A short thread:
1. Donald Trump is obviously not up to managing the federal government in this crisis, let alone showing real leadership or rallying the nation. But, you say: We have to fight the virus with the president we have.
1. Donald Trump is obviously not up to managing the federal government in this crisis, let alone showing real leadership or rallying the nation. But, you say: We have to fight the virus with the president we have.
2. Yes, but.
But there is large federal government beyond Trump. Competent officials can use the leeway they have to minimize the damage Trump can do. They can also do good for the nation, often behind the scenes. They should think of themselves as working for the U.S. not Trump.
But there is large federal government beyond Trump. Competent officials can use the leeway they have to minimize the damage Trump can do. They can also do good for the nation, often behind the scenes. They should think of themselves as working for the U.S. not Trump.
3. And the United States isn't just the federal government. Many states and localities, much of the health care profession, some businesses, and many individuals, civic organizations, charities, philanthropists, and activists are rising to the occasion.
4. Still, there's been a kind of hesitancy, a certain amount of looking around and waiting for a simulacrum of presidential leadership to appear. People and institutions naturally wait for the president to lead.
But he won't.
But he won't.
5. We'll soon find out if we can succeed in a crisis in the absence of presidential leadership. It will be more difficult to do so. We'll pay a price. But we'll also be able to take pride in an achievement of the nation as a whole.
If we rise to the occasion.
If we succeed.
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If we rise to the occasion.
If we succeed.
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