Further showing her Trumpist chops, Governor Noem yesterday tried rewriting history to pretend that she was giving the public stern warnings about coronavirus way back in January:
Well, to clarify, what I have consistently said in January and February is that 30 to 70% of the population we could expect would contract the virus at some point in time [Gov. Kristi Noem, press conference, as transcribed by C-SPAN, 2020.04.13].
Horsehockey. In January and February, Noem wasn’t thinking much past using her new private Pierre studio to kiss Trump’s keester on Fox and getting to sit next to Donald at the Mount Rushmore fireworks. It wasn’t until April 3 that she said 70% of South Dakotans could get coronavirus. It wasn’t until March 23 that she said 30% of us could get sick. On February 27, Governor Noem was saying there was a strong chance nobody in South Dakota would get sick:
Gov. Kristi Noem said there’s a low risk of COVID-19 appearing in South Dakota at this point, but the state is prepared for it.
…”We’re in a good spot for doing due diligence on the issue, although still, I think the threat to the general public in South Dakota is still very low,” Noem said.
…State Epidemiologist Dr. Joshua Clayton in a statement said the immediate health risk to the general public here is low [Lisa Kaczke, “South Dakota Is Prepared for ‘Very Low Risk’ of Coronavirus, Gov. Kristi Noem Says,” that Sioux Falls paper, 2020.02.27].
On February 21, she referred to the coronavirus as a “real threat”… to getting Trump’s trade deal with China done:
CAVUTO: Are you nervous with what’s going on in China, besides the virus thing — and there are very real health scares there — but that it is going to delay any benefit to your state on this trade deal we have with China, and maybe for quite some time?
I know the president has talked about helping farmers with credits and the like, but that’s not going to quite even the score. What happens?
NOEM: No, our farmers have needed these markets open for quite some time.
And China has specifically targeted farmers. When — when this whole trade agreement started, and negotiation between the president and China, they specifically went after farmers, because they knew they could hurt them and that they feed the world, and that the — this president cares about farmers.
So, the fact…
CAVUTO: But are they worried now, Governor? Are they worried now that there could be maybe a legitimate delay — some say that the Chinese might use this as an excuse — but there could be a delay buying a lot of stuff they have committed to?
NOEM: Oh, absolutely, they are.
So they’re waiting for those opportunities. We’re going to hold China accountable. But, yes, this virus is a real threat to getting things done in a timely manner [Neil Cavuto and Gov. Kristi Noem, interview, transcript from Fox News, 2020.02.21].
Governor Noem didn’t say anything in January or February, consistently or offhandedly, about 30% to 70% of South Dakotans getting coronavirus. Like Trump (and frankly, like many of us), her mind was elsewhere all winter.
I never thought that I would have anything positive to say about our poor Governor. But, I am wrong.
I am now positive that this poor lady
deserves the moniker of
The Dope Queen of Delusion.
The girl is in way over her head.
https://www.keloland.com/keloland-com-original/if-30-get-covid-19-thats-like-all-of-sioux-falls-and-rapid-city-getting-it/ (March 23)
https://apnews.com/e2f98bdf661ec243a27ff5f5f738359d (Up to 70% my get Covid….4/3/20)
https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/state-and-regional/as-many-as-600-000-south-dakotans-could-contract-covid-19-noem-says/article_3a8a3543-27c2-54d1-838f-2bcd78f174a7.html (4/3/20 up to 70% may get Covid-19)
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/south-dakota/articles/2020-04-02/south-dakota-gov-tasks-national-guard-to-expand-hospitals (up to 70% may get Covid…4/3/20)
Nothing about January or Feb.
It’s sad to see how far down the dark side that Noem has gone.
Now South Dakotans are guinea pigs for the drug pusher Trump.
Well, we got 15 minutes of Rachel last nite and front page of the WaPo today!!
Yep, there’s kristi giving the world her best “deer in the headlights” look.
Now she gives trump’s butt a big wet kiss and spends our money on a dangerous drug as opposed to getting enough tests to help us.
Yesiree, the dope really is in Pierre.
Noem is pretty much as effective as Thune and Rounds. When Trump does/says something outrageous, they are, “Concerned,” or say, “It isn’t something I would have done,” but they NEVER actually do anything. The Susan Collins approach. :-)
Statewide Day of Prayer was the plan they have been preparing…
I didn’t think that I could ever say anything positive about our Governor
but I am mistaken.
I am positive that she deserves the moniker of The Dope Queen of Delusion.
She is obviously in way over her head.
Some say that god sent us CV19 to punish us for turning away from her. But many who say that have also said god sent us Katrina, H1N1, and Yugos for the same reason.
Now, it’s not unknown for god to use a large scythe, destroying the wheat to weed the field. I have trouble understanding what the lesson is, though.
God’s autobiography says she’s jealous, and, lord knows, we’ve seen the destruction a fit of jealousy can engender. But the book also says god has a plan, and god can do anything, and god knows everything.
Accepting that the bible is god’s word, then I have to accept that god knew we’d do things god doesn’t like, planned for it, and executed this plague. But what does god expect to get out of it? Other than a mean little chuckle, that is.
Bob, you’ll have to ask Franklin G, K Copeland, Falwell or Paula White. They seem to have a special knowledge of everything Jesusy.
One thing though, the god of their religion, whatever it is, is All Macho Man! He’s muscled up with an AK-47 slung over his shoulder, bandana around his head, tough sneer on his face and he hates women and brown people, but loves him lots of $$$$$$$!
Whatever religion that is.
I’ve been searching for projected rates of infection, like https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/04/12/coronavirus-california-gavin-newsom-los-angeles-early-action/2967552001/ , in which California had a projected infected rate of 56%,which led Gov. Newsom to issue the stay-at-home order. Has Noem said how sparsely populated South Dakota may get to 70%. Any other Governors suggesting rates that high? I saw a report New Jersey may be at 15% based on widespread testing including asymptotic folks, but WTF – where’d she get 70%?
“ New York state’s infection rate outpaces, by far, the top 10 countries with the highest number of case counts. About 1 percent of the state’s population has tested positive for the virus, and in New York City, that percentage rises to almost 1.3 percent of the population.” https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/public-global-health/492570-multiple-states-report-coronavirus-infecti
Minnesota is up to 1695 confirmed cases and 79 deaths. My county is up to 5 cases. So thankful for Gov. Walz. State GOP and some businesses really pressuring him, but he’s holding firm. People before profits. Gov. Walz says the stay-at-home order will be lifted when our medical experts say so. It’s set to expire on 5/2. He’ll reexamine it before then.
Cory quit schooling the cowboy girl between you and Rachel she can not compete with common sense.
Debbo writes
One of my favorite songwriters, Terry Owen a/k/a Fish Karma, wrote a tune when George W. Bush was President that captures Debbo’s point beautifully and is just as applicable today as it was in W’s term. It is titled “50 Caliber Christ.” I have linked Fish Karma doing the tune along with a link to the lyrics so you can follow along.
The tune:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiCvSQTVCAI
The lyrics:
https://genius.com/Fish-karma-fifty-caliber-christ-lyrics
Enjoy! And thanks for the inspiration Debbo!
Glancing at known history while accepting the bible on faith as the literal truth of everything it purports to be, I conclude that it is entirely within the realm of reason that god is actually talking to those TV Jesus-shills as well as Trump, Pence, Graham, Noem, et. al.
History is written by the winners.
Thanks all for the religious clarity, I had been feeling guilty that I had brought the plague by wearing a silk tie with my cotton shirt and wool suit.
Some folks could make a case for that, O.
Just noticed that A research trial of coronavirus patients in Brazil ended after patients taking a higher dose of chloroquine, one of the drugs President Trump has promoted, developed irregular heart rates.
I am a bit concerned about the numbers SD is giving. It might be too early but why is SD the only area with this many cases (>750) with such a low fatality rate (0.26%). Check this map out and try to find an equivalent area with a similar number of cases and a less than 1% death. SD is either not reporting well or our residents have been infected with a really wimpy strain of the virus or perhaps we are healthier than others in the entire USA. If stats are correct, we have a lot of sick people in this state that have not died yet. Sorry for the downer thought.
https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/us-map
Great.interactive map.
Thanks Cory for the great blog. Reading it is comforting, and frustrating. Please stay safe.
Afterthought: I wonder how many people in the past few months have died of pneumonia? Just a thought, not trying to suggest a conspiracy.
Yes, death is a lagging indicator.
CraigSk, https://www.consumerreports.org/coronavirus/understanding-pneumonia-a-dangerous-coronavirus-complication/
Pneumonia and heart problems are serious complications of Covid-19, just as pneumonia was a complication of Aids and if memory serves, many celebs who succumbed to Aids were said to, have died of complications of pneumonia.
https://www.hivplusmag.com/people/2015/03/11/23-celebrities-who-lost-their-battle-aids