“I’ve always known this is a real — this is a pandemic,” says Donald Trump, unaware, apparently, that we can look up his past statements

Earlier today, with American COVID-19 deaths passing the 100-mark, and our trajectory looking like that of Italy, Donald Trump tried to make the case that he’s been taking this very real public health crisis seriously from the outset. Asked by a reporter why his tone was markedly different today than yesterday, and noticeably more serious, Donald Trump responded, I’ve always known this is a real — this is a pandemic… I felt it was a pandemic long before it was called a pandemic.” This, of course, is a lie. He did not always, as he’s claiming now, agree with the scientific community about the seriousness of this epidemic we’re now facing. Or, if he did understand the seriousness of the coronavirus, he sure as hell never told the American people. Here, with the help of the New York Times, the Washington Post, and several other sources, is a partial timeline of Donald Trump’s public statements about the coronavirus, accompanied by a few facts that I think provide useful context. [All of the following quotes, unless otherwise noted, are from Donald Trump.]

On January 20, the United States confirmed its first case of COVID-19, a disease that global health officials had been tracking since December 31, when China first alerted the World Heath Organization that they’d been tracking a “pneumonia of unknown cause” in Wuhan. By the time the first case had been reported in the United States, China had reported three deaths and more than 200 infections, many of which were outside of Wuhan, in cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. World health experts knew that we had a massive public health problem on our hands.

January 22: “We have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China. It’s going to be just fine.”

January 22: “It will all work out well.”

By January 29, cases of COVID-19 had been reported in 17 countries, and there were already five confirmed cases in the United States. In China, the death toll had already surpassed that of the SARS outbreak in 2003.

On January 30, the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization declared that the outbreak was a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

January 30: “We think we have it very well under control.”

On January 31, in response to the (PHEIC), Donald Trump’s Secretary of Health and Human Services, Alex Azar, declared a Public Health Emergency (PHE) for the United States.

February 2: “We pretty much shut it down coming in from China.”

February 10: “A lot of people think that goes away in April with the heat -— as the heat comes in.”

February 10: “I think the virus is going to be -— it’s going to be fine.”

February 14: “We have a very small number of people in the country, right now, with it. It’s like around 12. Many of them are getting better. Some are fully recovered already. So we’re in very good shape.”

On February 24, with eh global death toll passing 2,600, the S & P 500 fell 3.4%, which was the worst single day in the past two years. As of then, there were 53 known cases in the United States.

February 24: “The Coronavirus is very much under control in the USA… Stock Market starting to look very good to me!”

February 25: “CDC and my Administration are doing a GREAT job of handling Coronavirus.”

February 25: “I think that’s a problem that’s going to go away… They have studied it. They know very much. In fact, we’re very close to a vaccine.”

February 26: “The 15 (cases in the United States), within a couple of days, is going to be down to close to zero.”

February 26: “We’re going very substantially down, not up.”

February 27: “It’s going to disappear one day, it’s like a miracle.”

On February 28, there were 60 known cases being tracked in the United States, and the stock market was falling faster than in has since the crash of 2008.

February 28: “I think it’s really going well… We’re prepared for the worst, but we think we’re going to be very fortunate.”

MARCH 2: “I’ve heard very quick numbers (for a vaccine), that of months.”

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on February 26 that a useable vaccine was “about a year to a year and a half” away.

MARCH 6: “Every one of these doctors (at the CDC) said, ‘How do you know so much about this?’ Maybe I have a natural ability. Maybe I should have done that instead of running for president… I didn’t know people died from the flu.”

MARCH 8: “We have a perfectly coordinated and fine tuned plan at the White House for our attack on CoronaVirus.”

On March 9, the stock market had its worst day in a decade, and the United States was tracking 700 cases, with 26 deaths.

MARCH 9: “This blindsided the world.”

March 9: “The Fake News Media and their partner, the Democrat Party, is doing everything within its semi-considerable power (it used to be greater!) to inflame the CoronaVirus situation, far beyond what the facts would warrant. Surgeon General, ‘The risk is low to the average American.’”

March 9: “So last year 37,000 Americans died from the common flu. It averages between 27,000 and 70,000 per year. Nothing is shut down, life & the economy go on. At this moment there are 546 confirmed cases of CoronaVirus, with 22 deaths. Think about that!”

MARCH 10: “It will go away. Just stay calm. It will go away.”

March 17: “We’re going to win. And I think we’re going to win faster than people think… I hope.”

March 17: I’ve always known this is a real — this is a pandemic… I felt it was a pandemic long before it was called a pandemic.”

I could go on. I left out a lot, like all of the promises of “beautiful” tests that were available to everyone who needed on. But you get the point, right? Donald Trump, up until today, not only didn’t take this seriously, but attacked those who did, accusing them of using the coronavirus outbreak to weaken his administration, using words like “hoax,” and telling people that COVID-19, despite what public health officials might say, is actually less dangerous than the flu. And, now, with the death rate starting to climb, and projections that well over 1 million Americans may die, he wants for us to forget all that, and believe him when he says that he always took this seriously.. It’s up to us to ensure that this doesn’t happen. We cannot allow for history to be rewritten. We need to remember how we got here, so that we never allow it to happen again. The very future of our nation depends on it.

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96 Comments

  1. Posted March 17, 2020 at 10:32 pm | Permalink

    Now imagine living in a world where the United States had competent leadership, where, instead of having a president more concerned with the stock market than our public health, we had someone like Barack Obama. Here, to give you a sense as to what that might have looked like, is the timeline for the Obama administration’s response to H1N1, which, by the way, did not entail the president ever saying “we have it totally under control” or “it’s going to disappear, like a miracle”.

    The first case of H1N1 was reported on April 15, 2009, and the Obama administration declared a public health emergency 11 days later, on the April 26. And the first test to detect the new virus was approved by the FDA two days later, on April 28. [The CDC under Obama activated emergency operations April 22.] Shipments of the H1N1 test from the CDC then began May 1. By May 15, 1 million tests had been released. So, from the first case being reported to our having 1 million tests in circulation, took one month under the Obama administration. By comparison, the Trump administration has known about this deadly strain of the coronavirus since December of last year. And it’s now been almost almost two months since the first case was confirmed in the United States. And we still don’t have proper testing.

  2. Posted March 17, 2020 at 10:36 pm | Permalink

    Trump isn’t the only one trying desperately to get on the right side of history, and avoid responsibility for his actions.

  3. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted March 17, 2020 at 10:50 pm | Permalink

    Too bad he didn’t declare a national emergency until thousands died. Trump is beating Obama’s ass. Do you think Obama would ever have the balls to cut off China flights? I think he would be afraid of offending them. This is really going to stick in your craw: Trump’s policies on the Southern border have absolutely not hurt in this fight and most likely have helped.

  4. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 12:04 am | Permalink

    Whoah, Google suppression algorithm broken. Q: The Plan To Save The World is skyrocketing in views today. Up to 1.8 million now.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVeDKuHPDK8&feature=youtu.be

  5. iRobert
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 4:57 am | Permalink

    Do you read Mark’s posts, HW? If so, what do you make of the timeline of Trump’s comments? Does it appear to support Mark’s assertion that there has been a shift in Trump’s message regarding the virus?

    I’m sorry to bring the topic up if you are not permitted to discuss it.

  6. I bet HW that McCabe wouldn’t be fired and all I got was this stupid name
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 6:32 am | Permalink

    Aloha, good source of international news on the virus
    https://www.moonofalabama.org/2020/03/coronavirus-a-shutdown-is-not-enough.html?fbclid=IwAR3QETOrhv9ilu15viSJ6Ki_65cwAOdmO26DE3dY9T1OxIHnUZMwiFQlfQw#more

  7. Posted March 18, 2020 at 7:37 am | Permalink

  8. John Brown
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 8:06 am | Permalink

    These agent orange cultist are traitors to the Constitution and traitors to the health and welfare to our communities. Denying the reality of a pandemic during the early days of spread was profoundly injurious. Do not accept these people as qualified citizens of the USA. The evil ones must be viewed with suspicion and the moronic ones with contempt.

  9. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 8:11 am | Permalink

    “Do you read Mark’s posts, HW? If so, what do you make of the timeline of Trump’s comments? Does it appear to support Mark’s assertion that there has been a shift in Trump’s message regarding the virus?
    I’m sorry to bring the topic up if you are not permitted to discuss it.”

    Durf. I don’t think they are inconsistent. It’s a global pandemic that we are controlling relatively well in the USA. The situation evolves. What would you like him to have said?

  10. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 8:13 am | Permalink

    “John Brown
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 8:06 am | Permalink
    These agent orange cultist are traitors to the Constitution and traitors to the health and welfare to our communities. Denying the reality of a pandemic during the early days of spread was profoundly injurious. Do not accept these people as qualified citizens of the USA. The evil ones must be viewed with suspicion and the moronic ones with contempt.”

    Too bad no one listens to you. You say traitors must be viewed like that but it has no effect on anyone. Bitter, impotent John

  11. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 8:15 am | Permalink

    It kind of belies your point about who is a traitor. If Trump really was a traitor I would think you would be picking up steam not losing it.

  12. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 8:22 am | Permalink

    The impotent would be dictator, John Brown. He decides who is fit to be a citizen. He decides if religion is okay. He puts you in the proper place for someone with your genetics. Hail to the source from whence butt-hurt flows. Hail to JOHN BROWN!!!

  13. Bob
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 8:32 am | Permalink

    You are just pure evil HW

  14. Jean Henry
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 8:46 am | Permalink

    Noted that HW, unable to defend Donald Trump will assume an unwarranted “so what?’ minimizing stance and then attack someone personally so viciously that he manages to pivot the conversation. Ignoring him, as always, is the best option. Please don’t chalk this up to strategy; it’s just the unconscious manifestation of an intense squirrelly insecurity/defensiveness. Not unlike that his idol, our president, displays in this situation as in all others. The American people are literally craving some display of humility from Trump. They got a bit. It took a pandemic and economic shut down.

  15. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 8:48 am | Permalink

    Defend against what? A bunch of bullshit? Not that hard.

  16. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 8:49 am | Permalink

    “You are just pure evil HW”

    Too bad you aren’t any kind of superhero.

  17. iRobert
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 8:52 am | Permalink

    HW: “What would you like him to have said?”

    A person who understands what’s happening and isn’t controlled by their base emotions would have immediately begun initiating of a coordinated national strategy, and would have provided immediate assistance to other countries we consider friends and allies in slowing their outbreaks and subsequent spread to our shores. That sort of person would have also then kept the public informed as to all of what was being done and of all the preparations to continue fighting the spread. That sort of person would then provide comprehensive information on how Americans could help prepare for the inevitable breakouts domestically.

    Ordering the mobilization of FEMA and our military to assist our medical professionals nationwide would also be done early on and announced to the public along with details on how citizens could also mobilize to assist in the effort.

    Instead, we got the comments Mark listed above, and essentially none of the actions I mention, and more.

    Am I wrong in your opinion? Am I wrong in your’s, EOS? How about in your’s, FF?

  18. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 8:59 am | Permalink

    “A person who understands what’s happening and isn’t controlled by their base emotions would have immediately begun initiating of a coordinated national strategy, and would have provided immediate assistance to other countries we consider friends and allies in slowing their outbreaks and subsequent spread to our shores. That sort of person would have also then kept the public informed as to all of what was being done and of all the preparations to continue fighting the spread. That sort of person would then provide comprehensive information on how Americans could help prepare for the inevitable breakouts domestically.
    Ordering the mobilization of FEMA and our military to assist our medical professionals nationwide would also be done early on and announced to the public along with details on how citizens could also mobilize to assist in the effort.
    Instead, we got the comments Mark listed above, and essentially none of the actions I mention, and more.”

    I’d say he’s done what you asked. Do you think Obama would have done better? Quick shutdown on China travel for a start and then adding Europe?

  19. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 9:04 am | Permalink

    Martial law couldn’t come fast enough to save us, huh? Neat.

  20. iRobert
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 9:06 am | Permalink

    I believe federal ventilators and respirators are not being distributed because they’re being reserved for political donors and loyalists.

    I think it’s becoming increasingly clearer, and rapidly, that HW, EOS and FF have bet on the wrong horse. I’d never recommend betting on an extraordinarily emotionally and intellectually stunted horse in any situation that I can imagine.

    Perhaps it won’t be with your own lives or the lives of any loved ones that you pay for that bad bet, but then again, perhaps it will be. You certainly aren’t the level of loyalist who will be getting a ventilator if you are one of those unfortunate individuals who soon needs one.

    I don’t hate it even dislike you guys. I actually kind of like you. But I’m just telling you the truth when I say I think you’ve been making a very bad call by defending this peculiar farce. I understand much of the reasoning. I too am very put off by the foolishness and arrogance of the “alternative” we’ve been offered. I also prefer some of the stated policy goals. I’m not buying it though. It looks like an obvious ploy to me.

  21. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 9:09 am | Permalink

    Since you are the arbiter of Truth then I guess there is nothing left to say. What needs to be said besides The Truth?

  22. iRobert
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 9:12 am | Permalink

    Martial law being instituted is more likely to happen now than it would have been if Trump were capable of strategizing, acting and organizing proactively.

    The necessity for declaring martial law can be easily avoided through proper preparation and quick action early on.

  23. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 9:15 am | Permalink

    Do you think it is possible to show evidence of that?

  24. iRobert
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 9:15 am | Permalink

    I’m arguing my position. You prompted me to do it. Why not just counter my points with persuasive information or explanation?

    I’m sharing my perspective. I wouldn’t claim anyone is privy to “the truth” but God.

  25. iRobert
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 9:18 am | Permalink

    Mark has provided a timeline of Trunp’s comments. That is some evidence of that. Is it not?

    Closing of the boarders was a helpful action, yes. I don’t think anyone can argue it wasn’t. But much more was needed, and is needed. And it isn’t forthcoming from this administration.

  26. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 9:21 am | Permalink

    It’s hard to argue something that is pure opinion.

    “But I’m just telling you the truth when I say I think you’ve been making a very bad call by defending this peculiar farce.”

    So you think I’m making a bad call. So what? I think Baynard’s articles are completely shitty. I’m not going to simply harp on how shitty they are.

  27. Jean Henry
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 9:26 am | Permalink

    Mitch McConnell appears even more pale than usually, totally drained of blood. His eyes look fearful and unblinking. It must be tough for him to have to govern instead of obstruct. I think he forgot how.

  28. iRobert
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 9:26 am | Permalink

    Yes, I was just sharing with you my truthful assessment of this situation. I feel the timeline of Trump’s comments is a strong bit of evidence to support the opinion I shared. I don’t think anything I said could be argued as false, can it?

    Trump did not mobilize US resources to assist our allies. He did not act quickly to coordinate anything. Do you feel there is evidence to the contrary?

  29. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 9:28 am | Permalink

    A lot is forthcoming. A lot is here already. Testing, testing testing. Billions and billions of dollars. Army Corps of Engineers getting involved. Now floating an $850 billion dollar stimulus package.

  30. iRobert
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 9:29 am | Permalink

    Ordering the closure of travel from China helped for sure. That’s something that takes only moments of a president’s time to ensure it happens. Much more proactive action was needed, and now needed more than ever. And still it is not forthcoming.

    Jean, maybe McConnell has the virus.

  31. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 9:31 am | Permalink

    https://www.voanews.com/science-health/coronavirus-outbreak/us-offers-china-other-nations-100m-help-combat-coronavirus

  32. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 9:32 am | Permalink

    What up doe?

  33. Jean Henry
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 9:34 am | Permalink

    Yes. Everyone is talking about the size of Trump’s stimulus package and when if ever it will arrive and just how big it will be. Here’s hoping he overcompensates on this as much as he overcompensates on the height of his buildings.

    Bummer about that trillion dollar deficit he racked up that now has no chance of getting paid for. Who runs up a trillion dollar deficit in a boom economy? People who have no fucking idea how to run a business much less a government. Watch closely and see how much goes out to workers and health care and how much goes to major industries. Pelosi already compromised and gutted the requirement for paid sick pay for major corporations. The GOP is just gross in its fealty to big money corporations.

    A real capitalist would hand out cash to consumers and let them choose winners and losers. instead of extending socialist support to corporations.

  34. iRobert
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 9:35 am | Permalink

    Testing has mostly been coming from the state and local levels, hasn’t it?

    Army Corp of Engineers being activated will be good. Hasn’t happened yet. Should have happened a couple weeks ago.

    The stimulus package will be essential also. Hopefully, Trump can get Rand Paul to stop holding it up.

  35. iRobert
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 9:44 am | Permalink

    I notice the US offer was “up to” $100 Million for aid in fighting the outbreak. I’m not looking to see if the money was accepted, and for what it was used.

    $100 Million could pay to build that hospital possibly. I’m not seeing if the offer was accepted.

  36. iRobert
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 9:48 am | Permalink

    I’m now looking to see if the money was accepted, and for what it was used. I wonder what the conditions were, and in what form the $100 Million was offered.

  37. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 9:49 am | Permalink

    “I notice the US offer was “up to” $100 Million for aid in fighting the outbreak. I’m not looking to see if the money was accepted, and for what it was used.
    $100 Million could pay to build that hospital possibly. I’m not seeing if the offer was accepted.”

    I’m not getting the point I guess. Rephrase.

  38. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 9:54 am | Permalink

    “Who runs up a trillion dollar deficit in a boom economy?”

    We’ve been through that and you had no answer. No one did. Trump inherited the biggest debt payment in history largely due to Obama. Off the top of my head he about doubled it from 10 to 20 trillion.

  39. iRobert
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 9:58 am | Permalink

    I’ll see what I can find about the details of that $100 Million offer and the get back to you.

  40. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 9:59 am | Permalink

    “Testing has mostly been coming from the state and local levels, hasn’t it?”

    Private labs

  41. Posted March 18, 2020 at 10:36 am | Permalink

    Here’s a good summery of the testing situation…

    From The New Yorker:

    What Went Wrong with Coronavirus Testing in the U.S.

    https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/what-went-wrong-with-coronavirus-testing-in-the-us

  42. Frosted Flakes
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 10:41 am | Permalink

    iRobert, I admit I am an idiot when it comes to personal health and public health. However, I don’t think a lot of the most vocal complainers are much more bright. We are at war. It is the equivalent of every Private Tom, Dick and Harry having an opinion on how to fight the war. It is not the right way to go about a war. I am not directing this to you but I think there is just too much complaining and partisan blaming. Trump’s response has been fine. I trust my leader. I think he is striking a balance between the health of the economy and public health. Both rely on each other. The idea that massive tests should have occurred early is false in my opinion. Unintended consequence of false sense of security early within a political environment manufactured distrust. I am looking at you people who have perpetrated multiple hoaxes over the last few years.)

    The massive tests will occur on the backside of total quarantine when people are sorted out and allowed/ disallowed to conduct business/ not conduct business based upon their results and at-risk level.

    Fact: The Probable Democratic nominee criticized Trump for the Chinese travel ban. That is a huge fact that needs to be considered when one fees to urge to blame Trump.

    Fact: Cuomo, one of the biggest blamers of Trump was quick to blame but slow to take drastic measures despite being more of a hotspot than most of the rest of the country. That is a fact that should be considered when one feels the need to urge to blame Trump.

  43. Jean Henry
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 10:45 am | Permalink

    Can someone please tell HW that debt and deficit are not the same thing? Appreciated.

    https://money.howstuffworks.com/difference-between-u-s-deficit-national-debt-.htm

  44. Frosted Flakes
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 10:45 am | Permalink

    “The panic and the fear is disconnected from the reality.”—not Trump

    Cuomo—5 seconds ago.

  45. Jean Henry
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 10:47 am | Permalink

    In the meantime, it seems like a great time to watch my friend Penny’s film Hail Satan. It’s a howler. I really hope EOS checks it out.

    https://www.hulu.com/movie/hail-satan-88dd0321-84b5-426d-a57d-bb7875e69bf5

  46. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 10:48 am | Permalink

    Thing is if Obama did exactly the same thing they would be praising his infinite wisdom. Even if he did not as well he would get a pass.

  47. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 10:50 am | Permalink

    “Jean Henry
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 10:45 am | Permalink
    Can someone please tell HW that debt and deficit are not the same thing? Appreciated.”

    If you weren’t an idiot you would know I know that. The INTEREST on the DEBT incurred in the past has increased the DEFICIT to an unprecedented level.

  48. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 10:53 am | Permalink

    Obama ran up the debt more than anyone and had nothing to show for it besides a weak recovery with millions added to welfare. No infrastructure to speak of, critical manufacturing moved to China, military degraded…

  49. Frosted Flakes
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 10:59 am | Permalink

    Exactly HW. They would be talking about how happy we had Obama’s leadership in this time of crisis. Related: Would anybody rather have Biden right now? Anybody? What does that tell us?

  50. Jean Henry
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 11:08 am | Permalink

    Fiscal Year Interest on the Debt (in billions)
    2008 $253
    2009 $187
    2010 $196
    2011 $230
    2012 $220
    2013 $221
    2014 $229
    2015 $223
    2016 $240
    2017 $263
    2018 $325
    2019 $393
    2020 $479
    2021 $548
    2022 $610

    all projections pre-pandemic

  51. Jean Henry
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 11:09 am | Permalink

    Yes everybody would rather have Biden.
    Or at least most of America.
    See you in November.

  52. Satan
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 11:11 am | Permalink

    Thank you for the shout out, Jean. You know I appreciate you.

  53. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 11:12 am | Permalink

    Now show yearly debt and the interest. Your brain is broken, Jean. You score more own goals than proper ones.

  54. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 11:14 am | Permalink

    Do you understand the interest is part of the deficit or do you not?

  55. Jean Henry
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 11:15 am | Permalink

    Satan ain’t hatin’

    Biden is clear leader post-pandemic.
    Thank you, Satan.

    https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2020/president/us/general_election_trump_vs_biden-6247.html

  56. Jean Henry
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 11:18 am | Permalink

    Ok breaking my rule here because, JFC…..
    HW, the table I posted shows the amount of debt service that is part of the US budget each year. Yes, I understand that’s part of the budget. Please note what has happened to it since Trump took office. I didn’t bother adding the increased spending which DOUBLES it and also is doubling the interest we owe each year. I simplified it so even you could understand and yet…. nope.

  57. Jean Henry
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 11:20 am | Permalink

    That table is only the debt service included as part of the budget each year. It does not include the debt itself.

  58. EOS
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 11:21 am | Permalink

    Congress determines the budget and therefore the debt/deficit.

    So, let’s all blame Trump.

  59. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 11:21 am | Permalink

    If it continues on this track then we will soon be paying only interest. That’s the setup your establishment presidents gifted to number 45. Who has a chance to turn it around: the big thinking iconoclast or more of the same?

  60. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 11:23 am | Permalink

    Do you understand Trump has to pay a higher percentage of interest out of the budget than Obama…because of Obama? Same goes for Bush, Clinton, etc. I’m not sure if we are done paying for WWII yet.

  61. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 11:26 am | Permalink

    To put it another way: a higher percentage of the budget has to go to the increased interest from the past. That’s why it goes up every single year. Durf, Jean!

  62. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 11:31 am | Permalink

    President Trump has been mentioning refinancing our debt. It’s like that was never thought of before. I bet he manages to wipe out large portions of it with financial restructuring. The Fed will be transformed or eliminated. Treasury notes will be printed again.

  63. I bet HW that McCabe wouldn’t be fired and all I got was this stupid name
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 11:41 am | Permalink

    Aloha, one of the failures of our system—-we let the banks borrow money at near 0 interest rate, and they are talking about following Japans lead and charging the banks negative interest, while the US government pays an average of nearly 3% on the national debt.

  64. Posted March 18, 2020 at 12:15 pm | Permalink

    Giving Trump a hard time for calling it the Chinese Coronavirus is a bit picky. It did originate in China. We could also call it the Wuhan virus. Would that offend everyone.

    Regardless of where it first broke out, it’s now being fought in every corner of the world. So everybody is Kung Flu fighting.

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jhUkGIsKvn0

    If anyone complains, I’ll post a link to Basketball Jones.

  65. Sad
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 12:23 pm | Permalink

    I’m giving Trump the benefit of the doubt.

    In spite of HW.

    I think he should have to remain President.

    It would be unfair for him to create this problem and then exit stage left.

    KEEP TRUMP IN OFFICE!

    If he gives me enough money I might even vote for him.

    Mayor Pete really dodged the bullet.

  66. iRobert
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 12:28 pm | Permalink

    I’m starting to think the same way, Sad. I’d hate to be the guy left holding the bag in this situation. Biden seems like kind of a nice guy. I’m not sure we really want to do this to him. Maybe we should have nominated Bernie and gone down in a blaze of glory.

  67. Jean Henry
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 12:39 pm | Permalink

    “It would be unfair for him to create this problem and then exit stage left.”
    See, G W Bush.
    Assholes are still blaming Obama for that mess.
    PS word is that deregulation has led to more financial sector exposure to bundled derivatives and bundled derivatives of bundled derivates… in other words. More to come.

  68. Jean Henry
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 12:42 pm | Permalink

    HAppy to bet money the Trump has his staff looking at declaring the election suspended.

    And all the idiot GOP (not all GOP) are out stocking up on guns because it’s all a hoax. So that should go well.

    It’s just a weird fucking thing that it took Tucker Carlson to get Trump on board. He probably saved thousands of lives. Go figure. I expect him to run for President soon.

  69. iRobert
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 1:02 pm | Permalink

    Biden should give a three word speech at the convention – just walk up to the microphone, look around a bit with a disgusted look on his face, and say “On second thought…” and walk off, giving all his delegates to Bernie.

  70. Frosted Flakes
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 1:39 pm | Permalink

    Tucker Carlson has grown as a person and a thinker over the last 4-5 years. I have said it here many times. It has been cool to watch him develop. The weird part is that people have been so unwilling to let go of their bigoted ways of thinking to even notice obvious development in another youngish person.

    Jean is chronically enslaved by her judgments made in the distant past. Your brother went to **high school** with Tucker and was not impressed? Something like that right? Clinging to your bigoted points of view for so long is what is “weird”. It is nice to see that you are able to let go of a little bit of your bigotry even though it required that Tucker, in your estimation, to save thousands of lives.

  71. Eel
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 1:51 pm | Permalink

    He’s really grown so much as a thinker, hasn’t he?

    “Tucker Carlson of Fox Falsely Calls White Supremacy a ‘Hoax’”

    https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/08/business/media/tucker-carlson-white-supremacy.html

  72. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 2:10 pm | Permalink

    I don’t follow Donald Trump, iRob. He happens to understand how I think. When he started dropping more truth on the campaign trail than I have ever heard from any President in my lifetime I started paying attention. He drops nods to Q all the time now. If the President is part of Q then get ready for the shock of a lifetime when it all pans out.

  73. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 2:16 pm | Permalink

    Jussie Smollet tried to incite racial enmity with a white supremacist hoax for one thing. There have been quite a number of them right in this area over the years. We’ve been through that. Obviously he is not saying white supremacists don’t exist. He is saying the media/SPLC version doesn’t. They would have gone with Justice for Jussie if they could. They did when it first came out even though it was obviously fishy.

  74. Joe Biden by proxy
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 2:37 pm | Permalink

    Much has been made of changes in President Trump’s tone in recent days. But with our health care system at risk, a virus spreading, our economy on the brink — and so many lives at stake — it’s time to be less interested in his words and more focused on his actions — or inaction.

    https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1240343464405086209?s=20

  75. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 3:04 pm | Permalink

    That’s wild you guys are running a talking corn husk for President. The President is campaigning in places he never went before. You better recognize da prez be putting in dat work. Biiig old rallies any time he wants.

  76. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 3:20 pm | Permalink

    “HAppy to bet money the Trump has his staff looking at declaring the election suspended.”

    He already commented he didn’t think elections should be affected. Why would he care if Biden wins the primary though? Talking about November? Pretty sure he is looking forward to a historic landslide.

  77. Frosted Flakes
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 3:48 pm | Permalink

    Eel,

    Innuendo and smears are the currency of empty bigotry.

    Please review your comment and try to separate out the 1) substance from the 2) innuendo/smear. I think you will find very little substance to your comment.

    Empty bigotry.

  78. Jean Henry
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 3:58 pm | Permalink

    Tucker did go to boarding school with my brother who regularly had political arguments with him (because, as I’ve also said, that’s sport in my family)and said TC always had populist leanings while also inheriting great wealth. (is it Hormel hams? something like it) From 2008 after getting canned:
    “I’m like extraordinarily loaded, just like from money I inherited from my number of trust funds… I go out and beat some servants, I’ll wrap my Lamborghini around a tree, go pick up a kilo [of cocaine] or two — just like normal stuff like that… I’m completely a [trust fund baby]. I never needed to work, the whole cable news thing was just a total pose, it was just like a phase I was going through.”

    His take on populism was always strategic– about broadening the appeal of the party further a la Reagan. It wasn’t anything he believed. He was following Atwaters lead and is still. His evolution makes perfect sense. It’s calculated and about the future of the party. He doesn’t give a shit about regular people. He only cares about the party and preserving power and using populist talking points to throw conservatives like you all into a tizzie– and those lines work on any number of liberals here too.

    He wasn’t impressive then and he isn’t now. He was ambitious and uniquely politically focused at a young age. Not too smart though. He landed in the right place.

    “And when Republicans in the House tried to slash Medicare and Medicaid while giving massive tax cuts to the richest Americans, Carlson mocked liberals for being outraged, choosing instead to rail against a random academic paper suggesting Americans should shift to more sustainable sources of meat. This is what Marxist theorists call “false consciousness,” a state in which the working class is tricked into accepting its own exploitation. By focusing his audience’s attention on insignificant culture war stories, Carlson is able to create a fictional version of “the elite” — vegans, anti-racist activists, feminists, etc. — while distracting from the political party that actually holds the power in government.”

    https://www.vox.com/videos/2019/4/3/18294392/tucker-carlson-pretends-hate-elites-populism-false-consciousness

  79. Bob
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 4:14 pm | Permalink

    It’s nice to see H Dubs adding a little racist dialect to his inane bullshit. It really shows a well-rounded, fully developed level of stupidity.

  80. Frosted Flakes
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 4:38 pm | Permalink

    Jean,

    There are different levels of intelligence. Tucker is not not some sort of genius. Just out curiosity do you think you are smarter than Tucker?

    Related: Do you think it is possible that Tucker saying those things about how he is not going to get another job was satire? I mean he did achieve gainful employment after saying he wouldn’t , right?He has never been charged with beating servants, right? Does he own a Lamborghini? Crash Lambos? Cocaine addict? Lazy guy in boxer shorts?

    I know you are an expert in humor. Can you tell me if there is often an element of irony in attempts at satire?

    Can’t your smear above be read as an appeal to populist impulses? Isn’t it embarrassing to have that pointed out to you—because you are trying to claim he uses populist appeals to manipulate perceptions for his own gain—and your claim is based on a populist appeal to paint a negative picture of someone. Do you not see how fucked you are?

  81. Jean Henry
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 5:51 pm | Permalink

    I have spent time among these folks and no I don’t think it’s sarcasm. The worst among them regularly make jokes like that. It’s not that they do those things; it’s that they brag about their wealth. They fear not having privilege to such a degree that it is it’s own cage. They are stuck in their clubs and schools and are painfully insular. There are rules for everything, you can’t imagine, but the most important rule is to look down on those who were born to different circumstances.

    I have no idea if I’m smarter than TC. I don’t really believe in strict criteria re intelligence. I’ll give him clever. I know I’m more honest and less corrupt.

    Either of us could run laps around the president.

  82. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 7:21 pm | Permalink

    It’s not racist to talk like black people sometimes if you love black people. You might have understood if you grew up around here with lots of black friends like me.

  83. Frosted Flakes
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 7:24 pm | Permalink

    “I have spent time among **THESE FOLKS** and no I don’t think it’s sarcasm. The worst among **THEM** regularly make jokes like that. It’s not that **THEY** do those things; it’s that **THEY**brag about their wealth. **THEY** fear not having privilege to such a degree that it is it’s own cage. **THEY**are stuck in their clubs and schools and are painfully insular. There are rules for everything, you can’t imagine, but the most important rule is to look down on those who were born to different circumstances.”

    Wow Jean. Interesting analysis from a supposedly non-bigoted person who preaches (a fucking lot) about the dangers of populist appeals. Very interesting.

    Thanks for informing me about “They”, but the sarcasm question can be easily answered: Did Tucker put a preppy suit on for a job? Or did he hang out in his boxers, doing coke, driving Lambos, getting into accidents, buying replacement Lambos, while taking opportunities to beat his “servants” in his spare time?

    You really think you are being honest (and not corrupt) in your opinions and your expression of those opinions.

  84. Jean Henry
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 9:15 pm | Permalink

    Oh I am totally bigoted against the super rich. I ran away from those people as fast as I could. Not all of them; some are still good friends, some have become good friends in the wake of multiple sexual abuse scandals at my brothers’ school and mine. My two sisters are definitely in the 1% having stayed in that lane. That degree of affluence is toxic. Those kids suffered and were awful humans by and large. I couldn’t wait to get out of there. The only thing I knew was I wanted no part of it. The good ones escape. I’m super proud of my nieces and nephews for not being total pricks. In general, my friends from boarding school think I have a remarkable amount of freedom to just be. The obligations of society are no joke.

    Soemtimes you actually experience a place and know a thing or two about why it sucks. And why it’s still just human beings struggling within a shitty system.

    I can tell you about my super conservative, gun-toting, bible belt hometown sometimes too. I actually prefer those people by and large.

    Just to be clear my issue with populism is not the class rage. It’s how populists manipulate it. Class rage is absolutely deserved. And most uber wealthy people know it too.

  85. Frosted Flakes
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 9:22 pm | Permalink

    “I am totally bigoted.” —Jean Henry

    Progress.

  86. Jean Henry
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 9:29 pm | Permalink

    Nice.
    Generally speaking, it’s wise to wait a few days and take a statement out of context on another thread, FF.

  87. Jean Henry
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 9:31 pm | Permalink

    You could have asked me that one a long time ago, FF. It’s not something that has suddenly become apparent to me. It has literally directed the course of my life.

  88. Frosted Flakes
    Posted March 18, 2020 at 10:01 pm | Permalink

    Question for HW, iRobert, EOS: Did you guys catch the scores of the sporting events at the 2019 Wuhan Military Games? I can’t find the scores anywhere on the internet and I find that odd.

  89. iRobert
    Posted March 19, 2020 at 4:56 am | Permalink

    FF, I see the medal table on the Wikipedia page, and there are a number of links under the “results” tab. But I can’t get the linked pages to load.

    I see the US team didn’t do well at all.

  90. Frosted Flakes
    Posted March 19, 2020 at 6:22 am | Permalink

    I have taken a keen interest in Chinese sports very recently.

    Nets 4
    Lakers 0

    Do you guys think the Lakers will close the gap? I have a lot of money on that game.

  91. iRobert
    Posted March 19, 2020 at 6:51 am | Permalink

    Well, I guess we’ve lost FF. He’s clearly snapped.

  92. Frosted Flakes
    Posted March 19, 2020 at 2:44 pm | Permalink

    Sorry to burden you guys with my Chinese sports inquiries. My go to guy for Chinese sports chat was always Jaron Lines. He has been kind of slow providing updates lately.

    Here is a sample of his non sports related investigative journalism:

    https://youtu.be/gCHZG65Vros

    Sometimes you can find reliable sports updates in the YouTube comments sections.

    Nets 4
    Lakers 0

  93. iRobert
    Posted March 19, 2020 at 4:28 pm | Permalink

    I don’t get the “Nets 4, Lakers 0” reference, FF.

  94. Frosted Flakes
    Posted March 19, 2020 at 7:43 pm | Permalink

    Updated as of 8pm:
    Nets 4
    Lakers 2

    (I hate fishing but I have been known to do it.)

  95. Posted March 21, 2020 at 5:18 pm | Permalink

  96. Jean Henry
    Posted March 21, 2020 at 7:33 pm | Permalink

    https://therecount.com/watch/trump-coronavirus-calendar/2645515793

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