Re: CDC's pickle. I live in the NE. I'm afraid of a surge in the virus despite now having been double boosted. I'll wear my mask in crowded places and on public transportation. We just flew back from the Caribbean last week. Everyone was wearing their masks. It was no big deal. How in heaven's name did public health and welfare become this political litmus test? That Florida Trump judge is a nut.
A 33 yr. old incompetent who has no idea what she does NOT know. It is a wise person who recognizes the depths of her own ignorance. That judge is not wise.
On the other hand, plenty good for Mitch McConnell and his go-to source for all his legal guidance (since the ABA isn't good enough): The Federalist Society. How did we get to this point in our great republic?
I live in Massachusetts, and I follow the state COVID figures daily. So far, cases are up sharply, although much less than during the Omicron surge in December and January. But hospitalizations are up only modestly, and deaths are flat or have even declined slightly. So, we might be in that endemic phase that has been talked of.
Hi, Jon. Always good to hear from you. That's the $64,000 question. Are we, or aren't we? Let's hope that we don't find out the answer to that question after it is too late. As the grandfather to two unvaccinated 1-year olds, I understand people's relief at not having to wear masks on public transit. I don't understand their inability to see those around them who depend on the kindness of strangers to act unselfishly. But, the genie is out of the bottle on masking, and we aren't ever going back. As I wrote last night, that may be okay given where we are in this pandemic, but it is the next one that we may be mismanaging already.
The larger issue--as everyone who reads your newsletter knows--is the insanity that masks are an issue. I understand that people who run restaurants and bars don't like them. They think that masking cuts down on business. And, ya know what? It does! The response, to me, is to aid people in those businesses--by encouraging outdoor dining when feasible, and by direct payments to supplement income streams. But, again speaking to the converted, we see how the haters have grabbed on to the issue. This is yet another of the gaps we need to find a way to bridge--and for once I don't have a glib answer.
I submit that she is beyond being a "nut." She was deemed unqualified for her position from the get-go and based upon her "decision," clearly, she's not even competent at generating a reasonable rationale. She's typical of just about every appointment made during tfg's term. As I recall, their primary purpose (other than to fill their own personal coffers) was to dismantle every agency in which they served and diminish every position to which they were appointed. They did an excellent job. You don't have to be smart to be destructive. This woman has now endangered the lives of millions. I for one, will not be traveling.
As you probably know, since the election of tRump, many refuse to say or write his name, for it contributes to the publicity and promotion of his brand which is solely that which he seeks with his residency in the White House. "TFG" is one of the latest, which means "the former guy".
Mallory McMorrow's fighting spirit passionately embodies the core values that define what it means to be an American in accord with the highest virtues emblazoned in the nation's founding documents; she courageously and eloquently expresses James Madison's "virtue in the people," the essential ingredient in a democracy that works for all the people. In my mind she is a great example of a "Hubbell Hero," an inspiring woman of integrity who isn't afraid to stand up to a Trumpian hate monger when all the rest of the so called public servants kept their own counsel. Thanks for posting that one Mr. Hubbell. The people of Michigan are fortunate to have her as a Senator. A las Barricadas!
Given the Newsletter’s references these past two days to Charles Blow’s NYT piece “A Biden Blood Bath?”, I wish to respond by reprinting a fellow subscriber’s reply to my comment from another Substack followed by my reply to said subscriber.
Subscriber—“What frustrates me is that working-class voters still seem to think that the political right has their interests at heart.”
My reply—“A few observations:
“Republicans mainly want to fight the culture wars believing, perhaps rightly, that that’s how they win elections. At the same time, Dems largely seem to want to run away from culture issues rather than fighting the culture wars and winning them, on abortion, on book banning, on teaching history…, a mistake, in my view, considering the public largely is on the side of the Dems.
“In the alternative, Dems frequently are quoted as saying, ‘We’re not going to deal with that stuff; we’re going to focus on kitchen table issues.’ Though that sounds good, in the past 15 months, Dems haven’t been able to extend the child tax credit or lower prescription drug costs or improve childcare or raise the minimum wage to $15…, legislation that actually would make people’s lives easier and would be counter-inflationary.
“Fair or not, politics largely is perception, and though Republicans largely have no ideas, their strategy of running on divisiveness, far too often, wins them elections.”
I am a Democrat who is truly interested in Republicans saving their party from tRumpism. I long to be brought back to the days when both parties worked in the best interest of Democracy. I am looking forward to hearing Robert's interview tonight with Gunner Ramer, the Political Director for RAP. In a quick look at their website, I instantly found RAP’s Democracy Grade for GOP Congress members. Including a very organized table for reference, this grade is determined by evaluating members of Congress based on six criteria:
Did he or she sign on to the amicus brief filed along with Texas’ lawsuit to the Supreme Court that sought to nullify votes cast in Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Georgia?
Did he or she object to the certification of Electoral College votes from at least one state?
Did he or she make public statements that cast doubt on the legitimacy of the 2020 election?
Did he or she vote to hold Trump accountable via impeachment or conviction?
Did he or she vote to create an independent commission to investigate the January 6th insurrection.
Did he or she vote to hold Steve Bannon in contempt of Congress.
Once again, Robert is working to show that which is hopeful, rather than the media's incessant doom and gloom wherein they are only concerned about their ratings.
I am a former staunch Republican of 45 years. I was a moderate Republican. Then Donald Trump came along. His derogatory nicknames for people turned me off. I read about his business failures and how he would file for bankruptcy and get off without paying the contractors and workmen a dime. I read about his many affairs, many while married. Then came that video from AXS Television. I was thoroughly appalled and disgusted. I voted for Democrats all down the ballot. Then I watched as nearly all Republicans in office started carrying the Trump standard. I was thoroughly disgusted. When State elections rolled around, I registered as a Democrat.
I too hope that the Republican Party goes back to its roots. We can’t have a healthy government that works for all of the people without that, unless 100% of public offices are held by Democrats. That is not likely to happen. We need responsible men and women on both sides of the aisle who are willing to work together to get thing done for all of the people in this country. A health exchange of ideas is good for the country as is compromise.
1. McMurrow is strong, articulate, and persuasive ... speech lacking from our President and VP and other Democratic leaders. Is she a future presidential candidate?
2. The CDC is messy, confusing, and I don't listen anymore. Sorry. They've held back from making decisions and when they do, their message changes within days. I am not saying this is fact. I am saying this is how it appears to me. Yes, wear a mask. Then, well...maybe not so much just in certain places at certain times. No, only 7 days quarantine. Oops, no, just 5 days quarantine. Really?
3. I am vaccinated and boosted once. I am almost due for a 4th shot. However, the pharmacies say, maybe others, too, that this 4th shot gives us 2 weeks of immunity at best. What? How often are we to continue getting shots with confusing messages coming from the FDA and CDC? And, aren't our bodies supposed to build their own immunities in time?
4. This is all fear-based rhetoric. Covid or a variation is here to stay. We get a shot once a year and live our lives.
5. Yes, I'd wear a mask on a plane, train, or any crowded place. Still, we need to allow our bodies to fight on their own as they were built to do. I am weary of the fear and people allowing themselves to be filled with terror. This is not life nor joyful living. I am tired and venting. I apologize if I've offended anyone.
Hi, Lee Anne. I understand your frustration above, but I want to raise two points for consideration. First, as to the fear based rhetoric: remember that 1 million people have died of Covid. That is one of the highest death tolls in US history from any cause. So, when health official urge vaccination, I don't think they are being alarmist.
Second, I don't think any of the shots provide "immunity." They provide protection against serious disease and death. So, if getting a fourth shot (second booster) reduces your chances of getting seriously sick, I think that is worth it. If you have a link to a source that suggests that the second booster is ineffective or unnecessary, can you please share it with me? I would like to see what it says. Thanks!
Just FYI—I sent this to a friend recently. It’s from a major publication I quoted from. Sadly, I usually site the source but I lost this one. Again, major publication:
…”
I'm a relatively healthy 69-year-old who never had covid, and am six months past my third dose of Pfizer. If we get another major wave I'll get a second booster. Would switching to Moderna help broaden my immune response? — Andrew R., Massachusetts
Early results from a “mix and match” study of 458 participants done by the National Institutes for Health were published in January in the New England Journal of Medicine. The results “showed us that giving different variations of the vaccine when we boost increased the subsequent immune response,” according to infectious-disease expert Monica Gandhi, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.
She said a mixed boost increased the immune response by the same or more than the same vaccine.
“The most dramatic increases occurred when an adenovirus-DNA vaccine [Johnson & Johnson] was boosted with one of the two mRNA vaccines [Moderna or Pfizer],” she said.
Gandhi also noted that one interesting observation from the study is that the two mRNA vaccines do not code for exactly the same sequence of the spike protein of the virus, so that giving a boost of the Moderna when you’ve had the Pfizer will expose you to slightly different piece of the spike protein.
“This may give you a broader immune response to see two different mRNA vaccines so I recommend to my patients that they boost with the other mRNA vaccine if they received one type for their primary series,” she said...”
Thank you MaryAnn. I also follow Dr Gandhi and find her, among others, a very reputable source for following current data regarding Covid. As a healthcare professional of 42 years (two thirds of my life) I am driven to remain on the side of science. What so many do not understand, is that in the case of this pandemic, the science is evolving.
All good points and I don't disagree entirely. I do not have a link to anything empirical to draw upon. "The Atlantic" had a wonderful article under the "The Third Rail" published a week or two ago that questioned whether or not these 4th, potentially 5th shots, et cetera, are truly needed. I haven't heard any news focusing on this issue because of Putin's War, so I have little else to point to. My statements, as I mentioned, are from pharmacists and some medical providers I know. So, yes, my comments are anecdotal. I don't believe, however, they are irrational. I am hearing more and more from 'we the people' because of certain work I do. All have been vaccinated and boosted with one shot. 90%+ are hesitating on the 4th shot because there does not appear to be empirical data to support it. Please, if I am wrong, then send on a link for me to read. I have a decision to make together with a lot of folks who are hesitant to engage in this continuing regimen as a way of life. It feels most unnatural to me. I was a polio victim as a child prior to the Salk (and team) vaccine. I healed through dance therapy, strengthening my body to become a professional dancer for twenty years. There was no vaccine, no extra anything injected into my body. I was blessed but I was also a determined 5-year-old. Many still live with wheelchairs.
It wasn't easy to move with a leg brace when I started. However, a year and a half later the brace came off and I was dancing and walking! I was blessed. I think ballet therapy is absolutely wonderful. Good for you! Dancing, movement, music, mindfulness training are all wonderful tools to help us cope in this unbalanced world. I truly believe we all suffer to greater and lesser degrees from PTSD: First, Covid for 2 years and going with millions of lives gone; Putin's War casting concerning shadows on our country's well-being; then, more variants; divisiveness among us when we need to be united. I still have hope, though. We must stand and do what we can to hold ourselves and our country together.
You were a very strong and determined five year old. Congratulations on becoming a professional dancer.
Well, I honestly can’t give you a link to go to. Unfortunately, I live in a rural area where there is no internet access available, although I am only 5 miles out of town where they do have the internet.
I heard the prominent doctors on television discussing this issue. They said that 4 months after the booster injection, the immune response had dropped considerably leaving them vulnerable to contracting COVID. After studying the situation further, and after this new Omicron variant that is so much more transmissible than the previous variant came to the U S , it was decided that people who were considered high risk should have a fourth injection (a second booster). I have no qualms in getting this second booster because one of my underlying health problems is chronic bronchitis, although I have never smoked.
I will do everything the doctors recommend to make sure, or as sure as possible, that I don’t end up on a ventilator. I don’t want to die like that. I don’t want my three daughters to have to make the difficult decision to take me off of the ventilator, as I had to do with their father 21 years ago.
We each have to decide what is best for us.
Oh, and my doctor, who is one year younger than I, refused to be vaccinated and had COVID, but he told me that it was good that I had been vaccinated because of all of my health problems and my age.
I am with you on that, Leigh Anne. My personality has changed during all of this. The division in the country was bad enough, but then came COVID and so many deaths. Now Putin’s war in Ukraine has been a last straw (Including the death of my yellow 12.5 year old Labrador Retriever on on March 8).
I am angry, upset most of the time, and full of hatred for Putin and his military. I yell at the tv and cry at the horrible scenes on television. I will try dancing after I have both knees replaced, my left hip replaced, and my left foot repaired. I don’t have rhythm, but I will try anyway. 😊
Virginia, I have changed, too, with outbursts of anger, especially when I turn on the news, even read these newsletters. You have more personal things happening in addition to the loss of a beloved animal, what is going on in our world, on our planet, and in our country. As far as dancing, just move your arms or stretch them, breathe in deeply and exhale slowly 3 times, simple things that offer amazing in-the-moment relief from stress. I write "Reflections" ... just started last Saturday ... and I think you can link to it where it says "Lee Anne Morgan writes Reflections" which is next to my name (I think). Check it out, you may find it helpful. It is very different from these newsletters. Not better. Just different. And I include my photography as well. Have a good evening and try to clear your mind with the breathing I mentioned. 🌷🌈
I am a retired Registered Nurse. I am also almost 73 years old. I have several health conditions that make me very high risk. I have been boosted once and am ready for the second.
I believe in science. That is why I had no qualms of being vaccinated.
I also know that with new diseases there is always a learning curve. Scientists and Physicians give guidance on where they are in the learning curve. That explains the changes in guidance over time. As soon as they learn more about the disease, they are better able to give better advice, even if it is contrary to what they have previously said.
Science and Medicine are constantly evolving. Scientists and Physicians learn more about diseases, precautions, and treatment constantly which often brings about changes in what was previously thought and advised.
An excellent repy, Virginia. Thank you. And, I do not entirely disagree. However, I feel these vaccines and boosters are on some level a grand human experiment with new science/technology. That said, I am 78 and vaccinated and boostered once. I don't know what's actually happening with the pandemic currently and whether I need to put more "stuff" in my body on an ongoing basis, which when I last heard it sounded that was the way it would be: shots every 2-4 months. We shall see. I've always been more homeopathic than allopathic so I feel I'm bombarding my body at this point when it can kick in and build its own immunity.
Everyone is tired, Lee Ann, and you make some valid points. I will continue to wear a mask where I feel like it would be wise to do so, as well as use my hand sanitizer, wash my hands, and limit my trips out. Being a retired senior citizen, I can do those things. I have decided to wait on a 2nd booster. I had 2 separate and unpleasant reactions to the 3rd shot, after having no reaction to the first two. However, I am not entirely ruling out a 4th shot.
I agree that we're all suffering from some form of PTSD given 2 years of Covid and now the War and the concerns that brings. I feel like there is a cloud over our land. I, too, wear a mask, but as a senior myself, I rarely go out. I walk places for air and exercise, but my groceries are delivered. I live in an apartment building with people much older than I who refused both masks and vaccinations because "the Lord Jesus" is taking care of them. Well, none of them got Covid or variants so far. That's good for them but I did not appreciate their selfishness (which if I remember my Bible, Jesus taught the opposite) because they are potential carriers as are we all. Others in my building did the same for political reasons rather than religious. I, too, am weighing the 4th shot. If my pharmacist says it's not worth it, a fine "Atlantic" magazine article says it's not worth it, then who is pushing it and why?
I call myself the queen of google searches. Silly, of course. But as someone who is still trying to be helpful rather than in-your-face with people, I personally read Today's Edition, etc., and then look for supporting evidence (which I know exists) that will appeal to my northeastern Ohio high school classmates who continue to be good people who haven't fully seen the light yet (IMHO). So, here's a good one to share about the federal judge:https://www.nwahomepage.com/news/judge-who-struck-down-cdc-mask-mandate-was-deemed-not-qualified-by-american-bar-association/
Notice that it has the extra advantage of coming from a Fox News affiliate?
Anytime, Robert. It takes a village. And I'd seen the info on Rachel Maddow the first night and knew that this wasn't widely talked about information that SHOULD be.
Now I've tweeted her, Maddow, to let her know how to pass on that uncanny, all-too-rare skill she has to "find the story" and start the landslide. Seeing as how she is not going to keep being our daily regular person for that. She's quite understandably tired.
I just listened to Sen. McMorrow's speech; everyone should. It is non-partisan but very pointed and sets a powerful standard for deciding who is worth listening to and who is not. Almost wish I lived in Royal Oak so I could vote for her.
Mallory McMorrow who said “ We will not let hate win” speaks loud and clearly what many Democrats are thinking and feeling and I can only hope that other candidates are watching and listening to the overwhelming positive response and step up with similar comments. We need to drown out the hate on local levels. The judge’s decision as you have indicated regarding the mask mandate is a shinning example of what happens in an authoritarian government when unqualified individuals are given power and bend it to support their authoritarian benefactor. Judge Kathryn Mizelle is 34 years old and does not have enough experience to be considered a candidate for partner in her law firm much less a Federal Judge and has political connections to Judge Clarence Thomas and worked for the Republican leaning law firm of Jones Day. Another example of why Democrats need to be in the White House and control Congress. We ,all of us can not let hate win.
Clarence Thomas's law clerks are populating the federal judiciary. They are cultural warriors, not qualified jurists. Guess who else is Thomas clerk? John Eastman, the author of the coup-plotter's memo.
Judge Mizelle's decision is the most egregious example yet of how Congress' abdication of its legislative responsibility impacts all of us. Had the CDC enabling law been updated "from time to time" as most laws and all legislative good sense calls for we wouldn't be having this discussion. We'd also be much less likely to be as fearful of another spike in the level of Covid infections and death.
My frustration with Mr. Biden is not the failure of the BBB, but the administration's failure to follow up by offering the "chunks" of that bill that are widely popular and at least susceptible of bipartisan support. It's as though, having failed once, they've fallen into the media message of being consumed by the upcoming (6 and 1/2 months away) election and decided that nothing can get done. That sort of self-fulfilling prophecy would deserve defeat except, as you say, the alternative is completely unacceptable.
The podcast should be interesting and I hope to join in. Thanks for taking your time to do this.
Dave, My understanding is that advancing particular pieces of the social/environmental package is under discussion. I believe if the Senate can pass at least something, Dems can frame it as a down payment of more to come if they win more seats.
I hope you're right Barbara but what seems easy and obvious to you and I apparently is much more complicated once one gets inside the beltway. The State of the Union address was 6 weeks ago and seems much longer; at least the enabling verbiage for the Child Tax Credit should have been ready to go by now and that's the least challenging of all the parts under discussion.
Dave, Indeed, you’re spot on regarding inside-the-beltway complications. For example, though one would imagine extending the child tax credit to be the least challenging piece, its passage was blocked by Joe Manchin. That said, I continue to urge Senate leadership to pass something to frame as a down payment of more to come if Dems hold the House and pick up at least 2 Senate seats.
Although I liked today's column, I hope it is not a harbinger of columns to come. No mention of Ukraine. I have been afraid that as we get closer to the mid-terms, people will start to, not remember, but rather disregard what is going on there in favor of political posturing, "bitching" over gas prices, and the state of the economy. What goes on in Ukraine affects all of those things and the world needs to understand that Ukraine must win this war and provide the source of wheat and beans that are so important to many places in the world.
Thanks for your note, Robert. I find it difficult to achieve the right balance about Ukraine. For three weeks, I wrote almost exclusively about Ukraine. Yesterday, the news from Ukraine was that Russia continued its preliminary efforts to reconstitute its troops and renew its assault on the Donbas region. I am not saying that is not news that doesn't deserve to be covered in the media, but whether that should be in the newsletter each night is a different question. Indeed, the battlefield shaping operations in Donbas occupied almost the entirety of the front pages of every reputable mainstream media outlet. So, here is a genuine question to help me as I try to achieve the right balance: What do you think I should have said last night about Ukraine? Can you please email directly at rhubbell@outlook.com with your thoughts? Thanks for taking the time to raise this point.
I agree with you. I have posted about those things previously. I don’t think anyone is going to forget about Ukraine. It dominates the news. I watch for new updates every day. I am so worried about the people still in Mariupol. I have texted President Biden twice and my Senator several times. I pray for them and the entire country several times a day. I have sent money several times, even to the International SPCA to rescue their animals.
We can’t go in and help them fight. We do what we can do.
Thank you once again, Robert. While keeping the incendiary Republicans away from power is crucial in the next election, I must say that I'm disappointed in Biden for 1) not lighting a fire under the apparently soporific Merrick Garland and 2) not working to expand the Supreme Court. While I understand that the latter may be a big stretch, the former is not at all beyond his capacity. Republicans continue careening toward authoritarianism because there is no accountability for them. If Biden could do one thing to restore my faith, it would be to kick Garland's ass.
McMorrow’s speech is brilliant!
I agree completely. I wish more Democrats spoke as clearly and with as much passion and conviction as State Sen. McMorrow spoke in that moment.
Thank you, Robert, for providing that link!
❤
Re: CDC's pickle. I live in the NE. I'm afraid of a surge in the virus despite now having been double boosted. I'll wear my mask in crowded places and on public transportation. We just flew back from the Caribbean last week. Everyone was wearing their masks. It was no big deal. How in heaven's name did public health and welfare become this political litmus test? That Florida Trump judge is a nut.
A 33 yr. old incompetent who has no idea what she does NOT know. It is a wise person who recognizes the depths of her own ignorance. That judge is not wise.
On the other hand, plenty good for Mitch McConnell and his go-to source for all his legal guidance (since the ABA isn't good enough): The Federalist Society. How did we get to this point in our great republic?
Follow the dark money.
And it’s not a great republic…not even close:
https://youtu.be/wTjMqda19wk
Yes. She should be removed.
I live in Massachusetts, and I follow the state COVID figures daily. So far, cases are up sharply, although much less than during the Omicron surge in December and January. But hospitalizations are up only modestly, and deaths are flat or have even declined slightly. So, we might be in that endemic phase that has been talked of.
Hi, Jon. Always good to hear from you. That's the $64,000 question. Are we, or aren't we? Let's hope that we don't find out the answer to that question after it is too late. As the grandfather to two unvaccinated 1-year olds, I understand people's relief at not having to wear masks on public transit. I don't understand their inability to see those around them who depend on the kindness of strangers to act unselfishly. But, the genie is out of the bottle on masking, and we aren't ever going back. As I wrote last night, that may be okay given where we are in this pandemic, but it is the next one that we may be mismanaging already.
The larger issue--as everyone who reads your newsletter knows--is the insanity that masks are an issue. I understand that people who run restaurants and bars don't like them. They think that masking cuts down on business. And, ya know what? It does! The response, to me, is to aid people in those businesses--by encouraging outdoor dining when feasible, and by direct payments to supplement income streams. But, again speaking to the converted, we see how the haters have grabbed on to the issue. This is yet another of the gaps we need to find a way to bridge--and for once I don't have a glib answer.
But as the WHO director points out, an endemic disease is still a terrible thing, requiring vaccines and vigilance.
i flew back via Orlando from Costa Rica where probably 1/3 of people didn't wear their masks properly or at all.
I submit that she is beyond being a "nut." She was deemed unqualified for her position from the get-go and based upon her "decision," clearly, she's not even competent at generating a reasonable rationale. She's typical of just about every appointment made during tfg's term. As I recall, their primary purpose (other than to fill their own personal coffers) was to dismantle every agency in which they served and diminish every position to which they were appointed. They did an excellent job. You don't have to be smart to be destructive. This woman has now endangered the lives of millions. I for one, will not be traveling.
Can you tell me what does “t f g” mean?
As you probably know, since the election of tRump, many refuse to say or write his name, for it contributes to the publicity and promotion of his brand which is solely that which he seeks with his residency in the White House. "TFG" is one of the latest, which means "the former guy".
Thank you!
Mallory McMorrow's fighting spirit passionately embodies the core values that define what it means to be an American in accord with the highest virtues emblazoned in the nation's founding documents; she courageously and eloquently expresses James Madison's "virtue in the people," the essential ingredient in a democracy that works for all the people. In my mind she is a great example of a "Hubbell Hero," an inspiring woman of integrity who isn't afraid to stand up to a Trumpian hate monger when all the rest of the so called public servants kept their own counsel. Thanks for posting that one Mr. Hubbell. The people of Michigan are fortunate to have her as a Senator. A las Barricadas!
Given the Newsletter’s references these past two days to Charles Blow’s NYT piece “A Biden Blood Bath?”, I wish to respond by reprinting a fellow subscriber’s reply to my comment from another Substack followed by my reply to said subscriber.
Subscriber—“What frustrates me is that working-class voters still seem to think that the political right has their interests at heart.”
My reply—“A few observations:
“Republicans mainly want to fight the culture wars believing, perhaps rightly, that that’s how they win elections. At the same time, Dems largely seem to want to run away from culture issues rather than fighting the culture wars and winning them, on abortion, on book banning, on teaching history…, a mistake, in my view, considering the public largely is on the side of the Dems.
“In the alternative, Dems frequently are quoted as saying, ‘We’re not going to deal with that stuff; we’re going to focus on kitchen table issues.’ Though that sounds good, in the past 15 months, Dems haven’t been able to extend the child tax credit or lower prescription drug costs or improve childcare or raise the minimum wage to $15…, legislation that actually would make people’s lives easier and would be counter-inflationary.
“Fair or not, politics largely is perception, and though Republicans largely have no ideas, their strategy of running on divisiveness, far too often, wins them elections.”
❤
I am a Democrat who is truly interested in Republicans saving their party from tRumpism. I long to be brought back to the days when both parties worked in the best interest of Democracy. I am looking forward to hearing Robert's interview tonight with Gunner Ramer, the Political Director for RAP. In a quick look at their website, I instantly found RAP’s Democracy Grade for GOP Congress members. Including a very organized table for reference, this grade is determined by evaluating members of Congress based on six criteria:
Did he or she sign on to the amicus brief filed along with Texas’ lawsuit to the Supreme Court that sought to nullify votes cast in Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Georgia?
Did he or she object to the certification of Electoral College votes from at least one state?
Did he or she make public statements that cast doubt on the legitimacy of the 2020 election?
Did he or she vote to hold Trump accountable via impeachment or conviction?
Did he or she vote to create an independent commission to investigate the January 6th insurrection.
Did he or she vote to hold Steve Bannon in contempt of Congress.
Once again, Robert is working to show that which is hopeful, rather than the media's incessant doom and gloom wherein they are only concerned about their ratings.
https://accountability.gop/report-card/
I am a former staunch Republican of 45 years. I was a moderate Republican. Then Donald Trump came along. His derogatory nicknames for people turned me off. I read about his business failures and how he would file for bankruptcy and get off without paying the contractors and workmen a dime. I read about his many affairs, many while married. Then came that video from AXS Television. I was thoroughly appalled and disgusted. I voted for Democrats all down the ballot. Then I watched as nearly all Republicans in office started carrying the Trump standard. I was thoroughly disgusted. When State elections rolled around, I registered as a Democrat.
I too hope that the Republican Party goes back to its roots. We can’t have a healthy government that works for all of the people without that, unless 100% of public offices are held by Democrats. That is not likely to happen. We need responsible men and women on both sides of the aisle who are willing to work together to get thing done for all of the people in this country. A health exchange of ideas is good for the country as is compromise.
Thank you, Lynn, for highlighting the RAP org.
1. McMurrow is strong, articulate, and persuasive ... speech lacking from our President and VP and other Democratic leaders. Is she a future presidential candidate?
2. The CDC is messy, confusing, and I don't listen anymore. Sorry. They've held back from making decisions and when they do, their message changes within days. I am not saying this is fact. I am saying this is how it appears to me. Yes, wear a mask. Then, well...maybe not so much just in certain places at certain times. No, only 7 days quarantine. Oops, no, just 5 days quarantine. Really?
3. I am vaccinated and boosted once. I am almost due for a 4th shot. However, the pharmacies say, maybe others, too, that this 4th shot gives us 2 weeks of immunity at best. What? How often are we to continue getting shots with confusing messages coming from the FDA and CDC? And, aren't our bodies supposed to build their own immunities in time?
4. This is all fear-based rhetoric. Covid or a variation is here to stay. We get a shot once a year and live our lives.
5. Yes, I'd wear a mask on a plane, train, or any crowded place. Still, we need to allow our bodies to fight on their own as they were built to do. I am weary of the fear and people allowing themselves to be filled with terror. This is not life nor joyful living. I am tired and venting. I apologize if I've offended anyone.
Hi, Lee Anne. I understand your frustration above, but I want to raise two points for consideration. First, as to the fear based rhetoric: remember that 1 million people have died of Covid. That is one of the highest death tolls in US history from any cause. So, when health official urge vaccination, I don't think they are being alarmist.
Second, I don't think any of the shots provide "immunity." They provide protection against serious disease and death. So, if getting a fourth shot (second booster) reduces your chances of getting seriously sick, I think that is worth it. If you have a link to a source that suggests that the second booster is ineffective or unnecessary, can you please share it with me? I would like to see what it says. Thanks!
Just FYI—I sent this to a friend recently. It’s from a major publication I quoted from. Sadly, I usually site the source but I lost this one. Again, major publication:
…”
I'm a relatively healthy 69-year-old who never had covid, and am six months past my third dose of Pfizer. If we get another major wave I'll get a second booster. Would switching to Moderna help broaden my immune response? — Andrew R., Massachusetts
Early results from a “mix and match” study of 458 participants done by the National Institutes for Health were published in January in the New England Journal of Medicine. The results “showed us that giving different variations of the vaccine when we boost increased the subsequent immune response,” according to infectious-disease expert Monica Gandhi, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.
She said a mixed boost increased the immune response by the same or more than the same vaccine.
“The most dramatic increases occurred when an adenovirus-DNA vaccine [Johnson & Johnson] was boosted with one of the two mRNA vaccines [Moderna or Pfizer],” she said.
Gandhi also noted that one interesting observation from the study is that the two mRNA vaccines do not code for exactly the same sequence of the spike protein of the virus, so that giving a boost of the Moderna when you’ve had the Pfizer will expose you to slightly different piece of the spike protein.
“This may give you a broader immune response to see two different mRNA vaccines so I recommend to my patients that they boost with the other mRNA vaccine if they received one type for their primary series,” she said...”
Thank you MaryAnn. I also follow Dr Gandhi and find her, among others, a very reputable source for following current data regarding Covid. As a healthcare professional of 42 years (two thirds of my life) I am driven to remain on the side of science. What so many do not understand, is that in the case of this pandemic, the science is evolving.
All good points and I don't disagree entirely. I do not have a link to anything empirical to draw upon. "The Atlantic" had a wonderful article under the "The Third Rail" published a week or two ago that questioned whether or not these 4th, potentially 5th shots, et cetera, are truly needed. I haven't heard any news focusing on this issue because of Putin's War, so I have little else to point to. My statements, as I mentioned, are from pharmacists and some medical providers I know. So, yes, my comments are anecdotal. I don't believe, however, they are irrational. I am hearing more and more from 'we the people' because of certain work I do. All have been vaccinated and boosted with one shot. 90%+ are hesitating on the 4th shot because there does not appear to be empirical data to support it. Please, if I am wrong, then send on a link for me to read. I have a decision to make together with a lot of folks who are hesitant to engage in this continuing regimen as a way of life. It feels most unnatural to me. I was a polio victim as a child prior to the Salk (and team) vaccine. I healed through dance therapy, strengthening my body to become a professional dancer for twenty years. There was no vaccine, no extra anything injected into my body. I was blessed but I was also a determined 5-year-old. Many still live with wheelchairs.
Lee Anne,
You mirror my thoughts on the vaccine.
I so admire your strength and determination that enabled you to become a professional dancer!
I’m using ballet therapy to keep me sane….
It wasn't easy to move with a leg brace when I started. However, a year and a half later the brace came off and I was dancing and walking! I was blessed. I think ballet therapy is absolutely wonderful. Good for you! Dancing, movement, music, mindfulness training are all wonderful tools to help us cope in this unbalanced world. I truly believe we all suffer to greater and lesser degrees from PTSD: First, Covid for 2 years and going with millions of lives gone; Putin's War casting concerning shadows on our country's well-being; then, more variants; divisiveness among us when we need to be united. I still have hope, though. We must stand and do what we can to hold ourselves and our country together.
💙💙💙
You were a very strong and determined five year old. Congratulations on becoming a professional dancer.
Well, I honestly can’t give you a link to go to. Unfortunately, I live in a rural area where there is no internet access available, although I am only 5 miles out of town where they do have the internet.
I heard the prominent doctors on television discussing this issue. They said that 4 months after the booster injection, the immune response had dropped considerably leaving them vulnerable to contracting COVID. After studying the situation further, and after this new Omicron variant that is so much more transmissible than the previous variant came to the U S , it was decided that people who were considered high risk should have a fourth injection (a second booster). I have no qualms in getting this second booster because one of my underlying health problems is chronic bronchitis, although I have never smoked.
I will do everything the doctors recommend to make sure, or as sure as possible, that I don’t end up on a ventilator. I don’t want to die like that. I don’t want my three daughters to have to make the difficult decision to take me off of the ventilator, as I had to do with their father 21 years ago.
We each have to decide what is best for us.
Oh, and my doctor, who is one year younger than I, refused to be vaccinated and had COVID, but he told me that it was good that I had been vaccinated because of all of my health problems and my age.
I am with you on that, Leigh Anne. My personality has changed during all of this. The division in the country was bad enough, but then came COVID and so many deaths. Now Putin’s war in Ukraine has been a last straw (Including the death of my yellow 12.5 year old Labrador Retriever on on March 8).
I am angry, upset most of the time, and full of hatred for Putin and his military. I yell at the tv and cry at the horrible scenes on television. I will try dancing after I have both knees replaced, my left hip replaced, and my left foot repaired. I don’t have rhythm, but I will try anyway. 😊
Virginia, I have changed, too, with outbursts of anger, especially when I turn on the news, even read these newsletters. You have more personal things happening in addition to the loss of a beloved animal, what is going on in our world, on our planet, and in our country. As far as dancing, just move your arms or stretch them, breathe in deeply and exhale slowly 3 times, simple things that offer amazing in-the-moment relief from stress. I write "Reflections" ... just started last Saturday ... and I think you can link to it where it says "Lee Anne Morgan writes Reflections" which is next to my name (I think). Check it out, you may find it helpful. It is very different from these newsletters. Not better. Just different. And I include my photography as well. Have a good evening and try to clear your mind with the breathing I mentioned. 🌷🌈
I am a retired Registered Nurse. I am also almost 73 years old. I have several health conditions that make me very high risk. I have been boosted once and am ready for the second.
I believe in science. That is why I had no qualms of being vaccinated.
I also know that with new diseases there is always a learning curve. Scientists and Physicians give guidance on where they are in the learning curve. That explains the changes in guidance over time. As soon as they learn more about the disease, they are better able to give better advice, even if it is contrary to what they have previously said.
Science and Medicine are constantly evolving. Scientists and Physicians learn more about diseases, precautions, and treatment constantly which often brings about changes in what was previously thought and advised.
An excellent repy, Virginia. Thank you. And, I do not entirely disagree. However, I feel these vaccines and boosters are on some level a grand human experiment with new science/technology. That said, I am 78 and vaccinated and boostered once. I don't know what's actually happening with the pandemic currently and whether I need to put more "stuff" in my body on an ongoing basis, which when I last heard it sounded that was the way it would be: shots every 2-4 months. We shall see. I've always been more homeopathic than allopathic so I feel I'm bombarding my body at this point when it can kick in and build its own immunity.
Everyone is tired, Lee Ann, and you make some valid points. I will continue to wear a mask where I feel like it would be wise to do so, as well as use my hand sanitizer, wash my hands, and limit my trips out. Being a retired senior citizen, I can do those things. I have decided to wait on a 2nd booster. I had 2 separate and unpleasant reactions to the 3rd shot, after having no reaction to the first two. However, I am not entirely ruling out a 4th shot.
I agree that we're all suffering from some form of PTSD given 2 years of Covid and now the War and the concerns that brings. I feel like there is a cloud over our land. I, too, wear a mask, but as a senior myself, I rarely go out. I walk places for air and exercise, but my groceries are delivered. I live in an apartment building with people much older than I who refused both masks and vaccinations because "the Lord Jesus" is taking care of them. Well, none of them got Covid or variants so far. That's good for them but I did not appreciate their selfishness (which if I remember my Bible, Jesus taught the opposite) because they are potential carriers as are we all. Others in my building did the same for political reasons rather than religious. I, too, am weighing the 4th shot. If my pharmacist says it's not worth it, a fine "Atlantic" magazine article says it's not worth it, then who is pushing it and why?
Mallory McMorrow!
I call myself the queen of google searches. Silly, of course. But as someone who is still trying to be helpful rather than in-your-face with people, I personally read Today's Edition, etc., and then look for supporting evidence (which I know exists) that will appeal to my northeastern Ohio high school classmates who continue to be good people who haven't fully seen the light yet (IMHO). So, here's a good one to share about the federal judge:https://www.nwahomepage.com/news/judge-who-struck-down-cdc-mask-mandate-was-deemed-not-qualified-by-american-bar-association/
Notice that it has the extra advantage of coming from a Fox News affiliate?
Great find! Thanks!
Anytime, Robert. It takes a village. And I'd seen the info on Rachel Maddow the first night and knew that this wasn't widely talked about information that SHOULD be.
Now I've tweeted her, Maddow, to let her know how to pass on that uncanny, all-too-rare skill she has to "find the story" and start the landslide. Seeing as how she is not going to keep being our daily regular person for that. She's quite understandably tired.
I just listened to Sen. McMorrow's speech; everyone should. It is non-partisan but very pointed and sets a powerful standard for deciding who is worth listening to and who is not. Almost wish I lived in Royal Oak so I could vote for her.
Mallory McMorrow who said “ We will not let hate win” speaks loud and clearly what many Democrats are thinking and feeling and I can only hope that other candidates are watching and listening to the overwhelming positive response and step up with similar comments. We need to drown out the hate on local levels. The judge’s decision as you have indicated regarding the mask mandate is a shinning example of what happens in an authoritarian government when unqualified individuals are given power and bend it to support their authoritarian benefactor. Judge Kathryn Mizelle is 34 years old and does not have enough experience to be considered a candidate for partner in her law firm much less a Federal Judge and has political connections to Judge Clarence Thomas and worked for the Republican leaning law firm of Jones Day. Another example of why Democrats need to be in the White House and control Congress. We ,all of us can not let hate win.
Clarence Thomas's law clerks are populating the federal judiciary. They are cultural warriors, not qualified jurists. Guess who else is Thomas clerk? John Eastman, the author of the coup-plotter's memo.
Judge Mizelle's decision is the most egregious example yet of how Congress' abdication of its legislative responsibility impacts all of us. Had the CDC enabling law been updated "from time to time" as most laws and all legislative good sense calls for we wouldn't be having this discussion. We'd also be much less likely to be as fearful of another spike in the level of Covid infections and death.
My frustration with Mr. Biden is not the failure of the BBB, but the administration's failure to follow up by offering the "chunks" of that bill that are widely popular and at least susceptible of bipartisan support. It's as though, having failed once, they've fallen into the media message of being consumed by the upcoming (6 and 1/2 months away) election and decided that nothing can get done. That sort of self-fulfilling prophecy would deserve defeat except, as you say, the alternative is completely unacceptable.
The podcast should be interesting and I hope to join in. Thanks for taking your time to do this.
Dave, My understanding is that advancing particular pieces of the social/environmental package is under discussion. I believe if the Senate can pass at least something, Dems can frame it as a down payment of more to come if they win more seats.
I hope you're right Barbara but what seems easy and obvious to you and I apparently is much more complicated once one gets inside the beltway. The State of the Union address was 6 weeks ago and seems much longer; at least the enabling verbiage for the Child Tax Credit should have been ready to go by now and that's the least challenging of all the parts under discussion.
Dave, Indeed, you’re spot on regarding inside-the-beltway complications. For example, though one would imagine extending the child tax credit to be the least challenging piece, its passage was blocked by Joe Manchin. That said, I continue to urge Senate leadership to pass something to frame as a down payment of more to come if Dems hold the House and pick up at least 2 Senate seats.
A simple and direct strategy that would probably also work if the "leadership" ever thought in simple and direct terms about anything.
Although I liked today's column, I hope it is not a harbinger of columns to come. No mention of Ukraine. I have been afraid that as we get closer to the mid-terms, people will start to, not remember, but rather disregard what is going on there in favor of political posturing, "bitching" over gas prices, and the state of the economy. What goes on in Ukraine affects all of those things and the world needs to understand that Ukraine must win this war and provide the source of wheat and beans that are so important to many places in the world.
Thanks for your note, Robert. I find it difficult to achieve the right balance about Ukraine. For three weeks, I wrote almost exclusively about Ukraine. Yesterday, the news from Ukraine was that Russia continued its preliminary efforts to reconstitute its troops and renew its assault on the Donbas region. I am not saying that is not news that doesn't deserve to be covered in the media, but whether that should be in the newsletter each night is a different question. Indeed, the battlefield shaping operations in Donbas occupied almost the entirety of the front pages of every reputable mainstream media outlet. So, here is a genuine question to help me as I try to achieve the right balance: What do you think I should have said last night about Ukraine? Can you please email directly at rhubbell@outlook.com with your thoughts? Thanks for taking the time to raise this point.
I agree with you. I have posted about those things previously. I don’t think anyone is going to forget about Ukraine. It dominates the news. I watch for new updates every day. I am so worried about the people still in Mariupol. I have texted President Biden twice and my Senator several times. I pray for them and the entire country several times a day. I have sent money several times, even to the International SPCA to rescue their animals.
We can’t go in and help them fight. We do what we can do.
Thank you once again, Robert. While keeping the incendiary Republicans away from power is crucial in the next election, I must say that I'm disappointed in Biden for 1) not lighting a fire under the apparently soporific Merrick Garland and 2) not working to expand the Supreme Court. While I understand that the latter may be a big stretch, the former is not at all beyond his capacity. Republicans continue careening toward authoritarianism because there is no accountability for them. If Biden could do one thing to restore my faith, it would be to kick Garland's ass.
Wow! What a fantastic speech by Michigan State senator Mallory McMorrow! Go to Hubbell’s letter to find the link.
I can hear you perfectly. It’s a combination of grim updates & marvelous support! Keep it up Robert! Love your spirit! Best to you & Jill
"WE WILL NOT LET HATE WIN!"
Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow.
Sounds like a poweful message to me, a proud Michigander.