Pale Horse, Pale Rider

By Sniffles

Well before March 2020, we cats avidly read about the 1918 "Spanish flu" epidemic — and, bizarrely, how people around the world seemed to set it aside after it was over.

"The Great Forgetting" — how did that happen? More than 50 million people had died, but did everyone choose to move past it because, coupled with the destruction of the First World War, it just was too painful to contemplate once it was done?

"When it was over, our grandparents and great-grandparents turned away and didn't look back. They simply dropped it from memory," journalist Nina Burleigh wrote. "Donald Trump's grandfather's death from the Spanish flu in 1919 changed the fortunes of his family forever, yet Trump never spoke of it — even while confronting a similar natural disaster."

Burleigh cited the success of vaccines for the Great Forgetting that's sure to happen with COVID. We agree. And seeing what's going on in vast swaths of the country right now, we think we understand how another Forgetting is about to take place.

Here in New York, even with mask mandates relaxed, we are still going out with them on. (To protect ourselves, and to protect the immunocompromised, some of whom we care deeply about.) But in other states, people are behaving as if COVID no longer exists. Why they want to take their chances with long-term cardiac and pulmonary complications, we have no idea. But it seems to be a thing.

Americans appear to be ready to be done with the coronavirus, even if the virus isn't quite done with them. And since the 1918 epidemic lasted into 1920, you can make the comparison: After two years, nobody wants to hear about it any more. The Great Forgetting of the 21st century is already underway.

It's understandable. But it isn't right. COVID still gallops among us. We cats urge caution, care and compassion, and we HISS.

Smart Moves And Dumb Moves

By Hubie and Bertie

"Thank you for your service," Vice President Harris told Polish troops on her trip to Europe this week, raising the specter (at least, in our minds) of the brave Polish pilots who volunteered for the RAF in World War II.

It was clever of President Joe Biden to send Harris on this mission, because it helped raise her international profile, in case — well, just in case. And we always knew that she was more than up to it. Biden just positioned her to the world not only as his Vice President, but as a potential President. This is really smart.

But back at home, the sound decisions of the Biden-Harris Administration continue to clash with the idiocy of the opposition and their enablers. Right now, we cats are spitting mad at the Disney Corporation, for what they're doing in Florida.

After the state legislature enacted anti-gay laws in the Sunshine State — at the bidding of white supremacist Ron DeSantis — Disney, following a flaccid initial response, finally decided to act. Their solution? Suspend all political donations to candidates and incumbents in Florida.

But why penalize Florida Democrats who have been fighting DeSantis's bigotry since day one? Why punish those who bravely stood up to protect and preserve the rights of children and of Disney's 50,000+ Florida employees? Punish the Republicans, not them.

Florida Democrats should not suffer the same fate as the haters. "Bob Chapek," whoever you are, you are an idiot and a jerk. We cats HISS.

A Quickie: Our Side Versus Their Side

 

Today, Vice President Harris met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland in Poland, to discuss aid to Ukraine, the bravery of its President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and how the West can help Ukrainian refugees.

Back here at home, nutcase Republican Congressman Madison Cawthorn called Zelenskyy a "thug," Trump-pardoned criminal Michael Flynn pleaded the Fifth to the January 6 Committee, and Rafael Cruz took a ride with the pointless People's Convoy on the Beltway.

Whose side would you rather be on? We cats know, and we PURR.

Defensive Driving

By Miss Kubelik

We cats have not been able to stomach much cable news lately — especially the fatuous talking heads who, when they're not posing as epidemiologists, seem to know all about strategic alliances and international defense. (How nice that they've been able to switch from one catastrophe to the next so easily.) So we haven't been exposed to much of gas-price hysteria that social media hints is saturating TV.

Why are they whipping up frenzies when polls have shown large majorities of Americans backing the ban on Russian oil imports? Quinnipiac, for example, reports that seven in 10 people surveyed have said "Da" to the ban, even if they have to pay more at the pump. And thanks to market volatility and the greedy energy companies, they are. (Although we could have sworn we saw our local station's price drop by a dime when we passed it running errands today.)

Is it possible that voters understand that Russia accounts for only seven percent of imported oil to the US? Or is it something else?

Maybe it's this: Unlike most wars, invasions, droughts and disasters, the people fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine look a heck of a lot like Americans. They're moms (and some dads), mostly with kids, carrying luggage and laptops, nervously scrolling on their smartphones. They have pets. They look middle-class. They are, above all, white.

It's pretty clear that America saw this appalling photo of a young Ukrainian family gunned down while trying to escape and thought, you know what? We don't have it so bad. We can pay more for gas.

We don't know how long US drivers will keep feeling this way. But every day, we hear more and more horrific stories of Russian war crimes — like bombing maternity hospitals. So, maybe we'll all practice some perspective and gratitude? We cats hope so, and we PURR.

In Case You Thought The Queen Was Dead...

 

Okay, so we aren't a 95-year-old monarch battling COVID, but we still probably would have made room on our calendar to meet the handsome Prime Minister of Canada. Just sayin'. We cats PURR.

A Bridge Not Too Far

By Zamboni

As Ukraine continues to dominate the news, it's important to note that this weekend marked the anniversary of Bloody Sunday at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. Vice President Kamala Harris led a march in support of American voting rights and civil rights, neither of which should be ignored as the people of Ukraine fight to defend their right to cleave to Western European democracy, not Russian autocracy.

(And, by the way, we want to buy her suit. Fabulous!)

The coverage of the Biden Administration's first year, we think, hasn't paid enough attention to Harris. It's no wonder, since Team Biden has been grappling with a ton of serious issues, from COVID to infrastructure to Afghanistan to January 6. But Joe promised Kamala she would be the last voice he would hear in the room when he made big decisions. We see no evidence that Biden has broken that promise.

In fact, quite the opposite — and the Trumpsters have taken note. Is that why two armed intruders tried to storm Joint Base Andrews when Harris returned there on Sunday? We cats are on high alert, since we were informed by a Democratic relative that, shall we say, non-Democratic relatives by marriage are terrified of Harris because "she's a socialist"?

No need to be naive: Kamala Harris, as the first woman, and first woman of color, in the position of Vice President, threatens a lot of people. Most of them, actually, are pointlessly circling the Beltway these days. Vice President Harris is where she is — advising the President, and casting crucial votes in the Senate as needed. Too bad, Republicans. We cats PURR.

Find The Helpers

By Baxter

This photo makes us cats all squishy and emotional. Germans have thronged Berlin's central train station, meeting refugees from Ukraine and offering them shelter in their homes. Complete strangers, who aren't even cats! (Or dogs.) We're impressed.

It reminds us of Fred Rogers's advice: Whenever you see something upsetting, focus on the people who are trying to make it right. "When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news," Mr. Rogers said, "my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'"

It's particularly wonderful because these folks are German. Yes, Poles are doing this, too, and probably a ton of other Europeans who are welcoming Ukrainian refugees. But if anybody knows what it's like to owe a debt to the world, it's Germans. Good on them.

As for people who are not helping, just look to the Republican Party. Today, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy held a Zoom call with members of Congress. Baby Marco Rubio and Steve Daines both posted screenshots of Zelenskyy in real time on social media, theoretically endangering his safety. (So, they're working for Vladimir Putin? Inquiring minds want to know.) During the same call, Zelenskyy was forced to ask Florida's first Martian Senator, Rick Scott, to mute his microphone.

What the hell is the matter with these people? Could their behavior be any more egregious in comparison with the Berliners who are opening their homes to fleeing Ukrainians? We cats are disgusted, and we HISS.

What Would Winnie Do?

By Sniffles

Winston Churchill, dead in 1965, couldn't have imagined the interwebs. But his language survives: People are talking about a new Iron Curtain descending in Eastern Europe, thanks to Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

And as Ukrainians fight for democracy in their country, the metaphorical struggle continues in the United States. We're learning more and more about Benedict Donald's efforts to subvert the 2020 election and stay in power. Exhibit A is Roger Stone. WTF is going on there, we ask?

Listen, everyone: You don't have to steep yourselves in every detail to know that our American democracy — and democracies around the world — are under siege. Or to know that the Trumpsters are on the side of the Putinesque opponents of the democratic ideal.

Take it from us: If Churchill were alive today, he'd be warning the West against Rupert Murdoch's "news" empire and Benedict Donald's (and Republicans') support of Vladimir Putin. He would have railed against January 6. We could use a voice like his right now. We cats PURR.

Rice? No Dice.

By Hubie and Bertie

As Russia continues to push into Ukraine, up in Canada, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland is getting hailed as a Cabinet minister who was made for this moment.

"No one in the Canadian political class has studied Russia, or its now-pariah president, more than Ms. Freeland," says The Globe & Mail. "As a student of Russian history at Harvard and exchange student in Kyiv in the 1980s. As the Moscow correspondent for the Financial Times in the 1990s. Or, since 2015, in her successive roles as Canada’s minister of international trade, foreign affairs and finance."

Freeland's bio and her deeply credible, in-your-face "Vladitude" raises an interesting question.

Where is our Russian expert in all this?

This is a time that should shine on Condoleezza Rice, former Secretary of State for Bush 43 and, before that, a Soviet scholar at Stanford. There should be calls for President Biden to consult her for a bipartisan take on what Vlad is up to. Republicans in the Senate should be demanding that Foreign Relations Committee bring her in for briefings. The editorial pages of The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The New York Times, USA Today, etc. should be chock-full of her thoughtful views and analysis. And she shouldn't just be on Fox — she should be all over cable news. But, no.

Is it because Republicans know she's a fraud? Or that the party has left her, even though she hasn't left the party (a whole 'nuther question, by the way). Is it because she's worried about coming under attack from the Republican Treason Caucus? Or is it because she thinks that if she opens her mouth she'd destroy any hope of becoming NFL Commissioner? We cats don't know, but as always when it comes to "Condi," we HISS.

Lest We Furr-get: "With You, All Roads Lead To Putin"

By Miss Kubelik

Gee, Nancy Pelosi looked so happy last night, to not have the Orange Monster standing in front of her delivering an imbecilic SOTU. Even Marjorie Taylor Greene's and Lauren Boebert's bad behavior couldn't wipe the smile from her face — and there was no reason for her to rip up her copy of the speech afterward. Best of all: She had another smart, strong woman sitting next to her for the first time in American history.

With all the Republicans in the House chamber sporting Ukrainian colors, we couldn't help thinking about their cowed loyalty to Benedict Donald. Things have only gotten worse since they handed out little Russian flags with "Trump" on them at 2017's CPAC.

All their enthusiasm last night for the plucky Ukrainians, though, might not be able to mask anxiety the GOP could be feeling about their Russian ties. Since DOJ has launched a new task force to enforce the West's sanctions — and to particularly focus on the egregious oligarchs who do Vlad the Invader's bidding — betcha they'll uncover lots of money trails to Republican coffers. In fact, some have already been found.

So Nancy was smiling for a lot of reasons. Remember, she's the one who stood up in the Cabinet room in October 2019 and questioned Trump's loyalty to the United States to his fat orange face. She took a lot of heat from the GOP for that, but it's helpful to remember that she did it because Trump had pulled American troops out of northern Syria, giving Putin free rein there. (Easy to forget, since it happened pre-pandemic, a hundred lifetimes ago.) Now, she knows that Vlad's miscalculations will ensnare Benedict Donald, too. We cats PURR.