I was going to write about a heinous new development in baseball -- but other events intruded. As the Mueller investigation demands records from the Trump business, and the porno queen heads to court, the President shows signs of unraveling. In his pull-the-wings-off-flies mode, Trump had his garden-gnome Attorney General dismiss an FBI official just before his pension was official. On Friday evening, the retired general Barry McCaffrey issued a statement that Trump is a “serious threat to US national security.” Gen. McCaffrey fought in Vietnam, whatever we think of that war; Trump had spurious bone spurs. McCaffrey was later the so-called drug czar for the federal government, which is how I came to value his knowledge. So instead of writing about baseball, I am placing this note atop my recent posting because the ongoing comments are fascinating – from the Panglossian to the dystopian. I think it is important and life-affirming to be able to spot danger. Gen. McCaffrey has it. The majority members of Congress seem to have lost that ability. Meanwhile, Trump’s Russian pals keep pummeling the soft midsection of the U.S. while the President tweets and fires people long-distance, the coward. (This was my previous posting; comments ongoing.)
I haven’t posted anything in 12 days. Been busy. One thing after another. On Wednesday I stayed with the Mets-Yankees exhibition from Florida, even when people I never heard of were hitting home runs off people who won’t be around on opening day. But it was baseball, and really, in ugly times like this, isn't that what matters? Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling were going on delightful tangents after Darling said Kevin Mitchell had just emailed him. Kevin Mitchell – the guy the front office blamed for leading poor Doc Gooden and poor Daryl Strawberry astray? That guy. Terrible trade, Hernandez said. Ron and Keith meandered into tales of a nasty fight in Pittsburgh, started by my friend Bill Robinson, the first-base coach. The broadcasters recalled how Mitchell was destroying some Pirate, and both teams had to stop their usual jostling and flailing to save a life. The good old days. I loved the filibustering about 1986. The best impression I took from the three hours was the sight of Juan Lagares playing the sun, the wind and the ball with knowledge, grace, speed and touch. “That’s a real center fielder!” I blurted. Curt Flood. Paul Blair. Andruw Jones. Dare I say it, Willie Mays? Baseball. I was happy. * * * I need to write something but I keep getting distracted. I turn on the tube and think I see a traffic cam of an addled old man trying to cross Queens Boulevard -- the 300-foot-wideBoulevard of Death -- in my home borough of Queens. Is he carrying a baby as he lurches across 10 lanes of danger? The wind picks up. His comb-over flies up. Wait, that’s not any addled old man from Queens. What’s he carrying? It’s not a baby. He’s got the whole world in his hands. I watch with morbid fascination as he lumbers into danger. * * * I need to write something but I keep getting distracted. We’ve had two March snowstorms in a week. On Wednesday we lost power for five hours but my wife made instant coffee via the gas stove, and put together a nice supper, and we listened to the news on a battery-operated radio and then we found Victoria de los Angeles and “Songs Of the Auvergne," one of the most beautiful recordings we know. The juice went on in time for us to catch up with latest news about the porno queen and the Leader of the Free World. Gee, we didn’t have scandals like this with George W. Bush or Barack Obama. I watched for hours. * * * I need to write something but I keep reading instead. My old Hofstra friend, basketball star Ted Jackson, recommended I read “Blood at the Root: A Racial Cleansing in America,” by Patrick Phillips about rape charges and lynching and the forced exodus of blacks from Forsyth County, Ga., in 1912. As it happens, I have relatives, including some of color, who live just south of that county, now re-integrated in the northward sprawl of Atlanta. The denizens of that county in 1912 sound like the great grand-parents of the “very fine people” who flocked to Charlottesville last summer. It never goes away, does it? * * * I need to write something but I keep following the news. At the White House press briefing Wednesday, Sarah Huckabee Sanders spat out, with her usual contempt, the little nugget that the President had won a very, very big arbitration hearing involving the porno queen and $130,000 the President's lawyer shelled out from the goodness of his heart. Oops, the jackals of the press did not know about that. Thanks to Sanders, now they do. I got the feeling Sanders might be leaving on the midnight train for Arkansas. I envision Sanders trying to hail a ride on Pennsylvania Ave. but a stylish woman with a teen-age boy in tow beats her to the cab. That woman is leaving on the midnight plane for Slovenia. * * * I need to write something, but stuff keeps happening.
Brian Savin
3/8/2018 07:53:47 pm
Thanks so much, George, for reminding us that spring training has begun and for those of us able to make sure we see the games I’m the Mets network.
bruce
3/9/2018 01:08:37 am
brian,
George Vecsey
3/9/2018 08:42:03 am
Hey, Brian, good to hear from you. Don't be terribly sad.,
Brian Savin
3/9/2018 09:02:03 am
This morning the jobs report was issued and the numbers are spectacular. Strong manufacturing and retail job growth, and across the board. What’s most important was that the numbers aren’t explainable unless one understands that workers have come out of the woodwork. In other words there has been a reawakening stirring among the many who have dropped out of the workforce and thus out of statistics. Honest (I.e. non political) analysts have put the non participation rate among 25-54 year old males as much as 40%. Black unemployment has again declined to another record low. My observation is that the “Bubble People” who live outside the reality of America today are declining in numbers and we are beginning to have substantive discussion again about the issues that truly are important. Lin’s way still to go.
bruce
3/9/2018 09:02:47 am
George,
Mendel
3/8/2018 10:35:47 pm
There you are, George. I was starting to worry.
bruce
3/9/2018 12:51:21 am
mendel,
bruce
3/9/2018 09:24:15 am
brian,
Ed Martin
3/13/2018 03:18:09 pm
Brian, I’m with Bruce. In 2008-2009 unemployment peaked and market bottomed, both after many years. Beginning in 2009 And that trend has continued. The same is true for the Dow. It seems fair to say that the current administration has allowed that growth to continue, although conservative and more liberal economists fear tariffs may end both, we shall see. Tariffs are already being walked back by WH. One last question, did you write complimenting President Obama for that job, market growth, I don’t recall?
bruce
3/13/2018 04:10:06 pm
ed,
Brian Savin
3/13/2018 08:32:15 pm
Dear Ed and Bruce,
bruce
3/15/2018 09:50:56 am
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/mar/15/donald-trump-admits-made-up-facts-justin-trudeau
bruce
3/13/2018 08:52:23 pm
dear brian,
George Vecsey
3/14/2018 08:51:52 am
boyz, boyz, boyz.
sam Toperoff
3/15/2018 03:53:43 am
This seems like an appropriate time to share why I remain so interested in George Vecsey's blog. I've lived in a land across the ocean for the last seven years. It's become my home.
Ed Martin
3/15/2018 11:12:23 am
Amomg the reasons I read GV, first is I admire him as a human being with wonderful humanistic values, intelligent—and a Brooklyn Dodger fan, although in “the dugout” for professional reasons while working. Second, the intelligent community, of readers and commenters, an international group. Add Sam Topperoff, as articulate and thoughtful as one could hope for.
bruce
3/15/2018 01:25:59 pm
ed,
bruce
3/15/2018 01:22:29 pm
sam,
Sam Toperoff
3/17/2018 03:34:41 pm
You are not the only one trying to understand how people continue to support the man in the presidency. I believe he grabbed them by their prejudices when he first came down that escalator and then they turned off any reasoning they may have had.
Brian Savin
3/18/2018 08:16:28 pm
Sam, I think you are missing our country's reality. Anyone truly deserving of the contumely expressed in these untoward blog posts penned in recent days by George and others could not possibly have been elected President. If you think otherwise, it is appropriate for you to posit your explanation of whatever counter-reality you think exists. Rather, I think you need to search for a much different and more logical explanation. I suggest you start with thinking about our traditional press and their attempted influence on public opinion. Our current American Jeremiah is the ultra Progressive former NYT Pulitzer winning war correspondent, Chris Hedges. Here is what he says about many things, but what he says about our establishment press is most important to this thread:
John McDermott
3/22/2018 02:04:43 am
Wow. "Contumely". I need to go look that one up.
Brian Savin
3/16/2018 09:42:28 pm
Yesterday I went to a wonderful local high school production of the King and I. Earlier in the day I had read these recent emails and decided I had nothing to add; this was a complete waste of my time.
bruce
3/17/2018 08:41:50 am
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/16/upshot/most-americans-produce-services-not-stuff-trump-ignores-that-in-talking-about-trade.html?hpw&rref=upshot&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region®ion=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well
bruce
3/16/2018 10:33:35 pm
brian,
Ed Martin
3/17/2018 11:20:22 am
Meanwhile back in the sports world, (mostly). My NCAA bracket is about as accurate as a trump tweet.
George Vecsey
3/17/2018 01:22:19 pm
Ed: I love the first Thurs-Fri. All those hopeful teams. I was watching Bucknell for a few minutes, hanging in there, but then switched the dial to catch the Trump Frolics. Love the 16-v-1 i upset. Seen some great 15s. Richmond. Princeton...Eastern Michigan. (I think all 15s) First round is the best.
Ed Martin
3/17/2018 02:32:22 pm
UPDATE: just got my standing in Bracket poll. 977,000+
John McDermott
3/17/2018 11:54:10 am
I find Trump deeply embarrassing on a daily basis. He exhibits multiple character defects and is in no way the kind of person who should be leading anything, let alone our country. My message to conservatives is that if you want to be listened to and respected then find a candidate to represent your views who is not a sociopath, a liar, a social boor, someone who is thoughtful and articulate and who doesn't act like his main concern is achieving TV ratings by appealing to the lowest common denominator. I live in Europe where Trump is widely considered a shocking aberration, where President Obama was admired and is greatly missed, and where people used to looking up to the USA express to me regularly their astonishment, their sympathy and their regret at the current situation in the United States. To those of you pointing to economic indicators...they are not the only measure of success, and however it is going, well or poorly, is not due entirely to Trump but just as much to the policies of his predecessor(s). Mussolini made the trains run on time...Hitler built the autobahns...Castro established universal education and health care. Great achievements which did not in the least excuse their many bad deeds. Trump is well on his way to becoming the worst President in the history of our country. Write whatever you want. I won't be making any responses.
George Vecsey
3/17/2018 01:26:05 pm
John: This guy has built nothing. His family and friends are filling their gunnysacks. "on his way" indeed.
John McDermott
3/18/2018 05:02:37 am
He is the man who stripped integrity, dignity and decency from the office he regrettably holds. He is a despicable man and that has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with character and personal behavior.
Brian Savin
3/17/2018 12:24:01 pm
George, is this the best you could come up with to mask the bigger news of the firing of high ranking FBI politico McCabe upon the recommendation of the FBI ethics office and the inspector general's referral? McCaffrey's Tweet? Well, this long time NBC-paid talking head will assuredly get more paid speaking engagements to supplement is income from his other employer - the Washington Speakers Bureau.
George Vecsey
3/17/2018 01:29:01 pm
Brian: I believe I mentioned the Mueller inquiry into Trump' corporate links to government.
Ed Martin
3/17/2018 02:22:19 pm
GV. Since I still support the First Amendment, I will not suggest a ban, but as one who has worked with chidren with control problems, may I suggest a “time out”- a quiet period for reflection for Brian, self imposed if possible, or by the moderator.
Brian Savin
3/17/2018 02:58:46 pm
Ed,
bruce
3/17/2018 04:38:45 pm
brian,
bruce
3/18/2018 11:11:23 am
alan,
bruce
3/18/2018 08:33:23 pm
brian,
Brian Savin
3/18/2018 09:24:41 pm
Bruce,
bruce
3/18/2018 10:38:00 pm
brian,
Ed Martin
3/22/2018 10:49:02 am
Is it Nov. 11, yet?
George Vecsey
3/22/2018 12:59:04 pm
Armistice Day? Five days after this year's election day.
bruce
3/22/2018 02:45:27 pm
George,
Brian Savin
3/22/2018 01:42:03 pm
To: John McDermott
bruce
3/22/2018 02:41:37 pm
brian,
George Vecsey
3/22/2018 03:00:30 pm
Brian: I know only one good thing about Trump -- the way he honors his older brother by not drinking, etc. I actually believe that. I knew the brother, had a problem, loved his brother. Only time Trump does not sound like a jackass is when he talks about Freddy.
bruce
3/22/2018 05:45:11 pm
George,
Ed
3/22/2018 03:10:08 pm
George, I was thinking that Armistice on this string. Brian feels my comment was insulting and I would plead that it is a serious observation by a trained observer, in the faint hope of denting what appears to be an impervious cognitive process, surrounded by emotion. Brian is clearly bright and that is what is so disappointing. One might expect a kind of give and take discussion, where some concessions to reality would be in order on both sides. For example he might argue about tariffs being good, e.g. today’s post, but, at the same time acknowledge that many knowledgeable economists fear a trade war will hurt our economy. A rational response would be to acknowledge both sides and take a “attitude.” Now, this sounds “and it is. I dare to do it, because it might allow the basic message of this column to move forward, an Armistice, so to speak.
ED
3/22/2018 03:16:23 pm
Certain words omitted in my last transmission, I was trying to say, “an attitude of compromise or .conciliation. The next missing word is “preachey” as in sounds preachey and it is. 3/22/2018 04:18:35 pm
I enjoy a good political discussion where there is give and take and respect for each other's views. Although I have stayed out of this blog, I feel that the rebuttals to Brian's comments have be fair and respectful.
Brian Savin
3/22/2018 09:30:45 pm
Gentlemen,
John McDermott
3/26/2018 09:35:59 am
"I have all the actual information being dispersed, and everyone else. so far, has all the wacko political opinions."
Brian Savin
3/26/2018 07:52:17 pm
John, Comments are closed.
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QUOTES
Measuring Covid Deaths, by David Leonhardt. July 17, 2023. NYT online. The United States has reached a milestone in the long struggle against Covid: The total number of Americans dying each day — from any cause — is no longer historically abnormal…. After three horrific years, in which Covid has killed more than one million Americans and transformed parts of daily life, the virus has turned into an ordinary illness. The progress stems mostly from three factors: First, about three-quarters of U.S. adults have received at least one vaccine shot. Second, more than three-quarters of Americans have been infected with Covid, providing natural immunity from future symptoms. (About 97 percent of adults fall into at least one of those first two categories.) Third, post-infection treatments like Paxlovid, which can reduce the severity of symptoms, became widely available last year. “Nearly every death is preventable,” Dr. Ashish Jha, who was until recently President Biden’s top Covid adviser, told me. “We are at a point where almost everybody who’s up to date on their vaccines and gets treated if they have Covid, they rarely end up in the hospital, they almost never die.” That is also true for most high-risk people, Jha pointed out, including older adults — like his parents, who are in their 80s — and people whose immune systems are compromised. “Even for most — not all but most —immuno-compromised people, vaccines are actually still quite effective at preventing against serious illness,” he said. “There has been a lot of bad information out there that somehow if you’re immuno-compromised that vaccines don’t work.” That excess deaths have fallen close to zero helps make this point: If Covid were still a dire threat to large numbers of people, that would show up in the data. One point of confusion, I think, has been the way that many Americans — including we in the media — have talked about the immuno-compromised. They are a more diverse group than casual discussion often imagines. Most immuno-compromised people are at little additional risk from Covid — even people with serious conditions, such as multiple sclerosis or a history of many cancers. A much smaller group, such as people who have received kidney transplants or are undergoing active chemotherapy, face higher risks. Covid’s toll, to be clear, has not fallen to zero. The C.D.C.’s main Covid webpage estimates that about 80 people per day have been dying from the virus in recent weeks, which is equal to about 1 percent of overall daily deaths. The official number is probably an exaggeration because it includes some people who had virus when they died even though it was not the underlying cause of death. Other C.D.C. data suggests that almost one-third of official recent Covid deaths have fallen into this category. A study published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases came to similar conclusions. Dr. Shira Doron, the chief infection control officer at Tufts Medicine in Massachusetts, told me that “age is clearly the most substantial risk factor.” Covid’s victims are both older and disproportionately unvaccinated. Given the politics of vaccination, the recent victims are also disproportionately Republican and white. Each of these deaths is a tragedy. The deaths that were preventable — because somebody had not received available vaccines and treatments — seem particularly tragic. (Here’s a Times guide to help you think about when to get your next booster shot.) *** From the great Maureen Dowd: As I write this, I’m in a deserted newsroom in The Times’s D.C. office. After working at home for two years during Covid, I was elated to get back, so I could wander around and pick up the latest scoop. But in the last year, there has been only a smattering of people whenever I’m here, with row upon row of empty desks. Sometimes a larger group gets lured in for a meeting with a platter of bagels." --- Dowd writes about the lost world of journalists clustered in newsrooms at all hours, smoking, drinking, gossipping, making phone calls, typing, editing. *** "Putting out the paper," we called it. Much more than nostalgia. ---https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/29/opinion/journalism-newsroom.html Categories
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