New Hampshire Speaker Found Dead of COVID
Republican Rep. Dick Hinch was sworn in as the New Hampshire House Speaker on December 2. One week later, Hinch was found dead in his home. Cause of death? COVID-19. The swearing in was performed outdoors, but many Republicans present refused to social distance or wear masks. Many Republicans in New Hampshire tend to be Libertarian, anti-government, and anti-science. Democrats are calling for an investigation, and testing of all those present at the ceremony. Even some Republicans are saying that behavior of many Republican representatives was “childish”.
Another one bites the dust.
I read about this death this morning on TPM & freaked out.
My condo neighbor was here for Thanksgiving and he might have
been at that caucus/super spreader event days before I saw him. Luckily I found out that he didn’t attend.
Despite his travel he said he is very cautious, takes this all very
1seriously and hopes that the death of his friend will motivate the non-believers at the NH state level to do so now as well.
Never heard of him. Was he on record saying that god would take care of him?
2I never heard of him before today either.
I also never thought I’d be doing the 6 degrees of Kevin
Bacon game while reading blogs with my coffee about
a strangers passing. F’n scary drawing a direct line, even
if misinformed, from the dead dude to my next door neighbor.
I suspect that letter (R) that he was associated with covers your question in the affirmative.
3My sister said earlier in the pandemic, “you hear so many conflicting stories about COVID, how do you which to believe?”
I don’t know what health decisions Rep. Hinch made in his last days, but if they weren’t based on information provided by the CDC it may not have been in his own best interest.
4“Live Free or Die”, the NH state motto.
5There are plenty of New Hampshire Republicans who are completely off the deep end, but not all of them are. The NH governor, Chris Sununu, told his fellow Republicans yesterday to stop acting like children and start wearing masks. I disagree with Sununu about a whole lot of stuff, but he’s not a science-be-damned Trumpista. The only file photo I’ve seen of Hinch shows him wearing a mask over his mouth but not his nose, which seems to be the Republican version of compromise.
6We all know the classic definition of neurosis: “Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”
Well, here’s my definition of psychosis: “Seeing the evidence before your eyes and refusing to modulate your behavior accordingly.”
These people have blood on their hands. But we knew that already.
7Watching Dr Fauci on msnbc talking about the vaccine- good news to have along with Biden-Harris now being the voice of reason in the fight against coronavirus.
8Also, I’m about to have a glass of wine toasting the supremes throwing out the Paxton lawsuit. Hope they make a stronger statement at some point. Just in time for the electoral college to finalize the vote Monday. Who cares what repugnanticans say Jan 6- and there will be ridiculous statements made when they meet. They’re idiots.
Oddly enough, my brother just went to the hospital last night because of COVID, in Manchester NH. Hinch no doubt could’ve as well. Except my brother has an oxygenation meter, and is thoroughly respectful of the potential severity of the disease. So (thank God) my brother is back home with the treatments prescribed by his doctors.
Being a Masshole, with half my family from NH, I can sadly guess a “mind over matter” course of action. “Live Free Or Die”…
9Another thug who believes it is a myth. Ask me if I care.
10I have 3 precious grand nephews. They have behaved gallantly by masking and social distancing and keeping their immune systems healthy. One tested positive recently but a week later tested negative. Another had mild symptoms for a week and is obeying doctor’s orders. If this is as close as my family ever comes to the disease, then we are indeed fortunate!
11I wonder if a counter-conspiracy theory would (or would have) worked? The GOPpers want to think we’re all engaged in vile conspiracies…what if we made up a conspiracy that nudged them back into masks?
It would go something like this: we knew mask requirements would upset them, so we took to masks and social distancing eagerly, which encouraged them to resist in the name of freedom. Which is what was intended, because then, among whites, more Republicans would die of Covid and fewer Dems, and eventually this would mean they would lose elections.
Now if we passed this around in semi-secrecy, which would help them believe it was a plot rather than just the cowardly, wimpy behavior of Dems, would they recoil in horror and start wearing masks and staying away from people, or just start shooting up any car or house with a Dem sticker/yard sign? Would it have worked if we’d started it earlier, back in, say, April? Semi-secretly hooting and snickering like they do when any Republican got COVID, congratulating each other on “getting another one?” (That “Another one bites the dust” sort of thing.)
I dunno. They’re kinda unpredictable, except in digging deeper to get out of a hole, and climbing higher when treed.
12Old Fart and Fenway Fran: maybe NH should make a one-word change in the motto: “Live free and die”.
13Elizabeth Moon, you may have something there!
14Sadly, my cousin was found dead in her apartment in CO.
15She had been sick but wouldn’t go to the docs. The coroner
said she died of heart complications. No testing done
sybil wertheim @15:
16I’m sorry for your loss. Whatever the cause.
@Sybil Wertheim: My condolences. Having access to healthcare and the will to use it can make a difference. My brother has had to return to the hospital, and will be staying a while.
I tip my hat to the medical pros who came up with the “COVID cocktail”, and ability to keep people alive.
So here’s to being vigilant through the New Year, and seeing a “unique” holiday season in the rear view…
17sybil wertheim @15: …
Sorry for the loss. “Found in her apartment” is a sad way to exit, no matter the cause.
Different portions of Colorado have VERY different approaches to public health measures these days, and nearly ALL of the state has a number of people with health care measures which make them leery of seeking medical care for fear of a hit on their assets and income.
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