Trump Pivots to 'Phase Two,' Risking More Death to Save Economy

[left-of-center2012]

President Donald Trump fixed his course on reopening the nation for business, acknowledging that the move would cause more illness and death from the pandemic but insisting it’s a cost he’s willing to pay to get the economy back on track.

The president has for more than a month clamored for a return to normal, stuck between the devastating human cost of the pandemic and the calamity that has befallen the economy as social-distancing measures pushed more than 30 million people into unemployment in a matter of weeks.

“Will some people be affected? Yes. Will some people be affected badly? Yes,” Trump said. “But we have to get our country open and we have to get it open soon. There’ll be more death,” he said. “The virus will pass, with or without a vaccine. And I think we’re doing very well on the vaccines but, with or without a vaccine, it’s going to pass, and we’re going to be back to normal.”

“I created, with a lot of other very talented people and the people of our country, the greatest economy in the history of the world. The greatest that we’ve ever had,” Trump said, referring to what had been the key argument of his re-election campaign. “Well, now it’s time to open up.”

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-06/trump-pivots-to-phase-two-risking-more-death-to-save-economy?srnd=politics-vp

[Newest Reality]

1. "...but insisting it's a cost he's willing to pay..."

Well, you get right out there General Cockwomble and pay that price. Touch, fondle and mingle your base to show us just how willing you are. It will inspire everyone. Take Pence and the gang with you. Have a party.

That's easy to say, huh? Well, I am willing to risk the lives of scores of people in here, safe and sound. Yup, risking other people's lives is hard work, but somebody who is not risking their life has to do it.

That's not acceptable at all, but he is trying to make it sound brave and noble.

Shove it, General. You first. We are willing to take that risk.

[musclecar6]

2. Well

Since all he cares about is getting re-elected and is completely devoid of a scintilla of empathy, like all sociopaths, it’s just business as usual.

[spanone]

3. The price he will pay will be unemployment come next January

[samsingh]

4. actually opening up too soon will hurt the economy more than helping it

but trump is desparate

[duforsure]

5. i totally agree

This will backfire badly on HIM for doing this too. He made this mess and will resort to doing or saying anything redirecting responsibility for it. What a corrupt lying criminal he is. His desperation is showing a lot more now.

[2naSalit]

8. Part of his rationale has to do with

his inability to see anything long term.

[0rganism]

6. well, he's right that we're entering a new phase

i don't think it's the phase he's hoping for, though

[gratuitous]

7. He's counting on those deaths to be preponderantly in communities that won't vote for him anyway

Trump is gambling that most of the folks who die will be urban dwellers (if you know what I mean, and I think you do) and people who don't have ready access to good medical care in their densely populated locales. It wouldn't surprise me in the least to find out that there are Republican operatives scrutinizing the lists of the dead to figure out where pandemic deaths would hit Democrats or suspected Democrats heavier than Republicans.

When the virus stubbornly refuses to confine itself to Democratic enclaves, however, Trump will back and fill and tell his loyal fanboiz that he is one with them in their suffering. Not to the point of suffering himself, naturally, but his base will believe it anyway. For the people who don't vote Republican, Trump will blame everyone else for their predicament, while actively making it worse.

[safeinOhio]

9. Only

Wall Street lives matter.