(Updated:) Senators reportedly encouraged Trump admin. to request emergency coronavirus funding back on Feb. 5th. Rejected..

(Commentary, including reposted material. Temporarily posted.)

(3/30/20 copy. No affiliation:)

On February 5th, I sat in a meeting with top Administration officials as Senators pressed them to request emergency funding to hire staff and stockpile supplies for the coming crisis.

They said they had it covered. Didn’t need any additional funding.

What a fatal screw up. https://t.co/SGrH9q7QS7

— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) March 30, 2020

(Additional source credit (general link)): https://twitter.com/allinwithchris?lang=en)


Related 3/30/20 article link, subscription may be needed:

"‘No national response’: One senator’s alarming account of the first days"

Brief excerpt:

"...“That briefing was chilling to me,” Murphy recalled about the Feb. 5 meeting. “It was crystal clear that the administration was not taking this seriously.” As it happens, Murphy tweeted this at the time too, which shows this isn’t just convenient hindsight talking.

Murphy told me that in that briefing — which was attended by two leading officials, Anthony S. Fauci and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar — numerous lawmakers demanded to know why the administration wasn’t asking Congress for funding for medical supplies."

More:



YT video link. No copyright claimed or assumed. No affiliation.



.............................................................................................................................................................

Trump Guilty GIF from Trump GIFs

.............................................................................................................................................................

P.S. 3/31/20 news commentary article (link):

"As U.S. Hospitals Face Shortages, Trump Vows to Send Ventilators—to Europe"

Another: 3/31/20 news story:

"No proof drug touted by Trump is effective against coronavirus: EU"

.......................
Partial screen captured image, data as of 3/30/20. Unaffiliated source link

Further: 3/30/20 news report (link):

"Model cited by White House says 82,000 people could die from coronavirus by August, even with social distancing"

(Updated:) Be safe. But never forget:

(Commentary including reposted material. Temporarily posted.)

Partial screen-captured image, copy of U.S State Dept. press release dated Feb. 7, 2020:

Source commentary/analysis article (link):

"Trump administration sent protective medical gear to China while he minimized the virus threat to US"

Brief excerpt:

"...Concerns about a dwindling supply of PPE are not new. Back on February 7, the World Health Organization sounded alarm bells about "the limited stock of PPE," noting demand was 100 times higher than normal for this equipment.

Yet the same day as the WHO warning, the Trump administration announced that it was transporting to China nearly 17.8 tons (more than 35,000 pounds) of "masks, gowns, gauze, respirators, and other vital materials." As Secretary of State Mike Pompeo noted in the press release announcing this shipment, "These donations are a testament to the generosity of the American people.""

Related: Off-site link:  "Tracking Covid-19 cases in the US"


Update/insert:

...Apparently, what Donald Trump really cares about.. Copy, 3/29/20 (public-record) message from the "war-time president's" account:

“President Trump is a ratings hit. Since reviving the daily White House briefing Mr. Trump and his coronavirus updates have attracted an average audience of 8.5 million on cable news, roughly the viewership of the season finale of ‘The Bachelor.’ Numbers are continuing to rise...

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 29, 2020

Related 3/29/20 article (link): "President Trump touts his ‘astounding’ TV ratings, compares his coronavirus press briefings to ‘The Bachelor’"

One response (copy, no affiliation):

People are dying and everyone is scared. So many heroes are selflessly working to attend to our health and safety, and make essential goods and services available. This is not about your ratings , Mr. President! https://t.co/eCHNYk2Ptv

— Valerie Jarrett (@ValerieJarrett) March 29, 2020

Never forget: Trump's coronavirus downplaying/misleading/mishandling (Updated)

(Commentary, including reposted material Temporarily posted.)

3/27/20 news reports (links):

"U.S. surpasses China with coronavirus cases as global total tops 500,000" 

"The U.S. Now Leads the World in Confirmed Coronavirus Cases"

↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓

3/20/20 news analysis article (subscription may be needed):
"U.S. intelligence reports from January and February warned about a likely pandemic"

3.28.20 news analysis article link:

"The Lost Month: How a Failure to Test Blinded the U.S. to Covid-19"


-Donald Trump, 2/10/20-:

“Looks like by April, you know, in theory, when it gets a little warmer, it miraculously goes away.”

(Source 3/14/20 article link (subscription may be needed): "Tracking Trump’s false or misleading coronavirus claims")


(Video clip from 2/28/20:)



YT video link. No copyright claimed or assumed.




YT video link. No copyright claimed or assumed.

(More:)
3/14/20 news story: "Trump disbanded NSC pandemic unit that experts had praised"

3/22/20 news analysis story: "AP FACT CHECK: Trump hype on auto industry and ventilators"


3/27/20 news analysis article: "Day after day, Trump has said different things about ventilators and the Defense Production Act"


3/25/20 news analysis article: "Trump team failed to follow NSC’s pandemic playbook"


Update: ↓3/27/20 copy, no affiliation:

"The U.S. response is a catastrophe that is on track to cost hundreds of thousands of lives," Maddow tweeted after the president thanked her. https://t.co/NCoHEH6hmf

— HuffPost Politics (@HuffPostPol) March 28, 2020

...........................................................

Partial screen-captured image, data as of 3/27/20. Unaffiliated source link

Ask yourself: Why is President Trump (reportedly) offering "anti-epidemic cooperation" to North Korea's menacing dictator, while more and more in the U.S. die from COVID-19? (Updated)

(Commentary, including reposted material. Temporarily posted. FWIW: A slightly-expanded version of this post is also published here: https://medium.com/@vere/ask-yourself-why-is-president-trump-reportedly-offering-anti-epidemic-cooperation-to-north-351ae452483e)

A 3/22/20 news article (link):

 "North Korea says Trump’s letter offers anti-virus cooperation"

Excerpt:

 "President Donald Trump sent a personal letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, seeking to maintain good relations and offering cooperation in fighting the coronavirus pandemic, Kim’s sister said Sunday...

...In the letter, she said Trump explained his plan to “propel the relations between the two countries ... and expressed his intent to render cooperation in the anti-epidemic work,” an apparent reference to the global coronavirus outbreak. She said her brother expressed his gratitude for Trump’s letter."

Another news source noted that Trump reportedly also said (in his letter) that "...he was impressed by the efforts made by the Chairman to defend his people from the serious threat of the epidemic."

3/23/20 update: Trump confirms -- without offering evidence -- that he has .."offered assistance to North Korea, Iran and other countries that need help". Source article link: 

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/21/politics/north-korea-trump/index.html

(↓Continuing previously written material:)

Brief comment:

.."Anti-epidemic cooperation".. Has President Trump offered similar cooperation to other world leaders? Particularly to U.S. NATO allies (such as) France, Germany, Italy and Spain, who are battling their own outbreaks of the virus? ...To South Korea? 

And if so, is there evidence of that?

Likely of more immediate concern for those in the President Trump-led homeland: Several recent news/news analysis reports follow, indicating what is now unfolding here in the United States. (A few selected links, some of which may require subscriptions:)

"U.S. Official Says Some Areas Will Have to Wait for Medical Supplies; National and Global Tolls Rise"

(Map:) Watch How the Coronavirus Spread Across the United States

"Coronavirus: White House concedes US lacks enough test kits"

"The upcoming job losses will be unlike anything the US has ever seen"

"Amid coronavirus job loss, apps help people find temp work in 24 hours"

"As coronavirus spreads, more people thinking about end-of-life directives"

Embed from Getty Images

Concluding for the moment, with a couple of pertinent "reminders" ..in part via photos, captions, etc.:

Embed from Getty Images

(Related online encyclopedia article link: "Hwasong-14")

Embed from Getty Images

......................................................................................................................................
3/21/20 news report (link): "South Korea Says North Korea Test Fired 2 Missiles, Calls It 'Inappropriate' During a Global Pandemic"
.......................................................................................................................................

An additional 'reminder':



Online encyclopedia article link: "Prisons in North Korea"

Reposted video: Fox 'news' is the sickness..

(Commentary, including reposted material. Temporarily posted.)

(Good work, Post..:)


YT video link. No copyright claimed or assumed. No affiliation.
...................

(Partial-screen captured image:) U.S. coronavirus cases data as of 3/19/20. Source link

Today's "Coronavirus crazy"...(*but actually not*)

(Commentary, including reposted material. Temporarily posted.)

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

...............................................................



YT video link. No copyright claimed or assumed.
(Also:)


YT video link. No copyright claimed or assumed.

Dark humor(-ish): Today's "coronavirus crazy" installment. ( + *Music break*)

(Commentary, including reposted material. Temporarily posted.)

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

....................................................




YT video link. No copyright claimed or assumed. No affiliation. Note: Video poster states the song has been slowed down.
YT link to the original version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJTxlAS2A8M


Blogger tiny comment: ..A lot of people's top 80's song for snarky comments, memes, videos, blah blah. If Ms. Katrina Leskanich had not recorded a worthy (+ fitting) singing performance for this (decidedly upbeat) tune, none of us would have much to remember ( -- and maybe laff at --) today.

(Video clip) Donald Trump, the misleading + deceitful: On full display

(Commentary, including reposted material. Temporarily posted.)

↓Donald Trump, condensed (...disgracing the White Rose Garden.) 3/13/20 video clip:




YT video link. No copyright claimed or assumed.
..........................................
3/14/20 news/analysis article link: "Trump disbanded NSC pandemic unit that experts had praised"

3/13/20 news.analysis commentary article (link): "The Bucks Stops Over There Somewhere: Trump Refuses To Own COVID-19 Failures"


3/14/20 copy, no affiliation:

Thanks so much for all the texts, tweets and notes of support.

Everyday, I feel honored and privileged to dig for truth as a White House correspondent.

I’ll make sure to keep asking questions on behalf of the American people.

— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) March 14, 2020

..................................................

Oh. BTW. (3/13/20 news analysis report (link):

"Despite Trump’s claims, Google isn’t building the coronavirus screening site — and it’s not ready"

.....................................................

Partial screen-captured image from 3/14/20. Source link. No copyright claimed or assumed.

......................................................
(1/20 article link:)

"President Trump made 16,241 false or misleading claims in his first three years"

Hampered by very limited testing: The U.S. currently has NO real idea how many coronavirus cases it already has..(Updated)

(Commentary, including reposted material. Temporarily posted.)

Compare and contrast ...testing in other countries vs. the vast and populous United States, so far...:

(↓Screen-captured partial copy. 3/10/20 unaffiliated source article is linked below. No copyright claimed or assumed:)

Source article link (subscription may be required): "Coronavirus testing: how are the hardest-hit countries responding?"

Additional source (general link), where some of this info. was broadcast on 3/11/20. No affiliation:
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show

>>>3/12/20 update: (Video clip below:) If you did not (and if you care..), what you should have watched and listened to after the "president"'s oddball (..and ineffective) 3/11/20 Oval Office address:



YT video link. No copyright claimed or assumed. No affiliation.

.................................................................................................................................................................


via GIPHY

3/11/20 news/analysis report (link): "Trump’s Error-Laden ‘Foreign Virus’ Speech Spooks Investors"

3/12/20 news story (link): "Top US health official says coronavirus testing system is ‘failing,’ cases now confirmed in 44 states"


3/7/20 news/analysis article link, subscription may be required:
"Squandered time: How the Trump administration lost control of the coronavirus crisis"

3/11/20 article link: "We're behind the curve’: U.S. hospitals confront the challenges of large-scale coronavirus testing"

.
.

3/11/20 news report (link):

"Tests indicate coronavirus can survive in the air"

Reposted:"Trump calls oil price plunge good for consumers, blames media for stock plunge"

(Commentary, including reposted material. Temporarily posted.)

Reposted image (linked). No copyright:


3/9/20 news article reference (link): "Trump calls oil price plunge good for consumers, blames media for stock plunge"

...............................
More:

(Excerpted quotation:)

“A person can be fatalistic when he’s empty inside.”

Source: 6/8/18 commentary/analysis article. (↑Trump biographer quote.) (link):
"The ‘What, Me Worry?’ President"


(Insert: FWIW I used to read MAD a lot as a kid, which means it's OK to repost this image, here..:)

(Source article link)

......................................
Even more:

"What is the Pollyanna Principle?" Source article (link): "Pollyanna Principle: The Psychology of Positivity Bias"

.....................................
..OR, ...perhaps it's all pretty much attributable to what's observed in the second clip below..:

2/6/20 copy, no affiliation:

Pelosi on Trump rebuffing her attempt to shake hands before SOTU: "It was also an act of kindness, because he looked to me like he was a little bit sedated." pic.twitter.com/iP9x28oMh2

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 6, 2020

(Per content below) Donald Trump: Liar, con-artist, phony, deceiver, fabricator, falsifier, fibber, prevaricator, dissembler....*now and forever*. (Updated)

(Commentary, including reposted material. Temporarily posted.)

(..Today's) Reference. 3/2/20 copy:

I was criticized by the Democrats when I closed the Country down to China many weeks ahead of what almost everyone recommended. Saved many lives. Dems were working the Impeachment Hoax. They didn’t have a clue! Now they are fear mongering. Be calm & vigilant!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 2, 2020

 ↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓

(Let's see..:)

2/10/20 copy:



YT video link. No copyright claimed or assumed. No affiliation.

(Insert, 2/28/20 story link:)  "Will Warmer Weather Stop the Spread of the Coronavirus? Don't Count on It, Say Experts"


>>>3/2/20 update/insert: Excellent job by CNN reporters with the following analysis (link, no copyright claimed or assumed):

"Timeline: How Trump was out of step with the CDC during coronavirus response"

Partial screen-captured image, excerpting a small potion of CNN's timeline, linked above:

....................

(↓Continuing previously posted content here:)

3/2/20 update: No surprise. The Trump idiocy continues...:


YT video link. No copyright claimed or assumed.

2/29/20 copy:


YT video link. No copyright claimed or assumed.

2/27/20 news analysis report:




YT video link. No copyright claimed or assumed. No affiliation.

2/29/20 copy:



YT video link. No copyright claimed or assumed.

2/27/20 copy:



YT video link. No copyright claimed or assumed.

.................................................................................................................................................................
2/28/20 reposted news analysis article link:

"Did Trump try to cut the CDC's budget as Democrats claim?: ANALYSIS"

2/27/20 news analysis article link:

"Trump defends huge cuts to the CDC's budget by saying the government can hire more doctors 'when we need them' during crises"

.................................................................................................................................................................

..About that...: "Fear-mongering":

(↓Just a few reposted reports/commentaries/analyses:)

(2/20/19 story link:) "Trump 'fear-mongering' fuels rise of U.S. hate groups to record: watchdog"





YT video link. No copyright claimed or assumed.




YT video link. No copyright claimed or assumed.




YT video link. No copyright claimed or assumed.

.........................................................................

NEVER forget...:

"President Trump has made 15,413 false or misleading claims over 1,055 days"

...........................................................................



via GIPHY