sun comes up, up to an hour if I wait till after.)

  247. 247.

    ballerat

    @cain: Almost half of those who get infected are asymptomatic. And infectious.

    You reminded me of another reason they have to not contact trace: they don’t want any donors to know who gave them covid. Plausible deniability there too.

  248. 248.

    sanjeevs

    WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday ensured that a restrictive Republican-backed law in South Carolina that requires voters to have a witness sign mail-in ballots will be in place for the Nov. 3 election.

  249. 249.

    Bill Arnold

    @The Moar You Know:

    It will always be a (very, very, very expensive) niche drug as there is simply no way to make enough for even a substantial fraction of Americans.

    Yep. Its main purposeeffect will be to harden the hearts of the rich and powerful. It will amplify divisions.

  250. 250.

    MagdaInBlack

    I just finally saw the clip of him at the WH. Holy crap, the breathing looked like my father when he had emphysema/congestive heart failure. My bets on Wednesday, if not tomorrow.

  253. 253.

    Kay

    Thirteen workers at a Minneapolis steakhouse were quarantining after the restaurant catered a private fundraiser attended by President Donald Trump during his visit to Minnesota last week, the restaurant said Monday.
    The food workers are employed by Murray’s Restaurant in downtown Minneapolis, which catered the fundraiser on Wednesday at the Lake Minnetonka home of Marty Davis, CEO of the quartz countertop manufacturer Cambria. About 40 contributors paid $200,000 a couple or $100,000 per person for the chance to meet the president and hear him speak.

    Making new friends every day, the Trump Administration.

  254. 254.

    Kay

    @MagdaInBlack:

    My daughter said it looks like congestive heart failure patients too. She thinks he tore the mask off because he feels like he’s suffocating.

  255. 255.

    Jess

    @Kirk Spencer: Don’t hate me, but I walk five minutes to my place of work. Of course, I live surrounded by rowdy, trashy students, so there is a downside…

  257. 257.

    prostratedragon

    @Cheryl Rofer:  During his Little Man on a Balcony stunt on videos below this one on the thread, one can clearly see that he’s not getting his breath very well.

  258. 258.

    ballerat

    @Bill Arnold: Dick Cheney has been drinking the blood of infants for years to stay alive. A million bucks a gram for a monoclonal antibody cocktail is nothing for these kind of guys.

  259. 259.

    Geoduck

    @Aleta: In the extended version of The Stand, Stephen King included a transcript of the unnamed President giving a TV speech from the Oval Office, denying there is any problem, even as he is dying of Captain Trips. We may yet see that scene play out in real life.

  260. 260.

    Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes

    Why do so many around him ruin their professional lives by facilitating the lies? I mean, somebody went to the time, expense and trouble of medical school, and they immolate their reputation because the bloated mediocrity wants to burnish his image with a specific narrative?

  261. 261.

    Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes

    I’ll add one more thing – overly invoking HIPAA is hurting the pandemic response. There’s a shitload of trainers that have made a fortune by needlessly frightening medical professionals over penalties that are never invoked.

  265. 265.

    Bill Arnold

    @Shalimar:

    If that Regeneron stuff worked like magic, he wouldn’t have needed a steroid.

    On the other hand, since the Regeneron stuff gave (might have given) his immune system an artificial boost of lab-made antibodies, the doctors might have been winging it and not worrying much about the immunosuppression caused by the Dex. (Does that affect antibodies, or other parts of the adaptive immune system?)

  270. 270.

    Steeplejack

    @jl:

    I think Sweden also benefitted from all its neighboring countries implementing stronger measures than Sweden did. Bit of insulation.

  273. 273.

    Bill Arnold

    @Ken:

    Related XKCD.

    Pretty much. :-)
    Also, watch for recently developed single droopy eyes in national level politicians. It’s a sign. :-) (Of something. Maybe vitreous separation (retina thing, happens when one gets older);, maybe a stroke, maybe basic single hemisphere demonic possession, maybe something else. :-)

  275. 275.

    frosty

    @lamh36: First day on a new job is always strange. I did it six times. On two of them my first task was to arrange dividers and set up my own cubicle!! After that I was happy that they seemed ready for me.

    Congratulations on everything!

  276. 276.

    Bill Arnold

    @Steeplejack:

    Trump breathing heavily after going up the stairs to the White House entrance.

    Does he get turned on climbing stairs? Pneumonia yes. His every public tic and shake and twitch will be analyzed from now until the election, and he deserves it. The Republicans deserve it, for labeling Biden’s stutter as evidence of dementia.

  277. 277.

    Ruckus

    @Ken:

    I used to live 33 miles from work, in Los Angeles. If I left at the right time it took 35 minutes to get to work. 2 minutes later and it took me about 50 minutes. Those were normal times. Once it took 4 hrs to go that 33 miles. I would have turned around but every freeway and road in LA was stopped up in all directions because all the freeway interchanges had accidents. I recall no one was hurt seriously but traffic just didn’t/couldn’t move.

  278. 278.

    WaterGirl

    @Kay:  What a selfish fuck.  Here’s my response to reading what you put up.

    The workers, who probably all make fucking $10 an hour, would like the thank the president for the honor of being exposed to COVID.

    I hope there is not a single restaurant who will cater any event having to do with Trump or anyone in that administration.

    With any luck, this may be what we like to call a “teachable moment” for people who didn’t take COVID seriously.

  279. 279.

    Matt McIrvin

    @PPCLI: Massachusetts is now behaving stupidly and gearing up for wave two. We’ve got cases and deaths rising and the governor just loosened restrictions on indoor dining.

  280. 280.

    Steeplejack (phone)

    Giuliani (unmasked) was coughing through his interview on Fox.

    (Rudy Giuliani is literally waiting for the results of a COVID test)

    Martha MacCallum: "I hope that cough is not anything bad. You're waiting for your test to come back.

    Rudy Giuliani: "I hope so too. I'll let you know tomorrow."

    — Jeremy Barr (@jeremymbarr) October 6, 2020

  281. 281.

    James E Powell

    @mrmoshpotato:

    A little-known clause in HIPAA says that negative news about the President’s health must not be disclosed under severe penalties.

    Is that clause in Russian?

    It’s in English, but it’s hand-written in Sharpie at the bottom of the last page.

  282. 282.

    Matt McIrvin

    @jl: Sweden’s death rate per capita was (slightly) worse than the US during the spring, which was what so appalled the neighboring countries. But they’ve been doing much better than us ever since then, though worse than the rest of Scandinavia.

  285. 285.

    Jeffro

    @PPCLI:Polls have been amazingly stable. There might be a bit of tightening, but it’s hard to see over the top manic Trump performances changing the basic dynamic.

    Truth.  About 3-4% of the voting public has either straight-up shifted from R to D, or shifted from R to I with the same number shifting I to D.  And that number has barely moved for a year, pandemic or no pandemic.

    I’m glad things are going the way they’re going.  I’m still way worried that nearly 40% of this country is pretty much with trumpov no matter what and 27% appears to be okay with the truly crazy shit.

  286. 286.

    Miss Bianca

    What’s this, Rudy G hacking up a lung and looking even more like an ill-fed Nosferatu than usual? It’s like suddenly all the cool kids are racing to get COVID like Dear Leader.

  287. 287.

    Jeffro

    @Elizabelle: He’s just following Goldman Sachs’ latest guidance about how the economy will do much better under a Biden presidency than a trumpov 2nd term.

  288. 288.

    Aleta

    @SiubhanDuinne: The patting could be a way of locating himself in space.  Or else, the line along the entire side of the body is where the muscles on the front of the body, the flexors, meet the extensor muscles of the back.  Touching  it for awareness (like lying on one’s side) helps balance the two sets of muscles.  Balancing his leg muscles if he’s patting his pocket.  Or he could just be patting to reassure himself if he’s afraid of falling.

  291. 291.

    trnc

    This is the steroids. He’s manic. Seriously. This is the steroids.

    @realDonaldTrump

    I will be leaving the great Walter Reed Medical Center today at 6:30 P.M. Feeling really good! Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life. We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs & knowledge. I feel better than I did 20 years ago!

    Actually, I’m pretty sure that’s the staff.

  292. 292.

    trnc

    @sanjeevs:

    Pastor Greg Laurie tested positive.

    Was at the Barret Rose Garden thing and just before that was with Mike Pence at a prayer march

    “Hello, you’ve reached the office of the Almighty. We can’t take your call right now because we are busy cleaning up a LOT of crap. Don’t leave a message.”

  293. 293.

    Aleta

    The chairman of the Senate committee that oversees airlines and U.S. transportation policy had his mask off for extended periods on a Delta flight to Mississippi on Thursday night, according to another passenger, and the company said he had to be reminded twice by a flight attendant to follow the airline’s mask requirement.

    The next day, the Trump administration rejected a union petition calling for a federal mandate requiring masks be worn on planes, trains and buses, saying the Department of Transportation “embraces the notion that there should be no more regulations than necessary.”

    Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) was on a Delta flight to Jackson on Thursday when he was spotted with his mask off by passenger Matt Harringer, a Democratic media consultant. Harringer provided three time-stamped photos … showing Wicker with a blue surgical mask hanging beneath his mouth or under his chin.

    Delta, which has banned more than 400 people for refusing to wear masks while flying, said it takes its mask mandate very seriously. The company — which is overseen by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, which Wicker chairs — offered no criticism of the senator Monday.

    …

    Harringer added that passengers and crew members deserve to know if Wicker will be tested for the virus, and his results, particularly given the large number of top Republicans and Trump allies who have tested positive for the virus in recent days.

  295. 295.

    Brian

    @Ruckus: That’s funny, I had exactly the opposite experience. I live 38 miles from downtown and did Federal grand jury service for a year-and-a-half in ’08-’09. We were supposed to be there at 9:30, so I started out leaving at 7:30 and would usually get there by 9:15. I eventually realized that I could leave by 8 and still get there by 9:15. My theory is that they chose 9:30 instead of 9 so that we would miss the worst of the traffic.

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