The Dishonesty is Exhausting
Foolish lies are for foolish liars.
For example, Senator John Cornyn (R-TX):
Also, Tucker Carlson:
The Fox News host added: “As the president said, if you take that shot, wear your mask, and listen to Dr. Fauci, it is possible that you might be able to gather in small groups with the ones you love for the Fourth of July. We might have to rescind that right, but it’s possible, if you are obedient, you will get it.”
Here’s what Biden actually said:
First, tonight, I’m announcing that I will direct all states, tribes and territories to make all adults, people 18 and over, eligible to be vaccinated no later than May 1.
Let me say that again. All adult Americans will be eligible to get a vaccine no later than May 1. That’s much earlier than expected.
And let me be clear, that doesn’t mean everyone’s going to have that shot immediately but it means you’ll be able to get in line beginning May 1. Every adult will be eligible to get their shot.
This isn’t complicated and he was clear: the goal is that by May 1 every American seek an appointment for their first shot (or, in the case of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine their only shot). No one with rudimentary English skills could misunderstand what he said. He even purposefully clarified, “that doesn’t mean everyone’s going to have that shot immediately but it means you’ll be able to get in line beginning May 1.”
This isn’t complicated.
Further, about July 4th he stated:
Because here’s the point, if we do all this, if we do our part, if we do this together, by July the 4th, there’s a good chance you, your families and friends will be able to get together in your backyard or your neighborhood and have a cookout and a barbecue and celebrate Independence Day.
That doesn’t mean large events with lots of people together but it does mean small groups will be able to get together. After this long hard year, that will make this Independence Day something truly special, where we not only mark our independence as a nation but we begin to mark our independence from this virus.
But to get there we can’t let our guard down. This fight is far from order – from over, as I told the woman in Pennsylvania. I’ll tell you the truth. On July 4th, with your loved ones, is the goal.
Let’s also do some basic math. If a person on May 1 is allowed to get an appointment for a shot, and it is one of the two-shot vaccines, it would take five-to-six weeks from the first shot to full efficacy (three-to-four weeks, depending on whether we are talking Pfizer or Moderna, and then two weeks after the second shot for full effect).
May 1 to July 4th is roughly nine weeks. If eligibility opens for all, people who get first shots by late May/early June would be fully inoculated by July 4th, making it safe for them to gather with other inoculated people. It is also true that it is unlikely that everyone who wants a shot will get one by early June. As such, it is unlikely that it will be wise to have fully normal July 4th events.
All of this fits the basic math of the process. Cornyn and Carlson both are simply lying about what was said and how the process is likely to unfold.
I am so very weary of a political style that relies on straight-up lies. (And not spin or interpretation or trying to amplify one’s side, but straight-up lies).
I know we all want to this be over with, but the daily case count, while well down from peak, is still averaging in the mid 50,000s per day and around 1,300 a day are still dying from the disease. There is still work to do before we just throw the doors open and go back to 100% normal. It would be foolish to do so when we have a real chance at mass immunization.
But, fools gonna fool, I guess.
And, of course, add Rudy to that list:
Dr. Taylor – thanks for this. But the reality is that as long as there is a segment of the media who is willing to propagate the lies, and then weaponize them, with no real pushback or accountability, we won’t be able to accomplish anything close to a national consensus on anything.
Heck, the Covid relief bill had close to a 70% approval rating, yet couldn’t get ONE GOP vote. Not one.
That, even in these times, is shocking to me.
It is is fucking exhausting. And I am losing my relationship with my brothers over it, as they believe more and more of the bullshit.
Of course, having known my brothers for my entire life, I can say that it’s not a huge loss — they’re assholes, and they always have been. But still, it’s the principle of the thing!
Perfect. I just had nearly the same conversation with one of my sisters.
She, paused, then retorted that there was no difference in Covid results between Florida (where the Governor and officials were hostile to closures, masks and regular preventative measures) and California (where officials supported all preventative measures.
I then mentioned that the two cities/metro areas with the by-far lowest death rates per 100,000 cases were San Francisco and Seattle, where local officials were all in on all preventative measures. She then said it wouldn’t have mattered, the results would have been the same if they had not closed.
I reminded her that one year ago public officials said that this Covid19 virus was far worse than the annual influenza that we get shots for (one that causes 50K deaths per year) 5 times worse, which would have been 250,000 deaths. I reminded her that because Trump did nothing but politicize the pandemic, it’s possible that over 250,000 more deaths happened that would have been the case had he promoted prevention and caution. OF COURSE she doubled back to the Florida/California example.
(I sighed and changed the subject.)
Yes it’s tiring and unfortunately far too many Americans are either willfully or actually ignorant and buy the BS. If they didn’t it would stop.
I need a nap.
Good one. Now do the same about Dr. Seuss. I would (for real) but I’ve got too much grading.
Dr. Taylor has written three posts this morning, can anyone identify a throughline in all three posts?
I have my thoughts, but I was wondering what others thought.
—–
P.S.
I’ll post the same question in each thread.
@Loviatar: Ummm, what is “Lies and the Lying Liars who tell them”
@Loviatar:
It reminds me of @Bill’s comment the other day about Dem’s committing ‘election fraud.’
He told us to “read between the lines.”
It’s because a large cross-section of Americans are infantilized by people like Carlson. What is spoken in plain English needs to be decoded, apparently.
Because if it isn’t decoded, some rural white people may start voting Democrat. And you know what that means…
@Loviatar: Click
What the guy who said Jill Biden calling herself doctor risks making people mistake her for a physician during a medical emergency is lying????!!!! How could this be???!!!!
P.S. Ignore my sarcasm, good post.
The throughline for me is race.
It is how America’s original sin (our treatment of our non-white citizens) has so corrupted our institutions that a certain percentage of our population will say or do anything in order to maintain their place at the head of the line.
The racial throughline in this thread; Sen. Cornyn and Tucker Carlson are willing to lie and endanger the lives of their constituents/audience in order to continue to treat non-white citizens as inferior and second class. Lying helps them maintain their positions of power, and you can’t subjugate others if you’re not in power.
This might seem a stretch to some but give me another reason why they would tell such silly and obvious lies. Lie —> Power —> Subjugate
The exhaustion is the point. They can’t beat you. They can’t convince you. They can’t outreason you. Exhaustion just might work.