Dr Jill Biden and President Joe Biden watch Inauguration fireworks (Getty Images)
In these days after the Capitol Riots, Washington is in security lockdown. The nation-wide sweeps and arrests continue, as well. Yesterday, the Inauguration went off essentially without a hitch, though massively adjusted for both security and COVID-19.
Now begins the 'great undo'. President Biden's first Executive Orders rescind many of Trump's worst programs: border wall, DACA suspension, Muslim ban. Vice President Harris' first acts, swearing-in three new Senators (Rahael Warnock, Jon Ossoff, and Alex Padilla), establish a Democratic majority in the Senate – she will act as the tie-breaker. So our first female (and African-American, and Asian-American) Vice President welcomes Georgia's first African-American Senator, Georgia's first Jewish Senator, and California's first Hispanic Senator. Still, as a progressive, perhaps the best outcome is that Sen Bernie Sanders is now the Chair of the Budget Committee.
So, Democrats take control of both the Executive and the Legislative branches. This essential and enormous challenge lies before them: restore faith in government. But they must also deal with the pandemic, a financial collapse, climate crisis, racial justice, and economic inequality. Meanwhile, in an extreme example of circular logic, Republicans begin a call for "unity" – that's unity in "ironic air quotes". The GOP's demands of "unity" establish historic levels of irony after their objections to certifying the election, and the clear split forming in the party because of these dishonest calls for "unity". It hurts to think about it.
Strange as it sounds, I am less concerned about the Democrats' to-do list, and more concerned how the GOP will re-make itself – or not. Democrats are nothing if not predictable, but Republicans, are schemers. From Dick Nixon to Dick Cheney (what a bunch!), you never know what they'll do next. For example, mirroring an image of my childhood bullies, I sense familiarity in this portrait of Sen Josh Hawley. Hawley is smart, ambitious, self-righteous to a fault – and he's a schemer. His recent objections and statements concerning election-fraud have shocked his former colleagues:
Hawley’s professors and classmates have found themselves poring over their memories of the now-senator – considering the thinkers he studied, and the ideas he appeared to take seriously – and feeling even more confused about why he seems to have emerged to stand so strongly against those principles.One type of bully taunts, calls names, makes aggressive displays, and maybe storms a government building. Another type concocts lies, foments unfounded fears, accumulates power, and schemes. Without removing, containing, or reforming people like Sen Hawley, there simply won't be "unity". While I've taken some dark pleasure in watching the conspiracy theorists' worlds implode, I know they are not going away. Biden starts his Presidency without any confirmed cabinet members – in large part thanks to the objections of Sen Hawley.
All the fancy university degrees, clerkships, and publications are just window-dressing, like putting your name up in big gold letters. A schemer's gonna scheme. To remove the schemers, you have to organize – you may have to create a movement. There is undo-ing, there is re-doing, and there is just doing. Here it is, your moment of zen …
Meanwhile, Portugal is experiencing one of the world's worst surges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government's most recent lockdown, which began on Jan 15th, allowed many services to remain open, including churches, public offices, dentists and schools; today, they closed the schools. Health officials are blaming 'the UK variant, and urging even tighter restrictions. The situation is very serious.
There is no questions that there is more automotive traffic and pedestrian movement than during the lockdown in the spring. There does not seem to be a sense of urgency. Even our local friends at Lapo are working to stay open and struggling with the restrictions. It's hard to hear about their protest and know that it is because of their passion and years of effort – they don't want their life's work to wither. While I agree that it might be possible to serve food safely, even during a pandemic, I don't think it's wise to allow people to be out and bout, whether they are going to work or to get a bite to eat. It's is very difficult.
Love to our friends at Lapo, and our hope that everyone stays healthy and safe.
The latest figures from the COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal are very ugly. Today, Portugal reports over thirteen thousand cases (13,544) and over two hundred deaths (221); over two hundred deaths for the third day in a row. The seven-day average for cases is over eleven thousand (11,049.0), and the seven-day average for deaths is just under two hundred (186.0) – both new highs.
Georgia reports much better daily numbers and, for now, the state's trend-lines are headed in the right direction. However, Georgia's totals remain far ahead of Portugal's (844,799 cases, 12,889 deaths).
Note, once again, that the graph's Y-axis is substantially incremented.
cases: 97,890,676 global • 25,122,394 USA • 595,149 Portugal
deaths: 2,094,495 global • 418,576 USA • 9,686 Portugal
UPDATE (January 29): The 'world's worst' COVID-19 surge continues in Portugal (CNN video). The latest seven-day average is up to nearly thirteen thousand (12,890.6). The "Open or Die" protest at Lapo continues as well.
Today, I have a dentist appointment, and for me, Lisbon definitely feels locked-down again. The Metro is empty, the streets are nearly empty – but the dentist is open. The construction workers are still at it, though. My dental appointment gives the sound of their saws new meaning. I suppose a pandemic lockdown is as good a time as any to have a few teeth repaired, might as well stay indoors while the novocain wears off.
