Trump vs. Biden: A crisis is an opportunity to be presidential
When people are stressed and worried by world and/or national crises, most of them naturally look to leaders to help: to communicate with them, to reassure them, and to do something. This is true not only of the relationship between citizens and government, but in most human relations. And if a person is perceived as being helpful in a time of stress, people will generally bond to that person more closely.
If the helper is a president dealing with a crisis – FDR, Lincoln, even George Bush in the first weeks after 9/11 – people tend to cut him some slack if he’s perceived as strong and working on their behalf. It’s even better if what he does is effective.
The MSM and the Democrats seem not to have been cognizant of this at first. They concentrated on almost nonstop criticism of Trump’s dealings with the COVID crisis. If he did something, what he did was wrong. If he didn’t do something, what he didn’t do would have been the best course of action. This is nothing new for them, but in a crisis most people don’t like it, especially if much of the criticism doesn’t seem valid or well-meaning.
Thus it was a bit of a surprise when the Democratic governors of California and New York praised Trump’s help for their states and his general demeanor during their interactions with him around this. But then it occurred to me that not only were they truly grateful for the help their states were receiving from Trump – and perhaps even a bit startled that it came at all – but perhaps they also had seen polls that indicated the public was rallying behind the president. The governors might have concluded that they might alienate a lot of people if they kept up the nonstop criticism, not to mention seeming ungrateful for the help offered.
And sure enough, we have this:
An ABC News/Ipsos poll released Friday reports that 55 percent of respondents approve of Trump’s management of the public health crisis, while 43 percent disapprove. The latest figures represent a boost in the president’s rating from the previous iteration of the survey, published one week ago, which showed only 43 percent approval for Trump and 54 percent disapproval.
Another factor is that, with all the closings of businesses and the constant televised appearances and press conferences by Trump, most Americans are probably watching him perform unfiltered. Those who usually just get a few sound bites from a Trump-hating MSM may be surprised at what they see: a guy who seems rather reasonable and knowledgeable and to be doing pretty well in times of great difficulty, beleagured by a carping press focusing on gotcha minutiae.
Among other things, the MSM doesn’t like the way Trump expresses himself. But so far, the American people seem to be liking what he’s doing. In his previous career, Trump has been good at organizing complex projects of a very different sort, although this is far more complex than anything he’s ever faced.
And then we have Joe Biden, who will almost certainly be Trump’s opponent in November. He’s been a petty and unimpressive man his entire life, and not altogether bright, an opinion I had even back when I was a Democrat. That now, in his twilight years, he finds himself within reach of a long-sought goal that had previously eluded him when he was in better shape is one of those ironies of history. Right now he should either get out of the way or be supportive, and wait. But instead he is constantly carping about Trump in the manner of a very annoying back-seat driver.
And he’s incompetent even at that. “I would have done this and I would have done that” – and then he goes on to list the things Trump has already done, or sometimes lies about them. He manages to look like a petty complainer, a braggart, and cognitively challenged all at the same time. It’s quite a feat. Has this man no advisors?
I think a lot of Americans would have less of an issue with Trump if they stopped looking to the President to “comfort” and “reassure” them. A liberty-focused culture should not be too sentimental about the Presidency.
Good point, shadow.
I guess I shouldn’t be shocked that 43% view Trumps efforts with disapproval. I am appalled that they do though. I don’t expect that 100% would approve but not this level of animosity.
shadow,
And yet, unfortunately, I think humans are just wired that way. We are pack animals after all.
I think the introverts and the liberty-minded people-the two don’t necessarily overlap a lot-are in a minority. Americans are probably more likely to be in the liberty-minded group than other humans, but even here, we have a notably large, progressive/statist/collectivist percentage of folks.
shadow; Matthew; Fractal Rabbit:
Note that I wrote this [emphasis added]:
So I’m describing a general human trait of most people. Not only that, but being a lover of liberty and yet looking for reassurance and competence in times of crisis are not mutually exclusive traits. One can want someone who’s the head of the country, or the city, or the town, or even the family, to exhibit those traits, and still want to preserve one’s own liberty and not want to be blindly led or to blindly worship and follow the leader.
Not bad, though, for a guy suffering from advanced dementia.
Given the current crisis, we should probably take the high road and give him a break.
Neo said:
“Not only that, but being a lover of liberty and yet looking for reassurance and competence in times of crisis are not mutually exclusive traits.”
Thank you Neo. That’s well put and I should have been clearer and more complete in my own thought process.
I can see the election games now..
Trump says something, and Biden decides to try to start a fist fight as Trump leans on the podium and says “Really”?
Biden is going to lose it (behaviorally) many times…
Has this man no advisors?
It is quite possible that Biden’s advisers are Trump deranged, lots of smart people are. And there may be good reasons for Trump to keep them so.
“But then it occurred to me that not only were they truly grateful for the help their states were receiving from Trump – and perhaps even a bit startled that it came at all –” — Neo
I thought you were going to say, “But then it occurred to me … Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.”
I do think Gov. Newsome looked darned sincere when he expressed his gratitude. Then he said something like this:
“Then President Trump actually did everything he said he was going to do.”
Ah, the times we live in.
We should not expect to see any debates between Biden and Trump. Biden will be a soft focus image so TV commercials can carry the burden of campaigning. Most of the media coverage will be either fact-checking Trump, blaming him for the economy, or of the horse race variety focused on polling.
The Democrats hardly need a candidate, and they hardly got one.
I see that WaPo has run an intelligence-report-on-virus-from-Jan-ignored-by-Trump hit piece. I call it the Jean Dixon stage of crisis manipulation.
I’m watching the daily Coronavirus Task Force briefing right now. And a couple of things are quite striking:
1)For all of Trump’s supposed bluster and ego, he has no problem letting experts do their job and speak with regards to their expertise.
2) Mike Pence looks tired but hopeful. While various governors-my own included (Cuomo) are vying to look the most presidential for future campaigns, Pence is doing a great job and and I think someday Americans will remember his steering of this task force.
3) The people who only see the selectively edited clips of the President would do well to watch one in its entirety. It would be educational in the extreme. The marshaling of forces, knowledge and resources is astounding. I think one day in the future, it will be compared to the planning of Operation Overlord.
4) Dr. Ben Carson. I’ve always liked that man, and truth be told, he was always my personal pick for president in the early stages of the 2016 campaign. He seems like a good and decent man who has been a loyal supporter of the President from the beginning. It also reminds me of one of the early debates (I wish I could remember which one) where Dr. Carson was “forgotten” by the moderators when the candidates were announced and the ‘egomaniac’ Trump made a point of waiting back until Dr. Carson was announced.
5) The way some America companies are stepping up to help (for instance Hanes changing some production facilities to manufacture masks) in anyway they can is awe inspiring.
But anyway, if people want leadership, they need to see these updates. That’s probably why the media wants to stop showing them to people.
At this point, and I know it’s been said before, the D’s running Biden are hoping if he wins he will be a figurehead. Either his VP will be running the show, or the politburo.
People under stress look to their leaders; that’s certainly true–it’s self evident. By the same token, people under stress looking to leaders for reassurance don’t react well to hecklers.
A lot of businesses get this. They’re knocking themselves out to come up with something–anything– to reassure their customers that things will be ok. (Our local Safeway installed plexiglass shields–“sneeze guards”–between the checkers and their customers.)
The Democrats nothing to offer that doesn’t sound like an endorsement of DJT–as if that will ever happen
I don’t need our garbage news media hectoring the President about people who are afraid. Some are afraid, or afraid at times, but in the main I think people display immense courage when the chips are down. We are not the children the media portray us as—we would walk through fire for our children.
I want to see Joe Biden make TV commercials advertising CCCP canned bat soup.
It’s the one with a bright red flag and big black wings. Slogan: it’s even safe for babies.
Cue to Joe: he slurps a spoonful, then kisses a baby. The Chinese would pay him millions.
Okay, I’m in a virus panic, and I said a mean thing. I’ve got a lawyer to handle all the complaints. Please don’t sick twitter on me. #BatSoup.
Let’s face it… Trump will never be “warm and fuzzy”. But, we didn’t elect him to be warm and fuzzy. We elected him to be the bad guy to clean the swamp. Now, he is directing the same skillset to dealing with a health crisis. As Gov. Newsome said, he seems to be doing it pretty well.
But, some people still want “warm and fuzzy” even though that is not what is going to protect them. These are the same people who want unicorns and rainbows, and nothing Trump ever does or day could ever possibly placate them.
There are those who want to take Trump’s briefings off TV because of his “lies” and people will die from what he says. They are more afraid his actions will make him more popular and unbeatable in the next election.
“But anyway, if people want leadership, they need to see these updates. That’s probably why the media wants to stop showing them to people.” Fractal Rabbit on March 21, 2020 at 2:06 pm
That was a nice summary. Eeyore linked one of the stories about the MSM realizing they’ve lost control of the situation. Bottom line:
“The media: If we can’t beat Trump, we’ll silence him.”
The Democrat position on several fronts was well answered here.
https://pjmedia.com/instapundit/361621/
Once Trump senses we are ready to move from ‘Fear the Risk’, to ‘Understand the Risk’ – he is going to impress us all over again.
• Facts without History = Fear the Risk
• Facts with History = Understand the Risk
I think Biden will not be the Democrats’ nominee for president. I say they will draft someone—perhaps Andrew Cuomo. I think he and almost every other state governor failed to prepare his or her respective state’s health system for any significant epidemic. However, Cuomo has been giving press conferences lately that on the surface would seem to Democrats to be very competent. Thus, he will be very attractive to the Democrats come the time of the Democrat Party convention-while Biden is particularly unattractive and will not improve as time marches on.
“Not bad, though, for a guy suffering from advanced dementia. Given the current crisis, we should probably take the high road and give him a break.”
OK, but at a certain point . . . when Grandpa gets too dangerous you take away his keys.
There is a theory, that sounds reasonable to me, that Cuomo is trying to use the virus panic to promote himself as a “compromise” candidate for the Democrats. He has been on TV constantly and New York is a TV center. It will be interesting to watch.
Biden is the best the Dems have and that says it all.
Joe will do very well at Comedy Hour in the old folks home — excuse me, assisted living facility.
Someone suggested somewhere (Ace?) that the Democrats should just move Joe to an old folks home fitted out to look like the White House and tell him he won. He’ll be happy, and the Dems will be happy. I like that idea.
Cuomo is a credible candidate and he scares the living hell out of me.
“…credible…”
Not if this keeps up:
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/tarp-failure-monday-hours-go-until-markets-open-congress-still-has-no-stimulus-deal
F on March 22, 2020 at 5:47 pm said:
Someone suggested somewhere (Ace?) that the Democrats should just move Joe to an old folks home fitted out to look like the White House and tell him he won. He’ll be happy, and the Dems will be happy. I like that idea.
* * *
Can they give Hillary an office there as well?
PS for the NeverTrumpers, h/t commenter at TWIP on PowerLine Saturday:
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e918169b45ef092befd6a27dc8337e2726278b0a0347edc8e96242f1e89ff4f6.jpg
“…credible…” (cont.)
Yep, Pelosi and her petulant posse are sure on a roll!
https://theunionjournal.com/msnbcs-joy-reid-joins-others-in-slamming-pelosi-over-abortion-funding-in-coronavirus-bill/
https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2020/03/trump-derangement-syndrome-is-bad-for-your-health.php
(Trying to save America from Trump and his supporters, no doubt…. Anyway, be interesting to see how this will be spun…or widely ignored by the usual suspects…)
File under: Nero finagled while Rome burned….
how this will be spun
Heh. Three successive NYT headlines on the one story tell that tale well enough:
Iteration 1) Democrats Block Action On $1.8 Trillion Dollar Stimulus
Iteration 2) Democrats Block Action On Stimulus Plan, Seeking Worker Protections
Iteration 3) Partisan Divide Threatens Deal On Rescue Bill
Come on, now. Shouldn’t that be:
1) Republican Perfidy Compels Democrats to Block Action On…
2) Trump’s Racist, Misogynist Bigotry Forces Democrats to Block Action On…
3) Heartless GOP Stupidity Threatens Deal On…
There. Fixed it.
Hee hee hee
Actually, now might be the time to renew impeachment proceedings (since they are open-ended—now and forever!)
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/senate-republicans-stuck-in-quarantine-as-chaos-unfolds-over-coronavirus-bill
Or rather, wait a week or two, when most of the GOP senators will be home playing fantasy baseball. (Well, maybe not Collins.)
It’s in the bag! We have reached the mountain top!! Glory, Glory, Halleluya!
now might be the time to renew impeachment proceedings
You mean to tattle on the Democrats (weeks long now) prophylactic use of Hydroxychloroquine + zinc, thus preventing their corporate vulnerability to the otherwise devastating viral bug? For shame, Barry!
Alas, poor Shame! I knew him once….
Are you insinuating that the Democrats have themselves discovered the yearned-for cure? I just don’t know what to say…
But never mind me. Let’s cut now to the Bovine Ms. M.!
https://newsthud.com/bette-midler-claims-trickster-trump-has-been-rendered-irrelevant/
Biden: “…a very annoying back seat driver..”
Perfecto, Neo!! Works also for much of the MSMs. You’ll understand, I’m sure, that I will credit you the first 5-times I use it; then, a time or two with, “As someone aptly put it..”; then,.. “As I’ve long said about Biden: He’s like a VERY ANNOYING Back Seat Driver.”
What’cha think..? Okay, Okaaay, I’ll credit you the first 7-times!! Sheesh, so uppity..!!