Nothing makes sense any more

I did it. I watched Trump's address last night. It was painful. Somebody told him he couldn't mug for the camera and that he had to hold still and not rant, but only read from the teleprompter, a completely unnatural behavior for him, and it showed. What's with all the loud sniffing? All the speech did was highlight the unsuitability of this man for a crisis. He doesn't know what he's doing. Nothing he's saying makes sense, except as an incoherent reaction to a problem that motivates him to reach out and help...his fellow rich people. We keep getting whipsawed by inconsistent policy decisions.

Makes sense:

Much as I hate it, shutting down face-to-face interaction at our university is a smart move. We have to slow this pandemic down.

Doesn't make sense:

t
• Closing down universities, while still allowing massive sporting events to go on. Tens of thousands of people, shoulder to shoulder, eating hot dogs and drinking beer?
t
• Megachurches holding massive services. Jesus won't help you.

Makes sense:

The NBA suspending all games.

Makes sense:

Putting scientists and doctors to work to come up with sensible policies.

Doesn't make sense:

Trump waiting for Jared Kushner to make a decision about the virus.

Cutting funding to the CDC and NIH.

$50 billion in loans to small businesses, and cutting taxes.

Makes sense:

Coordinating internationally to prevent the spread of the disease.

Doesn't make sense:

Banning travel from Europe. Just Europe, not Asia. Later amended to exclude the UK from the ban.

Calling this a "foreign virus". Viruses don't have nationalities.

Makes sense:

Universal free healthcare.

Doesn't make sense:

Relying on the charity of insurance companies.

Makes sense:

54% of Americans disapprove of Trump's overall performance.

Doesn't make sense:

43% approve of how he's handling the pandemic! Only 49% disapprove.

The president's address was preceded by this phenomenon, which was perfectly representative of how America works.

when historians write about the last hour they will begin by noting the 2008 republican vp nominee was rapping on tv dressed as a bear, then the network cut to trump announcing coronavirus flight suspensions, then tom hanks got it & the nba suspended pic.twitter.com/QlJDDHMWtS

- David Mack (@davidmackau) March 12, 2020

And on that note, I have to go work with students who I may be seeing personally for the last time to figure out how we're going to finish up this semester.