What are your thoughts on how government is handling COVID-19

[arkieb1]

The problem we are just starting to work out in many places like New York and Italy is that many of the deaths from things like heart attacks, old age etc at home, are not registered as COVID -19 deaths, so those death rates and infection rate numbers are woefully inadequate. For all those people out there that think this is no worse than seasonal flu or that everyone should just go back to normal these charts compare overall country death rates generally during the same periods in past months and years;

The Pandemic’s Hidden Toll: Half a Million Deaths (Published 2020)

Far more people died in 2020 during the pandemic than have been officially reported, a review of mortality data in 35 countries shows.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Matata]

Even TRUMP says it is too soon. Wow. Wonders never cease.

Riiiiight. The man who can't hold a position for a millisecond and contradicts himself. He got push back from the $$$$$ people in Atlanta else wise he'd be singing Kemp's praises.

 

[missy]

Riiiiight. The man who can't hold a position for a millisecond and contradicts himself. He got push back from the $$$$$ people in Atlanta else wise he'd be singing Kemp's praises.

Yeah. Too bad he isn't going to do anything about it though.

"I think it's too soon," Trump said at his daily coronavirus briefing on Wednesday. "But at the same time, he must do what he thinks is right."

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Yup, you sepo's need to up your septic game (Ausies and Kiwi's called Americans Septic's during the second world war because they had cleanliness fetishes).
If you do not suppress before relaxing you will have a national disaster!
No immigrants will even want to go near you!
Meanwhile in Victoria 6.39Million pop we had 78 live cases yesterday - all quarantined and contacts being traced.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Yeah. Too bad he isn't going to do anything about it though.

What can Trump do? it is up to the state Governor.

 

[missy]

What can Trump do? it is up to the state Governor.

According to Trump he can do whatever he wants. What? Can't he?

https://www.washingtonpost.com

"Trump says Constitution gives him power to 'do whatever I want' "

Trump says it is "too soon" for Georgia to reopen its economy

The US coronavirus outbreak has altered daily life in almost every way. Here's the latest updates on US Covid-19 cases, deaths, reopening efforts, the government response, unemployment and more.

www.cnn.com

"I told the governor of Georgia Brian Kemp that I disagree strongly with his decision to open certain facilities, which are in violation of the phase one guidelines for the incredible people of Georgia," Trump said during his coronavirus task force briefing this afternoon. "But at the same time, he must do what he thinks is right. I want him to do what he thinks is right, but I disagree with him on what he's doing, but I want to let the governors do — now, if I see something totally egregious, totally out of line, I'll do [something].

 

[Dancing Fire]

According to Trump he can do whatever he wants. What? Can't he?

At first you liberals don't want Trump to have the power to control all 50 states but now you do? ...

 

[missy]

At first you liberals don't want Trump to have the power to control all 50 states but now you do? ...

I was being facetious. He always says he can do anything he wants. He has ALL the power. So I was just answering your question @Dancing Fire


Speaking of answering questions I never received an answer to a question I posed to you yesterday.

@Dancing Fire you do realize FEMA has helped California often re wildfires and other disasters? Where would you be without them?

 

[Dancing Fire]

Speaking of answering questions I never received an answer to a question I posed to you yesterday.

Read my above post #1316...

 

[missy]

Read my above post #1316...

I don't see an answer to the question I asked you. But no worries. We already know the answer.

 

[Maria D]

First the NY governor complain that there aren't enough ventilators, then not enough hospital beds and now not enough test kits. What's next? not enough condoms?. You think they can just click the switch and produce a million test kits in one minutes? Tell the governors to make their own test kits.

I know, can you believe this guy? Tens of thousands of his constituents dead and all he can do is complain, complain, complain. Why doesn't he just chill? People gonna die, that's just life! THANK GOD we have Trump during this (made up) crisis! It's so refreshing to hear a president toot his own horn every night and even more uplifting when the people he hasn't fired yet (like that so-called vaccine expert, what a waste he was, so glad he's gone!) sing his praises. Don't you just love the way Darling Donny's face beams so proud when Pence et. al. tell baby Donny what a good boy he is and what a good job he's doing? Ahh, gives such comfort, doesn't it? I don't know why whiny Andy can't take a hint from Donny and just relax!

And don't even worry about condoms DF! They are not necessary at all - Donny didn't need them when he was f*king Stormy Daniels. Condom use is just more b.s. made up by liberals who don't understand much of anything.

 

[Dancing Fire]

And don't even worry about condoms DF! They are not necessary at all - Donny didn't need them when he was f*king Stormy Daniels. Condom use is just more b.s. made up by liberals who don't understand much of anything.

How would you know? Were you there to witness?

 

[AGBF]

Trump Fires Vaccine Expert, Who Files Whistleblower Complaint

"The doctor who led the federal agency involved in developing a coronavirus vaccine said on Wednesday that he was removed from his post after he pressed for rigorous vetting of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug embraced by President Trump as a coronavirus treatment, and that the administration has put 'politics and cronyism ahead of science.'
Dr. Rick Bright was abruptly dismissed this week as the director of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, or BARDA, and removed as the deputy assistant secretary for preparedness and response. He was given a narrower job at the National Institutes of Health.
In a scorching statement, Dr. Bright assailed the leadership at the health department, saying he was pressured to direct money toward hydroxychloroquine, one of several'potentially dangerous drugs promoted by those with political connections' and repeatedly described by the president as a potential 'game changer' in the fight against the virus.

'I believe this transfer was in response to my insistence that the government invest the billions of dollars allocated by Congress to address the Covid-19 pandemic into safe and scientifically vetted solutions, and not in drugs, vaccines and other technologies that lack scientific merit,' he said in his statement. 'I am speaking out because to combat this deadly virus, science — not politics or cronyism — has to lead the way.'”

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/22/us/coronavirus-live-coverage.html

I do not recall the details, but I do recall that Trump had a financial interest of some sort in hydroxychoroquine. Cronyism indeed!

 

[1ofakind]

I do not recall the details, but I do recall that Trump had a financial interest of some sort in hydroxychoroquine. Cronyism indeed!

Yup, he may have as much as $450.00 invested in that pharmaceutical company, through a mutual fund, held within a trust that DT does not even control. No reasonable person would consider that a motive...it isn’t even worth a mention. Which means there will definitely be an impeachment hearing in the House ASAP.

Trump’s promotion of unproven drugs is cause for alarm, but not because he’s making money off it

Trump indirectly owns a minute stake in a company that makes hydroxychloroquine. But that doesn’t seem to be why he’s been promoting it.

www.vox.com

 

[Maria D]

How would you know? Were you there to witness?

Are you saying you ARE worried about a condom shortage DF? Why? I would imagine your wife is post-menopausal by now! Does your wife think you can spread COVID to her from sex? Oh that makes your worries about condom shortages understandable then.

 

[Maria D]

Yup, he may have as much as $450.00 invested in that pharmaceutical company, through a mutual fund, held within a trust that DT does not even control. No reasonable person would consider that a motive...it isn’t even worth a mention. Which means there will definitely be an impeachment hearing in the House ASAP.

Trump’s promotion of unproven drugs is cause for alarm, but not because he’s making money off it

Trump indirectly owns a minute stake in a company that makes hydroxychloroquine. But that doesn’t seem to be why he’s been promoting it.

www.vox.com

I know, picky picky picky. Darling Donny fires a so-called "vaccine expert" and now unreasonable people think he has some ulterior motive for prescribing a drug unproven to help fight COVID. Dr. Trump can and SHOULD prescribe whatever he wants! The constitution gives him this power AND MORE. All powers, actually.

Donny doesn't prescribe drugs to improve his stock portfolio! He prescribes this so that later on when clinical trials find that it works we can all see what a STABLE GENIUS he really is. (And if it doesn't work, don't worry - Darling Don has all kinds of strategies for taking back what he once said!) But never mind that, just listen to Donny people - what have you got to lose?

 

[AGBF]

Yup, he may have as much as $450.00 invested in that pharmaceutical company, through a mutual fund, held within a trust that DT does not even control. No reasonable person would consider that a motive...it isn’t even worth a mention. Which means there will definitely be an impeachment hearing in the House ASAP.

Trump’s promotion of unproven drugs is cause for alarm, but not because he’s making money off it

Trump indirectly owns a minute stake in a company that makes hydroxychloroquine. But that doesn’t seem to be why he’s been promoting it.

www.vox.com

$450.00 is too low for you?

This reminds me of the little joke about the prostitute." A man asks a woman if she would be willing to sleep with him if he pays her an exorbitant sum. She replies affirmatively. He then names a paltry amount and asks if she would still be willing to sleep with him for the revised fee. The woman is greatly offended and replies as follows:
She: What kind of woman do you think I am?
He: We’ve already established that. Now we’re just haggling over the price."

 

[1ofakind]

$450.00 is too low for you?

You think a $450.00 “investment” that he doesn’t control and may not even be aware of is relevant at all? Really? That’s what you want to go with...???

 

[AGBF]

You think a $450.00 “investment” that he doesn’t control and may not even be aware of is relevant at all? Really? That’s what you want to go with...???

I don't want to go anywhere facts don't lead me. Dr Bright alleged cronyism. I would let him tell us what he means by that.

For a completely different reason I have a strong complaint againt the president's advocating the use of the medication when it was not even on the market, let alone that he was not qualified to prescribe it to any individual.I do "go with that".

 

[1ofakind]

Are you aware though that the president can not prescribe medication? Where did you ever hear otherwise because only Dr’s can do that.

Of course it’s already on the market...my DH has taken it several times years ago as have millions of people around the world. It’s not new at all. It’s been used off label for many years as well so I’m not sure why you think it wasn’t even on the market. Dr’s were already trying that very same medication all over the world for Covid before DT ever brought it up. Because it showed some effectiveness with some other virus outbreaks. Despite the recent questionable (not yet peer reviewed) paper it seems to be showing positive results In other studies, for at least some people, at some stages of the disease. I’d have to check again but I thought this last study was done on mostly very elderly men, already near death or on ventilators...I don’t think the drug (or anything) has shown to be effective when given that late stage.

 

[redwood66]

I don't want to go anywhere facts don't lead me. Dr Bright alleged cronyism. I would let him tell us what he means by that.

For a completely different reason I have a strong complaint againt the president's advocating the use of the medication when it was not even on the market, let alone that he was not qualified to prescribe it to any individual.I do "go with that".

Yes. He ought to definitely speak up and say specifically what the cronyism is about instead of throwing a vague accusation to the press for them to create a hysteria. It reads to me like he made a recommendation and the people above him decided not to take it. Ok. What happened then to make him run to the press? What caused his reassignment?

 

[Maria D]

Are you aware though that the president can not prescribe medication? Where did you ever hear otherwise because only Dr’s can do that.

Of course it’s already on the market...my DH has taken it several times years ago as have millions of people around the world. It’s not new at all. It’s been used off label for many years as well so I’m not sure why you think it wasn’t even on the market. Dr’s were already trying that very same medication all over the world for Covid before DT ever brought it up. Because it showed some effectiveness with some other virus outbreaks. Despite the recent questionable (not yet peer reviewed) paper it seems to be showing positive results In other studies, for at least some people, at some stages of the disease. I’d have to check again but I thought this last study was done on mostly very elderly men, already near death or on ventilators...I don’t think the drug (or anything) has shown to be effective when given that late stage.

How do you not have any commentary at all on the rest of AGBF's post, which was about the circumstances about which Dr. Bright was reassigned. You have so much to say about a stray comment at the end, but I'm wondering what your thoughts are on the actual issue at hand.

Are you aware that even though the president cannot directly prescribe medication, he can directly and/or indirectly exercise his influence over what in this fight against COVID gets funded and what doesn't?

What do you make of Dr. Bright's assertions? Do you agree or disagree with him that "the billions of dollars allocated by Congress to address the Covid-19 pandemic [should be put towards] safe and scientifically vetted solutions, and not in drugs, vaccines and other technologies that lack scientific merit?"

 

[Maria D]

Yes. He ought to definitely speak up and say specifically what the cronyism is about instead of throwing a vague accusation to the press for them to create a hysteria. It reads to me like he made a recommendation and the people above him decided not to take it. Ok. What happened then to make him run to the press? What caused his reassignment?

Indeed, what caused his reassignment? The powers that be that caused it are not saying. Dr. Bright did speak up, and not with vague accusations either - they were rather pointed accusations to which there is no official response. Whatever recommendations he made as an expert with a Ph.D. in immunology and molecular pathogenesis should be highly considered and backed with our tax dollars.

 

[redwood66]

Indeed, what caused his reassignment? The powers that be that caused it are not saying. Dr. Bright did speak up, and not with vague accusations either - they were rather pointed accusations to which there is no official response. Whatever recommendations he made as an expert with a Ph.D. in immunology and molecular pathogenesis should be highly considered and backed with our tax dollars.

The accusation of cronyism is vague because how does that tie to his accusations? No doubt there are competing lines of thought at NIH and BARDA on how to handle this virus, and all of them are likely experts. He is no more special or expert because he spoke to the press. This line of thinking that everyone working in the government who runs to the press is altruistic or the best expert because they speak out against Trump is puzzling to me. Is it confirmation bias?

Edit - I don't see WHISTLEBLOWER anywhere in that article so that is extreme hyperbole.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Are you saying you ARE worried about a condom shortage DF? Why? I would imagine your wife is post-menopausal by now! Does your wife think you can spread COVID to her from sex? Oh that makes your worries about condom shortages understandable then.

I'm too old for sex.

 

[AGBF]

The accusation of cronyism is vague because how does that tie to his accusations? No doubt there are competing lines of thought at NIH and BARDA on how to handle this virus, and all of them are likely experts. He is no more special or expert because he spoke to the press. This line of thinking that everyone working in the government who runs to the press is altruistic or the best expert because they speak out against Trump is puzzling to me. Is it confirmation bias?
Edit - I don't see WHISTLEBLOWER anywhere in that article so that is extreme hyperbole.

The logic guiding that argument would be that if you, personally, did not see one specific item of proof of evidence in one specific place that no proof of evidence could exist. Only hyperbole, not fact, could be behind the argument of your opponent,

 

[AGBF]

The public health expert and physician is currently represented by the law firm of Katz, Marshall & Banks–which famously represented Dr. Christine Blasey Ford before the Senate Judiciary Committee in September 2018 after she publicly accused then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault.

The attorneys are likely working to help the doctor file that aforementioned whistleblower complaint.
Per Bright’s lengthy public statement about his demotion:

I will request that the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services investigate the manner in which this Administration has politicized the work of BARDA and has pressured me and other conscientious scientists to fund companies with political connections as well as efforts that lack scientific merit. Rushing blindly toward unproven drugs can be disastrous and result in countless more deaths.

Bright’s attorneys, Debra Katz and Lisa Banks, later released a statement of their own.
“The Administration’s removal of Dr. Bright from his position as director of BARDA is retaliation plain and simple,” they said. “The results from the Administration’s refusal to listen to the experts and to sideline those like Dr. Bright who point out any errors in the government’s response will continue to be a catastrophe for the American people. We will request that the Office of Special Counsel seek a stay of Dr. Bright’s termination and that Dr. Bright be permitted to remain in his position pending the OSC and IG’s investigation of this unlawful forced transfer.”

Law&Crime reached out to the law firm for a detailed statement on Bright’s next moves but was directed to the public relations firm of SKDKnickerbocker, who later provided a copy of the above-referenced statements.

The high-profile humiliation of a public health official is likely to cause an additional wave of headaches and scorn for the Trump administration amidst the ongoing pandemic and economic slump. Critics quickly took the White House to task for the appearance of impropriety in regards to Bright’s removal.

“Dr. Bright deserves to be heard and given the opportunity to explain what went on behind the scenes developing treatments and a vaccine,” national security attorney Bradley P. Moss told Law&Crime via email. “People’s lives are at risk, and science, not politics, should win out.”

 

[redwood66]

The logic guiding that argument would be that if you, personally, did not see one specific item of proof of evidence in one specific place that no proof of evidence could exist. Only hyperbole, not fact, could be behind the argument of your opponent,

He is not a whistleblower and it didn't say it in the article. Did you type that because you believe he is?

 

[AGBF]

He is not a whistleblower and it didn't say it in the article. Did you type that because you believe he is?

No. See my other reply above for more details. He considers himself a whistleblower. It has been written about widely although not in the one article to which you referred.

 

[redwood66]

No. See my other reply above for more details. He considers himself a whistleblower. It has been written about widely although not in the one article to which you referred.

He can consider himself an astronaut, it doesn't make him one. Let his lawyers handle it. If he was wrongly reassigned I'm sure it'll get figured out.