Red state/blue state and corona

[firstfloor]

The problem is that KingsGambit falsely believes that Trump "told Pence not to bother helping/working with governors who criticize him." That's not true. Trump said, "I won't call them," but he never said or implied he won't help them or work with them to deliver necessary aid, and he never told Mike Pence not to, either. The idea, I guess, is that the only way that can be accomplished is if Trump calls them personally. Haven't they ever heard the phrase, "I'll have my people call your people"? Trump can do everything he needs to without ever picking up the phone himself.

I don’t think he’s got any “people”. His mission has been to drive a stake through the heart of the Administrative (deep) State.

[simplicio]

I don’t think he’s got any “people”. His mission has been to drive a stake through the heart of the Administrative (deep) State.

That would be a great thread.

This administration is acting as if they have a deep distrust of any existing bureaucracy, any existing conventional wisdom. https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and...administration. So we have a team led by Pence as well as a shadow team chaired by Jared.

I haven't checked lately, but I wonder if Q is providing any guidance on this epidemic.

[Mountain Man]

"If they don't treat me right, I don't call." The Presidents spin on that, i.e. that because I said I won't call, doesn't mean that Pence won't call, is laughable. But, such spin was meant for you, so he knows it will have its intended effect.

No, Jimmy, the spin is that Trump said he wouldn't work with the governors in question or send aid. He never said or implied that. He can do everything he needs to without picking up the phone himself.

[Mountain Man]

Fake News parrot, 'Don't call them, Pence. It's a waste of your time' is not the same as 'Don't help them ever'. Linking to full context is necessary given all the spin of Fake News, and you know that.

The fake news connoisseurs seem to think that those in positions of authority can only get things done if they do it personally. Apparently there's no such thing as "I'll have my people call your people" in their world.

[Roy]

My apologies. I haven't been around much lately, and this kind of thing is kinda sorta why.

I thought you were self-isolating

[rogue06]

I thought you were self-isolating

I am

Been out of my place only to pick up blood pressure medicine.

[demi-conservative]

Pence is too nice. He's already overworked, and he insists on personally calling people who hate him? Trump is right, don't do it.

[KingsGambit]

I don't think it's an accurate summation of Trump's statement to imply that these governors can still get help as long as they communicate via back channels in light of the fact that Trump stated on Fox a couple weeks ago, in the context of governors requesting help from the federal government: "It's a two way street. They have to treat us well, too." The context implied that criticism of the administration's response was in mind. This does, in fact, imply cutting off states whose governors Trump does not like. Video here: https://twitter.com/i/status/1242533718620876800

I doubt Trump's handlers would actually fail to convince him not to follow through on such a threat completely, but defending this seems an odd hill to die on.

[demi-conservative]

I don't think it's an accurate summation of Trump's statement to imply that these governors can still get help as long as they communicate via back channels in light of the fact that Trump stated on Fox a couple weeks ago, in the context of governors requesting help from the federal government: "It's a two way street. They have to treat us well, too." The context implied that criticism of the administration's response was in mind. This does, in fact, imply cutting off states whose governors Trump does not like. Video here: https://twitter.com/i/status/1242533718620876800

The context is that there isn't enough equipment for all the states. Those who attack Trump but want help from him will get worse treatment, but that doesn't imply being cut off totally.

I doubt Trump's handlers would actually fail to convince him not to follow through on such a threat completely, but defending this seems an odd hill to die on.

You're the one who wants to die on the hill of 'Trump is sociopathic' because of Fake News spin.

[Mountain Man]

I don't think it's an accurate summation of Trump's statement to imply that these governors can still get help as long as they communicate via back channels...

Who said anything about "back channels"? Certainly not the President. He said, "I won't call." That's it. That in no way implies, "They're not getting any help," or "They will only get help through 'back channels'." They can come in through the front channels. They just won't get the prestige of "face-time" with the President.

As for the "Two way street" comment, here's the complete statement with context:

...we are doing very well with, I think, almost all of the governors. For the most part, it really has become something. It’s — it’s — we’re dealing almost every day. We’re speaking to each other, whether it’s conference calls. Usually we’ll have 50 governors on the call at the same time.

No, I think we’re doing very well. But, you know, it’s a two-way street. They have to treat us well also. They can’t say, “Oh gee, we should get this, we should get that.” We’re doing a great job, like in New York, where we’re building, as I said, four hospitals, four medic- — we’re literally building hospitals and medical centers. And then I hear that, you know, there’s a problem with ventilators. Well, we sent them ventilators. And they could have had 15- or 16,000; all they had to do is order them two years ago. But they decided not to do it. They can’t blame us for that.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings...ual-town-hall/

So, no, he never suggested that he would refuse to help those who were critical of his administration.

Come on, man, you should be smarter than this. Stop getting your news from Twitter sound bites taken out of context.

[JimL]

No, Jimmy, the spin is that Trump said he wouldn't work with the governors in question or send aid. He never said or implied that. He can do everything he needs to without picking up the phone himself.

That in itself is childish, he's the President, not a schoolboy. But yes, the implication was clear, "it's a two way street," criticize me and I'll take that into account when it comes to helping you.

[lilpixieofterror]

That in itself is childish, he's the President, not a schoolboy. But yes, the implication was clear, "it's a two way street," criticize me and I'll take that into account when it comes to helping you.

Where’s that goalpost? It was here a minute ago...

[Mountain Man]

That in itself is childish, he's the President, not a schoolboy. But yes, the implication was clear, "it's a two way street," criticize me and I'll take that into account when it comes to helping you.

That's not what he implied at all, dippy.

[simplicio]

Is there a difference between Dem governors and GOP governors on this?

The Gov of Georgia just became aware of asymptotic cases of covid 19. Other governors were made aware of it, though it is unclear where they got their information from........

[Starlight]

The Gov of Georgia just became aware of asymptotic cases of covid 19.

It's pretty stunning that today he announces that he's just learned that.

Brian Kemp, Governor of Georgia, 2 April:

“Individuals could have been infecting people before they ever felt bad, but we didn’t know that until the last 24 hours.”

If it were the day before, I'd have said it must be an April fools joke to pretend that level of ignorance this late in the piece.