(Annie Black) – Nevadans want to know when the COVID vaccine will be available to them and when the state will reopen. To answer those questions, Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak held what talk-show host Heidi Harris now calls a “De-Presser” on Monday afternoon.
It was the latest example of just how incoherent the governor’s entire mishandling of the crisis has been. Here’s how he explained his THIRD version for vaccine distribution. See if you can figure out what the heck he’s talking about…
“We are moving away from a Tiered structure to focus on ‘lanes’ of vaccination that will run concurrently. This changes the structure of our playbook and plan going forward but does not impact the counties already moving into what was previously identified as Tier 2.
“The other lane which will be operating concurrently is ‘Frontline/Essential Workforce.’ They will also be getting vaccinated in priority order. … We are no longer using the tiered approach & have updated the playbook to streamline & simplify prioritization. Frontline/Essential Workforce categories are now prioritized in buckets.”
Translation: I have no idea what I’m doing.
This is all political mush-mouth double-talk designed to distract Nevadans from the fact that, despite knowing the vaccine was coming for months, his roll-out and distribution has been a flop. Consider…
According to Bill Dentzer of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Nevada “has received 170,400 doses of the vaccine to date.” But according to Gov. Sisolak, only 61,644 have been administered.
Now compare and contrast…
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), South Dakota – under the leadership of Gov. Kristi Noem, who has never ordered a lockdown or issued a mandatory mask order – is leading the nation in the number of vaccines administered per 100,000 people.
Gov. Sisolak’s Nevada is the 7th WORST.
As Heidi Harris put it this morning: “Great job on the jab, @GovSisolak!”
But have no fear. Megan Messerly reported: “Sisolak announced that he has asked the ‘best logistical leaders’ in the state to review what’s working and what isn’t with vaccinations.”
Lord, I hope they’re not the same “logistical leaders” who’ve been running DETR!
Also on Monday, the governor again extended his reign of error on shutdowns.
In mid-March he told us the #SisolakShutdown would be for 30 days to “flatten the curve.” Then he extended it. Then he allowed for a partial re-opening for some “non-essential” businesses. Then he mandated masks, even in your own home. Then he issued a 30-day “pause” and cut capacity limits from 50% to 25%.
On Monday he doubled-down (his words, not mine)…
“At this time & for planning purposes, we are looking to keep these measures in place for another 30 days. At the time I announced these measures, I called it a ‘Pause,’ because I truly hoped they would only have to last for a short period.”
“Hoped”? He’s hurting all of our lives and livelihoods on wishful thinking? What’s the “science” behind that?
It’s abundantly clear the governor’s Soviet-like, heavy-handed command-and-control policies haven’t worked. In fact, they’ve been both a health and economic disaster.
But rather than admit he’s totally mismanaged this crisis and consult with the 63 members of the Legislature, Gov. Sisolak keeps doing what he’s always done and we keep getting what we’ve always gotten: Screwed.
Heck, even New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo appears to have finally come around. Here’s what he said on Monday…
“We cannot stay closed until the vaccine hits critical mass. The cost is too high. We will have nothing left to open. We must reopen the economy, but we must do it smartly and safely.”
Which, by the way, was pretty much the same thing Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman said LAST APRIL.
I’ll close with one final observation demonstrating just how confusing, contradictory and non-sensical the governor’s mismanagement of this crisis has been…
The Associated Press reported on Tuesday that “California’s coronavirus catastrophe reached a staggering new level Monday.” Yet Gov. Sisolak continues to encourage Californians to come to Nevada while at the same time telling Nevadans to stay in their homes.
How does that make sense?
The answer isn’t 15,000 contradictory and discriminatory versions of government-ordered lockdowns. Gov. Sisolak can’t make the virus disappear by executive order. The answer is to unlock Nevada and let Nevadans – and even Californians – decide which risks to take.
If you want to stay in your home wearing a mask, stay in your home wearing a mask. If you want to go to work and provide for your family, go to work and provide for your family. If you want to send your kids to school, send your kids to school (if the teachers union will let you). If you want to shop at Walmart, shop at Walmart. If you want to have a birthday party at your house, have a birthday party at your house.
The government is not our mommy. Just leave us alone. We got this.
P.S. If you have anyone who wants to receive my AnnieGrams, please have them sign up at www.AnnieBlack.net or shoot their email address to me at [email protected]. But make sure you have their permission first.
From the AnnieGram Mailbag
“You are retarded. You a communist. You should reside in Russia, China or North Korea. Yes you have engaged in insurrection when you travel to WDC. You are disability and has to be remove so said the constitution. No good EVIL creature.” – John Lafarge
“Ms Annie, You hang in there lady. This mongrel crowd that disrespected you shows what idiots they are. I never realized how vicious LIBS could be until the last 3 years. Good luck to you.” – Skip Wilson, Sparks, NV
“I am a 53 year old female and live in Vegas so I didn’t get to vote for you. I didn’t even know ABOUT you until this thing happened. Having said that, I agree with all of the positive feedback you are getting. It’s not easy being a female in politics, let alone a strong female! You keep doing what you’re doing and please above all, don’t let these bad apples spoil the bunch that truly believe you are a good person.” – Carolyn Grul
“When I wrote you to you on the 29th, this email was one of 378 emails that I sent to legislators in several of the swing states. You are the only legislator who returned a coherent response. And your response was not just coherent, it was intelligent, thorough and articulate. Thank you.” – Chris Handsel
QUOTES OF THE DAY
“If Biden wins, we go for all the Republican voters and Homeland Security will take their children away… And we’ll put them into re-education camps.” – Michael Beller, principal counsel for PBS
“Corporations, which are now more powerful than they have ever been, are colluding with one another and with the political class to silence any opposition not to some ideal, they don’t have those, but to their rule.” – Tucker Carlson
“This massive shut down on free speech has never occurred in the United States. It equals many authoritarian regimes.” – Rudy Giuliani
“It should concern everyone when companies like Facebook and Twitter wield the unchecked power to remove people from platforms that have become indispensable for the speech of billions – especially when political realities make those decisions easier.” – ACLU senior legislative counsel Kate Ruane
“Imagine thinking you are fighting fascism by silencing your political opponents.” – Lisa Boothe
Annie Black is the Nevada State Assemblywoman representing District 19. You can get more information by visiting www.electannieblack.com
