The greatest act of political terrorism

Hunter of Daily Kos discussed an article from the New York Times that the nasty guy was warned several times, starting back in January, that the coronavirus could cause millions of deaths. The article also describes the nasty guy’s reactions to these various warnings. Most of the time that reaction was anger that the virus is spoiling his wonderful image and anger that officials were telling him about it. So the vice nasty guy was put in charge of the response, meaning put in charge of making sure those warnings didn’t reach his boss’s ears.

And that gave the virus a chance to get a hold in America. Hunter says it this way:

But the last part, the part that seems specifically aimed at deflecting from Trump ignoring the warnings of Azar and the rest of the Task Force because he was upset with them—that is unforgivable. That is not leadership. That is a pissant little hissy-fit in the middle of crisis, an episode of pouting that has now killed over 20,000 Americans. Trump ignored a crisis already unfolding, blocking government action, to demand instead that Americans be fed false reassurances. Trump's personal narcissism committed the greatest act of political terrorism the United States has ever seen.

In another article Hunter discusses the speech the nasty guy made a month ago, promising all the things he was doing to combat the virus. Hunter, using an NPR report (which I heard today), shows all the ways all the promises the nasty guy made have not come to pass.



After thoroughly mucking things up in America the nasty guy is about to start an argument with the World Health Organization. And one tool in his arsenal of attack is the funding the US has promised the WHO.



The nasty guy didn’t do what should have been done to protect people from the virus, so state governments did. They did so by closing schools and restaurants and issuing stay at home orders. But the nasty guy wants to reopen America for business. So he is declaring that he can determine the end of these stay at home orders and his proclamation overrides theirs.

Governors – and it was only Dem governors who spoke out – said essentially, “Nope.”



Laura Clawson of Kos mentions again the nasty guy and the GOP want to kill off the postal service and may have a chance because of its financial difficulties. Clawson also tells us of a 2019 survey which showed the most popular parts of the government are the National Parks, NASA, the CDC (though it’s image has been tarnished recently), and the postal service. And we interact with the post office six days a week.

In another post Clawson says the GOP does want vote by mail – for themselves.

Mark Sumner of Kos wrote that the nasty guy has never directly interfaced with the post office. He has never waited to see the carrier put something in his mailbox. He has never put stamps on Christmas cards, never carried a package to the post office to send to a dear friend. He has no idea what the post office does.

Dingus McGee, a letter carrier, tweeted a thread to explain the USPS. It’s not taxpayer funded. It’s financial issues are artificial. It’s in the constitution. Then he goes into detail that the USPS delivers to everyone and treats all addresses equally. And does it’s delivery so well that the big package companies – FedEx and the rest – routinely use the USPS to deliver to the rural areas of the country where they can’t be profitable. In addition the letter carriers are willing to figure out what to do with a bad address – they know their routes well, which includes everyone, so they can usually figure it out in a couple minutes. Isn’t the USPS more valuable than an airline – which has already gotten its bailout?



Andy Slavitt tweeted a thread to explain the current food situation. I’ve heard some of this from other sources. Food producers are used to selling half of their output to restaurants. Food needs to be packaged differently for restaurants (in bulk) than for grocery stores (sized for families and individuals). When the system is disrupted it takes a while to recalibrate. In the meantime farmers can’t sell milk and produce and are using it as fertilizer. Which leaves overburdened food banks in a difficult position. For one thing they no longer get leftovers from restaurants.



Will Bunch tweeted about an article by Jane Mayer in the New Yorker on Moscow Mitch. I haven’t read the article. Bunch quotes one paragraph. Mayer searched for the larger principles or sense of purpose held by Moscow Mitch. After a while someone who knows him well said he doesn’t have anything he believes in (I add: well, maybe power).



I’m watching another opera this evening, after several days (perhaps a week?) of not watching the Metropolitan Opera’s daily streaming. This one is Rusalka, by Antonin Dvorak. This is the same basic story as *The Little Mermaid* but without the Disney music or Disney ending. A rusalka is a water nymph in Czech mythology. And Dvorak is very much a Czech or Slavic composer.

There is one glorious aria about 25 minutes in. Rusalka has fallen in love with a human, though he can’t yet see her. After she argues with her father the Water Gnome she sings her Song to the Moon asking the moon to let her love dream of her.

I suggested this opera to my niece as something her children might like. When I made that suggestion I forgot about the tragic ending. So she could show them the first 45 minutes – watch at least until the forest creatures come out to watch the witch brew her potion to make Rusalka human.