berg80
Diamond Member
- Oct 28, 2017
- 18,085
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White House Staffer: Mr. President, HHS has just completed a study, code-named "Crimson Contagion," on the country's preparedness regarding a potential viral outbreak. It highlights "just how underfunded, underprepared and uncoordinated the federal government would be for a life-or-death battle with a virus for which no treatment existed."
Trump: Go on.
WH Staffer: Sir, among other things, like bureaucratic snags, the study found the country does "not have the means to quickly manufacture more essential medical equipment, supplies or medicines, including antiviral medications, needles, syringes, N95 respirators and ventilators."
Trump: I see.
WH Staffer: The study makes some dire predictions, sir. It lays out scenarios in which millions of people could potentially be infected. What would you like to do about it, sir?
Trump: We should see about replacing the people I fired from the NSC who were put in place by the Obama admin to help coordinate the nation's response. Also, plans need to be made for a way to increase our capacity to manufacture protective clothing, masks, and to make sure we have enough accurate test kits that can be made available quickly. Let's get moving on that and report back to me in two weeks on what progress has been made.
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The more realistic conversation.
WH Official: Mr. President, your golf clubs are packed, sir. Will you be playing 18 or 36 holes?
Trump: Good, good. 36. I'm supposed to be meeting with staff about some stupid report but I just don't have time. I hear the weather is going to be great in Florida this weekend.
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Before Virus Outbreak, a Cascade of Warnings Went Unheeded
WASHINGTON — The outbreak of the respiratory virus began in China and was quickly spread around the world by air travelers, who ran high fevers. In the United States, it was first detected in Chicago, and 47 days later, the World Health Organization declared a pandemic. By then it was too late: 110 million Americans were expected to become ill, leading to 7.7 million hospitalized and 586,000 dead.
That scenario, code-named “Crimson Contagion” and imagining an influenza pandemic, was simulated by the Trump administration’s Department of Health and Human Services in a series of exercises that ran from last January to August.
The simulation’s sobering results — contained in a draft report dated October 2019 that has not previously been reported — drove home just how underfunded, underprepared and uncoordinated the federal government would be for a life-or-death battle with a virus for which no treatment existed.
Before Virus Outbreak, a Cascade of Warnings Went Unheeded
.................................................................................................................................................
Here's the Golfer-in-Chief, the guy responsible for keeping the country safe, prioritizing his time.
Trump: Go on.
WH Staffer: Sir, among other things, like bureaucratic snags, the study found the country does "not have the means to quickly manufacture more essential medical equipment, supplies or medicines, including antiviral medications, needles, syringes, N95 respirators and ventilators."
Trump: I see.
WH Staffer: The study makes some dire predictions, sir. It lays out scenarios in which millions of people could potentially be infected. What would you like to do about it, sir?
Trump: We should see about replacing the people I fired from the NSC who were put in place by the Obama admin to help coordinate the nation's response. Also, plans need to be made for a way to increase our capacity to manufacture protective clothing, masks, and to make sure we have enough accurate test kits that can be made available quickly. Let's get moving on that and report back to me in two weeks on what progress has been made.
............................................................................................................................................
The more realistic conversation.
WH Official: Mr. President, your golf clubs are packed, sir. Will you be playing 18 or 36 holes?
Trump: Good, good. 36. I'm supposed to be meeting with staff about some stupid report but I just don't have time. I hear the weather is going to be great in Florida this weekend.
..................................................................................................................
Before Virus Outbreak, a Cascade of Warnings Went Unheeded
WASHINGTON — The outbreak of the respiratory virus began in China and was quickly spread around the world by air travelers, who ran high fevers. In the United States, it was first detected in Chicago, and 47 days later, the World Health Organization declared a pandemic. By then it was too late: 110 million Americans were expected to become ill, leading to 7.7 million hospitalized and 586,000 dead.
That scenario, code-named “Crimson Contagion” and imagining an influenza pandemic, was simulated by the Trump administration’s Department of Health and Human Services in a series of exercises that ran from last January to August.
The simulation’s sobering results — contained in a draft report dated October 2019 that has not previously been reported — drove home just how underfunded, underprepared and uncoordinated the federal government would be for a life-or-death battle with a virus for which no treatment existed.
Before Virus Outbreak, a Cascade of Warnings Went Unheeded
.................................................................................................................................................
Here's the Golfer-in-Chief, the guy responsible for keeping the country safe, prioritizing his time.