200K - Did Trump Help or Hurt?

So now as we discuss the 200K dead (and rising) from COVID (“underlying conditions” or not), we focus on Donald Trump’s role in all of this.  Today’s question is simple – did Donald Trump help or hinder the spread of COVID in the USA?

Obviously, unless you live under a rock, the widespread virus has been the cause (or the catalyst) for many, many more dead people than normal in 2020.  Slowing/stopping the spread of the virus would save lives; helping to “fan the flames” by making it more likely to catch/spread the virus would put lives in jeopardy.

Donald Trump did one of these things.  He could not have done both.  So, which is it?

Listen to Trump today and it’s clear he thinks he did a good job.  “It could have been worse” is the response you usually get for why 200K dead is a “good job.”

Fact is, we’re the #1 country for both deaths and cases, and before you say anything, we rank in the top 10 for both deaths-per-capita and cases-per-capita (of countries that are bigger than a frickin’ island, of course).  We’re in the basement, not the penthouse, and Trump wants you to believe it could be worse.

It could be, but not much.  It sucks.  Bad.  Let’s make that clear.

When Trump talks about “what he did” to stop the virus, he usually talks about his “China Ban” and ramping up ventilators and tests.  His website has a whole list of his “historical” response.  If you read the “key takeaways” you see some exaggerations, some lies, and some things that really don’t do anything to stop the virus or protect Americans from it.  Here are four I find galling:

• Built the world’s leading testing system from nothing
• Took action to protect vulnerable Americans
• Paved way for reopening to get America working again
• Confronted China as origin of the virus while Democrats and media cowered

My responses, briefly:

• Naturally, there was no testing system before this – it’s a new virus.  Duh.
• No specifics here – I defy anyone to tell me what the hell this means, exactly.
• This doesn’t protect us (see more below)
• China never denied being the origin…and how does that last part help, anyway.

The rest of his list is in a similar vein, full of puffery and bravado; a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying…well, you know how that ends.  Oh, and don’t forget the grift.

But let’s say that I’m wrong, and he really DID do everything he says he did.  How effective was it all?  Why do we lead the world in cases and deaths?  Why is the virus STILL killing thousands of Americans every week?

Before we answer that, remember that this is a guy who had a casino and went bankrupt.  Correction – he had THREE casinos, nearly a quarter of the business in Atlantic City, and ALL THREE went belly up.  CASINOS!  Where the house has the edge every single time.  During a period when the AVERAGE profit margin for an Atlantic City casino was more than 40%.  However Trump ran his casinos, they did not make money.

Conclusion: what Trump did then was ineffective in making a profit and saving his businesses.

Regarding the virus – conclusion:  what Trump did was ineffective in stopping/slowing the virus.

But now here’s the REAL question:  did he actually do the opposite?  Did he actually help spread the virus, making more Americans likely to get sick (and in some cases, die)?  That would be one of the worst scandals in history.

• We all know now that he purposely downplayed the severity of the virus, not wanting to cause “panic” (this is the guy screaming about immigrant caravans coming to rape and murder you, mind you). 
• In fact, he’s made many misleading, conflicting, and minimizing statements to the public about the virus (Congressman Lloyd Doggett of Texas has a wonderful timeline here).
• We know that he’s steadfastly refused to wear a mask and encourages others not to do so. 
• He’s mocked Joe Biden and others for their mask-wearing, so Trump is hardly “leading by example” here.
• We know that he continues to hold rallies and events where his fanbase packs the seats, ignoring social distancing and few if any wear masks. 
• We know that in the past these events have helped to spread the virus, leading to death (Herman Cain was unavailable for comment). 
• He’s ignored and undermined Dr. Fauci and other experts when it comes to the virus. 
• He’s promoted questionable “cures and remedies” for COVID, causing confusion, medical shortages, and, unfortunately, death.  
• Finally, his administration has interfered with the CDC reports regarding COVID in order to more closely align with Trump’s messaging.

Call it a “total lack of leadership” if you will, but all of these actions certainly do not help slow or stop the spread of the virus.  In fact, the opposite is true – his fan base still shows up sans masks, packed in tighter than sardines, all the while STILL calling the virus a “hoax” and declaring “there is no COVID,” or downplaying the actual death count.

And all you really need to do is study the death count. 

We’re #1.  Still.

There’s no national plan for containing/controlling/slowing/stopping the virus.  Still.

Trump has failed, utterly.  Trump has made it worse.  Again.

#ETTD.  Literally.