Paul Revere by Cyrus Dallin, North End, Boston

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General John Kelly: "He said that, in his opinion, Mr. Trump met the definition of a fascist, would govern like a dictator if allowed, and had no understanding of the Constitution or the concept of rule of law."

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

If anyone had any doubts about the decline and degradation of the current GOP, just read this and weep:

 

‘Listening to experts is elitist’: Idaho Republicans move to strip power from public health officials


"Idaho lawmakers are moving to strip the authority of public health districts to close schools in emergencies or require masks for safety reasons. 

 The legislature’s Education Working Group voted overwhelmingly in favor of the proposal to take away power from “elitist” public health officials and allow school boards to make those health-related decisions, reported Boise State Public Radio."

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During the worst pandemic since 1918, the Republican Party has convinced itself and, sadly, its followers that expert advice is "elitist," and belief in conspiracies and other stupidities are what is needed to survive this pandemic.

We know that the GOP's president has had a large influence in getting people to disrespect and suspect the experts in epidemology, virology, as well as the doctors and nurses fighting Covid-19 on the front lines.

It's as though Trump and his true believers want to send more people to their unnecessary deaths.

Don't forget that Trump gets tested every day, and no one is allowed near him unless he or she has been tested. So Trump is personally careful about this very deadly, very contageous virus, but careless when it comes to protecting the American people.

He was stubbornly anti-facemasks for months and months, and only gave in to wearing them when it became politically necessary, and that was only for a brief time. He's careless about social distancing. One only needs to have seen his latest rally (disguised as a presser) this past weekend at his private golf club in New Jersey to understand Trump's recklessness and disregard for the safety of Americans during this crisis.

Looking at the MAGA-hat-wearing audience members at a Trump rally or bikers swarming South Dakota, one can only conclude that they are prime examples of groupthink. And it is members of these groups who are most likely to oppose wearing masks and other public health measures to contain this pandemic. What we are witnessing is, in fact, an expression of effective, targeted propaganda, starting with the president at the top and his media supporters.


5 comments:

Dave Miller said...

Shaw... don't you know that the pandemic of 1918 actually started in 1917? It must be true, Pres Trump said it. Not once, or even twice, but he repeatedly states it as fact.

Skud likes to come here often and state that Pres Obama is essentially an idiot, or a Muslim, because he said once he had visited 57 states. In Skud's world, there was never room for a tired candidate to make a mistake in a speech. A one time mistake. I wonder when the Skudsters will step out to rail against Pres Trump for this comment?

I'm willing to grant some grace to Trump on his WW2 reference. But 1917? Not at all. He's stated it again and again and again.

Shaw Kenawe said...

Dave Trump has also repeated endlessly it seems, that HE was responsible for the Veterans' Care Through Choice Act. The Veterans' Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act was signed into law by President Obama in 2014.

He's repeated this in public appearances more than three times. And even though I'm sure he's been corrected, he continues the lie.

Scud? Never mentions this. Neither do Trump's enablers on the Mother Ship and the other pro-Trump blogs. Why is that? If this were Obama taking credit again and again and again for something Ronald Reagan did, they'd be outraged.

What in the name of all that's decent makes them able to ignore Trump's constant lying and deceit?

Dave Miller said...

Shaw... when he was confronted with that lie about the VA by a reporter, he just ended his press conference and walked out of the room. He had nothing to say.

As for their ability to ignore, remember, Trump Does Not Lie!

That's what Obama, Biden and Democrats do. President Trump just utters "Non Factual Comments."

It's like "False facts" or "Alternative Facts" or someone being "correct" because they are "right" politically and right means right. Seriously, we've both seen the extremists use each of these arguments multiple times. All I can say is this... their thinking sure isn't elitist.

BB-Idaho said...

Naturally, Idaho won't let the public health experts have a say
in epidemiology, that is the area for the huge majority GOP
'experts'. Here, no protection against a virus (non existant)
needed, as long as we have our arsenals and underground food
supply just in case Congolese pygmies invade and try to take
our potatoes. Who'd have thunk the Dark Ages would come back
from the murky past?

Shaw Kenawe said...

BB-Idaho, it’s not just Idaho acting irresponsibly. There’s another state, I’ve forgotten which one, where a woman stated that making children wear masks to school is a Satanic plot, an affront to Christianity.

Dark Ages indeed.