46th President of the United States, Joe Biden
Discussion
andy_s said:
There is no proof either way
There is seldom ever definitive "proof", but as it currently stands the evidentiary basis seems to lean more towards natural origin than lab leak, as has been affirmed by the bulk of both scientific and intelligence community estimates.Obviously nothing here precludes one hypothesis, but balance of probability based on actual (rather than circumstantial) evidence weights more one way than the other.
andy_s said:
Anyway, take each scenario in turn and run it through the story and one fits almost perfectly and with the other you're left asking 'why would they do that?' a lot.
I think it's worth recognising that China frequently doesn't behave in ways that align with a Western perspective on what a rational and reasonable response to an issue is. It's actually in their interests to be obstructive, bury evidence and generally disrupt fact finding, as they're perpetuating their own conspiracy theories that blame the US biological research facility at Fort Detrick (enabled by a corrupt WHO, apparently) both domestically and to a lesser extent within much of the Third World where they are making strategic power grabs at the moment, and a lack of clarity or definitive answers on origins helps enable that. HM-2 said:
I think it's worth recognising that China frequently doesn't behave in ways that align with a Western perspective on what a rational and reasonable response to an issue is. It's actually in their interests to be obstructive, bury evidence and generally disrupt fact finding, as they're perpetuating their own conspiracy theories that blame the US biological research facility at Fort Detrick (enabled by a corrupt WHO, apparently) both domestically and to a lesser extent within much of the Third World where they are making strategic power grabs at the moment, and a lack of clarity or definitive answers on origins helps enable that.
Oh of course, the Chinese are like the past, they do things differently over there, and you have to adjust priors a little. I'm not doubting that the Chinese would appear squirrelly/obstructive for all sorts of reasons related to saving face or asserting some control over whatever, but just at face value you'd think that if everything was honky-dory and the world is sniffing to the origin of the equivalent of an atom bomb over New York that even they would have opened up the books a little if it showed a whiter version of the currently quite murky one. Mind you, todays geopol is not yesterdays geopol by a large stretch, so how this all proceeds will be interesting. HM-2 said:
andy_s said:
There is no proof either way
There is seldom ever definitive "proof", but as it currently stands the evidentiary basis seems to lean more towards natural origin than lab leak, as has been affirmed by the bulk of both scientific and intelligence community estimates.Obviously nothing here precludes one hypothesis, but balance of probability based on actual (rather than circumstantial) evidence weights more one way than the other.
"After examining all available intelligence reporting and other information, though, the IC remains divided on the most likely origin of COVID-19. All agencies assess that two hypotheses are plausible: natural exposure to an
infected animal and a laboratory-associated incident."
https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessmen...
So hardly a conspiracy theory!
coyft said:
HM-2 said:
andy_s said:
There is no proof either way
There is seldom ever definitive "proof", but as it currently stands the evidentiary basis seems to lean more towards natural origin than lab leak, as has been affirmed by the bulk of both scientific and intelligence community estimates.Obviously nothing here precludes one hypothesis, but balance of probability based on actual (rather than circumstantial) evidence weights more one way than the other.
HM-2 said:
Then why did you post something that entirely affirms what I posted here? Was that designed to be ironic, or did you misread either my post or the DNI link you provided?
You were responding to a poster who stated that the lab leak theory was suppressed at the beginning of the pandemic. It was called a conspiracy theory by the mainstream media who have subsequently had to correct their headlines and add editors notes to the original story.It’s probably just a coincidence that a theory advanced by Trump was incorrectly labelled a conspiracy.
coyft said:
You were responding to a poster who stated that the lab leak theory was suppressed at the beginning of the pandemic.
That's not what you quoted though, is it? You specifically quoted that exchange to say "you're wrong" despite posting a link that completely supported what I'd said. And now it very much feels like you're furiously backpedalling to pretend what you actually mean was something completely different from what you posted.
Does he normally weigh in on twitface about politics or is he planning a run for office?rscott said:
Digging up 3 month old videos now? Anything more recent
Look. I don't give a damn about which party has the presidency. It isn't my country. What concerns me is that the current leader of the Free World's mental capacity is in good condition.
If you believe that Biden's is then good for you. This video, which I found on a Reddit post yesterday, demonstrates that Biden is ailing.
Support him or condemn him, it's an undeniable fact.
Blib said:
Support him or condemn him, it's an undeniable fact.
They're not pro-Biden, they're anti-Trump. The world is waking up to how badly the wool was pulled over our eyes by the media to allow Biden to take office. The liberal hive mind here on pistonheads can't cope with it. The red wave is building, surfs up dudes. cqueen said:
They're not pro-Biden, they're anti-Trump.
There's little to quarrel with there. Anyone who isn't anti-trump, by this point, is either unforgivably uninformed or possesses horrifically low personal standards.cqueen said:
The world is waking up to how badly the wool was pulled over our eyes by the media to allow Biden to take office.
No, I think people were very familiar with Biden and knew him well after a very long political career and 8 years as VP. Those who get their 'news' from Fox, etc would always have been ordered to hate Biden anyway.cqueen said:
The liberal hive mind here on pistonheads can't cope with it.
Loads of us here aren't libs.cqueen said:
The red wave is building, surfs up dudes.
Ooh, edgy. 
cqueen said:
Blib said:
Support him or condemn him, it's an undeniable fact.
They're not pro-Biden, they're anti-Trump. The world is waking up to how badly the wool was pulled over our eyes by the media to allow Biden to take office. The liberal hive mind here on pistonheads can't cope with it. The red wave is building, surfs up dudes. Meanwhile, seeing as you like videos, see this one comparing Liz Cheney (an actual adult) with a bunch of GOP candidates who make Biden look like a great orator.
Liz compared to trumpists
tangerine_sedge said:
The only fact on show there, is that Biden has a well documented stammer.
Meanwhile, seeing as you like videos, see this one comparing Liz Cheney (an actual adult) with a bunch of GOP candidates who make Biden look like a great orator.
Liz compared to trumpists
That's an absurd statement. The man was incoherent. Meanwhile, seeing as you like videos, see this one comparing Liz Cheney (an actual adult) with a bunch of GOP candidates who make Biden look like a great orator.
Liz compared to trumpists
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