Administration's efforts to minimize talk of COVID-19 don't minimize its effects.
Read the whole story
Read the whole story
White House downplays COVID-19 messaging to open business faster
- Thread starter JournalBot
- Start date
Trump has an "idea."
"Experts" contradict that "idea."
"Experts" are sidelined.
Isn't this getting old by now?
"Experts" contradict that "idea."
"Experts" are sidelined.
Isn't this getting old by now?
Upvote
360
(365
/
-5)
This is like a poorly written science fiction movie. The fallout from the likely wave of infections to come from opening up prematurely (and from people not taking it seriously) is going to make what's happened already look tame.
The only positive I can think of is that the worse things go, the less likely Trump will get reelected.
The only positive I can think of is that the worse things go, the less likely Trump will get reelected.
Upvote
200
(202
/
-2)
There is simply no floor to the feckless idiocy of the Orange Twitterwauler's regime.
Upvote
113
(119
/
-6)
A new "Mission Accomplished" goal soon to be achieved.
At this point I just feel like I have to throw up my hands. More parts of this country will get really, really bad. I hope they recognize that sooner than later, but I can't do anything about it (at least not before November), so all I can do is ensure I don't have to visit those regions until this whole thing is over.
Upvote
95
(100
/
-5)
Fancy Internet Person
Ars Praefectus
The behavior of villains in fiction have to make some sort of narrative sense. Unfortunately, that does not apply in real life. There is nothing that forces the US President to try to save people's lives or wellbeing or businesses or anything.
Upvote
93
(97
/
-4)
Steven Miller's wife has tested positive?
My evil side sends hopes and prayers...
My evil side sends hopes and prayers...
Upvote
168
(170
/
-2)
It's rich, coming from a group who are trying to blame China for not doing enough and not being open enough with its information, to be consistently over months trying to underplay the epidemic.
You'd almost think they are just accusing people of what they're doing.
You'd almost think they are just accusing people of what they're doing.
Upvote
260
(264
/
-4)
Along these lines, there is a report that the Office of Special Counsel has recommended that Dr. Rick Bright - who was demoted from his post at BARDA following complaining about a lack of preparedness for COVID - be reinstated.
That said, the board that is supposed to act on these recommendations has no current seated Senate-confirmed members.
So I'm betting that the Administration will try to bury Dr. Bright even further to pursue these same aims of "burying COVID news".
That said, the board that is supposed to act on these recommendations has no current seated Senate-confirmed members.
So I'm betting that the Administration will try to bury Dr. Bright even further to pursue these same aims of "burying COVID news".
Upvote
111
(113
/
-2)
She's already married to Steven Miller, really nothing a virus can throw at her that's going to be any worse than what she's endured at this point.
Upvote
216
(221
/
-5)
Upvote
95
(96
/
-1)
These people must be awful at Chess, they can't see more than a move ahead. I mean they can re-open businesses, but will anyone show up? Probably some, but can most restaurants operate at 25% or 50% or capacity? Not for long.
And then there is the whole purpose of this which is really to throw people off of unemployment. I agree it is important that the economy restart and people work, but that's not what this is about. It's about letting people die when we could help them, just like we help the corporations.
Who is going to vote for a party that basically wants you to either work or die, and to not complain about it, while bailing out the big companies? Oh I know, millions and millions of stupid, stupid people.
I'm trying to be hopeful that that this pandemic is the one thing that will pierce the fog of stupidity, but I just don't know.
And then there is the whole purpose of this which is really to throw people off of unemployment. I agree it is important that the economy restart and people work, but that's not what this is about. It's about letting people die when we could help them, just like we help the corporations.
Who is going to vote for a party that basically wants you to either work or die, and to not complain about it, while bailing out the big companies? Oh I know, millions and millions of stupid, stupid people.
I'm trying to be hopeful that that this pandemic is the one thing that will pierce the fog of stupidity, but I just don't know.
Upvote
227
(231
/
-4)
I'm 61 and have been somewhat politically aware for a bit more than three decades.
Can someone older than me speak to how our current White House leadership compares to others in years past. Has it EVER been this feckless?
No snark intended.
Can someone older than me speak to how our current White House leadership compares to others in years past. Has it EVER been this feckless?
No snark intended.
Upvote
106
(111
/
-5)
florinandrei
Ars Praetorian
As someone who grew up under a true communist dictatorship, all this s**t sounds really, really familiar.
Upvote
250
(253
/
-3)
And obviously chloroquine was a total flop.
But even the drug that apparently works is starting to become a disaster of its very own due to mismanagement. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business ... rc=nl_most
There is nothing this administration cannot screw up.
Upvote
84
(87
/
-3)
My country, Vietnam have just under 300 cases of COVID 19, 0 death in total since the beginning of the outbreak. (There was one former COVID 19 patient that was cleared of the virus but sadly passed away due to pre-existing liver failure that exposed the patient to the virus by being hospitalized in the first place. Also there is a severe case where a British pilot who is in critical condition and the doctors are evaluating lungs transplant for)
It have been close to a month since the last communal transmitted case were reported in Vietnam and just now, right now does the Government recommend "Every citizen to adapt to a new normal, be vigilant, be prepared but resuming normal business activities". That is with schools closed down since the Lunar new year which was in the tail end of January, and everything else in shutdown mode shortly after that.
There were stretches of weeks and weeks were Vietnam did not report a single new case. That wasn't without trying though. Vietnam have conducted 261000 test for COVID 19 and caught just under 300, that's close to 1000 test per positive cases.
This is what the US should have done to even remotely think about re-opening everything and kick start the economy again
It have been close to a month since the last communal transmitted case were reported in Vietnam and just now, right now does the Government recommend "Every citizen to adapt to a new normal, be vigilant, be prepared but resuming normal business activities". That is with schools closed down since the Lunar new year which was in the tail end of January, and everything else in shutdown mode shortly after that.
There were stretches of weeks and weeks were Vietnam did not report a single new case. That wasn't without trying though. Vietnam have conducted 261000 test for COVID 19 and caught just under 300, that's close to 1000 test per positive cases.
This is what the US should have done to even remotely think about re-opening everything and kick start the economy again
Upvote
261
(264
/
-3)
Upvote
85
(88
/
-3)
That's true in most cases, unless you're talking about recent chunks of the DC universe.
Upvote
25
(26
/
-1)
Paywalled for me, but lemme guess: it's only being distributed to red states, right?
Upvote
46
(49
/
-3)
If you think the goal of playing chess is to fairly win an intellectual contest through cleverness and discipline then yes, they suck bigly. OTOH if the point is to loudly distract your opponent to open the opportunity to grab their wallet and house keys, then immediately proclaim victory and strut away, then you'll be the loser.
Upvote
94
(96
/
-2)
The thing that scares me the most is the apparent lack of knowledge by the administration and the CDC. I feel I am left to my own devices in dealing with this situation.
Glad ARS has Beth to keep us straight! Still, more specific guidelines would be helpful. Let's defeat this thing.
Postscript; It is extremely difficult to hold an exponential process stable. I am at a loss to explain how the number of reported cases in the U.S. doesn't decay or explode (unless it is being actively managed). It' also interesting how the number of cases seems to be periodic (about 7 days), unless that's an artifact of detection and reporting.
Glad ARS has Beth to keep us straight! Still, more specific guidelines would be helpful. Let's defeat this thing.
Postscript; It is extremely difficult to hold an exponential process stable. I am at a loss to explain how the number of reported cases in the U.S. doesn't decay or explode (unless it is being actively managed). It' also interesting how the number of cases seems to be periodic (about 7 days), unless that's an artifact of detection and reporting.
Upvote
53
(56
/
-3)
Fancy Internet Person
Ars Praefectus
Cruel people who think the people who die are/must be (be definition) weak, contaminated, and unfit will vote for this. In other words, the Republican Party.
Upvote
87
(90
/
-3)
This is brash but politically clever. Trump's approach has been to dodge negative press by assigning responsibility of fault to others, like governors. At the same time he wants to be in a position to take credit for any progress made.
Being the face of re-opening, which will happen sooner or later anyways, but offloading the management of that re-opening to the governors puts him in a perfect position to deflect blame to others if reopening is mismanaged, and accept credit as the economy improves.
Being the face of re-opening, which will happen sooner or later anyways, but offloading the management of that re-opening to the governors puts him in a perfect position to deflect blame to others if reopening is mismanaged, and accept credit as the economy improves.
Upvote
103
(106
/
-3)
The strategy is evidently to declare victory, talk up what a great job they did, and try to sweep under the rug all the bodies which continue to accumulate as a result of their incompetence.
Upvote
86
(87
/
-1)
Looking at the reopening protestors and people at Trump rallies, I find it quite ironic that they are ones who consider other people "weak and unfit".
Upvote
113
(115
/
-2)
Upvote
63
(66
/
-3)
True enough. Both sides are playing, but each has different rules. Or rather, one side has none and everyone let's them get away with it.
Upvote
50
(51
/
-1)
You see, your country has dealt with true hardship in the past and understands what is ACTUALLY a sacrifice and what's cry baby nonsense over being inconvenienced.
In the USA we're so coddled that we'd rather a substantial number of us die (as long as we don't know them personally) than be mildly inconvenienced. Then, once people we know DO start to die, we'll blame minorities and non-binary people for God's wrath being visited upon us.
Upvote
120
(130
/
-10)
I literally cannot smash my head into my desk any harder without causing damage to both head and desk.
I understand the economy is hurting but is it really that bad for the Pres to put aside innocent lives in his quest to save it?
I understand the economy is hurting but is it really that bad for the Pres to put aside innocent lives in his quest to save it?
Upvote
36
(38
/
-2)
Upvote
91
(100
/
-9)
Fancy Internet Person
Ars Praefectus
If he was an ordinary person, his odds would be bad. Early detection and intervention may tip the odds in his favor.
Upvote
51
(52
/
-1)
More likely than if it were otherwise, yes.
But he has access to the best medical care available. Not to mention all the bleach he can drink.
Upvote
90
(91
/
-1)
"The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense." Tom Clancy
Upvote
69
(70
/
-1)