Trump's Ever Changing Story

Now 100,000 deaths is ‘a very good job’
Why do so many people trust this yahoo?

• On Feb. 26, when there were 15 reported cases of the novel coronavirus in the United States, President Trump predicted the number of cases would soon be “down to close to zero.” On
• March 5, he hailed the fact that there were about 3,000 deaths worldwide but only 11 in the United States.
• On March 9, he noted that there were just 22 U.S. deaths and compared the virus to the seasonal flu, which has killed 37,000 people this year.
• On March 13, he said the 2009 swine flu had killed 14,000 people in the United States and called the Obama administration’s response to it “a disaster.”
• On March 29, the same president set the goal posts for his administration’s response to the coronavirus in a very different place. In a White House briefing in the Rose Garden, Trump referenced new data from his task force and said that between 100,000 and 200,000 deaths would represent a victory over the coronavirus.

What changed Trump's mind?

Trump Gets a Reality Check

The Death Rate may be Lower for Younger Patients and Higher for Older than originally thought.

Proof that Social Distancing Works

How Denial Made Things Worse

Timeline of Information and Errors

Trump wants to be Praised, Not Questioned

So the question on my mind is does Trump have the capacity to learn and improve as a person and leader from this experience?

Though he and his administration are taking this seriously now and apparently doing a good job, there is no doubt in my mind that his 2+ months of denial led indirectly to the illness and deaths of 10s of thousands of Americans.  And he can try to blame everyone else, but 3 years into his Presidency and years of warnings regarding possible pandemics, he owns this mess and the unnecessary illness and deaths.

So do you think that he can accept the responsibility for his administration's failures, truly mourn the dead and become a better human?  Or will he continue to see himself as a victim of fate and continue to blame others for his failings?

The USA is #1 for COVID19

and Trump Touts Success while attacking governors. 

And the Far Right and Libertarians attack Dr Fauci.

How South Korea Stopped COVID19

Where as China Locked Down Hubei Province for 2 Months

So as usual, we have a big choice. 

• Go back to life as usual and let COVID19 spread aggressively? Which will lead to many more deaths.
• Do something different?  And bend the curve...

Touch graphic to zoom

GOP To Pass Record BAILOUT

I am likely one of the few who are against this MASSIVE SPENDING bill.  It looks like it has money in it for pretty much every citizen and business group...

As you know, I am incredibly frustrated that current voters have ZERO interest in being fiscally responsible.  They want low taxes and high services / bailouts... Even if it is totally unsustainable and will harm our nation and children greatly.  I do wonder where we went so wrong as a society?

It is really sad how deficits grow when the Republicans are in Power, so much for them being the party of the balanced budget amendment. :-(

It is a Spending and Revenue Problem
National Debt By President

Here is where all the US Government / Tax Payer Dollars Go. If you want to start cutting...  Tap image to zoom in.

Economy vs Lives?

Trump Signals Skepticism About Social Distancing (Politco)

Trump Cure Can Not be Worse than the Problem (NYT)

Hong Kong had COVID19 Beat Until It Let Its Guard Down (CNN)

So which do you think will win?

• Will we continue to sacrifice to protect our old and infirm?
• Will we go back to normal and let nature kill them?

Please remember my rough numbers:

• 320 milllion citizens
• For each 10% who get it (32 million citizens)
• ~1% will die... 320,000 funerals...
• If 30% get it... 960,000 funerals...

Cold blooded pragmatic rough numbers:

• 960,000 fewer folks receiving SS and Medicare? :-(
• Funeral Home Stocks: Good Buy? :-)

On a more humorous note.
Fauci: I can't just jump in front of the microphone and push him down

And for the depressingly aggressive Rate Chart Below and Finally Italy vs US Info VOX

Surviving Close Quarters

How to Cope When Trapped Together?  VOX
How to Cope with a Quarantine? VWM
How Quarantine Affects Body and Mind? BI

Now I am pretty happy blogging, reading, puttering around my garage, etc. And I have a variety of very under used exercise equipment if I really feel stir crazy... (ie WII Fit, Elliptical, Treadmill, Weights, etc)  But thankfully I have not need to test any of these techniques yet... :-)

Socialism / Big Govt is Bad Until

GOP wants $2 Trillion Bailout Package...  Really?

And the Senate is working on Sticking Points  Really?

Where are the Bailouts are bad Republicans?

And everyone is looking for their share of the Freebies.

What happened to self reliance, saving for a rainy day, etc?

And these comics are simply hilarious... :-)

Trump Had Good Days, Then...

he returned to his lying, blaming and distraction... :-(

Trump:

• "Nobody knew there’d be a pandemic or an epidemic of this proportion."
• "And we're going to be able to make that drug available almost immediately"
• "the swine flu, it was nothing like this"
• “I’ve felt that it was a pandemic long before it was called a pandemic,”
• History of Trump's comments denying COVID pandemic
• "No. 1, nothing was offered," Trump said March 17. "No. 2, it was a bad test."   Corollary: Biden's Lie 

Now I am not trying to "attack" Trump, however I am concerned that many are going to forget how he totally botched this one.  The only thing he apparently did right was stopping flights from the Wuhan district early...

Then earlier this week he started to act kind of like a good President.  And I assume he thought there would be an immediate out pouring of praise.  And when that did not occur he got frustrated and went back to his life long habits. :-(

It will be interesting to see if this disaster and the unnecessary deaths will finally get him to focus outside of himself and develop empathy for others?  The first 3 years of his presidency says that he just can not step up to the required level of professionalism and performance.

And I understand how difficult it can be.  70 years of selfishness, attacking, lying, manipulation, cheating, forcefulness, attacking, defaulting on promises, etc got him many of rewards he wanted. It is really hard to change after that many years of ingrained habit building

Cloudy Crystal Ball

"COVID projections made him feel ill." WAPO

Using Artificial Intelligence to Predict  VOX

Will Americans Comply or Rebel? ABC

And yes I was likely this stupid when I was their age...  The joy of being young, self centered and invincible. :-(

At least they can claim youthful ignorance, I am not sure what older people who still think this over stated are thinking... :-(

When to Start Buying?

I know it is not yet, however it is an interesting question that is on my mind.

As I noted quite awhile back, I started to diversify out of 100% stocks when the market hit ~22,000.  This is pretty new to me because I usually just stuck with them through the ups and downs.  And it was frustrating when the market kept going up beyond what I thought was realistic.

Now that they have plummeted I am happier about my current more conservative  risk averse mix. :-)

However it does leave me with that new dilemma...  When to start buying back in?

My current plan is to start buying somewhere around 18,000 in regular fixed amounts maybe once a week until I am fully back in... (ie dollar cost averaging) Though I am thinking it may go as low as 14,500 if 2008/9 is a comparable benchmark. (touch graphic to enlarge)

Any better ideas out there?

One more note for anyone that is freaking out...

• Recessions are normal and somewhat cyclical (~9 years)
• What causes them changes, but one can learn and profit from them

They Are Not BAILOUTS?

While Mnuchin and Trump ask for Money  (FOX)

White House Seeks Financial Crisis Era Powers (NYT)

Senators Review COVID package (WE)

Fed Cuts Interest Rate (CNN)

Mnuchin does not know cost of Bill (Reuters)

Senate may not pass bill (Marketwatch)

National Emergency (VOX)

Trump Finds MAGA Movement Fracturing (Politico)

See comments here for why we must stop COVID ASAP

It looks like it is official, the Trump Administration are a bunch of Obama era Democrats who want to use big government and tax payer dollars to bail out companies, citizens, the market, etc.

Not saying it is a bad thing, but... Where are the fiscal conservative and small federal government citizens who vilified Obama for doing so?  :-)

Do Not Panic, but It IS NOT the Flu

9 COVID19 Charts (VOX)

The Buck Stops Anywhere but HERE

'I don't take responsibility at all'  (Trump)

That pretty well sums Trump up when things go poorly. :-)

By his own words, he is a TERRIBLE leader... (see below)

Some more fact checking.

Biden Gun Policy / Plan

O’Rourke Endorsement Triggers False Posts on Biden’s Gun Policy (Fact Check)

I do get so tired of Conservatives trying to mislead citizens.

Here is Bidens actual plan for better or worse.  It seems mostly to require the licensing and registration of highly lethal weapons. It reminds me a lot of the Canada gun laws.

Just a reminder, poor oversight of licensed dealers and poor registration of second hand sales are a key methods by which criminals get their weapons.

Some Useful Links
How much more Lethal are the Some Guns
CEO Gun Control Letter
G2A Gun Control / Access Proposal
Assault Weapon Definition
AR15 / AK47 Rapid Fire Video

Just a reminder. If it is easy for you buy, keep and use one of these weapons.  It is likely easy for the criminals / crazies to do the same. So the same old questions arises.  How many innocent citizens and children are you willing to sacrifice each year to have that gun sitting unregistered in your gun safe?

Here is the MJ Mass Shootings List if you brave enough to study it... :-)

And remember that one day it could be your parent, spouse, child, friend, etc and your concealed hand gun will be pretty much useless against a prepared shooter.  I am just waiting for it to happen at a HS football game... It would be so easy for the concealed shooter to pick off kids, parents, etc. :-(

But on the upside you can open your gun safe and pet your gun...

HOAX to NEED Government Bailout

In record time...  It is hard to believe that only 2 weeks ago Trump was calling COVID19 a HOAX.

And now he wants to:

• have people stop funding Social Security and Medicare.(ie payroll taxes)
• start giving away billions we don't have to people, businesses, etc.
• both of course will increase deficits and the national debt

Where are the Republicans who were against government intervention, bailouts, over spending, etc during the Obama administrations years?

Apparently this time it is Trump who wants to "give away free stuff" to win the election.

Maybe Trump and Bernie are Related?

Opinions | Sanders gets more Trumpian by the day WAPO

I thought this was pretty interesting...

"Populist leaders present themselves as the only authentic voice of the “people.” Therefore, critics in the media are enemies of the people, for to take on the leader is to attack the people. When the leader is rejected at the polls, it cannot be an authentic expression of the people. The system must be rigged; the establishment must be out to get the candidates and, by extension, the people. "

It does sound a lot like Trump and Sanders. :-)

Dr Fauci is an Expert

And Trump says really dumb / dangerous things. WAPO

Inside Trump Administration, Debate Raged Over What to Tell Public (NYT)

Not His First Epidemic, Dr. Anthony Fauci Sticks to the Facts (NYT)

How does the coronavirus outbreak end?  Governments’ failure to contain the coronavirus means it may be here to stay. VOX

On the upside, maybe a bunch of old Trump supporters will learn the hard way not to trust him. :-(

Trump Wants to Cut Entitlements?

Trump: “We’ll be cutting” entitlement programs. White House: He didn’t really mean that. (VOX)

Trump / Fox Townhall Transcript

"Do you care about the national debt?" (Bret)
"I do, very much. And I will always talk about it, because, to me, it's very important.…" (Trump)
"But if you -- if you don't cut something in entitlements, you will never really deal with the debt." (Martha)
"Oh, we will be cutting, but we're also going to have growth like you have never had before... " (Trump)

Now I am a fan of cutting entitlements, since the people receiving them did not fund them adequately. And as the national debt forecast graph shows, something really MUST Change...

Unfortunately I have ZERO faith in the GOP party and their voter's ability to behave fiscally responsibly after the last 3 years of tax cuts and spending increases. As I have said before.

I hope our children and grand children can forgive our selfish irresponsible actions.

Just imagine if the citizens after WWII had been as irresponsible as us instead of working to pay down the debt.  We should all be very ashamed. :-(

An Amusing Comparison :-)

More Good News for Joe (The Hill)

I actually only posted this because I find the picture below kind of funny... :-)

Good News for Joe?

Amy and Pete Endorse Joe Biden (BI)

Now if Elizabeth and Bloomberg were out of the way we would have a better idea of where the DEMs really want their party to go. From the current count, to me it looks like Bernie is still Left of center.

• Bernie Sanders 60
• Joe Biden 54
• Pete Buttigieg 26
• Elizabeth Warren 8
• Amy Klobuchar 7

Taliban Deal: Good or Running?

4 Takeaways from US Deal (NYT)

Time will Tell (The Hill)

Bolton Blasts "Obama style" Deal (FOX)

Now I do not know if this deal is good or bad, however Trump's haphazard pull out of Syria gives me reason for concern.  He does not seem to show much loyalty to our local partners, and seems happy to cede influence in the region to the Russians.

Then there is my concern for the weak, innocent and powerless in these brutal countries.  After years of sacrifice do we just let the violent oppressors win?