Andrew Cuomo. End of the Beginning. He’s given daily briefings for 108 days. I’ve listened to almost all of them. 59 million people listened to his briefings. New York only has 19 million citizens. So, he has been reaching many more people than New York residents.
He and Charlie Baker, my governor, have kept me sane for the same period of time. Competency is my need. These two have delivered day after day.
Thursday was the last of the daily briefings for Andrew Cuomo and aside from the “facts”, his suggestion to lift our eyes up and rebuild our society at this catastrophic time in practical terms: police reform, infrastructure, social programs, has provided a context for this moment. Catastrophe can also bring improvements to our society. It always left me with a sobering but calming feeling of ‘we’ll get through this’.
On some days, if not inspiring, it was always, “At least an an adult is in the room.”
Starting at 19.00 minutes in and lasting to 35.00 into this briefing, he talks about the current situation of escalating COVID numbers in many states. He is able to manage facts and emotions in the most articulate way on public display today.
“This country has to wake up. We have a tale of two countries going on in this country. Our numbers (New York) are going down. Other states are going up. Why? The Federal Government approach to this virus has been an undeniable mistake. The virus is spreading in states that have an unmanaged reopening. More testing does not cause the viral spread to increase. The number of people in those states who are getting sick is increasing. More people are walking into hospitals. You walk into a hospital when you are sick. The numbers are undeniably going up in these states. It’s Utah, it’s Alaska, it’s Texas, it’s Florida, it’s Oklahoma, it’s Alabama, it’s California, it’s Nevada, it’s North Carolina, it’s Oregon, it’s Arizona.
Andrew Cuomo•June 18 2020
Oklahoma is where Trump is having a rally tomorrow inside a 19K person arena (not even an outside venue) AND each person who enters this stadium does not have to wear a mask but IS required to sign a waiver saying they will not sue Trump or the government or the facility if they contract COVID19.
Let me repeat: masks are optional but waiver signing is not. 100, 000 cult members are reportedly expected.
The White House model, it’s own, says there is an 18% projection of more deaths if current infection trends continue. That means 30 thousand more people will die if we keep on with an unmanaged reopening in the short term. Longer-term. Don’t ask. They KNOW this. And, because they know this, this administration will not allow anyone to testify in Congressional hearings about this situation without approval. PS. John Bolton wasn’t allowed to testify either.
I know John Bolton’s book is causing reports of reopening impeachment inquiries. That’s like saying in the midst of a tornado warning with the wind and debris flying outside your window, “Yes, let’s call that insurance company to get a policy for the house.” Plus, Republicans as well as Democrats have known all of this behind the scenes stuff for years. If not all, most of it.
I suggest folks should just consider Jim Jones, the 70’s cult leader who was feeling the pressure of outside scrutiny and decided to murder Leo Ryan the US representative who came to Guyana to check out reports of abuses in November of 1978. The cult members who were returning to the US with him were also murdered with him at the airport. Shortly after these murders, Jim Jones arranged a murder/suicide of himself and all of his followers.
Jim Jones offered his cult members poisoned Kool-Aide in order to die.
Unlike Trump, he told them up front they were going to die. No legal waivers or facemasks necessary.
Where are the adults in this republic’s room? WHERE? ARE? THEY?
All I know is that one of the adults in the room is no longer giving daily briefings and I shall miss him. Poor Charlie Baker. He’s my Lone Ranger, now.
