Doggie Doo

Not Okay:  Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson still hasn’t announced whether he plans to run for reelection in 2022 but it’s clear that if he does run, he’ll really need Trump’s base to show up in force because he’s doing nothing to broaden his appeal in Wisconsin, a state where Biden eked out a victory, which has a Democratic governor and where the other Senator is Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat. In recent remarks the conspiracist QAnon curious Senator said that he hadn’t felt threatened by those pleasant folks who invaded the Capitol on January 6^th because they were his kind of guys, and by his kind think white, but had they been Biden supporters, you know those BLM and antifa demonstrators, he would have been really worried. Ignoring medical recommendations,  Johnson added that he had no plans to be vaccinated because he’s already had COVID and really, why would he want to be an example of smart behavior for his followers.  In case you’re wondering, Republican leader Mitch McConnell is all in on Johnson seeking reelection.  Lara Trump, who’s father in law continues to advocate for her running for the North Carolina Senate seat being vacated by the outgoing Richard Burr, encountered some headwinds of her own this weekend after it was revealed that the Big Dog Ranch rescue charity that she’s linked to has spent more than $2 million hosting events at the Former Guy’s properties, including an event that took place at Mar a Lago this weekend. The Former Guy did an “impromptu” cameo at this weekend’s doggie doo during which he told a group of fawning overly made-up but very mask-less attendees  "I'm with you 100 percent. We had many meetings in the White House and the Oval Office having to do with saving and helping dogs!" As if.  Suggestions are now being made that while the Big Dog Ranch may genuinely rescue dogs, it might also be a right wing money laundering machine. It’s not clear how that will go over in North Carolina, another purple state with a Democratic governor.  Former national security advisor/QAnon advocate Mike Flynn may also be in trouble again too.  On Friday, the Washington Post reported that the Pentagon has finished a long-delayed investigation into his work advocating for Russian and Turkish entities, some of which was done while he was advising the Former Guy.  The report could result in some hefty financial penalties, a big problem for the cash strapped Flynn. For the record, kraken lawyer Sidney Powell is still representing Flynn.  That investigation had been put on hold due to its timing conflicts with the Mueller thing but was reupped with the approval of the Justice Department after Flynn was pardoned by the Former Guy. Remember Chris Miller, he was the not so qualified official that the Former Guy propelled into the Acting Defense Secretary position, moving him ahead of several more deserving people, during the waning days of his administration. Speaking about the events of January 6^th, Miller said that the crowd of Trump’s supporters, those white guys that Ron Johnson found so unthreatening, “would not have descended on the US Capitol if” you know who “had not delivered a speech just before the riot in which he decried the presidential election as stolen.”  Speaking about those “nice” white guys, upwards of 300 of them have been arrested so far, including more and more Proud Boys and Oath Keepers with the Justice Department now talking conspiracy charges.  And though it’s easy to talk only about those on the right, things aren’t looking good for New York’s one time hero Governor Andrew Cuomo. New York’s political set, including of course long-time foe Mayor Di Blasio and  Senators Schumer and Franken killer Gillibrand have lined up against him, citing those mounting accusations, especially the ones about him being a hostile work environment creating bully, not a secret to most voters, but something that’s now being deemed intolerable. That said two other politicians, President Biden, the one who really matters and former NJ Governor Christie, one who probably doesn’t, both say that NY should wait for the outcome of the ongoing investigations.    

Viral Musings: In the US the race between the virus and vaccinations continues, and it is a race as despite warnings from experts like Virus guru Fauci, Governors keep loosening restrictions while spring breakers ramp up their “Where the Boys Are” spread a thon thing, especially in Florida where Governor DeSantis appears to be trading vaccine slots for political contributions.  This weekend 3.2 million and 2.7 million vaccinations were completed on Saturday and Sunday respectively bringing the number of US shots in arms to 107,060,274.  While concerns remain that vaccinations in heavily impacted minority communities continue to lag due to a combination of vaccine wariness and availability, rates are climbing.  Absurdly enough they continue to  fall behind among white male Former Guy supporters, not just because of availability of appointment slots but because the Former Guy, who like his fan Ron Johnson had coronavirus but unlike him figured out that it was in his personal interest to get vaccinated, refuses to push getting a shot; he didn’t even participate in the pro vaccine PSA that included all the other living former presidents.  Outside of the UK, the vaccine picture in Europe has been far less impressive.  The EU prioritized negotiating lower cost vaccine contracts over quick delivery and as a result hasn’t managed to secure a steady stream of vaccines yet. Due to Brexit the UK negotiated its own deals so finally a benefit from its much disputed break with the rest of Europe. Moreover, though the UK continues to administer the Oxford University developed Astra Zeneca shots, a number of European countries including the Netherlands, Ireland, Austria, Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Latvia have temporarily suspended its use while they look into some blood clotting incidents.  Although the US has a supply of Astra Zeneca vaccines, the two shot regimen hasn’t been approved here yet, not because of the blood clot issue but because to date the company hasn’t  completed satisfactory US based trials.  For the record Astra Zeneca says that there are no links between its vaccine and blood clots and Thailand, one of the first countries to suspend its use is now administering it again.  

Et Cetera:  The Bidens and the Harris/Emhoffs will be on  the road this week, talking up the recently passed stimulus legislation. In Washington and elsewhere the focus is now shifting to voter rights and, that all time favorite subject, infrastructure.  On the voting rights issue, Georgia Democrats have enlisted the help of their business community to help fight back against local efforts to limit voting.  And in case anyone thinks that Republican efforts to make it tougher to get absentee ballots, to cut back on voting days and to implement other “anti-fraud” provisions isn’t about voter suppression, all they have to do is listen to the words of Republican Arizona State Representative John  Kavanaugh who actually admitted as much when he said the quiet part out loud: “There's a fundamental difference between Democrats and Republicans. Democrats value as many people as possible voting, and they're willing to risk fraud. Republicans are more concerned about fraud, so we don't mind putting security measures in that won't let everybody vote -- but everybody shouldn't be voting."  For the record, as confirmed by such Republicans as former AG Bill Barr, the 2020 election was fair, fraud’s not a problem, except in the mind of Republicans who fear losing elections when all legitimate voters get to vote.

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