Quote for today…
Remember that everyone you meet is afraid of something, loves something, and has lost something. ― H. Jackson Brown
Welcome to “Thursday Numbers!” If you are a first-time visitor, this is the weekly column where I look at the numbers in the news (in descending order) and provide commentary sometimes sprinkled with sarcasm and humor.
This week’s topics include nation, state, and local COVID numbers, unemployment claims, Rosendale & Ukraine, Greg & the lion, SOTU, TWW poll results, Biden approval numbers, more free COVID-19 tests, and much more!
954,519
That is how many people have died in the United States from coronavirus, according to the latest data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. There have been 79,143,885 cases across the country so far. The first death in the USA was reported on February 29, 2020. (Johns Hopkins)
Last week, the death total was 941,909.
Thanks to everyone who wears a mask and has been vaccinated – you are patriots!
556,179
That is how many Montanans have been fully immunized for COVID-19. This is still just 54% of the eligible population. (Source)
Last week, the number of fully immunized Montanans was 554,847.
Find COVID-19 Vaccines Near You by clicking HERE.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Montana’s population in April 2020 was 1,084,225.
215,000
In the week ending February 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 215,000, a decrease of 18,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The previous week’s level was revised up by 1,000 from 232,000 to 233,000. The 4-week moving average was 230,500, a decrease of 6,000 from the previous week’s revised average. The previous week’s average was revised up by 250 from 236,250 to 236,500. (DOL)
Note: On Thursdays, this column is published right after 6:30 a.m. (Montana time), so I can post the latest unemployment numbers.
426-3
The House passed a resolution on Wednesday to declare support for Ukraine’s sovereignty in the face of the invasion ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin while urging an “immediate cease-fire.” Lawmakers in both parties voted near-unanimously in favor of the resolution, 426-3. The only votes in opposition were from three Republicans: Reps. Paul Gosar (Ariz.), Thomas Massie (Ky.) and Matt Rosendale (Mont.). (The Hill)
There is no reason whatsoever that Rosendale should have voted “NAY” on this resolution. Shame on him. (Vote)
M220
That’s the research number of the mountain lion Montana Governor Greg Gianforte killed in December. (WaPo)
I guess with all those millions, one must have some strange hobbies. Gianforte must be compensating for something…
1:01:50
That was the length of President Joe Biden’s first State of the Union address. (Source)
They should boot Presidents off the stage after an hour…
89
This week’s poll question asked, “Would you vote to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve as Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court?”
Here are the results:
YES: 89%
NO: 8%
UNDECIDED: 3%
Thanks for taking part!
78
Nearly 80 percent of those who watched President Biden’s first State of the Union address approved of his remarks, according to a new poll released on Wednesday. A new CBS News/YouGov poll found that 78 percent of surveyed Americans who watched Biden’s address approved of his remarks, while 22 percent disapproved. (The Hill)
Some of the attacks on Biden were uncalled for. I will address some of them on Friday.
50
The Cascade County (Great Falls, MT) City-County Health Department reports that as of Wednesday still only 50% of eligible individuals in the county are fully vaccinated. (Source)
The “Community Level” is still rated as “High” in Cascade County.
C’mon people – get vaccinated!
41.5
According to FiveThirtyEight.com, that is President Joe Biden’s current approval rating. (Source)
Last week, Biden’s approval rating was 42.4%.
4
Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four free at-home COVID-19 tests. If you haven’t already, order yours today. Starting next week, every home in the U.S. will be able to order an additional set of four tests. (covidtests.gov)
Is this a great country or what?
The Western Word 
Gianforte must have been hunting with his Braille rifle not to see the collar on that lion cornered up in the tree. Otherwise it’s bad enough you’re shooting an animal out of a tree with other hunters and a snarling pack of dogs on the ground to protect your brave self, but then you don’t even care that it is a research subject that scientists have spent time and taxpayer money studying.
Some say he should mount it with the collar on! To show the world what a great white hunter he is. I agree. Oh as they say in Swahili, macho mana Bwana Greg!
https://dailymontanan.com/2022/03/03/let-the-cat-out-of-the-bag-governor/
I have a friend that hunts lions with dogs. He’s offered me to come along but I no longer have the legs for it. Look it up, it’s not a walk in the park. Sounds like Gianforte skipped the hard part. Not much different than shooting the wolf someone else trapped. For a price you can “hunt” bison here in Montana if Greg hasn’t already. I’ve always enjoyed hunting and never felt like I was compensating for anything and I’ve “killed everything that walks or crawls at one time or another.” I think they should ban golf and fishing.
In the story Larry posted yesterday Matt was quoted saying the USA “has no legal or moral obligation to come to the aid of either side” in this conflict. So in Matt’s view, no moral obligation for the country that styles itself the exceptional beacon of freedom and democracy to the world to lift a finger or even say a thing when one nation invades another to overthrow democracy and end freedom.
Based on his votes to overturn the 2020 USA election in favor of a wannabe dictator, and now this vote against a simple resolution vote of support for another democracy’s fight against another dictator, there’s only one conclusion: Matt Rosendale hates freedom and democracy, and casts his lot with dictators and authoritarianism. Rosendale continues to demonstrate that he is the most extreme of the extreme.
A guy who has been a politician holding four different offices since 2010 lashing out at “career politicians” in the course of his apologia and lame excuses was fairly humorous, though.
After you step in it, you can’t un-step in it. Sorry, Rosy, but that stuff will forever be on your shoe! And it only enhances that certain air about you!
https://www.krtv.com/news/montana-politics/rosendale-defends-no-vote-on-a-resolution-supporting-the-people-of-ukraine
“I can’t possibly support an expression of solidarity with a free people elsewhere in the world who are being attacked and killed to bring them under the heel of a foreign dictator, because we still have some domestic problems in America and I am incapable of walking and chewing gum at the same time.”
What a loser.
Just be honest for once and admit it Matt – Your nose is firmly and inextricably attached to the behind of Putin’s poodle, Donald Trump, and you will do whatever he tells you to do no matter how execrable, undemocratic, and un-American.
3,272
The number of times trump’s “beautiful” wall was breached by smugglers in the last three years. Apparently it’s quite easy to saw through with ordinary tools. Then (get this), they fill in the breach with putty that looks just like the steel beams to make it easier the next time. Genius. I just have to laugh when I hear the MAGAs screaming build the wall. Why?
https://www.yahoo.com/news/official-trump-impenetrable-border-wall-100328595.html