As I keep reminding you, cloth masks work, and the tight weave cotton ones work better then other cloth types. Not as well as N 95s or KN95s, but they work. They have worked, and will work again.
Covid is not over yet - case counts form Omicron are significantly down and no new variant has yet arisen to take its place. Vaccination, social distancing and masking worked, but cutting any of them back too soon (as we did after Delta) means it will roar back in some form.
Plus the CDC guidance is more nuanced then you seem to think it is, mostly because scientists - when we are allowed to speak - do so in a language that is nuanced and full of uncertainty.
We have sent them Stingers for two or three years and trained them on using them. They were a big chunk of the $80 Million in military aid we sent them in January. They know what to do with them.
I suspect these would be missiles in stockpiles in Europe - probably in US and German bases. Loading the C-130s or C-17s will take a day and then its a couple hour hop to Eastern Ukraine. They will probably be in play by Thursday.
Putin entered thinking he would have Kyiv in 72 hours. ITs way past that and while he seems to be consolidating positions around cities in the south (branching off from his favored breakaway republics) the only strategic target that is being reportedly held by Russia is Chernobyl. Which I am sure the Ukrainians would love to have Russia finish cleaning up.
Its not clear if he had the fuel and ammunition lines in place to keep his mechanized units engaged for long - everyone learned the hard way how much fuel armored cavalry uses in Iraq.
He's also repositioning US troops in NATO countries to shore up allied defense. And yes it will take time for sanctions to work - that's the thing of them. Short of a ground war what exactly were you expecting would happen?
Putin is evil. He's also cold blooded and calculating. He's highly trained in destabilizing and repressing governments. And he craves power. None of these things is mutually exclusive.
Germany made the decision to begin closing their nuclear plants (and thus shift to other power generation sources) in 2002. An great many allegedly deep thinkers have opined since then that buying Russia's natural gas had a stabilizing effect because so many of the oligarchs made their fortunes off it that shutting down by this very sort of military action would not be allowed.
and when you are part of a political movement that wants to criminalize sexual behavior, criminalize reproductive freedom (while claiming without a hint of irony that the 14th Amendment codifies a right to procreate) as well as persecute gender non-conforming youth (and gays and black people), why do you think well to do Republican women are not open about their abortion histories?
There is evil in the world. There is evil in the US. Liberals have called it our for decades. Conservatives used to, until they looked at demographics and concluded they'd stop winning elections unless they made homegrown liberals evil too.
Here's a safe bet - if every Republican on Capitol Hill said "We're behind the President no matter what" liberals would applaud and tut tut about how its great to see them coming back to their senses.
Here's another safe bet - any Republican Congressman or Senator who does that without also impugning Biden's mental abilities or he greenlighting of Putin, or his handling of Afghanistan will be primaried from the Right and loose reelection.
Gregg Abbot is an elected Republican state official.
Ken Paxton is an elected Republican state Official.
Rick Scott is an elected Republican official.
Ron deSantis is an elected Republican state official.
They speak for the Party they represent and the citizens who voted for them. Arsonists in Minneapolis speak for no one but themselves.
From the Number 3 in Republican House Leadership Elise Stefanik:
"After just one year of a weak, feckless, and unfit President of the United States and Commander-in-Chief, the world is less safe. Rather than peace through strength, we are witnessing Joe Biden's foreign policy of war through weakness. For the past year, our adversaries around the world have been assessing and measuring Joe Biden's leadership on the world stage, and he has abysmally failed on every metric. From kinetic and deadly attacks on our allies and partners, to the catastrophic withdrawal and surrender in Afghanistan, to the cyber attacks impeding American industry and infrastructure, to today's Russian invasion of Ukraine, Joe Biden and his Administration have failed America and the world."
That's not support of the President. Not by along shot.
On “SNL: Covid Dinner Conversation”
I wonder how many people died because they though horse dewormer would protect them better then vaccines.
"
The messaging was not handled well. The science is and was fine.
"
As I keep reminding you, cloth masks work, and the tight weave cotton ones work better then other cloth types. Not as well as N 95s or KN95s, but they work. They have worked, and will work again.
"
Covid is not over yet - case counts form Omicron are significantly down and no new variant has yet arisen to take its place. Vaccination, social distancing and masking worked, but cutting any of them back too soon (as we did after Delta) means it will roar back in some form.
Plus the CDC guidance is more nuanced then you seem to think it is, mostly because scientists - when we are allowed to speak - do so in a language that is nuanced and full of uncertainty.
On “War in Ukraine: Updates, Open Thread”
I think this is a key, if not the leading piece of this for Putin.
"
Clearly he's taking his COVID protocols seriously.
"
Right - but Chip's point is the frail old man in the wheel chair . . .
"
We have sent them Stingers for two or three years and trained them on using them. They were a big chunk of the $80 Million in military aid we sent them in January. They know what to do with them.
On “At the Intersection of Loyalty, Rights, and Legitimate Reasons”
I did. And I admit it was a turn I wasn't expecting.
On “From NBC News: Biden Picks Jackson for Supreme Court, Putting Her on a Path to History”
That's funny.
Well not really.
Especially since its been a tactic among Republicans for - checks notes - most of my lifetime.
"
Nope.
On “War in Ukraine: Updates, Open Thread”
I suspect these would be missiles in stockpiles in Europe - probably in US and German bases. Loading the C-130s or C-17s will take a day and then its a couple hour hop to Eastern Ukraine. They will probably be in play by Thursday.
"
The oligarchy won't tolerate being separated from their billions, and their mansions and their megayachts forever.
"
Are you really surprised though?
"
Putin entered thinking he would have Kyiv in 72 hours. ITs way past that and while he seems to be consolidating positions around cities in the south (branching off from his favored breakaway republics) the only strategic target that is being reportedly held by Russia is Chernobyl. Which I am sure the Ukrainians would love to have Russia finish cleaning up.
Its not clear if he had the fuel and ammunition lines in place to keep his mechanized units engaged for long - everyone learned the hard way how much fuel armored cavalry uses in Iraq.
On “The Terrible Ukraine Situation, With No Good Solution”
and if that happens I m sure it will somehow all be Biden's fault.
"
Arms are flowing:
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/ukraine-receives-second-batch-us-weapons-russian-stand-off-2022-01-23/
Sanctions are growing:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/24/sanctions-against-russia-at-a-glance-people-organisations-uk-us-eu
He's also repositioning US troops in NATO countries to shore up allied defense. And yes it will take time for sanctions to work - that's the thing of them. Short of a ground war what exactly were you expecting would happen?
"
Putin is evil. He's also cold blooded and calculating. He's highly trained in destabilizing and repressing governments. And he craves power. None of these things is mutually exclusive.
"
Germany made the decision to begin closing their nuclear plants (and thus shift to other power generation sources) in 2002. An great many allegedly deep thinkers have opined since then that buying Russia's natural gas had a stabilizing effect because so many of the oligarchs made their fortunes off it that shutting down by this very sort of military action would not be allowed.
On “Texas Governor Abbott Letter on Gender Transitioning of Children: Read It For Yourself”
and when you are part of a political movement that wants to criminalize sexual behavior, criminalize reproductive freedom (while claiming without a hint of irony that the 14th Amendment codifies a right to procreate) as well as persecute gender non-conforming youth (and gays and black people), why do you think well to do Republican women are not open about their abortion histories?
On “The Terrible Ukraine Situation, With No Good Solution”
There is evil in the world. There is evil in the US. Liberals have called it our for decades. Conservatives used to, until they looked at demographics and concluded they'd stop winning elections unless they made homegrown liberals evil too.
Here's a safe bet - if every Republican on Capitol Hill said "We're behind the President no matter what" liberals would applaud and tut tut about how its great to see them coming back to their senses.
Here's another safe bet - any Republican Congressman or Senator who does that without also impugning Biden's mental abilities or he greenlighting of Putin, or his handling of Afghanistan will be primaried from the Right and loose reelection.
Both sides are not in fact like the other here.
On “Russian Forces Invade Ukraine On Multiple Fronts: News, Updates, & Open Thread”
He has spent most of his adult life bullying to this very moment. He won't stop unless he is stopped.
On “Texas Governor Abbott Letter on Gender Transitioning of Children: Read It For Yourself”
Gregg Abbot is an elected Republican state official.
Ken Paxton is an elected Republican state Official.
Rick Scott is an elected Republican official.
Ron deSantis is an elected Republican state official.
They speak for the Party they represent and the citizens who voted for them. Arsonists in Minneapolis speak for no one but themselves.
"
Why do you think women - especially well to do Republican women are not open about their abortion histories?
On “Russian Forces Invade Ukraine On Multiple Fronts: News, Updates, & Open Thread”
From the Number 3 in Republican House Leadership Elise Stefanik:
That's not support of the President. Not by along shot.