# Frustrations as a healthcare worker...Obama's Bash **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 15, 2021, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frustrations-as-a-healthcare-worker-obamas-bash/948733 "2021-08-15T16:16:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2021, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frustrations-as-a-healthcare-worker-obamas-bash/948733/122 "2021-08-18T23:30:04Z")
Some of us are trying to eat breakfast over here, golly gee willikers. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2021, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frustrations-as-a-healthcare-worker-obamas-bash/948733/123 "2021-08-19T11:00:09Z")
Why is it that Democrats get excoriated for “optics” - where “optics” mean “giving Republicans even the thinnest veneer of an excuse to make up hysterical bullshit or engage in unethical, immoral or even illegal behaviors” - by people who don’t seem to ever blame the Republicans for making up hysterical bullshit or engaging in unethical, immoral or even illegal behaviors in the first place? What does it say when the blame is always somehow shifted to the Democrats, no matter what the Republicans do? I mean, Obama wearing a tan suit was considered “bad optics”. You can’t reason with anyone who thinks like that. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2021, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frustrations-as-a-healthcare-worker-obamas-bash/948733/124 "2021-08-19T13:07:29Z")
Republicans have been talking, and acting, in bad faith for so long that is has become normalized. If Democrats do not anticipate and cater to that bad faith, any bad consequences are their fault. In general, you want the actions of Your SideTM to be treated as automatic and immutable. When someone flips a light switch, the light comes on. The Other Side makes all the choices. Their actions are open for debate, and they get all the blame. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2021, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frustrations-as-a-healthcare-worker-obamas-bash/948733/125 "2021-08-19T16:22:30Z")
> [@PossumPie](#): > > Ignoring your gross profanity which is usually the last resort in a debate, the problem is the conservatives WON"T sit back and watch, they will use it as an excuse to horde in large groups Conservatives will use the price of chili cheese corn chips as an excuse to horde in large groups. Conservatives will horde in large groups just to piss off the Democrats, _so what the hell do you expect us to do about it?_ No matter what we do will be used as an excuse to horde in large groups including your being upset at the gathering large groups…which means that you, too, are responsible for their actions. You want to place the blame on people doing it the right way out of knowledge, instead of people doing it the wrong way out of ignorant spite and political hatred, then go right on ahead. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2021, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frustrations-as-a-healthcare-worker-obamas-bash/948733/126 "2021-08-19T16:26:04Z")
> [@PossumPie](#): > > Ignoring your gross profanity which is usually the last resort in a debate Not ignoring your misreporting what happened at that party, which is a big warning sign in _any_ debate, would you care to restate your claims earlier as to whether the tent was open or not, and how many people attended? ---
**Author:** ![Tfletch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tfletch1/32/5340_2.png) [@Tfletch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tfletch1)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2021, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frustrations-as-a-healthcare-worker-obamas-bash/948733/127 "2021-08-19T17:00:02Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > would you care to restate your claims earlier as to whether the tent was open or not, and how many people attended? I’d like one step further. After she admits that she was incorrect in her assessments of the venue arrangements, I would like her to do a little compare and contrast of the Obama and Abbott events for us. @PossumPie stated that she has a doctorate in nursing practice and should be able to, with the current literature, give us relative percentages of people who are infected, admitted to the hospital, and die in an Obama-like event vs. an Abbott-life event. Once she formulates the differences, maybe we can all work together to think of a way for her to truly make a difference with her community in disease prevention. I personally think the two are perfect examples as they are similar sizes. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2021, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frustrations-as-a-healthcare-worker-obamas-bash/948733/128 "2021-08-19T17:08:49Z")
I suspect those poor crickets are going to get really tired. ---
**Author:** ![CoolHandCox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coolhandcox/32/16233_2.png) [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2021, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frustrations-as-a-healthcare-worker-obamas-bash/948733/129 "2021-08-19T17:59:14Z")
Appreciate your hard work. I can tell you really care about your patients well-being, and are trying to prevent future Covid patients. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2021, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frustrations-as-a-healthcare-worker-obamas-bash/948733/130 "2021-08-19T21:35:40Z")
> [@PossumPie](#): > > Ignoring your gross profanity which is usually the last resort in a debate, the problem is the conservatives WON"T sit back and watch, they will use it as an excuse to horde in large groups. Debate? Conservatives spew an endless amount of bullshit. Anything can become an “excuse”. We already pay way too much attention to triggering conservative bullshit. Someone throwing a party safely gets no criticism from me. > [@Gyrate](#): > > Why is it that Democrats get excoriated for “optics” - where “optics” mean “giving Republicans even the thinnest veneer of an excuse to make up hysterical bullshit or engage in unethical, immoral or even illegal behaviors” - by people who don’t seem to ever blame the Republicans for making up hysterical bullshit or engaging in unethical, immoral or even illegal behaviors in the first place? What does it say when the blame is always somehow shifted to the Democrats, no matter what the Republicans do? This. Enough with fucking “optics” that can be twisted by conservatives. Twisting and misrepresenting facts is in their DNA. We shouldn’t alter our behavior to kowtow to those idiots. Once they violently attacked the capitol, there’s no reason to give a fuck about them. And I really really don’t give a fuck about conservative concern trolling. We all know @PossumPie isn’t arguing in good faith here, right? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frustrations-as-a-healthcare-worker-obamas-bash/948733/132 "2021-08-20T00:38:35Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > We all know @PossumPie isn’t arguing in good faith here, right? Whether correct or not, please don’t post things like this. Please flag their posts instead and let us try to figure it out. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frustrations-as-a-healthcare-worker-obamas-bash/948733/134 "2021-08-20T21:23:56Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Whether correct or not, please don’t post things like this. Please flag their posts instead and let us try to figure it out. Will do. ---
**Author:** ![PossumPie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba8739/32.png) [@PossumPie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PossumPie)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frustrations-as-a-healthcare-worker-obamas-bash/948733/135 "2021-08-22T10:56:15Z")
“PossumPie is not arguing in good faith” Not sure what is meant. I’m a nurse, I see Covid-19, I know it is spread by vaccinated and unvaccinated people, I believe that any situation that places people in confined area be it church, bars, state fairs, or outdoor birthday parties still increases the odds of transmission. There is nothing magical about “outside” the premise is that people will have 6’ of space around them if outside, but a tight throng of people can congregate outside as easily as inside. “She…” Bias can occur anywhere. Nowhere did I say I was a “she” your bias that because I’m a nurse I must be a female goes to show we all have biases (I’m a 56 year old man). I am a bit surprised that educated progressives are so easily gender biased though…can’t tell you the number of blue collar men who have asked me if I were gay when they found out I was a nurse. 🙂 I’m thinking people are putting too much stock in the vaccine(s). While they do decrease transmission possibility and severity of illness, it’s a probability thing not a all-or-nothing thing. I’ve seen an uptick in fully vaccinated people being hospitalized. Most don’t need ventilator assistance, but a vaccine card is not a magic bullet. I’ve chosen not to get drawn in to the “how many people?” “Were the flaps up or down?” argument because it really doesn’t matter. There were a “significant” number of guests, support staff, security, and wait staff. At this point in the Pandemic, I really stopped caring whether ignorant people who refuse the vaccine get sick or not…as long as they don’t spread it to those who can’t get immunized-infants, young children, and certain immunocompromised people. The problem is that they CAN and DO spread it to the innocent, and so do the already immunized. " Fully vaccinated people who get a Covid-19 breakthrough infection can transmit the virus, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said. (CNN, Thursday. Aug 6, 2021)" Please stop implying that a vaccine will allow reckless behaviors. I think I’ll step out of this thread, it has deteriorated to profane rants and anger-filled posts. I agree with everyone’s frustrations at the right-wing’s ignorance and gross negligence in refusing vaccinations, but I don’t think we will solve that. Perhaps over time, if Covid mutates, natural selection will weed out the anti-vaxers without our assistance. One can only hope… ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frustrations-as-a-healthcare-worker-obamas-bash/948733/136 "2021-08-22T11:10:41Z")
Alabama sure had a lot of folks gathered last night for a rally. I bet most weren’t vaccinated. From the pictures I saw on TV, none were masked. Very Frustrating indeed! And I’m not even a health care worker. ---
**Author:** ![PossumPie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba8739/32.png) [@PossumPie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PossumPie)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frustrations-as-a-healthcare-worker-obamas-bash/948733/137 "2021-08-22T11:15:35Z")
It’s a fluid situation…evidence comes in in trickles and guidance changes. We’re hearing about “Delta” variant, but there are many variants. Lambda is the newest and we know little about it yet. The “Perfect Storm” would be a mutation that made it more easily transmitted and more lethal. That is theoretically possible, especially with the trillions of individual viruses replicating around the world. Outside lowers the risk of transmission, but not to zero. Masks are still a good idea, but they are also only partially effective. My original reason for posting was not to stir up this fight, but to let people know that even if vaccinated, congregating in large groups even if outside, and not masking up can spread the virus to others. We don’t need to isolate alone at home, but take reasonable precautions when out and avoid unnecessarily large groups-whether vaccinated or not. ---
**Author:** ![PossumPie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba8739/32.png) [@PossumPie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PossumPie)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frustrations-as-a-healthcare-worker-obamas-bash/948733/138 "2021-08-22T11:27:55Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > > [@PossumPie](#): > > > > …in the midst of a pandemic that on all accounts is getting no better with vaccinations… > > Are you sure you’re in healthcare? I’m pretty sure this is false. Do you have a cite that says that the vaccines are having no effect on the pandemic? You’ll have to trust me on the claim of being a nurse… I apologize for the poorly worded statement “…is getting no better with vaccinations” It more correctly should have said “despite nearly half of all Americans being vaccinated, the “new case rate” has risen sharply in the last month.” They are having a great impact on reducing transmission among the roughly 49% of Americans who are fully vaccinated. However, Google Johns Hopkins running daily new cases and see that the number of new cases had dropped way off in the spring, but since July has skyrocketed back up to last winter’s levels. This is due in part to the 51% of Americans who by choice or necessity are still not vaccinated, and decided that since the vaccinated people are taking off their masks, they also will refuse to wear them. It is also do in part to the very real fact that the vaccination is not 100% foolproof at preventing the spread of Covid-19. I’m disturbed at the implications in this thread that if you flash your CDC card proving you’re immunized, you are free to do what you want. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frustrations-as-a-healthcare-worker-obamas-bash/948733/139 "2021-08-22T11:37:36Z")
That’s, of course, not what you claimed earlier. The Delta variant is definitely spreading like wildfire, but it would be worse without vaccinations. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frustrations-as-a-healthcare-worker-obamas-bash/948733/140 "2021-08-22T13:45:23Z")
> [@PossumPie](#): > > I think I’ll step out of this thread… You keep using that phrase. I do not think it means what you think it means. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frustrations-as-a-healthcare-worker-obamas-bash/948733/141 "2021-08-22T14:14:32Z")
But in case you do come back yet again, could you address the misinformation you have shared in this thread? As a nurse, does it frustrate you to see misinformation shared on social media? Do you feel any special obligation to ensure you are not sharing such information yourself? ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frustrations-as-a-healthcare-worker-obamas-bash/948733/142 "2021-08-22T16:00:28Z")
> [@PossumPie](#): > > There is nothing magical about “outside” Magic, no. But far far far less likely to spread out doors. > **[A year into the pandemic, it’s even more clear that it’s safer to be outside](https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/04/13/covid-outside-safety/)** > > Many scientists and public health experts say that the outdoor spaces warming under spring sun should be viewed as havens in the battle against coronavirus and restriction-induced fatigue. > [@](#): > > Beaches and parks “are some of the safest places you can gather,” said Linsey Marr, an expert on airborne virus transmission at Virginia Tech. “Outdoors now is even safer than before, because we have more people who are vaccinated and who have already had covid-19.” ---
**Author:** ![Tfletch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tfletch1/32/5340_2.png) [@Tfletch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tfletch1)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frustrations-as-a-healthcare-worker-obamas-bash/948733/143 "2021-08-22T16:41:19Z")
> [@PossumPie](#): > > “She…” > > Bias can occur anywhere. Nowhere did I say I was a “she” your bias that because I’m a nurse I must be a female goes to show we all have biases (I’m a 56 year old man). I am a bit surprised that educated progressives are so easily gender biased though Sorry for the assumption, but only 12% of nurses are men. BTW, there was no negative connotation in the “she”; in fact, I am a “she” myself. But, once again, you are veering off topic (although I notice your subsequent comments are more on topic). Back to the topic, everyone here knows that vaccines, masks, and being outside aren’t perfect, especially against the Delta mutant. However, the risk levels of the Obama party was orders of magnitude lower than the risk levels of the Abbot party. Unless your friends and patients/family of patients are totally on board with staying home, they have to be smart about their risks. I believe you are doing them a disservice by focusing on a party where there were correct mitigation of risks (with the exception of size, which you inflated) compared to one that is a potential nightmare even with only one covid person in the room. Here is the nightmare (Abbott) scenario. It looks like at least 100 people packed in a ballroom in which their vaccination status is unknown AND with someone who actually tested positive for Covid. [Abbott Fundraiser Link](https://www.microcovid.org/?distance=close&duration=180&interaction=oneTime&personCount=25&riskProfile=average&scenarioName=smallIndoorParty25&setting=indoor&subLocation=US_48085&theirMask=none&theirVaccine=unvaccinated&topLocation=US_48&voice=loud&yourMask=none&yourVaccineDoses=2) Then you have an outdoor event (which you mischaracterized) of a similar size (which you also mischaracterized) in which people were tested, were in a large space in which they could spread out, and they had a vaccine requirement. While I’m sure there was hugging, people had the ability to distance for most the time and they weren’t in a room in which aerosols accumulate and infect a large number of people. Also, this was in a low case area earlier in the month where cases were even lower than they were now. [Obama birthday party link](https://www.microcovid.org/?distance=normal&duration=180&interaction=oneTime&personCount=10&riskProfile=average&scenarioName=largeOutdoorParty&setting=outdoor&subLocation=US_25005&theirMask=none&theirVaccine=vaccinated&topLocation=US_25&voice=loud&yourMask=none&yourVaccineDoses=2&yourVaccineType=pfizer) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frustrations-as-a-healthcare-worker-obamas-bash/948733.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frustrations-as-a-healthcare-worker-obamas-bash/948733.md?page=8)