USA Politics

[MusicTurner]

1) Probably likely that, due to the amount of medical support and the improved treatment options generally, and in spite of #45 being somewhat in the vulnerable group of patients, he will get through the infection successfully, experts here say.

2) however, this may cause much disruption in the administration's workings, the presidential campaigns and the debates.
Also, Pelosi is apparently no.3 in the system, after #45 and Pence.

3) this may indicate a possible, further lack of responsibility during the #45 campaign meetings in the last few days, depending on how early it was discovered that Hicks was infected. Had symptoms Wednesday evening and was tested positive Thursday morning.

4) suggestions that Biden halting his campaign and showing appropriate stature would be the most suitable - and effective - thing to do.

[arpeggio]

What concerns me is if the President does not recover.

Then we will have to deal with all the conspiracy theories that he was assassinated.

[Herman]

What concerns me is if the President does not recover.

Then we will have to deal with all the conspiracy theories that he was assassinated.

By the pretty girl? That is going to take some conspiratin'.

The direct effect will be Trump's campaign will be conducted solely on twitter.

In other news, it turns out Kimberly Guilfoyle (the completely reconstructed woman Don Jr is banging) has paid Fox employees four million dollar for sexual harrassment. She had the strange habit of showing people she worked with dick picks, discussing men she was consorting with with make-up people etc. Which may explain why she's always made up like a nuclear disaster zone. She also had the habit of walking around naked in front of her assistants, asking how she looked. "The Best Is Yet to Come!!" louder please.

It's just amazing what kind of lowlifes have gathered around Trump.

https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-secret-history-of-kimberly-guilfoyles-departure-from-fox

[Florestan]

If Trump is infected, isn't Biden at risk too? I didn't watch the debate, were they wearing masks and separated by a plastic wall during the debate? If not, considering the amount of Trump's yelling and shouting at Biden, then there's a problem.

[Holden]

It's not what happened on stage that would be concerning. It's what happened backstage. Is Biden going to get himself tested? Is everyone at the debate going to do that?

From my perspective (looking at who has died and why) Trump will probably come through this with few or no symptoms, validating his claims about the virus. He could even say that he took hydroxychloroquine - we wouldn't know. This can only be a plus for Trump.

[Florestan]

It's not what happened on stage that would be concerning. It's what happened backstage. Is Biden going to get himself tested? Is everyone at the debate going to do that?

Good observation and questions. Did they shake hands on stage?

From my perspective (looking at who has died and why) Trump will probably come through this with few or no symptoms, validating his claims about the virus. He could even say that he took hydroxychloroquine - we wouldn't know. This can only be a plus for Trump.

[Jo498]

Would it be a plus if Trump is out of action for the remaining 4 weeks? He wouldn't need to be severely affected to not be able to do any speeches, debates etc. And in any case he will lose almost two weeks because of cautionary quarantine, won't he?

[Herman]

there is indeed the question whether there was some kind of Trump - Biden contact before or after the abysmal Cleveland debate.

What makes Trump different from 99,9 % of affected people is he's got the best medical care, and so chances are pretty good he'll be okay in two or three weeks, in spite of his age and weight.

And then he'll double down on his "the best genes" claims.

[Florestan]

Would it be a plus if Trump is out of action for the remaining 4 weeks? He wouldn't need to be severely affected to not be able to do any speeches, debates etc. And in any case he will lose almost two weeks because of cautionary quarantine, won't he?

I do wonder: (1) at this stage, are there really still undecided voters that will decide whom to vote for based on the next speeches and debates*?, and (2) if yes, is their number large enough to decide the winner?

*given the most recent developments, most probably there won't be any more debates between Trump and Biden.

[Herman]

What Trump was doing at the debate was trying to increase the number of Undecideds whether they could still stomach going to the polls, posting their mail-in votes.

It has been a steady GOP-tactic over the years to make people sick of negative politics, giving people the feeling "they're all the same down in DC so why vote". Few developed countries* have as low a voter participation rate as the US and it's in the GOP's interest to drive it even further down. With his disgusting persona and his appalling performance in Cleveland Trump dialled these efforts up to eleven.

*In many parameters the USA is no longer a developed country. Life expectancy is falling among males particularly; no Western country has this proportion of incarceration etc.

[71 dB]

Few developed countries* have as low a voter participation rate as the US.

*In many parameters the USA is no longer a developed country. Life expectancy is falling among males particularly; no Western country has this proportion of incarceration etc.

My country Finland has what I believe a very typical voter participation rate among developed countries. In our 2018 presidencial election it was  69.9 % Finns living in other countries excluded and 66.8 % Finns living in other countries included. Over here this is consideted low while 80 % is considered very good voter participation rate. In elections to the European Parliament the voter participation rate is very low in Finland, little over 40 %. European Parliament seems so "distant" to many, but even this is similar to what the voter participation rate is in American presidential election these days, the election of the most powerful person in the world... 

It took me some time to realize/accept the fact that USA is not a real developed country. It is a VERY rich and powerful third world country which thanks to it's might can look like a developed first world country, but when you look closer you discover things you don't generally see with  developed countries: No universal healthcare, no paid vacation time by law (even in Japan they have 2 weeks of paid vacation time by law and they are fricking workaholics!), no clean tap water, no real democracy etc.

[BasilValentine]

Good observation and questions. Did they shake hands on stage?

They did not shake hands. There was a no contact protocol for the whole affair that included forgoing a hand shake.

It's not what happened on stage that would be concerning. It's what happened backstage. Is Biden going to get himself tested? Is everyone at the debate going to do that?

From my perspective (looking at who has died and why) Trump will probably come through this with few or no symptoms, validating his claims about the virus. He could even say that he took hydroxychloroquine - we wouldn't know. This can only be a plus for Trump.

Of course Biden will get tested. I hope Trump does take hyroxychloroquine and declines steroids and Remdesivir.

A plus for Trump? He could die! 

[Todd]

I do wonder: (1) at this stage, are there really still undecided voters that will decide whom to vote for based on the next speeches and debates*?, and (2) if yes, is their number large enough to decide the winner?

There always are, right up until election day.  And in a few select states, the number is significant enough to swing an election.  Whether they will matter this time will not be known until exit polling is completed.  Most people in most states know and have known for a long time the candidate they will choose. 

*In many parameters the USA is no longer a developed country. Life expectancy is falling among males particularly; no Western country has this proportion of incarceration etc.

Well, at least you made an effort to use something more up to date than Third World Country.  Unfortunately, you are unable to keep up with real intellectuals when it comes to proper terminology.

[Todd]

Would it be a plus if Trump is out of action for the remaining 4 weeks? He wouldn't need to be severely affected to not be able to do any speeches, debates etc. And in any case he will lose almost two weeks because of cautionary quarantine, won't he?

Trump can still tweet and do phone-ins to various news outlets every day, multiple times a day, provided his symptoms allow it.  Plus Trump will receive enormous amounts of free press coverage.  In standard campaign spending terms, he will receive at least tens of millions of dollars of free advertising, and possibly more.  Plus, he will capture a sympathy vote.  It is hard to gauge how large that will be.

[71 dB]

Why does critical cancer drug Revlimid cost today over three times what cost back in 2005?

Katie Porter DISMANTLES Big Pharma CEO During Congressional Hearing

https://www.youtube.com/v/=Tm8YlzOQnkU

[Todd]

Why does critical cancer drug Revlimid cost today over three times what cost back in 2005?

Profit-maximizing behavior by the company that manufactures it.  Basic stuff.

[SimonNZ]

.  Plus, he will capture a sympathy vote.  It is hard to gauge how large that will be.

I doubt it. I think his largely denialist stance has made that unlikely.

[71 dB]

Trump can still tweet and do phone-ins to various news outlets every day, multiple times a day, provided his symptoms allow it.  Plus Trump will receive enormous amounts of free press coverage.  In standard campaign spending terms, he will receive at least tens of millions of dollars of free advertising, and possibly more.  Plus, he will capture a sympathy vote.  It is hard to gauge how large that will be.

The man who gets everything free from $400 million of his dad's money to free advertising in presidential elections, but eventually he loses it all.

[71 dB]

Profit-maximizing behavior by the company that manufactures it.  Basic stuff.

Sure, but other countries figured out there are more important things than profits such as affordable drugs to stay alive.
Some things should be of the table in capitalism.

[Herman]

... but eventually he loses it all.

I don't want to sound like some Paris existentialist, but everybody eventually loses it all.