Tag Archives: ventilators

national news

Oregon governor makes me proud

The governor of the state of my birth has demonstrated a generous streak in a time of peril for another one of our 50 states.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown is sending 140 ventilators to New York to help that state treat patients afflicted with COVID-19, the strain of coronavirus that has paralyzed the planet. China also is sending 1,000 ventilators to New York.

It doesn’t sound like much of a help, given the huge number of patients who need treatment. But the very idea that one of our state governors would reach out in such a fashion speaks well of the generous spirit among Americans.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo thanked Gov. Brown publicly today and pledged to return the gesture in the event Oregon suffers the kind of surge in coronavirus cases that has fallen on New York.

And get a load of this: Donald Trump and Mike Pence both congratulated Gov. Brown for the gesture she extended to Gov. Cuomo. How about that?

This is a case of crisis bringing out the best in this great country.

Well done, Gov. Brown.

medical news

C’mon, Mr. POTUS, show us the proof of what you’re implying

1 Comment

For crying out loud, Mr. President, what in the world are you trying to do?

You consider yourself a wartime president, that you’re the commander in chief of a nation at war with an “invisible enemy,” the coronavirus pandemic that is sweeping the globe.

When you are going to start acting like a wartime president? Ever?

You’re implication today that New York hospitals are peddling hospital masks “out the door” is despicable. You made that statement without an ounce, a scintilla, a shred of evidence. It’s yet another disgraceful bit of rumor-mongering for which you are becoming infamous.

I want to remind you of what you said: “How do you go from 10 to 20 to 300,000? 10 to 20,000 masks to 300,000. Even though this is different. Something’s going on. And you ought to look into it as reporters. Where are the masks going? So somebody should probably look into that.”

What do you mean “something’s going on”?

Wartime presidents don’t hurl accusations at first responders, at health care providers, at politicians from opposing parties. They open their arms and tell all Americans that it’s time to join the battle together, to fight the enemy on a united front.

Your remarkable accusation — and that’s how many of us are reading it, as an accusation — flies directly in the face of the things that a wartime president must do.

What’s more, this implication that someone is stealing the masks demands that you provide some sort of evidence of its veracity. Oh, and your suggestion that hospitals are “hoarding” ventilators? That is equally despicable. Good grief, man!

I’d say “Shame on you,” Mr. President … except that you have no shame.

I’ll say it once again. You, sir, make me sick.