Hey, Abbott!

The good news about COVID is that President Biden has gotten Johnson & Johnson and Merck to work together to produce enough single-dose vaccines to, along with the Pfizer and Moderna double-dose vaccines, have enough to vaccinate every American by Memorial Day, this possibly ending the COVID pandemic early in the U.S.

The bad news is that, thanks largely to Texas governor Greg Abbott (below), none of that matters.

Abbott repealed face-covering mandates for the entire state and allowed businesses to operate at 100 percent capacity.  In Mississippi, Governor Tate Reeves also rolled back COVID restrictions, but Abbott's actions are far more serious.  His moves not only endangers Texans but people in other parts of the country, given frequent travel between Texas and other states and the fact that Texas has more people than any state except California. 

A lot of people in Texas are angry at Abbott's move, especially Democrats like Beto O'Rourke, who said that Abbott signed "the death warrant for many Texans" with his actions, but even some Republicans are angry at Abbott, many of theme furious over what they consider an attempt to deflect blame for the power crisis that affected the state last month.  Abbott is so clueless that he may has many Texans missing Rick Perry.

Abbott made it clear the has doesn't think COVID is over, and he made it a point through a spokeswoman that "all Texans should follow medical advice and safe practices to continue containing COVID.  The spokeswoman further said, though, "It is clear from the recoveries, the vaccinations, the reduced hospitalizations, and the safe practices that Texans are using, that state mandates are no longer needed. We must now do more to restore livelihoods and normalcy for Texans . . ..  The governor's focus has been, and always will be, protecting the lives and livelihoods of Texans."  If Abbott wants it both ways, fine.  But he shouldn't hide behind a spokeswoman.  He should just come out and face his critics in person.  Don't hold your breath.