In watching the daily briefings and updates on the coronavirus, I am struck by the contrast in styles, knowledge, character and priorities between Donald Trump and the various governors, including our own, and the experts who know what they’re doing—and saying.
On the one hand, we have Trump who after weeks of declaring that coronavirus was a Democratic hoax created to destroy his presidency, that only one person was infected, that the virus would disappear, yada-yada-yada, finally conceding it was a problem, then saying he knew it was a pandemic before anyone else, then wanting to get the country’s business back up and running by Easter (because his approval rating and the stock market were taking a hit), and finally reversing himself again, saying things are really bad and that we’re in for a rough two weeks.
That, folks, is not leadership.
Trump has done more flip-flops than an Olympic gymnastics team, more inconsistencies than an Iowa Democratic caucus. No one knows from one minute to the next what to believe what comes out of his mouth. The safest bet is to not believe anything, but to wait until Dr. Anthony Fauci or Dr. Deborah Birx get a chance to get the facts out there.
And now we learn that they’ve had to beef up security for Dr. Fauci because of threats on his life. Have Trump’s supporters gone so bat-guano crazy that they have to threaten a 79-year-old man because his knowledge in his field of expertise (allergy and infectious diseases) clashes with the knee-jerk mouthing to their hero? That he has infinitely more credibility than the big Cheeto-head?
We have real heroes who continue to go to work each day to keep this country going. Grocery store stockers, checkout employees and baggers see to it we don’t go hungry—without thanks. We have truck drivers who make sure perishable goods make it from the farm to wholesalers and from wholesalers to the retail grocers so that they may remain open.
We have law enforcement officers who must continue to maintain order and to protect us from those who would do us harm.
For those who have lost their jobs, there are the overworked, stressed-out civil servants who are striving to keep up with the applications for unemployment benefits. They deserve our heartfelt appreciation.
There are the first responders who, while exposing themselves to infection, still transport the sick and hurt to hospitals where exhausted nurses and doctors try in vain to keep up with the COVID-19 victims who keep pouring in. Many of those same law enforcement officers, first responders, nurses and doctors have themselves contracted the virus and those who haven’t keep working with the prospect of not seeing their own families for weeks on end. Nursing home employees are particularly under the gun as they care for the most vulnerable among us.
And yet, there are those who refuse to heed the desperate pleas to stay at home and to not expose others or become exposed themselves. Preachers who mistakenly think they are doing God’s work are satisfying only their own egos while placing their congregations and their communities in peril. That is not the work of God—it’s the very epitome of greed and pride, two of the seven deadly sins.
Watch Trump as he reads—and at a sixth-grade level—from a prepared script, rarely looking up. He’s totally unprepared as he stumbles over the words of his text, not pausing at the appropriate intervals, and with no inflection in his voice. It’s so mechanical and detached—much like his detachment from reality.
Then watch our own Gov. John Bel Edwards. You can feel the despair in his delivery. He is tired, bone-tired, because he so obviously cares. His pleas for citizens to comply with his stay-at-home directive rings with sincerity that reveals his sadness for the havoc that has beset our state. At the same time that he has been the voice of reason, he has also been the voice of restraint, refusing to let himself be drawn into some kind of ideological dispute with Trump. He is truly the adult in the room.
Much the same can be said for Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who, like other governors, has issued a desperate plea for ventilators which are in short supply all around. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, however, have shown a little less patience.
Cuomo, who has been mentioned as a possible Democratic presidential candidate (and should there be a brokered convention, he could yet slip into the race) has been more outspoken in his criticism of Trump and of those who continue to ignore social distancing pleas.
While Drs. Birx and Fauci rely on cold, hard statistics and scientific data, Trump continues to shoot from the lip, even accusing (without any evidence) nurses of theft of masks and gloves, thus “creating” the personal protection equipment shortages.
Such petty rhetoric is not productive, but then that has never held Trump back from petty rhetoric. In fact, that’s about all we’ve heard from him in three-plus years in office while aides scramble to repair the damage done by him.
Despite the lack of leadership from the White House, I’ve not seen this country this united behind a common cause since 9/11.
It’s just a sad commentary to acknowledge that it takes something like an attack on the World Trade Center or a pandemic like COVID-19 to bring this country together, however briefly.
Now, if only Trump could grasp that concept and reflect more on the problem at hand rather than the TV ratings for his daily briefings. That would show some needed maturity.
Louisiana Voice 
Great column and so true.
I am not proud to confess I stopped watching the daily, poorly-executed campaign rally statements by the President as I became more and more disgusted with the total absence of any helpful information and the reinforcement of his incompetence. I wish I could stand these “briefings” for the information provided by Drs. Fauci and Birx – I can, and do read it later.
I agree this crisis has united us, but I have zero faith President Trump will discontinue his attempts to divide us along political and philosophical lines and to destroy our faith in the mainstream media, particularly as November
approaches.
Here’s a little column also worth reading:
https://johnpavlovitz.com/2020/04/02/fear-of-the-walking-dumb/
Very worth reading!
John Bel “obviously” cares, but Trump does not ? “Trump supporters are after Dr. Fauci ? Trump reads “at a sixth grade level” ? “His detachment from reality”.. This is the language of the modern Democrat Party. When you have nothing constructive to offer, attack opposition, even if you have nothing better to offer. Trump could fire the good Dr. at any time (Dr. is a democrat appointee anyway)but Trump has relied and trusted the competence of Fauci. At least there is acknowledgement that the country seems more united than it has been, especially following the impeachment scam brokered by Nancy/Schiff/Nadlersquad. And oddly, in spite of what is alleged here, Trump’s approval ratings are higher than they ever have been
You know, each of these 50 Governors are the executive of their particular states. For them to rely on the federal government whenever there is a problem in their state renders them impotent and useless.I wonder, why do we need Governors if all they do is rely on President to bail them out when there is a problem of any consequence? What happened to self-reliance in this country ? What are we becoming ? What do these executives do other than go to fund raisers ?
As for Cuomo, he is not without blame for issues in New York He mostly just sits and whines about what he thinks he needs and he thinks that New York is more important than say, Louisiana. When caught lying, he says I am “stockpiling” for projected needs when those respirators he lobbied for could have gone elsewhere where they are needed rather than a warehouse in New York.
There will not be a “brokered” convention because Joe will have the delegates to win nomination. Truth be known, no one is inspired by Joe and most realize he is slipping into dementia; scary indeed because that makes his selection for VP more important, and he seems to be leaning towards Sen. Harris or the failed candidate for governor of Georgia, both of which should scare most of us.
Have you ever wondered why most first responders seem to be pro-Trump ?
Zoe, Dr.Fauci was appointed to his current position by Reagan. So he really is not a Democratic appointee. As for governors, yes they are executives of their state, however, they cannot order the deployment of naval hospital ships, they cannot order VA hospitals to take civilian coronavirus patients, they cannot order manufacturing companies to ramp up to wartime production, they cannot order an increase in unemployment benefits, they cannot order banks to provide loans to small businesses and they most definitely cannot order the release of billions of dollars in federal aid to their respective state. These are the things that various states need right now. Things that only the federal government can provide. I guess you would argue that this state should have not have asked for any assistance after Katrina and Rita.
Most first responders are pro-trump? Can you back that up? Do you have any statistics to prove that? If anyone can mouth the party line, it’s someone named Zoe, so don’t ever accuse someone else of that. You are the very description of a trump apologist.
This is just an aside thought – but, without any research, just thinking back on threats…do they mostly seem to come from the extreme Trump supporters? Is there any record of Democrat supporters threatening leaders or professionals that give information that they disagree with? Perhaps this is one of the many differences in who we are and why we do what we do…Sadly, these threats to Dr. Fauci are almost predictable…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7ehYduP4KU&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR0MpIJQ0d1ewZOCoAhRsRQyXGjZKCHkomL206dOZbB7HDkco_w-wlJBHVI More on Cuomo and hospitals.
Goodness gracious Ms. Zoe…what are you doing watching a far left leaning media source?????
Zoe,
It is not opposition: it is reality.
“If the facts do not conform to the theory, they must be disposed of.”
— N.R.F Maier, American Psychologist, 1960
Cuomo is no angel. His closest friend is locked up for receing kick back for Govt contracts. According to his sainted father former Gov. Mario Cuomo-the incarcerated was closer to Andrew than his brother. Go figure.
Cuomo is no angel.He is the same character he always was.The virus has summoned him from the mire.Louisiana’s own Ellis Hennican remarked remarked that Cuomo compared to Trump could not fail to impress.Some of
Cuomo’s closest allies-said to be closer to Andrew than his family are locked up for receiving kick backs for govt contracts. Andrew is doing his job in a desultory fashion. Does not make him Presidential. From the virus eaten Apple.
Have you ever read a posted reply and found yourself terrified by that person? I have.
Yep.
Jack Brown: Why not distract from the death and destruction 45 has created all on his own? No, let’s attack Gov Cuomo and his family, friends? Can you say the conviction rate of 45’s previous administration members? Can you fathom those on his transition team who are now serving in prison? Don’t remember the past 3 yrs of this presidency? His children’s wealth and how they got it? How Trump inherited his and lost 450M dollars in 1985? The single highest bankruptcy in this nation? Don’t go after Gov Cuomo. There are criminals surrounding 45’s past and present. The here and now is what’s important – people are dying. Your president declared this covid-19 a Dem hoax. Wrong!, Wrong! Wrong! His leadership in this pandemic is less than stellar. In case you have forgotten, this is the United States of America, the richest, most powerful, most influential country in the WORLD. This is an emergency. This Pandemic which 45 knew back in January and refused to prepare his country only to state a miracle will transform the country in 14 days to zero. His doing little to nothing in helping the survival of its citizens who are DYING. How unconscionable are you to refer to Gov. Cuomo as whinny, Governor Lamont of Conn, Governor Whitmer of Michigan asking for help, accused by 45 of stockpiling? Accusing on National tv Doctors, nurses of selling the much needed medical equipment out the back door of hospitals. Those same hospital personnel, overwhelmed, facing possible death, working long hours desperately trying to save those in their care while hooked up to ventilators, dying. Don’t complain about 45’s politics for a moment. Let’s bring up the impeachment, Pelosi, Schumer, anything but the realization of today, The Pandemic is life or death here and now, not the Trump train to re-election months down the road. A bridge too far to cross, with its crumbling infrastructure promised in 2016.
They are asking for beds, PPE, ventilators to help save their sick and dying citizens, front line responders – Doctors, nurses during this pandemic. While 45 has chosen to ignore and only worry of his re-election campaign? I guess when it finally hits home, family member or close friend test positive and die, maybe you will begin to FEEL something, but I doubt it.
AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Exceptionally well-stated.
Thanks Mr. Winham, and Jack, come on, at our age, just lighten up. Zoe, you are good and Perscale loves you to raise money., keeps those logrithims ? rolling in a red state. Trump is and will always be a lying egomaniac, and his appearances are proof that he is a threat to our National Security, not withstanding the Virus. If you are a Trumpite you are complicit in selling the soul of America. I ain’t buying it. ron thompson