As of Friday, 2,900 people had died of COVID-19 in Colorado. 210,000 Coloradans were diagnosed with the disease. 81% of Colorado's ICU beds were in use as were 50% of the state's adult critical care ventilators. As of Saturday, 1 in every 49 Coloradans was contagious or infected.

Even Governor Jared Polis and the First Partner now have it.

Dr. Fauci was on TV today and he said we should prepare for a third wave. As for today's numbers:

More than 91,500 people were hospitalized with the virus on Saturday, with 18,000 in intensive care units. That's according to data compiled by the COVID Tracking Project, which collects and analyzes data from across the United States. Over 6,000 patients were on ventilators.

I hope everyone here found something to be thankful about. I was happy for the "alone" time. I made a lasagna instead of a turkey, and invited a single friend over. We ate outside on the balcony, seated 6 feet apart. [More...]

I can't think of a time our country has been in worse shape. Between the pandemic and Donald Trump, it will take a generation at least -- well beyond my life span -- to regroup and recoup what we had that went down the drain with Trump's ineptitude and inability to believe in anything outside the bubble of his alternate universe built on false facts.

I had hoped that he would have quit by now. Instead, he's making himself more of a laughing stock, "here and anround the world" (as CNN would say).

Why isn't someone directing the FAA to shut down air traffic for Thanksgiving week? Could it be Donald Trump wants as many of us to die as possible as revenge for his election loss? Even he isn't flying to Mar-a-Lago on AF One for the holiday. That ought to tell you something. (Yes, maybe he's afraid his "things" will be gone when he gets back, but what does he own at the White House beside his clothes and the mattress he had shipped in? Doesn't the rest belong to the Government? Answer: I have no idea, which is why I'm asking the question.)

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

• Trump has dropped his Arizona lawsuit.
• 130 Secret Service agents who protected Trump at his rallies have contracted coronavirus
• Illinois, Maryland and Washington may get lockdowns
• Trump's PA law firm Porter Wright moved to withdraw from representing him today.
• Another day, another record shattered:

More than 153,000 new coronavirus cases on Thursday as some 66,000 people were hospitalized nationwide.

We can now begin the process of putting science ahead of incompetence and working together, get control over this virus instead of continuing to allow it to control us. It's time for us to get to work. [More...]

Democrats have turned some major ruby red states blue: The media has now called Georgia (in addition to AZ and PA) for Joe Biden.

The Electoral Vote total is now 306-232.

Goodbye Red States, Goodbye Trumps, Welcome Biden/Harris, we've got a lot of damage to reverse and a lot to do. So let's get to work.

Honestly, I'm much more concerned about COVID-19 than I am about how Trump leaves office. No matter how he tries to spin it, Trump's lasting legacy will not be that he was cheated and robbed in his bid for re-election. It will be the tens of thousands of deaths he failed to prevent because of his failure as a leader.

I am electioned-out. I haven't read the news about him or his lawsuits or the vote tally in a few days (which feels like an eternity and has been quite liberating). But I'm going to break my silence of the past few days to share my prediction as how Donald Trump plans to get himself out of the election fiasco he has created, and why we shouldn't fall into the trap of celebrating his defeat on Thanksgiving.

I predict within days Donald Trump will announce he quits. That's right. He'll resign. He will say the vote was rigged and since no one will do anything about it, the country doesn't deserve him. Before Thanksgiving (or certainly before Christmas) I predict he'll head to Mar-a-Lago, never to be seen at the White House again. Glory, Glory Hallelujah. [More...]

The time has come to leave Donald Trump behind. He's toast. The fat lady sang. The Supreme Court is not coming to his rescue. He's lived high on our dime (and the dime of the Secret Service covering his and his kids' international and domestic travel) long enough.)

As soon as the media stops covering Donald Trump, which it will shortly, he'll be on his way to somewhere like Abu Dhabi faster than the speeding bullet trains in Asia can get him there. (He can't possibly be dumb enough to think he's safe from arrest at Mar-a-Lago and he would never be able to adapt to a non-opulent lifestyle or a place where English isn't widely spoken). So why is he hanging on to his desk in the oval office so tightly? What is he afraid of? My theory is five-fold: [More....]

Update: Great speech by Kamala Harris. Biden now comes running down tarmac - he certainly seems very physically fit for his age. He's really happy. He talks about unity and healing.

Original Post: Kamala Harris starts with a quote from John Lewis about democracy. She adds:

"We the people have the power to build a better future." You (the voters) protected our democracy.

She is very gracious, always talking about us rather than her. Good for her that she is making us want to celebrate.

"You chose hope and unity decency science and yes truth." [More...]

It is so heartening to see the streets filled with youth and people of color cheering and dancing in cities across America.

Congratulations, America. You won. The witch is gone.

Let's all take a few days to breathe our sighs of relief.

Yes, the vote tallies in the four critical states can change, but probably not enough to make Donald Trump anything but a loser. Two of the lawsuits he filed yesterday have already been dismissed. I'm not celebrating yet, but this song has been popping into my head since yesterday:

All your seasick sailors, they are rowing home
All your reindeer armies, are all going home
The lover who just walked out your door
Has taken all her blankets from the floor
The carpet, too, is moving under you
And it’s all over now, Baby Blue

Leave your stepping stones behind, something calls for you
Forget the dead you’ve left, they will not follow you
The vagabond who’s rapping at your door
Is standing in the clothes that you once wore
Strike another match, go start anew
And it’s all over now, Baby Blue

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

Update 7:40 pm: CNN just interviewed Richard Barrett, the head of vote counting somewhere in Georgia. He was the best, most composed, intelligible guest all night (even though the guy interviewing him was a jerk. He asked, "Are all of these ballots legal?" Like the guy would say no?) He was also very nice looking. And he managed to keep repeating the word "adjudcated" like it was sexy or something. I hope he gets promoted.

New numbers in Maricopa, AZ increase Joe Biden's lead the state.

Biden is also ahead in Nevada, and those two states are all he needs,according to John King. Biden does not need PA. And he may take Georgia for good measure.

[More...]

Update 8:06 p.m. MT: The latest numbers are not encouraging. Trump is now ahead in Ohio, PA, NC, and GA. Trump is on the rails in Arizona. John King keeps comparing Biden's numbers to Hillary's 2016 numbers. I'm not sure they mean that much. He also keeps talking about the "suburban revolt" against Trump. And the changing demographics. But if Trump takes PA, FL, Ohio, WI, NC and MI, I don't see a Democrat win, no matter what Arizona does.

Update 7:31 pm MT: Biden takes Colorado! Hickenlooper wins the U.S. Senate seat, dethroning Trump ally Cory Gardner. John King is talking faster than I can listen. But I suspect Trump will take Florida, Michigan, North Carolina and Texas. I don't know about Ohio or PA.

Update: John King on CNN says Trump is out if Biden takes Ohio. No Republican has ever won the White House without winning Ohio.

Update: 6:30 pm MT: Donald Trump has won Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana; West Virginia; Democrat Joe Biden has won Connecticut, Delaware, Vermont, the District of Colombia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island.

Ohio, PA and Florida are still in play. Trump is currentlhy ahead in Michigan. Biden is ahdead in Ohio including the suburbs of Cleveland. Polls close in Colorado in 30 minutes.[More...]

There are other things happening in the world, besides the presidential election.

Here's a place to discuss them, all topics welcome.

If you want escapism, I recommend Tehran on Apple TV (only 8 episodes) and as always, Money Heist and Reign on Netflix.