*Update 5:39 p.m.: The ex-Quasis headlined at 5:28 that their data show that U.S. has surpassed Italy and China in total cases of the virus. WE'RE NUMBER 1! WE'RE NUMBER 1! U-S-A! U-S-A! I'm going to wait for confirmation from the Johnnies.
In a letter to the governors today Trump wrote:
There is still a long battle ahead, but our efforts are already paying dividends. (1) As we enhance
protections against the virus, Americans across the country are hoping the day will soon arrive
when they can resume their normal economic, social, and religious lives.(2)
In furtherance of this shared goal, my Administration is working to publish new guidelines for
State and local policymakers to use in making decisions (3) about maintaining, increasing, or
relaxing social distancing(4) and other mitigation measures they have put in place.
This is what we envision: Our expanded testing capabilities will quickly enable us to publish
criteria, developed in close coordination with the Nation's public health officials and scientists,
to help classify counties with respect to continued risks posed by the virus. This will incorporate
robust surveillance testing, which allows us to monitor the spread of the virus throughout the
country. Under these data-driven criteria, we will suggest guidelines categorizing counties as
high-risk, medium-risk, or low-risk.(5)
With each passing day, our increasingly extensive testing capabilities are giving us a better
understanding of the virus and its path.(6) As testing gives us more information about who has
been infected, we are tracking the virus and isolating it to prevent further spread.(7)This new
information will drive the next phase in our war against this invisible enemy.
…
I look forward to witnessing that same boundless spirit drive our recovery and quickly return us to the path of exceptional health, safety, and prosperity(8) for all of our citizens.
1. "paying dividends" is a common phrase used in many contexts. It is the phrase Trump used; not "working": "paying dividends." The Dow had another banner day in paying dividends, that is what stocks do. The Dow closed up 6.38% to 22,552. Or, as the New York Times put it in a headline "Markets Shrug Off Jobless Claims as S&P Has Best 3-Day Run Since 1933."Used in the context of containing Trump Virus however the metaphor is telling and, most importantly, untrue. Right now the U.S. has 80,021 cases of Trump Virus. That number places the U.S. third in prevalence of Covid-19 among all countries. The number of new U.S. cases continues to increase exponentially and the U.S. is only 568 cases behind second-place Italy and only 1,761 cases behind China, number one in cases. The U.S. will likely overtake Italy before the end of the day and overtake China tomorrow. Those are the "dividends" from Trump's Solution to the Trump Epidemic.
2. I certainly was. Trump certainly is.
3. "Who, me? I'm done making decisions on this."
4. "Ask your governors. Don't bother me, have you seen the stock market today. Do you want an autographed chart?"
5. "We're going to do that 'quickly'; 'publish' these guidelines to 'help' 'State and local policymakers in making decisions.' They are only 'suggestions'! The governors and mayors can ignore them if they want! That's up to them! Not me! THEM! Don't blame me! Them! I am not making any decisions. I'll take the credit for this 'help.'"
6. "This gave me a better understanding of its path. To the moon!"
7. "We're tracking the virus up the Apennines and soon will be tracking it up the Himalayas and are isolating it up there. See?"
In a letter to the governors today Trump wrote:
There is still a long battle ahead, but our efforts are already paying dividends. (1) As we enhance
protections against the virus, Americans across the country are hoping the day will soon arrive
when they can resume their normal economic, social, and religious lives.(2)
In furtherance of this shared goal, my Administration is working to publish new guidelines for
State and local policymakers to use in making decisions (3) about maintaining, increasing, or
relaxing social distancing(4) and other mitigation measures they have put in place.
This is what we envision: Our expanded testing capabilities will quickly enable us to publish
criteria, developed in close coordination with the Nation's public health officials and scientists,
to help classify counties with respect to continued risks posed by the virus. This will incorporate
robust surveillance testing, which allows us to monitor the spread of the virus throughout the
country. Under these data-driven criteria, we will suggest guidelines categorizing counties as
high-risk, medium-risk, or low-risk.(5)
With each passing day, our increasingly extensive testing capabilities are giving us a better
understanding of the virus and its path.(6) As testing gives us more information about who has
been infected, we are tracking the virus and isolating it to prevent further spread.(7)This new
information will drive the next phase in our war against this invisible enemy.
…
I look forward to witnessing that same boundless spirit drive our recovery and quickly return us to the path of exceptional health, safety, and prosperity(8) for all of our citizens.
1. "paying dividends" is a common phrase used in many contexts. It is the phrase Trump used; not "working": "paying dividends." The Dow had another banner day in paying dividends, that is what stocks do. The Dow closed up 6.38% to 22,552. Or, as the New York Times put it in a headline "Markets Shrug Off Jobless Claims as S&P Has Best 3-Day Run Since 1933."Used in the context of containing Trump Virus however the metaphor is telling and, most importantly, untrue. Right now the U.S. has 80,021 cases of Trump Virus. That number places the U.S. third in prevalence of Covid-19 among all countries. The number of new U.S. cases continues to increase exponentially and the U.S. is only 568 cases behind second-place Italy and only 1,761 cases behind China, number one in cases. The U.S. will likely overtake Italy before the end of the day and overtake China tomorrow. Those are the "dividends" from Trump's Solution to the Trump Epidemic.
2. I certainly was. Trump certainly is.
3. "Who, me? I'm done making decisions on this."
4. "Ask your governors. Don't bother me, have you seen the stock market today. Do you want an autographed chart?"
5. "We're going to do that 'quickly'; 'publish' these guidelines to 'help' 'State and local policymakers in making decisions.' They are only 'suggestions'! The governors and mayors can ignore them if they want! That's up to them! Not me! THEM! Don't blame me! Them! I am not making any decisions. I'll take the credit for this 'help.'"
6. "This gave me a better understanding of its path. To the moon!"
8. "See? You are very welcome."
"NOW GET BACK TO WORK!"
