Y’all know me, I’m a cheerful pessimist. Some people say The glass is half full, and other people say that The glass is half empty. I say Get that thing off of the table, somebody’s been drinking from that thing!
We had another Covid briefing from the White House today, the second one this week. And there are three more scheduled for next week. It was staffed by the medical and scientific professionals that Joe Biden has tasked to rid us of this curse. And nowhere on that stage was the looming presence of Biden, making sure that the experts toed the official policy line. They imparted information, they answered questions, and they went back to work.
I have never been more confident regarding the coronavirus than I am today, and being 64, fat, and with asthma, I have a personal stake. For instance, as of today, 27.9 million Americans have received vaccinations against the virus, and more than 5 million have received both doses, making them 5 million people we no longer have to worry about becoming a statistic on the nightly news. Oh yeah, and more than 49 million doses have been shipped. You know how I know that? Because our freaking government told us! No fanfare, no bullshit, no breaking an arm patting themselves on the back, they simply imparted the information.
But it gets even better. Johnson & Johnson announced today that they will be submitting their new, single dose vaccine to the FDA next week for emergency approval. But there’s a discrepancy. By their own results, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is only 72% effective, and only in the upper 50’s to low 60’s against the south Africa strain. The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, both two shot vaccines are 94/95% effective, and in the low 70’a against the South African strain. Why would anybody want to settle for the J&J vaccine?
Once again, enter simple facts. Rachel Maddow had the man that Biden has tapped to expedite the production and distribution of vaccines on her show to ask him exactly that. And boy!, did he not disappoint! As with so many things, it turns out that there are numbers, and there are numbers.
Yes, in pure terms of efficacy, the J&J vaccine lags behind Pfizer and Moderna. But there are other indicators at play here. First, this is a single dose vaccine, the others are both two dose inoculation’s. Second, the J&J vaccine doesn’t even need to be frozen, much less deep frozen, only refrigerated, making it easier to transport and store to get shots in arms. And vest of all, it is a common vaccine, meaning that J&J can produce shit loads of it quickly, and get it out on the street for vaccinations.
But here’s the McGuffin. During their entire clinical trials, not one person vaccinated with the J&J vaccine died of the coronavirus. Not only that, but not one person vaccinated ended up on a ventilator from the virus. And, if I heard the gentleman correctly not one single person vaccinated ended up in the hospital from the virus! The J&J vaccine reduced the coronavirus, including the South Africa strain, into nothing more than a case of the common flu. If somebody showed up at my door tomorrow morning with a dose of the J&J vaccine? I’d have my left bicep out in a heartbeat.
But here’s my point. What didn’t you hear today? You did not hear the President disputing or arguing a single point that the scientists made. You didn’t hear or see a single enraged tweet about how the whole coronavirus scare is nothing more than a Democratic hoax! You didn’t hear a single MD worth the letters after his name come out and belittle or deny the information that was provided. Trump is on an enforced social media blackout, and everybody else is too busy trying to chase down Trump supporters to bother with silly things like facts.
What is it that they say? Sunlight is the best disinfectant. And never is that more true than with the simple truth. Donald Trump spent 5 years doing nothing more than providing an avalanche of bullshit, The Big Lie, and nothing could stand against it. But the best way to combat bullshit is to call bullshit, and then provide facts. And the Biden administration is dispensing pure, simple facts, and by the box car load. And with Trump in radio silence, and his minions busy trying to save their own skins, there is little to dispute it.
Look. There is a hardcore 30% Trump base that you are not going to convince of anything. But there are tens of millions of Trump voters out there that liked him for the bravado, the persona, the bullshit, the promises he never kept, and they all still spend at least part time living on Earth One. And they are being inundated with pure, simple facts. And those facts are overwhelming any attempt to dispute them. I heard a phrase one time, I don’t remember where, that tickled me pink. It said The truth doesn’t need corroboration, it’s capable of standing on its own two feet. Ya know, that’s the funny thing about the truth. It just sounds right.
It will take time. And it will take a continual, nonstop supply of simple facts and information to turn the tide. But if you’re listening, as I am, you can already tell that the facts are overwhelming the bullshit. And eventually people will hear them. What did Chris Carter always like to say? The Truth Is Out There
If you enjoyed this article, you might also like to check out President Evil, and the sequel, President Evil II, A Clodwork Orange . They comprise a pretty much daily report from the front of the 2016 GOP primaries, as well as the general election
Follow me on Twitter at @RealMurfster35
The great irony. In the end the Trumpists taken down by facts.
The literal simple truth disarms their lies
What a great line now applying, ‘The truth doesn’t need corroboration, it’s capable of standing on its own two feet.’
Or this line from Philip K Dick that I keep quoting vis-a-vis these folks: “Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn’t go away.”
I’d say every American got a big stake in those vaccines. I’m mid-40s, fairly healthy (far as I know) and got inspired enough by being both this virus and my isolation to drop 40 pounds via exercise and a calorie counter. I am STILL terrified of the virus getting me before I can get vaccinated because no one else is my breed of careful. Good to be seeing adults in charge who understand that!
I am also encouraged by the new spate of polls that show Biden’s approval in the 60s. So people are opening their ears and minds. Ill bet Trump is furious: Fake polls! But we’ll never know because he has no Twitter.
Yes, I do believe the truth wins out every time but it takes longer than lies. It is like the Annie song the sun will come out tomorrow. But if you can I really want to know if the voting machine that most of the red states that moscow and the senate used were why they won in their districts. I’m so glad we have a paper trail with ours. Did theirs?
As for the glass… well, if in doubt pour some vodka and disinfect. Or wine for some heathens out there. Maybe vinegar? Gotta watch my survival show again.
Truth will win. As long as the “media” doesn’t get in the way. By that I mean FB and other Big Tech giants. They need some accounting. But somebody on DK posting pointed out that the government lacked the experts to regulate technology like the Europeans. Time to learn.
Many strategies. One, is to go after AM radio. Let them just live with marginal lies not full throat-ed lies.
But another strategy is for MSNBC and CNN to rake over Fox and Fools. Constantly.
Being 56, technically obese. Damn you 5ft-6in. Well if I get stretched out and remember to straighten out maybe 5-8 for a few hours. LOL. Still obese. Now just waiting. Take any vaccine.