The Pandemic Persistency

The coronavirus pandemic is still a thing.

COVID-19 and it's delta variant is still making people sick and people are still dying.

Most of these illnesses and deaths are among the unvaccinated.

Suddenly, Republicans and Fox News are paying attention.

After weeks of decrying various efforts to get people to get the vaccine as an invasion of freedom and that people have a choice, there are Republican politicians and Fox News talking heads are now pushing a message that the vaccine is safe, effective and it would be a really good idea to get the vaccine.

What pray tell prompted this change of heart?

The first and probably most likely answer? Money.

The stock market took a 500 point dive on fears of the COVID-19 delta variant. 

Wanna get a Republican's attention? Hit 'em in the wallet.

There may also be a growing realization that the death toll being greatest among the unvaccinated means the death toll also hitting really hard at the key demographics that makes up the viewership of Fox News and voted Republican.  

Fox News viewers cannot watch Fox News if their dead.

Republican voters cannot vote Republican if their dead.

Realizing they need to do something to protect their phony baloney jobs, Republican and Fox News talking heads have decided that the vaccine is safe, effective and it would be a really good idea to get the vaccine.

When asked about this change of tone, Kevin McCarthy said there was no change in tone, that the Republican Party has always believed the vaccine is safe, effective and it would be a really good idea to get the vaccine.

Meanwhile Republican leaders like Gov. Ron DeSantis continue to do precious little in the face of the advancing peril of the COVID-19 variant. 

And the small minded minions who follow their leadership still refusing to wear masks or social distance or better yet, get the goddam vaccine, they're the reason why this pandemic is not yet in our rear view mirror.