In Woodward's new book, Trump admits to downplaying COVID

[heat40]

SO MUCH STUFF!! I’m trying to take it all in. Just wow!

[heat40]

Here’s the Washington post about it.

www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bob-woodward-rage-book-trump/2020/09/09/0368fe3c-efd2-11ea-b4bc-3a2098fc73d4_story.html#click=https://t.co/5rBbaKDUSf

[Patsy Baloney]

I wondered why trump twitter-diarrhea-dropped Woodward's name a week or so ago. Now I know. Got to make sure the cult dismisses it.

[AAM2012]

Well this is terrifying...

[Michelle]

Why the hell does everyone have to release their books within 2 weeks of each other right when school is starting!?! DAMMMMMMMMMMNIT.

Adding to the list...

[Velar Fricative]

I actually am okay (in general) about not releasing too much information that could incite a panic. But you don’t just downplay the threat entirely either. There is a way to promote vigilance, good habits, etc. Especially when he doesn’t downplay the lesser threats of illegal immigrant caravans and other bullshit.

And even if they really didn’t understand the degree of the threat (sounds like they did though, but I’ll be generous here), you sure as hell don’t downplay it when it’s already killing thousands of people a day. He could have had a real national response. Instead, he tells blue states to go fuck themselves, he doesn’t promote mask-wearing and distancing, and he pretends the virus just doesn’t exist.

[Velar Fricative]

Also...I am tired of trying to understand crazy but I can't believe Trump let BOB WOODWARD interview him and record all of the interviews. But yeah, we're supposed to be more concerned about Biden's mental acuity.

[biscoffcookies]

Sept 9, 2020 12:13:50 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Also...I am tired of trying to understand crazy but I can't believe Trump let BOB WOODWARD interview him and record all of the interviews. But yeah, we're supposed to be more concerned about Biden's mental acuity.

Yes when I was reading the WaPo article and seeing all the things Trump said I was like, “did he know who Bob Woodward is?” Because it is crazy to me he said those things to an author/journalist.

[mbcdefg]

Sept 9, 2020 12:13:50 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Also...I am tired of trying to understand crazy but I can't believe Trump let BOB WOODWARD interview him and record all of the interviews. But yeah, we're supposed to be more concerned about Biden's mental acuity.

$10 says this is who Trump thinks Carl Bernstein is:

[AJL]

Sept 9, 2020 12:13:50 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Also...I am tired of trying to understand crazy but I can't believe Trump let BOB WOODWARD interview him and record all of the interviews. But yeah, we're supposed to be more concerned about Biden's mental acuity.

Oh, I can. He's a megalomaniac narcissist. He is so convinced that he's right and that he's above any and all reproach, that he'll flat out admit everything in a second and then turn around and deny it all and attempt to discredit Woodward and the media. It's what he does. It's what he's always done. 

[silva]

Yeah, and the fact that this is Woodward's 2nd book on Trump....fool me once shame on you....fool me twice...

Anyone in their right mind wouldn't agree to a 2nd interview.

Then I read AJL, response which makes sense.

[mbcdefg]

We actually just watched All the President’s Men a few days ago (I’ve seen it a few times, starting in college journalism class.) I may even watch it again because it’s so tough to follow.

Nixon resigned because he lost the support of Congress, not because he got caught on tape ... so as long as Congress is kissing Trump’s ass (along with the Department of Justice) we’re all fucked.

[anonymous]

Sept 9, 2020 12:49:01 GMT -5 silva said:

Yeah, and the fact that this is Woodward's 2nd book on Trump....fool me once shame on you....fool me twice...

Anyone in their right mind wouldn't agree to a 2nd interview.

Then I read AJL, response which makes sense.

I read he wasn’t interviewed for first book and was loaded about that so was interviewed 18 times for this book

[litebright]

Sept 9, 2020 12:39:08 GMT -5 AJL said:

Sept 9, 2020 12:13:50 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Also...I am tired of trying to understand crazy but I can't believe Trump let BOB WOODWARD interview him and record all of the interviews. But yeah, we're supposed to be more concerned about Biden's mental acuity.

Oh, I can. He's a megalomaniac narcissist. He is so convinced that he's right and that he's above any and all reproach, that he'll flat out admit everything in a second and then turn around and deny it all and attempt to discredit Woodward and the media. It's what he does. It's what he's always done. 

And he's always gotten away with it. Why should he worry about Bob Woodward? 

He knows his followers and he has told us the truth about them. He really, truly, honest-to-God could shoot someone on 5th Avenue and it wouldn't shake them. It wouldn't even matter who it was. If the person was an ally, they'd come up with some reason that murder was justified. If it was someone they consider an enemy -- a protestor, a BIPOC, a Democrat, a feminist -- they would cheer him on and grab their own guns. 

This won't matter to them at all. 

[ECB]

Sept 9, 2020 13:44:09 GMT -5 litebright said:

Sept 9, 2020 12:39:08 GMT -5 AJL said:

Oh, I can. He's a megalomaniac narcissist. He is so convinced that he's right and that he's above any and all reproach, that he'll flat out admit everything in a second and then turn around and deny it all and attempt to discredit Woodward and the media. It's what he does. It's what he's always done. 

And he's always gotten away with it. Why should he worry about Bob Woodward? 

He knows his followers and he has told us the truth about them. He really, truly, honest-to-God could shoot someone on 5th Avenue and it wouldn't shake them. It wouldn't even matter who it was. If the person was an ally, they'd come up with some reason that murder was justified. If it was someone they consider an enemy -- a protestor, a BIPOC, a Democrat, a feminist -- they would cheer him on and grab their own guns. 

This won't matter to them at all. 

Yup.  This is what I was going to say.  They simply do.not.care.  And he'll also do the "I was joking" bit too, and his supporters will suck it all up.  

[was5]

Sept 9, 2020 12:39:08 GMT -5 AJL said:

Sept 9, 2020 12:13:50 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Also...I am tired of trying to understand crazy but I can't believe Trump let BOB WOODWARD interview him and record all of the interviews. But yeah, we're supposed to be more concerned about Biden's mental acuity.

Oh, I can. He's a megalomaniac narcissist. He is so convinced that he's right and that he's above any and all reproach, that he'll flat out admit everything in a second and then turn around and deny it all and attempt to discredit Woodward and the media. It's what he does. It's what he's always done. 

Yep, for a moment I thought wow, he's on tape, but then I remembered that doesn't matter. Not only won't this hurt tRump, he will use it to his benefit to smear Bernstein like he does all media. 

[Patsy Baloney]

Also, I'm seeing the backlash begin around Woodward - "Why did he hold onto this info? People died!"

I don't feel one way or the other on it, because, quite honestly, I doubt having him on tape blabbing about things that WE HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN TO BE TRUE matter to the people who can take action against him. It's just lock-step GOP and owning the libs. This is just another thing for followers to pretend doesn't exist, was manipulated to hurt their god, or whatever bullshit they cart out. It's just the fuel they need to keep going.

[noodleoo]

WOW. This is... I can't even describe what I'm feeling. It shocks me to hear him on tape. I guess I thought he really believed what he was saying when he downplayed the virus. I thought he was that stupid. Turns out once again, I'm the idiot. He's so much more dangerous and culpable than I realized.

And I think that's what's even scarier. I feel like we've been brainwashed or convinced ourselves that he's a stupid idiot. But he's not, he's smarter than I realize and we're underestimating him and that's why I'm terrified he's going to win reelection and this misery will never end.

[was5]

Sept 9, 2020 14:15:57 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

WOW. This is... I can't even describe what I'm feeling. It shocks me to hear him on tape. I guess I thought he really believed what he was saying when he downplayed the virus. I thought he was that stupid. Turns out once again, I'm the idiot. He's so much more dangerous and culpable than I realized.

And I think that's what's even scarier. I feel like we've been brainwashed or convinced ourselves that he's a stupid idiot. But he's not, he's smarter than I realize and we're underestimating him and that's why I'm terrified he's going to win reelection and this misery will never end.

I think he believed it would stay in blue states, so even though he was aware of the impact, he didn't care. Which is incredibly scare but not surprising.

It is interesting that we heard so much about NY, MI, and CA cases, but not much about FL and TX. I live in MI and my dad and brother live in TX. Dad is very high risk so I try to pay attention to what's going on there, but I really don't see much. Have the Rs in charge of those states just done a really good job of keeping things out of the media?

[silva]

Sept 9, 2020 13:09:39 GMT -5 anonymous said:

Sept 9, 2020 12:49:01 GMT -5 silva said:

Yeah, and the fact that this is Woodward's 2nd book on Trump....fool me once shame on you....fool me twice...

Anyone in their right mind wouldn't agree to a 2nd interview.

Then I read AJL , response which makes sense.

I read he wasn’t interviewed for first book and was loaded about that so was interviewed 18 times for this book

oh. Thanks for clarifying.

[5thofjuly]

I want to push back on us again here. And, much credit goes to Pod Save America for this (again.) We (Democrats) HAVE to cut this shit out with the, "It doesn't matter, nothing matters, it'll never change." Because

1. Yes, it does. There's not a single thing that will change some of the base. They're stable. We don't have to change the base. If we get 33,000 people in a couple of states to stay home or shift their votes, that's the election.

2. There's no magic bullet. The race is incredibly stable. It won't swing 15 points by a single revelation. But this will piss off a couple of people enough to change their vote/get out the vote. The comments about the military will do the same. The Justice Department fuckery will do the same. My own mom was swayed from Trump 2016 to now STRONG Biden (she's fighting strangers on Facebook ) over what I'd consider to be a tiny drop in the bucket. But, for her, that was the drop.

3. The GOP HOPES we do this "Woe is me, nothing matters" crap loudly and for a long time. Because what that will do is take some of our own likely potential Democratic voters who aren't as engaged as we are (i.e., this base) and convince them that their vote is worthless so they might as well stay home.

As someone who is not a natural optimist, I'm trying really hard right now to be engaged and positive, but that's what we all need to do.

[taratru]

The first tape that was released of him saying shocking things in 2016 didn't make a bit of difference. This won't either. I hate this country sometimes.

eta: guess I should have read 5thofjuly 's rebuke first. 

[was5]

Sept 9, 2020 15:19:11 GMT -5 5thofjuly said:

I want to push back on us again here. And, much credit goes to Pod Save America for this (again.) We (Democrats) HAVE to cut this shit out with the, "It doesn't matter, nothing matters, it'll never change." Because

1. Yes, it does. There's not a single thing that will change some of the base. They're stable. We don't have to change the base. If we get 33,000 people in a couple of states to stay home or shift their votes, that's the election.

2. There's no magic bullet. The race is incredibly stable. It won't swing 15 points by a single revelation. But this will piss off a couple of people enough to change their vote/get out the vote. The comments about the military will do the same. The Justice Department fuckery will do the same. My own mom was swayed from Trump 2016 to now STRONG Biden (she's fighting strangers on Facebook ) over what I'd consider to be a tiny drop in the bucket. But, for her, that was the drop.

3. The GOP HOPES we do this "Woe is me, nothing matters" crap loudly and for a long time. Because what that will do is take some of our own likely potential Democratic voters who aren't as engaged as we are (i.e., this base) and convince them that their vote is worthless so they might as well stay home.

As someone who is not a natural optimist, I'm trying really hard right now to be engaged and positive, but that's what we all need to do.

I don't think most people are "woe is me" on this board, but we are trying to brace for the possibility that tRump could win again. There is a difference. The response may be ho-hum because there is no one thing anymore that will sink a campaign which is very different than the way things were 16 years ago (or even 8 years ago). We are trying not to get our hopes up that this will make a huge impact, but that doesn't mean we're throwing in the towel. Maybe this will be the thing that convinces the people on the fence. I hope it is, but I'm not counting on it until all the votes are counted.

[5thofjuly]

Sept 9, 2020 15:40:27 GMT -5 was5 said:

Sept 9, 2020 15:19:11 GMT -5 5thofjuly said:

I want to push back on us again here. And, much credit goes to Pod Save America for this (again.) We (Democrats) HAVE to cut this shit out with the, "It doesn't matter, nothing matters, it'll never change." Because

1. Yes, it does. There's not a single thing that will change some of the base. They're stable. We don't have to change the base. If we get 33,000 people in a couple of states to stay home or shift their votes, that's the election.

2. There's no magic bullet. The race is incredibly stable. It won't swing 15 points by a single revelation. But this will piss off a couple of people enough to change their vote/get out the vote. The comments about the military will do the same. The Justice Department fuckery will do the same. My own mom was swayed from Trump 2016 to now STRONG Biden (she's fighting strangers on Facebook ) over what I'd consider to be a tiny drop in the bucket. But, for her, that was the drop.

3. The GOP HOPES we do this "Woe is me, nothing matters" crap loudly and for a long time. Because what that will do is take some of our own likely potential Democratic voters who aren't as engaged as we are (i.e., this base) and convince them that their vote is worthless so they might as well stay home.

As someone who is not a natural optimist, I'm trying really hard right now to be engaged and positive, but that's what we all need to do.

I don't think most people are "woe is me" on this board, but we are trying to brace for the possibility that tRump could win again. There is a difference. The response may be ho-hum because there is no one thing anymore that will sink a campaign which is very different than the way things were 16 years ago (or even 8 years ago). We are trying not to get our hopes up that this will make a huge impact, but that doesn't mean we're throwing in the towel. Maybe this will be the thing that convinces the people on the fence. I hope it is, but I'm not counting on it until all the votes are counted.

You’re not wrong, but I’m seeing this exact same resignation on places like Facebook where your 20 year old cousin and 77 year old great aunt hang out, too. If we’re the most politically active people they know and we’re saying this in front of them...

[pixy0stix]

Sept 9, 2020 16:02:45 GMT -5 5thofjuly said:

Sept 9, 2020 15:40:27 GMT -5 was5 said:

I don't think most people are "woe is me" on this board, but we are trying to brace for the possibility that tRump could win again. There is a difference. The response may be ho-hum because there is no one thing anymore that will sink a campaign which is very different than the way things were 16 years ago (or even 8 years ago). We are trying not to get our hopes up that this will make a huge impact, but that doesn't mean we're throwing in the towel. Maybe this will be the thing that convinces the people on the fence. I hope it is, but I'm not counting on it until all the votes are counted.

You’re not wrong, but I’m seeing this exact same resignation on places like Facebook where your 20 year old cousin and 77 year old great aunt hang out, too. If we’re the most politically active people they know and we’re saying this in front of them...

No ma'am, you're not going to put that on us. People are going to vote for Trump regardless of what we do or say. People are going to vote for Biden regardless of what we do or say. We have a right to be despairing on this board, knowing that most of us follow all of this closely.

[5thofjuly]

Sept 9, 2020 16:22:30 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Sept 9, 2020 16:02:45 GMT -5 5thofjuly said:

You’re not wrong, but I’m seeing this exact same resignation on places like Facebook where your 20 year old cousin and 77 year old great aunt hang out, too. If we’re the most politically active people they know and we’re saying this in front of them...

No ma'am, you're not going to put that on us. People are going to vote for Trump regardless of what we do or say. People are going to vote for Biden regardless of what we do or say. We have a right to be despairing on this board, knowing that most of us follow all of this closely.

I mean, you are totally allowed to do what you want. This is what I’m seeing among my friends list who are 95% progressive and 5% great aunts.

In truth, most folks have made up their minds. But, there really are a handful of people out there who are still undecided (either about the candidate or about whether they go vote at all) and I’m going to do everything I can (and avoid things I can) to encourage them.

I will totally concede that this board is a different place than instagram or Facebook, but my worry is that if it’s here, it’s leaking out into that universe, too. People are certainly allowed to despair whenever and wherever they want, but I still worry about the consequences of too much “nothing’s going to change.”

ETA: Trust me when I say I also have like 15 of the “nothing matters” thoughts a day, but I’m trying really hard to keep that from leaking out, especially with my students.

[okla]

200K people will likely be dead by the end of the week and Woodward held on to this for six months for a book?!?!

You can say all you want that it wouldn’t have mattered if it had come out sooner, but the fact remains that sitting on this is irresponsible.

[Patsy Baloney]

Sept 9, 2020 16:37:12 GMT -5 okla said:

200K people will likely be dead by the end of the week and Woodward held on to this for six months for a book?!?!

You can say all you want that it wouldn’t have mattered if it had come out sooner, but the fact remains that sitting on this is irresponsible.

I said earlier I didn’t feel one way or the other on this, but since you do, what do you think would have happened if this was release earlier? Totally genuine, not trying to argue or be a butthead. I’m really trying to envision how this information might have caused any of this absolute 0 federal response to play out differently.

ETA: and my cynical take is - capitalism will kill us all.

[okla]

Sept 9, 2020 17:19:08 GMT -5 Patsy Baloney said:

Sept 9, 2020 16:37:12 GMT -5 okla said:

200K people will likely be dead by the end of the week and Woodward held on to this for six months for a book?!?!

You can say all you want that it wouldn’t have mattered if it had come out sooner, but the fact remains that sitting on this is irresponsible.

I said earlier I didn’t feel one way or the other on this, but since you do, what do you think would have happened if this was release earlier? Totally genuine, not trying to argue or be a butthead. I’m really trying to envision how this information might have caused any of this absolute 0 federal response to play out differently.

I couldn’t even begin to guess. But I still think people should do the right thing (in this case, release this information) regardless of what the outcome might be.

[1confused1]

Sept 9, 2020 17:21:12 GMT -5 okla said:

Sept 9, 2020 17:19:08 GMT -5 Patsy Baloney said:

I said earlier I didn’t feel one way or the other on this, but since you do, what do you think would have happened if this was release earlier? Totally genuine, not trying to argue or be a butthead. I’m really trying to envision how this information might have caused any of this absolute 0 federal response to play out differently.

I couldn’t even begin to guess. But I still think people should do the right thing (in this case, release this information) regardless of what the outcome might be.

Maybe I'm dumb, but this doesn't seem like new information or maybe I'm just too jaded. It doesn't matter if more people knew that Trump was withholding information, he was going to do whatever he wanted, which was nothing.