Kady: From quibble to blunt. That's okay. Here is my view as explained by (also) a conservatiove columnist “Had social distancing measures begun a week earlier, 36,000 lives could have been saved, according to Columbia University researchers. Instituting measures two weeks earlier would have spared more than 80 percent of the cases and deaths, their research suggests. The Trump administration’s delinquency in recognizing the severity of the virus and the extent of community spread already underway by February resulted in the unnecessary death of tens of thousands of Americans.”

Jennifer Rubin conservative columnist Washington Post 5/25/20

So, the problem I have is that you are correct on how the infection spiked and where; however, I feel you are not willing to accept that the Trump responsibility which has been supported by far too many of Republicans of ignoring and/or promoting falsehoods regarding C-19 is the source of the epic spread. Consider the Obama reaction to the diseases he and his administration faced. They took decisive, global action and followed what the facts via the scientists advised. Recent history can be quite compelling.

As for Texas: the same article goes on to deal with a significant study: "The Imperial College model and other studies show infection rates spiking in Texas, Arizona and Alabama. Cases have been rising dramatically as Texas continues to relax restrictions on everything from tanning salons to movie theaters, leading former Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke to tweet:

Beto O'Rourke

✔

@BetoORourke

A deadly lesson in failed leadership: Texas leads the country in uncontrolled spread of coronavirus. Despite what Trump & co. (Abbott & Patrick) say, stay home if you can & wear a mask if you have to go out. It will save lives."

So, I suppose one has to be sensible and data driven; however, I think it is naive to say that "party affiliation has not affected any of this"-

and I say that with all due respect to you. Robert