Trump Speculates Wildly About Coronavirus on National Television and We Barely Bat an Eye
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Politics
Trump Speculates Wildly About Coronavirus on National Television and We Barely Bat an Eye
Photo credit: Mark Wilson - Getty Images
It's a measure of just how far we've spelunked into the abyss these days that people genuinely applauded a milquetoast message from a president telling them to follow the directions of public health officials amid a possible pandemic. What was once the bare minimum is now a heroic act of statesmanship. Suggesting people listen to the Centers for Disease Control is Churchill's we will fight them on the beaches .
It was a former president, of course, because the current president has demonstrated repeatedly that, due to his pathological self-interest, his main priority is keeping the Dow Jones Industrial Average up as he seeks re-election this year. The novel coronavirus—or more accurately, the disease COVID-19—does not represent the apocalypse, but it is deadlier than the garden-variety flu and very contagious and presents a serious risk to elderly and infirm people who contract it. If people are not going to wash their hands and stay home when they're sick in order to protect themselves, they should do so in order to protect others. But none of this was the message from our fearless national leader Wednesday evening, when he called into Sean Hannity's Fox News program to offer his take on "the corona flu." Yes, he did just try to rebrand it.
The point is also not whether the death rate may be lower than 3.4 percent, but whether the President of the United States should say things in a public forum about a potentially epidemic disease on a "hunch." We no longer hold our leadership to any sort of evidentiary standards. There is no expectation that the president will demonstrate respect for the scientific method or operate using any of the empirical tools we've developed as a civilization since the Enlightenment. The concept that our leaders have an obligation not to speculate wildly about public health issues is long gone. Just say whatever! Say what you want to be true!
There's reason to believe that as a champion bullshitter, Trump genuinely struggles to discern any difference between the world as it is and the world as he wants it to be. In fact, he's in a constant process of convincing others—and himself—that what he wants to be true is reality. He wants the coronavirus to be no big deal, and to not disrupt the economy in an election year, so he will say that's the case until enough people believe it that it might as well be true.
Until, perhaps, it's not. As we've discussed before, this president has rarely run up against genuine external crises —that is, problems that are not of his own making—while in office. Like Hurricane Maria, this threatens to be an intercession of reality into the fantasy world he's continually constructing around himself, a world where everything is tilted or twisted, a lot or a little, for the benefit of one Donald J. Trump. Let's hope the Centers for Disease Control is allowed to operate outside the event horizon of his bullshit black hole.
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He is a moronic imbecile, and people will defend the bs he spews daily.
We had a President that said Duct Tape and Saran wrap on windows and doors would work.
Bet you hated that idea when it was proposed.
Who said that ?
Do you want Trump to say the same type thing …… NOW !
Whataboutism at its finest....so you are defending crooked donnie's "hunch"?
Do you know who put forth that idea, and do you think Trump should propose the same thing on this "Different Flu" scare ?
I really don't care, that is in the past...should crooked donnie spew forth his "hunch" over what WHO says....it's a simple yes or no answer.
We can see from you that Trump's bullshit is working.
You clearly have no clue what the difference is between coronavirus, the typical common cold, and the flu - including mortality rates, vaccine availabilities, etc. Keep listening to Trump, and you never will.
It would have been nice if Trump had said something similar to what Obama said yesterday. But then, being Presidential is beyond his capabilities.
You don't know !
"should crooked donnie spew forth his "hunch" over what WHO says"
Are you building a "Virus Shelter" as we speak, 'cause you don't "believe" what the administration is saying ?
Wouldn't surprise me if Trump did propose something like that, completely ignoring that it is only short term protection. When the Bush administration did it, that was all it was intended to do. They actually do that in Israel.
Actually.... I do !
Simple influenza has killed more folks this year .... in this Country. ...than the coronathingy has to date.
Didn't you know that ?
Remind me about whose "Clue'd in" again ?
Yet ……. he didn't !
kinda sucks huh !
It was actually the "new" Homeland Security Department in 2003...
It was actually the "new" Homeland Security Department in 2003..."
Supported by as seen on TV….. whom ?
Did you follow the "Directions" ?
Right, because the coronavirus just got here and has barely begun to spread. Flu season started months ago.
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And still ... Killing !
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A classic Ad Hominem attack style we have come to expect from the left.
Personally attack the opponents intelligence not the point of debate.
Very telling ....
Well you can claim that George Bush supported it but then you would have to prove it.
All I can find are references to the US Fire chief who originally said it and the DHS support for it.
I never saw Bush on TV saying to do this.
The Bush Administration's new Homeland Security Department put out that "idea" due to possible terrorist attacks, not to avoid the flu or any viruses.
The whom was ..... Tom Ridge ( the Assistant to the President )..... in charge of Homeland Security, as created by George W. Bush, IS/WAS the BUSH administration.
Media was outraged by "The "Administrations" call for taping.
President George W. Bush didn't refute what "HIS" head of homeland security said.
Biological attacks ….. right ?
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When someone makes a comment about how the flu has killed more people in the US than coronavirus has to date, and apparently thinks they scored some kind of point - well, that's an extremely ignorant comment.
Often found to be made by mental deficient uninformed think they know it alls
The flu has been infecting people this whole entire time and started ramping up in October-November. Nobody knew anything about COVID-19 until December. It's only March. During that time frame one would expect more deaths from the flu than from COVID-19.
Of course, I only have a BS in Enviromental Health. I only took biology and chemistry classes, what the hell do I know, right?
Actually that did work as long as one had a weather station and knew how to build a system that brought in fresh air on a positive pressure system. Preppers have been building effective basement based filtered air systems since the 50s.
Of course it's lower than 3.4%. Pointing that out is a public service.
No educated person believes it's actually 3.4%
Just for fun let's pretend you know an educated person.
I ignore anything coming from the executive on this issue. I literally dismiss every single word they have to say. I take the advice of the CDC, and that is about it. Trump has proven during his presidency, and even more disgustingly during this potential pandemic, that he and his reelection numbers are all that matters.
On any issue.
I have reviewed the article and removed all off-topic comments. I am reopening the article. STAY ON TOPIC! The topic is: Trump Speculates Wildly About Coronavirus On National Television And We Barely Bat An Eye... translated: President Trump's reaction to and comments on the coronavirus. Any off topic comments will be removed.
Now he's crowing about how the virus is good because it's keeping Americans spending money here in America.
Don't tell that to United Airlines.....
Unfortunately for you Americans Trump did not ban the virus from entering the USA.
Congress would have impeached him for conduct unbecoming an open border maggot.
That's because it came across to the US border from China, not from Mexico. And there is no border wall between the US and China. Yet....
I guess we would not need any military of any kind with the protection of the dome, so the money spent on military could be spent to build the dome. IF...there is any money left after Trump finishes building his wall with money taken from the military budget now.
I was just thinking that the words in the title of this seed "bat an eye" are kind of unfortunate since these serious viruses seem to have their origin in bats.
Bats????? Some do, most don't.
That's true, the Louisville Sluggers aren't included.
Good catch.
That's an awfully weird looking mask - seems to be designed for an anteater or elephant. Wait a sec - isn't it a sanitary napkin?