October 5, 2020
‘Hubris’ is an ancient Greek term for pride and ego supplanting common sense. Covid-19 denier Donald J. Trump is a classic example.
He and wife Melania are now isolated, suffering from what are described as ‘mild symptoms’ of the Covid-19 virus. At 73 years old and 60 lbs. overweight, Trump’s Covid symptoms may be serious rather than minor. What’s more, the Covid virus often scars the body, causing long-term damage to the lungs, heart, eyes and brain.
‘Hubris’ means scorning the dangers of Covid and trying to blame it all on China, refusing to wear a mask or sanitize hands, and encouraging one’s not so bright followers to congregate and ignore the deadly virus. No need to create a panic that would dampen the pumped-up stock market, a key Trump main claim to success.
Now, one wonders what Trump’s religious followers will say about this turn of events. In certain rural circles, Trump is venerated as a demi-saint or the reincarnation of Biblical Queen Esther of Israel, according to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, an ardent fundamentalist and aspirant to future Republican Party leadership.
One big reason that Trump kept telling his devotees not to wear protective masks was that Jesus would protect them from the plague. ‘Real men and women don’t need to wear masks. That’s for lefty Democrat sissies.’
Trump assured his minions there was no danger in congregating. Nor in not wearing masks and drinking beer with the boys. Doing so became a badge of Republican machismo. Similar beliefs were held in Congo where I saw stone-age Simba warriors bedecked with ju-ju amulets that allegedly protected the wearers from the white-man’s bullets. They did not.
The realization that other Republican Party bigwigs became infected with Covid at a White House garden party is either comical or just plain dumb. Trump apparently knew he was getting ill yet still circuited among his garden party guests.
Who else one wonders will be the next to come down with the virus that Trump calls ‘the China flu.’ One might better call it the Make America Great again flu. Such hubris, recklessness and irresponsibility are staggering.
Watching Trump ‘debate’ Joe Biden last week made me deeply worried about his health, both physical and mental. He was behaving like what the French call
an `enrage´.
But showman Trump just managed the feat of making the growing scandal over this tiny federal tax payments and his untruths about his net worth simply vanish. All eyes are fixed on Walter Reed Hospital – where I was sent while in the Army- and will be on his triumphant home coming scheduled shortly.
Trump is now blustering that Covid, which has killed over 210,000 Americans alone – is inconsequential and not to be feared. His drive-by appearance in front of the hospital was designed to lift the spirits of his followers. Among them, an unmasked jamboree of his evangelical followers just outside the White House and Walter Reed Hospital as more of Trump’s staff come down with the virus.
I’ve taken some of the drugs that Trump is being given while covering bush wars in Africa. The steroids alone make you irrational and paranoid. The man with his finger on the nuclear button is now full of them.
Copyright Eric S. Margolis 2020
With 40% of Americans agreeing with the Donald, he is the symptom of a much deeper problem… The election could be full of surprises.
.
Dik
I’ve gone over to the dark side of conspiracy theorists: I don’t think he ever had Covid, I think this was the October Surprise. Now he can campaign again and attack Biden as weak.
Your Republic is at serious risk. The people have to be aware of this and that to pose a threat to the Senate vote, they have to vote against all Republican senators running in the next election. It’s the only threat that may have any effect.
.
Dik
too late…
.
Dik
Trump is just another of our western leaders supposedly coming down with the “China” virus as he calls it. He left it to just before the election to contract it. Most of the governments around the world find this virus very useful to bring about changes in the way they operate. All in the way of public health. Many of the western governments around the world have tasted dictatorship and liked it. Let’s see how all this plays out. Will this particular virus ever be let go? Or will there be an endless parade of viruses or other illnesses that will keep the masses masked forever and jumping away from the sight of each other? The balance of this decade will tell if this is how we will live out the rest of the 21st century. Oh boy!
We ain’t seen nuthin yet. As the truth that he will lose the election and probably by a landslide, he will decompensate amd become even more erratic, switching between whining and raging. When the results come in, he will bluster, make threats and then sink into an angry depression, punishing America for failing him. There will be blood.
I just realised that I’d prefer climate change and the corona virus as being the wrath of God, striking out at the evil Donald…
.
Dik
“The steroids alone make you irrational and paranoid. The man with his finger on the nuclear button is now full of them.”
An alarming thought, that does not give much reassurance. But then there is very little reason to be reassured about anything. The pattern of history and currents geopolitical events – starting before the present administration – has us on course for another world war.
https://www.ghostsofhistory.wordpress.com/
“He and wife Melania are now isolated” I would’t hold my breath on that… he was infected and still went out to ‘meet and greet’, and infect others in the process. Why would he change; I don’t think he can be forced to.
.
“…causing long-term damage to the lungs, heart, eyes and brain.” His lungs and his eyes could be at risk…
.
“…refusing to wear a mask or sanitize hands, and encouraging one’s not so bright followers to congregate and ignore the deadly virus.” Trump is responsible for the deaths of thousands of Americans due to his actions and inactions.
.
My standard tagline with eMails or messages on blogs is, “Rather than think climate change and the corona virus as science, think of it as the wrath of God. Feel any better?” The Dems should be pushing ‘Wrath of God’ to Trump’s evangelical followers. I understand the Latter Day Saints are not happy with Donald.
.
“Trump assured his minions there was no danger in congregating. Nor in not wearing masks and drinking beer with the boys.” By doing this, the Americans are putting the rest of the world at risk.
.
I’m still waiting for the Republican’s to appoint the new Supreme Court Justice… illness or not.
.
“But showman Trump just managed the feat of making the growing scandal over this tiny federal tax payments and his untruths” I’m surprised the news agencies didn’t come out with more on this as well as Donald’s treatment of the serving military.
.
“The man with his finger on the nuclear button is now full of them.” I would have hoped that others in charge would have disabled the button.
.
Dik
Trump has lied over 20,000 times since taking office and has proven he has no level he is not willing to stoop to. He is surrounded by people more than happy to lie for him. I have no doubt he is lying about getting covid.