Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

When someone says they “love freedom”, rest assured they don’t mean yours.

We’re not going back!

Sitting here in limbo waiting for the dice to roll

This blog will pay for itself.

Wow, I can’t imagine what it was like to comment in morse code.

The republican caucus is already covering themselves with something, and it’s not glory.

Stamping your little feets and demanding that they see how important you are? Not working anymore.

Today’s GOP: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

Putin dreamed of ending NATO, and now it’s Finnish-ed.

This fight is for everything.

Second rate reporter says what?

It’s the corruption, stupid.

It’s a doggy dog world.

I like you, you’re my kind of trouble.

Bad news for Ron DeSantis is great news for America.

Republican obstruction dressed up as bipartisanship. Again.

Sadly, there is no cure for stupid.

Authoritarian republicans are opposed to freedom for the rest of us.

If you are in line to indict donald trump, stay in line.

Wow, you are pre-disappointed. How surprising.

Damn right I heard that as a threat.

When I decide to be condescending, you won’t have to dream up a fantasy about it.

I’d try pessimism, but it probably wouldn’t work.

I conferred with the team and they all agree – still not tired of winning!

You are here: Home / Healthcare / COVID-19 Coronavirus / Open Thread: Biden Addresses The Nation

Reader Interactions

261Comments

  2. 2.

    CaseyL

    I’m pretty jazzed.  This whole week has felt like finally – finally! – turning the corner, and not just in terms of the vaccine becoming widely available.

  7. 7.

    HumboldtBlue

    Just dawned on me I last got my hair cut on this day last year.

    Let’s just say at this point I’m using a lot of conditioner.

  8. 8.

    rikyrah

     

    Anyone have video of Nancy Smash at her press conference?
    She lit into the Republicans

    She said..
    ” Voting no, but take the dough”?
    The look on her face, even behind a mask…
    When she said..
    “Enough about them”
    ????

  9. 9.

    HumboldtBlue

    @debbie: ​
    They’re admitting it, latest polling that passed my feed has low income Repubs backing plan at 60-percent plus percentages and pointed out there is a substantial class divide in the GOP.

  11. 11.

    BruceFromOhio

    53 days into his presidency and my life is already better. I hope yours is, too.

    It is better, so much better.

    @Dorothy A. Winsor: ​
      The Trumpers on my street still have their Christmas lights up. I’m gonna hazard a guess that it’s a way of advertising the butthurt.

  14. 14.

    Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

    “-a lack of bipartisanship that could spell trouble for the rest of his agenda.”

    -NBC News

    ?

  17. 17.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    I can’t believe MSNBC (Joy!) is running clips of Trump over and over. Someone make it stop.

  18. 18.

    Elizabelle

    “Finding light in the darkness is a very American thing to do.  In fact, it might be the most American thing we do.”

    Speaks of Hemingway quote, “being strong in all the broken places.”

  20. 20.

    Elizabelle

    “Unable to grieve or heal, to even have a funeral.”  Speaking of the loved ones left behind.  Compassion personified.

  22. 22.

    Mike in NC

    We cannot have gotten a better break than having this man in office instead of Putin’s putrid puppet.

  24. 24.

    Elizabelle

    “The last 50 days I’ve been President.”  50 days of our exhaling.  Breathing again.

  26. 26.

    Nelle

    I’d like one requirement to accepting the relief money.  Affirm that Joe Biden is the rightful winner of the election and therefore the lawful president of the United States.

  29. 29.

    JanieM

    @HumboldtBlue: The last time I walked into a grocery store was one year ago today. Lucky me, my son has been grocery shopping for me ever since. I think I also heard Maine’s CDC director, Dr. Nirav Shah, for the first time a year ago today, on a public call that also included our House rep Chellie Pingree.

    I’m cutting my own hair, ha ha. But since I’m not going out, no one sees me anyhow. :-)

    As far as anniversaries go, this is also one year from the day when I was texting with some extended family members about what was going on. One of them works at WDW, and we were speculating about whether they’d close at all. Another one said “I can’t picture Disney shutting down.” A few hours later, Disney World announced they were closing for two weeks (two weeks!) out of concerns over the coronavirus. I believe their overseas places had been down for weeks already at that point.

    Through all of this, I was by far the best-informed person I knew, entirely because Anne Laurie had been keeping me informed since January 21. Wow and a big shout of thanks to AL, not for the first time.

  33. 33.

    James E Powell

    @HumboldtBlue:

    I live with my sister and her husband. He’s a retired Marine gunnery sergeant. Last spring when I complained I was getting shaggy, he said, You know how many haircuts I’ve done in 22 years in the Marines? Worked out pretty well. Only problem is he only knows how to do one kind of haircut.

  41. 41.

    Elizabelle

    July 4th for small backyard BBQs.  Independence Day.

    Compare with TFG’s Easter Sunday of last year.  Psychopath.

  43. 43.

    Kent

    @JPL:@trollhattan: I know.   If Joe keeps this up, he might pass Obama for this fan person.   Nah.. that won’t happen.

    He’s getting there already for me

    Miguel Cardona > Arne Duncan

    Janet Yellen > Timothy Geithner

    American Rescue Plan > Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008

    Deb Haaland > Ken Salazar

    And……

    Kamala Harris > Joe Biden  [ha ha!]

  45. 45.

    Elizabelle

    The First Lady and The Second Gentleman also got vaccinated.

    I love that we have a Second Gentleman.  Would have more hundreds of thousands of Americans alive this very day if we’d been allowed our First Gentleman in 2017.

    Such a gentle reminder to stick with the rules.  Remembering all that we have lost over the past year.

  46. 46.

    Elizabelle

    Shout out to the Perseverance Rover!  Who had that on their Bingo card?  Love it.

  53. 53.

    Elizabelle

    “I promise you.”

    Love President Joe using that phrase.

    Anderson Cooper calls Biden “The Commander in Grief.”

  60. 60.

    schrodingers_cat

    I waded into the sewer of BJP propaganda Twitter to try to figure out what exactly has enticed so many people I know and love. Biden’s speech was an antidote. He has such a reassuring presence.

  64. 64.

    Suzanne

    A lifetime career in politics sure looks valuable after the smoking crater left by the dude who said that government is easy to run and owned a failing family business.

  72. 72.

    Mary G

    I’m a bit verklempt after hearing that. His speech writers are top notch, and for some reason, seeing him look up the latest number of deaths and reading it off his phone made me cheer, even if was fake. No more having thing printed off by staff.

  78. 78.

    MisterForkbeard

    @Cheryl Rofer: I came in for the last 3 minutes and loved it. Backed up and started watching from the beginning.

    Joe really is the president for this moment. Uniquely suited. And this was outstanding.

  80. 80.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @rikyrah:

    AL and those posts gave me my COVID Education

    She has helped so many.

    Anne Laurie is a treasure. I love all our front pagers — yes, even that one ? — but AL is utterly indefatigable and brings both intelligence and wit to her aggregations.

  89. 89.

    Elizabelle

    A friend called to say that he loved seeing Biden lean in to the podium, like he wanted to be as close as possible to his audience.

    Missed that; I was listening to the speech, not watching.

    But it’s a short and encouraging 26 minutes; will have to watch it next.

  92. 92.

    Martin

    House has passed comprehensive background checks. Nancy and Chuck are piling the weight of this  legislation on the shoulders of filibuster reform. There are going to things in that pile that Manchin and Sinema care deeply about.

  97. 97.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Elizabelle:

    That struck me too, the leaning in. It creates a real sense of intimacy — as though I, and I alone, am his sole audience. He’s talking directly to me, and he wants to make sure I’m getting every word. It wouldn’t surprise me to learn that I nodded in agreement a few times while he was talking.

  100. 100.

    different-church-lady

    Yet somehow having more than a certain number of cats makes you a crazy cat lady…

  101. 101.

    japa21

    @Elizabelle: I agree. It made it seem super personal.

    I may only be an almost top 10,000 commenter on an almost top 10,000 political blog, but I will tell you right now, Joe is an eloquent speaker. It may not be soaring oratory, but that doesn’t lessen the eloquence.

  103. 103.

    Jeffro

    @Suzanne: I was gonna say!

    it’s almost like having people who believe in government, and know how it works, and want it to work, matters

  105. 105.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Pierce speaks for many, and props to him for saying it in public

    Charles P. Pierce @CharlesPPierce· 25m
    I have never underrated a public figure the way I underrated Joe Biden in 2020.

  108. 108.

    JPL

    Tucker is upset with Biden  ? ?? ?? ?

    Tucker: How dare you tell us who we can spend the Fourth of July with

  110. 110.

    Chetan Murthy

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    Colbert

    I can’t be the only one who used to watch his show nightly, who just doesn’t tune in as often anymore.  Gotta believe he and all the other late-night comics are seeing their viewerships plummet.

    P.S. Though, on second thought, I read that Maddow’s numbers are going up like a rocket, so maybe I don’t know what I’m talkin’ about.

  111. 111.

    Elizabelle

    @Baud:   I know. Talking about how government is “us.”

    Burying a lot of shibboleths, in addition to The Former Guy who must never be named.

  118. 118.

    trollhattan

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    Joe being president instead of some random bidnezman is similar to a career military person being a general instead of some random bidnezman. Unique skillsets needed to run organizations that are equally NOT A FUCKING BUSINESS.

  119. 119.

    Chetan Murthy

    @japa21: Oh ha, sorry, more like “teacher you really, really want to not disappoint”.  But still, I’d have expected her numbers to decline too, and they’ve gone the other way.

    I read that Fox News’ ratings have dropped — which (again) I wouldn’t have predicted, either.

  121. 121.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Chetan Murthy:

    i almost never watch the whole show, but I do generally enjoy his opening monologues. More often than not, however, I won’t stay up late to watch it live (so to speak), but will check it out on YouTube the next morning

    ETA: Agree, though, that he (and the Jimmies etc.) are probably losing viewers. And yes, Rachel announced last week (in full embarrassment mode) that TRMS had led the cable ratings during some recent specific time frame.

  124. 124.

    aliasofwestgate

    How many books is too many? That’s always been my problem. :D Even now i read before i go to sleep, and i refuse to change that habit.

    Loved the speech, too. *grins

  125. 125.

    JanieM

    @Elizabelle:

    Talking about how government is “us.”

    This. A million times, this. Amazing that we have a president who will say it so straightforwardly. It’s about time.

  128. 128.

    HumboldtBlue

    @Suzanne: @schrodingers_cat:

    Thanks for the suggestions. I’m fortunate that I have very fine, very curly hair so the tangles aren’t that bad (as a boy with curly curly hair getting it yanked into shape following a bath was a damn ordeal) but it can still be a pain.

  134. 134.

    Redshift

    Great speech. He talked to us like equals, not like a fan club. I loved the repeated pokes at The Former Guy and elected Republicans without ever mentioning a name, just by taking about what we needed for a year and didn’t have until recently.

  136. 136.

    Immanentize

    @James E Powell:  You say that like one “suffers” from GAS….  Bank account, relationships, space — maybe!  But not one with GAS.  Easily relieved.

  137. 137.

    Immanentize

    @rikyrah:

    Never too many books

    Unless one just survived a nuclear holocaust, found all the books. But then broke your glasses.

  138. 138.

    aliasofwestgate

    @rikyrah:   Maru has been adorable since i first saw him sitting in whatever his people could find him back in the 00s.  His little sister Hana is now just as adorable too.  XD  They remain comfort watching for all of us, and their owners.

  139. 139.

    Narya

    The community health centers in the speech and from Klain with Hayes are the FQHCs I’ve mentioned.

  140. 140.

    CarolDuhart2

    @SiubhanDuinne:  Annie Laurie may have saved my life.  Thanks to her posts, I was able to talk to my PCP on March 10th and he gave me the advice that allowed me to self-isolate for this year. That was the last time I rode a bus, and four days later the last time I have been in a store.  It was so early that when I talked to the food bank, they didn’t even have a clue what I was talking about.

    The posts about what was happening in Wuhan—I figured that it would come here sooner or later and that it was going to be fairly bad.

  144. 144.

    Redshift

    @SiubhanDuinne: I’ve been watching Colbert more regularly in the past year, personally. Usually just the opening segments, and skip the interview. I appreciate John Batiste more than I did pre-pandemic, he’s a joy.

  146. 146.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @schrodingers_cat:

    I had my hair cut, very short, just days before lockdown started. It’s definitely long enough for a pony tail now, and I can live with that, but I’m also thinking an hour at the hair salon would be a good way to celebrate getting my J&J. Whenever that may be.

  148. 148.

    James E Powell

    @The Thin Black Duke:

    COVID isolation made me a little bit pedal crazy. Back when I was in a band, I had three pedals: compressor, chorus, dirt. Now I have twelve. I bought a pedal board & power supply. It’s one of my main forms of entertainment when I can get the house to myself.

  149. 149.

    Chief Oshkosh

    @BruceFromOhio:

    The Trumpers on my street still have their Christmas lights up. I’m gonna hazard a guess that it’s a way of advertising the butthurt.

    We have our tree on the deck still lit. We try to keep it going until Easter. It provides a festive atmosphere.

  151. 151.

    cope

    @Redshift: Same here with my wife and me. Had to have our Colbert maintenance dose to survive the horrible, horrible times. Since the election, though, not so much.

  152. 152.

    Uncle Cosmo

    @aliasofwestgate: Even now i read before i go to sleep, and i refuse to change that habit.

    This evening I’ll choose between crunching through the middle of the Bukharin Trial in Robert Conquest’s The Great Terror: A Reappraisal (1988) and charging through to the Armistice in Michael J Lyons’ World War I: A Short History (2nd ed., 2000). Light-hearted beddy-bye diversions…

  153. 153.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Redshift:

    Yes, should have mentioned Jon Batiste. He is always wonderful!

    (Several months ago — might even have been in the Before Times, I can’t remember — JB was the celebrity guest on NPR’s “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me,” and he was charming.)

  154. 154.

    JanieM

    @Chief Oshkosh: I’ve had a string of lights across my street-facing living room window since last spring. As you say — they add some cheer. I took a ride a few nights ago and noticed that a surprising number of people in my area are doing the same. I’m pretty sure they’re not all fans of the former guy.

  155. 155.

    James E Powell

    @japa21:

    I will tell you right now, Joe is an eloquent speaker. It may not be soaring oratory, but that doesn’t lessen the eloquence.

    Back before we know who the nominee would be, I made the point that the version of Joe Biden I called Funeral Speech Joe would be hard for Trump to beat. I am as cynical as anyone when it comes to politicians, but when Joe is talking about this stuff, he is sincere. And I’m hoping the great mass of low-interest voters see that.

  156. 156.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @SiubhanDuinne: he was on Fresh Air today. I haven’t listened yet, just caught the intro where Terri Gross promised a couple of live tunes to go with the interview

  157. 157.

    James E Powell

    @Amir Khalid:

    How many guitars does a player need? Just one more. Go on, buy that guitar. You know you want to.

    I think you might have passed me up. Didn’t you recently get an ES type? Not that it’s a competition.

    There is a Taylor 12 string for sale not far from me that seems to be priced significantly below market. I’ve always wanted one, but think it’ll be all the rage for a month or so, then sit in the closet.

  158. 158.

    The Thin Black Duke

    @James E Powell: I’m working with my luthier on a fretless Pbass, and there’s a MXR phase 90 I have that I can’t wait to pair it with. The ghost of Mick Karn is whispering in my head.

  160. 160.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Steeplejack: ​
      I am the person to talk to if in doubt about getting another guitar. I will always advise doing it. That’s really the advice they want when they ask.

  164. 164.

    Dan B

    @HumboldtBlue: I was so grossed out by my hair-don’t that I got out the Wahl Beard Trimmer and did the haircut.  It took an hour and then time with scissors because it refused to cut around my ears.  It was 3 inches long around the ears despite multiple assaults from every direction.  Didn’t nip either ear, thankfully.  The mask has been useful since I’ve developed a cold sore for the first time in more than a decade.  It makes me look like I caught a left hook on the lower lip.

    Back to hearing about Biden.

  166. 166.

    Amir Khalid

    @James E Powell:
    I ordered one online, and then the vendor told me they were out of stock. ☹️  ​It seems the main knockoff brands are out of stock on ES types. I may have to bite the bullet, and pay the big bucks for an Epiphone Dot/ES-335.

  167. 167.

    Steve in the ATL

    @James E Powell:

     

    compressor, chorus, dirt

    That’s a solid lineup. Maybe a delay for a handful of songs, but you really had all you need. All you WANT? Totally different story!

  168. 168.

    Steve in the ATL

    @James E Powell: my 12-string has gotten very little use in the 30 years I’ve had it.  Too specialized for most stuff.  I’d still buy a Rickenbacker 360/12, though–if I weren’t married!

  175. 175.

    frosty

    @James E Powell: it’ll be all the rage for a month or so, then sit in the closet

    I have one like that.  The “month or so” lasted a few years. National Resophonic steel baritone tricone. It sounds so awesome I can’t give it up, but it really needs a better player than me.

  176. 176.

    Anotherlurker

    @James E Powell: Beautiful instrument!    I love a 12 string!

    I have the perfect 12 string for me , someone whose musical ability falls somewhere between un-listenable and a crime against humanity.  It is an Oscar Schmidt and when I play a D chord, for that fleeting moment, I’m MacGuinn!

    Do it. I’ll bet you, in your hands, the results will be a thing of beauty.

  177. 177.

    Percysowner

    The Washington Post listed3 takeaways from Biden’s first prime-time address to the nation Of course the decided to “fact check” Biden and decided that he wasn’t honest about his vaccination claims. How DARE he say there wasn’t enough vaccine when he came into office? The vaccines were new, no one could expect there to be enough. They pointedly ignored TFG refusing to secure as many vaccines as he could.

    I’d say “never change WaPo”, but obviously they came to that conclusion already.

  178. 178.

    Frosty Fred

    @Dan B: My daughter asked me a couple of weeks ago how long my hair had gotten in the past year. I was miffed that she hadn’t noticed I’ve been shaving my scalp for years, so I am now growing a bushy beard just for the grins of seeing her face when we do get together again.

  182. 182.

    Miss Bianca

    @Immanentize: AAAGH, DON’T –

    That episode gave me nightmares for years and is a big part of why I never finished watching the rest of the Twilight Zones.

  183. 183.

    Nelle

    I saw some mention of FDL (Firedoglake) earlier.  Just to help us feel our age, remember Christy Hardin Smith mentioning her little toddler, Peanut?  Peanut is a tall, slim high school senior this year.

  184. 184.

    Matt McIrvin

    @rikyrah: It’s been a joy to watch them interacting with their new kitten Miri. Maru is infinitely gentle and patient when she messes with him. Hana, less so.

  186. 186.

    Felanius Kootea

    Loved Biden’s speech today.  The competence.  The empathy and compassion.  The simple explanation that part of what a government is supposed to do is protect people. I almost started crying from sheer relief.  What a nightmare the last four years were.

  187. 187.

    Sure Lurkalot

    @RandomMonster: I have already filed too. I got the first stimulus direct deposit and for whatever reason, the second one by check at the latest date possible. I hope to spread the dough far and wide to a few presents for my family and the rest to charity.

  188. 188.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Nelle: and I’m a doddering old fool

    which has nothing to do with FDL

    Christy was great, one of the good memories I have about that site

  189. 189.

    Ken

    @MagdaInBlack: I think I might be developing a crush on our President.

    You’ll want to paint pictures of him, bare-chested and holding a flaming sword, flanked by Benjamin Franklin and Aunt Jemima, and trampling a snake with Trump’s head while an eagle flies overhead shooting lightning bolts from its eyes.

    I don’t know why you’d want to do that, but it seems to inevitably happen when someone develops a crush on the President.

  191. 191.

    opiejeanne

    We got the first vaccine today!!!

    mr opiejeanne had a checkup with his doctor yesterday and asked about getting a n appointment. The doc had his nurse find a couple of numbers to try, and this morning he was on hold for an hour before someone picked up the phone. They had appointments for this afternoon and we took them.
    it was a slick assembly line system at the Microsoft campus in Redmond, and we were out in 30 minutes. They trained for two weeks before opening up, and today might have been their second day. Lots of volunteers from Microsoft getting everyone organized.
    it was Pfizer so our second vaccinations are on April Fools Day.
    so happy I could cry.

  193. 193.

    James E Powell

    @Steve in the ATL:

    My current pedal chain is a sign that I have too much time on my hands. When I was in bands I was never a lead, I was the singer how also played guitar. You know, guitar George. Maybe one short solo each set just for the hell of it

    They’re just toys and I don’t even know how to use most of them completely.

  196. 196.

    Amir Khalid

    @Ken:

    ​You’ll want to paint pictures of him, bare-chested and holding a flaming sword, flanked by Benjamin Franklin and Aunt Jemima, and trampling a snake with Trump’s head while an eagle flies overhead.

    That seems to be a purely Republican thing. If Democrats ever saw such a portrait of Obama or Biden, they’d just be ROTFL. That’s why there is no Dem counterpart of McNaughton.

  198. 198.

    A

    @opiejeanne:

    Now I have to finish the second half of the Old Man’s War series because of that. I kinda lost interest in Zoe’s Tale.

    Last pedal I picked up was a joyo classic flanger.  Thing is a blast to play with, pairs nicely with a bass.  Other than that, the only other pedals I use routinely are an ehx bass preacher (comp), and a tech21 vt bass di—always on, and the best piece of gear ever for a bassist (IMO).

  199. 199.

    Origuy

    I may be developing a related syndrome to guitar addiction. Last month I bought an electronic practice bagpipe chanter. A chanter is the part of the bagpipe that you do the fingerings with; a traditional practice chanter has a mouthpiece attached to it, so that you can practice without the bag, drones, etc. Electronic chanters don’t have a mouthpiece and require headphones or a speaker attachment. I got it so that I could practice without disturbing my housemates or the neighbors. Eventually I want to take lessons but I’ll probably have to get a real practice chanter. The next step, of course, is real bagpipes. I could get Great Highland Bagpipes fairly cheaply, although they can get quite expensive. I’d really like a set of smallpipes, though, which are much quieter. There’s no such thing as playing the GHB softly.

  200. 200.

    Punchy

    Anyone watching NBC?  Sav Gutherie with the strawman question, followed by the “durr Mitch McCant-tell hatez this so durrr why u make him mad” line of questions.  Miss G and NBC can go fuck themselves.

  203. 203.

    MomSense

    @James E Powell:

    But do you have a SusMaryOsep pedal?  If not, you may have to use some of that stimmy and get one.

    It’s RJ Ronquillo’s creation and it’s really cool.

  204. 204.

    Ruckus

    @James E Powell:

    I cut the little remaining hair on my head to 3/4 of a mm, once a week.  Have been doing this for 4 or 5 yrs now. It’s easy, I can only see myself in a mirror so the how it looks part is fine, and it cuts down on how obvious it is that I’m bald on top. Now my beard, OTOH is far longer. Have had a beard for 48 yrs, that’s just how I roll.

  205. 205.

    Mandarama

    @opiejeanne: I’m your shot buddy across the nation. I got my Pfizer today too, and I’ll be right there at opening on April 1! I felt euphoric going into the building, waving at FEMA guys like a loon.

  206. 206.

    JoyceH

    @Amir Khalid: ​
     

    That seems to be a purely Republican thing. If Democrats ever saw such a portrait of Obama or Biden, they’d just be ROTFL. That’s why there is no Dem counterpart of McNaughton.

    Beyond purely Republican, I think it’s purely Trumpian. Did anyone ever do that kind of fan art for either of the Bushes? Or for Reagan? I can’t remember any, and they adored Reagan!

    It’s like this new thing of plastering your front fence, car, truck, and boat, with signs and flags glorifying your favorite politician. That’s just not NORMAL. And I can’t think of another politician who inspired such tributes. Not in America.

  209. 209.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @HumboldtBlue: I wouldn’t have thought of that, much less known how to do it, but I’ll allow myself the critique: That needs like three seconds of Susie Essman. “SHUT THE FUCK UP, LARRY! WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?”

  210. 210.

    Beautifulplumage

    I need to vent on this anniversary:

    Dec 2019 my oldest sis had a pacemaker/defibrillator put in and couldn’t drive for 6 months. Since I live closest (10 min) I became her driver/shopper/food delivery help. Then covid. Both her age and health make her high risk. Our other sis is a trumper and mask averse.

    The oldest sometimes listens to the trumper, which is why she was reluctant to get vaccinated. Back on 2/28 I used the state website to confirm she was now eligible and that there were appointments at pharmacies nearby. She wasn’t ready.

    Last Sunday, when preparing to head to sis’s place to clean her wood stove and make blueberry muffins, she called with the news that the trumpy sis had possibly exposed her… AND I AM SO FUCKING PISSED AND DEMORALIZED!!!!!

    The exposure contact tested neg yesterday, but I think it’s still a 10 day wait? Anyway, just having a hard time working up the enthusiasm to help either one for a while. FUCK

    (thanks for listening to the rant, I needed to tell someone)

  212. 212.

    Yutsano

    @Beautifulplumage: ​
    Oh my goodness! I sincerely hope your sister gets through this until shots can get into her arm. And I offer virtual hugs until we can have real ones safely again.

  213. 213.

    patrick II

    From Salon:

    Republican Sen. Rick Scott begs red states governors to “reject and return” COVID aid

    I would say how ridiculous this is, but then I think of the Supreme Court’s decision on ACA enhanced Medicaid.

  214. 214.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    James Carville on MSNBC looks like he’s waiting for his adult grandchildren to come and take him to a minor league baseball game

  216. 216.

    Chetan Murthy

    @Beautifulplumage: Oh, geez.  I’m so sorry you and your sister have to go thru this, and trust that the next 10-14 days will pass without incident.  We’re almost to the end, and …. covidiots just seem to …. ok, I wont’ say it.  Ugh.  Please know that lots of people sympathize, and hope and trust that you and your sister will come thru this safe.

  217. 217.

    cain

    @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka):

    I think it is super important to track who these people are and then as things get better without R’s joining in, mock the shit out of them at every turn. They should never live it down on social media.

  218. 218.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Beautifulplumage: Oy. The sibling dynamic never lets you go, does it? I got sand-bagged into a (thankfully short) family vacation last year. My 89 YO uncle still likes to amuse himself by tormenting his now 75 YO sister (yes, my grandparents were Irish immigrants, why do you ask?). I was okay with it cause aunt 75 was usually a bitch to my mother.

  221. 221.

    Jean

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:  True! Christy was very good. FDL went down hill fast during the Obama/Clinton campaigns. And Marcy Wheeler did NOT impress me with her constant detailed criticisms of Obama. The commenters divided quickly and the rest is history.

  222. 222.

    James E Powell

    @MomSense:

    Never saw that one before. This is how the whole pedal acquisition thing started last spring. Watching youtube videos, especially That Pedal Show, then feeling like I had to find out what they were really like.

  225. 225.

    NotMax

    OT.

    Should you all of a sudden suffer printer glorping, you’re not alone.

    The latest Windows update has been causing problems for some printer owners, according to a report from Windows Latest (via Gizmodo). Users are reporting that they’re getting a blue screen when they try to open the print dialogue from Notepad, Office, or other programs. (You know that annoyingly ambiguous error message that’s like “Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart”? It’s that one.) Source

    Expect a patch for this to be rolled out right quick.

  227. 227.

    danielx

    @patrick II: ​
     
    “Sen. Rick Scott (R-doucherocket) tells constituents to return $1400 checks. In response, constituents tell Scott to take his felonious ass for a long walk off a short pier.”

  228. 228.

    Another Scott

    A very good, obviously heart-felt, speech by our President.  Well done.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  229. 229.

    Beautifulplumage

    @Chetan Murthy: Thank you! I didn’t realize how stressed I’ve been until I analysed my reaction to this. Much of my anger seemed selfish and over-the-top ie: my time and energy spent for nothing, so I’m trying to work it out before I yell & curse at either. Must be finally growing up now that I hit 60!

  230. 230.

    Frankensteinbeck

    @JoyceH: ​
     

    It’s like this new thing of plastering your front fence, car, truck, and boat, with signs and flags glorifying your favorite politician.

    Trump was elected specifically to be a middle finger to liberals. They naturally want to be as in-our-face as possible about it.

  231. 231.

    Chetan Murthy

    @Beautifulplumage: You haven’t been alone.  I know what it’s like, having one group of people who think they’re being careful when they’re not, and another that actually -is- being careful.  You have to support the latter group as much as you can, b/c jesus, this is no time for fucking around.   Since as you probably well know, the former people always try to use guilt to get socializing to happen.   I’m pretty damn firm in my statement about why avoiding them like they’re the plague (literally) is necessary.

    And honestly, I would already had screamed things down the phone that I could never, ever take back, if I were in your position.

    To put somebody else’s life at risk like that …. *jesus*.

  232. 232.

    Beautifulplumage

    @Chetan Murthy: and when I try to tell myself that the exposure was probably minimal I come back to the new strain that’s more transmissible…. I am so ready for this to be over. Biden’s speech was very helpful, as others have noted.

  233. 233.

    Chetan Murthy

    @Beautifulplumage: NO exposure of someone in a medically vulnerable state is acceptable.  None.  My mom is vaccinated now (finally), but before, when I would drop off groceries, I would *never* go into their apartment (her and my sister/BF).  B/c even though I’m taking every precaution myself, if I had unluckily killed my mom, …..  And now, I do the same, b/c my sister and her BF are my family, and if somehow …….

    I’m not going to hug any of them until we’re all vaccinated.  And IDGAF what anybody else thinks.  And I’m about as close as you can get to being quarantined — haven’t gone into a foreign building since October.

    Your instincts/motives/inclinations/conclusions are 100% right.

  234. 234.

    piratedan

    @Punchy: it appears all three of the major networks news organizations have been tasked with trying to make the current administration give some begrudging credit to the previous one.  I’ve seen in the Psaki news conferences and on twitter where they imply that Trump should get some credit for the vaccine…

    I keep wondering what in the fuck should he get credit for.. feel free to show your work… what exactly did they do that was above and beyond what any rational organization should do?

    They gave money to some pharma companies to help develop a vaccine, but afaik, they lied about the national reserves (i.e. that any existed), had no federal coordinated plan for vaccine rollout and distribution, didn’t show public support for the vaccines when they came out and didn’t order enough, even when prompted to do so.

    I just want to scream at these asshats, PLEASE TELL ME WHAT HE SHOULD GET CREDIT FOR?

    Why don’t they revisit Trump taking credit for Obama’s economy and show how deferential he was to the efforts of his predecessor.

  239. 239.

    Original Lee

    @Beautifulplumage: It isn’t selfish to be upset over potentially wasted effort. I felt the same over Christmas. An elderly relative is in the early stages of dementia, and it’s been a huge team effort to keep her safe until she’s been vaccinated. Of course, everybody’s on board with Keep Auntie Safe except for the two Trumpista cousins. They decided to show up in person, unmasked, for a belated Christmas gift opening and of course confused the hell out of Auntie, who thought it was Christmas Day all over again and got mad at the rest of us for not being there, AND exposed her to COVID. Fortunately, as she tested negative 3 times over 3 weeks, they probably visited her before they were infectious, BUT STILL.

    For what it’s worth, I think you’re Not The Asshole for being pissed.

  241. 241.

    Beautifulplumage

    @rikyrah: yeah, but now I’m totally demotivated to get her in. Except that our WA gov just announced expanded groups eligible as of 3/17, so will try tomorrow. She does now say she’s ready *eye roll emoji

  243. 243.

    Chetan Murthy

    @Beautifulplumage: You’re doing a kind and decent thing.  Taking care of our older relatives is part of what makes us human.  Even when they don’t want that care.

  245. 245.

    Jay

    So I have been looking for years for a song.

    It was on the Vancouver Indepence Album,

    I think it was IDK,

    the song was Bedtime for Bonzo’

    ”cause the Man from the Movies,

    wants to be King”,

    I can buy the vinyl, can’t find a you tube or digital.

  247. 247.

    AnotherBruce

    @danielx: Rick Scott is a fucking moron. Go ahead and burn your money, and tell your constituents to burn their money as well. That’s moron taking to another level.

  249. 249.

    Beautifulplumage

    I so appreciate everyone’s affirmation that I’m not over reacting.

    I realize I wasn’t hit with the financial struggles or need to juggle kids/work/school like so many others. I cannot imagine those issues added on top!

  250. 250.

    James E Powell

    @Frankensteinbeck:

    What’s surprising, to me anyway, is that the public displays of Trump worship are at least twice as large & intense as the public displays of Bush worship during his “Our Very Own Churchill” days.

  251. 251.

    Chetan Murthy

    @James E Powell: It’s easy to believe in a god who actually delivers.  To believe in a god who *doesn’t* deliver, now -that- takes talent.  And so naturally, the followers of the false idol will be the loudest in their chanting, their hymns, their imprecations towards devotees of all other cults, right?

  253. 253.

    Origuy

    @prostratedragon: Well, I could end up with Highland pipes, uilleann pipes, Scottish smallpipes, Northumbrian smallpipes, a Galician gaita, and God knows what else. As I said, though, it’s in the early stages. I’m just fantasizing about it at the moment.

  255. 255.

    CaseyL

    @Beautifulplumage: ​
     

    Vent away! That’s what we’re here for – well, one of the reasons, anyway. I’m so sorry your family is giving you agita. You have every right to be pissed, and it doesn’t help matters that trumpies seem to take pissing people off as some kind of validation.

  256. 256.

    cain

    @opiejeanne: ​ What a relief. Having met both of you – so happy that both of you are vaccinated. (how come none of us ack that we’ve met?)​
     

    ETA: Last post?

  260. 260.

    Uncle Cosmo

    @frosty: The bloody hell of it is, by comparison with the four years so recently concluded on 20 January, these are all in fact “light-hearted bedtime reading”!

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