Thread by @atatimelikethis

#Covid19 -15 years. Outcome?
Johnson and Trump
vs Blair and Bush

TLDR

UK Cabinet selected for competence over loyalty not vice verse. Step change in planning, action, communications
Bush crisis response after Katrina fail was strong

not perfect but none of the mistakes/lies

Longer points.
It's hard to imagine Blair's senior advisor cooking up a herd immunity plan in Jan/Feb to allow the virus to roll across the UK.

Or that Blair wouldn't bother to turn up to Covid briefings

Or that he wouldn't look at the detail

And Reid the bruiser was in Health

No Hancock-esque caught in the headlights from Reid.

Blair's popularity was shot by then, hated due to war dead. Would people have rallied round?

Even with that article concludes likely more than Johnson, since he wouldn't have been thin on detail or communication.

The Blair Government by then (vs the first term) was unafraid of being authoritarian.
- airports and quarantines would have been checked
- shutdowns would have been swift, stern

And of course, they were pragmatic to the point of alienating the left, so no Brexit distractions.

Bush response to disasters was mixed but improved considerably after 911 and Katrina

There would not have been mask denial, covid denial, federal supplies would not have been held back.

None of the crazy inconsistent and wild policy swings. And no let's not help Blue States.

Finally international cooperation would have been better, more aligned, better planned and probably more consistent.

If, unlike the article, we let them have today's science and tech would the outcome be better, faster?

Hard to imagine it worse.

So what do you think?

Which pair would come out better?

And should I do another paired PM President?