The President Is Trapped - Peter Wehner / The Atlantic

[Dennis Donovan]

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/03/presidents-character-unequal-task/608743/

MARCH 25, 2020

Peter Wehner
Contributing writer at The Atlantic and senior fellow at EPPC

<snip>

So as the crisis deepens—as the body count increases, hospitals are overwhelmed, and the economy contracts, perhaps dramatically—it’s reasonable to assume that the president will reach for the tools he has used throughout his life: duplicity and denial. He will not allow facts that are at odds with his narrative to pierce his magnetic field of deception.

But what happens to Trump psychologically and emotionally when things don’t turn around in the time period he wants? What happens if the tricks that have allowed him to walk away from scandal after scandal don’t work quite so well, if the doors of escape are bolted shut, and if it dawns on even some of his supporters—people who will watch family members, friends, and neighbors contract the disease, some number of whom will die—that no matter what Trump says, he can’t alter this epidemiological reality?

All of this would likely enrage him, and feed his paranoia.

As the health-care and economic crises worsen, Trump’s hallmarks will be even more fully on display. The president will create new scapegoats. He’ll blame governors for whatever bad news befalls their states. He’ll berate reporters who ask questions that portray him in a less-than-favorable light. He’ll demand even more cultlike coverage from outlets such as Fox News. Because he doesn’t tolerate relationships that are characterized by disagreement or absence of obeisance, before long we’ll see key people removed or silenced when they try to counter a Trump-centered narrative. He’ll try to find shiny objects to divert our attention from his failures.
The president will try to blame someone else—but in this case the “someone else” is a virus, not a Mexican immigrant or a reporter with a disability, not a Muslim or a Clinton, not a dead war hero or a family of a fallen soldier, not a special counsel or an NFL player who kneels for the national anthem. He will try to use this crisis to pit one party against the other—but the virus will kill both Republicans and Democrats. He will try to create an alternate story to distract people from an inconvenient truth—but in this case, the public is too afraid, the story is too big, and the carnage will be too great to be distracted from it.

America will make it to the other side of this crisis, as it has after every other crisis. But the struggle will be a good deal harder, and the human cost a good deal higher, because we elected as president a man who is so damaged and so broken in so many ways.

</snip>

It's bad enough we have a virus that might kill us. It's TRULY AWFUL Trump is the POTUS at the same time.

[dchill]

1. It's BECAUSE Trump is POTUS that the virus might kill us.

I swear it almost seems like he's ROOTING FOR IT!

[empedocles]

3. putin 'ROOTING FOR IT'

[lagomorph777]

39. Bingo. Trump is not incompetent.

He is executing Putin's plan to destroy America.

[empedocles]

42. . . . and 'promise' to make trump US dictator

[paleotn]

58. Ole Vlad has his own problems....

Seems Moscow is rife with CvD-19, while the Kremlin is parroting Donnie bullshit. Funny thing about viruses. They don't give a shit about our politics and don't follow any script. Seems one hunk of human flesh is just as good for replicating as the next one.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/26/europe/coronavirus-russia-kremlin-intl/index.html

[empedocles]

59. putin may not have much fun with the virus, the sanctions, the oil price gamble -

but dipshit trump can still be a fun sideshow.

[druidity33]

67. We're thinking along the same lines...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213180837

[efhmc]

68. Only the Dems. Needs those maggots.

[Orrex]

2. Trapped? Like in a small box and dropped in the ocean?

Because that would be fucking fantastic.

[DBoon]

51. I was thinking more like a small cell in a Federal penitentiary

[Orrex]

64. That also works.

[Bengus81]

4. If Trump and his thugs in Congress would have been able to 100% kill the ACA

This pandemic would be a million times worse and of course people (including the idiots who voted for the POS) would STILL be waiting on the Republican health care plan.

Maybe the Media on what was the 10th Anniversary of the ACA signing should spend a little time on that fact.

[Texin]

18. They can STILL kile the ACA. It's still pending before the SCOTUS.

The states enjoined in the action could ask their attorneys to withdraw the action - but they won't.

[gibraltar72]

5. If ya can't bully it,buy it, sue it or fuck it. He doesn't understand it.

[PCIntern]

24. Brilliant.

Did you come up with that? I’m gonna quote it out the wazoo

[calimary]

31. THERE! THIS!

NAILED it.

[oldsoftie]

32. OMG that is hilarious

[BeyondGeography]

44. I'm doing my part to send this out to the world

[bdamomma]

46. wow

it sums up that POS.

He needs a strait-jacket. He is killing Americans.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

52. I would add to that list eat it.

[Brother Mythos]

61. That is a truly great quotation! I'm going to steal it!

[gibraltar72]

62. Steal away make it go viral.

[Dopers_Greed]

6. I don't agree

People are scared, and are willing to listen to ANYONE who will tell them what they want to hear.

Including the BLOTUS.

If the crisis gets worse, it could go south for Trump, but at this point, he's clearly convincing the public he's doing a good job right now.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

17. Yes. He keeps bragging that NOBODY wanted him to

Close border from China! Bullshit

Press should, in unison, yell out "who? Who was against it?"

[oldsoftie]

33. There were many voices against it.

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/04/coronavirus-quaratine-travel-110750

Thats just the first of many articles critical of the decision.
However, its the only correct one he's made, IMO

[maxrandb]

53. JFC - NO! It was NOT a "correct decision" he made

They knew about this virus two Fucking months before he stopped flights from China. The community spread had already started.

Were planes from China met on the tarmac, passengers screened, or isolated...or were they free to make their connecting flights all over the country?

The ban itself had so many exceptions and holes in it, it was like a Melania hookers fishnet stockings at Mar A Lago.

As late as last week, passengers from overseas weren't even met with a God Damned thermometer.

Cruise ships were allowed to disembark passengers and scatter them to the wind without so much as a "hey, you feeling ok"?

I was on a WESTPAC with the Navy during SARS. Our port visits were cancelled, and when they finally felt they had it under control, governments like Singapore and Hong Kong set up trailers we had to walk through single file. It measured your temperature and heart rate. If you had an issue, you got turned back to the ship.

He dicked this up in every possible way.

Your statement is like saying; "besides all that Mrs Lincoln, how was the play"?

[rockfordfile]

22. That doesn't matter. More Americans blame trump for the outbreak level.

More Americans don't trust trump. When Trump is having to answer, he will be voted out.

[wnylib]

41. Much truth in what you say.

Populist demagogues operate by sensing public moods and telling people what they want to hear. This can actually work FOR them in times of crisis. People look for quick answers, escape from bad realities, and a focus of blame. Populist demagogues are very skilled at delivering all of those things verbally and inspiring actions that fit their version of reality.

So, when Germany was defeated in WWI, along came Hitler to feed their egos on their superiority by saying that Germany was NOT defeated, but was betrayed by liberal Jews, communists, and weak people.

His early attempts failed, but when the world economy collapsed, people agreed with him. They turned to his version of reality. He offered them cheap hope instead of real pulling together to fight the real problems. And tgey stayed with him through another war.

[customerserviceguy]

54. We've been

binge watching "House of Cards" series, and Trump is like Frank Underwood, he always seems to land on his feet.

[burrowowl]

55. The British version is much better

[busterbrown]

65. As of today the attention level has risen 10 fold..

Dopers_Greed.. Today imo will be the turning point.. Too much attention for the facts is deadly for the Trump-Hounds has officially begun.. He is now in a deep stadium size toilet..

Check back with me.....in about 2 weeks.. It's gonna get real bad for Trump's plan for the future..

[Dopers_Greed]

69. As it gets worse, I think it definitely could turn

In the early stages, most people think that he has it under control.

But in a pandemic, a day feels like a year.

[Orrex]

7. I reject any suggestion that Trump's fuckhead cultists will abandon their worship of him

It doesn't matter how much they lose or how many of their family members die; these idiot racist fuckheads have gone all-in on Trump because he validates and glorifies their idiocy, their racism, and their fuckheadness.

They could catch Trump literally in the act of murdering their own children, and they would find a way to maintain their worship of him, because their worship of him is everything.

Witness their meek acceptance of Herr Trump's Final Solution, wherein he proposed to exterminate millions of Americans in an obviously futile bid to prop up the failing economy. The "pro-life" stalwarts for whom "all lives matter" suddenly realize that no lives matter as much as their continued worship of their sacred idiot racist fuckhead god.

Fuck anyone who voted for Trump. Fuck anyone who supports Trump. Fuck anyone who covers for Trump.

As plagues go, COVID-19 is a distant second to the horror of the impeached and credibly accused rapist Trump.


And to any of you fuckheads lurking here from your conservative circle-jerk forums: you can go fuck yourselves individually. and collectively.

[keithbvadu2]

15. Your title and first three paragraphs; well worth repeating.

Your title and first three paragraphs; well worth repeating.

Might have to clean up a few words but spot on.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

21. They still only watch Fox. My wingnut MIL texted

Family yesterday with a glowing review of all the great things that were happening. "4,000 ventilators to NY! Stock market up! Companies making masks, etc"

I have to temper my responses..but did post that Cuomo said he needs 30,000. No response.

Fox is doing their feel good bs

[oldsoftie]

34. There's never a response when you point out something they dont like & cant refute. nt

[PCIntern]

26. True dat

[dawg day]

37. I remember when a local fundie minister got accused

Of fondling and "seducing" young girls in his bible study. A neighbor who attended that church deliberately sent her teen daughter on a long multistate car trip alone with this creep, to prove not that he was innocent (he wasn't), but that she was so loyal she would publicly sacrifice her own child to show her fealty.

Trump's followers are like that woman. They would sacrifice their loved ones to prove they are on his team.

[calimary]

60. I'd guess, as a student of human nature (especially damaged human nature), you're probably right.

Some of them will never give up on him.

They simply can't.

It hurts too much to admit they were wrong. Especially by the time this whole sad, sordid episode is over, for those who stubbornly remain all in - and in some cases, that'll likely be out of pure spite.

NOBODY wants to admit they were wrong. Or worse yet, that they've been ROYALLY HAD.

[yardwork]

8. Some historians think that General George Custer had narcissistic personality disorder.

He ordered his troops into a battle they couldn't win, and they were all massacred. It's considered an extreme example of end-game narcissism.

Just saying.

[keithbvadu2]

12. Custer's troops had to follow his orders.

Yes.

Custer's troops had to follow his orders.

Jim Jones' followers obeyed just as completely.

[Toorich]

9. Where is the CDC?!?!?!

The CDC has been the world-wide tip of the spear on pandemic response.

Does it have a director or even an acting director?

Every epidemic or pandemic or health crises that I can remember has had a
CDC response team and the Director or designated spokesperson giving
daily press briefings. What happened?

Maybe the Press should ask about it.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

25. A conscious decision to take central reporting out

of their hands was made. Why? They didn't want the numbers to look bad. All Dipshit had to do was sign one of his exec orders and require every lab every healthcare facility to report centrally and he didn't.

[chicoescuela]

28. The CDC director is that asshat Redfield

Last seen laughing with trump as he called Gov Inslee a snake.
Another reason we are screwed.

[dawg day]

40. It is interesting that redfield hasn't been seen.

I thought he was doing a great job licking up Trump's spit in the early days

[BadgerMom]

66. Rep. Katie Porter pushed until Redfield agreed to free CvD-19 testing.

He dropped off the podium immediately after.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/03/13/coronavirus-testing-katie-porter/?outputType=amp

[paleotn]

56. CDC is useless...

NY state is contracting their own Cvd-19 drug trials.

[IronLionZion]

10. Dude wants to kill our elderly for stock market profits

it's long past time to 25th amendment him out of office

[gab13by13]

11. Trump isn't damaged and broken,

Donald Trump is mentally ill. I do not believe he is stupid, but I do believe that his mental illness makes him appear so.

[Trueblue Texan]

13. He is simply evil incarnate.

[llashram]

14. yep

[Joinfortmill]

16. We're about to learn just what this psychopath is capable of.

[DinahMoeHum]

19. Goddamn fucking pay wall. . .

n/t



#newrostrong

[Texin]

20. I expect he'll take a play right out of Putin's game plan.

Putin already halted the upcoming presidential *election* in Russia last week. I fully expect he'll do so as well. That is, if the virus doesn't cut him down before he can pull the trigger. But since this monstrosity seems impervious to everything, I doubt CV19 would touch him.

[erronis]

30. Isn't that why he went to Walter Reed Medical Center for a vaccine against COVID-19?

The timing is about right - November. One month before China announced the disease in Wuhan.

[oldsoftie]

35. Trump cannot stop the election. The Constitution is very clear on the requirements.

Yes, i know, he ignores the Constitution all the time. But with this, it involves every state as well as congress

[bucolic_frolic]

23. He will declare the nation under attack to silence the media

You all know where this is headed. Ridiculous to think otherwise.

[rocktivity]

27. President The Don is trapped

between realizing that China and Russia have duped him into believing he could become the American President For Life, and commiting to taking down everyone in the world if he has to go down, too.

And all this time we've been worried about going out in a global nuclear blast.


rocktivity

[subana]

29. yes it is bad that we have to endure this crisis with comrade donnie!

that's the really difficult part! If Obama were there, at least we would know that a responsible person was in charge & that he would try to help us. But with donnie, we know the opposite! He doesn't care & probably hopes to kill off a few democratic voters in the process!

This will go on for a long time, at least into summer or fall if we're lucky. But in all that time, do we have to get a speech from this asshole every day?

[oldsoftie]

38. Networks should just record them & then broadcast anything pertinent later.

Of course, they'd all be afraid of another network doing it faster or live.

[subana]

47. or record them & play them like reruns

he always says the same crap all of the time anyway! We're doing a great job, it's not that bad, yada, yada, yada

At this point, does anyone even believe him anymore?

[SledDriver]

36. Why do these things have to happen under Repuke Prezs?

It's almost comical that the worst disasters occur on the watch of the dumbest R MFs. 9/11 under Shrub, Corona under the orange shitgibbon. Is it just that D prezs are better prepared for when these things happen and we just don't notice?

[HarlanPepper]

43. Probably the most optimistic thing posted on DU for weeks

[riverbendviewgal]

45. as your northern neighbor I am so alarmed and saddened by what is being done to your nation.

my friends and I and other Canadians see and listen everyday to what is happening your way. All my friends love the Obama/Clinton/Carter/Kennedy/Lyndon eras. Not all perfect but definitely there was a humane majority government during those administrations.
I am an avid reader and lover of history. I like reading DU. I learn so much.

I try to let my American relatives know about the health care we, in Canada, have. They are aware but astoundingly, as they are in blue states, love Trump, even now are they are ready to die for him. they are very concerned about the NJ Orthodox Jewish communities that have parties and other events with a lot animosity. Yet,they ignore the spring break gatherings.

So to me, the Republicans who love trump are like him, racist and ill informed You can not change them. It is heart breaking .
Canadian health care insurance keeps us sane and more peace of mind - there are no bankruptcies, no denials, excellent doctors , specialist , nurses. We can't understand why anyone would not want good health insurance, equally to all.

Everyone up here I know is isolating. Going out only when needed I have my balconies, my friends their yards, big and small. I can predict there will be a lot gardens and BBQs happening this Spring and Summer. This will be my 2020 vacation/holiday in Canada.

I watch MSNBC mostly along with my Canadian stations. So I keep informed.
Thank you Democratic Underground, I love you

The Canadian magazine, Maclean's has a great article about a Canadian snowbird heading north .this past week.
I went his same route often in my visits. to Florida.
My favorite Florida beach is Treasure Island with wonderful sunsets.

[link:https://www.macleans.ca/society/life/escape-from-florida-my-2400-km-drive-back-to-the-sanity-of-canada/|

I can picture and feel everything the author wrote.

I sure do hope we all can get through this and it ends when the time is right to let us out.

PS; I think Gov. Cuomo is great . NY is lucky they have him as governor.

[Martin Eden]

48. What happens when things don't go Trump's way?

Blame others.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

49. About time. He should have been

in a cage long before now.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

50. He will, of course, still be the persecuted hero to millions.

Even many who have lost loved ones to the TrumpPlague. They will blame whomever he tells them to. Probably Obama. Again.

[luvallpeeps]

70. But maybe his call to crowd the churches by Easter

will be the straw? God knows I'm grasping at them. Honestly, I'm starting to think I'm on a twilight zone episode.

[live love laugh]

57. The exacerbating inaction is unforgivable. nt

[JDC]

63. The Atlantic has really been laying out some great pieces

One after the other.