Trump Needs to Step Aside

It is time for Trump to step aside.

It is abundantly clear that he is not up to dealing with the coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore his incompetence is undermining the efforts underway.

I can imagine several reasons for his lack of judgement:

1) He is ignorant – If he doesn’t understand what is going on he needs to have people in place who do. Yet, through out his presidency he has replaced professionals at all levels of government with his favorite crony of the day. These people may be campaign donors and allies, but we need leadership. Cronies repeating over and over that Trump is doing a perfect job doesn’t make it so.
If Trump doesn’t know what is going on and is incapable of surrounding himself with people who do, he needs to be replaced.

2) He knows what is going on and doesn’t care – This would also be a reason for Trump to resign or be removed. If he understands the scope of this crisis but doesn’t see a need to deal with it or wants to use it to help himself and his friends then he should resign or be removed. His use of the racist label “Chinese virus” shows his lack of empathy and further divides the country when we need to be working together. Personally, I think if this is the case he should be tried for treason, but some might think that is going too far.

3) He is unable to understand- Trump has shown signs of pathological narcissism from day one. I’m not stating this as a pejorative, I mean it literally. I suspect the man believes the sky is blue when he says it is blue and he just as genuinely believes the sky is red when he makes that claim. If this is the case – as has been suggested previously by professionals in the field of mental health, as well as members of his own administration – he needs to be removed.

Whatever the reason, Donald Trump is unfit to be leading the United States, especially in a time of crisis. His administration is making it hard or impossible for states to deal with the virus in a time when national leadership is lacking. Pence waves his sign insinuating that we are half way through a 15 day danger period, when anyone who has been following events with even half an eye knows that is nowhere near true.

Trump likes to say how he is pretty sure this or that drug will work soon. He does not seem to have any sense that his words have an effect. People are now dying from misusing the drugs he recommended. People who legitimately need the drug are unable to find it. His words matter, however, I have yet to hear him say anything about what can be done to slow this disease. He scoffs at social distancing despite the professionals everywhere who say it is the only thing to date that has worked.

He is not taking steps to insure that states have the supplies and equipment they need, instead he is encouraging competition among them by forcing them to bid against each other for supplies.

He is making confusing and contradictory statements which his own administration then needs to scramble to correct.

Whatever the reason it has become clear that Donald Trump is unfit to be president and should be removed from office.

Finally, on a personal note.
WTF, I mean WTF , did I really hear Dr. Deborah Brix, the response coordinator for Trump’s coronavirus task force, stand in front of the camera and say to a national audience that “we should find consolation” in that fact that this virus hits older and health compromised Americans harder than the young and healthy.

Did I really hear her say that? I’m supposed to be relieved that I personally won’t die even though friends and family will. No, just no. That is not a consolation. Even if I didn’t know and love a soul in danger from this virus I would not find comfort in her statement. If these are the people Trump surrounds himself with he needs to be removed.

Things you won’t hear from the Trump administration:

wash your hands
keep a social distance, i.e. 6-8 feet from others
wash your hands
stay home if you can
wash your hands
try not to touch your face
wash your hands
do not go to large gatherings
wash your hands
call, email, text, video chat with your friends
wash your hands
check in (virtually) with your neighbors
donate supplies to the hospital or clinic in your area
wash your hands
remember to appreciate the small things.

finally, don’t forget to wash your hands.

“Keep a physical distance and a spiritual connection” (Andrew Cuomo gov of NY)

https://www.pjcvt.org/mutual-aid-and-other-resources-related-to-covid-19/

The Vermont Peace and Justice Center has a good web page for resources. It is focused on Vermont, but if you scroll down there are good general links to information and assistance.

Stay well, stay in touch, we will get through this.
Kate