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Biden calls for action on virus as he introduces health team

56 Comments
By JONATHAN LEMIRE and RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR

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56 Comments

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IMHO Biden's first action on covid response should be to re'establish a trustworthy peak body (domestically and internationally). Fauci has been tainted by politics, as has the current encumbent WHO. Americans must be united on this, the current divided nation is not sustainable.

What happened to the CDC? It appears to have been white anted by politics.

The WHO is throwing itself down a mineshaft, and 'good' WHO staff are dismayed, with the latest being the WHO setting itself to be conflicted with pharma money as well. As if being tainted with politics has not dented its reputation enough.

Yes, you heard right, the WHO now has a CEO to run a foundation that accepts money from big pharma. Massive conflict in interest.

-2 ( +12 / -14 )

 Fauci has been tainted by politics,

In the eyes of the global far right. The majority of Americans continue to respect him.

https://morningconsult.com/2020/10/14/fauci-covid-pandemic-approval-polling/

1 ( +12 / -11 )

The majority of Americans continue to respect him.

...meh, up against politicians (Trump, Biden), not hard to out poll.

-2 ( +9 / -11 )

I can't believe that Trump people still take Trump seriously even when Trump promoted injecting Mr. Clean to cure covid-19.

2 ( +16 / -14 )

Somebody tell me why restaurants must close but supermarkets/wholesale stores can with mobs and mobs of people?

-3 ( +14 / -17 )

Somebody tell me why restaurants must close but supermarkets/wholesale stores can with mobs and mobs of people?

Yeah, because restaurants/bars are vectors for infection. You can shop at a supermarket without taking your mask off, the same cannot be said of restaurants.

2 ( +15 / -13 )

Somebody tell me why restaurants must close but supermarkets/wholesale stores can with mobs and mobs of people?

Really, if we could, we'd give non mask wearers and super spreaders of COVID-19 their own stores and restaurants in high risk sanctuary designated cities so they could super spread to their full delight.

Hospital and first responders of COVID would have the choice of not living there.

-3 ( +7 / -10 )

I can't believe that Trump people still take Trump seriously even when Trump promoted injecting Mr. Clean to cure covid-19.

That's the scary thing. The GOP has become a Trump cult. They are all too afraid to speak up to him and still won't accept Biden as the winner even though everyone else has. The old GOP who would uphold the laws in the Constitution and would think about Americans' families' lives first, are long gone.

-3 ( +10 / -13 )

Sh1mon M4sada

Fauci has been tainted by politics

it's not up to you nor the Repubs anymore

isn't that great?

-4 ( +10 / -14 )

Yeah, because restaurants/bars are vectors for infection. You can shop at a supermarket without taking your mask off, the same cannot be said of restaurants.

Outdoor restaurants with large spaces between tables vs people wearing masks standing shoulder to shoulder in a Costco. Please tell me how I can avoid getting Covid that way and the "science" behind that. Same goes for sitting at a church with a mask on vs marching at a BLM rally.

-3 ( +11 / -14 )

 Please tell me how I can avoid getting Covid that way and the "science" behind that. Same goes for sitting at a church with a mask on vs marching at a BLM rally.

As had been answered and would take you about, oh, the same amount of time it took you to ask this ridiculous question for the umpteenth time:

First off, markets are not 'shoulder to shoulder' except at stupid events like Black Friday sales. People move in and out in these situations, limiting exposure and reducing potential viral load. Also, as noted, people should be wearing their masks in them.

Second, at restaurants or churches, people are engaging in close contact with one another for extended periods of time. In both instances, people are engaging in behavior that increases viral spray, whether it be taking their masks off to eat/drink, or to sing/proclaim/etc. Both have higher levels of exhalation in a static position.

And your BLM rally comment is just dogwhistling garbage.

-1 ( +11 / -12 )

First off, markets are not 'shoulder to shoulder' except at stupid events like Black Friday sales. People move in and out in these situations, limiting exposure and reducing potential viral load. Also, as noted, people should be wearing their masks in them.

Does that include standing in a 30min line at a Costco to buy groceries and sitting around eating a slice of pizza? You still have not provided stats according to science for the upteenth time and still have not learned 2 words: SOCIAL DISTANCING.

-3 ( +9 / -12 )

Why hasn't he appointed any family members or in-laws? Weird.

2 ( +12 / -10 )

Finally, competence in government instead of the last four years of amateur, incompetent, buffoons...

And crooks...

1 ( +10 / -9 )

Much needed action.

3 ( +9 / -6 )

Biden will be judged on how well his administration carries out the gargantuan task.

Biden shouldn't have to be judged on this task. This task is something where judgment is not needed. Its just a must do.

-13 ( +1 / -14 )

Does that include standing in a 30min line at a Costco to buy groceries and sitting around eating a slice of pizza? You still have not provided stats according to science for the upteenth time and still have not learned 2 words: SOCIAL DISTANCING.

https://www.businessinsider.com/charts-show-coronavirus-risk-for-activities-2020-10

There's about a hundred other resources. Done strawmannign and dogwhistling yet?

2 ( +8 / -6 )

Does that include standing in a 30min line at a Costco to buy groceries and sitting around eating a slice of pizza? You still have not provided stats according to science for the upteenth time and still have not learned 2 words: SOCIAL DISTANCING.

Or better yet, look at this from the Texas Medical Association: Grocery Shopping is listed as a 3 on a 1-10 scale, while going to a religious service with 100+ other people is a 9.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Sorry, forgot the link:

https://twitter.com/texmed/status/1279046501054980096/photo/1

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Xavier Becerra is a radical extremist who also happens to know about hating conservatives than health care. Hope the Senate rejects his nomination.

-2 ( +8 / -10 )

Somebody tell me why restaurants must close but supermarkets/wholesale stores can with mobs and mobs of people?

Because the powers that be have no idea what they are doing. California is fed up and civil discontent has taken hold. It will snowball throughout the entire country and the politicians will be forced to change course.

0 ( +9 / -9 )

sitting around eating a slice of pizza?

You can still eat pizza inside your Costco? Mine has removed all the tables and has made everything take-out only.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Becerra will enter the job knowing Capitol Hill but will need to establish ties with governors who will play outsize roles in distributing the coronavirus vaccine.

Good luck with that, No Governors wants to work with this man, And the HUD pick too? Marcia Fudge? Whats your going to get with her is. She will push for Obama's housing plan - AFFH, which has been discussed a lot recently. Basically it forces suburbs to integrate with low income housing subsidized by the government. In turn, communities will have to keep data to prove how many minority families are on each street. 

If you don't have enough colors represented, you won't get your roads maintained or other essential services. Biden has already pledged to pursue this aggressively.

Becerra, LOL don not even get me started on him.

-9 ( +5 / -14 )

Biden's team needs to be part of Covid discussions and kept up to date for the sake of the people. 

The people are adults not children, the covid discussions were transmitted all over the world for the people that were interested. I am sure Biden and his team watched and took notes.

-2 ( +7 / -9 )

I couldn't care if Biden moves slow or needs a nap as long as he is effective, and he has been so far by appointing competent people. Sure, the current head of the FBI and CIA are both competent, and there are sure to be lot of other competent people in the current administration. However, that is few and far in between. The real test of a trump political appointee is willingness to serve trump, not the country. Competence is not required.

Medical professionals uniformly agree with Biden's plans.

AND, Biden listens to professionals who are more knowledgeable than he is. Biden doesn't need to know everything, he just needs the right people, and he has them.

A far cry from the stable genius who has set so many records:

More American deaths than in WWI and WWII combined. We are on track to

More than 1M infected in the first 5 days of December, compared with 1M in the first four months of the pandemic hitting America.

Trump has completely failed the country and continues to fail the country,

2 ( +11 / -9 )

And your BLM rally comment is just dogwhistling garbage.

Gathering together at a bar is bad. Gathering by the thousands night after night claiming only one race matters while burning and looting is good. Okay....

-5 ( +7 / -12 )

Republicans immediately made clear their attack lines on the pick.

Had better get used to it. Especially with old re-runs and Obama leftovers. Yuck!

-10 ( +4 / -14 )

Biden's team needs to be part of Covid discussions and kept up to date for the sake of the people.

100% agree. But Trump and his Republicans do NOT want Biden to have any success. They'd rather continue to see Trump further weaken the country, do even more damage than see any success from Biden. The Republicans backing Trump are anti-democracy, anti-republic, anti-American.

2 ( +10 / -8 )

Trump has completely failed the country and continues to fail the country,

Really? For your information this was all done during 1 term, you might not like his personality but he has definetly not failed the country.

Judges

Historic tax cuts and deregulation

Building a stronger U.S. military

Protecting unborn babies

Expanding educational freedom

Standing with Israel

Negotiating a historic agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates

Actually building a border wall

Comprehensive immigration reform proposals

Religious freedom and freedom of conscience

Withdrawing from the Paris climate accord

Energy production and energy independence

Waterways of the U.S

Halting the increase in Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards

Defeating ISIS

Persuading European nations to pay more for NATO

Protections against false accusation on college campuses

Protecting freedom of speech on college campuses

Protecting boys’ and girls’ bathrooms, locker rooms, and sports teams

Negotiating new trade agreements that are more favorable to the United States

Streamlining environmental reviews for major construction projects

Sending weapons to Ukraine

Standing up to China and Russia

Withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal

A wise COVID-19 response

Reforming the Department of Veterans Affairs

Criminal justice reform

Reducing prescription drug prices

Protecting federal property from rioters…….
-7 ( +10 / -17 )

Yes, you heard right, the WHO now has a CEO to run a foundation that accepts money from big pharma. Massive conflict in interest.

Yes, there are many conflicts of interest world wide, especially related to Covid-19, as this editorial from the British Medical Journal explains:

https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4425

I really don't expect any of this to change in a potential Biden admin.

-6 ( +6 / -12 )

The BLM marches have stopped or decreased in recent months. There's no burning and looting.

This is something no one should be proud of or bragging about.

BLM has cost 1 Billion dollars in Damage.

Here is the proof.

https://www.axios.com/riots-cost-property-damage-276c9bcc-a455-4067-b06a-66f9db4cea9c.html

BLM is anything the Democrats militia.

-10 ( +5 / -15 )

They are the incoming team and need to hit the ground with their feet running to save the nation from the worse pandemic since the Spanish Flu.

How would they save the country? Besides more mask wearing, social distancing and lockdowns, what else can Biden magically do to eradicate this virus. Distributing to the public?

-12 ( +6 / -18 )

Doing anything is still better than the current nothing.

10 ( +14 / -4 )

Doing anything is still better than the current nothing.

But people are doing everything and Biden wants more of what people are already doing? Yeah, that just makes perfect rational sense....

-14 ( +5 / -19 )

The Covid-19 vaccination stage in the fight against the Covid-19 will happen under President Biden.

But Trump and his push with operation “Warp Speed” already did. Dr. Slaqui praised Trump for his speedy push to get the virus out, so I think you mean, Biden will force people to take if people decide not to take it.

Who when where are the issues. People who refuse to be vaccinated especially if they are front line workers, doctors, nurses, police. No one will be forced to be vaccinated.

We already know this.

Then there's the cost. Biden stated he would make it free for all which normally would be $50 a shot. The other coming available shot will be $20.

For the people that want to take it, good on them.

-13 ( +2 / -15 )

But people are doing everything

Not wearing masks coz it's political

Gathering in crowds for protests, rallies, whatever

Travelling across the country to meet up for Thanksgiving

Presumably doing the same at Christmas

Face it, people are not 'doing everything'

Biden wants more of what people are already doing?

He wants more people doing what the sensible people are doing.

Yes, it does make perfect rational sense.

Unless you are one of the loonies who still believe Trump is the messiah who built a beautiful wall right across America, cherishes the Constitution and is God's spokesperson on Earth.

9 ( +12 / -3 )

You can still eat pizza inside your Costco? Mine has removed all the tables and has made everything take-out only.

I am talking about Costco in the U.S. not Japan. The ones in Los Angeles, the most locked down and strict on dining counties in the entire U.S. still have tables for diners. They are outside. Tables are full so diners sit on walls and curbs to eat.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Y'all talking about the U.S. on the outside looking in but I am on the inside looking straight.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Biden doesn't have to do anything because the vaccine is arriving. Trump is so unlucky to have had the pandemic in his reelection year. It revealed how patently incompetent he is.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Outdoor restaurants with large spaces between tables vs people wearing masks standing shoulder to shoulder in a Costco.

My hometown has daily highs in the 40s from now and everyday until probably the end of February. Like much of the Midwest, and the country in general, outdoor dining is practically impossible.

Also, people aren't standing shoulder to Costco, please.

Please tell me how I can avoid getting Covid that way and the "science" behind that. Same goes for sitting at a church with a mask on vs marching at a BLM rally.

Where did anyone make that claim? Should they be out protesting now? Probably not, but that is a constitutional right, eating a burger in a restaurant isn't.

Insisting on your rights without your responsibilities isn't freedom, it's adolescence. Time to grow up.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Open schools? That means you further insist on a country-wide cluster generating method? In addition, it takes the whole time usually used for the lessons, to convince them all to wear a mask, disinfect their hands , keep distance and hand out their weapons and drugs at the school entrance. But I know, it’s only to keep their parents working at the other cluster generators. How generous!

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

You can still eat pizza inside your Costco? Mine has removed all the tables and has made everything take-out only.

I am talking about Costco in the U.S. not Japan. The ones in Los Angeles, the most locked down and strict on dining counties in the entire U.S. still have tables for diners. They are outside. Tables are full so diners sit on walls and curbs to eat.

San Diego is takeout only and several items that are usually not “takeout” were removed from the menu. Outside tables were spaced farther apart and looks like many were removed. Masks are required to shop, Special hours for handicapped and elderly. I think this is the policy across the nation, but I can’t speak for other areas.

If the rest of the country would follow these common sense guidelines the situation probably wouldn’t be where it is today. But, we can see what having a president that doesn’t care or lead has gotten us!

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Really? For your information this was all done during 1 term, you might not like his personality but he has definetly not failed the country.

You give a list of failures, and forgot about injecting disinfectant as the way to combat the coronavirus after telling everyone the virus would be gone in spring as the weather warms up, telling the white supremacists they're good people too, and separating children from their parents, among a slew of unwittingly bad Donald duck to your bunker actions.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

I don't understand why so much emphasis is being placed on Biden's ability to "do something" when in reality he can't do that much.  The ability to act is almost entirely in state and city authorities.  Look at what he is saying

Please wear a mask

Please accept the vaccine

Please open the schools

someone show how this is any different from that Orange's team were doing and advocating.  In fact the vaccine would likely still be in early trials iif not for Orange's Covid task force......

Poor the USA that they had these 2 old white men to choose from.  And really poor the USA that they chose this particular relic.

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

Xavier Becerra is a radical extremist who also happens to know about hating conservatives than health care. Hope the Senate rejects his nomination.

Please give us some examples of "radical extremist" legislation he wrote or even supported during his tenure in the California Legislature or his over twenty years in Congress. Be specific. I do recall as a state legislator he co sponsored legislation to increase sentences for gang crimes and as California AG threatened to sue media outlets who were going to name names of police officers with histories of violence either on or off duty as that information was not public at the time.

Btw, his wife is a career physician so he might know more about the problems of health care than you think.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

But people are doing everything 

Bass, you don't live in the US so you have no idea if "people are doing everything". I do live in the US, specifically California and I can tell you with certainty people are not doing everything possible. Quite the opposite. Even today with all sit down dining prohibited in California inside or outside there are restaurants open and people sitting at outdoor tables eating. Illegal as all heck, but people are doing it anyway. Gyms stay open despite the new stay at home order. Shopping this weekend people were in big stores with no face mask. This is especially true in hardware and auto parts stores, those manly man places were no one's gonna tell me to wear a gall darn face diaper. Very few people outdoors wear a mask either. You have to ask people to keep six feet away from you while shopping. People are oblivious. Neighbors have big birthday parties with lots of people crowded into the home spilling out into the yard with no masks to be seen. You see young people stuffed into a car and again no mask. It is the lack of precautions on the part of too many Americans that is why there is a huge increase in Covid infections. The reality is not enough Americans are doing all the right things to prevent the increasing spread of this pandemic. Sloppy habits, laziness and a lack of adult self restraint is literally killing people and it is unnecessary.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Please open the schools

I have a six year old in Kindergarten and the thought terrifies me. Distance learning is tough for us but it's better than either of us getting Covid and ending up in the ICU. We know from experience if one classmate comes to class with something, we all soon enough have it. If that something is Covid-19 we are in very deep trouble. No thanks. We can deal with distance learning until there is a vaccine we can give our little boy.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

"Topping the roster of Biden picks was health secretary nominee Xavier Becerra, a Latino politician who rose from humble beginnings to serve in Congress and as California's attorney general."

A Lawyer with no medical experience. Stupid what stupid does indeed.

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

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