The head of the WH security office, Crede Bailey, in the hospital for 3 months with what’s described at an extreme case of COVID-19, has survived, but required amputation of his lower right leg and big toe on the left foot.  He is now facing staggering hospital bills and a Go Fund Me page has been started.  Apparently a big Trump supporter, Bailey’s family has refused to talk to the press about his case and the WH press office declines to discuss his case.  I wonder where he could have possibly been infected.

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.

Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller has announced he has COVID and is quarantining at his ranch.  Known for prodigious lying and spreading conspiracy theories on social media, he’s also just another anti-masker and science denier.  Maybe he’ll take another Jesus Shot on the taxpayer dime.

A retired Alabama state senator and former head of the state medical board of examiners has died of COVID.  His last words:

“We messed up. We let our guard down.  Please tell everybody to be careful. This is real, and if you get diagnosed, get help immediately.”

The senator, Larry Dixon, aged 78, contracted the disease at a social gathering, even held outside.  Several people were infected at that gathering.  Dixon’s wife is now also infected.  You can bet that no one at that gathering wore a mask.

History will not be kind to guys like Dixon and other Republicans who sided with politics and science denial rather than common sense and critical thinking.  Rudy Giuliani is paying that price right now as are many others who have chosen the religion of Trumpism and turned their back on science.

Just like everything else Trump, information about his case of COVID-19 is wholly and completely uninformative, not to mention unsettling. Sean Conley, his physician (not a MD, but an Osteopath), is obviously on a very short leash being controlled completely by Trump and his henchman.  The timeline, true condition, vital signs, and prognosis for Trump are completely opaque.  The information is so inconsistent and poor that the possibilities for his condition range from he’s not sick and faking the whole thing to he’s already dead.

To confuse matters even more, the WH has released photos of Trump “working” and even posted a video of Trump doing a “single take” video talking about how great he’s feeling.  Yes, that’s all bullshit.  The photos, taken in two different rooms showing him supposedly working throughout the day are staged, and taken 10 minutes apart using the same binder, folders, and Trump’s signature fat sharpie he uses for autographs.  The Washington Post has just posted an expert analysis of the video, concluding that it is heavily edited with a tool called Fluid Morph which camouflages edits.  They even found one part of the video where he was starting to cough, but then doesn’t.  Also, you can see the background shifting through the various edits.  This is the technique used in so-called “deep fakes” where videos are altered to show events that didn’t actually happen.  Here’s the video:

It is key that Americans understand clearly the condition of their president, but that is simply not going to happen with Trump.  Falsehoods are genetically encoded in him, and he will lie when telling the truth is easier.  We will likely never know the true extent of Trump’s illness until after he leaves office.

Chris Christie spent 4 days prior to the debate with Hope Hicks who was infected prior to the debate with Biden.  He’s now tested positive.

Boom.