That Went Well

The stock market has clearly caught the coronavirus.

Rich Lowry exhorts the White House to not downplay this. This might actually be a crisis even if Pelosi and Schiff say it is.

IMHO Trump was looking at this the wrong way. He approached this as if the stock market was an ongoing referendum on his Presidency. It's not - the underlying economy is what counts. As to this coronavirus, its real, the danger is hard to quantify, and there are no obvious comparisons. SARS was a million years ago before China became the world's manufacturer and a key part of so many supply chains.

So yes, if it gets bad enough the global economy could slide into recession and take the US with it. But unlike in the 2008 collapse, where slack regulatory oversight of the mortgage market was a real problem, it would be hard to blame a coronavirus recession on Trump. After all, he's the guy who wanted to cut back our dependence on China and bring manufacturing back to this country. As a result of his tariffs, many companies began exploring alternative non-Chinese suppliers. And Trump is not afraid of travel bans.

Beyond that, does anyone think Bernoie Sanders can run as the guy who'll get the economy going (Hmm, Bloomberg could...)? C'mon - if Trump positions himself as the guy who has been trying to separate us from China for three years and knows how to get this economy going again, he'll be well positioned to ride out a dip that really is not his fault. But if he pooh-poohs it AND it gets notably worse, well, he'll be out of touch and out of office.

MORE: Here is the NY Times in January on Trump's travel ban:

Many companies said they were relatively well positioned for the disruption, thanks in part to the recent easing of the trade tensions between China and the United States. Faced with the threat of tariffs, many companies — particularly retailers — had stocked up on imports from China, or found suppliers in other parts of Asia.

But if the restrictions in China are kept in place for many months and the virus keeps spreading, profits will suffer.

Well, yes.

Comments

[clarice]

https://scontent.fewr1-5.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/88958671_3028287463850753_8277889322271637504_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&_nc_sid=8024bb&_nc_ohc=Mu4vJUthmhMAX-HgRaq&_nc_ht=scontent.fewr1-5.fna&oh=8690da2f85df4a79f831b9c30f552e55&oe=5EB5AA3E

Chuck schumer on the travel ban from China (Feb 5)

[matt - deplore me if you must]

The photos I saw from China were of whole bat soup. The evil looking little critter looked as if it was looking right at the camera as some al fresco diner was about to take a bite.

Great Googly Moogley! And they call us barbarians.

[JM Hanes]

sbw:

Would that be true for water from a spring as well?

[MissMarple2]

https://www.nbcnews.com/video/mulvaney-discusses-coronavirus-precautions-at-cpac-79608389850

[Catsmeat]

Thanks, JMH! When you think about it, wing of bat is sort an obvious choice for a witches' brew! Who would without being under compulsion eat such things?

[Dave (in MA)]

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/28/house-coronavirus-trump-response-118121

"Several House Republicans walked out of a closed-door coronavirus briefing Friday"

...after they inadvertently looked directly at Rep. Rose Delauro (D-CT).

[MissMarple2]

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/02/28/don-jr-condemns-democrat-call-to-violence-against-him-calls-for-apology/

[Narciso]

Teh horror, these goggles do nothin

[Art in Newport]

Catsmeat, yes, Finally watched an episode to get the kids off my back. Oldest boy even gave me his Disney login (!).
Wound up watching four episodes, until well past my bedtime. Was completely drawn in.

They seem to be putting together an ensemble as well, and they're all solid. The lady ex-drop-trooper actually looks like she could handle herself in a brawl.

[Catsmeat]

One of my favorite moments in the history of manners is when Marco Polo is at the court of the Chinese Emperor and all the Chinese assume he and his men are barbarians because they wear swords/daggers. Another great moment, about 500 years later, is when Gen. Gordon refuses to kowtow to a different emperor. The Brits called him "China Gordon" in consequence. He was cut down years later by Sudanese lunatics in service of what they though was the twelfth iman (they were wrong).

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--Black cops, white(?) perp, no biggie--

He was certainly resisting but I didn't see a reason to shoot him. He was doubled over and not going for either of them when she shot.

[MissMarple2]

Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump
·
2m
I hope we can get Admiral @RonnyJackson4TX
of Texas, who served our Country so well, into the runoff election in #TX13! Ronny is strong on Crime and Borders, GREAT for our Military and Vets, and will protect your #2A. Get out and vote for Ronny on Tuesday, March 3rd!

[Catsmeat]

though s/b thought.

[Another Bob]

We had friends who had a cabin DEEP in the woods of northern PA. A visit required taking jerrycans of water. We always took empties as there was a natural spring about 20 minutes away that someone put in pipe into.

Coldest, clearest, tastiest water EVER. Never got even remotely sick from it.

[Narciso]

The series is by jon favreau, behind the iron man film and dave filoni who has done the best animated star wars stories

[Catsmeat]

Hi, Art--I hope the end is that Baby Yoda is returned to the Yodas (whoever they are) and the Mandolorian can take off his helmet and live happily ever after with that warrior woman...

[Catsmeat]

Nytol--early morning for me tomorrow. Pat Darby for me, Momto2!

[matt - deplore me if you must]

Ooh, my little dirty bug, my dirty bug
When you gonna give me some time, Corona!

Ooh, you make my Nosa run, my Nosa run
Got it coming off o' the line, Corona!

Never gonna stop, give it up, such a nasty bug
I always throw it up, for the touch of the Chinese kind

My, my, my, aye-aye, whoa!
M-m-m-my Corona!

[Porchlight]

Lol, Ig @8:51.

Extraneus, what you want is a Berkey filter.

https://www.berkeyfilters.com

I like the taste of our tap water, but I hate to think what's in it (pharmaceuticals). Wish I had invested in a Berkey when the kids were younger. Too late now, lol.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

I figure ya gotta be a pretty tough dude to make the Mongols think you're a barbarian.

[matt - deplore me if you must]

We have eau de la Rive Colorado processed with plenty of chlorine and filled with calcium to the point the pipes have to be replaced now and again.

One of the few frickin things local government should do well is to provide decent tap water.

[MissMarple2]

Thread about coronavirus, vaccines, swine flu, death rates, etc.

https://twitter.com/CoreysDigs/status/1233262655672061953

(Above is the original thread which also includes replies.)

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1233258438605578240.html

(Above is the wrapped version which is easier to read if you aren't used to Twitter, but includes none of the replies.)

[MissMarple2]

matt,

We have tap water that has so much calcium in it that I have to clean the base of the dish drainer and the toilet from deposits with vinegar or a stronger cleaner every 2 weeks or so.

My city apparently figures if it isn't killing anyone, that's good enough.

[MissMarple2]

Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump
·
2m
A so-called reporter named @JohnJHarwood, who bombed so badly in the 2016 Presidential Debates that I thought he was going to be immediately fired (a Mini Mike type performance), is now with Fake News @CNN. A total loser!

[Pinandpuller]

We’re not flirting with Disaster; we’ve been buying Disaster drinks all night.

[Narciso]

Interesting miss marple, yes they have extrapolated disparate scenarios to the us.

[MissMarple2]

https://www.breitbart.com/2020-election/2020/02/28/nolte-polls-show-elizabeth-warren-losing-home-state-tuesday/

This would be delicious. I cannot stand her.

[sbwaters]

water from a spring as well

Have it tested. Better than a stream, but could be shallow and not yet well filtered.

[JM Hanes]

jim nj:

According to a story from the BBC (via Instapundit) you are definitely on the right track:

The head of the World Health Organization’s emergencies programme, Dr Michael Ryan, said on Thursday that the apparent high mortality rate in Iran indicated its outbreak might be more widespread than realized.

[JM Hanes]

Catsmeat:

That reminds me of General Sir Charles James Napier's famous opposition to the Indian practice of suttee/sati (the burning of the widow on her husband's death):

Napier judged that the immolation was motivated by profits for the priests, and when told of an actual Sati about to take place, he informed those involved that he would stop the sacrifice. The priests complained to him that this was a customary religious rite, and that customs of a nation should be respected. As recounted by his brother William, he replied:

"Be it so. This burning of widows is your custom; prepare the funeral pile. But my nation has also a custom. When men burn women alive we hang them, and confiscate all their property. My carpenters shall therefore erect gibbets on which to hang all concerned when the widow is consumed. Let us all act according to national customs."

[Porchlight]

Does anyone believe the numbers coming out of Iran?

[Captain Hate]

Over the top beer reviews? I've read a few eye rollers.

[Narciso]

Dividends from the iran deal

https://www.iranfocus.com/en/55-general/34324-coronavirus-new-human-error-by-the-iranian-government

[MissMarple2]

KPRC 2 Houston
@KPRC2

BREAKING NEWS: 11 cases of coronavirus confirmed in San Antonio
==========================================
These are all evacuees.

[Narciso]

I dont either:.

https://irannewswire.org/iran-mp-number-of-graves-show-alarming-number-of-covid-19-deaths/

[Narciso]

Lacklamd afb whose bright idea was this,?

[JM Hanes]

Miss Marple:

You've got to wonder why that's "Breaking News" as if they were newly discovered cases.

[MissMarple2]

Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump
·
2m
South Carolina was GREAT. A BIG & REALLY ENTHUSIASTIC CROWD!

[Narciso]

Because the news is brokem and in a junk heap.

[MissMarple2]

JM Hanes,

I don't wonder at all. The hysteria/panic is being deliberately pushed, and if you were to go through my Twitter feed like I do daily, you would notice how coordinated it is.

[Barbara]

IRGC Lies and the Coronavirus Transmission to Iran

Narciso @10:23pm,

Makes me wonder what the Chinese and the Iranians were cooking up.

Just my naturally suspicious nature.

[Porchlight]

Indeed. Evacuees being reported as brand new cases is pretty much a lie.

They will do anything to get Trump. It's worse than the Katrina coverage.

[Porchlight]

Same, Barbara. The corona news coming out of Iran was hinky from the start IMO.

[MissMarple2]

Amber Athey
@amber_athey
·
3m
Two years ago I was a young media reporter and stumbled across a tip about Chris Matthews. Soon discovered he runs an abusive and sexually charged work environment that is so bad staffers called themselves members of the “battered wives club.”
=========================================
Amber is a reporter for Spectator USA and the Daily Caller, and a Tony Blankley fellow

[Narciso]

I believe it, matthews had a brief e por se move momemt, but still.

Ot my paisan andy garcia seems to have gotten himself in some seriously schlocky films the ghost busterz reboot, and this jewel as tvs frank would say geostorm

[Dave (in MA)]

Having run out of Gulden Draak that was below room temp., I cracked open a Son of a Baptist Coffee Stout.

[MissMarple2]

Additional details on those coronavirus patients in San Antonio:

тнє кησωη υηкησωηѕ
@Known__Unknowns
·
16m
“The CDC reports those infected with the coronavirus include nine from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, one from the Wuhan group of quarantined passengers and one that was transferred from the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, Calif.”

[Captain Hate]

narc's first sentence broke my translator.

I had one of those on tap a year and a half ago. Very good.

[Narciso]

When he realized like galileo the truth about bernie, but that was crime think.

[Captain Hate]

Is Andy Garcia a MAGA guy? I'm pretty sure he's conservative. Maybe he's getting blacklisted from A list movies. I'm pretty sure Caveizel is too except I don't think he cares much.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Had a funeral for an amazing friend this afternoon.
Lived in Santa Cruz as a professor at UC Santa Cruz and was the director of the Lick Observatory back in the 70s.
About 20 years ago he and his wife retired and moved to a home about a mile or so from the house I grew up in.
Extremely smart but he touched thousands of lives because he really lived his Christianity out loud and was a mentor and genuinely kind soul to everyone. Helped me through some dark times.
I regret not spending more time with him.

[matt - deplore me if you must]

San Antonio is the home of the big Army & Air Force hospitals. They are very large and well equipped, especially for burns, tropical diseases, etc, which all require clean room conditions.

[Narciso]

He has taken lousy roles to enable his cabrera infante and cristero projects.

[Porchlight]

Yes, Cap'n, he is a rare open Hollywood conservative. But interestingly, the Ghostbusters reboot was an SJW operation.

[Narciso]

Its clockwork orange cringeworthy.

[MissMarple2]

Retweeted by the President. Jason Chaffetz talks to Joel Pollack and Joe Concha about the terrible media coverage of this virus panic. Video at the link.

pic.twitter.com/REhbRVEcC0

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 29, 2020

[JM Hanes]

Andy Garcia is really great, and one of the few I think of as "intelligent actors." I wish he could do more of his own projects. Can't remember titles but he's done some wonderful work. I do hope he's not being blacklisted for political reasons.

[Porchlight]

I really enjoyed For Greater Glory, narciso.

[Captain Hate]

Sorry for your friend passing, Iggy.

[MissMarple2]

This is a pinned tweet at the top of the President's page, which means he wants people to pay attention to it. Video at the link, with Senator Tom Cotton talking to Jason Chaffetz about how China has been terribly irresponsible with not only how they have reported this to the world, but to their own people, and how we need to re-think our relationship with China.

pic.twitter.com/L00A2IM766

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 29, 2020

[JM Hanes]

Sorry to hear you've lost someone so special in your life, Ignatz!

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Two smartest guys and the two best Christians I knew died about 3 months apart.

[Narciso]

Sorry about your friend is his obit in the sentinel

[JM Hanes]

Miss Marple:

In stark contrast to Bloomberg's China Network which I think I picked up from Instapundit (if not here). This is a far more dangerous conflict of interest than building a few international hotels here and there.

[MissMarple2]

Secretary of State Pompeo: "I'm not in it for the fancy dinners and Paris or Switzerland or Vienna. I've only been to those places twice during my time on the job. One of my predecessors went 62 times. That, my friends, is a lot of cocktails." pic.twitter.com/CDnQ0YnZvE

— The Hill (@thehill) February 29, 2020

Video at link. I am still looking for the entire speech,

[ENRDV]

We keep Lifestraws around in case the regular water supply disappears or goes bad. But our short-term solution would be the couple of cases of Blue Can Water we have, a product intended to be stable and safe for many years in 12 ounce cans.

[Captain Hate]

This is a far more dangerous conflict of interest than building a few international hotels here and there.

Is anyone in the unfree press even addressing this? Probably a dumb question but I had to ask...

[Barbara]

I'm very sorry to read about the passing of your friend, Ignatz. When someone so special crosses paths with us in life, no matter how brief the time may have been, we have been blessed. That you shared your memory of him with us, blesses us as well.

[Dave (in MA)]

:^( Ignatz

[Porchlight]

Sorry, Iggy. That's rough.

[Narciso]

Oh sorry about that:

https://nypost.com/2020/02/27/ex-gawker-editor-sues-daily-beast-for-defamation-over-story-portraying-her-as-racist/

[MissMarple2]

Patrick Howley
@HowleyReporter

BREAKING: Paul Pelosi Jr. oil company that did business in Ukraine (featured Nancy in promo video) employed RUSSIANS to influence prominent 'politicians' and 'government officials'

HUGE ARCHIVED RECORDS. Thank you to @__IRREDEEMABLES
for ongoing Help
=======================================
This goes at least back into the end of January. Here is the complete tweet with replies which have additional information.

https://twitter.com/HowleyReporter/status/1221773394133340162

[Barbara]

"One of my predecessors went 62 times. That, my friends, is a lot of cocktails."

Secretary Pompeo!!! 👊

We can affirm that having seen Secretary Clinton stagger through many a trip abroad and listening to her embarrass the USA with some of the most inapt and horrendous comments a Secretary of State has ever made.

[Porchlight]

Well, I'll be darned. After suggesting the Berkey water filter to Ext, I asked my husband if we could get one and he informed me that we've owned one since 2009 and that it's packed up with the other "supplies."

Think of all the water we've been missing. We're going to start using it.

Thanks, Ext (and coronavirus).

[MissMarple2]

Reuters
@Reuters
·
6m
Scientists are experimenting with larva fat to replace butter. They soak insects in water and then mush them with a blender before centrifuges separate a butter-like substance, which the team then uses to bake with https://reut.rs/3cjTVsv
===========================================
Chances I will buy this: less than ZERO!

[Narciso]

Winning the future, whats wrong with these people.

[MissMarple2]

AccuWeather
@breakingweather
·
1m
Light snow is spreading through portions of eastern Kentucky, West Virginia and western Virginia tonight. Motorists will need to be wary of slippery spots on the roadways: https://bit.ly/2Vyba3A

[Narciso]

They are truly farked

https://iran-hrm.com/index.php/2020/02/28/alarming-situation-of-iranian-prisons-amid-covid-19-outbreak/

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--They soak insects in water and then mush them with a blender before centrifuges separate a butter-like substance, which the team then uses to bake with--

They could do the same with their own brains and make the world a lot better place than one that spreads bug guts on its toast.

[jimmyk]

I was surprised to learn that so far Netanyahu is apparently doing well in this election. I wasn't surprised he was ahead, I just couldn't believe they were have yet another contest.

Israel has almost as many elections as Wisconsin.

[Porchlight]

Ugh, The Hill's Twitter feed.

Barbara, my favorite was when she asked the Mexican monsignor who painted Our Lady of Guadalupe.

https://www.politico.com/blogs/ben-smith/2009/03/hillary-and-god-in-mexico-city-017221

The national symbol of Mexico. The patron saint of Mexico. Maybe the most important object in Latin America. Nobody clued her in.

Stupid cow.

[MissMarple2]

Carlos Osweda thread about the Dutch historian who was on Tucker Carlson's show and apparently was so nuts Tucker melted down:

https://twitter.com/COsweda/status/1233597121024028672

Wrapped version of same, without replies:

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1233587088877998081.html

Both of these once again make the case that Obama was the Beta test for running the country as a dictatorship.

[MissMarple2]

I am going to have to go to bed.

Good night, everyone!

[Narciso]

Ay yay yay, if you dont inderstand the virgen you dont understand mexico, the devotion to her, even through decades of seculae govt? Its a little like our lady of charity, fot out people, corona possivly presidente is whar she knows

[Barbara]

Porchlight,

I remember that now. Loved the Monsignor's reply.

We came so close to disaster. Thank God for President Trump.

[jim nj]

Porch,

In answer to your question about why there was concern about Covid-19 getting into Africa I think more than anything else it was a timing issue. China has a naval base in Africa and commercial ventures in many African countries with Chinese people traveling back and forth often.

I think there was some concern that if the virus broke containment it might show up in Africa first. Once it got there it was thought there would be no way to contain it and it would create like a permanent reservoir for the virus.

Most of the African countries don't have good public health services to track down the infected and the medical system would probably be overwhelmed even if they could try to implement a quarantine.

If Covid-19 does hit Africa it probably will be a disaster, especially if it makes it into the war-torn areas. Cynically, it might not be as important to the rest of the world now as we have been able to gather data on the virus and work out some protocols that should work in the developed world.

Relatively speaking I rank China, Iran, South Korea, Italy and Japan, in that order as the biggest threats.

China simply because of how many cases they have. Iran, because I sense that it is out of control and the virus is still spreading in an unknown manner including to nearby countries. South Korea and Italy, as they are 2nd and 3rd on the list of countries with the most infections. While not forgetting that there are other means of travel, I note that both are peninsular nations and it does cut down on inadvertent cross-border spreading. Japan, #4 on the list of most cases, an island chain, again with the caveat on modern travel, has the means to stop the spread elsewhere more easily than other countries.

Comments welcome.

[Narciso]

We saw what ebola did dowm there, about five years ago.

[JM Hanes]

jim nj:

In re Iran, I left you a comment at 10:10 PM above.

[Narciso]

Cant thry stay inder a rock.

https://mobile.twitter.com/SamanthaJPower/status/1233408598123872256

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Re Dave's comic comment upthread, I know we're not supposed to make fun of someone's looks but half of her problem is that she makes herself look like that. The gruesome glasses, the Sheena-is-a-punk-rocker hair, the lack of makeup, the incessant, upscale bag lady clothes.
She's never gonna be Gina Lollobrigida but she goes out of her way to look like Ruth Buzzi just back from a bad trip.
k

[Narciso]

I heard a snippet of gorkas interview with lokhova who that fool judge brinkema suspended the lawsuit againzt halper very inpressive

[Dave (in MA)]

Ruth Buzzi just called demanding that you take that back.

[Narciso]

Its the female version? Of gary oldmans character in the fifth element

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

I said back from a bad trip!
A very, very bad one. Really bad. Horrible. The worst.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Uh narc, Gary Oldman just called...

[Narciso]

Run through some malfunctioning matter transport device.

[jim nj]

JM Hanes,

I saw your comment on Iran and I read the three linked articles on Iran. The Mahan Air airliner trips back and forth to Wuhan I had already read about in an earlier article. This one had more detail. The main takeaway is that while the government may control ingress and egress for Iran the IRGC seems to operate on its own and not beholden to the central government.

The article citing unreported deaths and graves doesn't surprise me. I wonder if low-level Iranian officials function in a similar fashion to their Chinese counterparts with an inclination to not make waves and downplay bad news.

What concerns me he most about Iran is that they are not taking the actions they need to take to contain the virus.

An earlier article I think I wrote about last night was about the rail passenger train that regularly runs between Qom and Tehran. They are cleaning it more often than they used to do. Like, maybe, they should just take it out of service.

Well we can't do that because the holy shrine in Qom is still open and people want to visit it.

[KevlarKid]

i thought it was Willem Dafoe.

[KevlarKid]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/democrats-considering-white-knight-2020-193829309.html

[KevlarKid]

Oh.My.Goodness.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/shell-do-some-ranting-and-raving-hillary-clinton-launching-podcast-with-irreverence-involved