Big media is covering up Trump's terrifying incoherence in a time of emergency

[babylonsister]

Big media is covering up Trump’s terrifying incoherence in a time of emergency
By Dan Froomkin -
February 27, 2020 11:27 am EST


Here is some of what Donald Trump had to say Wednesday evening at a briefing intended to inform and reassure the American public about a public-health emergency:

This will end. This will end. You look at flu season. I said 26,000 people. I never heard of a number like that: 26,000 people, going up to 69,000 people, doctor, you told me before. 69,000 people die every year — from 20 to 69 — every year from the flu. Think of that. That’s incredible. So far, the results of all of this that everybody is reading about — and part of the thing is, you want to keep it the way it is, you don’t want to see panic, because there’s no reason to be panicked about it — but when I mentioned the flu, I asked the various doctors, “Is this just like flu?” Because people die from the flu. And this is very unusual. And it is a little bit different, but in some ways it’s easier and in some ways it’s a little bit tougher, but we have it so well under control, I mean, we really have done a very good job. [Watch video.]

Before and after knowledgeable public-health officials had made clear that a further spread of the coronavirus in the U.S. is inevitable:

I don’t think it’s inevitable. It probably will. It possibly will. It could be at a very small level or it could be at a larger level. Whatever happens, we’re totally prepared. We have the best people in the world. You see that from the study. We have the best prepared people, the best people in the world. Congress is willing to give us much more than we’re even asking for. That’s nice for a change. But we are totally ready, willing, and able to — it’s a term that we use, it’s “ready, willing, and able.” It’s going to be very well under control. Now, it may get bigger. It may get a little bigger. It may not get bigger at all. We’ll see what happens. But regardless of what happens, we’re totally prepared. [Watch video.]

snip//

Tell me this is normal.

Tell me this is unremarkable.

Tell me this is behavior by the President of the United States of United States of America at a critically important briefing about a potentially deadly pandemic that does not bear mentioning.

more...

https://presswatchers.org/2020/02/big-media-is-covering-up-trumps-terrifying-incoherence-in-a-time-of-emergency/?fbclid=IwAR0TwbBpOsn5yJednMjwc7mEeQ1LxpLi9I6azbDaP6eHQVHNQ7FSy9Aofys

[G_j]

1. so freakin incoherent

serious trouble ahead

[CatMor]

2. He is getting more incoherent as time goes on ...

it was the most bizarre briefing I ever heard. He even lies at a briefing about serious health matters. The media is useless in its handling of a demented very stupid man.

[Ilsa]

3. Nothing definitive on planning, hedging, jumping back and forth

between points, not able to finish a thought. His brain is fried on Big Macs and Diet Coke.

[COLGATE4]

37. The only thing he always remembers to do

is to make sure that there's someone else to take the blame. It's "Mother" Pence's turn in the barrel now. J

[Scarsdale]

4. Imagine the outrage if this were

a democratic president, spewing this garbage? The gop would be after their head on a spike. THIS is beyond a joke, the gop with Putin's help, has almost destroyed this country, putting an incompetent MORON in the WH.

[durablend]

6. I hate to say it

You just wonder how much of this incompetence on this is deliberate. Nobody trusts the government anymore = Putin wins

[Scarsdale]

8. Has Russia reported any

cases of this virus? So many Russians travel here to visit tRump and other members of the gop, don't they get sick? Imagine if there was an outbreak at Mar-A-Lardo? Would taxpayers get a break from spending millions for HIS golf (and espionage) outings?

[LiberalArkie]

13. I believe Russia has reported 2 cases

[JoeDuck]

11. Deliberate?

I don't think it is deliberate. In my opinion, it takes a lot of talent to deliberately be that incoherent. Trump doesn't have that much talent. The only way he could be doing it deliberately is if a speech writer wrote it that way. In that case, he wouldn't be able to read it. I suspect that many of the people who worship with orange noses think his incoherence is profound because it seems to be above their heads.

[AZ8theist]

29. I agree.

He's a fucking moron who (additionally) is MENTALLY IMPAIRED. Even my staunchest Conservative friends have told me upon seeing him on the "Apprentice" could only remark: "What an ASSHOLE!!" Started as an asshole and now is a mentally impaired idiotic ASSHOLE. Completely INCOHERENT.

***Welcome to DU!!!*********************

[wnylib]

36. Yes, the R's would be all over this if

it was a Dem president acting this way.

So, why aren't we all over this? Just as loudly and belligerently as they would be?

[Just_Vote_Dem]

51. +1000

I saw Anderson Cooper with Blajojevich a while back, and he was so upset he was practically spraying spittle. Don't remember him ever doing that to a Repub.

[Skittles]

53. well, maybe he holds Dems to a higher standard

it feels more egregious when Dems fuck us over

[Just_Vote_Dem]

54. Ah, good point

Didn't think of that

[samnsara]

5. i will check out Obamas website.. surely hes got some info there since trump* has none..

[oldsoftie]

7. While I think this needs to be addressed, I also dont see a need for panic.

The death rate for the Covid-19 (stop calling it "Corona virus&quot is about 2%. Most deaths are people who have had other health issues and/or are elderly. It IS treatable. It IS recoverable. This is NOT Ebola or others where getting it meant a high probability of death. All this talk of closing schools and shutting down everything is making people panic.
I certainly am going to be vigilant about keeping clean. I dont want to catch this. I also dont want to catch the flu.

[Chakaconcarne]

12. Death from flu is .05%

Corona virus 2-3%

[oldsoftie]

17. You're right, but if you take out the Hubei province, the rate drops to about .4%

Still higher than the "regular" flu. Hubei's rate was much higher because it went on so long before the govt realized there was a serious problem. Its just that the media keeps reporting this as though EVERYONE is gonna die.
I'm seeing people on FB talking about buying "prepper" food buckets and planning like they're going to have to live off the grid for months. Now, I think we ALL should be prepared to be on our own for some period of time, these reactions are panicky and they'll feed off of each other.
Maybe i'm wrong. I hope not.

[PatSeg]

24. I think as a rule people realize that

it is treatable and many people will recover, but the fact that it spreads to easily and quickly is very disturbing. Meanwhile, the fatality rate is much higher than the flu. Though I don't see a reason for panic, it is reason for concern, especially when the Trump administration appears to be so clueless and incompetent.

[AZ8theist]

30. The "stable Jenuis " is clueless and incompetent????

That HAS TO BE FAKE NEWS!!!

[PatSeg]

35. It is so hard to ascertain though

Stable genius or clueless and incompetent? Might have to toss a coin.

[Crunchy Frog]

48. Trump and Mikey are on the case

And the public health infrastructure in this country has been gutted.

I don't think it's unjustified to panic, or at least be extremely concerned given the situation.

[PatSeg]

50. And all Trump seems to care about

is how it affects the stock market and his reelection chances. People suffering or dying apparently is of very little concern to him. I noticed he threw in his standard noncommittal comment, "We'll see what happens". That's not what people want to hear from a president during a crisis. People look to the president for reassurance and confidence, not a surrender to the fates.

[brush]

28. Careful, you're getting into trump territory by downplaying this pandemic.

[Crunchy Frog]

41. They just closed down the schools in Japan. Are they overreacting?

[oldsoftie]

42. I think so. But i'm not a medical professional. My main point is how its being reported.

As though its all over, everyone is gonna die. And people listen to that & do stupid things. We covered the death rate above. If you were to get it you have nearly a 98% chance of survival.

[Crunchy Frog]

47. That depends on your age and overall health.

There are many posters here who would have a much higher risk of dying if they got it.

[oldsoftie]

49. Yeah, that IS a good point. Some are getting "up there"

Hell, I'm no spring chicken either!

[Ferrets are Cool]

9. Gee, I think I have heard "we have the best people" line before...

and now most of them are behind prison bars. No, I am not comforted by this idiots words.

[MyOwnPeace]

25. Perhaps that's his plan......

put "the best people" behind bars so that they're safely away from this "Democratic/Media" plot!

[oldsoftie]

43. They're the "best people" until they're fired; then they're total LOSERS

EVERY time!

[Ferrets are Cool]

55. LOL

So true

[The Wizard]

10. Welcome fascism

where corporations run the government with the help of a complaint 4th Estate. Has the 4th Estate become a 5th Column?

[BSdetect]

14. I prefer that he grasps for words rather than female body parts

[peggysue2]

15. I actually listened to that briefing

It was more terrifying to hear and watch in the moment. Trump had no idea what he was talking about and relied on rambling bluster: We are totally prepared. We have the best people, yada, yada, all the while contradicting the medical personnel surrounding him. It was a total clown show with Mike Pence staring into space, nodding as if he were a bobble-head.

And then the Squatter-in-Chief is shocked the stock market tanked? Because he's convinced himself that his performance was perfect, calming.

As for the media? No, they didn't say Trump is deranged, that he looked terrible (he did) but did note his comments were not reassuring. That being said, anyone who saw the briefing (unless willfully blind) knew Trump blew it completely. He appeared to have a written speech but for some reason decided to wing it. Big mistake!

None of this is normal. Nothing has been normal for the last 3+ years.

[McKim]

31. Watching the Body Language of Trump

Watching the body language of Trump during the briefing was interesting. He rocked back and forth and had an angry face while the competent doctor was talking. it was very much like the stalking behavior that he used on Hillary at one of the debates. He was angry because the doctor was contradicting his BS and he showed how he despises Science and expertise. It was scary to me that he gets away with this behavior.

[peggysue2]

34. Yes, he really was scowling while the female doctor was talking

He refuses to be contradicted on anything, particularly by a woman. And that rocking back and forth? He's done that on a number of occasions which makes me suspect he has a balance or advanced neurological condition. We've been watching his cognitive decline. The man can barely speak coherently but now it appears to be affecting his body motions--his gait, his inability to stand still, those wild arm gestures, even the protruding tongue.

And yes, it's horrifying.

[PatSeg]

33. Yes, the news I saw

pointed out repeatedly that Trump's comments conflicted with those of the experts who had spoken just before him.

As bad as the hearing was to watch, it is much more alarming to actually read his words. Just a bunch of words strung together. He was most coherent when he went into campaign mode and blamed the stock market decline on the Democratic debate. It is like he just can't help himself. His whole life has been about blaming someone else for his own incompetence. If he could have blamed Hillary, I'm sure he would have.

His reassurances that everything is okay only give me reason to panic, as his words tend to be the opposite of reality most of the time.

[peggysue2]

39. The lack of transparency is the biggest problem for me

Not telling the truth and/or Mulvaney telling people not to watch TV because the virus has been weaponized by Democrats to bring down Trump is the worst thing this Administration could do in a crisis. There's a lot we don't know about this pathogen. But we know it's spreading and the spread rate is high. People need to be hearing from the medical/scientific community in an unfiltered manner to reduce the anxiety and to be educated about how to protect themselves if the illness flares up in their local communities.

We're only at the start of this outbreak and already the Trump team is being reckless and irresponsible. Frankly, I think the whole crew present a danger equal to the damn virus.

We better hope this virus strain is less serious than it sounds because it's pretty obvious no one will be getting much info out of DC. Just spin and happy talk.

Incredible!

[PatSeg]

46. I agree

This truly is alarming. Other countries are taking it very serious, as is the stock market, yet the Trump administration wants us to pretend its not serious. That sure as hell won't stop the virus from spreading. It doesn't care about politics or the Dow Jones.

Just when I think Trump couldn't possibly be worse, he sinks even lower.

[yaesu]

16. Capitalistic fascism will destroy everything in is path, just like a deadly virus. nt

[SammyWinstonJack]

18. Maggot lives in his made up reality. Not a good place for us.

Who tf listening to that crap could be comforted? Who is he trying to convince with this incoherent bs?

[gademocrat7]

19. This man is an incompetent pathological liar.

[Danascot]

20. Since his cult claims godlike status for Trump

obviously he can heal the sick with his touch. Infected followers will be swarming the White House and Mar-a-Lardo for a chance to touch his raiments.

[AllyCat]

21. I dunno. My stepdad had the coverage on Fox yesterday and I heard actual criticism.

He usually supports the GOP because of abortion. But he genuinely wanted to talk about this virus yesterday. He said he doesn’t trust Trump’s Admin to help us. He wanted to know what I thought of the Dems. I told him who I was supporting. He said he likes him too.

Maybe, just maybe, this is what will break support for 45. Because even my Fox-watching stepdad ain’t buying it.

[IronLionZion]

22. Sanjay Gupta fact checked his lies on CNN

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1017569590

More people are acknowledging the fact that Donny is spewing complete falsehoods

[Chakaconcarne]

23. Who is big media?? I am not seeing any sign of a cover up..

I have heard plenty of what could be considered critical reporting of Trump on this....and to anyone that is not a Trumper, I think people get it or will shortly..... and then comes along Bloomberg with ads out post haste reminding us of Trump and his bumbling...

Big media certainly isn't nailing him, but this is a pandemic for pete's sake.....there will be time for criticism... If they start nailing him right from the get go, they risk being framed as biased...

[MyOwnPeace]

45. Sorry, the "free ride" is up!

"If they start nailing him right from the get go, they risk being framed as biased..."

IQ45 has had over 4 years of "free ride" - both as in not paying for advertising, as well as not being criticized for obvious mistakes, failings, and just plain idiocy!

Anybody that would believe that telling the truth is "biased" at this point is a MAGAt and they ain't EVER gonna believe he's anything but an exalted leader (I just had a bit of "throw-up" in my throat even writing that!).

The "big media" still won't call his blatant lies for what they are. They'll quote his verbal attacks at his political enemies while not showing the list of names of his own administration that are now indicted, awaiting prosecution, found guilty of various crimes, or even sitting in jail. The most corrupt administration EVER - do you see any mention of that whenever they ask sugar-coated questions as he stomps towards the helicopter on his way to another round of golf?

Maybe not a "cover up" - but sure ignoring the obvious.........

[NRaleighLiberal]

26. except for a very few, our media has been completely overmatched for the last nearly 4 years

of gaslighting and lies. He has played them at every turn - and we are the ones that get screwed.

[Mopar151]

27. Jon Lovitz has it handled (yeah, that's the ticket!) n/t

[Hermit-The-Prog]

32. "I'm going to be announcing exactly right now"

Folks, a direct quote of the impeached "president" of the U.S. at the time he told us Pence would handle the coronavirus:

"I'm going to be announcing uh exactly right now that I'm going to be putting our Vice President Mike Pence in charge."

(You can witness this and other little jewels in Seth Meyers' A Closer Look posted in DU Video and Multimedia by Rhiannon12866).

[Demsrule86]

38. This is not like the flu...it is a killer virus related to the 1918 outbreak...no way it is less

lethal than normal flu...you don't lock down millions of people for a harmless flu. We took our money out of stocks...and made sure to have some cash. God knows what may happen...hopefully nothing but we have a case here now thanks to Trump's incompetence. She wondered around for a couple of weeks and if the the number are correct infected 4 or 5 more people who then infected 4 or 5 people...and on and on...also likely the workers who did not use garb were infected by the people flown on a normal airplane...how many were infected on the airplane? They don't even have a test in place so we have no idea...it is a shit show with Donnie shit for brains in charge. As an aside,she is apparently very ill as Cuomo said yesterday on CNN, 'she is clinging to life'.

[Tracer]

40. I don't think The Dope was prepared for...

... the hundreds of times he would be required to speak to the media or the country.

Since he doesn't have more than 200 words and no more than 3 ideas (and that's an exaggeration) he just opens his mouth and lets fly with whatever comes out. To fill empty space, he just repeats and repeats and repeats.

[oldsoftie]

44. Has he EVER been prepared to speak in public???

[Grasswire2]

52. Dan Froomkin's Press Watch is an invaluable service to the public.

He's a good guy. Originated at WaPo, now he's started this gig.

[sarcasmo]

56. President Jibber Jabber