The Coronavirus thread

Quote: Mission146

I want you to consider what you have said in terms of the implications of further Congressional testimony to be had at some point in the future.

When Congress calls for experts on a particular matter, or other Governmental officials, to come in and testify before the Congress, it is for the public good that we, as citizens, are able to hear the unadulterated facts, opinions and experiences of that person. Theoretically, the primary function of Government, whether or not you agree with the things that it does, is to create laws that ultimately promote the public good.

Congressional hearings as to these matters inform the public perception so that the public can decide, "What is the public good?", and then vote for a particular policy or individual accordingly.

When we weaponize the Congressional testimony based on the speculation of one person, namely Rand Paul, who happens to be an idiot...we thereby dissuade future individuals from appearing before the Congress freely and giving an unadulterated opinion on matters. Consequently, the result will be every single statement going through layers upon layers of attorneys dissecting every bit of legal minutiae involved with any particular statement.

Consequently, if the person to testify says anything at all, it will be such a highly sanitized legalese, "Counsel recommends," version of itself as to not convey anything of value to the ordinary American citizen, and thereby, negating the reason that such hearings---at least in theory---exist in the first place.

Hey, I’ve got plenty of opinions on the way things should be, but aren’t. So, I’m not going to disagree.

Quote: Mission146

No, it won't. Rand Paul is an idiot who is, to a not insignificant degree, responsible for the fact that some people think anyone who identifies as a Libertarian is an idiot.

An idiot how? Paul unlike Fauci is a doctor who actually practices. The man restored sight for thousands in Central America, free of charge while Fauci spends his life in government offices. I will take Paul over Fauci.

Quote: ams288

Rand Paul is butthurt that Fauci made a fool of him yesterday at that hearing for everyone to see. That’s all.

Yeah, but Idiots with power are more dangerous than your average idiot. You can probably think of a good example

Quote: ams288

Rand Paul is butthurt that Fauci made a fool of him yesterday at that hearing for everyone to see. That’s all.

Yup
The reporting I saw showed that Fauci stood up to Paul's bullying
Thats the sole reason Paul went on Hannity
Revenge for Fauci standing up to his complete BS

Quote: AZDuffman

An idiot how? Paul unlike Fauci is a doctor who actually practices. The man restored sight for thousands in Central America, free of charge while Fauci spends his life in government offices. I will take Paul over Fauci.

I didn't say he's a bad person; I said he's an idiot. An idiot can be a doctor. An idiot can have intellectual strength in certain areas. An idiot can be charitable and philanthropic.

He opens his mouth and things come out that do not come from a position of knowledge. Being an eye doctor, for example, does not mean that one has the capacity or authority to properly critique an infectious disease specialist on that subject.

Infectious disease---Would I listen to Fauci or Paul? Both, but lean heavily Fauci.

Ophthalmology (I think it's called)---Would I listen to Fauci or Paul? Both, but lean VERY heavily Paul.

I assume that you learn some general medicine first, which could be presumed to at least dapple in infectious disease. I don't know that you learn anything about being an eye doctor unless you specifically want to be an eye doctor, at least, learn anything formally.

Even then, calling Rand Paul an idiot is a, "Let me count the ways," sort of thing.

Not sure if this sums up the issue.

Quote:

NIH has never approved any grant to support ‘gain-of-function’ research on coronaviruses that would have increased their transmissibility or lethality for humans,” the government agency told the Washington Post earlier this year.

But if your definition of “gain of function” includes a much more broad idea, such as developing drought-resistant crops, then the U.S. government has certainly funded this type of research.

Quote: rxwine

Not sure if this sums up the issue.

It is not in doubt that funding was given to Wuhan. What they do there is study animal viruses (often bats) to see if they can manipulate them and help provide protection for humans from viruses. It is very likely that Covid came from Wuhan. Was it is an error or weaponization gone wrong? Everyone will have there own idea which it was.

Quote: rxwine

Not sure if this sums up the issue.

It's helpful, but also goes to demonstrate why Rand Paul is an idiot. It's a guttural reaction that he is trying to give academic/legal credence to---this bad thing happened, thus, we must find someone to blame for it even if one must bend over backwards to justify blame casting.

Quote: AZDuffman

An idiot how? Paul unlike Fauci is a doctor who actually practices. The man restored sight for thousands in Central America, free of charge while Fauci spends his life in government offices. I will take Paul over Fauci.

Well he is going to have trouble continuing surgery, since many hospitals will not allow surgeons (or any staff or contractors) to not have the vaccine at some point in September (forget the date).

Personally, I don't believe that he is not getting vaccinated (or may be already), he just would never admit it. If he is still working in hospitals come September, we will know that he is lying about not getting the vaccine. It's just a political stunt to appeal to the Antivax base....

He used to be somewhat reasonable, even through the primaries, but he totally hopped on the Trump train when Trump was elected.... He changed from a strong critics of Trump (including some very valid criticism such as Trump trying to use eminent domain through the State to seize residential properties so that he could build parking lots), to one of his biggest lackies on a dime, so he has no spine (which also makes it likley that he could not admit to being vaccinated).

Anyway Paul is a career politican who is also a doctor, stop acting like he is somebody who works in the private sector, he is a senator who does not want to give up his seat (he dropped out of the primary to fight for it), and before that he was on his father's election committee for decades as an employee.... My guess is he will stay in the Senate until he retires (he will not leave by choice I mean, of course he can always lose a reelection)..... He blows with the wind, he was anti-Trump when politically convient, and now is pro-Trump..... He is about as far from a libertarian as can be, I don't even know if he uses that label anymore (I have not heard it since maybe 2014 in some interviews, but I could be wrong). I am sure if it was politically convienant he would start using it again though (that is the trend with him).

Rand Paul, in general, was at no point, "Somewhat reasonable."