Occasional Reader 3/19/2020 5:11:03 AM

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Good morning. Some good news, hopefully:

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/coronavirus-live-updates-china-reports-domestic-cases-1st/story?id=69679965&cid=clicksource_4380645_2_heads_hero_live_hero_hed

vxbush 3/19/2020 6:23:40 AM

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In #1 Occasional Reader said: Good morning. Some good news, hopefully: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/coronavirus-live-updates-china-reports-domestic-cases-1st/story?id=69679965&cid=clicksource_4380645_2_heads_hero_live_hero_hed

Well, that's not what I'm reading at World-O-Meter. They say there were 34 new cases in China today--but no new cases in Wuhan, which seems more reasonable. It could be that the cases have burned out in that province. 

buzzsawmonkey 3/19/2020 6:33:54 AM

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New York's shameful and shameless senior Senator, Chuck Schumer, was fulminating endlessly on NPR this morning.  It's an 11-minute clip, so unless you need to raise your blood pressure (or are really bored) you may not want to subject yourself to it.  It is a garbled rant that on the one hand excoriates Trump for not doing enough, or not doing it the right way, and, naturally, not spending enough money so that he can later yell at Trump for not spending enough money.  Lots of eagerness to seize property, limit people's freedom, etc., etc.

What's worth listening to, sort of, is how typically he uses the Leftist tactic of arguing specific when principle is at issue, and arguing principle when specifics are the issue---often both in the same sentence.  This sort of argle-bargle manages to create fear and panic, sow confusion, make any actual proposal incomprehensible, while glossing over the whole with an air of "concern for people." 

Leaders like Churchill and FDR---even if one dislikes what they actually did---would at least take the initiative to lead; one thinks of Churchill's calling the British to unity and resolve with his "All I have to offer is blood, toil, tears and sweat," or Roosevelt's "All we have to fear is fear itself." Were Schumer a leader rather than a demagogic hack, he'd be announcing his resolve to work together with the president "despite our many differences" for the common good.  He would state the broad principles of what he sees as necessary, then discuss the exceptions and their perils. He might, for instance, say that while closing things down is to some extent necessary, we must still continue to function as a society, and must recognize that there are personal perils associated with that, but that a strong and brave people united in resolve can get through that.

He is nowhere near a big enough man to do so.

JCM 3/19/2020 8:39:32 AM

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Reply to buzzsawmonkey in 3:

People like Chucky Schumky are political ideologues.

The are not leaders, they are not statesmen.

Everything is viewed through the ideology and what political hay can be made.

Nothing else matters, only the political advantage in a situation.

Loathsome people.

lucius septimius 3/19/2020 1:18:01 PM

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buzzsawmonkey 3/19/2020 1:44:36 PM

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Reply to lucius septimius in 5:

I enjoyed it, but if I turned out a parody with that many scansion and rhyme problems you guys would have my hide.

Occasional Reader 3/19/2020 1:52:30 PM

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In #4 JCM said: Loathsome people.

Nah, go ahead and just loath all of ‘em, it’s easier...

/

buzzsawmonkey 3/19/2020 2:09:33 PM

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Dinky Chinky virus came to the USA

Everybody panicked and said, "Just stay away!"

As viruses tend to do, this virus ran its course

And all the panic-mongers looked like hind-ends of a horse

lucius septimius 3/19/2020 2:18:33 PM

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Hark!  Hark! 

The dogs do bark!

The virus is spreading through town.

We got it from vats   

Of soup made with bats

And it's going to burn capitalism down.

Kosh's Shadow 3/19/2020 2:20:08 PM

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lucius septimius 3/19/2020 2:20:37 PM

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In #6 buzzsawmonkey said: if I turned out a parody with that many scansion and rhyme problems you guys would have my hide

(In Conrad Veidt voice) we expect no less.

buzzsawmonkey 3/19/2020 3:16:56 PM

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