I'm on the fence.. either this is Y2K fears all over again- or it's something real much bigger...
Wow. This is a big ask of someone who is himself an endemic in America today.
Declaring a national emergency is like making Trump the Capitan Ahab of our ship fools. And he will take us all down with him.
March 13, 2020
Our national effort to coordinate with the Executive and Governors leaders needs to have this as a ad hoc committee to oversee and implement the best for defense and remedy in this crisis of biological disease now categorized as Pandemic - global confrontation ('s.) Let's as well simultaneously engage in electronic assemblies for all working hearings and efforts as well on site attendance to the working objectives in defense of our nation's health, welfare and as engaged in coordination with our international progress to achieve defense for normal governing workings achievements agreements in testimony for lessons learned.
1
It’s time for a really big MAGA rally!
A national emergency due to the virus or the president?
Hold on folks. Emergency declaration with extraordinary powers? For THIS federal team? No way! THis is the Gang Who WOn't Shoot Straight. The LAST THING they (this federal administration) should have is special powers. Bunch of grifters, liars, political hacks, and cowards. Unless Dr. Fauci gets to run the country I say NO.
2
Trump will probably ask for emergency funding to complete his wall so covid19 can be controlled. Wouldn't surprise me.
Does anyone remember the Reichstag Fire Decree?
It was a crisis of Hitler's own making and his method of assuming 'emergency powers' in the interest of public safety.
The Trump administration has created its own crisis via its mishandling of the Coronavirus outbreak. Granting even greater powers of discretion to the Trump administration and hoping for a better outcome seems to be the very definition of insanity.
I agree with the Editorial Board that positive action is urgently needed. However, today's courts and SCOTUS are poised to block congressional oversight of the president during 'normal times.' Emergency powers in the right hands would help, but hoping that Trump will suddenly become informed, wise and caring is not realistic.
"TRUMP ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION! APOLOGIZES FOR MAKING A BAD SITUATION INCALCULABLY WORSE! TO LEAVE OFFICE IMMEDIATELY!" - The only headline I want to see in the Times
3
Trump wanted to be Andrew Jackson. Get ready to be a part of a USA that gets to travel on the Trump Superhighway of Tears.
1
How can it be an emergency?! The Vice-President told us on TV four days ago that a million tests had been distributed and four million more would be ready by the end of this week.
Then Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar insisted that the CDC had developed the coronavirus diagnostic “in record time….... we now have a total of 2.1 million tests that are available, either shipped or waiting to be shipped or waiting to be ordered.”
Double-talk or double-think?
1
Brazil president just tested positive, he was just here yesterday with trump...
trump has to self quarantine himself ASAP and his whole entourage after shaking all these hands.
Does he even understands that he and his family now literally spreading the virus all over the globe!
And WAPO just in with this...
www.washingtonpost.com › lifestyle › media › 2020/03/11
Rupert Murdoch could save lives by forcing Fox News to tell the truth about coronavirus - right now.
Another wicked tycoon who gave us FOX and trump, just shows how obscene wealth can completely obliterate civil societies around the world.
Murdoch Net Worth is 16.9 billion USD
Putin approximate Net Worth is 70-200 billions
Hermitage Capital Management CEO Bill Browder told the Senate Judiciary Committee that he believes the Russian president is "the richest man in the world" with a net worth of $200 billion.
Yes really SICK!!!
New York’s elite run for the Hamptons to avoid coronavirus.
https://nypost.com/2020/03/12/new-yorks-elite-run-for-the-hamptons-to-avoid-coronavirus/
This is worth reading...how economic injustice manifests itself during the crisis
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/05/style/the-rich-are-preparing-for-coronavirus-differently.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&fbclid=IwAR3suyqXmZfFEIiYIrWisOgJ24NlQhVobXIT9-ExUCJ9_ty93W1PMrzvIIc
“Let me tell you about the very rich. They are different from you and me"
F. Scott Fitzgerald
1
Stupid to declare a Nation State of Smergency until the response of the states, schools and industry have determine their positions. We do NOT want to declare a state of panic. A State of Emergency is to emphasis precautionary measures not a solution to the cure.
We need to nationalize the airlines. They are going to use the travel ban and recession as evidence that they need a huge bail out. No more bailouts, please. The airlines were close to being nationalized on 9/12/01, but the politicians didn't have the guts. Many capitalist countries are happy with national airlines. Ever since deregulation, airlines have ironically deteriorated into public transportation, a public utility. Should be government run, even if the service is 20% worse. . .
Are you (the editors) CRAZY! Those who have faith Trump won't abuse emergency powers to benefit himself and his cronies and interfere with the election in November should recuse themselves to the lifestyle section where they can review romcoms and children's books.
2
Congratulations to the NYTimes Editorial Board. Your timely editorial seems to have moved the President in the correct direction. I know it is not over in the Congress, yet, but I think the National Emergency Declaration will speed the Congress to act.
I have been reading the commentary to this posting and it is very informative on its own.
Perhaps Trump's intent is to cull the old and redistribute their wealth and benefits.
1
@Hector
Perhaps he’ll start with himself.
I wish we could declare a National Emergency on Mr Trump-
and take him off to a closed off room. Please can someone make this happen???
1
If you're looking for a 2008 type response, you'll need a 2008 type president.
With this guy in the WH?
Good luck with that.
Tragically, we have in Donald Trump a man trapped in his own narcissism who is the neglectful father who's anti-personality illness has rendered him incapable of dealing with the Covid-19 virus that is on course to inflict immense damage including the lives of tens of thousands. At least, we are fortunate in having a mature, caring mother figure in Nancy Pelosi who is on the verge of at least mitigating some of the economic damage the coronavirus is causing. As a retired professor of public health, I'd recommend that all nonessential business activity be halted with every American worker placed on an emergency, two-week paid leave to self-quarantine that would stop the spread of the virus and allow those with it to be isolated and treated. Meanwhile, hospitals will need to ramp up their capacity to handle the anticipate influx of patients by adding beds and related equipment paid for out of the $8.3 billion emergency aid Congress has already passed. Both China and now Italy were forced to take such action. We should do it now to contain the spread and mitigate the effect of this virus that has a 15 percent mortality rate for the elderly. It's time for America to take a Spring Break Staycation.
20
@Paul Wortman - Paul. I so wish this had been a NYT pick. Stay safe. I knew you must have been some kind of professor!
5
@Paul Wortman - I must have clout with the NYT. You’re a pick, rightly so!
2
If nothing else Trump learned from coronavirus, he did learn one thing, namaste greeting from India!
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-india-51854798/coronavirus-indian-greeting-namaste-goes-global
I read this morning in another paper, in Korea, a dog was tested and quarantined. I wish someone would tell me why other countries like Korea, Australia can test their citizens and we can't.
Why didn't we buy testing from them if we can't come up with our own.
Surely this is the sign that we need a total revamping of our healthcare system along with the removal of the electoral college that overruled our "popular" vote and that ultimately put Trump in our White House. Our government is not working for Americans any more.
Oh, yeah, this virus is all a hoax, and it is the dems fault, or we need to blame the CDC. Oh yeah, Gaetz wore a mask as a joke, making fun of it all.
We need resolution, fast but appears our US government can no longer do that; it is so screwed up it no longer knows how to do the job. And the fact that our own White House defied subpoenas and invites Putin to meddle is very disappointing, down right scary.
3
National Emergency. For what? Economic, health, or donald?
Hello, Editorial Board. How about some articles/op-eds on the Chinese where the coronavirus started? Let's talk about their wildlife/meat markets. Let's talk about cruelty, ignorance and barbarity. Let's talk about animal rights/speciesism. Those markets need to be shut down permanently or the pandemics will continue -- thanks to the Chinese and their neighbors. The whole world has to suffer because of the Chinese (not all of them, of course). The media and the politicians have caused the sheep to panic, to live in fear because they politicize and sensationalize the virus. Stop with all these coronavirus articles (too, too many). You are scaring Americans who not noted for their intelligence.
1
Trump is in over his head as usual, and everything he's done so far has made it all worse. The Times Editorial Board must demand that Trump RESIGN!
What time is this announcement? If it's before 330 it's good. Stock market will rally and create happy yakkity yak on the weekend talk shows. If it's after 4 it's bad. Don't want to upset the modest gains made on the market today. Sad to think this way but that's what trump has done to me.
The Times lose its own credibility by not stating things starkly and clearly. Forget the bows to Trump. Trump is a moral doughnut, surrounded by a privileged family and firewalling coterie; untutored in anything except dodging and deception; steeped in lies and corruption. His "politics" are dictated by ultra-right wingers who barely ever worked in the real world. The SINGLE priority is to blame the Chinese and the Democrats for this unfolding disaster... and to make his "numbers" look good.
Trump's scriptwriters, via their far-right creed, believe that eliminating old people who don't have cash and the right skin color, is a good thing, not a bad one.
This is zombie territory; he cannot be called upon to "lead."
1
Please no national emergency with Trump in office! He cannot be trusted.
1
As part of the response to this national emergency, there should be an immediate and concerted effort to reduce and block misinformation about this virus. Where is this circuit breaker for Fox News, Twitter, Facebook and POTUS?
“The details of Mr. Trump’s announcement, another official cautioned, were in flux and being finalized ahead of a 3 p.m. news conference that Mr. Trump announced on Twitter Friday morning. — NYT
It’s 3:30 and the podium stands empty while the Press fidgets in their seats
It seems Donny is unprepared and late as usual.
1
Now of course Trump is blaming Obama and the CDC. Someone should place Truman's The Buck Stops Here on his desk.
The national emergency started when Trump was somehow elected president
1
Headline news is that Trump is going to declare a national emergency!
May we presume he is referring to his presidency?
1
What Trump needs to do is put someone competent in charge and then keep his nose out of it. Completely out. And stay there.
Trump continues to be who he has always been, but the Republicans who gave themselves and donors the tax cuts, while simultaneously withdrawing money for organizing and combating things like the Covid 19, need to get on board with Pelosi and the Democrats to give the people who really need help right now. They complain about the costs of social safety net and welfare, but then give themselves ‘welfare’ sponsored by us and leave us for dead in a pandemic! Justice will be served. The day of reckoning will come. ‘I was hungry and you didn’t feed me, thirsty and you didn’t give me anything to drink. Sick and in prison and you didn’t come to my aid. When did we NOT care for you Lord? When you didn’t do it for the least of these my brethren.’ Lord have mercy on their souls, if they fail in this.
2
Trump is a damaged man. He cannot and will not change fundamentally. If we do not change prezidents in the next election we are in for more of the same, and possibly worse because mistakes tend to accumulate. Trump seems to do exactly the wrong thing in an upside down and backwzrds way. It is the way He sees things,backwards. Always related to himself. This just cannot go on, let him go back to his private life.Please.
2
I wonder if any of Trump’s lackies and sycophants (which pretty much include all Republicans) will have the nerve to decline Trump’s offered hand to shake?
Perhaps Trump should locate and dust off a speech of Franklin Roosevelt........"the only thing we have to fear is fear itself........" and set about in a manner to inspire folks to return to common sense and reasonable, responsible behavior.
6
While the circumstances are correct for declaring a national emergency, we should not do it while Trump is president. We cannot, under any circumstances, give him more power over the people of America. He will find a way to use a national emergency against us and to do us far more harm that we can even imagine.
We will be better served if we can somehow unleash the expertise of the underlying agencies and people, without involving Trump.
I declared a national emergency Jan 20, 2017, but nobody listened.
38
@Lawrence Jan 20 would have done nothing more than cause more panic than we are experiencing. It comes down to calculated risks and precautionary measures as with a flu epidemic.
@The Man Read it again. He means Trump’s inauguration.
3
@The Man I think he's referring to the Trump was inaugurated...
3
Well, the symbolism on view on the world stage right now is truly perfect. Some twenty five minutes now into the scheduled start of the Rose Garden briefing, the Presidential podium is still utterly vacant. That says it all!
2
With this president and this virus, the declaration of a national emergency opens the door wider to a nightmare for all of us, regardless of political affiliation. I fear nothing good will come of further empowering an administration that has failed to act intelligently or with foresight to contain COVID-19. What Trump will do next frightens me more than the virus.
1
I guess it is a national emergency. There's no toilet paper on the store shelves.
3
We need to triage our emergency response. Focus on what will actually get results -- not testing, but flattening the curve and protecting the vulnerable elderly and health care workers. Manufacture masks for health care professionals, not tests for the worried well or those who are 99.99% sure to recover. Don't panic about your kid getting COVID-19. It'll be somewhere between a cold and the flu for them. Do panic about your kid being a vector to your octogenarian grandmother, ER nurses not having the N-95 mask protection they need, and not enough of the ventilators that can help the elderly stay alive.
2
maybe it's time for Trump to hold as many rallies as possible to reassure the people.
3
Since Reagan, we have had three major crises, first the AIDS’s pandemic was allowed to fester globally by denying it for years. GWB, not only started unprovoked wars, but was responsible for the great recession of 2008 and predictably too incompetent to solve problems he created and only solved with Obama. It is very predictable that Trump and minions would not be able to handle this pandemic making it worse. GWB was worse than Reagan while Trump is worse that all of them.
The GOP since their St. Reagan continue to decapitate government, unable to service us effectively, giving them more excuse to privatize everything. GOP politicians still parrot his message of "government is never the solution but the problem because it is too bureaucratic to service the people. Privatization allow monopolies or oligopolies squeezing us of our wealth, where today we have highest inequality in developed countries. GOP politicians continue con us that enriching plutocrats mean their generosity will trickled down to us. The Trump is the proof with his first act to reward them with tax cuts, corporate welfare, deregulation, etc.
GOP prey upon the most deplorable among us enraging them with bigotry, mysogeny, Christian fascism, xenophobia, etc. Meanwhile they have created a multibillion media cabal with Murdoch's fuax acting as their ministry of misinformation.
If we don't relegate them to the minority status they belong, they will reemerge with someone more like Putin.
4
“The coronavirus pandemic poses a different kind of challenge, threatening the nation’s health as well as its economic prosperity,“
To watch the times try and say it cares about the health of the American public is strange given it’s war against health care for all.
So we need trump to save the Markets AND the people let’s take a guess which one he’ll choose?
By way our ’nation’ happens to be made up of people. and our government, political parties and health system have epically failed in the face of one microscopic bug.
“The coronavirus pandemic poses a different kind of challenge, threatening the nation’s health as well as its economic prosperity,“
1
I suggest Trump steps down right away, that will give us a lot more confidence in the future.
7
Pence should step down too. Let Nancy Pelosi steer the ship
America needs to pull together despite Mr Trumps tug against common sense and reality.
Up until now, Mr Trump has done nothing but cut previous administrations programs that would had helped, and led fox news in admonishing the world we're worrying for no reason.
It's too little, too late from our businessman-in-chief, who has done nothing from the beginning.
1
California placed 12 of the people from the Princess cruise ship in quarantine at a state park facility here in Pacific Grove (PG) that is approved for such purposes by the CDC. It came as a surprise to local officials who were informed only hours before they arrived. Local residents were informed in a piecemeal fashion, which prompted lots of speculation and misinformation being spread. The reaction of local residents, based on social media posts, is generally positive and understanding, though there is some concern about how the decision was made to locate the quarantine here given the demographics of PG, which skews toward older retirees. So far, all is good and we wish our guests a speedy and safe end to their quarantine. The one lesson that we can all take from our experience in PG is that this virus will require some discomfort of us all, but the more that we can decrease the uncertainty the easier it will be to bear that discomfort. Americans prove themselves capable of rising to challenges again and again with grace and humility. I suspect we will do so again, but it is certainly easier when we are inspired by the top. I hope that moment has arrived.
Too late! About four years too late come this November.
3
And we need to look at canceling the Presidential election until the situation is contained.
If FEMA is put in charge, the press needs to be vigilant and investigate whether contractors hired (which is a lot of what FEMA does) are competent rather than having political connections as happened with Katrina, and Maria. We don't want another make believe company in Montana to siphon off millions for Trump administration members, families, or friends.
3
Doctor here.
DO NOT put the head of FEMA in charge. He is unqualified.
Dr. Anthony Fauci needs to be put in overall charge. He ran the government's response to AIDS long ago and did a great job. He has the respect of the medical community. Most importantly, he has enough brains to be able to think ahead.
That tailor's dummy Pence needs to be put back in the spare room. The CDC head is a stiff and a religious nut. The FEMA head is a non-physician Republican semi-Bozo.
Fauci must lead this. Lives depend on it.
17
Remember the H1N1 (Swine Flu) epidemic of 2009 - 2010?
"The CDC estimates that swine flu infected nearly 61 million people in the United States and caused 12,469 deaths."
4/05/09
First human infection with new influenza A H1N1 virus detected in California.
4/26/09, the Secretary of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act,42 U.S.C. 247d, in response to the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. The Secretary has renewed that declaration twice, on July 24,2009, and October 1, 2009.
10/25/09
Summary: In an effort to proactively address the ongoing pandemic, the President signed a National Emergency Declaration on H1N1 that allows healthcare systems to quickly implement disaster plans should they become overwhelmed.
Between April 2009 and April 2010, CDC held 60 related media events – 39 press briefings and 22 telebriefings – reaching more than 35,000 participants.
January 10-16 2010
President of the United States proclaimed National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) and encouraged all Americans to observe the week by getting vaccinated with the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine.
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/2009-pandemic-timeline.html
1/31/20 - HHS SEC. Azar declared a public health emergency for the entire United States to ... Public Health Emergency for United States for 2019 Novel Coronavirus ... Health Service Act. This declaration is retroactive to January 27, 20
WHY POLITICIZE A MEDICAL PROBLEM?
2
They are trying to flatten the curve as much as possible. The alternative is worse than the economic losses. The sooner we get shut down the better off we will be in the end. Deniers and worryers must look at the goal. Less upneval in the health care system, fewer deaths. If we can shut it off somewhat, many fewer deaths.
The only real answer is a vaccine, which is a year away.
Meanwhile do what is recommended to keep the virus away from you as much as possible.
Do not think this is a hoax, and ignore it. That kind of denial is extremely dangerous for the denier and the people near that person. Some people just dont want know. Listen to the people who deal with these issues, the health care professionals, and do what they recommend. Stay away from people, keep your distance, find fresh air and sunshine and space. If we work together on this we will be far better off.
3
Keep in mind while all of this is going on that Gen Z was born in 9/11 and a good portion are graduating high school this year with uncertainty if class will be open to walk across the stage because of this virus. They have had to go through being scared of school shootings, they have had to endure abortion rights advocates sitting outside their schools with graphic pictures, one new technology after another, and they have had to endure the political partisanship. The class of 2020 is huge and they will be voting in November, a lot for the first time. My gut tells me that a lot of these kids will become political in the future and the world will change, a lot.
4
@Missy.... Its not the abortion rights advocates with the misleading graphic pictures, it’s the people who want to control your hody instead of you.
The media is offering expert predictions as to best-case and worst-case scenarios concerning the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on the U.S. Compared to Mr. Trump’s “ressurance speech,” this information is disturbing but useful.
It is not too early to begin careful consideration of exactly how we will conduct fair and credible elections in November regardless of whatever medical/political/emergency issues we face at that time.
The forty-year-long hyper-partisan insanity of the Reagan Era must be brought to an end in 2020.
Newt Gingrich, Carl Rove, Dick Cheney, Donald Trump, etc. The GOP’s orchestrated attack on truth, reason and democracy, begun during the Reagan administration, must be brought to a close. Our nation can bear no more of this madness.
Regardless of other factors, the fall elections MUST take place as scheduled.
5
Nationwide Mail In Ballots. And make sure the GOP can’t throw out Ballots for “signature mismatch”
2
Coordinated response is happening at the State and community level in states not enamored of reality TV stars.
What the state’s need is the funding to protect Americans.
We are not just trumps consumers.
He treats humans like bottom feeders.
This horror show is brought to us by ignorance and avarice and hubris packaged in a very ugly man and his synchophants.
8
Trump held off declaring a National Emergency until even the democrats were begging him to do so.
Once a National Emergency is declared, >100 laws will spring into effect, and Trump will gain all sorts of powers, many of which have nothing to do with the corona virus pandemic.
This could be Trump's version of the Reichstag Fire
https://www.google.com/search?q=reichstag+fire&oq=Reichstag+Fire&aqs=chrome.0.0l8.1428j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Trump and his enablers could run wild.
4
NO it isn't. Jesus people.
There are fewer than 2,000 Americans infected. And while that number will rise, how do you even come close to justifying coronavirus as a "national emergency?"
When Barack Obama was president, we had 60 million people infected with swine flu; 300k hospitalizations. NO one suggested that he declare a "national emergency."
No sports leagues canceled seasons. No states declared emergencies. No governors banned public gatherings of more than a couple hundred people.
This is yellow journalism pure and simple. We do NOT have a 'national emergency' on our hands with this virus. And it's irresponsible to suggest that we do.
2
@The Commoner, no it isn't, it's even better. I teach for LAUSD and all the schools here were just announced closed for at least the next two weeks. Factor in Spring Break and it'll be more like a month. But for the parents and kids sitting at home going crazy all that time it's going to feel even worse than the Apocalypse.
2
How do you know how many people are infected? We aren't doing sufficient testing! The actual number is probably in the hundreds of thousands by now.
1
@AJ, consider the good for the environment and climate a mass die off will do. Why is the glass always half empty for Americans?
Foolish things happen when a fool is in charge.
6
Mother Nature may give the White House a good cleaning.
6
Our President somehow thought that Mexicans on the border warranted declaring a national emergency yet the threat of the Coronavirus doesn’t. Someone needs to turn off his television and takeaway his cellphone
4
@David "Off with his thumbs!"
I get my medical advice from Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity so I have nothing to worry about!
6
Breaking News: Trump Fires COVID-19, Appoints Weak Acting Virus
5
NYT Please Advise: Given...
...the perilous trajectories of our country and planet,
…the criminal acts committed by Trump,
...the impeachment of Trump in the House,
...the sham trial of Trump in the Senate,
…Trump’s new level of lawlessness…
…and Trump’s total incompetence in addressing the coronavirus pandemic…
...at what point does the NYT take the lead, as one of the nation’s most respected news organizations, and call for Trump’s resignation (without the benefit of a Pence pardon)?
Thank you.
+++++++++++++++
FYI: A bit of history from Wikipedia:
Impeachment Process Against Richard Nixon
On November 4, 1973, Senator Edward Brooke became the first congressional Republican to publicly urge President Nixon to resign. That same week, several newspapers, including The Atlanta Journal, The Denver Post, The Detroit News and The New York Times, published editorials also urging him to resign. Time magazine, in the first editorial in 50 years of publication, did so as well, declaring that the president "has irredeemably lost his moral authority" to govern effectively, and that Nixon "and the nation have passed a tragic point of no return."
4
I never thought I’d live to see this......the New York Times crediting the Bush administration.
But... but... but... SOCIALISM!
2
NYTs spreading communist China propaganda.
The media breathlessly reports all of these new cases in America. Yet, we have 37 deaths from the Wuhan virus, half of them from a WA nursing home filled with elderly people with already compromised immune systems.
The average age of the people who’ve died in Italy is 81.4 yrs. In America, it’s 80 yrs of age.
Now, I had to research this myself. The media doesn’t report this.
So we are shutting down our economy and panicking over this?
Let’s look back at the H1N1 pandemic. Look at those numbers. We did not do anything near what we’ve done today. Over 20K American died.
5
It is all politicized. They want to blame trump for everything. I don’t agree with trump declaring a national emergency but no one can argue that he hasn’t acted swiftly. From what I understand far more swiftly than Obama during the swine flue.
1
We are 4 weeks behind italy in terms of the trajectory of this infection. The fatality rate is two orders of magnitude higher than H1N1.
2
@AJ That could be the case. I have heard in 2-3 weeks (at this point maybe 1-2 weeks) things will peak. But we will have to see.
I think our biggest national emergency is adoption of the stance that "we must persuade Trump to do in order for the nation to prosper, where '' is some collection of well thought out ideas. A dog is more likely to quote Shakespeare than this strategy work.
For my part, I called my Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey and asked him if he could not somehow figure out a way to sneak into the Oval Office and hose down Trump with a forceful stream of water from one of the numerous fire hoses in the White House. Perhaps that might release Trump from the spell of Sauron under which he has been operating for the last few years.
The notion that Trump responds to pleas for anything is flawed from the get-go. If you ask him for something, he takes that as a sign of weakness and his power to deny as he continues his circus act of the grotesque.
Former Massachusetts Representative Barney Frank set the mark for type of approach when confronted at a town hall meeting by a heckler who presented Frank with a photo of president Obama defaced to make him look like Adolf Hitler. To which Frank responded: "On what planet do you spend most of your time? Trying to have a conversation with you would be like trying to argue with a dining room table… I have no interest in doing it.”
The most prophetic thing the NY Times could do, at this junction, is try something truly radical. Halt all coverage of Trump for a week. Believe me, the world won't end.
6
Trump has no idea how to govern and he is surrounded by an administration that is tone deaf and downright ignorant and mean.
Thank God we have smart governors and city officials who seem to know what needs to be done .
We need to march this GOP administration of crooks out of the White House and back to where they came from.
They are killing the American people and this time blaming President Obama wont even be believed by your own racist supporters
5
Why would the Editorial Board think that the monster would put his baser interests aside in light of the pandemic? He already said, I paraphrase what I just read in this paper, that he "memorized" the state of emergency law and that he has "more powers" than the American people know about. We have two states of emergency, the pandemic, and the sociopath in the White House overseeing a reeling Ship of Fools. God help us.
3
So who is going to save us?
11
@CEI
At the very base of our democracy lies the true foundation upon which our novel experiment in government rests. Beneath fair and free elections, and the solid layer which is the Rule of Law, under the bedrock of the Constitution of the United States of America, lies the true foundation upon which our future ever and always depends — the wisdom and common sense of the American people.
So it has been from the start. So it remains today. Have faith in your country and your countrymen. In this land, our safety, our institutions and traditions, and our future are in OUR hands.
Do what is right and fair and just. Take care of those who surround you. And we shall prevail.
6
@CEI We are going to have to hope that the experts and professionals who the President derisively calls The Deep State will save us.
4
@CEI Donald Trump. Didn't you hear? He is president now.
"Americans need much more from Mr. Trump."
The American people maybe should have considered this before they put an incompetent sociopathic buffoon in office.
Just sayin'
5
Editorial Board, are you sure that it’s safe to take a break from bashing the other existential threat to our nation, Bernie Sanders? C’mon you need to coerce yet another one of your fantastic writers to explain how awful Sanders is. Oh, and don’t bother interviewing the man himself- I trust Times’ writers to define Bernie.
Covid19 Shmovid19, you have a candidacy to kill. The virus will take care of itself.
4
@S. Nonymous not just nyt the entire media is taking a break from bashing Bernie.
The country would not need an emergency declaration if the editors and reporters at NYT told the truth and stopped using this virus as a way to try and defeat President Trump.
I believe the American working people will see this as a coordinated fake media and democratic attack on our country.
1
True. Let's have Trump start holding as many rallies as possible. November is not far away.
1
Shut down the Stock Markets!
I agree that we are national emergency territory.
My concern is how Trump may abuse the process, since he has abused every other process since stepping into office.
For example:
Will he use the NE to divert more funds to his precious self indulgent wall?
Will he use the NE to enhance aid to red states while degrading aid to blue states?
Will he use the NE as a pretext to interfere with the Democrat primary, and later the general election?
Will he use the NE to divert resources to his own business interests, that of his family, and his cronies?
Once an NE is in place, will he ever withdraw it at all?
These are real concerns that need to have close attention paid BEFORE he starts the abuse, NOT after.
3
I agree with the editorial, but find this quote from Trump to be disquieting:
“I have the right to do a lot of things that people don’t even know about.”
3
We are facing a national issue, if not crisis. And yet even the editorial board, and certainly most of the Times readers who post, simply cannot refrain from making gratuitous, non-productive political comments. While this is clearly a time for people to pull together, this fact appears to be lost to many who cannot resist politicizing everything, and whose behavior is no less odious than the president they freely condemn.
2
Thank you for a well-reasoned, informative and measured editorial.
Let's read between the lines:
Emulate the sober urgency-
- Trump could not emulate a rational response if he tried. It is utterly foreign to him.
Needs to grasp... set his more selfish impulses aside -
- The only thing Trump is interested in grasping is that which he can get his grubby little selfish hands on.
Also needs to take the lead -
Mr. Trump's entire life is a study in failed leadership. It's not just that he won't change, he is incapable of it.
Must set aside familiar debates and find common ground -
In order to achieve this conservatives' entire strategy of governance would have to be upended. They may no longer be capable.
America’s leaders will have much to explain -
Conservatives will spin up incredible stories of what heroes they were, and how this could have been stopped but for the liberals.
“Let’s all look out for each other,” he said. “Because we’re in this together.”
For conservatives this means all straight white Christians, the rest of you aren't really true Americans.
Republicans are the threat to the nation’s health as well as its economic prosperity -
- Full stop.
2
Since you’re giving him credit for responding to the 2008 crisis during this h he was NOT yet in office, why not quote how swiftly and effectively Pres. Obama dealt with the 2009 H1N1 pandemic?
Oh, that’s right. He didn’t.
He waited 6 months to declare a national emergency, then did so only by written statement, and despite the 6-month lag, managed to run out of vaccines anyway.
By all means, let’s vilify the current administration.
I worry about a national emergency declared under trump, in this Republican administration. I doubt these clowns can coordinate anything and any national emergency power grab will be to further their agenda.
2
Everyone with more than an iota of confidence in 45's ability to manage this, raise your hand.
I'm waiting.
For three years he's squandered every opportunity to demonstrate an ability to bring the country together. He's a bankrupt loser and I fear for the worse.
How many agencies have taken the lead on this, and now it passes to another. Incompetence but we can "thoughts and prayers" for better outcomes.
3
The only reason Trump will do the right thing and declare a National Emergency is that the virus has infiltrated his inner sanctum. It's only a crisis if it directly affects him. That's the problem, that's why he has to go, that's why he is the lousiest president in the modern history of America. Nixon would've done better than this.
1
A trillion for Trumps Star Wars, billions here, billions there - every day another disaster !
If the government keeps printing money, it may turn out to become worthless - my grandparents bought a loaf of bread for trillions of Deutsch Mark.
1
Ok so now a National Emergency is declared. A little late but better late than never. Trump is still President. Azar, Redfield, et al, incompetent, gutless sycophants are still in key authority roles of the responsible government agencies. What can we reasonably expect from these people on their best day? We're on our own.
1
In 2009, the H1N1 (Swine Flu) infected an estimated 60 million (repeat, 60 MILLION) Americans and caused over one thousand American deaths BEFORE Mr. Obama declared a national emergency (it ultimately caused some 12 thousand American deaths). Since this Editorial goes to pains to fault Mr. Trump and urge him to declare a national emergency (which he is apparently going to do today), it might be fairer to compare the timeliness of his response with that of Mr. Obama's, but that would hardly suit the Paper's agenda, which is to make the ultimate political use of any catastrophe. And it might also be remembered that when Mr. Trump put a total ban on travelers coming here from China at the end of January, (which may have already saved thousands of lives), he was roundly condemned for it by Messrs. Schumer and Biden in particular, and by the Pelosi-led Democratic Party in general. Why don't these things ever make it into the New York Times?
What's next?
Suspend the Constitution? Declare Military Rule?
It's sad to see such a focus on money. Truly sad. In the end, materialism is the most erumpent "virus."
1
"President Trump is expected to declare a national emergency on Friday afternoon, a move that would give him authority to use $40 billion allocated by Congress for disaster relief ..."
Sigh...Just few weeks ago Trump brayed that 2.5 billion was enough, but "do -nothing Dem" Schumer wanted 8.5 billion.
What happened? O yeah. The "hoax" epidemic is in full swing.
2
As I understand it, declaring a national emergency let's the Federal dollar spigot open to the cities and states. But, it brings in yet another agency, FEMA, to muddle an already muddled government response. And, worse, it hands a foolish autocrat wanna be an open-ended opportunity to run amuck, including cancelling the election and who knows what else.
3
@Joe Smith The last thing we need is another "Brownie".
No one at FEMA should be in charge of the national response. I nominate Dr. Fauci.
1
As dismayed as I was at Mr. Trump's election, I hoped he would rise to the office. To date he hasn't . . . I gave up hope that he would ever do so ages ago . . .
2
And ifs it’s a national emergency, Trump can divert $10b into completing the wall. That will keep us safe.
1
There are two contemporary and intertwined pandemics caused by the coronavirus and brainvirus.
The first one attacks the lungs and results in high fever. The latter attacks the heads and makes the people come up with the wrong conclusions.
If our health care system was completely unprepared to confront the coronavirus pandemics and conduct enough testing, you don’t blame the White House incumbent for the structural deficiencies but the entire health care system and its unpreparedness.
If that were the case, we don’t have the superb health care but the inferior one in comparison to the other countries.
If our health care system is failing us, then we have to blame the lifelong politicians for it - like Nancy Pelosi, Mitch McConnel and Joe Biden…
We should promote the leaders who advised us about the imperfections of the current system.
Who was the only one to do that?
Bernie Sanders…
8
USA's response to covid-19 is breathtaking, as the virus destroys the lung.
American schadenfreude towards China's response to contain the virus is memorable. At the end of January, US commerce secretary Wilbur Ross, said in an interview that the coronavirus outbreak could bring back jobs to America. Fat chance. Racist comments by Pompeo and Trump trying to link the covid-19 to China show how low American leaders have devolved. Unfortunately the virus doesn't care about country boundaries as it travels through air.
Meanwhile China sent medical experts, equipment and aid to Italy and other affected countries to help them fight the covid-19. Isn't that what one expects from great power?
4
The last thing you want to give a president with authoritarian inclinations is the ability to grant himself even more power through a declaration of a “national emergency”
116
@unreceivedogma: But ... but ... the wall!
5
@unreceivedogma
My thoughts EXACTLY!
A coordinated response can only come with coordinated planning, and that should have been done years ago. And that is the fault of all of us, not merely a succession of Republican and Democratic Administrations that failed to do so. Evolution has, by and large, created us as beings more concerned with present and immediate future threats and needs than with those that are long-term and abstract. Putting it simply, we never demanded that our leaders prepare for such a threat, even though, sooner or later, it was inevitable that the threat would materialize.
Sometimes a people has unusually good leadership that is both willing and able to organize society to meet severe threats, to take the political risk to actually lead. America had that with F.D.R.
Can America get it together to very quickly produce in mass quantities what is needed to cope with an emergency and what is needed to prevent an economic meltdown? Yes. All you have to do is check out how quickly we ramped up to provide the planes, tanks, and other armaments needed to fight World War II and how the suddenly very distorted economy was held together. The difference between then and now is the informed leadership by F.D.R. then, and the lack of leadership -- let alone informed leadership -- by Trump now.
Let me add another difference noted by Commenter Luke A from Brooklyn: "Today we lack a lot of the industrial capacity we had at the outset of WW2 unfortunately." That, too, is a bi-partisan failing.
152
@Steve Fankuchen
At what price? What resources would have been redirected to this? And how good would our planning have actually been?
Quite frankly, I don't think the CDC could have been counted on to handle something like this even with more robust preparedness planning. It likely would have been just as bureaucratic and slow, albeit on a global scale.
11
When 11 Republican candidates running for the Republican nominee to face off against Obama in 2012 for President, the panelist asked the Republicans if they would be willing to compromise 4 dollars in spending cuts from Obama for just $1 dollar in tax increases. No Republican would take it. Then they were asked $10 cuts in Obama spending for $1 one dollar tax raise - that’s Obama gives $10 spending cuts to $1 one dollar from Republicans. NOT ONE REPUBLICAN OUT OF 11 RAISED THEIR HAND. The Republicans own this catastrophe lock, stock, and barrel. The Democrats have tried to effectively prepare for a decent programs, but are thwarted by Republican obstruction.
216
@Steve Fankuchen
My greatest complaint now is that the Trump/GOP tax cuts, that were supposed to pay for themselves, have created a drain on our ability to respond to just these kinds of emergencies. Those cuts were not bipartisan, but were championed by the GOP.
While I'm sympathetic with what the Democrats are trying to do today for those affected by this disease, I'm still waiting for someone in the party to stand up and demand the Republicans work with them to reverse those cuts. We need that money now more than ever in our healthcare systems and in our economy, not squirreled away in the private bank accounts of the top 10-20%.
106
According to Politico, Mr. Trump delayed the move because he thought it would "hamper his narrative".
Next time there's a pandemic, lets hope we have a president who doesn't even think about a "narrative" until years later when s/he sees the PBS series.
By perceiving OUR health crisis as HIS narrative, Mr. Trump has put millions of us at risk.
1
It is really difficult to imagine Trump suddenly exhibiting the intellect and empathy necessary to drive this from the top. The impotence of the federal response so far underscores the administration's deficiencies. Seems as if the rational actors need to go rogue and align with the states to do what needs to be done. The long-tail event that we all feared when Trump took office has arrived. We almost made it to January.
572
@Robert C.
And the cabinet should invoke the 25th Amendment.
30
@Jackson
"... His rules added miles of bureaucracy to the creation of test kits. …"
Claims made without evidence will be summarily dismissed.
38
@Robert C.
Not difficult. Impossible.
3
The trouble is, Trump IS the emergency, or the first step that needs to be addressed.
How do we deal with THAT?
1074
@Joseph Gardner
It's time for the grown-ups--public health officials and experts, governors and mayors--to write Trump off and start bypassing the effective blockade the Federal gov't under his maladministration has put on effective responses to the crisis. The University of Washington is developing its own tests. States and cities could pitch in to scale those up quickly.
Trump here is Captain Queeg in the storm--overwhelmed, directionless, acting out of his worst instincts. Junior officers need to take over. Let the voters decide in November whether it was the right thing to do.
131
@Joseph Gardner
Tom Hanks has it. Canadian PM Trudeau's wife has it. Many famous professional athletes across sports and across the world have it. Global diplomats from Iran, Brazil and other countries have it. And this is where we are with minimal testing.
Guys wake up! The trains left the station and there was never any keeping it from leaving anyway. We're all going to get Coronavirus and it's not going to kill us.
The only thing that will truly do damage is the overreaction.
14
@John Brown
Did you read the article? There are 100 million Americans with a preexisting condition that puts them at higher risk.
So two in three Americans will survive this like it was just a bad flu. The problem is, with that attitude, they're going to pass it along to someone who passes it along to someone who is going to require hospitalization, and we simply don't have the beds and ventilators for them all.
Maybe only half that 100 million get the virus and less than half of that number die, that's still tens of millions and you're awfully cavalier about those of us who are or who love someone at greater risk.
54
Under different circumstances this might be right. But please stop criticizing this Administration for not doing enough. The last thing we want is for Trump to be doing more. Do we want him to grasp more power? Do we want him directing more funds? Do we want him to cancel upcoming elections? Everything could be on the table and this could be disastrous.
543
@SJG I agree with you entirely. After all, he has already declared one or two 'national emergencies' just to get his way on funding his wall and making his travel ban 'legal'. He certainly knows how to create emergencies when it suits him. And what would suit the republicans better than delaying the next election?
28
The first action should be for Congress to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove Trump from office. Trump and his Administration’s inability to handle this pandemic are the most serious threat to Americans. Trump had made America weak and defenseless.
31
@SJG Oh, the administration has to be absolutely criticized for not doing the right thing. Have you not noticed how the CDC has been defunded? How Trump and his minions have said the coronovirus is little more than a cold? How Trump has completely disregarded medically sicientific information? Did you not watch Trump's embarrassing teleprompted, sniffling oval office speech last night? The administration's response has been absolutely awful.
26
“We have very strong emergency powers under the Stafford Act,” Mr. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday. “I have it memorized, practically, as to the powers in that act. And if I need to do something, I’ll do it. I have the right to do a lot of things that people don’t even know about.”
This statement by himself chills my blood.
1
"On par with its response to the 2008 financial crisis."
Um...so we should give billions (actually, trillions) of dollars to the people responsible for creating the crisis in the first place? I'm not sure that would work here... Should we should pass a "stimulus" package loaded with ineffective tax cuts? Should we do the absolute minimum, and should what little we do have as small an impact as possible?
I'm sorry, were you people even around in 2008? Somebody please change that subheading.
1
And now, we finally are realizing the "American Carnage" that he assured us would stop "right here and right now", during his Inaugural address. No, Mr. Trump, lack of leadership during times of crisis is what's causing American Carnage, literally, right now. At what point does the whole nation wake up to the fact that this man has always been and always will be a Con Man? He's had so many chances to rise above his petty instincts, and this was the best one of them all. America needs to survive the virus, first. And then wake up, second.
1
Let's be real. We simply can't afford to mount an adequate response to this pandemic. And we most definitely cannot afford to provide healthcare for our citizens and provide free testing all willy nilly.
That would mean that we couldn't afford to offer corporate executives lucrative stock buybacks on the basis of huge corporate tax cuts.
Or increase our military budget another 100-billion.
Priorities! America has them.
3
Let's be real. We simply can't afford to mount an adequate response to this pandemic. And we most definitely cannot afford to provide healthcare for our citizens and provide free testing all willy nilly.
That would mean that we couldn't afford to offer corporate executives lucrative stock buybacks on the basis of huge corporate tax cuts.
Or increase our military budget another 100-billion.
Priorities! America has them.
Declaring a state of emergency might drive the Dow below 20K, maybe even below 19.
At those levels, some early buying may be warranted.
But hang on for more. The probability of a high profile person, possibly even a senior politician, getting this coronavirus is high. (I hope this doesn't happen. I wish only good health to every single person.)
In addition, the ramp up of testing will give a substantial boost to confirmed cases in the next couple of weeks.
We may still be a week or so away from peak hysteria, which would present a once-in-a-decade/lifetime buying opportunity.
Hope and pray for a quick end to this outbreak. But keep calm and earn big profits if that doesn't happen.
(Oh yeah, also wash your hands, cover your coughs, and practice social distancing, as the experts recommend.)
1
When is the NY Times going to acknowledge that Trump has no ability whatsoever to be president?
He will never do anything that doesn't support Trump Enterprises. He will never do anything that is important to national security or benefits others.
Please grasp that and report reality. Thank you!
3
The sky is falling!
Or, at least, you folk in the media continue to pretend that it is in you desperate efforts to tank the president.
When this one fails, as the previous ones have, what will you do next?
3
Why not go out and shake as many hands as you can and see if your piece of the sky over your head and your family’s are still intact. As a former health care worker in acute teaching hospitals for over 45 years, I dreaded a crisis like this my whole career. This is the real deal. I wish you and your family good health. This is not about politics, it is about caring for one another. Blessings to our world!!!!!
3
@JND Good to see that the TX public school curriculum de-emphasizing critical thinking skills is working as designed.
Suggesting that Trump, the aspiring king, autocrat, and dictator for life, declare a national emergency? Dumb, dumb, and dumb! Do you really think that Trump would see any limits on that power? Pray tell, what limits would there be on Trump declaring martial law, canceling the November election because of pandemic concerns, or other power grabs, all based on purported health efforts to protect people from this virus, to continue in office?
4
Really? You want to put Clementine Caligula in charge? Have you collectively fallen and hit your heads? No thanks. Let the state and local officials lead. They are far more competent than Trump. (Well, so is my cat for that matter.)
1
"In a meeting at the White House on Thursday, Mr. Trump sought to play down the pandemic and its effects on the financial markets, saying, “It’s going to work out fine.” He insisted that, “Frankly, the testing has been going very smooth,” even as the government’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, was on Capitol Hill acknowledging to lawmakers that “it is a failing — I mean, let’s admit it.”"
Yes. Let's admit it. Do you think Trump ever will? Or any of his enablers on the Hill?
2
Early on Trump actually told the truth. Of course, he did so without knowing, it otherwise he couldn't have gotten the words out. Yeah, Donny, who ever knew health care was so hard?—other than everyone but you?
2
The trump zombie virus is still infecting his base. I live in a Republican dominant part of progressive, blue WA state. We are trying to change that but just the other day a female employee of a hardware store chain, trump supporter and coughing behind the counter, declared in a proud, loud and defiant voice, braying her stupidity - and germs - to all present: “ I’m not afraid or concerned about coronavirus!”
2
Trump needs to quit pawning himself off as some kind of leader. His last Oval Office appearance presented him as drunk. Since he supposedly doesn't drink, his appearance has to be a disability.
1
Declare a national emergency!!!??? Under this president!!!??? Not on my life! I have absolutely no trust that resulting policies would be anything but politically motivated.
3
When trump declares a national emergency he may also declare martial law and suspend the 2020 election and arrest Biden, Pelosi, Schumer, etc. This guy is capable of anything !!
2
The overflow of dead bodies can be stored at Trump branded properties.
Gratis.
2
Looks like it’s up to States again. Just like everything under this administration.
SOLID
2
Trump is the national emergency.
3
with this admin, this is a naive and irresponsible suggestion, and it's about to happen... my fear as a student of regime change is that this may be our much feared reichstag moment... dangerous times...
And which Trump sycophant is running FEMA? Remember Trump loathes competence and expects feality from those he appoints. It is just a mater of time for Dr. Fauci to be fired.
2
the best scenario is that trump, pence, and their enablers all get he virus and die.
complete justice.
4
Everyone should read this article. It helps emphasize how serious this virus is for many people.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/03/12/some-people-worry-were-overreacting-coronavirus-i-worry-about-dying-ventilator/
1
Did Trump's team just read this article and was like, "Oh! Ok! Yeah, let's do that!"
1
Is it wrong of me to hope that this is the crisis that will bring Dumb-Dumb down? I feel dreadful about the folk who will catch this virus and become very sick, or even die :-( My own mother is one of them! Everybody, please take all reasonable precautions, wash your hands every three seconds, take your temperature twice a day, and most importantly --
VOTE BLUE THROUGH AND THROUGH!!!
3
"This is a controllable pandemic. Countries that decide to give up on fundamental public health measures may end up with a larger problem, and a heavier burden on the health system that requires more severe measures to control."
-WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus 12 March
1
Leave it to the republicans to try to insert an abortion clause into the economic relief bill.
VOTE!
2
Please drop Trump's stupid, self-serving pitch for a payroll tax cut, which is helicopter money. A sledge hammer doesn't solve this problem which requires a screwdriver. Witch doctor Navarro has charmed Trump into stealing from the Social Security funds to pay for his re-election. Talk about brazenly buying votes at taxpayer and retirees’ expense! No way. It’s a reincarnation of the playbook from their stupid tariff-offset farm relief programs. If the Senate GOP rams this through on their side, the House Dems need to attach a pay-for, to protect Social Security and Medicare trust funds from this political scam. To stop this raid on retirees’ trust funds, the House majority needs to attach a Millionaire surtax of 5% or 10% on 2020 adjusted gross income over $500K as required by bipartisan budget rules, to fund a payroll tax cut. That's a real pay-for, which is fiscally responsible. Let the rich pay for the Trump/Navarro election -year handouts, not future retirees.
Gee New York Times. You're getting close, but that's a swing and a miss. No, what it's actually time for is for Trump to resign.
It's time for the 25th amendment. It's time for Mike Pence, Mitt Romney and spirit of Barry Goldwater to march into the Oval Office and demand that Trump resign or that he will be removed.
1
Why is there still no declaration to provide no cost testing and treatment to the uninsured?
With a large segment of our population not being tested or treated, we are all at greater risk as well as being morbidly inhumane.
The is not the America that put a man on the moon 50 years ago.
33
@New World No. It is the America that gives 1.5 Trillion Dollars to Wall Street to avoid 1000 Dow Jones point loss, but will never give the equivalent money ($4,200 per person) to Americans to stay home, buy food and use the money to survive the many months without paychecks, especially if you work in the service industry. America: socialism for billionaires.
8
@New World
Or that passed Medicare/Medicaid 56 years ago.
3
@New World
the only thing I'm sure of is that the U.S. was at the height of it's competitive comparison with the Soviet Union.
1
"But this crisis demands such quick action in the interests of the American people that we can only hope [the president] will set his more selfish impulses aside and rise to the moment."
Indeed, we can only hope. But seems unlikely.
The New York Times presupposes that the current administration would know what to do in a National Emergency. It does not.
2
“Mr. Trump has no desire to acquaint himself with most issues, let alone master them” is how I put it four years ago. “No major presidential candidate has ever been quite as disdainful of knowledge, as indifferent to facts, as untroubled by his benightedness.”
"Mr. Trump’s virulent combination of ignorance, emotional instability, demagogy, solipsism and vindictiveness would do more than result in a failed presidency; it could very well lead to national catastrophe. The prospect of Donald Trump as commander in chief should send a chill down the spine of every American."
Peter Wehner - Life long Republican - Contributing writer at The Atlantic and senior fellow at EPPC
2
The phrase “President Trump” is an oxymoron. To give this person the authority granted by the declaration of a national emergency is absolutely unthinkable. Trump has demonstrated himself to be at the despot end of the spectrum of American presidents. An enlightened despot such as Franklin D. Roosevelt could muscle the country through crises but also with huge mistakes such as Executive Order 9066. We have seen his lack of insight and intelligence on display throughout his presidency and even more so with the Covid-19 epidemic. If his terrible behavior is not enough, his minions are amplifying his behavior. Trump had his opportunities to lead in this crisis and he has failed repeatedly. Each attempt puts him deeper in the hole and this editorial hands him a bigger shovel. God bless America.
1
Electing a mendacious failed businessman and reality show host president has consequences. The covid-19 crisis is not anything beyond what a president can be expected to face in his term of office. Trump's mismanagement of the crisis is as much an occasion to examine the preparedness of our government as pondering the choices we make at polling booths to elect the person to lead that government.
1
Declaring a state of emergency might make sense if there was intelligent, responsible leadership in the White House. But that's not what we've got. It would probably just make matters worse.
1
The only way we will get through this emergency, the first of many catastrophes looming in the era of global warming and climate change, is for leaders of all communities and interest groups, and the people they represent, to demand the resignations of the executive and vice executive in Washington. They have betrayed the well-being of this nation through their corruption and gross ignorance.
1
Trump only declares fake emergencies, not real ones.
3
Does anyone really expect a coordinated response by this administration? Sure go through the motions and declare the National Emergency. But with key government agencies gutted by the trump party and his sycophants we're on our own.
1
I wish I could be more optimistic but to imagine Trump suddenly becoming a selfless, conscientious, reassuring leader seems like a stretch. Witness the fate of his two day old call for a "non-partisan" approach to this crisis: he immediately began attacking Obama, Biden, Pelosi, et al, blaming them for the mess he is largely responsible for. If anything, these tweet assaults are multiplying and a quick peek -that's all I can stomach- at Fox News shows more of the same. Trump's unwarranted ego, ignorance, criminal incompetence and foul demeanor are all there is to the man and to expect a DJT epiphany is a leap too far. With him in charge, this cannot end well. My only hope is that he will finally, subliminally, recognize he's simply not equipped for the task, find a way to delegate everything to his underlings, go to Mal De Lago and mutter his way around the golf course every day for the remainder of his one and only term.
1
I would proffer it's about time to do the 25th on the 45th.
3
To think what he is going to do with any added power is terrifying.
4
Now they want to delay Louisiana primary....for two months?
I say do it. We'll be knee deep in a recession by then, and we will all know who to blame. Gonna be very hard to bray "Fake News" .
Thankfully this happened now.
Trump will not be able to blame the Dems for the stock market crash and Economic recession that's coming.
It's really comical. REAL Executives and corporate boards, who Trump wishes he could be part of, all over the business world who supported Trump when tax breaks were showered on them, now are jumping ship. Trump SO wanted to be just like them...
Now...we have closing venues, schools, museums, Broadway, NBA, NCAA, MLB, NHL. Vegas venues...the "Real" executives in the room, who would NEVER tolerate Trump's infantile behavior for one minute in thier own companies, know he'll be gone soon.
They also know customers and clients will remain long after this nightmare is over.
If they stood behind Trump, you wouldn't see the mass closings all over the country. They would support him
Trump is DONE. Wall Street and Main Street will know who's name is all over this.. Not the virus, an act of nature, but the bungled response and coming financial collapse.
Trump should ask the Execs next meeting to teach him about planning. About taking advice from advisers. O wait. Trump fired all the advisors with brains and experience, and now Jared has floated to the top.
Call the honey dipper. Let's drain this thang.
1
If Trump declares a national emergency can he postpone the November elections?
2
The US cannot respond to this crisis in any meaningful way because it's hateful individual ideology that it is so committed to won't allow it.
Poverty and death are punishments for those not sufficiently ambitious and successful and a pandemic like this is the prime opportunity to cull the losers from this earth. NY prisoners are now allowed access to any of the sanitizer they're producing for the rest of us, San Francisco is still insisting on going out of it's way to steal and destroy the meager possessions of it's deliberately expanded homeless population. The 1.5 Trillion dollar bailout that was just passed yesterday is to make companies and executives whole again, not a penny is to go to the people laid off, facing eviction or infected.
Why would Mr. Trump need to declare and emergency? He has already declared this whole thing is a fairy tale ginned up by the Democrats and liberal media. Will facts intrude into the world of Fox propaganda, within which Mr. Trump serves as deceiver in chief? No! Say it ain't so, Don.
"Most experts say that full containment of the American epidemic is now most likely impossible."
But, Kellyanne Conway and Larry Kudlow, both "eminent" advisors to this president, think otherwise.
They announced on TV it's contained! I watched them.
Please: whom should I believe?
(I know the answer!)
1
Yes we need an emergency declaration as this is one with lives at risk so far greatly mismanaged by the Trump admin solely concerned with his re-election. Now Trump is busy tweeting the blame lies with Obama not him as usual Trump never accepts blame for anything always deflecting . Trump lies to the American people on a daily basis and doing that on health crisis is bordering on criminal. How much can the American people be held hostage to Trump's malignant narcissism and fragile ego , Nov cannot come soon enough to get rid of Trump, his family and his pack of grifters leaving Citizen Trump to face the dire consequences.
The perfect storm, an untreatable virus and the Trump administration. Could be worse? Not really.
2
Sober urgency? When is the Editorial Board of this and other papers gonna wake up? When will you stop pleading for Trump to suddenly grow up and be a real man and leader? Its long past tiresome reading these pleas. Aint gonna happen, so stop it! Start with,"So we expect this president to fumble this new crisis..." and expand from there.
2
Be careful what you wish for. By declaring a national emergency Trump could impose martial law, suspend elections, censor or shut down the internet. The sweeping powers allowed a president in a national emergency could be the fait accompli that would cement his role as a dictator.
When Trump held up that sheet of paper claiming the United States is number 1 in the world in response to the virus all I could think of is he's number 1 in the world in lying. The DNC should flood the airwaves with the video of Trump declaring the virus a hoax spread by the Democrats. That would be more damaging to Trump's reelection than anything Biden could say or do. Yes, it is time to declare a national emergency, and Trump's cabinet should invoke their authority to remove him from office. That would be the first step.
1
"Trump Expected to Declare National Emergency". This is a portion of a comment I posted last night. Others have posted similar comments. Don't say you weren't warned.
... Trump will use this national crisis to assume absolute power. ... This "president" has committed all manner of fraudulent acts in the name of "national security". He will abuse his power for his own selfish purpose - which is, of course, to stay in office at all costs. He faces criminal prosecution in state courts should he lose the election in 2020.
So Trump will stretch the limits of a declaration of martial law, all ostensibly for the "public welfare". A president's Constitutional power to declare martial law exists, but it is far from well-defined. And this Supreme Court has bent over backwards to provide the expansive definitions of "executive powers" Trump seeks.
The Roberts court granted him "emergency powers" for his Wall and the Muslim ban on a claim wholly devoid of any facts. Trump simply said he needed to take those actions and this Court took him at his word. Expect a replay from this Court when he cancels the November election.
Urging a declaration of a national emergency now, under this "president" is tantamount to granting him a license to install himself as "supreme leader for life".
If the last three years have shown us anything, it's that Trump should be restrained as much as is humanly possible.
2
Guardian UK is reporting that Jack Ma (Alibaba) has 500,000 Covid-19 test kits ready to ship to the US right now, if the US government will accept them. No payment required. A gift from China.
Also, millions of N95 masks.
An interesting, developing story...
2
The President said that this virus is an no problem, why do I hear that the uSA will declare a National emergency?
These are problems for China and Europe but not for the (great) USA!
Or is Mr Trump THE Emergency??
2
It should be apparent by now that you are not going to get any real leadership out of Trump. He is incapable of rising to the occasion and demonstrating his ability to bring the country together to achieve a single goal, overcome this virus. He is an ego-centric showman who cares only about his re-election and has staffed the federal government with loyal sycophants whose job is to make him look good and get him elected again.
The American people are on their own for this crisis. We have no FDR in the White House and we have a government hamstrung at the top by ego, arrogance and ignorance. We will prevail but it will be done by heroic governors, government scientists & doctors still in the administration, and the people themselves taking the right precautions and doing the things that the medical experts are saying. Before this is over, we Americans will discover that we have the strength to succeed and to do it together.
1
A huge number of people voted for President Trump for the express purpose of "blowing up the country" and "making liberals mad". Promises made, Promises Kept.
1
National Emergency Declaration = Dictatorship Guaranteed
Remember Trump has already been hinting at becoming "President For Life", thus becoming a real dictator, and of the really worst kind.
1
Please, for sheer decorum, cease addressing polite requests to this infernal White House.
Please, to avoid reader nausea, couch your demands to "lawmakers, leaders, and loyal citizens." Then everyone will know who is really on duty. The longer Trump's royal family enjoys polite deference, the more devastating this crisis will be.
1
Trump and the GOP have been using their power purely to enrich themselves and their corporate masters, and to push the country further to the right through the courts. But now, actual leadership is required. These people have zero experience or qualifications to help in this situation. Making sober decisions that will be of benefit to most Americans is not in their DNA. I expect that whatever the Trump administration decides, and whatever the McConnell senate approves of will be mostly geared towards furthering their political goals, lining pockets, xenophobia and Trump worshiping. We are in trouble.
2
A friend once said it is very dangerous to write ironically when it comes to to a situation such as this. One can think of the multiple catastrophes that Trump is capable of with this new found power. Some of which are so ridiculous and absurd that once he and his enablers see them they might start doing them.
Obviously big broad things need to be done. Simultaneously we have to make sure we are protected from their knee jerk criminality and incompetence.
3
Nope, not with the administration we have.
1
How about shutting down all incoming flights from foreign countries and all cruise ships for now?
Yesterday in Galveston, Texas thousands boarded a Carnival cruise ship headed for Mexico, despite the warnings. Several passengers were interviewed and remarked they thought the panic and hysteria were overblown. Those ships are incubators for disease as are aircraft.
1
Unfortunately, we have only one federal government, and it is being led by a conspicuously stupid man, who has just banned travel to keep out a "foreign virus" that has been in the US for nearly three months. It's useless to hope for a helpful response from a government run by incompetents. It's going to take individual governors, and responsible people in business (think MLB, the NBA, the NCAA) to respond to this virus. And, indeed, if we cannot get testing kits, the best thing to do is ignore the CDC and either hire independent labs or go abroad for kits.
1
Medicare for All NOW. Paid sick leave NOW. Bernie Sanders for president 2020. Not me, us.
2
NO!
The act crowns a king. No president is fit for these powers. The Board will regret this call.
Trump after declaring a national emergency could shut down the media for starters which he has loudly indicated that he would do if he could.
Without a free press we are dead.
3
So Trump and Pence have been in contact with persons who later tested positive for Covid-19. Pelosi is next in line, right?
2
Really? Expect Trump to not be Trump? In what universe?
2
Uh, no. This President is the LAST person who should be trusted to wield emergency powers!
2
Note that Trump declared the southern border a national emergency in order to appropriate funds to build his "wall".
I guess a pandemic, though, may not be worthy?
Do not give trumps more power
2
Trump is a businessman. It was why so many voted for him. Run this government like a business.
We got poor planning, disregard for the safety of citizens, money for the bosses, panicked scrambling by the "leaders" when a crisis hit, churning of stories of what happened, all obvious lies, and continued gross incompetence.
Just like Boeing and Wells Fargo.
Promises Made, Promises Kept!
1
Three time bankrupted, won’t show his tax returns because his “business” is basically broke.
When legitimate banks over the 80s and 90s refused to loan trump any more money, he ran around NYC bragging “ I don’t need a banks money, I’ve got all the Russian money I want”
And there you have it my friends. trump is a corrupt conman and a fool as a president.
Some “great” businessman, right?
Under a different administration, no doubt the Editorial Board would be correct, except that a different administration probably already would have declared an emergency. Under the Trump Administration, the last thing we need is for them to declare emergencies, because it is 100% certain that they will misuse emergency powers, just as already we're seeing the suppression of necessary data about the Covid-19 infection, purely because of what Donald Trump thinks may have a negative effect on his re-election chances. Don't encourage him to do anything else that may make it easier for him to act as a dictator-lite.
3
I trust some folks are beginning to realize the folly of a for-profit health care system that is unaffordable for tens of millions uninsured and under insured working folks?
5
This president won't do anything that he fears might jeopardize his chances for re-election. Weighing decisive action to slow the spread of coronavirus against damage to the economy, you know where he will come out, even though the economy will suffer either way.
1
With some trepidation about seeming trivial there has been little mention of the realities of routine daily activities that are not amenable to precautions such a having workers operate from home — much of what keeps the nation fed and supplied with essentials can not be handled that way.
Things will get very dicy when the shelves in the supermarkets start to become bare and fuel is not replenished.
As for basic precautions — currently it is impossible to locally obtain hand sanitizer or medical alcohol. Many other such essentials are already impossible to obtain or replenish.
“We have very strong emergency powers under the Stafford Act,” Mr. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday. “I have it memorized, practically, as to the powers in that act. And if I need to do something, I’ll do it. I have the right to do a lot of things that people don’t even know about.”
The only person on earth who can make it sound like a threat.
6
@gdurt
What a fabulous observation. You are so right.
I just read the Times's coverage stating that Trump is going to declare a national emergency at 3:00 today. His statement yesterday about the Stafford Act, "I have the right to do a lot of things that people don’t even know about," is very ominous in light of Louisiana's decision to postpone the Democratic primary. Does anyone doubt that Trump is considering postponing the November 2020 general election? He wants to remain in office as long as he can to avert criminal prosecution after he leaves office. He's going to exploit the coronavirus pandemic for his own self-interest, the same way he does with every other issue.
7
This crisis further demonstrates Trump to be the denier in chief. He denies the threat of global warming and just two weeks ago denied the grave reports of this pandemic. It's time we denied him the authority to continue in office. There should be provision for a national recall of the president and get him out of there. He is the problem, not the solution.
3
So you want a leader with authoritarian tendencies to give himself emergency powers? Careful what you wish for. There's got to be a better way to make testing available.
2
Not to change the subject, but so much of what I read in this Editorial, and numerous other articles, applies to climate change. That it is already killing many, and will very likely kill huge numbers of people. That leaders - particularly Republicans - are denying this, and calling it a left-wing or Chinese hoax. That we should follow the advice of experts. That given the range of options available, and probabilities of outcomes given which options we choose, it's best to be cautious. That the earlier we act, the less damage will be done, the less costly it will be, and the fewer lives will be lost.
Fortunately, COVID-19 looks like it will kill no more than 1% of the population, in the worst of cases. With a 3-5C temperature rise, climate change could easily end civilization and effectively kill 90% of the world's population, within about 100 years.
The *only* difference between the two is the time scale. COVID-19 acts in days and months, climate change in decades.
Hopefully COVID-19 will put an end to this tragic Presidency, and Republican power in Congress with all of its ghastly consequences. But will that be effective enough - and last long enough - for the adults in the room to make the changes needed to finally start bending the curve on climate change?
1
Everthying Trump has done, from ignoring the epidemic to cutting off travel from Europe to refusing to be tested after he was exposed, has been irrational. At the same time we have competent experts like NIH director Anthony Faucci explaining patiently that while we cannot stop the spread of the virus, we can slow it down sufficiently to protect those who are most at risk. However our experts are not even allowed to talk to us without approval from that eminent virologist Mike Pence, who must first evaluate whether it is politically good for Trump.
2
It's likely, this afternoon, that the Trump regime will declare a national emergency, freeing up resources to go on an all-out offensive against the Coronavirus.
We can bet that the thinking for this initiative did not originate within the severely limited Trump brain, but was arrived at after he was "pressured" by the few reasonable individuals left in the CDC.
I'm pretty sure by now that Americans are finally seeing the light that Bernie Sanders has been shining on the entirely corrupt self-serving two party system running our government, and we may yet see Bernie take the lead and restore America to its former greatness.
As for the Incompetent In-Chief, hopefully he becomes just a bad memory after election day next November.
2
No. The time to declare an national emergency has passed. It has taken the federal government too long to do something about it and when they did, they bungled it. They put lives at risk by denying that there was a crisis brewing. Never mind that giving the Trump administration broad powers is like giving a fox full access to the barnyard.
Individual states need to declare the emergencies and ask for help when needed. The last thing anyone needs is Trump without limitations, especially since the people he admires are dictators.
3
Regarding tests. Logistics, of course, have held up the production. One needs to make the test stuff with special equipment. And that equipment can only put out so much stuff.
And new equipment has to be built and tested. And this equipment is not mass produced.
But, let us say we have an infinite amount of tests.
They need to be processed. Machines and chemicals are needed for that, too. And people need to be trained. Right now, UC Colorado has more requests than it can process in a day. And it is just starting.
Call all you want. Wave around $20 or $1 million or $1 trillion. Not happening soon.
Lets be honest - the stock market was overpriced and all of us knew a correction and downturn were coming. What was unknown was the trigger.
It could have been Trump's election, one of the many middle east flareups, North Korea, tariffs on China, or Brexit among others - it just turned out to be Covid-19 .
Health Care National Emergency - sure
Financial National Emergency - not so much
2
We actually have a two-fold National Emergency. #1: The COVID-19 Pandemic. #2: President Trump, who, it now appears, has been intentionally hampering the Coronavirus response in order to protect his re-election prospects.
6
Let’s make a point to remember this and the complete failure to adequately prepare (tests, medical supplies, etc.) come Election Day. From eliminating the epidemic response office and gutting health/science departments to taking weeks to coordinate an on the ground response effort, this is a prime example of why this man should not be our President. Remember and vote!
.
2
@Sunny
Trump is finished, done, becoming more irrevelant every day.
If the Coronavirus doesn't "limit" his time in office, I'm convinced the American people will end the charade next November.
2
Why isn’t the government doing PSAs to warn people and instruct them about what to do (i.e. wash hands, keep hands away from one’s face, what to do if one begins to have symptoms, etc.)? TV, radio, and social media should be flooded with this basic information. The government’s failure to take such a simple but important action demonstrates the administration’s complete irresponsibility and gross inability to effectively deal with the problem. It is beyond absurd that one can get more information about what to do from late-night variety shows than from the government.
6
Precisely!
@PRJ
Officials government information, Fox News, says it all a hoax.
It seems everything that is currently being done is to protect the economy. How about putting our collective efforts into protecting our vulnerable populations? Producing more tests. Building and staffing more labs. China built two hospitals in a matter of days/weeks. Our priority should not be the stock market.
6
The first thing we need is The Truth - something we will never get from Donald Trump.
Also, please note that according to the infection rate cited in this article, the number of Coronavirus victims will surpass the number of 9/11 victims within two weeks. A shocking thought!
5
To expect leadership from President Trump is to ignore the fact that as President he is a fake and a hoax, as many of us knew well before November 2016.
As test kits are ramped up, distributed,and processed it will become increasingly clear that delaying and suppressing their production was intentional, and we'll learn how many millions of people have contracted the virus but the government did not want to know about them.
6
if it were anybody but trump, i'd agree with you, but knowing trumps dictatorial impulses and autocratic mindset, this could be a profoundly dangerous move.
3
I think big media have already created a "national emergency" by a relentless drumbeat of panic-inducing headlines and worst-case projections.
1
You are asking a man who for over seven decades of life, as cultivated a Tony Soprano lite personality, to in a matter of days become a Abraham Lincoln. The smart move for Trump now, which he would never do is 1) admit mistakes and take the blame for them; 2) turn the microphone immediately over to a team of experts---with a military type leader in charge (not Pence)---to lay out the game plan for the coming weeks. Nothing vague, this is a national emergency 3) someone on that podium should represent Big Pharma and tell the nation, we have will x number of testing kits on Monday, by the end of the week we will have x number...4) end the press conference with Speaker Pelosi and Mitch McConnell both saying, whatever laws or monies needed..we will get it done together.
4
It feels odd to say this, but most Americans are already clear that the man-child in the Oval Office isn’t fit for his job, so we instead need to focus our disdain on those who enable him: the US Senate.
While there won’t be agreement on Senators’ positions, we can agree that as a group, they do have track records as better functionaries than does POTUS, so let’s shine the hot lights on the Senate to keep the train on the tracks. Now is the time for the press to quit wasting time on the Liar in Chief (starve him of the media oxygen he craves) and become relentless in asking those questions of his senatorial supplicants — he is free fall and adept at self-destruction, so let’s make it more difficult for his Senators to provide him any sort of parachute by virtue of their own re-election desires in the face of virus casualties in their districts.
The press needs to revisit the failings of Newt Gingrich’s Republican “Pledge” in order to shake loose some politicians who take the notion of public service seriously. While we’re at it, let’s re-examine the tax cut to the 1% and pick away at the wrong headedness of Grover Norquist’s anti-tax efforts.
8
"This editorial board is not inclined to grant the president more executive power, given his track record. But this crisis demands such quick action in the interests of the American people that we can only hope he will set his more selfish impulses aside and rise to the moment."
Exactly what country has the NYT editorial board been living in for the past 3+ years? Any notion that Trump would not commandeer a declared national state of emergency for his own substantial benefit is pure fantasy.
Yes, we need the money that such a declaration would release. But, first, the 25th Amendment needs to be invoked carried out. Trump must go. Now.
3
Where are the tests? The materials used to make the tests work? Are they still being held back for Trump's perceived political expediency, or is our country last in line to attempt to acquire the materials needed, because up until a few days the virus was still being called a hoax by our fake news hoax of a president. Why can't we even find out how many people have been tested in the USA?
And so the Fed will inject $1.5 trillion to increase liquidity, and cut taxes, the Republican answer to absolutely everything. So what! how does that help people get tested, and how does 'market liquidity' help people stuck at home with no income or way to get provisions.
1
From where I sit, the country is already on lock down. All public events have been canceled, schools all canceled, and because of sheer panic throughout the week, shelves are empty of toilet paper, sanitizers, etc. Over 8 billion has been added to the budgets of healthcare agencies and international assistance. The CDC already has 7 billion a year, without new budgets. What are they doing with it? Seems not making test kits. Makes me wonder, is our government too bureaucratic and bloated to be efficient? This current challenge appears the answer is yes. And that's not a political statement; this didn't happen overnight or over the last 3 years. Need an overhaul.
3
Stand up. You’re missing the forest.
The big problem with that much needed is step is two fold. Trump does not have the mental capability to deal with a real emergency the way a genuine world leader would do. As he is not capable of telling the truth, he will continue to lies during this crisis. The part two is probably: If a national emergency is declared, he will attempt to cancel the Novemeber elections. And will be supported in that effort the enablers in the Senate.
3
@Harry
and SCOTUS.
The editorial board is right to be reticent about giving Trump kingly power by way of a national emergency declaration! He would only abuse it the way he has every other lever at his disposal.
Better to funnel funds to the states, allowing governors to take the necessary executive actions.
Congress should also impose a 110% windfall profits tax on companies that gouge consumers with exorbitant prices on goods needed to combat this virus. A 100% tax only gets you to neutral; the extra 10% is the penalty for exploiting an emergency situation.
2
Trump is showing us what he is: juvenile. “Being strong”, as a columnist said today, means “don’t get tested or change your life” to such as Trump. “End partisanship” means “no one should disagree with or criticize Trump”. He has systematically replaced all the positions around him, if they still even exist, with dedicated yes-men. We have no Executive Branch, and, thanks to Mitch, we have no Senate either. The Reagan dream arrives: we dissolve the federal government. We can only pray that when we emerge from this, the lesson will be learned, and the people will demand via the vote that the GOP and its repulsive ideology will be annihilated at last.
6
A great President would in a time crisis needs to ignore both his critics and his backers (Fox News) and focus on the crisis itself. He needs to listen to, in this case, health and public health experts and provide tools to fight the epidemic including testing kits, ventilators, etc.. He also needs to coordinate communication between doctors on the ground and public health agencies so that when testing does become widespread that the results can be placed in a data base so that hotspots in the epidemic can be dealt with quickly and effectively. The great President needs to provide care to all Americans whether millionaires or the homeless both medically and with appropriate quarantine facilities to slow the progression of the contagion. People who are sick need to feel safe and financially secure staying home and away from work so they do not spread the virus. Paid leave for part time and minimal wage workers is essential. I don’t know whether declaring a nation emergency is necessary but declaring all out war on Covid19 is. Mr. President work with your political supporters and opponents to fight this pandemic, putting your politics aside and doing the right thing. Doing the right things is the RIGHT THING.
2
How could this be a national emergency when there's a wall to be built. People really need to get their priorities straight, like Trump.
3
The National emergency began the day Trump was elected. The current situation is just another consequence of that fateful day.
9
It isn't time. It's long past time. If other countries can do this kind of thing, why can't we? Americans spend entirely too much time patting themselves on the back and calling this "the best country in the world," though ignorance about other countries is rampant. We should spend less time on self-congratulation and more time looking at what other countries do, evaluating the measures they have implemented, and adopting the ones that work.
1
Alas, we have an incompetent man as president.
- A man who voted for Trump.
14
Why are travelers still permitted to enter the United States...from anywhere? A comprehensive travel ban should have been implemented back in January. Only US citizens wishing to come home should have been allowed...evacuated and quarantined under strict protocols.
Instead, we have travelers flying into the country from who knows where, potentially infecting fellow passengers and spreading the virus from person to person, place to place.
The sheer stupidity and recklessness of this is absolutely breathtaking!
2
Fortunately, I live much closer to the "snake" Mike Inslee than to the devil Donald Trump.
7
hmmm - wasn’t our last emergency the border wall?
7
The UK estimates 5-10,000 infected. Boris Johnson may be infected. Our president may be affected. Testing is the perimeter of this one. No test, no perimeter. No test, no policy. Global pandemic suggests we’re in the soup with India, China, UK, Italy, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Vox Party +, Brazil, President of Brazil positive? - Pence and Trump, positive - despite our lying eyes - President will not stop shaking hands.
My take: the White House staff feels as I do.
How do I feel? I would like to see a 73 year old intubated.
Get it?
I believe Biden and Sanders should find a way to rearrange things... and get out on age alone.
Covid 19 Rules, The Cider House Rules, and I’m with the orphan and his mentor.
John Irving is not with us to do the book.
Elizabeth Bishop is not here to read One Art alive.
Freud is not here to teach Civilization and Its Discontents - the Oceanic feeling.
Dimon’s bank says recession.
I worry Crash and 150,000,000 sick, 15 million obituaries. Including mine. I’m 81.
Wash your hands. We’re hermits here. But we receive visitors. Carriers will be deadly and asymptomatic.
Our leadership will suffer, deservedly.
Covid 19 is a new Virus. There’s no immunity.
Our lying president may well due. Thanatos seems to be his master.
Eros is mine.
Love is mine.
I love the children.
I loathe the liars.
Wash your hands. Stand apart.
Caroline Chen tried.
No vaccine. Close vectors.
Pandemic is a lock.
Millions will die.
1
Gosh, so you too, dear Editorial Board, are defending president Trumps's decision to stop passenger traffic coming from Europe, worse, you say this measure had to be taken sooner.
Do you understand that the logical consequence would be to interdict interstates flights in the US, because in every US state you'll have now infectd people.
But you won't ask that, is it not? Because you consider us, Europe, as a dirty partner, infected with a foreign virus, do you?
3
Be careful what you wish for.
2
Trump with emergency powers (shudder)
7
It is really something that people cling to this idea that this is the greatest country and are scared of Bernie Sanders because he wants universal coverage. You know what we did today, we bombed in Iraq and killed more people. This country is a joke. A bad joke. 750 Billion for defense... but you can't get tested for this virus. Please ..tell me some more about how we shouldn't change.
9
@Doctor Woo Amen.
1
Please!!! Stop expecting more than Chaos from this incompetent mess of an administration and Congress.
Congress went home and left Jared Kushner in charge of the geriatric bulky.
Yes a bulky bully with no brain power. He is killing us gladly !!!for the corporatists and PUTIN.
Those test kits we need were refused. WHO provides them to CDC. Trump refused the kits as any 10 year old spoiled spiteful brat would. Enabled by his congress.
I am a retired nurse !!! I want to see more clinicians comment about their current experiences.
Give medical people a hotline !!!!
NY T. !!!!
This situation is dire for no reason other than TRUMP , Putin , and McConnell.
We are in collective denial that our elected politicians lie all the time to become powerfully wealthy. This time we should have paid more attention.
3
The public has been dangerously misled by Trump --and his deiriding of the media "Fake News" and federal scientists. Now, given real news, too many people do not believe it.
I just tried posting this comment, below, on a Wall Street Journal editorial. It's awaiting moderation.
Rupert, Lachlan, and James Murdoch and the WSJ Editorial Board
Time for you to act.
‘… the United States government is [squelching scientists]. Informing Fauci and other government scientists that they must clear all public comments with Vice President Mike Pence is unacceptable… Fauci, Collins [and other federal scientists]… are willing to soldier on and are gradually getting the message out…
… the administration either blocks those facts or restates them with contradictions. Transmission rates and death rates are not measurements that can be changed with will and an extroverted presentation. The administration has repeatedly said—as it did last week—that virus spread in the United States is contained, when it is clear from genomic evidence that community spread is occurring in Washington state and beyond. That kind of distortion and denial is dangerous and almost certainly contributed to the federal government’s sluggish response. After 3 years of debating whether the words of this administration matter, the words are now clearly a matter of life and death.” https://science.sciencemag.org/content/367/6483/1169.full
What can you do?
3
"...we can only hope he will set his more selfish impulses aside and rise to the moment."
Hahahahahahahahaha...wow, for a moment there I thought the editorial board had some realistic insights into this mess!
3
It will be hard to make the enemy of the people, President Virus, call an emergency
Well, well, well America. A lot of you wanted to shake things up. A lot of you wanted a supposedly successful businessman...numerous bankruptcies...to run things differently.
A lot of you wanted the "swamp" drained.
A lot of you wanted to make America "great" again.
And now you have this...and a swamp of incompetency never seen before. Congratulations Republicans! We have a sinking ship and nobody is doing anything to man the lifeboats.
11
We need to put our prison population to work creating whatever they can to help.
2
Agreed. We should also declare a national disgrace because people like Rush Limbaugh and Fox News personalities called the emergency an over-reaction and the fault of the media. These people have blood on their hands for ignoring the obvious and putting millions in danger to appease Trumps ego. There might actually be testing going on right now if steps had been taken back in January to ramp up our response. Infectious disease people knew then what could have happened and it was ignored. Instead, Dumbo-in-Chief has led the lemmings to the cliff and now there is no choice but to jump. Shame on those who ignored this public health emergency. Let us hope and pray that there is still time to respond before too many others die.
7
I think our state governors who care about their citizens should go directly to the WHO and get the tests!!!! Just go around the criminally uncaring “president” and get the tests that you need! The country should move around Trump like an amoeba around a foreign object. Don’t give him the power to control the number of tests we can have!!!
6
You mean a tax cut won't fix this?
8
@jules
OK it won't, but that's what's most likely to happen.
1
Time to declare a national emergency?
Watch Trump declare martial law.
1
"Americans need much more from Mr. Trump." Forget about this. It will not happen. It's like asking pigs to fly, it is an impossible wish.
4
It's absolutely time to declare a national emergency. More importantly, it's past time for The Times, The Washington Post, and all mainstream print, electronic and inline media to. all for the immediate resignation of Trump and the entire administration. They have conspired to put the lives of countless Americans and others around the world at severe risk, downplayed this pandemic, and sought to lie, obfuscate and deny. We put up with Russian meddling, the Ukraine debacle, kids in cages and myriad other horrors. This is a world emergency; he is killing people, crashing markets and laughing all the way to the bank. Do it now! Lives depend upon it. Thank you!
6
Declaring a national emergency is only for border walls
2
We are witnessing a real crisis managed(?) by incompetent hacks. This is proof of the lack of leadership by the guy in the White House.
How many will die?
3
Except now the country has a complete imbecile in charge. If a national emergency is declared it will be too late. The US has the potential for being worse than Italy.
3
maybe a national emergency can allow the congress to suspend Donald's duty and send him to Mar-A-Lago to play golf full time?
and of course, Mike Pence to accompanying him...
3
Just saw a vaunted Havard epidemiologist on TV who expressed deep anger at the "lost weeks" of non-preparation. Trump shot down any effective response early on with his idiotic pronouncements that coronavirus was just the flu. More Americans, even Trump supporters, are now coming to realize that Trump is truly a public health risk. He is a science skeptic -- the worst kind of leader to have at such an uncertain time. Factor in his lack of humanity, a failed business leader resume, his racism, narcissicism, xenophobia, etc. -- the bottom linei that it will be many more days before a national emergency is declared. Trump cares about optics and blame. We are in for a horrendous time!
5
The stupidity of the chief is staggering, incomprehensible at a time like this, but altogether not surprising. This is what we have come to expect from a person for whom only appearances matter, not substance. It's okay for people to suffer so long as it's not pinned on him, even though it's his responsibility to keep people safe. This is a person that is proud of his ignorance and incompetence and disdains experts and professionals-- he declares himself a 'genius' on just about anything. Hopefully this will teach people that: (1) work matters, (2) intentions matter, (3) character matters, (4) knowledge and information matter, (5) truth matters, (6) competence matters.
If not, then this is what we deserve.
3
If ever there was a time to talk about the 25th amendment, this is it. At least the VP would know enough to observe his stony silence and let the experts handle it.
2
Hey! Who knew an epidemic could spread?
74
@esox Why would an epidemic spread just because tens of millions can't afford to see a doctor or take time off work for a test?
3
@esox and who knew the flu could kill people!
2
@esox
Spread? It is going viral.
1
Max Von Sydow just died. I consider it somewhat symbolic, as a fan. He was the knight who fought against the Grim Reaper in the “Seventh Seal.” It was supposed to be about the Black Death. The final scene of that movie is a danse macabre of puppet people being pulled along their way by death itself. Death is what we all fear and what we all are willing to give up our freedom to avoid. No travel, stay in your house, whatever, so long as death is off the table. But death is never off the table. That is the fragility of life. I kind of want to catch coronavirus just so I can beat it and get on with my life. I recommend a different approach for the elderly.
1
Generic description of money...medium of exchange...levels out ability to swap goods and services across the world..
Until the world gets completely healthy and somewhat vibrant all the bailouts in the world give people all modicum of comfort that when they get healthy they will be able to exchange money...
The only person who doesn’t know Trump is an all consuming ego maniac is ..Trump...so let’s not beat this to death..... and concentrate and best course of action to get the world healthy...
Bypass the clown and unite all our creative abilities to handle this crisis..
1
This is becoming insane. This is a fear based - media generated world wide bunch of nonsense
There are over 6 billion on the face of the planet
Approx 200,000 have the virus
Appox 4,000 have died of which 1/2 are over 75 years of age.
The normal flu kills more people in a year.
This is a pandemic but not a death demic. This is not the plague
Stop the fear based reporting
The President needs to tell the USA people and the media to chill.
2
@moiracleary What if you're wrong?
In a crisis, CONS always fail, because they don't value human life.
3
Is it not time for members of this administration, starting with Vice President Pence - the coronavirus czar - to start speaking truthfully ? After all Pence cannot be fired .
I cannot imagine that even the most sycophantic members of the Trump entourage believe that, either he his being rational, or telling the truth, or even understanding what he is talking about .
One can only be subservient or craven up to a certain point, can one ?
Some might suggest that, had these people any backbone at all, they would initiate 25th Amendment consultations . Would that be excessive ?
2
Think about Trump deciding to postpone the November 3 election...
2
Quite right. Trump still won't say the truth however.
He's no better than a street PUNK.
Let's hope that it doesn't take disasters like this president or climate change before we learn to prepare our country.
1
I posted a comment earlier about the fact that if your child’s classroom has tissue paper, disinfectant wipes or hand sanitizer. You owe his teacher a thank you because they probably paid for it out of their own pocket. Just remembered trump’s tax giveaway for the rich ended the classroom tax break for teachers who paid for classroom supplies out of pocket.
6
Circumvent Trump.
Go to the CDC COVID-19 site and read the information that is intended for health care professionals. Don’t bother with the third grade pablum written for the general public. You may need to look up a medical term or two, but you will get much better, practical and detailed information.
Trump: Corruption, ignorance and arrogance. The trifecta of malfeasance.
2
Semi-civilized countries have national health insurance (i.e., "Medicare for all," Democrats). They also, mostly, have governments not populated by clowns and criminals paid for by the .01% and crooked corporations. In the USA, how long before we start hearing the cries of "Bring out your dead!" from the street?
1
Well...‘I got it from Agnes!” :)
1
But, but before declaring a national emergency, Trump is waiting for a report from medical expert Jared Kushner. Yes, he's doing 'research' for the President, so doesn't that fill you with confidence?
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/03/jared-kushner-now-on-trumps-coronavirus-team-report.html
4
The correct time for calling a national emergency was during president trumps inauguration speech.
4
This is the Trump virus and the Trump recession. He...and the collaborating GOP and its "amen corner" of so-called "people of faith" own this, and should--and will--go down with this.
3
What we need is for the media to stop stocking panic and fear.
I’ll take my chance with death rather than with giving Trump unlimited power.
Said the person with a relatively healthy and youthful immune system.
@Jeff Siegel
Now that you mention it, we might be talking two sides of the same coin . . .
Are you out of your mind? The last thing we need is Trump trying to do more, with more power at his disposal. Seriously. We need as little as possible from the White House. Asking for the incompetent, bullying, self-serving Trump to do more is asking for this disaster to grow worse. Please retract this editorial, before he sees it.
Donald Trump is the presidential equivalent by proxy of cult leader Jim Jones, whose deluded cult members at his urging, drank the cyanide-laced Kool Aid resulting in the murder/suicide of 918 men women and children. The difference is that Trump’s complete lack of leadership and preparedness, and his cynical messaging to his MAGA cult members that “all is well,” will result in many more deaths.
1
If Trump were the CEO in any other organization, he would be removed/fired by the board at this point. His incompetency becomes more obvious by the day. He has zero leadership skills. He only knows bullying and intimidation. But he is a paper tiger. The real question is why, at this point, his spineless Republican enablers won’t finally stand up to defend the country from Trump’s ineptitude.
3
Thank you for journalistic leadership, NYT. Perhaps the American people need to request that Trump declare a national emergency?
Would it help if the article, below, went viral?
How Much Worse the
Coronavirus Could Get, in Charts
By Nicholas Kristof and Stuart A. Thompson
MARCH 13, 2020
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/03/13/opinion/coronavirus-trump-response.html
1
It's time to quickly revisit impeachment of Trump and impeachment of Pence.
1
I fear that declaring a (belated) national emergency would only give the current administration the opportunity to check the Reichstag’s fever, so to speak.
The Trump Virus will not end until November. It’s then that the blue wave will wash away the GOP forever!
1
Perhaps is time to cut economic assistance to countries like Israel, and redirect all that money to help our own people with basic things like free test, free treatment, mortgages or rent during convalescence, food, and utilities bills. American people will not forget if the government and politicians from both parties let our people die.
Disney World just closed down. That says it all.
1
Will Trump take a page from his Hurricane Maria response by tossing hard to find corona virus test kits to people like he did paper towels?
1
Coordinated response? The NY Times has covered this president for three years. What could possibly make you think there is even a remote possibility something good will happen?
1
The Editorial Board is, sadly, writing from the Susan Collins playbook: maybe he’ll have learned his lesson. What is it going to take for y’all to truly, deeply, understand that the 73-year-old narcissist is never going to change his stripes? Wishful thinking editorials won’t cut it anymore, folks.
3
If ever the 25th amendment was needed (a double, actually, for both Trump and Pence), it's now. The latest Trump lie (repeated multiple times since yesterday) is that people getting off the planes from abroad are being immediately tested, it's all set up. And Pence, this week, claimed that millions of test kits would shortly be ready.
Lies lies lies!!!
Are. You. Out. Of. Your. Minds? The second thing Trump will do, given absolute power, is to cancel the November election.
1
Does this mean cessation of the weekly golf trips to Mar-a-Lago?
1
In February Donald Trump in his annual budget proudly proposed 18 billion for his new Space Force because "we have no choice". Times are changing with no time for space force; how about space for a virus force instead? More ventilators?
WHERE ARE THE TESTS?
1
How about contracting tons of affected blue collar workers as temporary delivery people to perform massive outreach to supply Americans in self-quarantine? At high wages.
I realize this in many ways would be even more socially stratifying. But it seems like a much simpler way to actually get money into the hands of people most affected by these closures. Many vendors/waiters/gig/etc make a living off the books, and will not really benefit from various tax/unemployment benefits.
This would also assist the process of self-quarantine for those who can work from home. Standardized care packages would need to be wrapped and openable in a way that prevents spread of infection.
The packaging is gonna be the hardest part for governments to quickly organize (another role for temporarily contracting many affected workers)...
1
I’m not counting on our fearless leader to do anything helpful in any crisis.
We need someone - anyone - with a grain of sense to assemble a few others with more sense to properly address both the biological and the financial threats ASAP.
Surely there are such capable people. Where are they?
Impeachment failed to remove Trump from office. But his cabinet can. They should invoke that authority and get him out of there. He has changed his tune since calling Covid 19 a hoax not because he realizes the gravity of the situation but only because he is worried about failing to be reelected.
6
Wow, what a leader. A national crisis that finally reveals Trump for the Charlatan he truly is (if you weren't already convinced). Can you imagine if Trump was our President during WWII? A definite Man in the High Castle scenario. Those of us who wouldn't be exterminated of the bat would be goose stepping. This is what you get when an incompetent leader assumes the most important job in the world. How many deaths will occur because of Trump's early inaction? It's going to be quite entertaining to watch the Fox New's of the world spin this unprecedented historic event.
7
“...we can only hope he will set his more selfish impulses aside and rise to the moment.“
Surely the Board is joking.
He doesn’t HAVE any impulses which AREN’T selfish.
7
Yes, it is time to declare an emergency so we can form an organized plan to battle the virus and its economic implications.
But who trusts this President not to abuse it?
5
And who trusts the House not to abuse it?
1
The follow words are deeply unnerving:
"This editorial board is not inclined to grant the president more executive power, given his track record. But this crisis demands such quick action in the interests of the American people that we can only hope he will set his more selfish impulses aside and rise to the moment."
What piece of evidence from the lifetime of this man makes you think that he is mentally or even physically capable of setting aside his more selfish impulses? He is selfishness incarnate. He has never and will never rise to anything other than an opportunity to feel strong and receive praise from a small circle of equally paranoid fascists. He has ridden benefit of the doubt like this to a position of absolute power and is a bigger threat to the health of Americans than this virus. He has already lied about the necessity of the travel ban and he will no doubt use the crisis as an excuse to steamroll civil liberties and accuse anyone questioning his actions as a threat to public safety.
America needs a national emergency declaration but not with an authoritarian at the helm. The top priority should be removing Trump from power immediately. If the New York Times is calling for an increase to this man's power, God help us all.
5
No problem declaring a national emergency for The Wall, so how come there's any delay for a real national emergency?
5
WHERE. ARE. THE. TESTS?
For those of us in New York, it's beyond belief that in a supposedly first world country there are no tests to track the path of this pathogen. At this point, it is clear that people are going to die because there weren't tests to indicate just how far and fast this virus had exploded exponentially.
But the question again remains really simple: WHERE. ARE. THE. TESTS?
964
@blackman,
Obsessing over tests is a giant mistake. I can test negative today and turn positive tomorrow or next week. Are you talking about testing to quarantine those who test positive? So how did you feel about doing that for HIV, which at the time was a death sentence? Cuba did and they suffered far less than we did, but in the US widespread testing in that case was politically impossible. This obsession with testing is just another way to politicize this by harping on shortcomings of this President.
And I do favor widely available testing because any false sense of security (ibid) is a tolerable price to pay for data.
11
@blackman
If anything the delay in testing may have been a godsend for our health care system. Millions would have insisted on being tested. Those with positive results would have rushed to emergency rooms, demanding treatment despite the fact that they don't require medical attention.
The majority of people who have had or currently have the virus don't need medical care. The tests are important when symptoms become life threatening, which occurs in a very small percentage of cases.
9
@AACNY Yes, delayed testing is brilliant. So Trump can say "I like the numbers where they are". Sure, if you don't test, you don't get cases confirmed. One great way to keep the numbers low - initially.
122
HA! Sure, it would be great if Trump would do any of those sensible things.
Did you see his tweet tonight, as we teeter on the precipice?
"Sleepy Joe Biden was in charge of the H1N1 Swine Flu epidemic which killed thousands of people. The response was one of the worst on record. Our response is one of the best, with fast action of border closings & a 78% Approval Rating, the highest on record. His was lowest!"
The person who wrote that is deranged, mentally informed. You can rationalize an irrational player.
3
A national emergency with Trump, Pence and their minions in charge? The could make the already bad situation far far worse.
4
This is a day Trump opponents have long feared. Up till now all of his crisis have been self created. We always knew an external crises would meet nothing but chaos and mismanagement.
4
No, no, and no. Putting the power of a national emergency in the hands of an incompetent man who would wield it solely for his own benefit is just asking for total chaos and the mismanagement of billions of dollars needed to address this illness. Just yesterday, Trump was talking about a tax cut as more effective than providing money for testing! A tax cut doesn’t help when you aren’t allowed to work. Trump wants to bail out the cruise industry because they have supported him with donations, but the people who need help are those workers without paid sick leave, those whose jobs have been shut down—not the big industries that have the resources to weather this crisis. Trump would be more likely to divert most of the money to his interests and to building the border wall than to help hospitals and medical personnel address this illness.
4
Because Trump failed to act, governors, mayors, university presidents, local school superintendents, sports league executives, etc. have been forced to act and are doing so. Trump, whose main focus has been to destroy, distract, and disrupt will be a follower, not a leader if he finally acts. He will appear weak to his extremist base if he finally does declare an emergency. I have no idea what Trump will finally do, but am sure it will be clothed in distortion, misdirection and incompetence when he does it.
3
Every year the federal government has an exercise where all are asked to telework in preparedness for a national emergency.
Today we have a national emergency and the one thing the government can do and has prepared for, is to ask its employees to work from home.
A simple notice from OPM would clear the streets and public transportation in DC, and keep many thousands home elsewhere.
Has anyone at the New York Times asked the president why this hasn't happened?
3
By now it should be clear that the panicked people at the top are intellectually and, most important, morally deficient. Who knows what Trump might do under such a declaration. We live in perilous times, under assault by both powerful nature and, by lack of response, our government. November can’t come soon enough.
2
You mean building The Wall is not America’s prime concern?
The denial, lies, and inaction emanating from the White House and the Senate leaders regarding the novel carina virus threat will cost the lives of tens of thousands of Americans.
Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell should submit their resignations immediately, if they have any measure of self respect left!
4
Apparently, the President is waiting for Jared’s advice on whether to declare an emergency.
When will we wake up from the national nightmare of this utter and total incompetence? Maybe when Republican Senators’ constituents start dying due to Trump’s failure to act they will find their spines and stage the intervention they should have staged long ago. Or, more crassly, when their own 401(k)s are beyond the point of no return.
How ironic that after three years of this administration, we really will need to make America great again.
3
Declaring a national state of emergency would certainly seem to be desirable and the Editorial Board has laid out much of the rationale for this. Thank you for that. Caution is called for here, however. The Board alludes to the issue: “But this crisis demands such quick action in the interests of the American people that we can only hope he (President Trump) will set his more selfish impulses aside and rise to the moment.” We need a lot more than hope with this president, based on experience to date in him making every crisis all about Trump.
Timothy Snyder’s lesson # 17 from On Tyranny should be on our minds when we contemplate an emergency declaration – “Listen for dangerous words.” Too frequently in poorly performing democracies, emergency powers are invoked to postpone elections and enhance other powers of an autocrat. Then the emergency then grows still graver.
To date, most of the analysis of authority to postpone elections in the U.S. has focused on terrorism. See e.g. Executive Branch Power to Postpone Election from July 2004, a CRS report to Congress. A COVID-19 pandemic is certainly as large a threat to the nation as were the September 9, 2001 terrorist attacks in terms of loss of life, disruption to civil society, and financial displacement. Some folks are already considering this issue of COVID-19 impacts on elections, e.g. Larry Sabato at U. of Va. Others should, too. Assuring the integrity of 2020 elections is critical with COVID-19 in the Time of Trump.
2
A payroll tax cut won't help poor people who don't make enough to pay taxes. They need direct aid that will stave off homelessness and keep their families fed.
3
I have an uncomfortable feeling that if a US national emergency were declared, Trump would use it to defer money to pay for the wall to keep the 'foreign' germs out.
3
Received this bleak Friday 13 at dawn, a message from a friend in Jerusalem with some non-political wit; and joining others who are hoping that we do not remain in denial. This is a big deal and remembering the wise pragmatic words of Dr. Nancy Messonier to expect 'disruptions' in our daily living.
With appreciation to The Editorial Board of The New York Times for keeping its Readership in the loop. Stay well and when all does not go right, turn left.
2
Can the media please make testing a bigger issue. We need to hold DC's feet to the fire over this. What is making South Korea and Singapore successful is social distancing plus testing. You can't know when and where to loosen or maintain social distancing efforts without testing. This is 101.It is a cheap test. It is not a difficult test. Our red tape driven system is hampering this. Our own President is the source of hampering this by trying to maintain low numbers for his reelection bid. Testing, testing, testing...
3
We need to stop looking to Trump to be presidential. It's beyond his capabilities. We need to stop looking to Trump's administration for information. They're not going to give it to us. And, we need to stop giving these spin queens and liars airtime. It's not helping.
We need state govenors to step up and take the lead. America turns its' weary eyes to you...
And, most importantly, we need to stop giving the spin-queens and outright-lairs air time. They are not helping matters. We need only to look at Puerto Rico to know they don't care about deaths. We need only to look at the fact they had Coronavirus posters removed from immigration courts to know they don't care about spread. We don't need another lie about spread, cases, tests, testing capabilities, medical preparedness. It's not helping.
2
@The last nail in the coffen
I don't know about you, but our governor is a Trump wannabe/Koch hostage who is over his head as much as Trump.
Get this: We are accepting a cruise ship, which has already been turned away from 4 Asian ports, and letting it dock in Juneau, our state capital.
They 'say' the vessel will be 'cleaned' and the entire staff swapped out before they get here. Sure...
And our first coronavirus case has been announced. Apparently a pilot on an international cargo plane.
Please raise your hand (just don’t put it to your face) if you think the continued delay in testing is designed to keep down the number of confirmed cases and make Trump look good. As the top-recommended poster here has inferred, our primary problem isn’t coronavirus, but our “leader.” We’re long overdue for an intervention.
4
First, the President needs to be relieved from his tasks as he remains clearly racist and biased in his attitude toward the coronavirus pandemic. Second, the US government needs to take a good look at which countries have the lowest death rates and how their health care crisis systems are managed, then implement something comparable in the US. Imitating Italy is ridiculous, the Italians were the ones who failed to stop it. The UK is still in denial, like Trump, while other EU countries have remarkably low death and infection rates. Kensington and Chelsea has the highest infection rate in London, which fits the pattern of a virus spread among elites, which means Trump has caught it, too. Therefore, third, the US needs to prepare for a time without Trump, soon to come.
2
@Lala
We will be eagerly preparing for a time without Trump.
While I applaud the need for a declaration of national emergency, hoping that Trump will take such an action is a fool's errand.
It's going to have to come from someone else.
2
The idea that Trump and his administration of toadies and boot lickers can mobilize the intellectual capability, the organizational skills, and the common sense to offer an "audacious, coherent, and coordinated response" is laughable. They can not even mount a brief, coherent presidential address to the nation. It appears any meaningful response will have to come from individual states. They will eventually succeed in fighting off the virus, but have little leverage to manage the national and economic complications. In other words, the rest of the world will have to take up the slack for the utter lack of intelligent American leadership. The odds of that succeeding in the near term seem small. I am by no means a doomer, but I fear the entire world may reap a whirlwind we are unequipped to face. As the putative leader of the free world Trump and this administration has put western civilization at risk to feed his narcissism.
3
I live in Zhengzhou China. A city of 10 million people that is 500kms from Wuhan, the epicenter. It is also centrally located and was in a perilous position during the Spring Festival, which was at the time of the outbreak - many people travel through this hub.
It's important to remember that we had a lock down, and we still have one, and it's 8 weeks in. But it wasn't authoritarian thing - at least not only that. It was also voluntary. It was the citizens saying: we have to fight the war on the virus by staying home. It was and is a war. Did it harm the economy? Well, yeah. Shutting everything down besides a small market in a district with 1.4 million people will hurt the economy. But Google Zhengzhou coronavirus. We have less cases than Washington State.
1
He's not up to the task. Never was. Never will be.
3
All great suggestions. All unlikely to happen under the Trump regime. Unless of course the bi-partisan bill put together by the Democrats can reach him before he goes back to the golf course during this time of crisis. Again.
4
@Brannon Perkison
Well, look at the bright side.
The more time he spends on the golf course, the greater his odds of being struck by lightning.
Even if a national emergency is declared, the same administration and president call the shots. This president is clueless on how to manage a pandemic as serious as COVID19 and unwilling to turn the reins over to the doctors and scientists that know what to do. Too bad he wasn’t impeached! As far as the economy goes, this will start as a supply side recession, in fact we are already there, and with the huge layoffs and quarantines, it will quickly become a demand side depression. The stock market is our best leading indicator and is telegraphing a depression on par with 2008 and the Great Depression of the 1930’s. Good news is we have learned a lot since the 30’s and recovery will happen, but first we need to solve the pandemic. My oh my, we are in a pickle. Do you have faith in your president now?
2
We need lots of test kits in the state of Washington but I'm betting we can figure out how to get them w/o giving Trump more power.
I don't trust this guy. I don't trust the people around him. Mike Pence is less intelligent than Trump but easily led. I certainly don't the Senate. Actually, as far as pols go, I trust only Nancy Pelosi.
3
Or at least on par with the energy focused on “the wall” where DoD budgets were raided...
1
Why declare a national emergency? There are whole counties in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana where few of the residents ever leave the county for their entire lives. They're not in danger here.
"Set an example for public and private sectors"? "Take the lead in devising a fiscal response"?? Accept, and make universally understood, the severity of the pandemic"???
The Editorial Board writes, "we can only hope he will set his more selfish impulses aside and rise to the moment."
Apparently the Editorial Board just arrived on this planet.
2
We absolutely must prevent the spread of the virus to the most fragile among us because they will die otherwise. That must be first and foremost in this response.
1
trumps first 2 tweets of the day are about blaming Obama and calling his response to H1N1 a disaster. His 3rd tweet declares Joe Biden is politicizing the virus. His 4th tweet extolls a payroll tax cut. I'm waiting for the tweet that tells the people without a job what kind of emergency help he has in store for them.
3
You know it is bad when W is put forth as a positive example.
1
Like in the War of Independence and in the Civil War some hundred years later, the Democrats, unlike the Trump Republicans, are now in this national emergency of the covid-19 war exercising the government’s right and duty to provide liquidity to persons and businesses that need financial assistance most. Abraham Lincoln believed that money is not the master, but the servant of humankind.
Why should this quantitive easing and targeted financial assistance not become the regular mode of monetary/financial operations in peace time?
Why should we not extend this monetary/financial system to the less visible, but more important and intractable challenge of the looming looming climate catastrophe? Verhagen 2012"The Tierra Solution: Resolving the Climate Crisis through Monetary Transformation" (www.timun.net) has seminally presented the commercial, intellectual, ethical, ecological and strategic dimensions of such monetary/financial system by proposing a monetary carbon standard of a specific tonnage of CO2e per person. This transformational and seemingly impossible proposal was considered by a well-known economics author and climate activist worthy of further research: “The further into the global warming area we go, the more physics and politics narrows our possible paths of action. Here’s a very cogent and well-argued account of one of the remaining possibilities.” Bill McKibben, May 17, 2011
Trump is only worried about keeping the money coming in from rich donors.
The rich don't need public transport or to go to work. They can isolate themselves in houses where everyone has a private bathroom and get everything delivered. .if they fall sick they will pay for the private rooms and the equipment to keep them alive while the middle and lower class die in triage tents.
The epidemic even has an upside. imagine the tax cuts when millions of deceased elderly Americans no longer require government support.
The rich don't care about the epidemic. And the US governments primary role is to give the rich what they want. Why be surprised no expensive action is coming from Trump?
3
It gives me great pause to think of this president declaring a national state of emergency given his penchant for self serving, lawless power lust. The GOP supporters of this lawless power grabbing are now exposed for what their dismantling of government has wrought. Protecting American citizens is only important to them if that increases their election chances. The elected office they hold means serving only their own financial interests and not the country’s.
The virus has exposed their corrupt intentions. Human life is not important to them as they are not interested in health or economic policies that support it.
They and their leader are the real enemies of the people.
3
What you are asking our President to do, he simply isn't capable of doing. He isn't a leader, he is a self-serving blowhard. He was in contact with someone who has Coronavirus. Trump doesn't see this as something to worry about and he has stated he won't get tested. This isn't simply cavalier, it is irresponsible. More than that, it is insulting to those who have been infected, those who have died, those yet to be infected.
3
My one thought revolves around th question of where the virus is most prominent: China, most of industrialized Europe and America albeit, not in South America, Africa or the Middle East - at least not so far.
For a virus that spreads so fast, is that simply a coincidnece ?
1
According to Business Insider, 23 states have declared a state of emergency so far. It seems the governors are taking the lead on this. Could the New York Times please report on which states have declared a state of emergency and also create a map showing this? I think that would really help folks see just how widespread this is.
2
Declaration of a National emergency is about 3 years too late...
2
"This editorial board is not inclined to grant the president more executive power…"
Don't worry. The Constitution doesn't give you the right to grant those powers anyway.
4
Trump -16 + COVID-19 = Armageddon -20
Donald Trump and Mike Pence need to resign.
Trump and Pence have earned no credibility nor do they deserve any respect for accepting, recognizing and telling the American people the truth.
Trump and Pence are regulary and routinely ignorant and incompetent in governing maturely, seriously and wisely on big and small things.
Trump and Pence are incapable of comforting and reassuring the American people by expressing any humble humane empathy.
Trump and Pence are the gravest barrier and threat to dealing with the human biological pandemic medical science health problem presented by COVID-19.
Trumo and Pence can't solve the COVID-19 threat by economic nor political means while preserving, protecting and defending our Constitution.
Nancy Pelosi will be 80 years old and has no intention nor need to remain President of the United States beyond next January, 2021.
3
This administration still wants to make a10 percent cut to the cdc and god only know how much to the nih. This is not a both case scenario. The Republicans and their policies own this. trump owns this. You aren’t changing history on this one.
3
We are all naive to believe that trump can become something other than what he is, he is a vindictive, incompetent, corrupt, narcissistic and extremely fearful individual that must surround himself only with loyalists. These self-mandated restrictions will not allow him to place competent, knowledgeable people in the necessary and needed positions.
This is magnified by the late Republican Party who have abdicated their role in government to protect their man. In fact, McConnell was on the verge of leaving the Legislature for a ten-day vacation, only after being shamed did he decide on cutting it to only three days. This is no way to run a government on the edge of an abyss.
2
If South Korea can do it, why can't the United States?
"...the South Koreans managed to design and create a test, set up a network of labs across the country and get it all to work in 17 days."
"Nearly 20,000 people are being tested every day for coronavirus in South Korea, more people per capita than anywhere else in the world."
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51836898
"According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a total of at least 11,079 specimens have been tested since January. However, the number of people tested is likely to be lower, as patients typically provide at least two specimens for testing."
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51860529
3
Let’s call the “emergency” BEOW. The Biological Equivalent of War.
1
Oh yes, you want him to set his more selfish impulses aside. I'd like the Editorial Board to provide me with ONE example of him doing that. I don't recall any, but you have more resources than I do. I would laugh if I could put the tears away.
2
After hearing last evening address I am hoping the virus doesn't spread too much in US as our president is criminally incapable of dealing with crisis of this magnitude.
3
Trump started to care about CV19 only after the stock market's dive proved catastrophic. Trump cares about himself, his image and no body and nothing else.
5
Presidential power for the good of the people.
Senate leader using his for the good of our citizenry.
History has proven republicans do exactly the same.
Nixon embraced Bebe Reboso.
Gerald Ford embraced Cheney and Rumsfeld after Watergate.
Reagan and Oliver North.
Here we have a president in Back To The Future.
Erik Prince as Oliver North, William Barr as Roy Cohen and Bebe Reboso with special guest star Mike Pompeo and Lindsey Graham taking up where Cheney and Rumsfeld left off.
We are in a tight spot with this president and his Get Out Of Jail Free card signed by McConnell.
2
Over what? There are less than 2,000
Diagnosed with the Corona virus. How about the media acting responsibly. Is it possible?
If it dies out in the next 30 days what will the media do?
The worst this thing gets, the more Trump will try to put a spin on it.
Expect him to get crazier than he's been in the past.
BTW, Dr. Fauci should be in charge of this, not Pence.
3
There was a NYT photo a while back of Theresa May getting out of a car on her way to meeting about Brexit in Brussels. She had a arm full of binders and that struck me as odd because I have never seen Trump hold as much as a copy of anything that requires reading or god forbid homework that government homework requires. That photo of the British prime minister spoke volumes to me about how lazy Trump is and how hard women have to work to keep up at best in a man’s world. Cheers to her and Angela Merkel for telling her country the truth about the severity of this situation yesterday while Trump golfs on weekends and sun tans everyday so can feel good about how he looks on tv.
3
There ARE tests that are available. The NYT ran an article on it. And, here's another linkhttps://www.swisspointofcare.com/fr/categorie-produit/des-tests/corona-covid-19-fr/ This particular one takes 15 minutes to give results as well.
Why can't they be used? The most oft-cited reason is that they are not approved by the CDC.
OMG, why don't we waive that requirement for the length of this plague!!!! Anyone that tests positive with one of these gets an automatic CDC approved test.
I also understand that the WHIO offered the US tests but the US refused? Why? And is there any truth to the rumor that Trump is steering test business to his cronies? If so, it must JUST stop.
And, tests must be offered free of charge to anyone. We could have drive through testing, drug store testing by the pharmacist, paramedic testing at your local fire department - IF we wanted to.
3
For anyone who wants to hear the address we should be getting from the White House I recommend the link below. I don't offer this to curry votes for Bernie. But this is what we should be getting from the White House.
In contrast, Trump has been evasive, inaccurate, inept, contradictory and adrift. A MAGA hat is no substitute for leadership.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=734&v=2As11EyIRWc&feature=emb_logo
1
Anyone watch CNBC this morning? Tomislav Mihaljevic, president and CEO of The Cleveland Clinic made this announcement:
"We want to clarify misinformation that has been trending on social media related to Cleveland Clinic testing for COVID-19. Cleveland Clinic has not developed a new test for COVID-19. We have purchased the necessary CDC components and validated the test in our own lab. This means we can now conduct on-site testing for the virus, allowing us to test patients and receive the results more rapidly – in most cases, within one day. We expect other hospitals and academic medical centers across the country will also have this capability."
Tomislav Mihaljevic is the president and CEO of Cleveland Clinic, a nonprofit health care business. (But you must remember this: nonprofits are among the most profitable businesses in the USA.)
BTW: viruses are not political. We had this same problem in 2009/10 with swine flu. Chill out.
BTW # 2: It's necessary to remind people who have no symptoms to NOT FLOOD HOSPITALS DEMANDING TESTS. From the Clinic:
"Patients with confirmed infection from the COVID-19 virus reported these symptoms:
Fever.
Cough.
Difficulty breathing.
In 80% of patients, COVID-19 causes only mild cold symptoms. The elderly, and those with pre-existing medical conditions appear to be more vulnerable to the virus."
No symptoms? No exposure to someone confirmed to have the virus? Shut up - wash your hands often - and quit hyperventilating!
1
There’s no sense trying to make recommendations to Donald J. Trump. The country is rudderless until he is out.
There was infrastructure and funding in place until 2018 when Trump trashed it. It was under NSC and they threw the carcass out into the street when they finished gutting it...
POTUS should "paying sick workers to stay home, closing schools and universities," by escalating the insane national debt even more?
1
@James Siegel
Well, if he hadn't driven the debt into insane territory with his stupid tax cut, maybe we'd have some money for these things.
But at this point we need sick workers to stay home and close schools and universities.
What, do you want everyone to die?
In 2016 we had a presidential candidate who understood healthcare even though she wasn't a healthcare provider, she UNDERSTOOD HEALTHCARE! (among other things). She even has a daughter who studied and earned a masters in global health from a prestigious school.
Good luck America; this is what happens when Barbie’s daddy inhabits the White House. We get sick AND the economy tanks.
1
Such expertise... I don't need $$ from the govmt.. nor do most of the people I know. Some people may need more $$ or cheaper accommodations … or or..
Oh low borrowing costs-- the ones that mean people putting their money in banks to keep it safe get as little interest as possible?
Americans addicted to their cars in most places don't care about urban transit-- one nee3ds desnity and we don't believe in density.
Why not Medicare 4 all? Oh, I forgot, we can't afford it.
This may be the exact time to save ourselves from the most incompetent White House inhabitant ever. Or is it too late to invoke the 25th amendment?
1
Let’s understand something here, Trump will only declare a national emergency in order to delay or subvert the coming election and undermine our democracy. He and his cronies are already weaponizing the virus for advantage. First by denying its hazards & claiming it was another “liberal” conspiracy, then as an excuse to cut taxes for the investor class, prop up Wall Street & sustain the tax cut bubble economy. He’s also using it as another excuse for his wall in order to gin up his base & support his tyranny. You already have Trump trolls commenting here in support of Trumps potential sedition & advocating his assumption of broad emergency powers. How about he declare martial law as well. Don’t kid yourself, the reality show clown and bankruptcy king ain’t gonna rise to the occasion, just pull us down with his failing administration. National emergency? Trumps entire presidency has been a national emergency, this virus is just the icing on a crisis cake.
1
“The U.S. government needs a coordinated response to the coronavirus on par with its response to the 2008 financial crisis.”
True. Problem is we had a leader in Obama in 2008 not Dim Donny Trump who can barely figure out what is happening to our Nation.
2
Don’t worry, the “stable genius” has everything under control!
"Look out for each other." It's not a concept Trump demonstrably understands. But maybe if he gets a little panicked, he'll listen to some others who know more...
1
That the Editorial Board needed to call for federal action to slow the coronavirus should be obvious to everyone. But the distorted perception of this crisis is not limited to the White House. NPR reporter questioning Rep Katherine Clark yesterday about House bill to fund necessary programs to deal with the crisis,
"Well, how responsible does it feel to make a policy without knowing how much the policy will cost?"
Rep Clark should've responded (but didn't) something like,
"Your question suggests ignorance of the threat. You wouldn't be asking such questions if we were fighting WW II. In a crisis, we need to do what must be done, knowing that the richest country in the world can afford it. Also Ms. Chang, did you ask Mitch McConnell that question when the Republican Congress was passing the tax reduction that increased the deficit by $2 trillion."
Yes, a State of Emergency may be necessary, but we must be concerned about how Trump will use such expanded powers. Easy to imagine Trump trying to time the apogee of the epidemic for the fall by delaying measures needed to slow its spread, then declaring a national emergency ("after all, NYT said I should"), and, in the fall, just before Election day, imposing a quarantine. “We must protect public health by 'postponing' the election."
Unfortunately, we all need to be thiinking about threats from other directions, not just from coronavirus.
4
Well, yes, but I think the little sycophant birdies are whispering in Trump's ear that it's not close enough to the election. A national emergency will empower him to suspend the general election. So for him the virus is a birthday present, just a bit too early.
3
The time was weeks ago. But those around the Bloviator-in-Chief were too scared to contradict him while he was patting himself on the back for "containing" the coronavirus.
2
Without adequate testing this virus will spread like wildfire. There should not be any restrictions on who to test. It wouldn't surprise me that our dictator in chief, didn't want to further affect the stock market with proof of a pandemic in our midst, so not testing makes it appear that there are less cases going on. They knew about this back in January and failed to get on board with adequate testing. I will shelter in place because way more people are contagious than what is being reported.
3
If our president were anyone else but Trump, I would most likely agree with this viewpoint. But, please, NO. A declaration of national emergency would give him unprecedented license to do more damage than ever, like, say, cancel the election. Or declare martial law. This circumstance is difficult enough with a government that is untrustworthy, "led" by a man who is completely untrustworthy.
7
This bears repeating: NPR’s Fresh Air reported that trump did not want to increase the number of testing kits because they might show a jump in the number of reported cases—a result that could decrease trump’s chances for re-election. Why so many U.S. citizens want this man to continue in a role for which he is emotionally, intellectually, and morally unsuited is one of life’s significant mysteries.
6
@Drusilla Hawke
It's because those citizens are emotionally, intellectually, and morally unsuited to vote.
In 2008 a Republican President and Democratic Congress "worked together". In 2020 the Republican President just can't help himself stating that the Democratic Congress will take every opportunity to load up any Emergency legislation with "Goodies".
Donald Trump is unfit for the job, and everything he says just can't be believed.
4
While I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiments of the NYT editorial board, the time is past due to declare a national emergency. I fear many people, like myself, have lost faith in the Administration and the Congress, which have badly bungled our national response. Many of us realize it has been left to each of us to focus on what to do to save our own and our neighbors' lives. With regret, I have turned a deaf ear to Washington. I am paying attention to my state and local public health officials, as well as my health care provider, for guidance about how to slow the pandemic. To survive this public health crisis, I prefer to put my faith in skilled public health doctors, nurses and other health care staff – not politicians. Politicians, we know, have already failed in their response and we can reasonably conclude more of us will die no matter what they do now.
4
My major fear is that Trump will weaponize a State of Emergency to suspend elections and civil liberties. I can already see the Governors of Red States closing polling places in populated cities with large Democratic populations as a health precaution.
Remember that Giuliani actually tried to do this when his term was up post 911, and Bloomberg had already been elected mayor. He said it was no time to transfer power and he should remain mayor for another “six months”. The idea actually gained a lot of currency before cooler heads prevailed. You can bet that he, as personal lawyer, is advising Trump to pull the same stunt: declare himself still President by Executive Order.
9
What level of ICU bed is required to treat severe COVID-19 patients?
Perhaps a stripped down ICU bed, something like a typical hospital bed with slightly enhanced electronic monitoring, and a ventilator would be sufficient.
If that is correct, the critical items may be the number of ventilators available and the ability of a hospital to establish a COVID-19 ward to house both the stripped down ICU beds and ordinary hospital beds for less sever COVID-19 cases.
2
@OldBoatMan
You may be an old boat man, but you clearly do not understand medicine.
Critically ill patients from Coronavirus will be among the sickest of the ICU patients; and will require the most intense medical attention and treatment to survive.
*****A Connecticut physician
I could not disagree more with this recommendation, for the reason you acknowledge: a declaration of emergency would give the president additional powers that we know - absolutely know - he cannot be trusted to use in anyone's interest but his own.
He could freeze individuals' bank accounts, deploy armed forces within the U.S. for nefarious purposes, and he would have far too much control over the Internet. So as serious as our danger is, we must deal with the coronavirus without giving Trump more power that he will use toward one end only: to get himself re-elected.
6
Your fear matches mine.
I have been predicting that Donald Trump would find something, anything, to declare a state of emergency and martial law. In doing so, he gets what he wants, and that is a terrifying scenario.
The New York Times is playing into his -- and Putin's -- hands in advocating for such a drastic measure.
At almost 66 years old, I am not unafraid of contracting Covid-19. Indeed, I curtailed my subway riding and museum going two weeks ago -- for me, a very sad thing. The Met and the AMNH have been lifelong friends.
But my fear and loathing of even more power in the tiny, pink hands of Donald Trump are far more intense than my fear of illness and death.
2
@B. I heartily agree! We need to spread the word so that people understand how much power he would have in an emergency. I'm just baffled that The Times thinks a person who has grossly abused his power already should be given even more power. Stay strong, stay sane, and stay healthy, my friend. We'll get through this together.
1
“Let’s all look out for each other,” he said. “Because we’re in this together.” Less than 12 hours later, President Trump presented the nation with a very different message: We must look out for ourselves.'
There it is, summed up. The difference in world view and the tension between left and right, Democrat and Republican.
As to working together, there has never been a better time, or a more obvious reason, to introduce universal healthcare in the United States.
7
@Common Sense, You mistake clear thinking, observation, and history when you say, "We need to bury the enmity on both sides and come together for a united, targeted response. Unless the bitter vitriol that swirls around President Trump". The enmity is LARGELY one sided: the GOP who's fealty to the dollar and religion override decency and oaths to the Constitution. Trump CREATED the hate, vitriol, and anger throughout his whole life. In 2016, He was a known "quantity", and he has become more a emboldened and unfit human being.
3
The bottom line is that the Trump Administration has demonstrated that it is woefully incapable of dealing with the COVID-19 crisis.
So, it’s incumbent upon others to organize, or use their status as leaders or major influencers within organizations, to devise ways to help mitigate the problem.
To a degree, small local nongovernmental steps could help, even if it's just to buy time to lessen the potentially crushing impact of the virus upon our healthcare system.
5
The president who tweets about the most minor things has little or nothing useful to say about the Coronavirus crisis. Where's the presidential leadership? Where's the presidential reassurance? Trump's main concern is the declining stock market and its effect on the election. As always, his focus is on himself, not on the welfare of the people whom he is supposed to be representing. A president so useless and ineffective in a crisis is a president who needs to be replaced.
4
Adding to the difficulty of containing the coronavirus here in the US, compared to other countries, is the fact that Trump disbanded the US Pandemic Response Team two years ago.
6
This fiasco is absolutely partisan and absolutely 100% the fault of the current administration who can't think beyond a tax cut. Who disbanded the pandemic response team, who defended the CDC, who played golf and held rallies(very safe rallies!) South Korea and China respond swiftly and with the full weight of the government behind them. Over 200000 people tested in South Korea with tech that we could have had in a heartbeat if our administration wanted. To have waited 3 months because , well, in Trumps own words which can be seen and read- "“I don't need to have the numbers double because of one ship that wasn't our fault,” Trump added, saying that he ultimately empowered Pence to decide whether to evacuate the passengers." this was his driver throughout, not - I am putting the full weight of the US Government behind getting test kits, triage centers in majors cites( Big empty stadiums- add tents, mobile medical units- the military has them- etc.... each one could hold thousands if necessary and with the military nurses and doctors much could be accomplished) Camp Picket in VA had 10000 beds in 1946 to take care of returning vets. What can't that happen today? Time ti invoke article 25, get this ineffectual madman out of office and be adults. This isn't the zombie apocalypse - it is simply logistics, planning and execution.
6
Above all, we are suffering from a lack of morale and a collapse of confidence in our government and its reliability. Even many Trump supporters must be recognizing that he cannot provide what the country needs now.
This is the time for Biden to become the "fireside chat"voice, a shadow presence in the lives of the entire population, free of vituperation, ignoring Trump and his behaviors, and simply providing a sense of comfort and promise. All of the
Democratic Party representatives must get behind this and support a process of putting together a shadow cabinet along the lines recently proposed by Thomas Friedman. The circumstances will enhance the likelihood that the best can
be induced to step up to their responsibilities for our country.
2
The president declaring a national emergency and then following it up with the actions that this editorial recommends would go a long way with Trump's supporters here in SW Ohio where I live. Right now most of them are skeptical, sarcastic, pandering and unbelieving. They don't think Coronavirus is a danger to them or anyone because Trump, his administration, Fox and other right-wing media have told them so. I have been told that just turning off the news will make things better. Trump's base utterly believes anything he says. Trump has to be the one to start to fix the mess he has made. He will have to be the one to get his supporters on board.
3
This is no time for politics... FULL STOP. Not one second should be spent on laying blame, an activity that diverts energy and evokes unnecessary emotion at a time when grown-ups must step up and take control. These natural leaders are emerging all over our country. While it would be more efficient to declare a national emergency, I don't think we should give any more latitude to an administration that has been ineffective with the tools already available. This is not a test, this is real and COVID-19 is ageist but indifferent to gender, race, religion or political preference,
3
Kudos to the editorial board. Yes, it is time for a national emergency declaration.
And each of us should show compassion in our families and communities. We should give "kudos" to those who take responsible actions (self-isolation, sharing supplies, supporting local businesses, going out for a hike or a bike ride to stay healthy).
We're in this together...
2
No. Not by this power-hungry administration.
The senate, the justice department, the Supreme Court. You want more consolidation of power?
1
Direct government transfers are far and away the best economic stimulus right now. However, I wouldn't recommend the George W. Bush version. The transfer was too small to make any difference in crisis or otherwise. We collectively stuck the money in the bank and forgot about it.
I recently recommended a direct transfer of $3,000 to every household making below a certain income or wealth cap. Why that number? $3,000 is three weeks pay for the median income of $52,000. I would prefer six weeks but that's a tough sell. $3,000 provides a reasonable buffer for most families. We can talk about a second round of stimulus later.
As for a national emergency, yes. Declare one. That travel, work and school restrictions aren't already in place is absurd. How the heck is anyone supposed to know what do? Just yesterday, I literally had to persuade a relative not to take an unplanned vacation just because air fares are so cheap. This is madness.
3
@Andy
Great idea. And maybe temporary 500. extra in Social Security checks. Many seniors can't afford to buy two weeks worth of food in one big trip.
@Ignatz
Presumably retirees are making little or no income. Hypothetically, they would therefore receive the $3,000 same as most other people.
It is curious that this country has no mandatory health testing of any kind for a president believed to be at substantial risk for a serious circulating illness.
The individual voted to be in charge is an investment in leadership and it seems that voters have a right to know. Plus, on our behalf, a president is out interacting with world powers and everyday folks.
So , why do we not have this mandate?
It seems unconscionable that the president is so cavalier about this.
I'd strongly suggest that he drop out of the 2020 race and pursue another occupation better suited to his talents.
2
@HotGumption
Most reptiles don't contract coronavirus, so why bother?
1
You do not know that he hasn't already ordered the kits for his entire family to be tested.
He'll never tell you. You'll never know.
1
@HotGumption
"I'd strongly suggest that he drop out of the 2020 race and pursue another occupation better suited to his talents."
Carnival Barker is the only one ...
1
Yes, a “audacious, coherent and coordinated response” is required of government. It’s also a time when the titans of industry discover their humanity and give back some of what they have taken from the community. They did not become rich by paying real living wages to their employees - how many of their data entry clerks or cashiers can save enough to endure a health crisis, put their children through college, or not have to work two jobs to make ends meet? Right now, in this crisis, how difficult would it be for billionaires like the Koch brothers, Bezos, Gates, the Walton family, and Buffet, to take two months of their salaries and divide it amongst their employees to help them through this crisis? Have they even considered providing extra financial support to their employees? What would slow the economic slide is for people to support each other. We hear all the time about people willing to help their neighbor. The billionaires don’t seem to think that means them. This is a crisis, and if the billionaires don’t reach down to help the little guy their billions may winnow away.
2
I don't disagree with your recommendations, but think it's quite unrealistic. Expecting an administration with a revolving door of leadership positions and appointments based on 'loyalty' to the 'chief' is like going to the hardware store for a quart of milk. Good luck.
Local response, local leadership and community action will win the day.
8
Here’s simple way to stimulate things: everyone who thinks they are likely to have Coronavirus but can’t get tested goes to DC to stage a demonstration in the buildings where the law makers and executives work. Bring the problems home that they created.
8
@Nunov D’Abov
Since TV news programs have shown hundreds of cars lined up with drivers and passengers waiting for hours for Coronavirus tests and since most of the people waiting for the tests have no symptoms and have not been in contact with anyone confirmed to have the virus, you are recommending that millions of people converge on D.C.
What most people need to do is simple:
"Patients with confirmed infection from the COVID-19 virus reported these symptoms:
Fever.
Cough.
Difficulty breathing.
In 80% of patients, COVID-19 causes only mild cold symptoms. The elderly, and those with pre-existing medical conditions appear to be more vulnerable to the virus."
No symptoms?
No exposure to someone confirmed to have the virus?
Shut up - wash your hands often - and quit hyperventilating!
Chill out.
2
The government is meant to be working for the people. The Republican intention of the past 40 years has been to dismantle all the aspects of the government that unabashedly support the people, calling them free-handouts. The result is a party that cannot understand how to use the generosity generations of politicians have built into our budgets and priorities. When nature raises its ire, as in Hurricanes Katrina and Maria, the republicans' institutionalized ineptitude becomes completely apparent.
With Emergency powers given to the president things will only get worse. the federal government should open its coffers and let states coordinate amongst themselves.
4
I forced myself to listen to Sean Hannity the other day, as he praised Trump's speech as rational and right-minded (sorry for the pun). Perhaps even he would agree about a national state of emergency, in giving Trump even more power to tamp down the damage already done by Covid-19 and the administration's tepid reaction. I'd be reluctantly content to let this president take credit for all he wanted, if only he'd do something that was intelligent, wise, and healthy for the sake of as many Americans as possible.
1
I understand the editorial boards concern for the stock market, but the emergency powers we need is for the states to declare an emergency separation from the federal government so that they can go about handling this crisis. If there is any greater proof of the totaldysfunctionality of the entire federal government, then the Coronavirus has provided it.
3
Glenn, you have more confidence in the New Jersey government than federal response? Virginia is a well governed state but there’s no comparison in the ability to address a large scale problem. I doubt it’s different in NJ.
2
If the CDC and the Trump Administration started working towards broad testing across the United States, the coronavirus might be better contained.
Bravo to New York State for thumbing their nose at the administration and going ahead with local contract testing.
Lives are being lost due to the negligence of this administration.
10
I do not mean to say that this virus will not do great harm , some deaths and economic hardships, but it is not aour worst nightmare as it might be a test for even greater coming hardships. Our preparations now will tell us whether we might survive as a species as climate change and perhaps even more virulent pathogens may be in the wings. We are a species that seems to live from day to day or in the case of corporations from quarter to quarter and this trial may if we are wise awaken us for the need to plan and look farther ahead than we do. If we wise enough. . .
4
My thoughts: As long as there are people out there who think this is not a big deal, and there are, it will continue to spread. People should have been limiting their activity for the past months. Why do people keep going out? They think it's not a big deal and they're worried about money. The president should have conveyed the seriousness of this and he did the opposite , and people should have confidence that they will get monetary help if they stay in. Look at all the havoc that's been caused. Why don't we have a system that goes into immediate lock down mode and people get money automatically. Wouldn't that be less expensive in the long run than the toll on our health and other systems? This will happen again--how will we react next time?
2
Does anyone really think Trump wouldn’t have the Justice Department hard at work figuring out how to postpone the Presidential election if a national emergency were declared?
8
This is my biggest fear. Giuliani, who certainly has trump’s ear, attempted to do this after 9/11. Who’s to say he wouldn’t be whispering in his boss’s ear that this can be done on a national level? It would be the answer to all of trump’s fondest dreams.
1
Who is this written for? Was the Ed. Board listening to Leader McConnell this afternoon and his politics as usual? Does the Ed. Board suspect that he will have a conversion? That he will play nice? A State of Emergency presumes there is leadership up to the task of running an emergency and not co-opting it for venal purposes. This opinion piece is milquetoast and unrealistic. Think again great Editorial minds, because more of the same under a state of emergency is insufficient. Hoping and praying and exhorting for better angels is about as useful as those who 'pray' for the victims of gun violence. This opinion is like the paper's Dem primary endorsement this year: collective hen scratching.
4
We are living through an unknown unknown. We don’t know how big or how bad this crisis is today or how big and bad it’s going to get. But we do know this virus is not Ebola. We are not facing Armageddon...this time.
We have every reason to be fearful, but we cannot give into fear. The time for allowing unscrupulous politicians on both sides of the aisle in Washington to manipulate us with fear is over. We owe it to our children to come together to find real solutions. Solutions which can pass to them a society least damaged by this crisis.
We are not bereft of smart leaders. Turns out we have people like Anthony Fauci to follow. But we must demand that experts guide us through this crisis. Sacrifice will be required of us all. Ounces of prevention now will prevent pounds of cure later.
“America always does the right thing...after exhausting every other possibility.” We all have a part to play right now:
Wash your hands. Stay home if you have a fever or are really sick. Practice social distancing. Protect the vulnerable by helping them stay home out of harms way. Attitude is everything. Any selfish behavior (like hoarding personal protective equipment) will only hurt ourselves in the medium term.
America IS a great country. Now is the time to demonstrate that greatness to our children.
4
Hats off to Nancy Pelosi. She took the practical first step with:
1. Free coronavirus testing
2. Paid emergency sick leave for all workers,
3. $1 billion in grants for state unemployment-insurance programs.
4. Food security for those being hit by school closures or otherwise isolated.
The President would be a fool to argue about this on Twitter.
9
I'm looking at a copy of "The Great Influenza" written by John M. Barry about the 1918 epidemic that we can no longer add a national attribute to describe. Politicial correctness, of course. Our current epidemic resembles that of 102 years ago in frighteningly similar ways. How is it that in the passage of a century, with the arrogance of the space program and innumerable other scientific "advances," we have yet to manage such a fearful outbreak?
3
@Tournachonadar,
There is a difference in age, for "The Great Influenza" recalled by some Europeans as "The Spanish Flu", terminating in nearly 50 million dead, was more damaging to The Young. An elderly friend at Versailles remembers 1918, as the year her young parents married, and her mother was afflicted by the influenza but survived.
In America alone nearly 500,000 died of the above, many soldiers returning from the war.
There will always be epidemic outbreaks, and a race to contain these with the progress achieved in the times we are living. A Welsh novelist, Alice Thomas Elllis, wrote 'Fairy Tale', where Nature becomes, without a soul, inhabited by ancient cannibal eaters.
Our presidency and government are ill-prepared for Covid-19, and it is a reminder that our country needs more scientists and less make-up artists.
1
I warned even before Trump was elected, that the risk to our nation in electing and individual like Donald Trump would threaten our very survival. Like many others of my brotherhood, we screamed from the rooftops that unless you are truly fit, you cannot become the Commander-in-Chief of the United States.
Now the worst case is unfolding. The odds have gone up significantly that entire families will be killed. I know it has for my family, given we have only a few of the next generation left.
I will make the NYT comments section my final diary. When nobody there hears more from me any longer, they will know that one more voice has been stilled.
Perhaps those who perish will be better off than those who survive. What kind of country do you want to live in?
4
I'm afraid we do not have the right person in charge to accomplish this.
5
Bypass Trump. Ignore him. We don't want him in charge as he has proven time and time again that he is incompetent, selfish, delusional and criminal. Let the scientists and doctors guide us; shut Trump out and listen to the experts. I don't want Trump to declare a state of emergency and use it to make himself an emperor. Remember that just last week he wanted Dr. Fauci and other experts expelled from decision making. This emperor definitely has NO clothes it....it isn't a pretty sight.
9
“The president’s leadership has already gravely imperiled the American response to this crisis.”
It’s the president’s lack of leadership. The car keys should be taken away from this man-child. His wilful ignorance and self-interest is imperilling the lives of millions. He has done nothing yet to indicate that he is capable of understanding the gravity of the crisis.
4
From my view in Seattle, I say shut the city down. I had 2 businessman walk out of the ritzy Washington Athletic Club and cough all over me today. On purpose.
Shut it down.
8
Just curious; if Trump declares a national emergency would it be a official crisis of his own making?
2
Maybe US governors have to go hat in hand and try to purchase testing kits from other nations.
4
The free will: it is a common delusion in the west, that “all men are created equal” – they are not. Different tribes have differences in psychology – could be a part of everyday experience, as it is shown in relevant sciences. We cannot choose the way Asian/Chinese are handling the virus, we are nor “Chinese”. as Schopenhauer told us: “ A man can do what he will, but not will what he will”. The Chinese, the British and the Trump way = it is absolutely the best way for a Chinese, a Britt, and an American – the ways are different, because we are different. The Virus? Doesn’t care – just fight for its own survival
2
We need the declaration to free up federal resources. It is time.
1
A coordinated response requires a President who can unite rather than divide. A President who can assimilate the advice of objective, professional experts and then present an articulate synthesis to the nation. This would not seem difficult, but Trump, the fraud that he is, is quite incapable of that.
2
Yes, please, whomever is in charge in Washington, it should be obvious this is a national emergency. Throughout the country, workers are being sent home, schools and theaters closed, and this of course pales in comparison to the real emergency of the COVID-19 virus spreading who knows where at who knows what rate. And God only knows what awaits us tomorrow, the next week and the next month. And Congress is going home for the weekend? What?
5
If the emergency were declared tonight it would already be a week late.
3
Six weeks ago, Biden criticized Trump for acting too quickly. The travel ban from Asian countries and Trump’s request for additional funding to fight the virus were unnecessary.
Trump will only declare a national emergency if it means he can personally profit from it; otherwise he’ll downplay the pandemic, call it a hoax, blame Democrats or President Obama or James K. Polk, and sit back while the world is turned upside down. His sole purpose for assuming the presidency was for personal profit; he cares not one bit for the American people or Democracy or freedom. It’s all about him. If he truly cared, he would resign immediately and take his entire criminal syndicate with him.
7
Could you imagine how bad this would be if we didn't have a stable genius at the helm?
7
Is anyone on the NYT editorial board an epidemiologist? Nah, didn't think so. The president isn't either. He has to depend on the advice and guidance of the nation's experts at the CDC. Too bad our CDC is contaminated with that condescending contempt for the American public that prevents them from formulating an effective response. This is nothing new with the CDC. They didn't do a very good job with the Ebola crisis of 2014, if you bother to try to remember that.
2
Thank goodness the NYT editorial board has stepped forward. I only wish it had been sooner. Hopefully this will help to get the government to do the right thing.
3
Trump went golfing as America’s doctors were begging for more tests for our growing pandemic. Now, Trump flippantly brushes off getting tested after he was exposed to people who have been diagnosed with Coronavirus. Everything the health experts are telling the rest of the nation to do ... Trump ignores it and brags he’s above it and states publicly “ he’s not worried “ . So apparently, he has special powers ... Trump is delusional and floundering as a strong leader dealing with our health crisis. As the case numbers grow exponentially, and we know they will, our healthcare system will be overwhelmed. I read that Trump plans on attending more events at Mar-a-lago while the rest of us are told to not attend large events. We need competent leadership in the Oval Office during these trying and stressful times and Trump’s glaring incompetence is adding so much more stress.
7
Maybe we should have medical care for everyone that's free at the point of service.
5
Is it known that Trump refused the test kits from WHO in January because he wants to profit from US manufactured kits where he is invested? He wants to profit from death and destruction, as well as his self-imposed non restricted air travel to all his resorts around the world.
7
The inaccurate test kits were rejected because better ones were being made. But I do wonder how many people would volunteer to be tested with old, inaccurate test kits.
If you get a chance have a look at what Australia is doing in relation to the virus and the economy, being led very much from the top
4
This crisis is the moment we've feared since November 2016. Up until now we've suffered through a government of fools and managed to keep the ship afloat - barely, but afloat. Until now it's been all bluster, lies, and greed. After all, being a blowhard leading a senate of cowards is easy. Indeed, we almost got through these four years of having a government on pause - a government more interested in itself than the American public - without a crisis that threatens all Americans. Well, we didn't make it. This is real, and this silly man is an awful president, and this congress is filled with posers. Sadly, and frighteningly, this crisis is real, they have no idea how to govern or lead, and people are going to die. I can't wait until this coming November to toss these silly and dangerous people out on the street.
7
Ironically Trump IS the national emergency. His inept bumbling of this crisis put us where we are today. Schools are shuddered, Broadway has gone dark, museums closed, concerts postponed, sporting events canceled, jobs and wages lost, the markets crashing, yet he still feels he’s doing “a terrific job, folks.” Ohm and people are sick and dying. As angry as we should be at Trump and his deep ignorance, it’s his GOP sycophants who are equally culpable. They allowed him to downplay this crisis, blame everyone under the sun but Trump, and now we’re at a point where it will take years to recover. A national emergency is almost moot at this point; what we need is a national election — next Tuesday. We need a new president pronto. Trump has failed miserably since his regime stole the 2016 election, and he continues to show that he is grossly incompetent. He IS the emergency and need to be removed. Time for Article 25 to be invoked. If it’s not already too late.
6
Trump loves all Americans and will do the right thing by declaring a national emergency. How do I know this? Because he went to Jared! (Kushner, to look into it)
3
DIdn't the US have, at one time, a Pandemic Response Team? What happened to that?
4
The “stable genius” didn’t need it I guess?
A minority of our citizens, now cult members, elected this president to create chaos, rule from his gut, never learn or get himself involved in problems, and to undervalue expertise, training and knowledge in all his appointees. They have truly gotten what they voted for. The rest of us, who strongly disagreed from the beginning, are strapped to the roof of the clown car, heading downhill with no brakes and no steering wheel.
8
You wonder if Trump's adviser Stephen Miller was behind the "close the borders against Europe" decision. What a disaster! Circling the wagons against our closest allies resulted in the stock market response of total rejection. It was like watching the stock market vomit the poison of the Stephen Miller "I hate everyone" advice. Listen to Biden's 18 minute speech! It sets out the roadmap to recovery.
5
Trump is not the worst president,but he is the stupidest. We are about to enter into the next iteration of this epidemic. This spoiled little rich kid has no clue or desire to handle a crisis of this kind or magnitude. Thousands will die because of his ineptitude.
3
It was the best of times (Obama) it IS the worst of times (Trump).
Never in the History of this Country has one Man been responsible for so much unnecessary stress and despair. And that was even before this Crisis.
The upcoming global Depression is not because of the Coronavirus. It’s because the mask has been dropped. Trump is revealed to the entire World as utterly incompetent, incapable of learning, violently resistant to seeking or accepting Expert Advice, even listening to his own Cabinet.
His response to this Crisis is analogous to dropping a Nuclear Weapon on New Orleans, after Katrina. Destroy the evidence, and “ keep the numbers down “.
Seriously.
6
@Phyliss Dalmatian,
Thank you and we did in deed go from 'The Sublime to the Slime'. Stay indoors if you can, because your voice is needed, and you show signs of a great attitude, encouraging and laced with character and wit.
1
Maybe former Mayor Michael Bloomberg shouldn’t have closed St Vincent’s Hospital to make way for a luxury condo, after all.
4
Too little, too late. Even the Times article says its still almost impossible to get a test unlike in Australia, Italy, South Korea. Who's running the CDC, The 3 Stooges? Still after 3 weeks we are stuck with both feet on the brakes. WHY? The article from Italy is enlightening. Public health care vs private. Private health care loses. One good thing that will come from this is Trump is thrown out along with his stooges in Congress but what will the Democrats under Biden do after that? I trust Bernie Sanders to clean house instead of Biden and his Democratic- machine backed pols that will be running things. This is a disaster anyway you look at it.
3
It’s time for the next phase. I’m requesting that the editorial board ask for President Trump’s resignation.
6
@Mary
Hmmm? I thought they had been doing that since 2016.
1
Trump eliminated the pandemic department two years ago.
Russia was the 1st country to ban travel from China (even 'by foot').
Something is going here and it's not good.
3
Trump needs to be tested ; he has been with the Brazilian
official who has the virus; others who were with this Briazilian
official also need to be tested.
Without the testing being available; there is no other alternative
but to close down ALL public places where crowds gather.
Quarantine is the only solution ; at this time.
3
The man is an admitted germaphobe. It is inconceivable to me that he hasn’t been tested. Why would anyone believe what is says, anyway? Or is he just ignorant and sociopathic enough to think he could never catch it? He has got to be freaking out about his exposure!
What he really should do is going on Hannity and tell people this is truly a pandemic and to take it seriously.
3
The public needs a good explaination for why testing is still not both widely available and free. "People are saying" to quote the Dear Leader, that Trump has invested heavily in the for-profit testing industry and they're still ramping up for the "Big One". It's going to be HUGE! Just sayn'. Please stay on it, the current situation is unacceptable. It's getting worse by the hour, so please confirm that this just another conspiracy theory, but that's ok... right?
1
"Mr. Trump needs to grasp..." This demand astounds me. Trump is unconscious/unaware of his mental illness. Why do we continue to treat him as if he is not mentally ill? And have expectations of him that he is never going to be able to fulfill...because he is...mentally ill...
5
We really should leave Donald Trump out of this. He has done enough damage. We don't have to declare anything. Just wait for the numbers that will inevitably come, b/c no one is going to do anything, declaration or not
until it touches them personally. Take their toilet paper, apparently, they will line up. But what would stop them from ranting (even today) emphatically about the evils of socialism? I have no clue, nor does anyone. I have seen homeless people rant on it. Go figure. People are flawed. Maybe it will take a reality TV show, that did wonders for Gay Marriage.
2
If corporations are people, then The government can institute a “draft”, and conscript the medical companies into fighting this war.
2
Because of America's response and Trump's European travel ban, I am being forced to leave my study abroad program and go back to the states. I'm 99% sure that where I was studying has a better grasp on the coronavirus situation. I do not want to be in America right now. Everyone seems hysterical and afraid, and it's only furthered by this idiotic man we are forced to call President who has absolutely no moral authority nor ability to give calm guidance.
5
What good is a national emergency when Pence can’t even find the hundreds of thousands of test kits he promised? Why not declare a national scandal instead?
5
this article assumes the Trump administration is capable of a coordinated effort.
anyone who fires key members of the CDC has zero confidence from me
3
Yes, a national emergency under Trump. Perhaps we should suspend the elections too. You know, to see which of our old politicians survive. How about Marshall law. And maybe lots of militias in the streets with guns.Something for our second amendment fans to do while they laugh at the snow flakes all worried about a little cold.
2
Keep on top of this for us!
We cannot believe our president, sadly!
1
I thought that was what we did after 9/11. Looks like that didn't work.
So now, another one! Wow!
Couldn't defeat terrorists on the battlefield.
But we're going to defeat CoVID 19 without Universal Healthcare? Without the best weapon possible.
Good luck with that.
2
The U.S. government needs a leader capable of a response to the coronavirus on par with its response to the 2008 financial crisis.
1
Declaring a national emergency while necessary on the one hand is an invitation to Donald Trump to impose martial law and put to the end American democracy as we know it.
1
What if Trump and his Administration and his henchmen in the Senate are incapable of rising to this challenge?
2
“President Trump” is an oxymoron. We do not NEED this president. He is in the way and the sooner we ignore him, laugh him out of existence, the better we all will be. Stephen Miller should take a very long honeymoon. The entire White House staff and cabinet should wear duct tape lipstick and let the real professionals run the government. Inauguration Day cannot come soon enough.
3
The stable genius is our biggest national emergency. Article 25 of the Constitution needs to be used immediately before many more people die and he further destroys our country.
2
Any declaration of a national emergency should have a sunset provision so that the president will not be tempted to use his powers for purposes other than confronting the COVID-19 epidemic.
1
Any declaration of a national emergency should have a sunset provision so that the president will not be tempted to use his powers for purposes other than confronting the COVID-19 epidemic.
2
Says the board: “This editorial board is not inclined to grant the president more executive power, but...”
But eh? Giving a mindless oaf more power accomplished nothing. Makes things worse. Best bet is to put Mitch on the spot and force the Senate to veto-proof some sensible moves.
2
If you look at Trumps facebook page he's changed tack and started attacking Biden already. His supporters still love him and if Biden gets the nomination for the Democrats you're going to end up with Trump re-elected again. Trump has very cunningly shown up Biden on his facebook page.
2
You expect the con man Trump to exhibit true leadership and concern for our country and its citizens. NEVER.
3
In case anyone is confused, this is a national emergency—not the fake one ginned up by President Trump in his effort to divert monies towards the building of his wall.
1
What this country needs is a germophobe President with some administrative skills. Thanks, I'm here all week.
1
The utter dangers of a government which has failed to promote the general welfare of its populace, brought to us by the least competent president ever. He discredits us. He endangers us. He encourages the extinction of our nation and planet.
Prayer is insufficient. Science, anyone?
2
I guess the guy who wanted to shrink the government to make it it go down in a bath tub got his wish come true. Grover Norquist? The Federal government is dead. Grover got his wish come true.
2
So the border wall is a National Emergency, but a global pandemic isn’t?
4
How important is credibility and trust in the president, especially at a time of national crisis and emergency—
You can't put a value on it or overstate it.
And it's missing.
3
The NYT Board appealing for a Trump turnaround is a bit naive. Donald Trump is incapable of collaboration irrespective of the crisis. His emotional make up prohibits it. The real worry is the institutional breakdown. Republicans in Senate sitting by when not getting intoxicated with Trump Kool-Aid. States and municipalities taking care of matters closer to home. A good sign. We should leave it at that for now but make our move for a total liquidation of the Republican Party come November. Senseless wars and now Trump. Enough.
4
Trump and Pence and Mitch should resign. Let Biden and Pelosi figure out! Save us!
1
The United States of America now faces a cascading failure.
(1) The election of an incompetent President.
(2) The coronavirus pandemic that is beyond the capacity of the President to manage.
The death toll will not be able to be called fake news although Trump and the Republicans will give it a go.
2
I'm thinking of my wife's mom, alone since her husband of more that sixty years passed away on Christmas Eve, who yesterday morning sat by the elevator for hours waiting for her daughter from Maine to step out.
They selected a mixed retirement facility near to where they raised their children, and moved in four years ago, after he experienced stage four kidney failure and she a series of small "stroke". That, after staying with us for nearly half a year. This is where lack of attention to our health care and preparedness systems over time has gotten this one woman. She's not alone.
1
If ever there was a case for voting for Bernie Sanders, this is it. Except, of course, his health care proposals will never get through Congress. Republicans would much sooner see America remain the incredibly backward country that it is regarding the healthcare of its citizens.
3
The anger I feel is immeasurable. People who paid attention have known for well over three years that Trump is unfit to be President. And now it is clear that the crisis we all feared is here.
We are woefully unprepared. Because of his hubris and stupidity, people will die. He is STILL in denial and blame mode! He will not accept any responsibility for this crisis - ever.
It’s up to us to take care of ourselves and each other. Expect nothing from this Administration. Nothing. They are all incapable of handling this. They will not protect us.
My heart breaks for the families who will lose loved ones. I am worried about my husband, other family members, friends, and myself. It is a nightmare now and it’s going to get far worse.
How much more can the American people take?
8
We residents of the planet Earth need to take a 'spring break' from business as usual. My prayer is that greater alacrity, common sense, and progressive spirit can be brought to bear than our feckless, corrupt approach to climate change. This could be mankind's finest hour. Usually, just before getting fired, one 'retires' and claims to desire spending more time with the family. Well, Earth called. NOW is our collective chance.
2
We all predicted that Trump would not meet the challenge of a real emergency. And because he has surrounded himself with other incompetents, and he brow beats competent professionals to cede to his irrational thinking the American people are in a heap of trouble. I am thinking it is going to take a type of "coup" to get the kind of radical action that is needed. Will this emergency be the "slap across the face" that Republican senators need to abandon Trump's idiocy?
6
Trump lies all the time just as if he has no relationship to the truth. His party defends and protects him. Trump has undermined the institutions that should protect us in the event of a pandemic. Trumps is lying about how prepared we are. He is being protected or, worse, his people don't have a clue what to do about it.
We are in the midst of a real emergency and we have a president who lives in his own fantasy world and lies so often and so convincingly that most people have no idea
what is real and what is not.
Work from the bottom up to solve the problems of the ballooning virus is meeting a solid wall at the governmental level.
This may only get resolved with a change of government, but it will be too late to control the pandemic, or to slow it down.
Pelosi is hard at work trying to get something done without interference from Trump and Mitch. There is hope.
1
"A day late, and a dollar short". Or in Trump's case, three months late and a couple trillion dollars short.
The lack of recognition that this is a national emergency affecting all Americans, is so stunning that it could only be due to the thinking process of a megalomaniac who is convinced that everything revolves around him. His self-assigned title of "Stable Genius" is wrong on both counts, and if the Cabinet weren't terrified of him they would invoke the 25th Amendment so that we could get someone in charge who has an inkling of the disaster unfolding around us.
What more will it take for Trump to be shaken out of his self-imposed fairy land and for him to declare what's obvious: this IS a national emergency!
The only "silver lining" may be that this is what finally brings this horrible chapter in American history to a close, as even his deluded supporters wake up from the pain induced by his malfeasance.
2
Of course, the federal government's ability to respond to the crisis is severely constrained due to the massive corporate tax cuts Republicans and their blustering buffoon of a president saw fit to devise so that companies could conduct massive stock buybacks. That move alone produced over a trillion dollars in deficit to be rolled into the national debt. Republicans did that with a straight face. I have no expectation that those same Republicans will facilitate federal spending merely for the public welfare.
1
Truly it is time to invoke the 25th Amendment and Remove Trump.
He is utterly beyond his capacity and ability and can not admit any fault or wrongdoing. He can not accept facts.
He is lying ninety percent of the time on a factual basis and undermining the scientists and medical professionals, and the rest of the time he is shading and coloring information to salve his ego.
Our entire nation is held hostage to one mans insecurity and ego. He can't be wrong, nor bothered with facts.
His entire staff is complacent in catering to the desire to not offend the President.
How can our nation be held hostage to the vanity of Trump?
This is a complete outrage. This nation is more important than this mans ego.
Cabinet officers, Invoke the 25th.
3
One lesson learned during Trump Presidency-many state and local governments are stepping up to provide the leadership we all so desire to fill that vacuum of confusion, finger pointing and sulking from our pathetic behaving president. What we need is courage, reassurance , compassion, and information from the experts .
3
Everyone should familiarize themselves with Naomi Klein's 'The Shock Doctrine'. The Trump regime's attitude and response to this disaster highlight how Trump is attempting to exploit this human drama strictly for political purposes, especially pertinent during a decisive electoral year full of surprises. Disgrace and disgust are the only appropriate reactions any thoughtful adult should have after Trump's authoritarian speech from the Oval Office.
3
Perhaps this point has been made by others, but your push for a National Emergency is an irony for this President. Recall, that Trump wanted to declare a National Emergency for the immigrants who were suffering from the ravages of their country, and who posed relatively little danger to American citizens. He trumped up the notion of rapists, murderers, disease infested immigrants. Low and behold three years later we have come to realize that a true emergency never really threatened American lives, as even in his administration the issue is hardly discussed. Yet, when faced a burdening American emergency of health and economic suffering, as reports have indicated, he is reluctant to declare an emergency because of the bad public relations associated with such a declaration, where is administration would appear to be tied more explicitly to a failed system.
2
Trump will continue being Trump: focused on his reelection, making false statements, acting casual and lighthearted in his TV appearances, keeping Pence in line so he will keep praising "this president," keeping Republicans in congress under his thumb, and muzzling all health officials except his chosen few. As this crisis worsens, he is preparing a long list of people and countries to blame, as he continues to praise himself and those under his control. In a word, Trump is hopeless.
1
Is it possible for Bush and Obama to lead a bi partisan task force so that the US response to the virus can be coordinated nationally.
Currently there is no trust that Trump and his enablers will do anything except in their own selfish best interest. As demonstrated in the oval office speech, Trump as surrounded himself with loyalist. Not the best and brightest.
They have lied and mis-led us so frequency on issues that have no consequence why would anyone believe anything they say now.
3
As anybody who read Ayn Rand's book, "Atlas Shrugged" remembers, the words dog-eat-dog figure prominently. Simply put, you are on your own; survival of the fittest, along with casual disregard for the interests/pain of those around you. In fact, she made that trait a feature, not a bug, of her main characters.
That attitude has been guiding Republican policy for half a century, and it is finally rearing its ugly head here. The lies, misinformation, coordinated attack on governmental expertise (e.g. Reagan: the government is bad; willfully and deliberately dismantling pandemic response from the NSC) are not a mistake. For Trump in particular and the Republican Party who countenance this behavior in general - much like Rand - the pain is the point.
The fact is that we are in this together and this behavior is outrageous. The government is what we do together. It needs to work. This does not mean a call for socialism or any other ism; it is a call for sound, timely, ethical management along with honest communication. Not 15,000 lies. And counting.
Americans want good management from its government. Right now, we are not getting it. This crisis will pass, but we will not soon forget how badly our federal government is/was mismanaged. As this disease wreaks havoc not only with global markets but with individual lives, a cold reckoning is coming in terms of how we approach government. But I can assure you one thing: one of the first casualties will (finally) be: dog-eat-dog.
2
This editorial is temperate, timely and full of wisdom. You lay out a reasonable plan for the nation to limit the spread of the virus while helping individuals and families manage the loss of work and income. Sadly, it is difficult to believe POTUS has the temperament, skills or inclination to act presidential, respect science and lead such an effort in an effective manner. His administration still fails on a daily basis to provide the testing that is a crucial element of any successful campaign against the virus and lurches forward without any coherent plan or approach. The recent travel ban was ill-considered and badly announced, worsening the economic crisis, confusing people and sowing anxiety. Trump's speech was full of Xenophobia, finger pointing and pompous claims of superior performance. He simply cannot do the job.
2
Hope that Trump will do what is right? Hope is not a strategy. We could hope that sunspots eradicate the virus. That hope is about as ridiculous as the hope that Trump can change who is overnight.
No more powers for Trump! The governors and the mayors must take over as most have started to do already.
1
"...we can only hope [Trump] will set his more selfish impulses aside and rise to the moment."
I'm afraid Mr. Trump has risen as far as he's capable. As he's made a point of surrounding himself with advisors as incompetent as he is, including the vice-president, we can expect no more than what we've gotten from the White House. That certainly is what Wall St. believes.
We should put the request to "rise above" to congressional Republicans. I'm thinking particularly of Mitch McConnell. Doubtless he can see clearly what is before us and what needs to be done, and he is in a unique position to respond.
What say you, Mitch? Show us you're not the coward so many of us think you are.
1
The scariest aspect to what should be a national, even global emergency with a coordinated call for action by competent leadership, is that we are witnessing the absolute best the trump administration can do.
We have an arrogant self-centered and apathetic little man without a shred of empathy for anyone but himself, with a lifelong track record of cons, bloviating incompetence and failures leading us, when every selfish and incompetent misstep means millions more infected and countless more deaths and untold economic misery that will befall the 99% - because the wealthy elite will miraculously end up all the wealthier after this global tragedy passes.
1
Yes Editorial Board, we most certainly do have a “National Emergency”, however it is one greater than the combined health and economic threat to the nation posed by the coronavirus epidemic because this threat will surely cripple our ability to rationally, successfully deal with the former enormous challenge. It is a human threat. His name is Donald J. Trump. Every day that he remains in office, with his ineptitude and inhumane narcissism on full display, is one more wasted day producing little, if any, forward progress in dealing with this accelerating and dangerous disease. He embodies our most dire “National Emergency “.
1
Trump coordinate? The man thinks he's brilliant. He will not listen to experts. He sees them the way Joseph Stalin's saw scientific experts, as a threat to his power. We have zero time to think about it, we need quick action now and Donald Trump is the worst person for the job on the planet. That is in no way an exaggeration. We are in very big trouble and will the Republicans stand up to Trump to stop a devastating crisis from getting worse? Never.
1
Take an individual, in a leadership capacity, exhibiting behaviors which clearly show this leader is focused on preventing awareness of the full danger of a crisis, so his failure to manage the crisis remains hidden, and now give such an individual the name Donald Trump; this is the reality of the Coronavirus in the United States of America, the nation which for all intents and purposes stopped being responsible, and responsive, the day in 2016 when it's people elevated the incompetent Donald Trump to be their President.
Never before in our history have so many done so much to harm themselves.
Clearly, our governments, these last 40 plus years, have repeatedly proven that they exist solely to serve the interests of corporate America, the military industrial complex, and the wealthiest elites.
The poor and the middle-class are serfs in this modern-day Feudalistic state; contrary to what these deluded poor and middle-class think, a Biden Presidency run by the Republican-Lite Pelosi Schumer democrats, will change nothing.
The Coronavirus will pass, but the willful blindness of the people will remain.
3
Australia has just shut down public gatherings greater than 500 people.
Schools and Universities remain open.
Did hear an interesting comment today re. shutting down schools - they estimate that 30% of health care workers have school age children, and that shutting down schools would further strain the health care system as the virus progresses.
The politicians the world over aren't exactly covering themselves in glory on this one - thankfully Hollywood has us all prepared for our dystopian future. :)
2
This is so simple scientifically, logically, and epidemiologically. Shut everything down and stay home. The random, piecemeal actions being taken in the U.S. and other places are making things worse. If school but not going to office is not canceled, what are people going to do for childcare? I've heard of some schools closing but providing childcare. What is the earthly use is that? People are afraid of the economic impact of shutting everything down? Guess what - you're already looking at the economic impact, and that's also going to get worse and strung out over time.
The way it's not simple is logistically (e.g. how will people get food). That's what should have been planned for long ago. This whole thing should be easy-peasy. Instead it's a bunch of headless chickens.
1
It’s the virus versus the greed!
The failure of the for-profit health system is being laid bare to see.
Tests can’t be done. Kits don’t work, kits can’t be found. Insurance won’t cover this or that etc etc.
And even if tests or treatment can be done, many might not do them because they can’t afford them!
Sick workers can’t afford to take time off cause they would not be paid. So they come to work and infect others etc etc.
Right now it’s the virus against American corporate and financial greed and political corruption!
So far the virus is winning!
Financial greed doesn’t work too well in such a public health emergency where people can’t make a profit!
1
Such a national emergency would allow Trump, his acolytes, and enablers to run even more wild. Trump's personal incompetence, corruption, mendacity, and cruelty would be magnified. A national emergency could result in martial law, political arrests, and postponement of the election. The cure you propose is worse than the disease.
1
Here we are--our entire country--held hostage to the horror of Trump's mental pathology. Since he is psychologically incapable of comprehending the serious danger of the Coronavirus, he is and will be incapable of saving lives that could be saved.
We need millions of tests that could have been available weeks ago. We need thousands and thousands more ventilators. We need a projected million more hospital beds. TRUMP is the delay, and people will die because of his outrageous psychological needs that distort the world for his own comfort.
God it feels like a long way to November.
The only hope lies in our individual states to act on their (and eventually all of our) own behalf to mitigate the disaster of our own president.
3
I have a gut feeling that the measures taken in part or in total by the Italian government may have to be enacted . If the inept handling by Trump regarding this crisis is any indication I worry how he would deal with declaring a national emergency. After all does he not believe that the president can do anything? Covid-19 may very well be Trump's Katrina. Perhaps the best way forward is for the states to lead and let Washington give them the money. It would be great if Congress would enact paid sick leave but given the fact that Republicans hold the Senate is that at all possible? Paid sick leave would not only be the right action but stem the forthcoming economic downturn from becoming even worse . Covid-19 has yet to run its course but given what has happened elsewhere spring 2020 will be very different from past ones. What we can do is to have patience & to take care of yourself, family & friends. I am not at all surprised by what Trump has said and not done regarding this. What else can one expect from someone who dismantled the structure that Obama created to deal with this type of situation? What else can we expect from someone living in his own reality ? I wish everyone good luck and to take care. We will get through this but buckle up because its going to be a rough ride.
1
So we have nothing to learn from China? The country that has disappeared from coverage as soon
as it reports good news.
If the Chinese news is fake, get to the bottom of the deception. If it isn't, one country has overcame a raging infection at a very low cost per million of citizens.
The entire US is four weeks behind Italy. And the concern is the share market?
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What is truly problematic is that many people do not know the facts. The White House minimizes the situation, while the NBA cancels a season. How many people are infected. Is the Midwest still clear, or are cases simply unreported. The initial bumbling incoherent and divisional approach hopefully will not be disastrous.
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Hard as it is to say, "we" voted this guy into office. (I know, I voted for Hillary, and Massachusetts went BLUE. A relative handful of fools out in the Midwest took leave of their senses, and that put him in office. But my point is, he was elected by "We The People.")
That said, how about, hard as it is to propose, that we let him fumble around WITHOUT giving him "emergency powers" of any kind, so that even the few who took leave of their senses in the Midwest get to suffer the consequences of their decisions, and get to see, up close and personal, what an incompetent he really is.
Papering over the problem leaves them in the "catbird seat" as it were, because their foolishness would end up having fewer negative consequences (you know "teaching moments") for them, and they might just vote for the guy again.
It takes a really COLD shower to wake some people up to reality.
Time for the cold shower of reality.
Only then will we make progress.
Depressions are things that wipe away many of the irrational ideas that seep into people's "reality tv" thinking. We are going to have a seriously bad stretch given the reality of the coronavirus pandemic. We need to make sure even the Cult of Trump get to see and understand what they have voted for.
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Dear Masters of the Universe - aka billionaires and trillionaires, national Chamber of Commerce, lobbyists, etc - the men who really run the US: Please contact your Senators on the Republican side of the aisle to whom you have donated millions and give them their marching orders: Trump and his incompetent team has got to go: pronto, or the money spigot is turned off immediately to all of them.
Trump is not going to change, so just give up on that already. If the Republicans think the above mentioned Masters of the Universe will shut off the money spigot, it's amazing how fast they will decide competence matters.
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Trump needs to man up, declare national emergency, forget about how it might effect his reelection and allow the experts to handle this with the resources they need. The problem though, once again, is he is clueless, scared, inept and in denial. So, the history books will have a chapter on this for sure....a very sad chapter.
Trump no amount of money can protect you or your family. This virus just doesn't care.
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Donald Trump presented a clear and present danger to the health of our citizens and our democracy the day he took the oath of office. We gave the nuclear codes, the power to pardon, the power to attack other countries without authorization, the power to cut the budget to the CDC, etc. to a mentally unhealthy real estate developer and reality tv show host. Of course we have to work with what we have to address this crisis. However, it is essential that we sear into our brains how Donald Trump's incompetence and lack of empathy for others has endangered millions of lives far beyond where we would be had the country benefited from strong leadership from the White House especially these past few weeks. This must be remembered at election time along with the actions of a Republican Party minus Mitt Romney that set Donald Trump free to stumble through his duties during what may eventually be the worst economic crisis since 1929.
Our president Donald Trump does need to declare a national emergency. Voters need to acknowledge that our country has been in a state of emergency for over three years now. Since the Senate failed to do its job, voters must do it for them in November.
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“Declaring a national emergency would make clear that Mr. Trump understands the magnitude of the challenge, and set an example for leaders in the public and private sectors. On a practical level, such a declaration would remove legal barriers to a wide variety of necessary actions, such as the distribution of emergency aid to state and local governments.”
True. But what happens when he cancels the election? If you want to see a violent revolution, then cancel the election. We all know that his narcissistic pathology suggests that he’d pull something like that to keep from losing the election. And if he actually does it, I predict that he could be assassinated. As horrible as it sounds, that’s really the only way the Republican Party can recover from Trump. They are past the point of no return — not even 1/4 of all voters are Republican today, and now, his response to the Coronavirus pandemic is making lifelong Republicans abandon ship. He’s going to lose in a landslide because Americans are sick of him. That’s just the truth, and we all know that he has trouble facing the truth.
So my point is, I hope someone with a grip on reality keeps him from canceling the election due to this pandemic because the last thing we need is a violent revolution or another assassinated president. I don’t like the guy but I’d still feel sad for his family and our country if he got assassinated. Trump’s handlers, please keep him from doing something completely crazy. He’s not a medieval king.
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Springing from the wilds and engulfing the entire globe like a wildfire, the Covid-19 pandemic is a major humanitarian crisis in recent years.that has blurred all the distinctions of race, colour, faith, geography and other such divides in a swift blow. Such events of global pubic health emergency demand a concerted global effort of preventive and curative nature to save humanity and its various endeavours in diverse fields of its indulgence and sustenance. What is most needed is a compassionate view of society that brings out the inherent human instincts of caring and sharing into full play, away from divisive toxic discourse and behaviour. The economic package to the distressed sectors and other social safety measures of ameleorative natire like paid sick leave etc. Could be considered according to the local conditions and needs. The bottomline is we are all in it.
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This is why civility, courtesy, mutual respect, decorum are important vitally important in politics. Times like these everyone must come together and work together.
However, Trump and the Reps have destroyed the relationship. NOW they want the Dems to come to the table?!
After Trump’s victory laps, name calling, disparaging personal attacks out of the blue, incessant lying, vitriolic contempt for those on the other side of the aisle who dared to confront his corruption?
And not only are Dems expected to come to the table, but even if they do for the good of the country, after the dust settles, will Trump acknowledge this?
No, he will take full credit for it and then simultaneously, criticize the Dems, painting them as bad guys once again.
This is why you can’t poison the relationship. This is why you need to be a gracious winner and treat political opponents with at least a modicum of respect, courtesy and consideration.
.
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I'm going to invest in the stock market, and make a killing.
This is not the end of the economic world.
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All of the things that this article recommends are excellent, but for one thing. Having a completely out-of-touch, narcissistic, and incompetent president who is unable to lead our nation and is surrounded by sycophants who are just as incompetent as he is leads us back to square one. Why do we keep expecting Trump to "act" presidential, when he's not even capable of acting as a decent human being in the first place?
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@Charles Dodgson. Couldn’t agree with you more. Trump doing this would be handing matches to an arsonist, not to mention a very unstable megalomaniac.
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This is war. No walls will protect us. No arsenal will defeat the enemy. We have to do what China did and why Italy is doing. Declare martial law is the only way to save lives.
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Trump is the emergency and is far more dangerous than this virus.
He needs to be removed from office immediately.
He has proved incapable and incompetent in every realm . A charlatan is not going to help us.
Intelligent educated people are.
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Trump declared a National Emergency in Feb, 2019 to stop a few thousand refugees seeking asylum at our southern border. Campaign promise.
I would think this coronavirus is a tad more of an emergency, but Trump won't bother. If he declares one he demonstrates it's out of control, and nothing can make him look as though he's not in control of the situation.
On top of his incompetence is a host of lackeys that have infiltrated most of our critical departments HHS, CDC, etc and cut the staff and funding to the bone.
Hope we can make it to November.
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I'm going to invest in the stock market and make a killing.
This is not the end of the economic world.
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Trump and his acolytes will not "do the right thing." They never have and never will.
We are totally on our own and must rely on the States to take the lead, as many of them are.
I am beyond blaming Trump for being a pathetic, narcissistic dolt. I just want my fellow citizens to get through this without getting sick and dying.
Meanwhile, Congress, which has authorized some $975 BILLION dollars in Afghanistan, should think about spending a portion of that wasted money to protect its own citizens!
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The simple reason Americans were inadequately tested for the coronavirus is that Donald Trump didn’t want us to know the number of cases we had because he thought it would reflect badly on his delusional self image. Again, the wheels of our government have been retooled to make the president’s deluge of lies seem true. But this time the virus will write the narrative It is immune to spin. Sick is sick. Dead is dead. And Trump is in way over his head, clearly and dangerously the last person in the world we need in charge right now
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First we need to remove Trump- 25th Amendment, anything. He is making a bad problem infinitely worse.
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The New York Times is a godsend for people who want and need to voice fears and frustrations, and I am one of the people who benefits. But while we gnash teeth -- rightfully -- over inaction, I think it's imperative to also look at positives.
* Thousands of people who contracted coronavirus have survived. What are their stories? Let's hear some of those. They had it, were sick, got better.
* Scary headlines and bold photos are frightening; the reality is that shuttered venues are that way not because millions have died but because we are taking steps to prevent deaths. Empty steets are a sign of collaboration and hope.
* Instead of turning blue in the face one more time over Trump, think of ways to help people. There must be someone who would benefit from your phone call or your run to the supermarket.
* Call your local hospital and thank whoever answers for the efforts of your medical teams. They could use kind, grateful words in their hour of need.
* Take long breaks from the news. Even with this, bad news sells. But there's also good news out there. Sticking with terror and fury is a thin gruel. Listen to music or old Johnny Carson clips. Don't wallow.
* Many people will contract this, people will die. We are all trying to keep those numbers down. Do your best to stay safe and know that's all you can do right now.
Cheers.
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In 2008, we had Hank Paulson as Treasury Secretary, Ben Bernanke as Fed Chair, and Tim Geithner as president of the NY Fed. You had the right people in the right seats at the right time -- and those people were helped by a large dollop of luck thrown on top of their expertise.
In 2020, DJT makes GWB look like a Rhodes Scholar. Dr. Anthony Faucci isn't put in charge of the crisis -- DJT delegates that job to Mike Pence -- and Mike Pence is neither a doctor or an epidemiologist (more of a religious zealot than a man of science who is qualified to head up such an incredibly important undertaking). The people who make up Team Trump are nothing more than incompetent sycophants who's top priority is stroking Trump's ego -- not the kind of clowns you want dealing with such a monumental, global health risk/economic calamity/banking system/monetary crisis.
We got lucky in 2008. I fear our luck has run out in 2020.
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The first step is for Congress to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove Trump from office. He has proven that his deceit, hubris and inability to grasp the seriousness of the pandemic is the greatest threat to our Country and its citizens.
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It simply won’t happen. Not with the Trump White House.
It’s a matter of one’s personal priorities. “Character is destiny”, so goes the ancient saying. It’s one reason why we’re in this mess.
President D. J. Trump prefers to bully, inanely tweet like a child, dissemble, play golf, hide, and rake in government money any which way he can from whatever source it comes from, foreign or domestic; while he can. What should be our supreme leadership position is a fallow void, vacant, when not a kleptocracy; this while Rome burns.
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"Declaring a national emergency would make clear that Mr. Trump understands the magnitude of the challenge..." But he doesn't. And his team of incompetent sycophants can't really help. When we're told that Jared Kushner was called in to help prepare Trump for his Oval Office broadcast, we know we're in real trouble. Independent but patriotic voices like that of Fauci are rare. There are great people in America but who will quarter-back them? Surely not Trump!
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Albert Einstein said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.”
The New York Times, television journalists, ordinary patriotic citizens ... we all say: What Trump needs to do, or needs to understand ... followed by well-reasoned solutions to whatever crisis is at hand.
We are crazy to expect him to do what’s right. Sadly, this time (as with immigration, the Kurds, and victims of gun violence) people will die.
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There will be no useful response from the ignorant narcissist-in-chief, who is fundamentally incapable of thinking of anything but how this crisis affects him. He's worried mainly about the stock market because he thinks his re-election (and perhaps freedom post-2020) depends on a humming economy. Little chance of that for the next months.
Worse, his narcissism has him convinced he's the smartest guy in the room -- smarter than the doctors, the generals, etc. He has no science advisor. He's surrounded himself with incompetent sycophants -- because he can't tolerate people who actually know things, as they inevitably have to tell him he's wrong.
The bottom line is that we have a sick man "leading" the country. The GOP had the opportunity to remove him, but was afraid of his tweets. His TWEETS! How quaint.
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Every time Trump uses his presidential megaphone he literally puts his own foot in his mouth. The man has so far shown no empathy to those who have died, calls this a foreign virus, leaves Americans overseas who are trying to get home in a chaotic and confused state, and claims anyone can get tested very easily, that’s to name a few within 24 hours and you want him to call this a National Emergency? THIS GUY CAN’T BE TRUSTED!
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The U.S. presidency is effectively useless at this point. Those who fall for Trump's smoke and mirrors, blaming, and denying will keep on believing. The rest of us have quit listening.
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