The poem Opportunity starts off as best I remember with the words: “This I beheld or dreamed it in a dream.”
I want to start off with the same words, there waged a great battle on the front lines far in front of me which I knew about from the reports I received at general headquarters where I was stationed as a communications officer for the commanding general. We were provided hourly updates on the fierce battles taking place in the various zones out at our front lines. Like what we used to do with our battleships, the several zones facing the enemy were given names of states. It made it easier for us to place them. Washington was out to the far left, Michigan in the middle and Maine on the far right.
The general I worked for controlled all aspects of the battle which involved sending in additional reinforcements of men, adding tank or artillery corps as backup, controlling the air support, and providing the supplies and intelligence backup. We were busy, very busy, doing all this but the generals in the front lines up with the troops were equally busy with the added ingredient if being in danger and making orders that directly affected peoples lives and well being.
The pounding and fierce fighting, the wounded and the dying, the handling of the dead were all done by the line generals. Being in the fight they didn’t have time for niceties, There were sectors in the Washington zone where the fighting was the heaviest. For several days the general in charge called back with comments like”where the hell ‘s the air cover – is anyone awake back there – we need more ammunition – my men are being slaughtered and you’re sitting ion your asses telling war stories –get off the f-ing tanning beds and do some work”. Those receiving the orders knowing they were working hard resented them. They went to the commanding general to complain about it.
The commanding general listened to these complaints. He told his Vice General Mike Penny: “I think those generals at the front should be appreciative. When they’re not appreciative to me, they’re not appreciative to the army, it’s not right,” He then added: “I say, ‘Mike, don’t d anything for the general in charge of Washington; you’re wasting your time with him. Don’t call the general in Michigan. It doesn’t make any difference what happens.’ You know what I say: ‘If they don’t treat you right, I don’t call.””
Imagine a commanding general deciding on whether to help his beleaguered troops based upon the attitude of the generals on the front lines. Those in the most dire need complaining about a lack of resources are shut off from any help. Only those who appreciate him get the aid.
Then I realized why I had that dream. The words the commanding general used were those of Trump. Trump is predicating helping states based on whether they appreciate him. He has no regard for the suffering of the people in those states but only that their governor treat him as if he is personally doing him or her a favor by dispensing needed help.
Trump always wants people to suck up to him. He is using supplies and equipment that do not belong to him but to the American people to punish governors and their American constituents if they don’t pay due deference to him. What kind of garbage person would do that? This isn’t about him. It’s about the suffering and the front line aid givers.
Washington state and Michigan are in dire need of help as their hospitals feel the inability to properly deal with the influx of people infected with coronavirus. Their governors being on the front lines are desperately in need of help and complain about the lack of it. Trump doesn’t care, They won’t get anything unless they show their appreciation. What a low life Trump is trading off lives to please his ego.
Every day Andrew Cuomo tells us how much more help he needs from the federal government but assures every one Trump is a great guy. He plays the game because he knows if he doesn’t Trump will punish him and the people of New York. What a horrid situation we have where help is based on obsequiousness.
Send in the clowns.
Listening to a Liar-in-Chief undermines the whole structure of government, especially in a crisis. I can hear him now claiming that his actions were the “greatest response to a domestic threat that the world has ever seen”. Never mind that with his encouragement and attitude, states and individuals have a laissez faire attitude toward this epidemic.
His advisers cringe when he spouts his own “feelings” on the course of the spread. They spend valuable time backpedaling on his dangerous notions. Disgraceful.
Again, does anybody have any idea about the “bidding” process?
Here in Maine we acknowledge and are
indebted to Stephen King for developing
the first psychological clown profile of
Penny Wise Trump….
https://www.tvovermind.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Pennywise.jpg
Try watching some uplifting videos….
What’s worse being Hitler or being a clown? The states with the highest % of TDS seem to have the most Covid 19 cases. Is there a connection?
Ask Jerry Lewis. Have you seen The Day The Clown Cried?
Wait
Bill. You are amazing.
Matt, I’ll hold my fire for now and only post these facts:
At yesterday’s news conference a reporter finally read Trump’s actual statement:
Reporter: “You said, “I want [crosstalk 01:10:47] them to be appreciative. I don’t want them to say things that aren’t true. I want them to be appreciative. We’ve done a great job, and I’m not talking about me, I’m talking about Mike Pence, the task force. I’m talking about FEMA [crosstalk 01:10:56]-The Army Corps of Engineer” Trump said, Thank You. (for reading the exact quote.)
Trump acknowledged he doesn’t like the Governors of Washington and Michigan, and basically believes all they do is complain.
Trump went on to say this:- I don’t call the Governor of Washington now-But Mike Pence calls and the Head of FEMA calls. I don’t stop them. Did I ever ask you to do anything negative Mike to Washington? The State of Washington? Michigan, I love that state.”
And the reporters consistently truncate Trump’s statements: Last Friday, Trump said he told Mike Pence not to call certain governors, because it’s a waste of time. But here’s the rest of that quote: “He (Pence) calls all the governors. I tell him — I mean, I’m a different type of person — I say, ‘Mike, don’t call the governor of Washington. You’re wasting your time with him. Don’t call the woman in Michigan.'” When a reporter pressed Trump on Friday about whether he really doesn’t want Pence to call the governor of Washington, Trump confirmed — but said that Pence, a “different type of person,” will “call quietly anyway.”
Now at Sunday’s press conference Trump said this. . .”
“one of my favorite places in the whole world, Michigan, and I’m so proud of what’s happened with the auto industry. It’s coming back to Michigan. No, I don’t have to call because I’m probably better off not. He’s a failed Presidential candidate (referring to the Washington Governor.) He’s a nasty person. I don’t like the Governor of Washington, so you know who calls? I get Mike Pence to call. I get the Head of FEMA to call. I get the Admiral to call, but what you didn’t say… See, you started it off and you talked about, “I have to be appreciated”, but then when you read the rest [crosstalk 01:11:47]-
When you read his actually quotes, he says, “I’m not talking about me.”
You know how the MSM twists stuff: Another example, On March 26 during a Fox News interview with Sean Hannity, Trump said, “a lot of equipment’s being asked for that I don’t think they’ll need” Future tense. The MSM twisted that into claiming, “President Trump said, “that some of the equipment that governors are requesting they don’t actually need.” Present Tense.
But I think a better example is when CNN reported just a few days ago among Trump’s lies, falsehoods and misstatements, Trump’s statement that we were running a $500 billion trade deficit with China. CNN said: FALSE. It was only a $385 billion trade deficit.
You know When President Obama said the seas will stop rising, CNN never rode to the rescue claiming FALSE.
William:
He said a lot of things in his news conference even what you stated But to quote Trump: ““When they’re not appreciative to me, they’re not appreciative to the Army Corps, they’re not appreciative to FEMA, it’s not right.”
Matt: True, and I’d take all those quotes in context. I watched the conference, and I’ve read the transcript of the conference (relevant parts of it) and you get an entirely different impression of President Trump’s meanings when taken in context.
Over the weekend, Trump was asked how many deaths are acceptable, he said, “None”. He was asked what his priorities were, he said. “Health, safety and the economy.” He follows the advice of his health professionals. He and his advisers know that a depressed economy has adverse public health implications, too. In the weeks ahead, there will be very tough decisions to make. President Trump is a good decision maker.
We Americans are a free people and we have the constitutionally guaranteed free speech right to criticize. We also have the right to chip in, chime in, support, and praise our government when praise is due. I praise the Trump Administration for its efforts, and reserve special praise for the health care providers on the front lines of this crisis.
Up the Republic! God bless America.