In State

Posted on by Thor

Brian D. Sicknick, the Capitol officer who died defending the building from insurrectionists is just the fifth person to have that honor. He lay in state on February 3, 2021.

On January 6, 2021 at the direction of the former President a riotous mob stormed the building. The mob chanted that they wanted to kill Vice President Mike Pence and Nancy Pelosi. Five people died that day.

The Senators and Congress were evacuated to safe locations just moments before the mob forced their way into the chambers. Lawmakers passes within 65 feet of the mob wandering the halls. Some insurrectionists carried zip ties to restrain lawmakers. Had Capitol police not put up the resistance the did the death toll might have been much higher.

“Blessed are the peacekeepers like Brian,” said Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the majority leader. “Let us be peacekeepers now in his memory.” The chief, as well as the top security officials in the House and the Senate, all resigned in the aftermath of the riot. President Joe Biden and his wife Jill placed their hands over their hearts in honor. “We must be vigilant as what President Lincoln referred to as the harsh artillery of time. We will never forget,” Ms. Pelosi said during the ceremony.

Citing two law enforcement officials, the New York Times reported that Sicknick was struck with a fire extinguisher at some point during the breach of Congress. However, reports of an attack have not been confirmed. “Nearly 140 Capitol Police and Metropolitan Police officers were injured in the assault. Some were not issued helmets, and one officer was stabbed with a metal fence stake. Another has two cracked ribs and two smashed spinal disks, and a third is going to lose his eye.” Gus Papathanasiou, the Capitol Police Union chairman, said in a statement. Two other officers have committed suicide since the attack on the capitol.

Daily COVID-19 Deaths Surpass 9/11 Attack

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The New York Times reported that at least 3,011 Americans died Wednesday, December 9, 2020, the most deaths in any single day of the pandemic. Over the past seven days, an average of 2,249 Americans have died from COVID-19 each day, the Times reported.

On September 11, 2001, 2,977 people died when terrorists crashed two commercial airliners into the Twin Towers. It is very possible that we will keep experiencing the carnage of a 9/11 every day as the numbers keep rising exponentially.

The U.S. also reached a record high Wednesday with more than 106,000 people hospitalized with COVID-19, according to the COVID Tracking Project.

For 30 years, the World Trade Center Plaza showcased a 25-foot, bronze sculpture known as The Sphere sculpted by German artist Fritz Koening. The bronze sculpture took four years to create.

In the aftermath of the collapse of the towers, the sculpture was damaged but largely intact. It was carted away and stored at a JFK storage facility for a year. It was then moved to Battery Park along with an eternal flame. AS the memorial was built people kept petitioning to move the sculpture back to the World Trade Center site. in 2017 it was finally returned to a site outside the 9/11 memorial. Unfortunately the artist Fritz Koening had died earlier that year so he never got to see the sculpture’s return. The sculpture was not rebuilt or refurbished. It remains as a symbol of hope despite the scars of a horrific event. Hopefully we can also recover from the horror that COVID-19 continues to ravage on the county.

Trump Envies Fauci

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I highly respect Dr. Anthony Fauci. He speaks the truth without watering down facts. His primary concern at all times has been to save lives. It seems the president envies the doctors popularity. Fauci was asked to throw out the first pitch at the Major League Baseball’s opening day, Thursday, July 23. The pitch was a bit of a tragedy but it was a much needed light hearted moment.

President Donald Trump announced that he would be throwing out the first pitch at the Yankees-Red Sox game at Yankee Stadium on Aug. 15, 2020 claiming he was invited by team president Randy Levine. The New York Times reported that “Mr. Trump had not actually been invited on that day by the Yankees, according to one person with knowledge of Mr. Trump’s schedule. His announcement surprised both Yankees officials and the White House staff. But Mr. Trump had been so annoyed by Dr. Fauci’s turn in the limelight, an official familiar with his reaction said, that he had directed his aides to call Yankees officials and make good on a longtime standing offer from Mr. Levine to throw out an opening pitch. No date was ever finalized.” In other words, he lied.

The White House has been undercutting Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease expert, by circulating anti-Fauci talking points to reporters. It is as if they want to paint him as the enemy of the people. People are tired of the social isolation caused by COVID-19 and want to return to life as usual despite the consequences. Fauci’s public health messaging runs contrary to the president’s priority that Americans should get back to work and open all schools fully in the fall. “Dr. Fauci is a nice man, but he’s made a lot of mistakes,” the president told Fox‘s Sean Hannity.

And aide told The Washington Post that “several White House officials are concerned about the number of times Dr. Fauci has been wrong on things.” The paper reported that the unidentified staffer delivered to them a list of about a dozen past comments Fauci has made that the official claimed were incorrect. Some of the Fauci examples were from early in the pandemic, when information was rapidly evolving. Other top health officials who have acknowledged changing their assessment as time went on, such as the surgeon general. For instance Fauci had advises early on that the public should not run out and start buying N-95 face masks since there was  a shortage of masks available for health care professionals at the time. As more was learned and supplies were re-replenished he advised everyone to wear masks to help stop the spread of the disease. Fauci had not had the opportunity to advise to the president since early June but has continued to make media appearances to discuss the COVID-19 strategy.

Trump retweeted former Wheel of Fortune host Chuck Woolery, who claimed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, many doctors and the media were “lying” about COVID-19. Fauci wasn’t specifically named in that tweet. Dan Scavino, the White House’s director of social media who was promoted in April to deputy chief of staff for communications, shared a political cartoon on his Facebook page that criticized Fauci‘s support of shutdowns and social distancing in order to slow the virus.

Fauci said to The Atlantic. “Ultimately, it hurts the president to do that. When the staff lets out something like that and the entire scientific and press community push back on it, it ultimately hurts the president. And I don’t really want to hurt the president. But that’s what’s happening. I told him I thought it was a big mistake. That doesn’t serve any good purpose for what we’re trying to do.”

Speaking with NBC News, Fauci said that the public should rely on its “respected medical authorities who have a track record of telling the truth … based on scientific evidence and good data.” He continued,  “That’s the safest bet to do: to listen to the recommendations from that category of people. But it’s entirely understandable how the public can get mixed messages and then get a bit confused about what they should do.”

Dr. Fauci is facing death threats to himself and his family and now requires personal security from law enforcement at all times, including at his home, a source confirmed to CNN. As Dr. Fauci’s public profile has grown, so has the concern for his welfare. Fauci’s guidance to Trump for the country to remain as locked down as possible to help control the virus spread has not earned fans among some fervent right-wing voices. Medical staff can fight the disease as hospitals fill to capacity, but they have a harder time fighting stupidity as people ignore simple health precautions. Social distance, wear a mask and wash your hands.

Trump Jr’s Girlfriend Infected

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Trump Jr‘s Girlfriend has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. Kimberly Guilfoyle, ex-wife of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a former Fox News television personality and a senior fundraiser for Donald Trump’s re-election campaign traveled to South Dakota to be at the president’s speech at Mount Rushmore. She and Jr did not fly on air force one. Anyone who gets close to the president is routinely tested. She did not attend the event after the positive test result and drove back east. She is asymptomatic and did not get in close proximity to the president. “After testing positive, Kimberly was immediately isolated to limit any exposure,” Sergio Gor, chief of staff for the Trump Victory Finance Committee, said in a statement quoted in The New York Times. Donald Trump Jr tested negative, but as a precaution is also self-isolating and canceling all public events.”

She became the latest person in the president’s orbit — and who attended his June 20, 2020 indoor rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma — to test positive for COVID-19. Some campaign staff and Secret Service personnel tested positive, while former Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain said last week he had been hospitalized with the virus, the Times said. In addition,  Montana GOP gubernatorial candidate Greg Gianforte to suspended in-person campaign events after his wife and running mate attended an event with Guilfoyle. The Hill reported.

Guilfoyle and Trump Jr attended a June 27, 2020 party in the Hamptons where mask less attendees were partying like the pandemic was not a reality. The couple were guests of honor. They stayed at the party for about an hour. Party goers were “freaking out” after learning Guilfoyle tested positive for COVID-19, Page Six reported Monday July 6, 2020. The party took place at the Bridgehampton mansion (51 Sandpiper Lane, Bridgehampton, Long Island) owned by famed developer Joe Farrell. Video published by Page Six showed attendees without masks and chatting in close groups — not social distancing. Guests were on the roof but there are reports of the party being inside as well.

According to Harvard Health Publishing and Johns Hopkins University, the incubation period for Covid-19 — that is, the time between contracting the virus and developing symptoms or getting a positive result on a diagnostic test — is three to fourteen days. Researchers believe someone with Covid-19 becomes contagious two or three days before the onset of symptoms; however, those without symptoms can also transmit the disease.

Dorinda Medley Tweeted, “Anyone that attended Joe Farrell’s packed Hamptons party last week should get tested ASAP including @ramonasinger.”