The Politics of Covid 19, mask wearing and the vaccination process

[malchior]

If you haven't been following the debt ceiling/budget discussions in Congress, the GOP has been threatening to shut down the government unless Biden reverses the vaccine mandate.

[LawBeefaroni]

That's not surprising at all, but I hadn't seen it. Horrific.

In my own state, things are heating up:

Top Republicans in both the state Senate and Assembly went to court Wednesday seeking to block a new policy that requires all people — including lawmakers — to show either proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or a negative coronavirus test to enter the New Jersey Statehouse in Trenton.

The legislators filed a lawsuit in State Superior Court against the State Capitol Joint Management Commission, the little-known state commission that approved the policy in October as New Jersey continues to deal with the pandemic that has killed more than 28,300 residents.

...

Assemblyman Erik Peterson, R-Hunterdon, said he has “no legal obligation” to follow the policy.

“I don’t think the policy applies to me,” Peterson said. “The Constitution doesn’t give anyone the right to give conditions as to being able to vote in the chambers as an equal measure. Nobody can legally prevent me from going in and voting in the chambers. I think people need to get back to a good civics class and learn how the Constitution works.”

Unreal.

I can only assume he routinely attends sessions carrying a firearm and not wearing pants while smoking a cigar and playing loud music on his boombox. Because Constitution.

[Isgrimnur]

a party whose main organizing principle on Covid is opposing just about any social action to slow the pandemic.

[Smoove_B]

With every passing day, I understand more and more Daenerys uttering "Dracarys" at the end of S8.

[Smoove_B]

I can only assume he routinely attends sessions carrying a firearm and not wearing pants while smoking a cigar and playing loud music on his boombox. Because Constitution.

[Daehawk]

If you haven't been following the debt ceiling/budget discussions in Congress, the GOP has been threatening to shut down the government unless Biden reverses the vaccine mandate.

Im so far past simply hating them. I wish each one would jump to their deaths from the highest cliff. Id stand there clapping for them and slip a dollar in their pocket so they feel like they're back home in DC. Every POS GOP in any political position or running for one should help cleanse the Earth by suicide.

[YellowKing]

Never in my wildest imagination would I ever believe a political party would actively oppose measures to stop an easily transmissible disease that has killed almost 800,000 people in less than 2 years. It's beyond mind-boggling.

It's even more infuriating in that we *have the means to control it*. It's right there, it's free. It would take a modicum of coordinated effort to stamp this thing out to controllable levels. And half of the US government says, "Nope."

[Daehawk]

Someone should tell them food is good for you and tell them all to eat. Maybe they'll stop. Or perhaps oxygen and air is good.

[El Guapo]

If you haven't been following the debt ceiling/budget discussions in Congress, the GOP has been threatening to shut down the government unless Biden reverses the vaccine mandate.

But like, they would face a steep political cost if they do this, right?

Right???

[LordMortis]

But like, they would face a steep political cost if they do this, right?

Right???

Leopards won't eat my face claim masses of medicare and SS recipients who are screaming, let the government shut down if they can't pay for it.

[RunningMn9]

If you haven't been following the debt ceiling/budget discussions in Congress, the GOP has been threatening to shut down the government unless Biden reverses the vaccine mandate.

But like, they would face a steep political cost if they do this, right?

Right???

The steepest. They will be rewarded with control of Congress next November.

[Smoove_B]

They said they were gonna:

In a surreal scene, a number of Republican state lawmakers repeatedly declined to follow a new COVID-19 vaccine policy at the New Jersey Statehouse on Thursday in a 15-minute standoff with State Police troopers who tried to stop from entering the state Assembly chambers.

After learning the troopers wouldn’t physically block them, the legislators simply ignored the protocol and walked in the chambers.

Party of law and order.

After a few minutes, another Republican, Assemblyman Brian Bergen, R-Morris, told the lawmakers that the troopers said they would not “physically restrain us.”

“We can just walk past them,” Bergen said.

Just like the 1/6 "tourists"!

Many Republicans did comply with the police, if not happily.

“I know you’re just doing your jobs. But this is horseshit,” state Sen. Holly Schepisi said as she showed troopers her vaccine card while walking into the Senate chambers.

A GOP member that's vaccinated and complying? I hope she enjoys her time left as a elected official.

[Daehawk]

Its a fucking daycare only worse.

[Kasey Chang]

What's the point of having a policy if it's not enforced?

[malchior]

Its a fucking daycare only worse.

It's way worse. We are fighting a cold civil war everywhere now. It's a simple goddamn rule with accommodations but they are foaming at the mouth about liberty? People are fucking dying. It also doesn't escape me that they are cowards on top. They are all mostly vaccinated if not secretly.

I'm at my wit's end over this stuff. I had a 'parking lot' rage incident yesterday at a local Quick Check because some idiot thinks my Tesla threatens his way of life or something. I don't have a clue to be honest what the real beef was. Naturally this guy jumped into a pickup with a Let's Go Brandon, Trump is President, and WW1WGA stickers on their car -- after I was forced to fucking beat my chest at him. I wasn't going to mention it but this story set me off. That guy is DIRECTLY BEING ENCOURAGED by people like these assholes and it is going to lead to violence. It nearly did yesterday. I'm so tired of this stuff.

[El Guapo]

WW1WGA?

[malchior]

WW1WGA?

Where we go one, we go all. He is identifying himself as a member of Q-Anon.

[LawBeefaroni]

WW1WGA?

Where we go one, we go all. He is identifying himself as a member of Q-Anon.

Yeah, the not-so-secret handshake of the Q faithful.

[LawBeefaroni]

Its a fucking daycare only worse.

It's way worse. We are fighting a cold civil war everywhere now. It's a simple goddamn rule with accommodations but they are foaming at the mouth about liberty? People are fucking dying. It also doesn't escape me that they are cowards on top. They are all mostly vaccinated if not secretly.

I'm at my wit's end over this stuff. I had a 'parking lot' rage incident yesterday at a local Quick Check because some idiot thinks my Tesla threatens his way of life or something. I don't have a clue to be honest what the real beef was. Naturally this guy jumped into a pickup with a Let's Go Brandon, Trump is President, and WW1WGA stickers on their car -- after I was forced to fucking beat my chest at him. I wasn't going to mention it but this story set me off. That guy is DIRECTLY BEING ENCOURAGED by people like these assholes and it is going to lead to violence. It nearly did yesterday. I'm so tired of this stuff.

This simmering anger is everywhere. I'm also noticing a lot more unabashed disobedience. People parking in no-parking or firelanes, double parking and blocking streets, running all manner of stop signs and red lights, smoking/vaping wherever they want.

These things have always been happening but now it's almost a badge of honor or something. "No one tells me what to do and I'll prove it!" No consequences, no shame.

[El Guapo]

WW1WGA?

Where we go one, we go all. He is identifying himself as a member of Q-Anon.

Ah, gotcha - thanks. Sounds like a true gentleman and a scholar.

[Skinypupy]

As federal government contractors, we're all required to be vaccinated.

Just found out someone in an equivalent position to mine on our team is refusing to get vaccinated. She has also apparently told HR that she will not attend any company function where she is required to wear a mask or show proof of a negative COVID test. Will be interesting to see how the company deals with it. I expect that she'll get shown the door before the new year.

It's amazing to me that someone who is the sole breadwinner for her family making a very comfortable 6-figure income is perfectly willing to simply toss it all out the window and die on this hill. In the 5 years we've worked together, I've known her to be a kind, intelligent (I thought), thoughtful person. I knew she leaned heavily conservative and was extremely religious, but had no idea she was a full-blown antivaxxer. Disappointing, to be sure.

[Kraken]

they are foaming at the mouth about liberty? People are fucking dying.

As Patrick Henry said, "Give me liberty and give me death." Or as NH sees it, "Live free and die."

[Smoove_B]

Will be interesting to see how the company deals with it. I expect that she'll get shown the door before the new year.

I'm guessing she's part of some group telling her to stand back and stand by.

Two major Utah healthcare providers have paused all requirements that employees be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Wednesday's announcement comes a day after a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction that stopped President Biden's national vaccine mandate for all health care workers.

Intermountain Healthcare and MountainStar/HCA have temporarily stopped the requirement pending the outcome of the federal lawsuit and a clearer direction.

[Smoove_B]

Manchin checks in with his feelings on vaccination:

MANCHIN, in stmt: "I do not support any government vaccine mandate on private businesses. That’s why I have cosponsored and will strongly support a bill to overturn the federal government vaccine mandate for private businesses."

In case anyone was wondering.

[Octavious]

What a dipshit. Just switch parties already.

[Skinypupy]

Will be interesting to see how the company deals with it. I expect that she'll get shown the door before the new year.

I'm guessing she's part of some group telling her to stand back and stand by.

Two major Utah healthcare providers have paused all requirements that employees be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Wednesday's announcement comes a day after a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction that stopped President Biden's national vaccine mandate for all health care workers.

Intermountain Healthcare and MountainStar/HCA have temporarily stopped the requirement pending the outcome of the federal lawsuit and a clearer direction.

I saw that yesterday. Infuriating.

Seems like this would be a different situation, as we are direct federal government contractors. AFAIK, the requirement for contractors to be vaccinated will still remain in place, for now anyways. I could be misunderstanding though.

[Smoove_B]

Seems like this would be a different situation, as we are direct federal government contractors. AFAIK, the requirement for contractors to be vaccinated will still remain in place, for now anyways. I could be misunderstanding though.

There are states pushing back on federal contractor requirements, yes:

Kentucky’s attorney general won a preliminary court order Tuesday to block President Joe Biden’s coronavirus vaccination mandate for federal government contractors and subcontractors.

The preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove stops the mandate from taking effect in Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio.

“This is a significant ruling because it gives immediate relief from the federal government’s vaccine requirement to Kentuckians who either contract with the federal government or work for a federal contractor,” Kentucky’s Republican attorney general, Daniel Cameron, said in a statement.

So yes, different requirements but all under attack.

[Default]

What a dipshit. Just switch parties already.

If he becomes a republican, he's a small fish in a big cesspool. As a Dem, he has far more leverage to get the grease he wants.

[Alefroth]

It's amazing to me that someone who is the sole breadwinner for her family making a very comfortable 6-figure income is perfectly willing to simply toss it all out the window and die on this hill.

Especially when it could be literal.

[LawBeefaroni]

It's amazing to me that someone who is the sole breadwinner for her family making a very comfortable 6-figure income is perfectly willing to simply toss it all out the window and die on this hill.

Especially when it could be literal.

Minus the hill.



Unless you mean the pile of bodies.

[Kraken]

What a dipshit. Just switch parties already.

If he becomes a republican, he's a small fish in a big cesspool. As a Dem, he has far more leverage to get the grease he wants.

If he becomes a republican, Moscow Mitch becomes majority leader.

[Alefroth]

And the Dems lose committee control.

[El Guapo]

What a dipshit. Just switch parties already.

If he becomes a republican, he's a small fish in a big cesspool. As a Dem, he has far more leverage to get the grease he wants.

If he becomes a republican, Moscow Mitch becomes majority leader.

Indeed. As frustrating as Manchin is as a democrat, it would be infinitely worse with him as a Republican.

[Little Raven]

In the 5 years we've worked together, I've known her to be a kind, intelligent (I thought), thoughtful person.

For what it’s worth, you’re probably not a terrible judge of character. She probably has all of those qualities in spades.

Because this….thing….that’s going around? Being smart and kind and thoughtful appears to offer absolutely no defense against it. I watched one of the smartest guys I know - a hugely successful lawyer who has argued in front of the Nine - descend into full blown QAnon nuttery. I’ve seen my liberal, science-trusting, scrupulously honest friends blatantly lie about their health conditions so they could jump the line for vaccines by a few days. I’ve seen families rip themselves apart over social media slights, siblings stop talking over a tweet. Everything is viewed in the worst possible light, every disagreement a call to arms.

It's madness.

[gbasden]

This simmering anger is everywhere.

I certainly have more than my share of it.

[YellowKing]

My dad knows a guy who's a theoretical physicist, and easily the most intelligent guy he knows. This guy also believes in Bigfoot, and will lecture you on how they avoid photography through radiation they emit from their bodies.

There's no real rhyme or reason to human behavior.

[Kasey Chang]

An Italian decided to wear a fake arm to be injected. In the US they probably just laugh. Italian authorities will charge him with fraud, supposedly.

[El Guapo]

An Italian decided to wear a fake arm to be injected. In the US they probably just laugh. Italian authorities will charge him with fraud, supposedly.

I like how he thought that would work.

[Daehawk]

Just like in the cartoons or a movie. She should have no sir your other arm. lol.

[Carpet_pissr]

I'm also noticing a lot more unabashed disobedience. People parking in no-parking or firelanes, double parking and blocking streets, running all manner of stop signs and red lights, smoking/vaping wherever they want.

These things have always been happening but now it's almost a badge of honor or something. "No one tells me what to do and I'll prove it!" No consequences, no shame.

We had 4 years of an entire administration literally saying and showing people it was ok to not follow the rules if you don’t like them. I would only be surprised if fans of that administration DIDN’T start showing similar behavior at the street level.

Freedom to the max, baby!!!

Trump had many flaws and caused a lot of ideological harm to our government institutions, but maybe his most damaging contribution was tapping the inner prick of so many people. Literally showing them that being egotistical and selfish was not just fine, but should be celebrated, not hidden anymore. He was like a mass audience pop psychologist, convincing people they were assholes deep down, and THAT’S OK! High time they let those beautiful, raw personalities shine!

We’re already pretty far down that dark path IMO. I predict the local level civil disobedience by a certain group will rise tremendously in the near term. I fear the ramifications of 1/6 will be with us for a long time.