Re: COVID-19 - Part 2
Just wanted to expand on a couple of points from our media reporter Darius
on yesterday's do ...
The briefings are getting loooong. And later in the day. And BE ON TIME. Not showing up on time is always a bad look when trying to make a good impression. Beyond that and and moments of the the typical BS (Z-pack) and obligatory robotic blow hard bluster, it wasn't bad. Good actually and entertaining which bodes well for the President. Barr was solid. The military logistics guy isn't paid to be a public speaker, but left a good impression. He may not be a great public speaker, but he knows his job and his job is getting stuff. The President completely changed his tune on Asia and China. He didn't say "Chinese Virus". Not once. When asked why, he was firm in stating that he won't tolerate aggression against Asian Americans. Good for him. Let's see if he can keep it up. His track record says not.
My wife tells me Governor Sununu is having the same issue with timeliness. At this point, in what I think all of us will concede is a very fluid situation, it may be as simple as these guys are just flat-out working on a wide range of things, and these briefings are loose recaps of the day's activities. The regular rules have been suspended, so I don't see why we'd expect the President or the Governor to be immune. Frankly, if it was more rehearsed, I'd wonder if he was actually working.
On the China thing … I don't think that's "changing his tune" (although I'm happy you're happy) … is it really that hard to make a differentiation between native Chinese and (especially) their totalitarian regime in charge - whose figures I wouldn't buy for even a second - and Asian-Americans? I don't remember hiding in a corner, cowering in fear when I was a kid, and the media was saying all kinds of nasty things about both sides of "The Troubles" (i.e. Catholics in the ROI, and Protestants in Northern Ireland), being "offended". It's an easy differentiation when your primary identification is as an AMERICAN. Not Irish, not Chinese ... AMERICAN.
We may be done with Dr. Fauci unless the Twittter-sphere is on fire. Dr. Birx? Wow. She's sick (not Covid-19) and tired, medicated or both. She seemed high, in a good way. She and the President had a fun, light rapport. Perhaps when this calms down they will take their show on the road. Or not. As she was speaking towards the end, the President ushered everyone else off the stage and back to work. To this point, her exchanges with the President had been light, friendly, casual, almost playful. I got the sense that she realized, "OMG, I am on the stage ALONE with this man!" as she eased into her more professional character.
I know there's a huge Dr. Fauci Fan Club on here, and I say that in good humor, not to belittle. It was funny, one of the days last week, folks on the old thread were worried that Dr. Fauci had "disappeared" for a day or two from the briefings. Who was the first guest on Tucker Carlson's show that evening? None other than Dr. Fauci. So I'm sure he's around, and his diehard fans haven't seen the last of him. And it's OK if there's friction at times between President Trump and Dr. Fauci. Both have different roles, but one of the two was elected to run the country, and one wasn't.
The President (((may))) have figured out that he can keep his base happy (borders closed, thinking of opening the US for business) while using hints of reality and compassion to increase his support. He's showing signs of understanding that it is OK to not have all the answers and that we will know more in a week. He's moving closer to prime time and with no sports on TV has a platform that could mean BIG trouble for Biden/(obligatory Bernie?) who has been correctly silent during the crisis.
I think Biden has started "daily" conferences of his own as of the other day. I heard a few snippets from one of them, and there's probably a very good reason why the media hasn't given him more coverage. With all due respect to the guy … in his case, and in his current condition, less is better. FWIW Biden has to be having concerns about Governor Cuomo … if he's even aware of him??
Having learned a lesson yesterday about the current volatility of the markets, I won't say anything here this time, other than to say the reaction in anticipation of a bipartisan deal is encouraging, but literally could change in the blink of an eye …
Anyway thanks for your report.