Comments on: Evolution in Action, episode 10,912 https://habitablezone.com/2020/04/28/evolution-in-action-episode-10912/ Tue, 07 Apr 2026 09:51:21 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Robert https://habitablezone.com/2020/04/28/evolution-in-action-episode-10912/#comment-44470 Robert Wed, 29 Apr 2020 00:24:57 +0000 https://habitablezone.com/?p=81333#comment-44470 Like I said, evolution in action. (n/t) Like I said, evolution in action. (n/t)

]]> By: Robert https://habitablezone.com/2020/04/28/evolution-in-action-episode-10912/#comment-44469 Robert Wed, 29 Apr 2020 00:24:35 +0000 https://habitablezone.com/?p=81333#comment-44469 <p>That hole goes all the way to China</p><blockquote>And since I don't have the coronavirus, I thought it'd be a good opportunity for me to be here, to be able to speak to these researchers, these incredible health care personnel, and <i>look them in the eye</i> and say thank you.</blockquote><a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/28/847570879/pence-responds-to-critics-after-not-wearing-face-mask-at-mayo-clinic" rel="nofollow">NPR</a> Wow. He thinks a mask will obscure his eyes. What a putz. That hole goes all the way to China

And since I don’t have the coronavirus, I thought it’d be a good opportunity for me to be here, to be able to speak to these researchers, these incredible health care personnel, and look them in the eye and say thank you.

NPR

Wow. He thinks a mask will obscure his eyes. What a putz.

]]> By: hank https://habitablezone.com/2020/04/28/evolution-in-action-episode-10912/#comment-44468 hank Tue, 28 Apr 2020 23:58:15 +0000 https://habitablezone.com/?p=81333#comment-44468 The Trump gang has always tried to pass off the Coronavirus as a hoax, or at the very least, as a minor issue exaggerated by the Chinese, or the Socialists, or the Liberal Media in order to steal away our freedom, deny us our Jesus and take our guns. After a while, this position became obviously untenable, but it still is useful to keep that interpretation active and up front in the minds of the MAGA constituency. After all, the actions taken to truly deal with the pandemic are going to be, at the very least, very inconvenient for everyone concerned, and especially those convinced of Trump's infallibility. What everyone else might believe is irrelevant, but Trump's base subconsciously needs to be reassured that this is all some conspiracy emanating from the Liberal mind. And it sees Trump as struggling surreptitiously and bravely against the Deep State that is arrayed against him. Have you noticed how Trump and none of his spokesmen or advisers ever wears a mask in public? This subliminally reinforces the perception that the virus is no big deal, and if we just ignore it it will go away. Only a few old people will die, and they would probably die anyway from "regular" flu. Maybe its a New York or California problem, but if it wasn't for the nightly news, nobody in the Flyover would know there was an epidemic. Besides, seeing no masks on the podium obscures the fact that ordinary citizens and emergency workers have trouble getting them too. The Deplorables are living from paycheck to paycheck, and are having trouble making the payments on their pickups and jet skis. They need their gig jobs and those who employ them need their cheap labor. Look at how the Trump tweet machine supports their armed street demonstrations against even the most routine public health measures employed against communicable diseases. Sure, if you think it through logically, none of this holds up, does it? But the targets of these messages are not known for their critical thinking skills, are they? This is all designed to keep the base intact and loyal. The rest of the country aren't going to vote Trump anyway. What they think doesn't matter. The Trump gang has always tried to pass off the Coronavirus as a hoax, or at the very least, as a minor issue exaggerated by the Chinese, or the Socialists, or the Liberal Media in order to steal away our freedom, deny us our Jesus and take our guns.

After a while, this position became obviously untenable, but it still is useful to keep that interpretation active and up front in the minds of the MAGA constituency. After all, the actions taken to truly deal with the pandemic are going to be, at the very least, very inconvenient for everyone concerned, and especially those convinced of Trump’s infallibility. What everyone else might believe is irrelevant, but Trump’s base subconsciously needs to be reassured that this is all some conspiracy emanating from the Liberal mind. And it sees Trump as struggling surreptitiously and bravely against the Deep State that is arrayed against him.

Have you noticed how Trump and none of his spokesmen or advisers ever wears a mask in public? This subliminally reinforces the perception that the virus is no big deal, and if we just ignore it it will go away. Only a few old people will die, and they would probably die anyway from “regular” flu. Maybe its a New York or California problem, but if it wasn’t for the nightly news, nobody in the Flyover would know there was an epidemic. Besides, seeing no masks on the podium obscures the fact that ordinary citizens and emergency workers have trouble getting them too.

The Deplorables are living from paycheck to paycheck, and are having trouble making the payments on their pickups and jet skis. They need their gig jobs and those who employ them need their cheap labor. Look at how the Trump tweet machine supports their armed street demonstrations against even the most routine public health measures employed against communicable diseases.

Sure, if you think it through logically, none of this holds up, does it? But the targets of these messages are not known for their critical thinking skills, are they? This is all designed to keep the base intact and loyal. The rest of the country aren’t going to vote Trump anyway. What they think doesn’t matter.

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