The stable genius at the helm of our ship of state dismissed coronavirus pandemic worry in January — now claims he long warned about it:

Here is a timeline of Dear Leader’s comments on coronavirus:

Feb. 7 (tweet): ”… as the weather starts to warm & the virus hopefully becomes weaker, and then gone.”

Feb. 10: “I think the virus is going to be — it’s going to be fine.”

Feb. 14: “We have a very small number of people in the country, right now, with it. It’s like around 12. Many of them are getting better. Some are fully recovered already. So we’re in very good shape.”

Feb. 19: “I think it’s going to work out fine. I think when we get into April, in the warmer weather, that has a very negative effect on that and that type of a virus. So let’s see what happens, but I think it’s going to work out fine.”

Feb. 24 (tweet): “The Coronavirus is very much under control in the USA. … Stock Market starting to look very good to me!”

Feb. 25: “You may ask about the coronavirus, which is very well under control in our country. We have very few people with it, and the people that have it are … getting better. They’re all getting better. … As far as what we’re doing with the new virus, I think that we’re doing a great job.”

Feb. 26: “Because of all we’ve done, the risk to the American people remains very low. … When you have 15 people, and the 15 within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero. That’s a pretty good job we’ve done.”

Feb. 28: “I think it’s really going well. … We’re prepared for the worst, but we think we’re going to be very fortunate.”

Feb. 28: “It’s going to disappear. One day, it’s like a miracle, it will disappear.”

Feb. 28: “This is their new hoax.”

March 4: “Some people will have this at a very light level and won’t even go to a doctor or hospital, and they’ll get better. There are many people like that.”

March 9 (tweet): “So last year 37,000 Americans died from the common Flu. It averages between 27,000 and 70,000 per year. Nothing is shut down, life & the economy go on. At this moment there are 546 confirmed cases of CoronaVirus, with 22 deaths. Think about that!”

March 10: “And it hit the world. And we’re prepared, and we’re doing a great job with it. And it will go away. Just stay calm. It will go away.”

March 11: “I think we’re going to get through it very well.”

March 12: “It’s going to go away. … The United States, because of what I did and what the administration did with China, we have 32 deaths at this point … when you look at the kind of numbers that you’re seeing coming out of other countries, it’s pretty amazing when you think of it.”

March 15: “This is a very contagious virus. It’s incredible. But it’s something that we have tremendous control over.”

March 16: “If you’re talking about the virus, no, that’s not under control for any place in the world.”

March 17: “I’ve always known this is a, this is a real, this is a pandemic … I’ve felt that it was a pandemic long before it was called a pandemic.”

Is it just me or do you think it’s unethical and inhumane that in this time of crisis The Idaho Statesman is not offering free access to important information on their site? Whatever happened to caring for your community? Shameful.

I was just told by an age 53 man that “the virus can’t hurt him because he’s under 60.” He smokes and drinks too much. Many parents of young children are creating large gatherings of children as if it’s a chicken pox party. Yes they are stupid people, but our government knew they were stupid a long time ago. Our government and media has failed on this. The agencies failing to control VD for decades are now in charge of the entire State education and response.

The federal government agencies have everything they don’t need and are short of what they do. Our governor continues to pass the buck thereby literally causing wasted time, stressful indecision at lower levels, and thereby more cases in Idaho. I detect barriers to saying and doing what needs to be said and done to get a successful response underway. Fear of reprisals? Emergency in name only? As if they don’t really believe in the top offices. China had that problem. Much of Europe too.

As for cultural changes, they have just begun. The very fabric of society will be changed. Just about everyone and everything is floating on credit. Going to be many sweet deals on near new superduper pickups with fat tires and coolguy window stickers. Sad for my country. Sad even for the stupid people.

I’m seeing some things in addition to the author’s.

Online was busy before but now its exploding. Over 500 sites offer VR tours. Delivery businesses can’t keep up. Connectivity tools are ramping up even further. Welcome to the future were everything is online – including many new jobs.

Micro delivery is finally pushing past macro delivery. Walmart trucks replaced by individual drivers delivering to individual homes. Local restaurant waiters are becoming delivery drivers. Even alcohol can be delivered now. I see wheeled drones coming out in the next year, which will cause an even greater economic shift.

The downside to online is that its the greatest Behavioral Sink. Few people can psychologically deal with more than a dozen contacts so society becomes even more tribal – and extreme. Yet online also offers the greatest means of equality, where no one knows anything about you other than what you can accomplish.

“Political or not, we simply fail to comprehend where the money will come from when it comes to BILLIONS of dollars to airlines, thousands to each individual.”

So, at least THAT hasn’t changed! I’ve been wondering that since I was old enough to pay attention, and as the National Debt has gone from billions to $21 trillion. (Or maybe it’s up to $23 or $25 trillion today. Does it matter?)

Just put it on the tab. Our kids and grandkids will all be filthy rich – in a MUCH better position to pay for our consumption, than we are! (That is SARCASM, by the way.)

It was gratifying to hear on the radio this morning, that several of our political “public servants” (of both major parties) had the foresight to cash out their stock portfolios and such, just before they declared a “national emergency” and the stock market tanked. (Hopefully they got their cash in “ones” and “fives,” so it won’t hurt so bad when they run out of toilet paper and are forced to use their currency.)

How the “War on Government” got us where we are today:

http://manythingsconsidered.com/war-on-government/

Its not going to over until everyone has either caught the virus or we have a vaccine! https://www.wired.com/story/coronavirus-interview-larry-brilliant-smallpox-epidemiologist/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=onsite-share&utm_brand=wired&utm_social-type=earned

rabula; Is that the world renowned epidemiologist Bill Gates. Or is that the some guy with lots of money Bill Gates who must be listened to because he’s some guy with lots of money.

It’s time to watch all the Mad Max videos to learn some pointers.

Do we visit restaurants? YES!
And instead of the grocery stores that have profited plenty recently- let’s all do take-out.
As for me and mine, it is ‘carry on as usual’ as much as the irrational people will allow.
No need to live in fear!

I heard the classic summary yesterday from someone:
“I am more worried about paying my rent than about getting a virus”

The upcoming economic impact of this hysteria by FAR, outweighs the health impact of even a major outbreak.
The greatest economy, the great health care system is being brought to a halt based on what?
2017- 55,672 people in the US died from flu & pneumonia. New strains happen every year. No one closed restaurants.
Where are the outspoken voices slamming against government control, communism and socialism now? A city telling a business owner to close????
Flashback to the comments here when the city passed no smoking in restaurants.
From the Editor: “Apart from the intrusion into individual liberties, Boise’s proposed smoking ban is about as likely as the 18th amendment (prohibition) of ever succeeding. Most absurd is the attempt to ban smoking in drinking establishments–debated at a public meeting Wednesday.”

But today— people are quite as snails.

Will the culture change?
-Cover your mouth.
-I’m sick, let’s not shake hands.
-I’m old and vulnerable so I don’t go into crowds.
-Don’t contaminate food.
-Get your Vitamin C
-If you’re sick stay at home
-You’re coughing, keep your distance.
etc.
THESE are ALL things we have been doing and saying for generations.
No change.

When there is a conscious change in leadership that we can TRUST, things may go back to normal:
-Take off your shoes
-Can’t have more than 2oz
-I’m going to grope you
-I’m from the govt, here to help you.

ha!
remember when we did civil defense drills, built fall-out shelters, and practiced ‘duck-and-cover’ drills?
That’s no longer part of our cultural. Maybe Putin will bring that back. did someone mention a Christmas present from N. Korea?
https://nypost.com/2019/12/27/about-that-christmas-present-kim-jong-un-promised/

will we change and build better systems to guard against the next infestation? I doubt it.

Speak for yourself. I still do duck and cover drills every couple of days or so. So far it’s worked. I haven’t gotten the Wuhan Flu.

I hope that our descendants will look back to the COVID-19 crisis and speak of “The Greatest Generation II”.

Will we rise to the challenge?

Bill Gates. The World-wide RESPECTED person with successful leadership. Microsoft– you know that company most of us are typing on. He and his magnificent wife have done more to nearly eradicate global Polio than any other modern individual- because he worked with the HELP of others respecting his LEADERSHIP and his money. Someone with money and morals in alignment.
Gates TedTalk was from way back in 2015! 5 YEARS ago, he said exactly what we needed 5 months ago.

This is not a surprise to 80% of the world.
Yet, on March 6th DJT said, “Does anybody die of the flu?’ I didn’t know people died from the flu.”
Well, no one born with a golden spoon in their mouth, right? What an idiot! Go TeamMAGA.

When the Obama admin turned things over to the new admin in 2017, there was a briefing SPECIFICALLY on dealing with the next pandemic in a hypothetical scenario. Now most of those principals are no longer in the admin. In PRISON, resigned, or fired with a tweet- so no informed person was ‘on watch’ 3 months ago to give much thought to it. We ALL know this thoug, because we are informed citizens right?
So, now we have Mike Pence as the corona czar– the guy who wipes his nose with his hand and then immediately shakes hands with people while on national TV. – confidence abounds!

I second the point of Rabula. The federal effort established to help deal with a problem like this, was poo-pahed by Trump. Pretty sure, not because it was a bad thing, but solely because it was implemented by the predecessor. A childish reaction to everything of the previous 8 years

Obama admin dealt with Ebola, swine flu, AND Zika virus.
No stock market crash.No rush on toilet paper. Masters golf continued. March madness happened. No hysteria. why?
Was it because Obama was an intelligent rational person, he listened to the experts instead of his own “hunches” and then did what was right for the country instead of his narcissistic self?
.
I didn’t even like Obama- and yet I miss him. 🙁

My consulting epidemiologist (you couch surfers look that up) is Donald J. Trump.

He knows his stuff when it comes to health care.

EDITOR NOTE–He glows with authority (except around his eyes).

Agree, Eamonn. I can recall some of his amoral monopolistic business practices. He got a magnificent wife and a cause apparently to salvage his public reputation. I appreciate his philanthropy but not at the neglect of history.

Easterner; May this soon be over. Please give me a hockey match or a ball game. I am spending way too much time and attention to this vapid bovine scat.