Tag: Opinion

Pouring coronavirus stimulus funds down a hole. Literally.

Despite people and small businesses struggling to make it day to day amidst the coronavirus pandemic, the North Dakota Emergency Commission is giving the oil industry a $33.1 million gift. That’s OUR money.

Using the money to plug oil wells? Surely not… Right?

A treatment that benefits only one industry in North Dakota is a tough pill to swallow for thousands of the state’s citizens who have lost their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, it shouldn’t go down easy for any U.S. taxpayer.

James MacPherson of the Associated Press reported last week that the all-Republican North Dakota Emergency Commission approved $33.1 million of the $1.25 billion the state received in coronavirus stimulus funding from the federal government to plug “orphaned” oil wells.

The funding came to the state as a result of the CARES Act, passed by Congress in March, which provided states financial assistance to help them deal with coronavirus pandemic-related expenses such as aid for hospitals and emergency response teams, purchases of medical and protective equipment and payroll support for healthcare providers. It also is intended to help states recover economically.

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Women Heads of State Jump Ahead of the Coronavirus Pandemic Curve

These leaders kick ass big time.

It’s high time the United States “Put a Woman in Charge,” too.

Women are taking charge, pushing back and kicking ass all over the place. They have been for quite a while.

More Girl Power to ya, I say, as the husband of one strong woman and the father of two more.

Not that they or any other women need to give two shakes about what I have to say; they certainly don’t need approval from me or any other man.

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Luck is All That’s Left in This “Reopened” Coronavirus World. If You’re Lucky.

Just another immunocompromised guy placing one foot in front of the other, hoping to stay one step ahead.

Walkin’ It Out

Immunocompromised.

I say it only quietly, even in my mind. Coronavirus could hear. It might pick up even the faint whisper. It could come after me, track me down or sic someone on me. And one is all it takes.

One person.

One interaction.

One chance meeting.

One sneeze hanging in the air.

One breath.

One coronavirus infection.

One badass case of COVID-19.

One more potential death.

The “ones” apply not just to the immunocompromised, like me, but to anyone and everyone. My quiet mind keeps coming back to this.

Continue reading “Luck is All That’s Left in This “Reopened” Coronavirus World. If You’re Lucky.”

Watch Those Red-State Coronavirus & COVID-19 Figures, Folks

Truth will once again be a casualty of the politics of pandemic.

“It has to be said.”

The novel coronavirus and COVID-19 numbers for the United States are about to go squiffy.

** Left-Wing Conspiracy Theory Alert **

That is to say, they’re about to go squiffier than they have been up to this point. That is further to say they’re going to go squiffier in states with republican (red) governors who…

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Trump Announces New Coronavirus / COVID-19 Deterrent and Treatment Procedure

President says threat of “blue-leakage” infections of red-state governors and voters with progressive ideology (and coronavirus) too dangerous to ignore.

Painting the Rest of the Nation Red

Washington, D.C. (April 29, 2020) – President Donald Trump announced today a new deterrent/treatment procedure for stopping the spread of coronavirus in the United States and aiding in the treatment of citizens already afflicted with COVID-19.

Military fighter planes are coating blue-state cities and states with an oil-based red paint developed by a company owned by Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who is also the White House innovations director and senior advisor to the president.

Flanked by Dr. Deborah Birx on one side and Kushner on the other, Trump announced his plan to paint blue cities and states red with trillions of gallons of a special coating developed by Paint by J’s.

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Fargo, N.D., Brothers Receive State’s First “Good COVID Neighbor Award”

Gubernatorial Proclamation: “There’s more than one coronavirus irony here. And way more than one guber.”

Governor Announces Award During “‘Smart’ Restart” Press Conference

Just three weeks after Fargo, N.D., Mayor Tim Mahoney introduced three brothers as the city’s model neighbors for responsible social distancing, North Dakota’s Republican governor has presented them with the state’s first-ever Good COVID Neighbor Award.

Larry, Darryl and “My Other Brother” Darryl Neighbors of Fargo received the award during Gov. Doug Burgum’s “North Dakota ‘Smart’ Restart” press conference on April 28, 2020, in which the governor announced he is lifting restrictions on business that were intended to slow the spread of coronavirus and COVID-19 deaths.

Burgum noted the brothers’ tireless work out in public, getting up-close and personal with people to talk about the dangers of coronavirus.

The COVID Boys
The COVID Boys (l to r): North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Darryl Neighbors, Larry Neighbors, Darryl Neighbors and Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney

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