Anti-Lockdown Protests Return in Arizona as Virus Surges - NowThis

[Rhiannon12866]

As COVID-19 cases surge, anti-lockdown protests return to Arizona.

[JonLP24]

1. I hate this state

Arizona.

[Rhiannon12866]

2. It's not the state, it's that there has been no national leadership from the beginning

All states have been on their own and outbreaks appear to have been following Trump "rallies." He needs to listen to the experts and stay home.

[JonLP24]

4. No local leadership either. Doug Ducey blew it.

Arizona’s governor claimed “it’s safe out there.” Then coronavirus cases skyrocketed.

(snip)

At the same time, recommended precautions against the coronavirus weren’t always taken seriously by the general public — with experts saying that, anecdotally, mask use in the state can be spotty. That could be partly a result of Republican Gov. Doug Ducey downplaying the threat of the virus: While he eventually told people to wear masks in mid-June, as of late May he claimed that “it’s safe out there,” adding, “I want to encourage people to get out and about, to take a loved one to dinner, to go retail shopping.”

Ducey’s actions and comments “gave the impression we were past Covid-19 and it was no longer an issue,” Popescu said, “which I believe encouraged people to become lax in their masking [and] social distancing.”

After weeks of increases in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations, Ducey pulled back Arizona’s reopening on June 29, closing downs bars, theaters, and gyms.

Experts say the move is a positive step forward, but also one that came too late: With coronavirus symptoms taking up to two weeks to develop, there are already infections out there that aren’t yet showing up in the data. The state can expect cases, hospitalizations, and, probably, deaths to continue to climb over the next few weeks.

https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2020/7/8/21311347/arizona-coronavirus-pandemic-covid-outbreak

One of the reasons why I hate Arizona is the Republicans. One person even told me that bilingual paperwork is the reason why we pay so much in taxes and that isn't even my craziest example. I knew many into false conspiracy theories and Alex Jones true believers. There was also more open racism from them ever since Obama first ran in 2008.

[Rhiannon12866]

5. I still blame the national lack of leadership, since too many governors listen to Trump

If we had a national lockdown from the beginning and a much earlier national response we wouldn't be backtracking now. The fact that Trump has made a national pandemic a partisan issue has been a tragedy for this country. I went to pick up a prescription today and the guy manning the entrance thanked me for wearing my mask! Face coverings are required for anyone to enter the store! I wouldn't want that poor guy's job...

[enid602]

8. Kate

I don't think we should let Mayor Gallegos off the hook, either. Mayor Turner in Houston took the initiative to meet with church leaders and gymnasiums to ensure all gyms are closed and mega churches are virtual. Despite a lack of leadership from Austin. The mega churches are going gangbusters here in Phoenix, and many of the gyms are still open. God help us here in Phoenix. Just one church, Dream City Church (where Trump held his rally recently) has 5 locations in the Valley, and their website claims weekly attendance of over 30, 000. They boast of the fact that they did not close until 4/1, and promptly re opened on 5/1. I have not heard Kate Gallegos even speak of this in all of her cable news appearances lately. Too many super spreaders in this town.

[sinkingfeeling]

3. Is that flag belly pregnant?

[denem]

7. Look that way to me.

Putting her own baby at risk K(

[lambchopp59]

6. Arid zone refugee here

From overblown anti-leftism that ran rampant there well over a decade ago now when President Obama won, drove me from BookFace, where racist memes flooded the pages. I've had to burn all my bridges back and stay on the west coast for work ever since the late Bush era market crash. I've been horrified by some who previously remained non-committal to the mob rule there (don't piss on my boots and tell me it's raining, Karens, because that is precisely what some have fallen right in line with there)
So, WTF is this DEMAND group with the Assault rifle silhouette aside? Or do I even really want to know?
Whoops, a little opposition reseach still didn't reveal anything, but it linked to a lot of ridiculous Corona-denial shit, along with wild conspiracy theory garbage. Here's one copy/paste of a twitter feed from their group:
“Every time somebody takes a swab test, a tissue sample of their DNA, it goes into a government database. It’s to track us,” “They’re not just looking for the virus.”
Along with scroll-down pages of equally wack shit, on and on. Complaints about gov. orders to shelter in place being "fascist" in the absence of any "real threat". Although that one is getting weaker as the timeline progresses.