April 19, 2020
TRUMP DOCTRINE
The Trump doctrine: Using all tools, including a pandemic, to spite his enemies. How does one have the tenacity to use a life and death matters in a blatantly political fashion, without any feeling of shame or guilt? Let me explain, last week the Trump administration issued guidelines for re-opening the economy. The guidelines state to get to Phase 1, the states need to show 14 days of decline in the numbers of cases. Phase 1 is the same as the current stay-at-home and social distancing measures with only essential services open. To exit Phase 1, you need testing to determine the decline, considering that some are a-symptomatic.
Friday prior to protests by the Trumpian heard of sheep to open the economies of Michigan, Ohio, and Virginia (all D governors) Trump tweeted a statement in all caps LIBERATE MICHIGAN, and a second tweet LIBERATE MINNISOTA, and a third tweet LIBERATE VIRGINIA. The three states all have democratic governors and have all been critical Trump’s inactions. All the governors have followed the Trump guidelines for re-opening. Away goes the jackass-in-chief to ferment violence and division in a vindictive and political manner during a pandemic. This is not only boorish behavior, but could lead to additional outbreaks and potentially death.
I was informed that the WHO had transmitted real time virus information to the Trump administration. The Trump administration had 12 U.S medical experts working with the WHO in China. The WHO had offered test kits when the CDC was determined to create their own faulty tests. Why did the CDC not take up the offer? These kits could have been replicated as was done in Korea, and there massive distribution was made.
On March 6th the claim by the administration of having 27 million test kits available by the end of April was wishful thinking. That is the number of tests the experts say are sufficient to be able to know where and how to track and trace hot spots and begin to re-open.
To date (19 April 2020) 3.7 million tests have been performed and Mike Pence stated today that by the end of April, 5 million tests would be performed. The priority for testing is the emergency room and EMT workers. Trump has thrust the responsibility of tests onto the states without support. The support he gives in some cases goes directly to the hospital without coordination with the governors, in a hap-hazard fashion. Confusion creates conflict and the appearance of a lack of leadership (DUH!). Fifty states, with 50 solutions. I must ask the Donald what happened to the UNITED STATES? Divided we all fall.
On February 9th, at a governors meeting in Washington, a briefing was given on the potential for the corona virus. A Republican governor left the meeting very concerned about the potential and was told it was a serious crisis at that time. The outbreak in San Francisco prompted the Democratic governor to be the first state to order a total shutdown except for essential services. As a result of California’s efforts in shutting down and social distancing early, has made the most populous state have the 5th most cases and may wind up as 9th in numbers of cases. New York was late in shutting down and is #1.
The crisis began with the known need for testing. This was the case in January and is still the case today. A family of 12 had 1 case and the only one with symptoms and the 11 others could not get tested. I guess Trump is starving the ability of the states of testing supplies so they will meet his criteria for opening with 14 days of reduced cases. Fewer test fewer cases* note: Trump actually verbalized this very same comment. Think about the inane nature of that statement.