I think you’re underestimating how dim these wits are.
I have no doubt that Trump’s base will believe he was telling the complete truth when he said that Covid19 was no danger. And they will believe he was also telling the complete truth when he said that Covid19 is a serious danger.
I think the thing that bothers me the most about the “he didn’t want us to panic!” argument is that it’s so patronizing. Americans didn’t panic during 911 (at least most of us). We didn’t panic during Pearl Harbor. Yes, people panicked during the banking crisis in the '30s. But the president was able to calm them down with skillful oration.
It’s victim-blaming, that’s what it is. “The president lied to you because you’re a bunch of hysterical crybabies who can’t handle the truth. Stop crying about it, you hysterical crybaby!” I hate this timeline so much.
He can’t.
It’s tapes.
It’s the biggest smoking gun ever.
On Feb 7
February 7
Trump on call: “You just breathe the air and that’s how it’s passed.”
————
March 23
Ohio stay-at-home order
April 27
OH Gov. DeWine business re-start plan includes mask requirements for employees and customers.
April 28
DeWine backpedals and removes mask mandate from the re-start plan. Reworded as a recommendation.
But please.
May 1
Medical procedures restart
May 4
Manufacturing restart
May 21
Retail restart
May 15
Outdoor dining restart
May 21
Dine-in restaurant restart
————
July 23
Ohio statewide mask order
That’s 167 days since Trump said “You just breathe the air and that’s how it’s passed.”
————
Sept 9
126,046 confirmed COVID cases
14,083 hospitalizations
4,034 confirmed deaths
Not sure of excess deaths data for OH
I realize that masks aren’t the be-all, end-all, but nobody had a reason to give a crap about all the preventative measures we could be taking about this largely unknown (to us) thing.
Yeah, I’m pissed.
sTrumpet: Smoke? What smoke? I don’t see no smoke. Must be something you’re smoking that makes you think The Dear Leader said anything. MAGA!
Trump is on tape bragging about sexual assault. Tapes mean nothing in the 21st Century.
Let’s face the obvious reality: Trump is lying.
When he was saying that Covid19 was not a problem, he wasn’t saying it to cover up the truth. He really believed it. Because he’s stupid.
It’s taken six months but it’s finally sunk in to Trump’s brain that he screwed up. So now he’s pretending he knew the right answer all along.
This is much worse.
Not to his supporters.
Trump bragged he could shoot someone in public and still have support. He might as well brag that he is responsible for the deaths of dozens of thousands of people and still have support.
I failed to mention Trump’s other spin tactic used today, and in days past. China! Not only did China “send” the virus, but China uttely failed to control their outbreak. I had the radio on, but I’m assuming he said that last with a straight face.
This is it. He also believes that he can run a country the same way he runs his average con job. Sadly, that’s kinda working since he has so many followers that are dumber than he is.
What did George Carlin say? Oh, here we go - “Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.”
But he doesn’t believe he screwed up, because that’s impossible in his world. Maybe it was on one of those stupid daily briefings that he doesn’t pay attention too. So not his fault.
Sorry, was so focused on the timeline I didn’t even reply to the OP:
How CAN this be spun??
This is a dumb reply. Sorry.
If this becomes nothing I’ll be apoplectic.
That’s a funny, yet accurate typo.
True.
No, I don’t think so. Nothing has sunk in.
Whatever he says is right. At the moment he says it. By definition.
You kidding me? Compared to the other things you mention, this is child’s plays, he has the ready-made excuse in the tape itself, I didn’t want there to be a panic.
Unspoken: It would have been bad for me.
Just check out Reddit’s r/conservative. . That already gives you an idea of how it will be played.
How many of his supporters will even listen to a recording? I mean, whatever he says, they believe. No fact checking is wanted or needed.
He says it’s lies, he never said that, and also he had a really good reason for saying it. Good enough. Also, ha ha! Look at the liberals getting all worked up over it! Go Trump, make em cry!
The obvious spin seems to be: Trump didn’t actually fail to appreciate the dangers of the pandemic, he was perfectly aware of them all along, but skillfully steered the public away from a panicked response by projecting confidence.
Despicable bullshit? Of course. But that just doesn’t matter.
Or just check out today’s Fox News siite. The top stories are :
So don’t worry, it’s all under control. Woodward is irrelevant, and the it’s the libs who are threatening us all.
By now, we should know that Trump is bulletproof.
Four years ago, we saw that he could shoot somebody on 5th Avenue, grab pussy, etc. and get away with it.
And now we’ve had several books and investigations each one of which was supposed to end his career. (Fire and Fury, Bolton’s “In the room where it happened”, and now Woodward…Plus the Muller report and the impeachment. With each one of these events, Rachel Maddow told us that this it–the absolute, final end for Trump.
The OP asks how the Republicans will spin it, this time. As if this time is different than all the other times.
Get over it, folks.
Trump is bulletproof.
And be prepared for 4 more years, because I really do expect him to win.