# A coronavirus pandemic provides a HUGE opportunity for Democrats **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 28, 2020, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-coronavirus-pandemic-provides-a-huge-opportunity-for-democrats/848630 "2020-02-28T02:49:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-coronavirus-pandemic-provides-a-huge-opportunity-for-democrats/848630/141 "2020-03-12T13:54:13Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Democrats would look foolish if they deliberately politicize the crisis; they should simply call for more testing and for better access to healthcare - that’s all they need to do. Economically, they need to urge more direct stimulus in the hands of households and businesses - that’s pretty much it. I’m kinda split on this… as a matter of principle, I think this situation calls for shoveling cash out of helicopters. But… much depends on where that cash gets shoveled. And if you’re thinking it might show Republican hypocrisy about deficit spending on social problems when it matters, well, I direct you back to the Trump tax cuts and tariff handouts. Republican shame is dead. > [@](#): > > Let Trump hang himself with his own rope. This is the kind of crisis that will expose Trump, just like Katrina and the housing crisis exposed Bush. As far as the base is concerned, neither of those is true. Nobody raises an eyebrow at seeing a man’s beer gut when he’s already exposed his asshole. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-coronavirus-pandemic-provides-a-huge-opportunity-for-democrats/848630/142 "2020-03-12T14:13:53Z")
Here’s the best way to take advantage of this crisis: contrast what Democratic governors in blue states like New York, California, and Washington are doing, compare what competent administrators of universities and local schools are doing, compare what mayors of cities are doing…to what these thicker than pigshit lying assholes are doing. I think people are going to start noticing this. Granted, as I told my wife recently, Trump could strip naked, run around and shit on the White House lawn, and 35-38% of voters would probably support him, in words if not votes. Even in landslide elections, there’s 40% of the vote that goes to the loser. But 55-60% of the vote is enough to change politics in a massive way. I think this can happen. But it won’t happen if we use shameless tricks; it’ll happen through leadership. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-coronavirus-pandemic-provides-a-huge-opportunity-for-democrats/848630/143 "2020-03-12T14:24:07Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Here’s the best way to take advantage of this crisis: contrast what Democratic governors in blue states like New York, California, and Washington are doing, compare what competent administrators of universities and local schools are doing, compare what mayors of cities are doing…to what these thicker than pigshit lying assholes are doing. > > I think people are going to start noticing this. Granted, as I told my wife recently, Trump could strip naked, run around and shit on the White House lawn, and 35-38% of voters would probably support him, in words if not votes. Even in landslide elections, there’s 40% of the vote that goes to the loser. But 55-60% of the vote is enough to change politics in a massive way. I think this can happen. But it won’t happen if we use shameless tricks; it’ll happen through leadership. Okay. What have you done with **asahi**? There’s actually a whisper of optimism, or at least, _possibility_, in this post. 🙂 Also, you’re **married**?? That was never part of my picture of you. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-coronavirus-pandemic-provides-a-huge-opportunity-for-democrats/848630/144 "2020-03-12T14:31:24Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > But you have yet to say _why_. 😕 Because lives are at stake? Same is true about gun policy, military policy, health policy, criminal justice policy, policy about nearly everything that matters–even the National Weather Service. Why is it grotesque to see a political opportunity here but not in those areas? Or are you against seeing such opportunity on any issue that’s not totally anodyne? I’m sorry, but to me this verges awfully close to the typical GOP talking point after a mass shooting: “Hearts and prayers, this is no time to politicize a tragedy, blah blah blah”. Fuck that noise. My take: Good governance should always be focused on positive outcomes for society. While of course acquiring political power might also be a sub-objective or outcome, the mission should always be driven by social good. When politics becomes the story, when victory becomes the mission, there’s all sorts of ways in which the social good can get overlooked. The bigger the crisis, the more potential for disaster when things get overlooked or mis-managed. There’s an increasingly overwhelming feeling that Democrats’ mission statement must be “defeat Republicans”. This is a weak mission, and it intentionally subjugates “doing the right thing” to the primacy of acquiring power. Your OP suggests that what is potentially a national/global disaster should be used by Democrats as an opportunity to _take_, as opposed as an opportunity to _give_ or to lead. That’s what’s “grotesque” about it. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-coronavirus-pandemic-provides-a-huge-opportunity-for-democrats/848630/145 "2020-03-12T14:52:10Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > Your OP suggests that what is potentially a national/global disaster should be used by Democrats as an opportunity to _take_, as opposed as an opportunity to _give_ or to lead. That’s what’s “grotesque” about it. You act like he’s proposing an opportunity to gain power just for the sake of power, and I grant that perhaps the OP was worded like that. But the Trump party is responsible for grotesque abuses against humanity and we may not have seen the worst of it. There is absolutely nothing grotesque about talking about ways to take the reins of power from such a cruel, dangerous, self-serving monster. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-coronavirus-pandemic-provides-a-huge-opportunity-for-democrats/848630/146 "2020-03-12T14:53:10Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Also, you’re **married**?? That was never part of my picture of you. What, you thought men were born already bitter and cynical? ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-coronavirus-pandemic-provides-a-huge-opportunity-for-democrats/848630/147 "2020-03-12T17:01:08Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > You act like he’s proposing an opportunity to gain power just for the sake of power, and I grant that perhaps the OP was worded like that. But the Trump party is responsible for grotesque abuses against humanity and we may not have seen the worst of it. There is absolutely nothing grotesque about talking about ways to take the reins of power from such a cruel, dangerous, self-serving monster. You don’t need to convince me of the degree to which the current political situation is disasterous. But, the question at hand was the phrasing of the OP, not whether or not Trump et al are causing harm. My point is that “removing Trump from office” should always be a second-level initiative that serves a larger mission of “providing for the common welfare” (or some other such mission). It’s a tool or step to achieve a goal, and is not the goal itself. In the case of COVID-19, there are so many more pressing and immediate ways in which we need our government and leaders to attend to the common welfare than spending energy blaming Republicans, or strategizing about what the increased deaths among the senior population will do to voting demographics. Strong/effective response and leadership by Democrats will serve the health needs of the population first, and also perhaps stand in opposition to the apparent mis-management in the Executive branch. Yes, we can tell that story, but we can and should let actions tell the story first. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-coronavirus-pandemic-provides-a-huge-opportunity-for-democrats/848630/148 "2020-03-12T21:16:52Z")
If Dems thought COVID would be a great issue, they’d have bought control of toilet-paper makers, and profited - or caused a fake TP shortage leading to widespread panic and burning of GOP party offices. Hey, an unforeseen consequence: Less TP-ng of homes as pranks! Only rich kids could afford that now. ---
**Author:** ![Skypist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skypist/32/169_2.png) [@Skypist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skypist)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-coronavirus-pandemic-provides-a-huge-opportunity-for-democrats/848630/149 "2020-03-12T23:46:00Z")
Has anyone watched the testimony about COVID-19 in the Senate? There’s a guy in the background wearing a black turtleneck and glasses. He has the turtleneck pulled up to his nose and occasionally reaches up and adjusts it on his face. Is this supposed to be a makeshift mask? I think this is on the testimony from earlier today. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2020, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-coronavirus-pandemic-provides-a-huge-opportunity-for-democrats/848630/150 "2020-03-13T04:55:12Z")
Jumping in late here. What I feel the Democrats should do is not make a political issue out of this. This is both a national and a global crisis. They should offer their support to any efforts being made to address the situation. And not make it an issue of partisan politics. They should do this because it’s the right thing to do. But sometimes doing what’s right can also been the beneficial thing for you to do. Because while the Democrats should avoid bringing politics into this crisis, politics is always going to be there in the background. The Democrats should be out there working to handle this crisis in the most responsible and effective manner. And the Trump administration can handle it as it will. Then in November, the voters can decide who they want to be in charge for the next four years. The Democrats should take this as an opportunity to demonstrate that they are the better party and why letting the better party run the country is important. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2020, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-coronavirus-pandemic-provides-a-huge-opportunity-for-democrats/848630/151 "2020-03-13T08:55:40Z")
That kind of high-minded, high-ground, low-key, “lead by example”, “deeds not words” strategy is…well, it’s just _bad_ strategy IMO. Low information swing voters are not smart or perspicacious enough to catch on unless you really pound it into their thick skulls. > [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > The debate over politicizing tragedy will be endless. The advantaged team will claim it vindicates their policy; the disadvantaged team will cry callousness and bad luck. > > There is nothing wrong with saying we elected a bad person who defunded public health and pandemic readiness, and we are now facing a pandemic, and he is now treating it mainly as a recession risk. Literally he had one job to do, he failed to do it, and he keeps failing by the day. Precisely. > [@asahi](#): > > Democrats would look foolish if they deliberately politicize the crisis; they should simply call for more testing and for better access to healthcare - that’s all they need to do. Economically, they need to urge more direct stimulus in the hands of households and businesses - that’s pretty much it. Let Trump hang himself with his own rope. This is the kind of crisis that will expose Trump, just like Katrina and the housing crisis exposed Bush. So you think it was a mistake for Biden to call Trump out for his mismanagement of the crisis in his presidential-style address today (Thursday)? I strenuously disagree. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2020, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-coronavirus-pandemic-provides-a-huge-opportunity-for-democrats/848630/152 "2020-03-13T10:57:49Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Jumping in late here. > > What I feel the Democrats should do is not make a political issue out of this. This is both a national and a global crisis. They should offer their support to any efforts being made to address the situation. And not make it an issue of partisan politics. You know, of all the possible candidates for president, which one would you most want to be in charge during a pandemic? The answer seems absurdly obvious, almost trick-question obvious: Elizabeth Warren. But we don’t have that option anymore. Sigh. Pelosi is handling things well, by which I mean making a clear, specific proposal and then negotiating for its passage without engaging in partisan sniping. The politics comes in when McConnell and Trump act like partisan hacks. Pelosi can criticize their responses, but should do so by comparing what they’ve failed to do to the specific proposal they could pass but haven’t, and promising that a Democratic government will act quickly, specifically, and pragmatically in the face of a real crisis. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2020, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-coronavirus-pandemic-provides-a-huge-opportunity-for-democrats/848630/153 "2020-03-13T12:47:45Z")
I think the Dems should have an ad campaign telling Trump to “Lead or Leave.” I’d actually prefer that they impeach him for his extreme dereliction of duty in a major crisis, but they won’t do that. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2020, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-coronavirus-pandemic-provides-a-huge-opportunity-for-democrats/848630/154 "2020-03-13T13:02:13Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Jumping in late here. > > What I feel the Democrats should do is not make a political issue out of this. This is both a national and a global crisis. They should offer their support to any efforts being made to address the situation. And not make it an issue of partisan politics. Too late. This has already been politicized by Trump and Trump TV. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The Democrats should take this as an opportunity to demonstrate that they are the better party and why letting the better party run the country is important. You know, when this is over, Trump & Co. will be spinning the narrative that he single-handedly saved the day. Nothing the Democrats do will be noticed over the noise of Trump’s propaganda machine. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2020, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-coronavirus-pandemic-provides-a-huge-opportunity-for-democrats/848630/155 "2020-03-13T13:20:42Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Jumping in late here. > > What I feel the Democrats should do is not make a political issue out of this. This is both a national and a global crisis. They should offer their support to any efforts being made to address the situation. And not make it an issue of partisan politics. > > They should do this because it’s the right thing to do. But sometimes doing what’s right can also been the beneficial thing for you to do. Because while the Democrats should avoid bringing politics into this crisis, politics is always going to be there in the background. The Democrats should be out there working to handle this crisis in the most responsible and effective manner. And the Trump administration can handle it as it will. Then in November, the voters can decide who they want to be in charge for the next four years. > > The Democrats should take this as an opportunity to demonstrate that they are the better party and why letting the better party run the country is important. As far as I can tell, the Democrats are NOT making an issue out of this and they are doing exactly what you say at the end of your post. Hell, they don’t NEED to make an issue. It’s as plain as the orange nose on trump’s face. In spite of his umpty-umpth attempt to blame Obama: **[Trump ties Obama to CDC’s ‘inadequate’ testing](https://a.msn.com/r/2/BB118X6M?m=en-us&referrerID=InAppShare)** > [@](#): > > President Trump on Friday again claimed that his response to the coronavirus was hindered by the Obama administration, which left office three years ago. > > Mr. Trump attacked former President Barack Obama, who served with Mr. Trump’s likely Democratic challenger, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., in two posts on Twitter. > > “For decades the @CDCgov looked at, and studied, its testing system, but did nothing about it,” Mr. Trump wrote. “It would always be inadequate and slow for a large scale pandemic, but a pandemic would never happen, they hoped. President Obama made changes that only complicated things further. > > “Their response to H1N1 Swine Flu was a full scale disaster, with thousands dying, and nothing meaningful done to fix the testing problem, until now,” he continued. “The changes have been made and testing will soon happen on a very large scale basis. All Red Tape has been cut, ready to go!” he wrote. > … Everything with him is always “just about to happen,” “just down the pike,” and it will always be the bestest **ever**! Fuck, the man doesn’t need any help bringing himself down. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2020, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-coronavirus-pandemic-provides-a-huge-opportunity-for-democrats/848630/156 "2020-03-13T17:08:12Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > That kind of high-minded, high-ground, low-key, “lead by example”, “deeds not words” strategy is…well, it’s just _bad_ strategy IMO. Low information swing voters are not smart or perspicacious enough to catch on unless you really pound it into their thick skulls. Low information isn’t the same as no information. The complete morons will sleep through this and vote for Trump. But this is big enough to catch the attention of low information voters. A bad President can screw up something like the economy or the environment and people might not see it. But screw up a natural disaster or a war and it makes headlines. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2020, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-coronavirus-pandemic-provides-a-huge-opportunity-for-democrats/848630/157 "2020-03-13T19:33:11Z")
I believe you have to do as Biden did in his address, specifically pointing out things like Trump having eliminated the pandemic response team in the NSC. Or like what Pelosi did repeatedly today. In a statement that was only about three minutes long, she said over and over that “\*Democrats \*are doing X”, “\*Democrats \*are doing Y”, “\*Democrats \*are doing Z”. Not just “We in the House are taking the following steps”. It’s partisan, but I approve. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-coronavirus-pandemic-provides-a-huge-opportunity-for-democrats/848630/158 "2020-03-14T02:43:05Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > You know, when this is over, Trump & Co. will be spinning the narrative that he single-handedly saved the day. Nothing the Democrats do will be noticed over the noise of Trump’s propaganda machine. Actually, the propaganda has already started: [This Trump agency downplayed corona virus. Two days later, it praised his ‘decisive’ response](https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2020-03-13/trump-interior-department-downplayed-coronavirus-threat). > [@L.A. Times:](#): > > Interior Secretary David Bernhardt Friday tweeted a video of President Trump’s declaration of a national emergency and lauded his boss for taking “decisive — even unprecedented — actions to protect the American people” from the coronavirus. > > But just two days earlier, Bernhardt’s office had sent talking points to Interior officials that downplayed the virus threat. > > “While the situation could change rapidly, the threat to the American public today remains low … Americans don’t need to change their day-to-day lives but should stay informed and practice good hygiene,” stated the two-page memo, which was obtained by The Times. > > One of the points emphasized that “in South Korea, no one under the age of 30 has died from Coronavirus.” > After outlining steps the Trump administration had taken to deal with the coronavirus, the March 11 memo closed with paragraphs highlighting the strength of the nation’s economy and advice on holding “large scale events (rallies).” > > “If there is an event tomorrow in a place where there is no community spread, I think the judgment to have it might be a good judgment. This is a decision that should be made by local leaders in these communities.” > > The talking points were not signed, and the Interior Department did not respond to requests for comment Friday. > > The memo was dispatched even as leading health authorities were criticizing the Trump administration’s mixed messages on the coronavirus threat and its halting response, which has lagged behind efforts by state and local governments. This jackass president is NOTHING but spin. Nothing but bullshit optics and cheap, empty theatrics, put on by an incompetent self-promoter, solely to cling onto his dumbass supporters. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-coronavirus-pandemic-provides-a-huge-opportunity-for-democrats/848630/159 "2020-03-14T07:10:06Z")
The strange thing is that, as one of the panelists on the National Review Editors podcast lamented this week, for someone who might be “the greatest showman in political history”, Trump is astoundingly bad at “playing the game” that Florida governors know so well, of standing up behind a podium with a group of experts and administrators and at least \*pretending \*to be commanding and reassuring. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-coronavirus-pandemic-provides-a-huge-opportunity-for-democrats/848630/160 "2020-03-14T18:16:54Z")
And note the arrival of Trump and experts: about _twenty_ of them file out together in close proximity when maybe three of them were actually going to participate. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-coronavirus-pandemic-provides-a-huge-opportunity-for-democrats/848630.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-coronavirus-pandemic-provides-a-huge-opportunity-for-democrats/848630.md?page=9)