Hurricane Response Reveals Ron DeSantis' Competence and Leadership and Trump’s Pettiness

[DB]

Out of 50 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico, Florida came in #31 out of 52 when covid death rates were age adjusted (with 1 being the worst). They did far better than many states that had draconian lock downs.  https://www.bioinformaticscro.com/blog/states-ranked-by-age-adjusted-covid-deaths/

Thank you.

[Hoodat]

In knowing that DeSantis failed in his obligation to help Florida residents.

Sounds just like something Chuck Schumer would say.

So let's review.  Trump got DeSantis elected.  DeSantis got Florida residents killed.  Therefore, Trump killed those Florida residents.

[Smokin Joe]

There was no "promotion" involved. The NIH director was going to do that anyway.

And just so you know, I am personally convinced that this entire Covid mess was carefully planned and executed to perfection.

Yep.

[Smokin Joe]

Sounds just like something Chuck Schumer would say.

So let's review.  Trump got DeSantis elected.  DeSantis got Florida residents killed.  Therefore, Trump killed those Florida residents.

The Transitive property of finger-pointing!

[Sighlass]

@Bigun and @catfish1957

Even when you two go at it with heat, I still think the world of both of ya. Yall both sorta skirt both sides of where I stand/stood, mainly cause I give the benefit of the doubt to Trump because I didn't have a clue where to stand in the debacle of covid for the longest time. I was way out of my league on the issue (so if I was in Trump's shoes, would I have done better, maybe, maybe not). I think DeSantis was also like me in the beginning, but recovered far faster.

In hindsight, I see the error of Trump clearly now. But I must be honest, I am ashamed how slow I was to pick a side to stand (not as slow as Trump, not as fast as DeSantis). I came this close to getting the "vaccine", and the only thing that stopped me probable was this site (TBR) posting articles about potential blood-clots.

Thanks guys for the lively debate. The questions I still debate, if covid had been worse (say 5X more deadly) would I err on the side of "freedom" or "lockdowns"... I still don't know. I guess I would like to say I would lean on towards people knowing what is best for themselves over government, but then again we are talking a public that votes 50% for democrats. Would I look at people like Fauci with vested interests $$ in this, someone that couldn't bring himself to say China probable leaked this virus (that the US under his leadership invested in creating). This issue still has me lacking good insight without yall's opinions helping paddle towards figuring it out.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

Trump hired neither Fauci nor Birx. Both were in place LONG before Trump came along. If Trump had tried to rid himself of either during the "pandemic" he would undoubtedly have been impeached and removed from office over it. Truth matters @catfish1957

Wrong.

The White House Coronavirus Task Force didn't even exist until Trump created it on January 29, 2020, and he personally chaired the first meeting.  While everyone Trump assigned to the task force already had some other job with the federal government, it was Trump who assigned them to that Task Force.  Here's Trump's own press secretary making the announcement of the creation and staffing of the Task Force:

https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/statement-press-secretary-regarding-presidents-coronavirus-task-force/

As you can see, Birx wasn't even on it then.  She wasn't added until Trump named her Response Coordinator a month later.  Again, Trump's call.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/02/27/coronavirus-what-we-know-mike-pence-and-task-force/4891905002/

So just as Trump chose to assign them to that task force, he could just have easily have unassigned them, and they would have just continued doing their normal federal job.
No "firing" involved.

The funny thing is that neither Birx (who was actually in a diplomatic position when Trump selected her as Response Coordinator) for the Task Force nor Fauci was the senior U.S. government medical professionals assigned to that Task Force. 

The highest ranking U.S. government medical person on the task force was Dr. Robert Redfield, who was the actual Director of the CDV itself - Fauci's boss.  He also happened to be someone who believed the virus came from a Chinese lab, not from nature.  But he wasn't the guy Trump chose to put in charge....

The bottom line is that Trump was entitled to selected whomever he wanted - anyone - to be his point person on Covid. The people assigned to the task force were all already government employees and it was just an additional job duty on a White House task force so there was no nomination or Senate confirmation required.

It was Trump's call.

[Bigun]

Wrong.

The White House Coronavirus Task Force didn't even exist until Trump created it on January 29, 2020, and he personally chaired the first meeting.  While everyone Trump assigned to the task force already had some other job with the federal government, it was Trump who assigned them to that Task Force.  Here's Trump's own press secretary making the announcement of the creation and staffing of the Task Force:

https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/statement-press-secretary-regarding-presidents-coronavirus-task-force/

As you can see, Birx wasn't even on it then.  She wasn't added until Trump named her Response Coordinator a month later.  Again, Trump's call.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/02/27/coronavirus-what-we-know-mike-pence-and-task-force/4891905002/

So just as Trump chose to assign them to that task force, he could just have easily have unassigned them, and they would have just continued doing their normal federal job.
No "firing" involved.

The funny thing is that neither Birx (who was actually in a diplomatic position when Trump selected her as Response Coordinator) for the Task Force nor Fauci was the senior U.S. government medical professionals assigned to that Task Force. 

The highest ranking U.S. government medical person on the task force was Dr. Robert Redfield, who was the actual Director of the CDV itself - Fauci's boss.  He also happened to be someone who believed the virus came from a Chinese lab, not from nature.  But he wasn't the guy Trump chose to put in charge....

The bottom line is that Trump was entitled to selected whomever he wanted - anyone - to be his point person on Covid. The people assigned to the task force were all already government employees and it was just an additional job duty on a White House task force so there was no nomination or Senate confirmation required.

It was Trump's call.

IMHO that is TOTAL BS! Having the ability to do something and being free to do whatever you like are two entirely separate things and had Trump named anyone but who he did to head that taskforce all parties would have severely criticized him at least and removed him from office at worst. I cannot stand either of those people (Fauci or Birx) but the FACT is that they were long time federal employees LONG before Trump got there. He had no choice but to appoint them despite his obvious (to me) personal animosity toward both. Presidents are NOT dictators!

[Maj. Bill Martin]

I'll chalk that up to failed logic on steroids, and that you don't have an answer.

Sometimes, it's like they're trying to give people another reason not to vote for Trump.

[Bigun]

@Bigun and @catfish1957

Even when you two go at it with heat, I still think the world of both of ya. Yall both sorta skirt both sides of where I stand/stood, mainly cause I give the benefit of the doubt to Trump because I didn't have a clue where to stand in the debacle of covid for the longest time. I was way out of my league on the issue (so if I was in Trump's shoes, would I have done better, maybe, maybe not). I think DeSantis was also like me in the beginning, but recovered far faster.

In hindsight, I see the error of Trump clearly now. But I must be honest, I am ashamed how slow I was to pick a side to stand (not as slow as Trump, not as fast as DeSantis). I came this close to getting the "vaccine", and the only thing that stopped me probable was this site (TBR) posting articles about potential blood-clots.

Thanks guys for the lively debate. The questions I still debate, if covid had been worse (say 5X more deadly) would I err on the side of "freedom" or "lockdowns"... I still don't know. I guess I would like to say I would lean on towards people knowing what is best for themselves over government, but then again we are talking a public that votes 50% for democrats. Would I look at people like Fauci with vested interests $$ in this, someone that couldn't bring himself to say China probable leaked this virus (that the US under his leadership invested in creating). This issue still has me lacking good insight without yall's opinions helping paddle towards figuring it out.

Thanks for the kind words @Sighlass @catfish1957 and I have long been friends on this forum and I know that this little dust up isn't going to affect that one bit as far as I'm concerned.

In 2016 I was probably the most anti Trump person posting here based on the evidence I had before me at the time, and I refused to vote for him that year. What happened in the rules committee at the national convention that year caused me to turn in all my long standing RPT credentials at the national level (I'm still somewhat active in the party here in Texas). By 2020 I would have walked barefoot over a mile of broken glass to vote for Trump based on his performance in office and the fact that the swamp was so dead set against him (what they don't want is exactly what we need IMHO). And then they stole the election from him!

I said all that to say this. I have always called them as I see them and I'm never going to change. Take it or leave it.   

[Maj. Bill Martin]

IMHO that is TOTAL BS! Having the ability to do something and being free to do whatever you like are two entirely separate things and had Trump named anyone but who he did to head that taskforce all parties would have severely criticized him at least and removed him from office at worst.

Where is there a shred of evidence of that?  Trump didn't even try, so how could you possibly know?  Hell, he skipped right over Redfield, the Head of the CDC itself, and nobody said "boo".

And do you know what Birx' job was when she was named coordinator by Trump?  "Ambassador at Large and U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.". You're seriously claiming that Trump would have been removed from office if he hadn't named her Coronavirus Coordinator??

As for Fauci, he wasn't even the senior most person, and any number of other people could have been out up there.  Hell, Trump skipped right over Redfield, and nobody said crap about that.

He had no choice but to appoint them despite his obvious (to me) personal animosity toward both. Presidents are NOT dictators![/size]

No, he didn't have to appoint them.  And this was a White House Task Force.  Nobody else gets to say boo about that.  It's like the various "czars" that Presidents name.  People they want to put in charge of something but who can't get passed the Senate are appointed as White House czars because there is no confirmation required.

[bilo]

Then you have allowed the democrats to select your choice for you, and furthermore, you've allowed them to select for you the weakest candidate.  Congratulations.

Just the opposite.

I refuse to accept banana republic tactics. The establishment Pubs have done nothing to fight the totalitarian state the Rats are constructing. Trump alone stood and took it on. Now the corrupt establishment is using the corrupt legal system to try and keep Trump off the ballot, or to tie him up in court rooms so he can't campaign and win.

It is the Republic that is up for grabs in the coming election. Trump represents the possibility the Republic can be saved. If the Rats win we can forget any possibility that a constitutional Republic will remain.

[Bigun]

Just the opposite.

I refuse to accept banana republic tactics. The establishment Pubs have done nothing to fight the totalitarian state the Rats are constructing. Trump alone stood and took it on. Now the corrupt establishment is using the corrupt legal system to try and keep Trump off the ballot, or to tie him up in court rooms so he can't campaign and win.

It is the Republic that is up for grabs in the coming election. Trump represents the possibility the Republic can be saved. If the Rats win we can forget any possibility that a constitutional Republic will remain.

  

[bilo]

And had he done ANYTHING else he would have been impeached and removed from office. There was NO WAY he could have gotten away with appointing any other than those he did. And he did not "HIRE" any of them!

Initially, I was really impressed in how Trump took charge and got things done. It's hindsight where I see the errors in listening to the govt "experts". I agree with you that there was no way he could have gotten rid of Fauci, or scarf lady.

[bilo]

I have not yet declared for anyone this year but will tell you that I'm moving more in your direction every day @bilo . It isn't just Trump that the lawfare bastards aew trying to railroad!

It's the bottom line for me.

I see a lot of things I like in DeSantis, but saving the Republic comes first!

[roamer_1]

It is the Republic that is up for grabs in the coming election. Trump represents the possibility the Republic can be saved. If the Rats win we can forget any possibility that a constitutional Republic will remain.

No. Not in any way... The reality is that if you vote Tumpy in again, and he wins, he will once again be corralled off in the White House, blustering his ass off, and rolling out EOs... As the swamp gets bigger, and he doesn't do a damn thing about it.

Same time as last time, all over again. One man can't do anything. He needs a political machine behind  him to move bills, negotiate, plan and execute... He has none. Nothing. Again.

That is what will happen... If he gets that far, you can mark my words.

[bilo]

How do you explain excess deaths in Florida?

The vaccines.

[Bigun]

No. Not in any way... The reality is that if you vote Tumpy in again, and he wins, he will once again be corralled off in the White House, blustering his ass off, and rolling out EOs... As the swamp gets bigger, and he doesn't do a damn thing about it.

Same time as last time, all over again. One man can't do anything. He needs a political machine behind  him to move bills, negotiate, plan and execute... He has none. Nothing. Again.

That is what will happen... If he gets that far, you can mark my words.

I strongly suspect that we are about to find out my friend! And @bilo is 100% right about not allowing the lawfare bastards to win.

[DCPatriot]

Just the opposite.

I refuse to accept banana republic tactics. The establishment Pubs have done nothing to fight the totalitarian state the Rats are constructing. Trump alone stood and took it on. Now the corrupt establishment is using the corrupt legal system to try and keep Trump off the ballot, or to tie him up in court rooms so he can't campaign and win.

It is the Republic that is up for grabs in the coming election. Trump represents the possibility the Republic can be saved. If the Rats win we can forget any possibility that a constitutional Republic will remain.

HEAR!  HEAR!!

And @Kamaji ...you're a smart guy.  No excuse for you to NOT recognize that already, if not long ago.

And the same goes for all the rest of you anti-Trump grumpy bass turds.   

[bigheadfred]

No. Not in any way... The reality is that if you vote Tumpy in again, and he wins, he will once again be corralled off in the White House, blustering his ass off, and rolling out EOs... As the swamp gets bigger, and he doesn't do a damn thing about it.

Same time as last time, all over again. One man can't do anything. He needs a political machine behind  him to move bills, negotiate, plan and execute... He has none. Nothing. Again.

That is what will happen... If he gets that far, you can mark my words.

What makes you think the swamp is going to roll over just because someone other than Trump shows up?

[Kamaji]

Just the opposite.

I refuse to accept banana republic tactics. The establishment Pubs have done nothing to fight the totalitarian state the Rats are constructing. Trump alone stood and took it on. Now the corrupt establishment is using the corrupt legal system to try and keep Trump off the ballot, or to tie him up in court rooms so he can't campaign and win.

It is the Republic that is up for grabs in the coming election. Trump represents the possibility the Republic can be saved. If the Rats win we can forget any possibility that a constitutional Republic will remain.

You can fool yourself all you want if it makes you feel better, but the fact is, you are letting them choose your candidate for you, and they are certainly not choosing the best the GOP has to offer.

[Kamaji]

What makes you think the swamp is going to roll over just because someone other than Trump shows up?

They won't, but we do know for certain that Trump will not do anything about the swamp because he didn't do a damned thing when he had four years to do something.  We also know that someone like DeSantis is much, much better at building coalitions and at getting things done, and therefore is more likely to actually get something done against the swamp, much more so than Trump ever could.

[catfish1957]

Thanks for the kind words @Sighlass @catfish1957 and I have long been friends on this forum and I know that this little dust up isn't going to affect that one bit as far as I'm concerned.

In 2016 I was probably the most anti Trump person posting here based on the evidence I had before me at the time, and I refused to vote for him that year. What happened in the rules committee at the national convention that year caused me to turn in all my long standing RPT credentials at the national level (I'm still somewhat active in the party here in Texas). By 2020 I would have walked barefoot over a mile of broken glass to vote for Trump based on his performance in office and the fact that the swamp was so dead set against him (what they don't want is exactly what we need IMHO). And then they stole the election from him!

I said all that to say this. I have always called them as I see them and I'm never going to change. Take it or leave it.   

@Bigun @Sighlass

Hey, through the years big and I have been 99% in agreement on most issues.  Pretty rare we stray on a particular manner.

Big also did a really good job of explaining his rationale of supporting DJT.  Here is my reason for the opposite.

Back in '16, I was horrified and angered by the tactics that DJT and his Stone Pecker Slime machine used against Cruz. It was reprehensibable, and I am suprised, I even gave him a second look.  Still,  I put that all aside after his election, and supported him whole heartedly in '20.  I also supported his contention that it was stolen.

However,  when DJT returned to those '16 tactics, after gathering donations supposedly earmarked for legal battle, and applied them to attacking RDS, it just got too much for me to bare.  Secondly, he really went off the narcissitic rails as the heat ensued.  That mouth of his is not an asset, but an extreme liability for winning a general election.  3rd?  His FDR endorsement to building Freedom Cities and Baby Bonuses was the last straw.  That alone is enough for me to do everything in my power to siphon off votes toward another Republican candidate.

[Bigun]

@Bigun @Sighlass

Hey, through the years big and I have been 99% in agreement on most issues.  Pretty rare we stray on a particular manner.

Big also did a really good job of explaining his rationale of supporting DJT.  Here is my reason for the opposite.

Back in '16, I was horrified and angered by the tactics that DJT and his Stone Pecker Slime machine used against Cruz. It was reprehensibable, and I am suprised, I even gave him a second look.  Still,  I put that all aside after his election, and supported him whole heartedly in '20.  I also supported his contention that it was stolen.

However,  when DJT returned to those '16 tactics, after gathering donations supposedly earmarked for legal battle, and applied them to attacking RDS, it just got too much for me to bare.  Secondly, he really went off the narcissitic rails as the heat ensued.  That mouth of his is not an asset, but an extreme liability for winning a general election.  3rd?  His FDR endorsement to building Freedom Cities and Baby Bonuses was the last straw.  That alone is enough for me to do everything in my power to siphon off votes toward another Republican candidate.

@catfish1957

  

A few quick points of follow up:

1. We aren't as far apart as you think on this. (I have not committed to vote for DJT next year. Many of the things you mention about him irritate the living HELL out of me as well.)

2. I'm just trying to keep the record straight.

3. As much as Trump irritates me, I HATE the swamp one hundred times more and refuse to let the lawfare bastards win at the games they are playing. I value the rule of law more than anything else when it comes to government.

[libertybele]

[libertybele]

Ron DeSantis
@GovRonDeSantis
Waffle House was open right after the storm providing hot meals after Hurricane Idalia.
 
Thank you for serving Floridians during their time of need.