Trump's former Homeland Security adviser on COVID-19: 'We could have saved more lives with a differe

[mystery-ak]

Trump's former Homeland Security adviser on COVID-19: 'We could have saved more lives with a different, faster approach'
By Joseph Choi - 10/25/20 10:16 AM EDT

President Trump’s former Homeland Security adviser, Tom Bossert, said on Sunday that not enough has been done to fight COVID-19 in the U.S, calling for a coordinated response to the pandemic.

“One thing is very clear: We could have saved more lives with a different, faster approach and what's important about looking forward, is the same advice about targeted, layered intervention,” Bossert said on ABC’s This Week." “Early targeted, layered intervention, in addition to masks, is that we know save lives and we have a chance to do it again if we can get all of our counties and communities on a coordinated, same page.”

Bossert, who was Homeland Security adviser for the Trump advisor for one year before John Bolton took over the position, was also asked how he felt Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden or Trump would handle the pandemic if they win in November.

“It would be nice if our leadership would be on the same page, it would be nice if both candidates were on the same page for that matter, but they're not and this is a team sport," Bossert responded. "At this point what happens in the next four weeks or 10 weeks is going to be up to, you know, 300 plus million people, and they have to change their behavior.”

This Week
@ThisWeekABC
“One thing is very clear: we could have saved more lives with a different, faster approach ,” former Trump homeland security adviser Tom Bossert says on U.S. response to COVID-19, adding, “targeted, layered intervention, in addition to masks” saves lives. http://abcn.ws/31C35wQ

more
https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/522643-trumps-former-homeland-security-advisor-on-covid-19-we-could-have

[PeteS in CA]

“One thing is very clear: We could have saved more lives with a different, faster approach and what's important about looking forward, is the same advice about targeted, layered intervention,” Bossert said on ABC’s This Week." “Early targeted, layered intervention, in addition to masks, is that we know save lives and we have a chance to do it again if we can get all of our counties and communities on a coordinated, same page.”

Male Bovine Excrement!

"Faster approach" - In the real world, China totally withheld from the world all information about the Wuhan outbreak for the entire month of December. In the real world, China withheld the DNA sequence of the nCov-19 virus (as it came to be known) from the world for the first 2 weeks of January, hindering the development of both tests, antibody treatments, and vaccines. In the real world, China lyingly claimed for 4 or 5 weeks that they had no evidence of human-human transmission of Covid-19. "Faster approach" is meaningless because neither Trump nor the rest of the world (who have not fared significantly better, something Bossert and ABC didn't tell viewers/listeners) had the timely and truthful information necessary for a "faster approach".

"Masks" - Ignoring the Masks are useless vs. Masks are divine saviors debate, in the real world, WHO, the CDC, etc. recommended against healthy people wearing masks until reversing their message in early April. I cannot bring myself to believe that both Bossert and ABC Skews are ignorant of this.

"Early targeted, layered intervention, in addition to masks, is that we know save lives and we have a chance to do it again if we can get all of our counties and communities on a coordinated, same page." - Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. What should Trump have done that he did not? Be specific: only things that are constitutional; only based on knowledge he had available at the time; taking into account the reality of many Dem pols' and bureaucrats' active undermining, sabotaging, and attempting to divert Trump's efforts.

[XenaLee]

More criticism of Trump using vague, generalized and meaningless (unless defined by specific actions) terms like "Early targeted, layered intervention".  What, exactly does that mean?

None of these idiots can offer up any real actions that should have been taken that were not taken.... and no mention of the leftist Democrats that told us to "go to Chinatown", "don't wear masks if you're healthy", and "shutting down travel from China is Xenaphobic".

[DB]

If the virus was going to be stopped it would have had to have been stopped in China.

After it was out of China it wasn't going to be stopped - period.

The most lives would have been saved by protecting the high risk people and letting herd immunity develop at a pace that hospitals/health facilities could keep up with. The sooner herd immunity is developed the sooner the high risk people can get back to a normal life.

The only reason to "flatten the curve" should have been to keep healthcare providers from moving into a triage situation. And that should have been done based on the local conditions/resources. One size fits all is an incredibly stupid way to manage this.

Democrats have done everything they can to extend this crisis to election day. To do as much economic destruction as they can thinking they'll push Trump over the cliff and get bailed out by the federal government. The economic damage has been done. Bailouts only shift who bears the burden of that damage. These losses will never be recovered.

[skeeter]

The more the rats hammer the Covid the more clear it becomes they ginned the crisis up - shutdown and all - for political purposes.

How do Americans feel about having been bankrupted, kids deprived of an education, their lives generally turned upside down in order to provide a political advantage for the rats?

[goatprairie]

As usual, the hidden costs of shutting down are mostly ignored. The longer the enforced shutdown lasted, the more businesses expiring, people running out of money, people dead from not visiting doctors, and other health problems from people sequestering inside for months on end.
NOBODY!!! knew what to do when this thing hit our shores. I get the feeling most "experts" 
still don't know much of anything about the virus.
It's all "we zigged when we should have zagged" with the critics. If we had zagged instead of zigged, we'd probably have had the same amount of fatalities. 20-20 hindsight is great, huh?

[Absalom]

Bossert, who worked a year for Trump, gives an opinion on the Pandemic, hardly pointing
fingers, while asserting a unified approach would save lives; apparent common sense.
Instantly, Trump's Disciples go into their predictable mode of abuse, contempt and noise.
A wise Man told us "When you know your enemy and yourself, welcome the outcome of battle..."
In our century, Mankind fought battles against Spanish Influenza which killed some 50 million+
and later HIV which has killed some 35 million+ up to the present.
Our leadership, then directed via Medicine, learned as these Epidemics progressed, shortening
their life span; so how are we doing now as a people/country???
Within a week, Trump will be looking for a job as the polls affirm!!!         
His "management" of this Pandemic defines him and plain people know this in their very bones.
His mask-less, closed presence and raucous rallies are simply another of his relentless stunts to focus media attention on him, the life mission of the compulsive narcissist.
Good riddance!!!!!

[LegalAmerican]

Trump's former Homeland Security adviser on COVID-19: 'We could have saved more lives with a different, faster approach'
By Joseph Choi - 10/25/20 10:16 AM EDT

President Trump’s former Homeland Security adviser, Tom Bossert, said on Sunday that not enough has been done to fight COVID-19 in the U.S, calling for a coordinated response to the pandemic.

“One thing is very clear: We could have saved more lives with a different, faster approach and what's important about looking forward, is the same advice about targeted, layered intervention,” Bossert said on ABC’s This Week." “Early targeted, layered intervention, in addition to masks, is that we know save lives and we have a chance to do it again if we can get all of our counties and communities on a coordinated, same page.”

Bossert, who was Homeland Security adviser for the Trump advisor for one year before John Bolton took over the position, was also asked how he felt Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden or Trump would handle the pandemic if they win in November.

“It would be nice if our leadership would be on the same page, it would be nice if both candidates were on the same page for that matter, but they're not and this is a team sport," Bossert responded. "At this point what happens in the next four weeks or 10 weeks is going to be up to, you know, 300 plus million people, and they have to change their behavior.”

more
https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/522643-trumps-former-homeland-security-advisor-on-covid-19-we-could-have

Sorry,  ALL BULL.  HIND SIGHT?  Never works for me and why do people do this?  BLA , BLA, BLA....SHOULDA, COULDA, WOULDA..   Right.  Time to post the 3 page item's that were implemented, to stop COVID and what about calling POTUS RACIST AND XENOPHOBIC  FOR STOPPING TRAVEL EARLY? 

SUCH ROT....FROM....FORMER, FORMER ADVISOR.  Now you know, why he is FORMER..AZZHOLE.

[LegalAmerican]

Male Bovine Excrement!

"Faster approach" - In the real world, China totally withheld from the world all information about the Wuhan outbreak for the entire month of December. In the real world, China withheld the DNA sequence of the nCov-19 virus (as it came to be known) from the world for the first 2 weeks of January, hindering the development of both tests, antibody treatments, and vaccines. In the real world, China lyingly claimed for 4 or 5 weeks that they had no evidence of human-human transmission of Covid-19. "Faster approach" is meaningless because neither Trump nor the rest of the world (who have not fared significantly better, something Bossert and ABC didn't tell viewers/listeners) had the timely and truthful information necessary for a "faster approach".

"Masks" - Ignoring the Masks are useless vs. Masks are divine saviors debate, in the real world, WHO, the CDC, etc. recommended against healthy people wearing masks until reversing their message in early April. I cannot bring myself to believe that both Bossert and ABC Skews are ignorant of this.

"Early targeted, layered intervention, in addition to masks, is that we know save lives and we have a chance to do it again if we can get all of our counties and communities on a coordinated, same page." - Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. What should Trump have done that he did not? Be specific: only things that are constitutional; only based on knowledge he had available at the time; taking into account the reality of many Dem pols' and bureaucrats' active undermining, sabotaging, and attempting to divert Trump's efforts.

I swear, I did not read your post before posting mine.  lol lol. 

[jafo2010]

There is not a single doubt in my mind had Hillary been POTUS, we would be in the millions dead from this virus.   And Biden is so clueless, God only knows how many would be dead with this fool at the helm.  Tens of millions perhaps!

[jmyrlefuller]

No, just delayed it.

It's an airborne virus, and everywhere else it's hit, it hasn't gone away. It never will at this rate... at least until natural selection clears out those vulnerable to it.

It makes one wonder: what did all these other countries in East Asia know, and how did they learn it?

[LegalAmerican]

There is not a single doubt in my mind had Hillary been POTUS, we would be in the millions dead from this virus.   And Biden is so clueless, God only knows how many would be dead with this fool at the helm.  Tens of millions perhaps!

Agree.  MontanaJoe just posted he VOTED for BIDEN.  Unbelievable.

[DB]

Agree.  MontanaJoe just posted he VOTED for BIDEN.  Unbelievable.

No, that's not what he said. He said he voted against Trump. That does not mean he voted for Biden.

Truth matters.

[catfish1957]

I hate freakin' Monday morning QB's.

I have been in an emergency managment role, and believe me, it is like playing whack-a-mole, while juggling 3 bowling balls.

After every drill or emergency there is always a detailed debiref and critique of how things could have been better.  I don't care how well you handled the emergency,  there will always be ways to recognize the mistakes and learn from them. 

I am sick and damned  tired of naysayers blasting this POTUS for what I beleive has been a decent response. His guidance on basing risk managment decisons on data has been a hell of a lot better than has been reported.  Much has been learned as this disease has progressed.  The early lockdowns were prudent for that education.  Now any decent leadership in the area of risk management realizes that shutting this country down for a virus that is now close to Flu in mortality rates?  That is insane.

 F'n media seems to convienently forget that some of the early causalty estimates were in the 2-3M range. And Trump seems not to get any credit for that.   Despicable bastards.

[LegalAmerican]

No, that's not what he said. He said he voted against Trump. That does not mean he voted for Biden.

Truth matters.

Well then, I need to read it again.  I may have made a mistake.  I read BIDEN in the beginning.  Is he didn't vote for POTUS TRUMP..it is the 'same' as voting for BIDEN. In my whole life, a 3 rd party has never won anything.  People do this to make themselves feel better, but it does nothing for our country.  YES, TRUTH MATTERS.  I am all for that.

[catfish1957]

Agree.  MontanaJoe just posted he VOTED for BIDEN.  Unbelievable.

Just what I need ....  more political advice  from a washed up jock who probably took too many contusive head shots anyway.

[LegalAmerican]

I hate freakin' Monday morning QB's.

I have been in an emergency managment role, and believe me, it is like playing whack-a-mole, while juggling 3 bowling balls.

After every drill or emergency there is always a detailed debiref and critique of how things could have been better.  I don't care how well you handled the emergency,  there will always be ways to recognize the mistakes and learn from them. 

I am sick and damned  tired of naysayers blasting this POTUS for what I beleive has been a decent response. His guidance on basing risk managment decisons on data has been a hell of a lot better than has been reported.  Much has been learned as this disease has progressed.  The early lockdowns were prudent for that education.  Now any decent leadership in the area of risk management realizes that shutting this country down for a virus that is now close to Flu in mortality rates?  That is insane.

 F'n media seems to convienently forget that some of the early causalty estimates were in the 2-3M range. And Trump seems not to get any credit for that.   Despicable bastards.

 

[PeteS in CA]

Bossert, who worked a year for Trump, gives an opinion on the Pandemic, hardly pointing
fingers, while asserting a unified approach would save lives; apparent common sense.
Instantly, Trump's Disciples go into their predictable mode of abuse, contempt and noise.
...

I pointed out easily verifiable facts that contradict Bossert's finger-pointing. And you call facts a "predictable mode of abuse, contempt and noise". Face the facts, @Absalom, the facts contradict Bossert, entirely.

But speaking of "predictable" you just can't leave off posting denigrating nicknames for people you disagree with. @mystery-ak, @Cyber Liberty

[PeteS in CA]

I swear, I did not read your post before posting mine.  lol lol.

My US timeline of events and actions is 40 pages long, and the China timeline is 9 pages long (both MS Word format, 12-point Arial font). After Abs' sneer your and @DB's posts were good retorts.

As for any posts that might with some accuracy be called "abuse, contempt and noise", the magnitude of Bossert's and ABC Skews' ignorance and lies merit every bit of it.

[goatprairie]

I have my criticisms of Trump, but I fail to see where him doing something different would have amounted to anything.
The only thing that could have stopped the spread would have been keeping it in China. Once it spread to other countries, mass infection was inevitable.
Countries that have done things differently i.e. stronger restrictions, shutdowns, forced mask-wearing, etc. don't seem to be doing better than we are doing.
Sweden, which didn't shut down anything or force mask wearing, hasn't done any worse than many other European countries that did.
In short, nobody, including the "experts"  know much. Maybe they know a bit more than before the virus hit our shores, but ignorance about the virus still reigns.
Let's just get on with the business of running the country, take precautions when necessary, but not hide in our basements like some prez candidate we know.

[PeteS in CA]

I have my criticisms of Trump, but I fail to see where him doing something different would have amounted to anything.
The only thing that could have stopped the spread would have been keeping it in China. Once it spread to other countries, mass infection was inevitable.
...

The Wuhan outbreak was recognizable to local doctors in the first week or so of December.

Some Wuhan doctors were warning colleagues to take precautions with certain kinds of patients at the beginning of the last week of December.

Word of the outbreak was leaked out of China on December 31st.

China and WHO admitted on January 20th that human-human transmission was happening.

Domestic travel out of Hubei Province was shut down January 23rd.

China was still encouraging its carriers to continue international travel on February 4th.

Wuhan is a large industrial city of ~11 million people. Its industries do business all over China and all over the world. By the time news of the outbreak was leaked out of China the virus was already being spread around China and around the world.

Had China in mid-December told the world about the outbreak, informed the world around December 25th that human-human transmission was happening and shut down travel out of Hubei Province around that time, and shut down travel in and out of China and given the world the DNA sequence of the virus on January 1st or 2nd (when it was first sequenced), things could have gone much different.

IOW, by the time news of the outbreak was leaked out of China many "horses" had escaped the barn, and China held the barn doors open into the month of February.

[berdie]

I have my criticisms of Trump, but I fail to see where him doing something different would have amounted to anything.
The only thing that could have stopped the spread would have been keeping it in China. Once it spread to other countries, mass infection was inevitable.
Countries that have done things differently i.e. stronger restrictions, shutdowns, forced mask-wearing, etc. don't seem to be doing better than we are doing.
Sweden, which didn't shut down anything or force mask wearing, hasn't done any worse than many other European countries that did.
In short, nobody, including the "experts"  know much. Maybe they know a bit more than before the virus hit our shores, but ignorance about the virus still reigns.
Let's just get on with the business of running the country, take precautions when necessary, but not hide in our basements like some prez candidate we know.

I agree with your post 100 per cent. In reality, no one even today knows too much about this virus. But all the political rhetoric tries to make people think they know. As far as what they would have done...hindsight is 20/20. I never understood that until I got older, lol.

[Absalom]

There is not a single doubt in my mind had Hillary been POTUS, we would be in the millions dead from this virus.   And Biden is so clueless, God only knows how many would be dead with this fool at the helm.  Tens of millions perhaps!

--------------------------
No doubt it would have been at least 100x greater than the
Bubonic Plague while spreading to Jupiter, Pluto and Uranus!

[catfish1957]

--------------------------
No doubt it would have been at least 100x greater than the
Bubonic Plague while spreading to Jupiter, Pluto and Uranus!

I knew you would come out some point with some nonsensical gibberish.  Feeling a little down that your boy Biden is dropping in the polls?

[Absalom]

I pointed out easily verifiable facts that contradict Bossert's finger-pointing. And you call facts a "predictable mode of abuse, contempt and noise". Face the facts, @Absalom, the facts contradict Bossert, entirely.
But speaking of "predictable" you just can't leave off posting denigrating nicknames for people you disagree with. @mystery-ak, @Cyber Liberty

--------------------------------
Disciples a degrading nickname?
The 12 Apostles were proudly labeled Disciples!!!