COVID is "more dangerous than smallpox and polio."

As one who actually had polio I beg to differ. With COVID you either die or fully recover; with polio you either die or never fully recover.

(updated)

THIS is government medicine. Cogs can be replaced; old cogs must be replaced.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

Linked from this Instapundit post.

A HOE IS JUST A HOE -- unless it's bullying weeds.

Batshit crazy just isn't strong enough....

DEMOCRATS CALL them voter recruitment centers.

TRUNALIMUNUMAPRZURE: We're in the very best of hands.

Linked from (natch!) Instapundit.

NYC GOP MAYORAL CANDIDATE argues decades of unarmed patrol experience outpaces Democrats' political play.

The Democrat candidate, Eric Adams, will almost certainly be NYC's next mayor and as a former police officer may well be just what the city needs, but I suspect Curtis Sliwa's Guardian Angels (if encouraged by Adams) will be much more effective in curbing violence on the streets.

I also suspect -- and expect -- similar groups of unarmed civilian volunteers will be appearing soon in major cities throughout the nation. Especially if progressive governments continue to fail in providing secure streets for their citizens.

NOT IF REPUBLICANS GET A SAY: Democrats plan to do amnesty through reconciliation.

NOT SURPRISED: Wally is a Biden Democrat.

FROM A LOCAL CHURCH MESSAGE BOARD: "Even Satan believes in God."

THE RETURN OF MASK MANDATES? "[T]he only logic that justifies the reimposition of mask mandates seems to be the psychological comfort it affords the already vaccinated."

The only reason for mask mandates is to shield the virtue-signaling nanny ninnies from being laughed at.

POWERLINE: Magic buses aren't.

BIDEN ON CUBA: Communism is ‘a failed system.’

The 'Squad' disapproves.

SUPER SPREADERS: Pelosi’s office blames Texas Democrats for COVID outbreak.

I'm beginning to like those Texas 'fleebaggers' -- we need more superspreaders on Capitol Hill.

HOMELESS ASSAULTS RAMP UP, Leftist mayor offers idiotic solution.

Well, Leftists are idiots, so it's no surprise.

THREE TEXAS DEMOCRATS who fled to D.C. test positive for COVID-19. One says it's worth it.

He probably thought the BLM riots were 'worth it' as well.

ABOUT TIME. Police deliver a bruising lesson to Antifa when they get violent.

A REVERSE CUBAN BOATLIFT: Real Americans are doing what Biden won't (and is trying to prohibit).

HIGHER EDUCATION UPDATE: Rules are racist.

Translation: Rules are for thee, not for me.

WANT TO SAVE AMERICA? Don't act like a conservative. Here's a short excerpt:

Dear Members of Congress: Mothers are not “birthing people,” and to call us that is a disgrace. To refuse to call us mothers is an abomination, too. Sex-based rights are not yours to give away.

And if Republicans can’t say that, they should pack up their things; at least they won’t be in the way. The last thing America needs right now is more wallpaper over cracks. Time to toss out the “Aw Shucks Conservatism” of navy blazers and boat shoes, the sort that believes matching jammies on Christmas suffices to save a country on the brink. That approach may have excelled when churches and civil society were strong and conservatives needed only to get married, raise a family, and perform the simple heroism of showing up. Today, it’s a loser.

Its mistake is not in any of the hand-written niceties it revels in, which make life orderly, cozy—even lovely. Its mistake is that it treats Leftist ideologues like quirky out-of-town guests arriving for brunch. It assumes we all want the same things and are equally devoted to the perpetuation of bedrock American commitments: free speech, free exercise of faith, equal protection, rule of law.

But the Woke are not zany guests. They are home-invasion robbers.

Read the whole post. It's that important.

'ZUCK BUCKS': the real Krakens in election reform.

TRAVIS COUNTY (AUSTIN) TEXAS DISTRICT ATTORNEY: Put felons back on the streets.

MIT STUDY: Vaccine hesitancy is 'highly informed, scientifically literate,' and 'sophisticated'.

There's lots of dribble and goo in this article, but the essential point is correct: most of those who are hesitant are informed, literate, and knowledgeable of the risks.

THE WASHINGTON POST attacks Tucker Carlson; PowerLine responds with well-deserved fisking.

VICTOR DAVIS HANSON: The secret that Biden, Obama, Hillary won't say aloud about today's Democratic Party. (It's the party of the rich, not the peons.)

MICHAEL RAMIREZ is good, but Sen. Marco Rubio [R-FL] was first.

THE COVID COLLABORATIVE: more proof that the 'ruling class' is real -- and destructive.

SALENA ZITO: Seeing America from the ground.

There ought to be a mandate that every congresscritter make at least one round trip annually to Washington from their home state in their personal automobiles, exclusively on back roads, avoiding cities, eating only at local diners, and staying only in local hotels.

Maybe then there would be a little more humility in government.

INFLATION AND WORSE: An ominous portent for Biden's America.

Short summary: Don't trust a Democrat socialist government. Vote Republican instead. Republican governments may not be great, but at least they're not disasters.

DEMOCRATS: Try winning an election. Instead of stealing them.

WELCOME TO THE ASH HEAP OF HISTORY: Just how desperate is CNN?

DEMOCRATS ON THE LAM: PowerLine's Week in Pictures. My favorite:

I'm sure there's a homeless shelter around someplace....

Now go see the rest.

THE POWER OF NO: Strong Man Populism is coming.

We’re going to turn to someone who won’t be deterred by cultural caterwauling, who will not be satisfied with a status quo ante that is deeply anti-American, who will ruthlessly use his power to reclaim our society for us, and who will wreak vengeance on our enemies.

That last one is important. They must learn never to do this again.

Read it all.

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Freedom is anti-government.

Update:

Yes, it's the Babylon Bee, but that doesn't mean it isn't accurate.

DR? ANTHONY FAUCI: "Vaccinations have nothing to do with politics." This from the most political -- and highly paid -- public 'health' professional in American history.

As I recall, he was one who early on inferred that an effective vaccine would take years to develop. And as I recall, he was wrong on his response to HIV/AIDS. And his support of gain of function research. And a lab leak from the Wuhan Virology Institute. And .. oh, never mind.

I also have to wonder if he's even aware that those ugly rural Rethuglian areas where vaccination rates are low are also the same areas where the risk of infection is also low.

Note: the question mark is intended.

REDEFINING THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE: Obviousman leans (far) Left. If the Right does it, it's insurrection; if the Left does it, it's mostly peaceful protest.

THE PUSHBACK CONTINUES: Virginia School Board votes to reject State Education Department's transgender policy.

I THOUGHT IT WAS CALLED A POLICE DEPARTMENT: Atlanta mayor to create an office charged with reducing crime.

YOU WANT AN INSURRECTION? This is how you get a real insurrection.

See, for example, Cuba,,,,

A 'CIVILITY' WAR we lost.

THIS ONE WORRIES ME: Poll finds fewer voters believe U.S. is best place to live.

It worries me for two reasons. First is the 21% drop in positive views in the under-45 cohort proving, I think, the effectiveness of the Left's takeover of education. The second, indirectly poll-related, is the 18 months of government COVIDiocy proving once again that America is a nation of sheep governed by morons intent on shearing them.

Cuba is looking better and better; at least they want to be free.

I'm beginning to think semi-seriously about bailing out of the U.S. myself while I still can....

LOS ANGELES COUNTY reinstates mask mandate, including indoors, regardless of vaccination status.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF will not enforce COVID mask mandate.

EVERYBODY HAS NOTHING! Cuba is among ‘most equal’ countries because of socialism.

And equitable. Don't forget equitable.

VICTOR DAVIS HANSON: The American descent into madness.

And it's accelerating....

MONDAY, MONDAY:

Just another lousy day in paradise.

I'LL BELIEVE IT WHEN I SEE THE REPORT: Rep. Devin Nunes [R-CA] still expects John Durham to deliver damaging report.

And I'm cynical enough to be pretty sure it will never see the light of day in my lifetime.

THE COVID PANDEMIC IS SO LAST WEEK: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo seizes emergency powers to fight gun violence 'public health' emergency.

IS 'BULLSHIT' ONE WORD OR TWO? Florida Congressman has two words to sum up BLM's statement on the Cuban protests.

GOOD LUCK WITH THAT: L.A. County to reinstate indoor mask mandate starting Sunday, including for vaccinated people.

The only positive effect of the mandate is that it'll encourage a two middle-finger salute to (soon-to-be-former) Gov. Newsom as the exit door slams into his backside.

IN A WORD, NO: Door-to-door vaccination program begins in three states - will it work?

BIDEN'S PRESIDENT; NOW IT CAN BE ADMITTED: Ex-NYT journalist says reporters were 'manipulated' by Steele dossier and calls uncritical coverage a 'travesty'.

Note the fact that 'journalists' were willing -- even eager -- participants is never mentioned. No, no ... they were duped.

“WOKE” POLITICS is only popular with gentry-class white people.

And only because it keeps them in power and the proles in place.

THE GENESIS of our American collective meltdown:

Our adversaries can’t quite believe their good fortune. Had they thought up ways to divide and impoverish America, they could not have improved on our own collective meltdown.

It's Victor Davis Hanson, so read it all. Carefully.

AMMO GRRRLL ANSWERS THE QUESTION 'HOW DID WE GET HERE?'

[I]ncrementally at first, and then like Kim Jong Un on a luge.

Enjoy the ride.

MORE GOOD SECOND AMENDMENT NEWS: Armed elderly couple in Modesto, CA stop home invasion.

SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP has arrived.

RANDOM THOUGHT: Control and power are the core values of the Democrat party.

People? Not so much.

CUBA NEEDS MORE COMMUNISTS. Sen. Marco Rubio [R-FL] has offered to help.

HE HAS THOUGHTS? Keith Olbermann has some thoughts on the Second Amendment.

I'm shocked.

RANDOM THOUGHT: Sen. Bernie Sanders [I(diot)-VT] wants 'free' college because 13⁺ years of liberal indoctrination isn't enough. He wants 17⁺.

PLEASE DO: Governor Abbott bribes charter plane pilot to take Texas Democrats back to California.

Make Texas great again.

VIA TWITCHY: Iowahawk ties viral elephant enema video to a Wall Street Journal article on Columbia University's MFA graduate program. Key graf:

I think it's time we taught our kids there are certain degree programs that are best left to moron rich kids who can afford to spend the next 70 years pissing away their trust fund.

Note: I didn't watch the video....

SEEN ON FACEBOOK (update; text corrected):

I think we should ban all warning labels and allow stupidity to work its way out of the gene pool.

Darwinism is making a comeback.

EEYORE'S CORNER: From hippies to yuppies to our puppies.

And yet we (I) survived. This one too, I hope....

NANNY SCHOOL GRADUATE SPEAKS OUT: Grilling is bad.

I almost -- not quite, but almost -- feel sorry for this sad sack because among other things he misses out on the point of the backyard barbeque: socializing with friends and family.

(Sorry, I missed this one on July 4th -- I was busy socializing with friends and family....)

GRANDPA remembers his favorite comics.

This Grandpa remembers every one. They were among my favorites too.

KAMALA HARRIS says Republicans ‘don’t want you to vote.’

Well, she's half-right. We sure as hell don't want you to vote for a Progressive.

BECAUSE THEY CARRY HAMMERS! Geology is racist.

When are we going to quit paying attention to these idiots?

HARMFUL EXTREMIST CONTENT? You know you're over the target if Facebook is 'concerned'.

HOW FATUOUS AND PUERILE IS THE LEFT? This fatuous and puerile....

FAKE MEAT ISN'T REAL. What a surprise.

NEW YORK TIMES "[F]lying the American flag from a pickup truck is an imperfect clue to that person’s politics."

Virtue signaling on Twitter is a perfect clue to that person's idiocy politics.

WHEN ARE WE GOING TO QUIT PAYING ATTENTION TO THESE IDIOTS? Transgender woman ignites explosive clashes in California after allegedly exposing himself herself at spa.

Since when has their 'right' to be offensive come to outweigh our right to be left alone?

HE'S CERTAINLY NEAR THE TOP OF THE LIST: Is George Soros the most dangerous man alive?

RANDOM THOUGHT: The brown fecal matter emanating from the rear end of non-castrated male bovines shall henceforth be called 'bullSchiff'.

MORE, PLEASE: Criminal home invaders have had an unusually deadly past few days.

TEN GREAT WAYS to spend the $0.16 you saved on this year's barbecue.

Depending on how you swing politically, numbers 9 and 10 are the way to go. You can either donate to the government to reduce the debt or give it to the Democrats to increase it.

Or you can simply throw it away....

WHY AM NOT SURPRISED? Olympic athlete who disrespected the flag turns out to be a flaming racist.

Think Colin Kaepernick.

IT'S INDEPENDENCE DAY.

Declare your independence from those fatuous fools who think they rule this country.

Note: That's the Gadsden flag in the background: 'Don't Tread on Me'.

HE MISSED THE ELECTION OF JOE BIDEN? Star calls for ‘cataclysmic event’ to unite U.S.

CO-PRESIDENT (DR.)JILL BIDEN thinks you're stupid. And teacher's unions are champions for refusing to educate our children during the COVID pandemic.

They're 'champions' only because, as all progressives are, they're control freaks.

AMMO GRRRLL explains relentless schnorring as a business model.

I agree with Ammo Grrrll: "Show me some results. Gratitude is in even shorter supply than integrity in politics."

And my spam folder is never empty....

ANDREW CUOMO’S DAUGHTER MICHAELA declares herself ‘demisexual’.

Whatever the hell that is. And who cares?

Added random thought: I think what you're seeing here is another example of vain, narcissistic progressives desperately signaling their virtue to other vain, narcissistic progressives.

A pox on them all.

WHITE NATIONALISM IS A BIGGER THREAT THAN COMMUNISM. Oh?

INDOCTRI-NATION: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez' new plan for forcing progressivism on Americans.

SOMEHOW I DON'T THINK THEY'RE TOO CONCERNED: California bans state travel to Florida and 4 other states over LGBTQ laws. Having to put up with fewer of California's arrogant busybody Karens is a good thing.

I wouldn't be surprised to see other Red states demanding California ban them as well....

THE BABYLON BEE IS PRESCIENT AGAIN: New Evidence Indicates Critical Race Theory Escaped From A Lab In A College Humanities Department.

YOU KNOW YOU'RE OVER THE TARGET when you're catching flak.

Is the Facebook crowd so stupid as to not know that their 'content warnings' are proof that the content warned against is accurate? (Yes, I know this is a rhetorical question.)

A RANDOM THOUGHT ABOUT 'EQUITY': Explain to me why people from the banana republics of the world are flocking to our southern border to cross illegally into the U.S. while the progressive powers here are doing their level best to make the U.S. into the banana republics they're fleeing from?

INCENTIVES MATTER: Economics 101 is vindicated again.

And Economics 101 is ignored by Progressives ... again.

Will they ever learn? Short answer is 'no' since Progressives know they already know it all.

MORE 'TOLERANT' PROGRESSIVES: The shameful scapegoating of Asians by NYC's Critical Race Theory machine (named DeBlasio).

ALL THOSE LOVELY PEOPLE are killing America.

Don't be a 'lovely people'.

SO DRIVE TO ARIZONA OR NEVADA: With its power grid under pressure, California asks residents to avoid charging electric vehicles.

I'd suggest both states put up fast (and expensive) EV charging stations at every road crossing the border from California. (And in Nevada, slot machines....)

AS THEY GET MORE AND MORE 'TOLERANT', we get more and more 'evil'.

NAH. IT WAS TRUMP. NBC's Lester Holt suggests it was his interview that sparked Kamala Harris' decision to finally visit the southern border.

And Trump outperformed the Vice Pseudodent at the border as well.

MAN SCREAMING "ALLAHU AKBAR" STABS 3 PEOPLE TO DEATH. Cops search for motive.

This is is called progressive 'tolerance'.

NO WONDER THEY'RE MISERABLE (AND CRAZY): Liberal linguistic lunacy.

LAURA INGRAHAM exposes some obvious truths:

Lockdowns are to control (i.e., maintain power over) citizens, not contain the spread of infectious diseases.

Citizens are cogs in the Progressive machine, to be used -- and disposed of -- as needed to maintain power.

Read it all.

BLACKOUTS: An inconvenient truth for progressives.