Thread by @kurteichenwald

So many Trumpers say everything Covid-related is about hurting Trump, yet don't understand that their argument underscores Trump's incompetence.

If Trump managed Covid competently, the outbreak would either have had no effect on election, or dramatically improved his chances...1

...America is (supposed to be) the greatest country on science and resources. This is why in the midst of international catastrophes, the USA usually takes leadership role, earning global admiration.

Trump cut off the world and did nothing to help with a global response The...2

...result was, that countries that expected a global response were left on their own to figure it out, as efforts to coordinate with the @WHO took time to have a reorganized method of response. As a result, global anger at USA, and embarrassment for its people....3

...and NOT ONLY did Trump fail to assume the traditional USA role, he actively worked to harm other nations because of his incompetence. He announced cutting funding to WHO, shrinking US influence there, he refused to join global vaccine effort, he worked to bribe and steal...4

...resources ordered by our allies, because we had failed to prepare.

If Trump had simply shown the competence of Trudeau in Canada - who hasn't done an amazing job, but at least stopped catastrophic outcome - this would have been a nothing on the election....5

...no one blames Trump for there being a virus (blame is not important), they are terrified that his lack of coordinated effort or even a national plan displayed an incompetence that made it clear he was in no way capable of managing the presidency.

Trump could have used...6

...his bully pulpit to encourage the best of Americans. He could have laid out the science of why masks work, why social distancing works, and told Americans - just like in WW2 - they had to unify with a single mindset in the homeland to defeat the enemy. And Fox would have...7

...said the exact opposite of what it does now, and praised the president for showing leadership. Then this whole "anti mask" crap would not be happening.

During lockdown, Trump could have used DFA and mass planning to coordinate an ongoing mitigation effort, with testing...8

...tracing, growth of PPE for hospitals, mass distribution of resources. He could have advocated for higher unemployment pay so that people *could* stay home. He could have activated the national guard for food distribution.

If he did that? We would have been safe by May....9

..instead, Trump went for magical thinking, denial of facts, and "I saw this on twitter" medical recommendations. CHRIST! The President was declaring what medicines to use, creating a national shortage for people who NEED hydroxychloroquine like lupus patients. Why? Because...10

...he saw some guy on twitter link to the limited, now retracted French study about hydroxychloroquine, & the twitter guy said it was a "game changer." Which Trump immediately started saying - again, based on some guy on twitter citing some tiny test that ended up being wrong..11

...why does he do this? Because he WAS focused on the election, and not beating the disease. He believed in magic. He wanted to reopen states, and big red states did it despite experts saying this would cause an explosion of cases. Then the explosion of cases happened, and...12

...rather than *finally* learning viruses dont do what you find to be convenient, he doubled, tripled down. He encouraged people to ignore safety precautions, tweeting out the "Free Michigan!" crap rather than acting like an adult. He stood by approvingly as Fox attacked...13

...the only means we have of mitigation - mask wearing - and then he ridiculed people for wearing masks, until eventually, begrudgingly, when 130,000 people had died, finally saying "masks are good" before completely dropping it again.

Then, schools. He and Devos say..../14

..."kids should be in schools." And yah, they should be. Except: Trump did nothing to mitigate in the spring, and does not have a national plan to make schools safe now.

They are back to magical thinking, that because "fewer kids die" there needs to be no thought to this..../15

...We have known since MARCH, from a study out of China, that even asymptomatic kids can get lung lesions - and we have not had enough time to know if it is permanent. We know kids DO die - just not as many as the elderly. THAT"S the American argument? THAT's justification.../16

.."yes, a few hundred (thousands? Who knows?) kids died,but that's ok. Could've been a lot more if they were elderly"

What about teachers, Mr. President? What about the kids whose parents caught it from them? What about kids struggling with people dying? "What is, is.".../17

...a few days ago, I read about a family: The college age daughter wanted to go on spring break. Family begged her not to go. She went, came home. She infected her dad. He's dead. And now she's suicidal.

THAT's what awaits some kids - how many? Who knows? This is *exactly*.../18

...like the spring when - if wed just followed the science and stayed closed while we adopted a national plan - we could have reopened just a few weeks later than we did..../19

...rather than dealing with the complexity of staying closed & developing a plan, Trump just thought magic would keep reality at bay. "It's wont happen! Look at other countries!" (which have mitigation plans and we dont.)

Now, we're back to magic with schools. He says look.../20

...at other countries! (which had mitigation plans, developed national plans for opening schools, devoted resources to making it safe, had national testing plans for what to do if disease starts to spread." It's as if Trump said babies should drive cars because adults can.../21

...the same results are going to happen in schools just like they did with reopening too early. We are still denying how bad it is in USA, we have people arguing there is some sort of conspiracy to harm Trump.

And thus the point: This could have been Trump's shining moment...22

...this couldve been the moment when he persuaded those who wasnt up to the job that he WAS capable. The only reason this can be argued as being about harming Trump is for one reason: Trump is being harmed politically by the consequences of his incompetence. And his fans...23

...are simply underscoring they have no idea what is going on, they have no idea that everytime they open their mouths to make this "it's all political" argument that the non-cultists hear, "Youre making the fact that he's incompetent an issue in the election!"...24

...so, it is political. Trump's laziness, stupidity, arrogance, narcissism and mental illness all make him incompetent. We have an incompetent president at a time of crisis.

So ya, to save America, we have to vote him out. And thanks, Trumpers, for reminding us of that.

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