I have been a little baffled about why President Trump seems so determined to make States the primary responsible parties for responding to Covid 19. All the experts, and common sense, say it makes much more sense to have a coordinated response from the Federal Government that has far more resources that the States.
Then a news item from the Economist this morning noted that as the cash-starved hospitals across Russia braced for the exponential growth of Covid cases, Mr Putin transferred responsibility for dealing with the epidemic to the regions, which have been starved of resources for much of Putin's presidency.
Of course Trump is pointing the finger the States. Effectively managing the Covid 19 is not Trump's (or Putin's) top priority. Top priority is minimizing the damage from their policies that have crippled the response.
Put somebody else in charge so you can blame them.
It will work for a lot of voters. It is probably the reason Trump actually experienced a bump in popularity after Covid 19 hit. He is on TV every single day being comforting because that's what many voters see, not the obscure news stories chronicaling administration bumbling.
He is seeking to win hearts so folks won't actually look at the facts when it comes time to assess who screwed up. He will point at the States. A lot of folks will buy it.
Maybe not enough to save his Presidency since a lot of Red State governors are those complaining. But it seems to be his best option for avoiding the fallout from his administrations documented bungling.
You have to give the man his due. President Trump is an incompetent executive, but he is a master at stroking and reinforcing peoples emotional ideas about what they would like to be true.
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