US Politics, March 2020 — There’s a very good chance you’re not going to die.

chuck schumer on tv now repeating liz warren talking points about the upcoming airline bailouts

pretty good

I’m baffled by that poll too but I still think that reality has not set in for most of America yet. Once they’re jobless and locked in their houses for 2 months with relatives and friends getting sick and possibly dying I feel like his numbers will slide. As far as I can tell every world leader is getting an approval bump right now.

"hey I'm still alive NOW!"

Approval rating for how leadership is handling a crisis has next to nothing to do with how leadership is handling a crisis. People project their deep wish to have strong leadership. As things get more grim I'd expect it only to rise.

GWB dropped into the mid 20s

Carter's approval rating soon after the Iranian hostages were taken, for instance, was very high. The first Iraq War, 9/11, there's always initial rallying-around.

http://www.nytimes.com/1979/12/10/archives/survey-finds-carters-popularity-has-risen-sharply-in-iran-crisis.html

(Which is not to say that Trump's 35% will ever desert him.)

Right, eventually when things die down hopefully there's a more sober assessment. But mid-crisis is different. How high was GWB's right after 9/11 and how long did it take to get to that mid-20s? Granted the mismanagement of that response was overseas so out of sight out of mind for many Americans.

Reporters should respond to Trump lies with audible groans.

Sanders was correct at the top of the last debate: We need to shut this mass-murdering motherfucker up. Stop covering his pressers as much as possible.

https://www.mediaite.com/news/trump-touts-unproven-coronavirus-drug-cocktail-as-one-of-the-biggest-game-changers-in-the-history-of-medicine/

Bernie is definitely the only person who ever voiced that idea

I get that he’s the only democratic presidential candidate who said it but c’mon, people have been pointing out that covering Trump pressers is bad since the second time Trump gave a presser

Ahem

first time

oh wait - sorry. before the first time.

no one cares when ILX says it, we're lower than Tulsi Gabbard

GWB dropped into the mid 20s

― frogbs, Saturday, March 21, 2020 12:19 PM bookmarkflaglink

that was at the end of his second term. he was slightly above 50% by the time the Kerry election came by.

and he still barely held that milquetoast off

Approval rating for how leadership is handling a crisis has next to nothing to do with how leadership is handling a crisis. People project their deep wish to have strong leadership. As things get more grim I'd expect it only to rise.

― Lavator Shemmelpennick, Saturday, March 21, 2020 12:16 PM bookmarkflaglink

also....approval rating of handling a disaster does not equate to approval rating. somebody could be saying "he's doing an ok job at this but he's an asshole otherwise".

Yes ^

how could anyone think he is "doing an OK job at this"? he was saying it was the same as the flu less than two weeks ago

Yeah, it’s dispiriting. And literally 4 hours ago he was tweeting about how 2 malaria drugs are definitely going to save the day and pushing everyone to try them immediately

i know. and i mean, every single press conference is just him talking about himself, how unfair the media is, blah blah blah

i would not underestimate to the degree to which approval rating w/r/t a tragedy carries over into general overall approval

we saw this happen in real time w/ Giuliani, people get desperate for even the illusion of comfort, even from a monster, all you need is broad shouders or a bullhorn

underestimate to the degree

he isn't handling this as competently as giuliani or bush did on 9/11. he can't play the role of a reassuring, normal guy. he is inveighing against his enemies at every turn, blurting out misinformation like a moron

also....approval rating of handling a disaster does not equate to approval rating. somebody could be saying "he's doing an ok job at this but he's an asshole otherwise".

― sorry for butt rockin (Neanderthal), Saturday, March 21, 2020 1:21 PM (fifty-six minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

Yes ^

― Li'l Brexit (Tracer Hand), Saturday, March 21, 2020 2:11 PM (six minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

how could anyone think he is "doing an OK job at this"? he was saying it was the same as the flu less than two weeks ago

― treeship., Saturday, March 21, 2020 2:13 PM (f

His general approval rating has remained dismal.

how did Bush and Giuliani "handle" 9-11 "competently"

xp treeship, that's how you and I see it, yes

"i call it CON-cast to tell you the truth" -- the president yesterday, in a press conference designed to reassure the public

they didn't go on tv and act like this alfred

i'd think the american people wouldn't have an appetite for this kind of thing when they're tuning in to learn if they will die next week of lung failure

hope you're right

we've been choosing to eat a lot of shit for a long time though

Getting lobbed a softball question like “what do you say to people who are scared” and snapping at the reporter is definitely not something Rudy or GWB would’ve done

for about 2 weeks Giuliani was a competent public mourner who didn't say anything stupid on mic. the he started plotting for a third term.

they were minimally aware that other things in the world existed beyond their own, immediate desires though

at the very least, they had medium to long-term desires

Getting lobbed a softball question like “what do you say to people who are scared” and snapping at the reporter is definitely not something Rudy or GWB would’ve done

W, maybe, but Giuliani rarely missed an opportunity to piss in a reporter's face.

how could anyone think he is "doing an OK job at this"? he was saying it was the same as the flu less than two weeks ago

― treeship., Saturday, March 21, 2020 2:13 PM bookmarkflaglink

I mean why do people like him at all? it's infuriating but it's a calculus I'll never understand.

I don't give credit to the dude for being dragged into this kicking and screaming, yet I had an argument with two Trumpers today who said he was doing an "amazing" job.

he is pumped up by an entire media ecosystem that rationalizes everything he says or does.

i guarantee you, for 99% of MAGA supporters, if they saw someone behave like he does in their personal life, they would be alarmed

Doesn't matter.

i guess, i don't know what matters

Keeping yourself and your family safe.

i'm trying to do that. holed up in this weird apartment away from my books.

not weird -- just not mine. not a fan of this.

I think a lot of people can sympathise with somebody who kinda hoped and thought something was gonna be nbd and then realised it was disastrous and started taking it seriously. It’s relatable!

stop telling people what matters to them

xp kind of guy you'd like to have a virtual, nonalcoholic beer with

xps

i know, the thing you're tired of hearing is white men complaining about potential bad things, since most people are already dealing with the actual things and it's not helpful to add whining to the mix. instead, get out there and actually do something, you sad whiny fucks. we've been through this. but in this case, it's the white sad man's dream - we CAN'T go out there and do something. so for once, let people care about what they actually care about

I understand Οὖτις's contention that ignoring these press briefings is the sanest thing to do. I really do. But--not wanting to argue about it at the moment--I think there's an equally valid argument for keeping tabs on what the person making decisions is saying each day (and also to really understand the scope of his incompetence--which, I know, everyone understands already).

Thinking about the way he's been hyping this malaria-related drug the past couple of days, it's clear that the big thing for him is that side effects are minimal/not a danger, and that it's a drug that has already been approved. He could just as well be up there sharing his excitement about Flintstones vitamins as a potential savior.