A New Front In The Culture Wars

Trump made news by shaking hands in Tennessee despite the coronavirus scare and his own history as a germaphobe. By way of contrast, Pence is going with what is described as an elbow bump but looks to me like a forearm shiver.

 

I like the forearm shiver. It's cloth on cloth during cold/flu season and there is less twisting than with a full elbow bump (that is my sore shoulder typing).

But on to the emerging culture war! Oldsters, especially those of a conservative temperament, will not be inclined to let go of the handshake. Youngsters, especially young Democrats, will see a double play here. They can show off their hipness AND take a shot at Trump by switching too... well, something. But what?

My free and excellent advice to DNC strategerists is to get in front of this. Teams Biden and Sanders should agree on a handshake substitute and promote it on center stage of their next debate. Message: Our party is united for change, positive leadership and a healthier America. Possibly regrettable subtext - Our party is nominating two geezers in the highest risk group for COVID19. DNC spin doctors (and maybe some real doctors) will want to manage that.

As to the substitute, I see three main candidates. First up (and off) is the Wuhan Shuffle, aka the "fistshake". Mutual foot taps? Please. Youngsters, especially in soccer mad countries, will love the Wuhan Shuffle. But c'mon - how will that work at a cocktail party? After two hip replacement and two drinks, I won't be doing a successful foot tap with anyone. Totally NOT recommended for old timers like me, Joe or Bernie. (Joe was a good HS/college athlete though; he might be tempted. Bernie would be nuts to try. (Yes, I'd pay to watch if they pre-announced it as a PPV event.)

The fist bump was studied in Britain during the Ebola scare in 2014 (during which I introduced my Ebola air kiss. More on that in a bit, with the emphasis on "moron"). Only ten to twenty percent of the bug transmission associated with a conventional handshake. Its better and don't be a science denier! 

Joe Biden should push for the fist bump, aka the terrorist fist jab, as a reminder of his Obama legacy. Bernie will spot this problem and will no doubt be asking his advisers "What did Che do?".

The next entrant is the Ebola Elbow, which the WHO was out first with in 2014. It hasn't caught on but the Pence variation seems more manageable.

Ebola was a poor disease for the roll out of a handshake alternative. The disease was not THAT contagious and it was pretty easy for folks to know if they'd been kn close contact with a dead African while in Africa. Consequently it didn't break out in the West, or really anywhere other than where it originated.

Obviously the coronavirus is a different story. Politically, the media is hyping every little thing in an attempt to derail Trump and its hard to trust them (although life is full of surprises). Some on the right have tried the opposite, minimizing everything as Democratic fear-mongering. Others on the right have pointed out that a crisis is an opportunity to show leadership.

Well. Where are not in a good place to have a calm national conversation and I'm pretty sure we'll end up with Republicans wearing flag lapels and Democrats doing fist bumps. Too bad - I'm not a handshake fan myself.

ABOUT THAT EBOLA AIR KISS: Back in 2014 I would greet the ladies at cocktail parties with my Oh-So-Euro "Ebola air kiss". Har de har. Time moved on and I had to update it to the "Ebola/Zika air kiss". Now I deploy the "Ebola/Zika/Coronavirus air kiss" on the increasingly rare occasions I am invited to a social event. I should note it has been effective as an auto-quarantine tactic; surprisingly few people at a cocktail party want to chat with the weirdo in the corner mumbling about Ebola and Zika.

So, no air kisses for Joe and Bernie. NOT on my recommended list.

Comments

[Jim Eagle]

Asymmetric warfare to the Zenith.

[Mrs. JiB and my IL's once met a guy on a QE2 cruise who was a Navy psychologist who was part of this program. Fascinating listening to his experiences.]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8086131/Six-dolphins-taken-secret-location-trained-search-undersea-mines.html

[clarice]

peter, I used to go to the movies every week. Now maybe 2 or 3 times a year to join friends or see something CH recommended.

[Jane]

No JIB, it wasn’t a contest. I’m the only idiot who enters those contests.

[clarice]

https://amgreatness.com/2020/03/07/joe-biden-i-am-as-sharp-as-a-tack-sharper-even/Satire but who can tell?

[Buckeye]

What the hell is she wearing?

Yes Amy, it does make your ass look big.

[Marlene]

Good Morning! Jane the I-75 shooting is still a mystery. Evidence was found in the area of the shooting,but police aren't saying much. I'll go with the obvious answer...drug deal.

Hubby has been getting emails from Melania and Niki Haley recently,are they having a contest? :)

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Melania wins.

[Old Lurker]

"Yes Amy, it does make your ass look big."

Judging by what I see walking around in yoga pants these days, I think that is a feature not a bug, Buckeye.

I blame the Kardashians.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

John Roberts, Reggie Walton...
W; the gift that keeps on giving.

[Buckeye]

I’m getting those fund raising email too Marlene.

They must be operating under the mistaken assumption that I actually have some $$$:)

[Extraneus]

FLASHBACK 2009: Chuck Schumer Brags About Cutting Funding to Flu Epidemic (VIDEO)

[Marlene]

New thread.

[MissMarple2]

Text from a local friend:

Kevin McCarthy was on Maria Bartilomo this morning and said there was talk of MICHELLE OBAMA being on the ticket as VP.

No and no and NO!!

[anonamom]

Last night, I googled "Best movies on Netflix" and came up with "Marriage Story," essentially a re-make of Kramer v Kramer with nothing new to add. Awful

Agree. We are not the demographic they are aiming for any more, peter. My kids loved it!
I personally, am not a fan of watching gut wretching emotional pain. (Especially what I saw as self inflicted.)

We are watching New Pope, which meant we decided to watch Young Pope this weekend. (Re-watch for spouse.) I dropped Young after second episode; am appreciating it this go around.

I shall also recommend Don't F with Cats---something I would NEVER had chosen if I'd read about it, so I am not going to say one word about it, were it not recommended by a young 30 something friend of the fam. Three hour documentary that we watched straight through.

Unlike McMillions, it pulled us right in.

[Manuel Transmission]

Speaking of Jane and Caro, last night we went to our annual Lincoln/Reagan Dinner like they attended a few years ago. Heard one GOP guv candidate and the nephew of another one on his behalf. Seems promising on both counts. Our pal, Glen Morgan was the guest of honor and told lots more of his adventures screwing up the state progs. He literally gets up every morning and over his coffee he files suit on another couple of them. He’s past 600 suits and wins nearly all of them. Has several pending in our county that should be revealed shortly. Might get our county atty thrown out on one of the new ones. One anecdote that gave everyone a boost was telling about his 14 yo son heading off to his first day in HS wearing his MAGA hat and papa worried that he might be immediately ostracized. Well, the kid was ecstatic when the day was over. Lots of high fives from the kids and the teachers, except for one substitute from Evergreen college. Ha!

Speaking of Evergreen, their enrollment is off 40% and after dumping a bunch of (our) money into upgrading dorms, these guv candidates are pushing to have it converted to a rehab center for the druggies living on the street.

[Jane]

ManTran,

I remember it well - and fondly!