Trump Goes Viral, Con't

A tale of two press conferences, first, Tang The Conqueror.

Trump starts his daily crash the stock market coronavirus briefing by calling the coronavirus the "Chinese virus." pic.twitter.com/kJiceCGPpa

— Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) March 20, 2020

Trump went on to answer NBC reporter Peter Alexander's question of "What do you say to Americans who are scared?" with "I think you're a terrible reporter" and that it was a "nasty question".

Trump has an epic meltdown and goes on a screed about the media when he is asked what he would tell people who are scared. Trump called NBC's Peter Alexander a terrible reporter and started yelling and ranting. pic.twitter.com/dko6pIHrUt

— Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) March 20, 2020

Compare that to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who joined California Gov. Gavin Newsom in issuing a shelter-in-place order for the state this morning. Chuck Pierce:

“Blame me.”

With two remarkable words, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo established himself as the leader the country needs during these plague days. On Friday, Cuomo essentially shut down the economy of his state, and of its largest city, which happens to be the largest city in this country. He did so in order to fight the public-health catastrophe that is engulfing his state and the country.

These were not words we ever will hear from the country’s president*, or, likely, anyone who works for him. Cuomo’s press conference announcing this new policy was a master class in leveling with the public, and it put Cuomo at the head of a group of governors—including Gavin Newsom of California,Andy Beshear of Kentucky, and Jay Inslee of Washington—who have grasped the enormity of what’s happening to their people. At the same time, Cuomo is clearly pleading for the federal government for help, begging the administration* to do its damn job so he can do his.

For years, Cuomo has looked like everything that was wrong with the Democratic party. He leaned toward the money power and he arranged the New York legislature in a way that empowered Republicans against the more progressive elements of his own party. It made any plans he had for running for president dead on arrival every four years. But over the past months, and especially in his press conferences, Cuomo has demonstrated a knack for the kind of leadership that rallies people rather than frightens them, and that has not relied upon the fouler elements of American politics to get the job done. He has become someone upon whom everyone can rely.
These are strange times, indeed.

Not that "displaying better leadership than Donald Trump in a time of crisis" is difficult by any means, but even Cuomo gets it, and he's a blockheaded dipstick who openly argues with his brother on CNN.

Strange times, indeed.

Oh, and the Dow Jones lost another 900 points, down only 2100 points for the week, 10 grand since Feb 12 highs, or almost 34%.