Month: March 2020

Does Dr. Fauci talk too much?

If, as he says below, “any estimate could easily turn out to be wrong,” why is he taking seriously the estimates he reports?

He called worst-case scenario projections of more than a million U.S. deaths “very, very unlikely” and said any estimate could easily turn out to be wrong. He said he was certain that the number of confirmed infections would continue to rise much higher.

He’s probably a good man in his field — compared to whom? we must always ask — but is he a bit long on the commentary? Is it dangerous to get between him and a camera or microphone?

via WSJ

Leftists rage, but Trump is the people’s choice . . .

. . . again.

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Could one of the more controversial decisions made in the early stages of the coronavirus crisis have set the stage for Donald Trump’s leadership moment?
Like most if not all other polling series, Pew Research sees Trump hitting the peak overall approval rating of his presidency, albeit a lower peak than in some other series.
While his approval is driven by partisan division, just as in yesterday’s ABC News/Washington Post poll, Trump’s boost is attributable to gains from some surprising demographics:

For the rest, go to Hot Air . . .

Report: Thousands of urns shipped to Wuhan, where the virus is supposedly under control

What’s wrong with this opening statement about ChiCom honesty and openness?

If you can’t trust a totalitarian government waging a ruthless propaganda war to tell the truth about the extent of the epidemic within its borders, who can you trust?

Come on, you see it, don’t you? OK, I’ll tell you. It’s the “who” in the question! “WHOM”!

OK, that said, other than that, there’s NOTHING WRONG WITH IT!

Add this to the growing pile of circumstantial evidence that China’s coronavirus problem isn’t as well in hand as they’d like the world to believe.

They kicked out American reporters shortly before announcing that cases in Wuhan had dropped to zero, presumably to choke off the flow of accurate information about the true state of the spread.

On the day that number was announced, reports to the contrary were already trickling out on social media:

Etc.

Read all about ChiCom perfidy — with its sidebar, unnecessary, taken for granted, about U.S. mediums all agog about how BAD we are at containing the virus —  here, at Hot Air.

Pope Francis, what will his legacy be?

Nothing much, a veteran Vaticanista says:

Pope Francis has always warned about the risk of the Church turning into a merciful NGO. However, the lack of an intellectual push within the pontificate leads everything to be reduced to charitable actions or Pope Francis’ gestures.

He doesn’t have the wherewithal for this “intellectual push.” So he simply urges people to do good things, and prelates to “set an example.” That’s about it.

All of this is important and necessary. The pontificate lacks, however, an intellectual push. Since nobody leads the debate, the debate is biased by a series of forces that have always tried to bend the discussion, and hence the Catholic Church, to their will.

His “world view is above all that of an Argentinian, then a Latin American, and then a Jesuit.” Which is not enough, the analyst implies.

Paradoxically, a pontificate born during the Year of Faith with the wish of being missionary leaves a political legacy instead of a spiritual one. Pope Francis thought is indeed political and pragmatic, while his spirituality is mostly popular piety.

Sounds about right.

The writer sees “a fossilization” of Francis’ pontificate.

What will Pope Francis’ legacy be? What will be its impact on the history of the Church? It has been often emphasized that Pope Francis is a “parish-priest Pope,” who celebrates daily mass in Santa Marta and makes great gestures. But what will Pope Francis be remembered for?

At the moment, his legacy cannot be assessed. He fought to break careerism, but he mostly raised the stakes on institutionality. He worked to reform the Curia, but this reform seems to be a never-ending discussion. He flirted with progressive intellectuals, but he then made traditional choices. He spoke about synodality, but he has always been a man alone at the helm.

Pretty fair comments:

The hermeneutic of incoherence, perhaps?

The “lack of an intellectual push within the pontificate” is being most polite.

via MondayVatican where  is the proprietor.

Flatten the Coronavirus Curve at a Lower Cost

Something’s gotta give.

A blanket lockdown can’t go on. Keeping every business closed and every worker at home until a vaccine is available won’t work. Replacing the private economy with borrowed federal money for months on end won’t work.

If this were the plague, with 50% of the infected dying, it might be a different story. But people won’t put up with losing many trillions of dollars to flatten the curve of this virus.

Gung-ho mayors, mayoresses, and governors, please. Moderate yourselves.

More more more here: WSJ

A pastoral touch in time of virus

From Bill, a friend:

Our church, the First United Methodist Church of Evergreen Park, does not have the technology to live stream a service; so we have begun trying to stay in touch with email and even some snail mail. Attached is this week’s sermon from our Pastor, Larry Paris. It’s a reflection on Psalm 23.

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For Such a Time as This

Friends, at such a time as this, it is clearly the right thing to do to stay home from church. I never thought I would write those words! This Covid 19 is a totally new experience. We have never been here before, and hopefully never will be again. This is real, unexpected, and genuinely scary. We have gone from being nonchalant to doubtful to worried to frightened. The media is filling our minds with images of some who have gone a step further into panic mode. This weeks Psalm reading reminds us of eternal truth about Gods love and care for us. It is one more example of the [prescribed] lectionary readings providing divinely timed messaging.

Lets take a line-by-line look at God’s words for us during this trying time!

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

God does not abandon us in hard times. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who tenderly and wisely cares for his flock. God knows what we have need of and will supply our needs. This provision includes the wise counsel to stay home and avoid unnecessary physical contact that can lead to infection!! We live in a time where we can use phones and computers to reach out to one another. Use them. Food and medications can be delivered to our doors. Let us use the tools available to us to supply our needs and maintain our social need to fellowship. Intentionally call on our most vulnerable brothers and sisters. Let them know you are thinking of them and care about their wellbeing.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;

Still waters was a figure of speech referring to bodies of water at which it was safe to drink without fear of a strong current that might sweep you away. We are experiencing a new definition of still waters. In our world our homes are now the place of still waters. Social distancing and limited physical contacts have become our still waters. These are our green pastures for the near future. Our Good Shepherd has indeed provided for our safety and security. Use them.

3 he restores my soul
He leads me in right paths
for his names sake.

It has been a somewhat humbling experience for Jan and me to accept the reality that we are in that target group of most vulnerable people. Over the past few days, we have received multiple phone calls from our children, including our Chinese daughter from out exchange student days. Each one has carefully inquired about our health and safe practices. They each gently instructed us on staying at home and wanted assurance that we have sufficient supplies to tide us through the near future. Initially, I almost felt a little impatient, but then I realized that they genuinely loved us and wanted to be sure we were safe and secure. They were loving us, not condescending to us.

This is not a time to be a rugged individualist. It is a time to draw near emotionally and keep in close communication with those we love and care about. We combine being physically conservative with being spiritually and emotionally lavish.

4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff
they comfort me.

This verse reminds me of the secular wisdom of Cooler heads prevail. I do not at all mean to imply a cavalier attitude toward the present situation. What I do mean to say is that we are walking THROUGH the valley. And we are not alone. God is by our side. Now is the time to step up our prayer lives. Names for the Holy Spirit include counselor, comforter, and advocate. Picture in your mind the painting of Footprints in the Sand. God is here for us and seeks like a Good Shepherd to walk us through this scary time.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

This verse again projects the image of God as our protector, our comforter, and our provider. We did not see this event coming, but God new it before we were even born. We may have been caught unprepared, but God is not. A part of Gods provision is surrounding us with civil government to protect the common good. This included medical staff and institutions, financial safeguards, and social services. But even more personal are the families, friends, and neighbors who are volunteering to help us find our way through this crisis. They are doing so out of their love of God and love of neighbor as lived out by Jesus example. Let us love on one another rather than be that person who selfishly hoards for themselves at the expense of others!

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
my whole life long.

Finally, the Psalm gives us the long view of the present crisis. This event is not the sum of who we are or the end of who we will be. How we respond to the circumstances certainly says a lot about who we are. Everyone has gone through personal crises before including some with happy endings as well as some with sad endings. As followers of Jesus Christ we are not immune to illness and tragedy. Regardless of how we are individually impacted, we have the eternal promises of God that we are forever in the care of our Lord and Savior. Below are the words of a very appropriate hymn. I know you will be singing it in your heart as you read:

Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, let me stand
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn
Through the storm, through the night
Lead me on through the light
Take my hand, precious Lord
And lead me home.

Blessings,

Pastor Larry Paris

‘I’m going to keep pushing.’ Anthony Fauci tries to make the White House listen to facts of the pandemic

Of the pandemic, yes. But of the economy?

A question that tells a lot about this interviewer, unanswered when the scientist had to answer a call from the White House: “Right now, why do we have a travel ban on visitors from China when there are few cases in China other than imported cases? What’s the logic?”

Whoa. How does he know there are few cases in China?

As for the scientist, he reminds me of the kidney specialist who was ready to keep the comatose patient, my brother, permanently on kidney hookup. It’s all he was competent to judge, no one was asking him if that was a good idea. So this scientist sees and comments entirely on the virus, as if there were not a nation’s economy to work into a prudential judgment.

Oh, he’s the one on the right end, looking anything but pleased at the man with very important decisions to make that involve the virus AND the economy. He’s where the buck stops.

via Science | AAAS