President Trump: Making America Great Again...

[Eddie]

It took me a while in the early days before I understood that TDS referred to an unwavering and at times excessive, even irrational, contempt for Trump. And I do see that in some of the critiques and commentary on CNN, MSNBC, etc. But TDS seems to apply in a contrarian sense as well. For example, Lindsay Graham is one of the biggest Trump supporters/lovers out there today. But consider just a few of his comments about Trump prior to Trump's nomination:

“To Donald Trump, congratulations. You did a hell of a thing; you beat me and everybody else. I just really believe that the Republican Party has been conned here.”

Graham had previously described Trump as a “race-baiting, xenophobic religious bigot,” and declared that, “I do not believe he is a reliable Republican conservative nor has he displayed the judgment and temperament to serve as commander in chief,” and, “looking back, we should have basically kicked him out of the party.”

Certainly Trump’s character, words and actions have been pretty consistent since he entered the race. So what happened to Graham, Christie, and a passel of other former Trump-haters who now pucker up in anticipation of kissing Trump’s backside. If that isn’t a form of derangement, what is? Perhaps TDS should be recognized as having two very different strains of the same malady.

I'm not sure I'd use Graham's comments there - congratulations, but I feel like we've been conned - as evidence of kissing Trump's backside.

He may have said things after that uncharacteristically and irrationally praise Trump for something that would qualify - but that statement seems pretty fair.

More to the point - I agree with you. There are people deranged when it comes to Trump on both ends of the derangement continuum.

[Walter Sobchak]

Dude, you're morphing into Frank.

(Still working on that trade, mbn for RF. Bring RF from outer darkness and send mbn there in his place. A win-win all around.)

[Donuthole]

I'm not sure I'd use Graham's comments there - congratulations, but I feel like we've been conned - as evidence of kissing Trump's backside.

He may have said things after that uncharacteristically and irrationally praise Trump for something that would qualify - but that statement seems pretty fair.

I think the point is that Graham was once of the belief that Trump was a con man,; a race-baiting xenophobic religious bigot; not a Republican conservative; who lacks the temperament to serve as CIC. Graham has since been deranged into thinking Trump can do no wrong.

[Jarid in Cedar]

Yes, the health and safety of workers in meat plants is a legitimate concern. The food supply of the country, of which meat plants are a major factor, is also a legitimate concern. What is the right balance between those concerns?

<sigh>

People are so emotional and polarized these days that it's not even worth trying to have a reasonable and balanced discussion about what is a complex and multi-faceted situation.

I'm out.

I will take a crack at it.

1. Close 2 to 3 days to sanitize common areas the best you can.
2. Aggressively screen workers as they come to work for illness
3. Start with a reduced crew, and return to full capacity as you see workers remain healthy.
4. Pay some hazard pay. Most folks can be bought for the right price

It will reduce output, but won't cause compete collapse of the supply chain

[Northwestcoug]

I will take a crack at it.

1. Close 2 to 3 days to sanitize common areas the best you can.
2. Aggressively screen workers as they come to work for illness
3. Start with a reduced crew, and return to full capacity as you see workers remain healthy.
4. Pay some hazard pay. Most folks can be bought for the right price

It will reduce output, but won't cause compete collapse of the supply chain

Sounds reasonable.

[PaloAltoCougar]

I'm not sure I'd use Graham's comments there - congratulations, but I feel like we've been conned - as evidence of kissing Trump's backside.

...

As Donuthole mentioned, Graham's comment came before the nomination (sorry if I was unclear in my prior post). It was part of a Time interview in which he said he would not vote for Trump. Graham's TDS didn't kick in until later.

[BigFatMeanie]

I will take a crack at it.

1. Close 2 to 3 days to sanitize common areas the best you can.
2. Aggressively screen workers as they come to work for illness
3. Start with a reduced crew, and return to full capacity as you see workers remain healthy.
4. Pay some hazard pay. Most folks can be bought for the right price

It will reduce output, but won't cause compete collapse of the supply chain

I think that kind of balance would be perfectly reasonable.

If one reads the article MBN posted, it indicates that the federal government, which regulates the meat packing industry, and state and local governments which have health departments, will work on determining how to best keep the plants open and balance the safety of the employees with the need to protect the food supply. I anticipate the end result will be something very close to your suggestions.

But polarizing people are incapable of viewing the situation that way. They can only view it as, "Orange Man Bad! Orange Man Hurt Poor Vulnerable Workers Just So He Can Eat Meat and Line His Crony's Pockets! PEOPLE WILL DIE! Orange Man Bad!!!!"

[Northwestcoug]

I think that kind of balance would be perfectly reasonable.

If one reads the article MBN posted, it indicates that the federal government, which regulates the meat packing industry, and state and local governments which have health departments, will work on determining how to best keep the plants open and balance the safety of the employees with the need to protect the food supply. I anticipate the end result will be something very close to your suggestions.

But polarizing people are incapable of viewing the situation that way. They can only view it as, "Orange Man Bad! Orange Man Hurt Poor Vulnerable Workers Just So He Can Eat Meat and Line His Crony's Pockets! PEOPLE WILL DIE! Orange Man Bad!!!!"

How about a more nuanced criticism? Like, 'orange man cannot articulate a reasonable policy position, so its implications and his real intent is legitimately up for interpretation'?

[LVAllen]

I like meat, a lot. But, seriously?

This could force workers (at threat of their jobs) to work in unsafe conditions and limit their redress for such. These plants have turned into COVID hotspots resulting in at least 3,400 cases and 17 fatalities thus far.

Embedded Tweet

Better question: What the hell gave him the idea that the DPA can be used in this fashion? Why are "small government" conservatives still on his side after this? Is this not the very essence of central government economic control, i.e. what they've always decried as socialism, and crap that Red China does?

To answer my question: he can't legally. Section 101 allows him to require contracts for the government take priority. Section 107 of the DPA gives him the authority to provide incentives. Section 301 gives him the authority to guarantee loans to expand capacity. Section 303 allows him to buy products, and, if the current needs of the program are LESS than what has been purchased, to place the excess in the National Defense Stockpile.

NONE of that gives him the authority to compel the reopening of a closed facility. But something being illegal hasn't ever stopped him from doing what he wants.

[Sleeping in EQ]

As Donuthole mentioned, Graham's comment came before the nomination (sorry if I was unclear in my prior post). It was part of a Time interview in which he said he would not vote for Trump. Graham's TDS didn't kick in until later.

Graham has now officially gone the way of Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

[tooblue]

Better question: What the hell gave him the idea that the DPA can be used in this fashion? Why are "small government" conservatives still on his side after this? Is this not the very essence of central government economic control, i.e. what they've always decried as socialism, and crap that Red China does?

To answer my question: he can't legally. Section 101 allows him to require contracts for the government take priority. Section 107 of the DPA gives him the authority to provide incentives. Section 301 gives him the authority to guarantee loans to expand capacity. Section 303 allows him to buy products, and, if the current needs of the program are LESS than what has been purchased, to place the excess in the National Defense Stockpile.

NONE of that gives him the authority to compel the reopening of a closed facility. But something being illegal hasn't ever stopped him from doing what he wants.

Now there's some nuance for you.

[wapiti]

How about a more nuanced criticism? Like, 'orange man cannot articulate a reasonable policy position, so its implications and his real intent is legitimately up for interpretation'?

There is no place for nuance in the coronavirus world.

[Bo Diddley]

TDS is nothing more that polarized partisanship. Trump is someone the democrats demonize, similar to how the GOP demonized Hillary. Trump is also someone the GOP will lionize, and then they will mock the democrats by saying they have TDS, some irrational disease. Partisan tribalism in action. It all really gets old.

[Uncle Ted]

TDS is nothing more that polarized partisanship. Trump is someone the democrats demonize, similar to how the GOP demonized Hillary. Trump is also someone the GOP will lionize, and then they will mock the democrats by saying they have TDS, some irrational disease. Partisan tribalism in action. It all really gets old.

But Hillary is actually the spawn of satan.

[Bo Diddley]

But Hillary is actually the spawn of satan.

I mean, she really IS a demon!