What's the matter with Donald Trump.

[Maruzo]

Originally Posted by AVB-AMG

bcredliner:

I concur with your statements above. Trump's mismanagement and lack of leadership in dealing with the COVID-19 virus pandemic was a disgrace that has contributed to the staggering loss of over 270,000 people in our country.

I am one of the many Americans who were amazed that Trump was able to win the election back in 2016. But after much thought and consideration, I have come to realize that back then Donald Trump recognized and harnessed the anger over racial displacement disguised as economic anxiety, of many Americans, along with their resentment of being ignored by traditional Republicans and Democrats, and then exasperated by their viscous hatred for HRC, to win the presidency.

Aside from all of Trump's many personal faults, I believe that Trump would have been re-elected if he had done just one thing right:
Succinctly: wear a face mask.....

Joking aside, I agree that if back in January, when he learned of the true potential looming disaster of the COVID-19 virus pandemic, if he had immediately responded with a serious, sensible, coordinated national effort to combat the virus spread, we would probably not have lost as many fellow citizens as we have and the virus pandemic would not have cratered his re-election bid. But his denial of its severity and subsequent mediocre and hands-off attitude, cost him the votes of many Americans, regardless of their political affiliation. Ultimately, he will have plenty of free time to ruminate on that in the coming weeks and months…

AVB-AMG

Well said. His own ineptitude caused the loss of his greatest potential triumph and chance for another term. But people don’t change just because it’s in their best interest. When faced with real threat, his true color showed and he ran away from responsibility and quickly washes his hands off of this crisis.

He was a commander of no show during most of this year when it came to helping steer the national conversation on proper protection strategies to fight the outbreak.

Time and again he upstages the scientists and pushed for unheard of cures that turned out to Be completely useless.

He can’t even bring himself to properly convince the public to use a face mask, much less social distance or avoid large gatherings.

Faced with no leadership from the very top, our country has now become the perfect breeding ground for the covid virus. We are on track to have the outbreak infect over the entire population in the very nearly future.

Will Biden help our current situation? I’m hoping he will. His priority is very different from Trump’s own. I think he will help tremendously.

As for the bogus election fraud narrative Trumps been pushing 24/7. Even a life long Republican who voted for him twice came out and said “ this has to stop”. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas...=1000501591747

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by Maruzo

We are on track to have the outbreak infect over the entire population in the very nearly future.

What do you mean by this?

[Maruzo]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

What do you mean by this?

Remember the herd immunity you mentioned a couple of months ago?

I said the goal should never be to intentionally allow it to happen, since doing that is basically giving up the fight against this virus outbreak and just let the virus weed out the weak and feeble.

While nature does that all the time, we shouldn't allow that to happen if we have the right tools and the right strategy to avoid LETTING hundreds of thousands die unnecessarily.

I think that's what Trump wanted to do from the start. He was basically giving us up to the mercy of the virus right from the get go.

But that's just my opinion.

The fact is, we've failed so miserably in trying to contain this pandemic that the tide of the infection is probably at a stage where the rate of infection is far outpacing the effort of containment.

Dr. Fauci and many others has been warning us we'll see a massive increase in infection this winter season. He's right on the money.

The vaccine wont be ready for the general public for at least a few months.

I think that's why Biden is asking the American public to mask up for 100 days. Give the distribution channel time to set up and distribute the vaccine in time to put this virus out of commission.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by Maruzo

We are on track to have the outbreak infect over the entire population in the very nearly future.

I just wanted to know what you meant by the above. It didn't compute. We are sitting at almost 15.5 million which is nowhere near the entire population. I just wanted to clarify your statement.

Originally Posted by Maruzo

I think that's why Biden is asking the American public to mask up for 100 days. Give the distribution channel time to set up and distribute the vaccine in time to put this virus out of commission.

Definitely. Masks should be worn by all in public spaces. People not doing so are being obstinate for the sake of being so. I said that since day 1, when the CDC and WHO were advising against it.

Regarding herd immunity. I was taking the position (or trying to) there was likely not going to be anything we could do (besides masking up) until a vaccine was available. That's all. Regardless of who is in power the American public is not going to comply with a long term lockdown. The people are too divided and most lack the financial ability to stop working, as Americans don't save very well given our debt and consumer driven economy. If we reached herd immunity first, so be it, but we are obviously far from that with the "low" number of cases relative to population (~4.7% of the populous).

I guess I'm just more pragmatic in thinking that, realistically, we were not going to be able to save everyone and/or stamp out this virus in quick fashion. Many who passed had underlying conditions and were vulnerable. I obviously feel for all of those who have lost someone. I have multiple family members who were infected and we were all very fortunate that their effects were minor.

Yes, I have always agreed Trump is an idiot. But placing "hundreds of thousands" of dead at his feet is probably not only incorrect, but closed-minded. I think I am just tired of the tribal politics being spewed from both sides of the political aisle. It's a disservice to the country every bit as much as Trump's challenging the election results is.

[Maruzo]

He’s more than just an idiot. To simply state he’s an idiot is to dismiss or discount his negative impact on our country.

The buck does stop with him, and his negative impact on the covid effort accounts for a large portion of the blame on the 284,000 dead and counting.

We were never going to come out of this without significant casualties, but we could have saved a lot more people if he had done what he needed to do instead of taking the cowards way out.

That part of blame will remain his long after this pandemic is over.

I don’t know why you keep thinking this is tribal politics. I simply pointed out his fucks ups.

[bcredliner]

Expanding on won't go away---With a 50 percent supporting Trump and the realization Trump will likely start his own network or be in the news as much as possible some other way, I don't expect many of the 50 percent to stop supporting Trump. They will still blindly follow his lead.

I think Trump's 'disruption' of Biden's presidency will begin at the inauguration. He won't be there and he will certainly do something to try to take the limelight. He will invite his followers to protest and will 'endorse' violence. It won't be long before we see if those that that condone violence are grandstanders, will become violent or are just bullies.

Just around the corner are the conspiracy theories surrounding how the vaccine is distributed and the order of who gets immunized. Trumpers will be enraged when Biden starts reversing Trump's lack of action concerning COVID 19. As an example, when Biden enacts more restrictive COVID 19 restrictions that will kick start their rebellion. His followers are going to display their support of Trump by continuing to resist the guidelines, especially the wearing of masks as that is a visible statement of their support. With the current infection rate spiking and around 40 percent of Americans not following the guidelines it is going to get a lot worse before it gets better. The vaccine will help but not that much until late 2021 or even into 2022. Trump will blame Biden.

I agree the press will try to minimize Trump exposure as time goes on but that is dependent on what happens with their ratings by doing so.

The House and Senate are dis-functional and I think will stay that way until there are term limits and the electoral college is eliminated. If the Senate becomes controlled by the Democrats that will force the Republican to alter their strategy but not much will happen unless they see erosion in the number of Republican seats in the midterm elections.

It sounds like doom and gloom but I think it is close to our reality for a long time to come. Using COVID 19 as an example. In spite of an appalling number of deaths only 60 percent of the nation believes masks are necessary to get the virus under control. At one point we could rationalize citizens were not informed, then it could be said they were misinformed, then it could be said they were ignorant, just didn't understand. All that's is left is stupid and "you can't fix stupid".

I don't know of any process that can stay as is for 200 years. I think that applies to a democracy and our constitution. As is said, change is inevitable and humans resist change. As long we don't embrace the needed changes in our process and procedures we have a fault underlining our national progress. At some point there will be an earthquake it is only a question of the magnitude.

Sounds like the sky is falling and I believe it could be. The good news is that, in spite of the background noise that will occur, the next 4 years will be a calmer, utilizing more common sense and logic, strategic thinking, an empathetic and safer time. And with the jibber jabber continuing it might keep us from going from a huge relief his is not longer the president to complacency the work that needs to be done is not critical for the future of what we stand for.

[Maruzo]

That is a somber yet very realistic prediction of things to come.

I do hope Biden's message of unity and cooperation will get through somehow and take center stage. So we can move on in the right direction.

And if Biden wins reelection and Kamala takes over midterm, that may give us enough time to remove some of the damages done by the outgoing administration.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by Maruzo

That is a somber yet very realistic prediction of things to come.

I do hope Biden's message of unity and cooperation will get through somehow and take center stage. So we can move on in the right direction.

And if Biden wins reelection and Kamala takes over midterm, that may give us enough time to remove some of the damages done by the outgoing administration.

Where is Karma for Trump when we need it most. Seems that it takes longest for the worst. I remember when a division president was after me and other co-workers for almost 10 years because we took him to task. One day the Chicago Tribune had an article in section one about a case of domestic violence. He beat her. She was very tiny and quiet. Later when he was watching TV she knocked him out with a frying pan. Only then did she call the police. He was arrested. The bruise on his forehead and the two black eyes were still there when he happened to walk by me being escorted out of the building by security, carrying his box of personal things. I would like to tell the story to Nancy Pelosi and give her a frying pan, there's still time. Would make quite a picture leaving the White house surrounded by MPs with two black eyes walking to the helicopter for the last time.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by Maruzo

He’s more than just an idiot. To simply state he’s an idiot is to dismiss or discount his negative impact on our country...

I don’t know why you keep thinking this is tribal politics. I simply pointed out his fucks ups.

Because he's barely more of a money grubbing idiot than most of our elected officials. The rest of them just go out of their way to hide it. So out of touch with reality and the majority of the American populous that someone like Trump can actually be elected. It's a reflection of the system itself.

Please enumerate the damages that Trump has done. I very much want to know because as far as I can tell... aside from covid, nothing is that different. And the few things that are, will be reversed by Biden/Harris (Paris climate accord, trade, etc). Not that those things help the average US citizen in any way.

bcredliner is right. Major changes need to take place, campaign reform, term limits, lobbying, Citizen's United, etc. Until that happens, our government is not acting in our best interest. Whether they are on the blue side of the aisle, or the red. 250 years is a good run for a republic. The people have lost their self reliance and sense of pride in individual responsibility.

[Maruzo]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

Where is Karma when we need it most. Seems the it takes longest for the worst. I remember when a division president was after me and other co-workers for almost 10 years because we took him to task. One day the Chicago Tribune had an article in section one about a case of domestic violence. He beat her. She was very tiny and quiet. Later when he was watching TV she knocked him out with a frying pan.Only then did she call the police. He was arrested. The bruise on his forehead and the two black eyes were still there when he happened to walk by me being escorted out of the building by security, carrying his box of personal things. I would like to tell the story to Nancy Pelosi and give her a frying pan, there's still time. Would make quite a picture leaving the White house surrounded by MPs with two black eyes walking to the helicopter for the last time.

LOL That would make my day as well!