Posted on 03/12/2020 11:11:08 AM PDT by karpov
When President Trump sees a political threat, his instinct is to deny, double down and hit back. That has often been politically effective, but in the case of the novel coronavirus it has undermined his ability to lead.
It’s not accurate, as the press reported last week, that the President called the virus a “hoax.” He said the criticisms of his Administration were a hoax. Yet his public remarks too often continue to give the impression that he views the virus more as another chance for political combat than as a serious public-health problem.
White House advisers last week said the virus is being “contained” despite contrary evidence. On Monday, after suggesting “fake news” was driving the stock-market rout, the President tweeted: “So last year 37,000 Americans died from the common Flu. It averages between 27,000 and 70,000 per year. Nothing is shut down, life & the economy go on. At this moment there are 546 confirmed cases of CoronaVirus, with 22 deaths. Think about that!”
Like the common flu, except the death rate from the virus may be ten times higher. Like the common flu, except the U.S. population has no built-up immunity, so the virus left unchecked could infect a significantly higher share of the population at a faster rate, overwhelming the medical system.
We hope the dire coronavirus prognostications turn out not to pass, and no one knows how the coming months will play out. Yet with stock markets falling, schools canceling classes, companies emptying their offices, and nations locking down borders and some cities, Americans want steady leadership.
The biggest failure so far has been on testing when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention produced contaminated test kits and the Food and Drug Administration was slow to approve private alternatives.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
I’ve decided to be optimistic. They way everyone is panicking and being extra cautious, I think this thing will pretty much pass in the next month. I don’t know what is going on in Italy, but I think it is a cultural failing. Americans are not so touchy freely and prone to kiss everyone we meet. We were pretty distant before and now we are isolating like never before.
It’ll blow over. Relax.
Meuller was DJT’s opponent. Then impeachment. Then it was another impeachment yet to be determined. Then it was NYC investigations. Then it was Sanders, then Biden now COVD-19. What will they think of next?
One good long-term valuable lesson may come of all this attention being paid to the coronavirus threat. This COVID-19 variant (the Wuhan virus) of the family of viral threats that constitute the common cold (a cold-weather phenomenon), once its code is cracked and immunity can be built up to it, either naturally or by acquired means, may finally spell the end of the “common” cold. And with it, a lot of the gateways to much more serious respiratory distress will be subject to being either eliminated, or much reduced in their severity.
Look for the silver lining, people. The darkest of moments come just before things go absolutely black, then even the smallest of rays becomes bright sunshine.
The WSJ is parroting the lies of the left that the virus was called a hoax. It was not. Democrat/media blame was called a hoax. WTF, WSJ?
I think the WSJ Editorial Board is a bigger enemy to POTUS than Biden or the Coronavirus.
The article defended the President. You read it too fast.
“It’s not accurate, as the press reported last week, that the President called the virus a “hoax.” He said the criticisms of his Administration were a hoax.”
Obama benefited from Hurricane Sandy. That doesn’t mean he caused it.
.
You’re right. This is their passion. They love it.
Nothing to fear but fear itself. And the media and Dummies are stoking that fear. In bad times voters like to turn to socialist weenies.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.