Fencing is Not Enough: Washington D.C. Now Calling In The National Guard and Tow Trucks

Not content with re-installing the fencing barrier around the Capitol, National Guard troops and tow trucks are now reportedly headed to the D.C. area as well. 

A Fox News report says that state and local law enforcement in the D.C. area have called in National Guard troops to be deployed in Washington from late February to late March ahead of a reported American truckers convoy. 

The Canadian 'Freedom Convoy' movement to protest against cross-border vaccine mandate is, reportedly, spawning an American cousin.

"The People's Convoy" will begin in Barstow, California on Feb. 23, and makes its way across the United States. The plan is to arrive in Washington D.C. ahead of President Joe Biden's State of the Union speech on March 1.

A second group, The Great American Patriot Project, is reportedly planning routes from Fresno, California, and Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio.

According to the Fox News report, a permit was requested by the truckers from the National Park Service to accommodate 1,000 to 3,000 people. 

In addition to the National Guard troops, Fox reports that tow trucks are also being hired.

In a phone interview with Fox News, the owner of one towing company whose trucks have already been spotted near the Capitol stated that the city of Washington D.C. had hired the company specifically for the trucker convoy and to clear illegally parked vehicles.

 On the other side of the ledger, Bob Bolus, one of the organizers of the People's Convoy, said in an interview on Sunday:

"We will be along the Beltway where the Beltway will be shut down." He added, "I'll give you an analogy of that of a giant boa constrictor. That basically squeezes you, chokes you and it swallows you, and that's what we're going to do the D.C."

Bolus also assured the public that, "There will be a lane open for emergency vehicles, they'll be able to get in and out and all that. We will not compromise anybody's safety or health, one way or the other."

While there has been no discussion as to whether or not Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, or any other member of the Biden administration will be willing to meet with the truckers and even go as far as to listen to what they have to say, a familiar sign of what that answer might be is making a comeback around the Capitol building.

Authorities are beginning to reinstall fencing around the "People's House" that originally went up following the riot at the Capitol on January 6. 

Trump Fires Back After McConnell Attacks GOP Censure Of Never Trumpers Cheney And Kinzinger

In the latest back and forth between former President Donald Trump and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Trump ripped McConnell for his criticism of the Republican National Committee formally censuring 'Never Trump' Reps. Liz Cheney (R-WY) and Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) for their roles on the Democrats' Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol.

Trump was responding to comments made by McConnell a day earlier as he scolded the Republican National Committee for the censure. 

President Trump came out swinging at McConnell's comments. His statement said in part,

“Mitch McConnell does not speak for the Republican Party, and does not represent the views of the vast majority of its voters. He did nothing to fight for his constituents and stop the most fraudulent election in American history. If Mitch would have fought for the election, like the Democrats would have if in the same position, we would not be discussing any of the above today, and our Country would be STRONG and PROUD instead of weak and embarrassed."

In attacking the RNC, and repeating the Democrat and media narrative that the Capitol riot was an 'insurrection, McConnell said, “We saw it happen. It was a violent insurrection for the purpose of trying to prevent the peaceful transfer of power after a legitimately certified election, from one administration to the next. That’s what it was.”

McConnell added that, “The issue is whether or not the RNC should be singling out members of our party who may have different views from the majority. That’s not the job of the RNC.” He added, “Traditionally, the view of the national party committee is that we support all members of our party, regardless of their positions on some issues."

RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel wasted no time in making a statement defending the actions of the Republican National Committee. She also ripped the news media for their coverage of the resolution, saying:

If corporate news media wants to know why Americans don’t trust it anymore, they should look no further than the shameful, outrageous, and patently false coverage of the resolution adopted by the RNC to censure Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger.

McDaniel also pointed out that, "as Chairman of the RNC, I have repeatedly condemned the violence that occurred at the Capitol on January 6th and do so again today." 

I Recovered From COVID-19 - Here's What It Was Like

When people think of someone who has COVID-19, for many, the first image that comes to mind is someone laying in the ICU, on a ventilator, doctors and nurses all around in various stages of hazmat suits. Others might imagine someone with an awful case of the flu or maybe someone who is seemingly healthy with just a sniffle or a loss of smell. 

Unfortunately, all of the above can be, and have been, true.

As the virus mutates, different strains affect us in different ways.

But let me tell you, it's no picnic to come down with COVID.

Here is the story story of my battle with Omicron.

For those of you who might not be regular readers at The Political Insider, my name is Becky Noble, and I am a writer here.

Like most people, I usually get one whopping 'cold' a year. You know the one. Where no matter how old you are, you just want your mom to make you some chicken soup. In the past, I've had that one bout with illness end up being bronchitis, and I have had it become the flu.

So when I started to experience a scratchy throat and congestion, I thought, "Oh great, here we go." My first thought was not COVID, but rather, "I don't have time to be sick."

As the weekend approached, my husband urged me to call the doctor. I did, and the nurse said I should come in and get tested because "you've got all the symptoms of Omicron." Great.

So I went to be tested at my primary care physician's office. You hear a lot about that swab being stuck up your nose, too. It does feel like someone is poking your brain. 

The nurse administering the test told me it would take 24-48 hours to get the results. In my case it only took about eight hours. Congratulations, you have given birth to a case of COVID.

'Quarantine for five days then wear a mask where ever you go for five days,' the nurse told me.

At first I thought I might just get lucky. Aside from the scratchy throat I felt OK that first night.

Things started to go south the next day. Some have experienced shortness of breath and other respiratory symptoms.

I am lucky to say I did not experience those things. I had some of the classic 'flu' type symptoms, like fever, chills, and aches. The nurse told me those are common in Omicron as well. Along with that, another set of issues of the gastrointestinal sort. 

By the next day, all I wanted to do was sleep. Take a shower, I thought. It will make you feel a little bit better. By the time I was done, I was exhausted. 

That was also the day COVID decided food would not be a good idea, and some pretty serious nausea set in.

On Monday, my doctor called and said I was a candidate for monoclonal antibodies if I was interested. In my state I wasn't overly curious as to why I was a candidate - but being diabetic, I was at more risk of serious complications from the virus.

So, yes Doc, if it will shorten the time I feel like this, I am definitely interested.

The next day I went to a clinic run by one of the area hospitals. The process to get in and actually receive monoclonal antibodies was less than organized, but I hung in there until they called me in.

It was painless and really did not take too long. I was given an IV infusion from a small 50ml bag of fluid. It took about 30 minutes for the whole bag to infuse. Once that part was complete I was taken to a waiting room where I was monitored for an hour to make sure there were no reactions. 

It took a full 24 hours, but by Wednesday evening I was feeling much better. The intense nausea started to go away and I was able to eat a bit. 

When I asked the nurse at my doctor's office, pre-monoclonal antibodies, when I might start to feel better, her answer was there is no timeline, everyone is different. I have heard some take as long as four weeks before they start to feel 100% "normal" again.

I believe that. I feel pretty good, but can't shake the cough and the tickle in the throat. I am told that is the last thing to go. I still do not have a lot of smell or taste back yet. 

While I still think much of what has gone on with COVID is very political, I also know it is nothing to play with. I have never been so sapped of strength before in my life.

And thankfully, I am on the mend.

I think we should do what we are always advised to do at this time of year. Wash your hands. If you are sick stay at home, the world will get along just fine without you for a few days. Take some vitamins. It might not prevent you from getting sick, but it can't hurt.