It’s long been known that Donald Drunpf is a kind of Rohrsach test for the American public, with some people seeing him as refreshing and virile and willing to give it to the “Libtards,” and others (like me) seeing as an incompetent malignant narcissist. His response to the Coronavirus pandemic is unlikely to change that for many.
Trump has, of course, denied and minimized the danger, rated his own response to the pandemic a “10,” ranted at a reported who threw him a softball question, contradicted Anthony Fauci, the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, shown favoritism to Governor’s who have shown fealty to him, and generally behaved in the way one would expect a malignant narcissist to behave.
Along the way he has also done a few things right, including closing down our borders and invoking the Defense Production Act.
In the meantime, Trump’s approval ratings are as good as they’ve ever been during his Presidency. The “wartime President” effect.
In the last couple of days I came across the following two posts on Facebook, which I found fascinating, and which show how much Trump supporters and the rest of us are living in two different worlds.
This post, which was written by someone name Cynthia Peackock (whom I do not know) , and which was reposted on my page, goes like this:
As I have watched President Trump maneuver through these last several days, I noticed a few things I have seldom if ever seen in a US President. We have had some great Presidents but how many have you seen that have actively engaged and allowed their Vice-President to have a word and actually do their job…and have it seen? In all of the years I can’t remember ever hearing from or seldom seeing the Vice-Presidents.
I have also noticed that Trump puts in place and acknowledges publicly those who have skills in areas he does not. He gives them a face to the American people… he isn’t portraying He’s doing it all by himself or seeking his own face time. He is listening to, delegating, and empowering those who have a skill set. He is making decisive decisions, and making it known that he has confidence in them to carry out what needs to be done. He is stepping aside on the podium to let someone else speak, giving them credit.. by name. (That’s humility people) He protects his team from the “heat” and takes the criticism. He praises and thanks them genuinely (publicly) for the tireless work they are doing.
He has a forward thinking positive outlook not a doomsday negative approach.
He and Vice-President Pence are a team… He trusts Pence. All of that lines up with what a true team leader looks like. I’m thankful for Trump, he may be salty at times… but he is a leader with our best interest at heart. He can’t be bought, he doesn’t need money (he doesn’t even take the Presidential salary) and he doesn’t let “the media” determine what he does. He chose to work for the American people and that is what he has and is doing. (he wasn’t looking for power or prestige— he’s a Billionaire- he already had that)
I want a true team leader (with no political pockets) to lead our country… because that’s the only way anything gets done right. Trump has exhibited those characteristics… sadly it is rare and what should be expected from all of those in leadership. It has been encouraging to watch him lead, and for him to give credit where it is due.
A Great Team Leader:
- Exhibits Confidence
- Inspires Others
- Has Commitment and Passion
- Is a Good Communicator
- Has strong Decision Making Capabilities
- Holds Accountable
- Delegates and Empowers
- Is Creative and Innovative
- Has Empathy
- Is Resilient
- Has Emotional Intelligence
- Exhibits Humility
- Is Transparent
- Has Vision and Purpose
If you are honest with yourself… what kind of boss would you rather have? I know my answer.
And I had to say to myself, Holy Cow, this woman must live in a completely different world than where my people live. He has empathy? Emotional intelligence? Is a good communicator? Exhibits humility?1
Then, later the same day, I came across this from someone I my Facebook feed:
I offer no apology for what I am posting for this is truly how I feel. I’M GONNA VENT HERE!
I have lived through Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Obama. In my lifetime I have never seen or heard of a President being scrutinized over every word he speaks, humiliated by the public, slandered, ridiculeLd, insulted, lied to. Having his life threatened. Having his wife face threats of rape. And having his children also insulted and humiliated.
I am truly ashamed of the people of this country. I am ashamed of the ruthless, hating, cruel, Trump haters…who have no morals; and news reporters who feel they have the right to purposely lie and do the things they are doing. Every other President once they were elected and took the oath of office were left alone. They weren’t on the news 24/7 being dissected by every word out of their mouth, ALWAYS BEING PRESSURED to do this or that and never being given the support to do the important work that needs to be done.
ENOUGH is ENOUGH is ENOUGH, LEAVE THE MAN ALONE AND LET HIM DO HIS JOB FOR GOD’S SAKE!
So, first of all, this guy apparently has complete amnesia about the Clinton Presidency, where we went from the Whitewater land deal (which no one remembers the details of) to the blue dress with the semen stain in one slippery slope, proving that Hillary was right about the “vast right-wing conspiracy.”
- Trump has had his life threatened?
- Melania has been threatened with rape?
I think this guy is talking about Barack and Michelle Obama.
Trump has been lied to?2
But more to the point, Trump’s is the “fuck you” Presidency. From the moment he was elected and well before he was inaugurated, it became clear that the whole point of his Presidency was to “stick it to the libtards” and demonstrate graphically how much Sarah Palin’s “real America” has come to hate the rest of us.
There is indeed a “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” but it’s taking place on the right and not on the left. Any person who is willing to look can see that the Divider-in-Chief is indeed a malignant narcissist who is completely incapable of doing this job. While Trump clearly loves the trappings of the office and the incessant and unrivaled attention that it brings him, it’s clear that he hates the actual work of being President. In this sense he is the opposite of Jimmy Carter, who got lost in the weeds and tried to do too much himself. But whose heart was always in the right place.
Let the man do his job? If he were capable of doing it, if he could understand the science behind the coronavirus pandemic and make decisions based on public health, we would all certainly let the man do his job. (And Trump is hardly the only one to screw up. The CDC somehow managed to fuck up the early test kits, which could have given the United States a huge head start in controlling the virus or reducing it’s lethality, much as South Korea and Germany did).
So, I am also truly ashamed of the people in this country, but for a different reason. I’m ashamed that we elected a hate monger, whose only reason for being is to feed his ego and stick it to progressives throughout America (and the world). A man who has no capacity to manage this crisis, and yet we may elect him again! 3
- If there is one thing that we can be pretty sure that Donald Trump has never shown in his life, then humility would be at the top of that list.
- I think he means Trump has never stopped lying. Even for a moment.
- Luckily the “wartime effect” only lasts for so long, and by the time November rolls around we may have a much clearer of how glaringly Donald Trump has mishandled this crisis.
