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octoberlib

(14,971 posts)
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 03:42 PM Mar 2020

Why is the Trump administration outbidding states on medical equipment?





NEW: Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker emotionally rips into the Trump administration for out-bidding states on medical equipment: "I have had confirmed orders for millions of pieces of gear evaporate in front of us, and I can't tell you how frustrating it is." equipment




He told the Governors to handle it and when they do, he swoops in and outbids them. Wtf?
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Why is the Trump administration outbidding states on medical equipment? (Original Post) octoberlib Mar 2020 OP
To wait for rural red areas and redder states to catch up so he can disperse more to his base? Freethinker65 Mar 2020 #1
Bingo. nt SunSeeker Mar 2020 #24
He wants blue states to suffer and if possible, die. That is a simple fact. Eliot Rosewater Mar 2020 #32
Absolutely! rickyhall Mar 2020 #53
I don't know Rebl2 Mar 2020 #56
Then you must not be telling him enough about how much you love him or your state isnt Eliot Rosewater Mar 2020 #59
We need to get rid of the I_UndergroundPanther Mar 2020 #2
He wants to kill millions of us 2naSalit Mar 2020 #3
and/or he wants to drive up profits to the firms that are manufacturing them and selling them. TheBlackAdder Mar 2020 #16
And that. 2naSalit Mar 2020 #63
I believe that you are CORRECT. FarPoint Mar 2020 #29
Death in blue states MFM008 Mar 2020 #31
I think you're correct. MontanaMama Mar 2020 #40
I agree with you leftieNanner Mar 2020 #49
I also think it is revenge for the impeachment. 2naSalit Mar 2020 #64
No doubt. MontanaMama Mar 2020 #65
Perhaps WE are the karma. 2naSalit Mar 2020 #66
I would create a state run company to compete directly with the companies Under The Radar Mar 2020 #4
Prisoners ? Really ? MichMan Mar 2020 #55
Try putting that together in one or two weeks. It is a state emergency Under The Radar Mar 2020 #57
Only one of the reasons is: Because he's vindictive. In_The_Wind Mar 2020 #5
What about Ukraine as a model for his way of functioning?? TryLogic Mar 2020 #36
i think it is more likely he just has to 'win'. demigoddess Mar 2020 #41
Does he or Jarvanka get to skim off the top? central scrutinizer Mar 2020 #6
In any other world, it would probably be best for feds to purchase/allocate items in short supply. Hoyt Mar 2020 #7
That is how it has functioned in other times. Caliman73 Mar 2020 #47
What was it he said, "We are not stock clerks," or something like that. Hoyt Mar 2020 #48
"We're not shipping clerks." calimary Mar 2020 #54
Good point. We'd be in a fix without them, grocery deliveries, truck drivers, etc. Hoyt Mar 2020 #68
He won't give them the equipment they need. And then hoards more. What a piece of shit. Cousin Dupree Mar 2020 #8
Trump Wants Control of the Ventilators MineralMan Mar 2020 #9
Exactly. His way of dealing with Ukraine is the model. TryLogic Mar 2020 #37
+1 Newest Reality Mar 2020 #51
Things Terrible People Do for 2,000,000,000 Alex? Brainfodder Mar 2020 #10
Holy f**k Proud Liberal Dem Mar 2020 #11
Because Faux pas Mar 2020 #12
So he and/or his family can make more money. mt Phoenix61 Mar 2020 #13
By competing with the states, trump is having to spend more taxpayer money to buy supplies EleanorR Mar 2020 #14
explain this to me like I'm five... IcyPeas Mar 2020 #15
Trump admin has them and can dole them out to whoever he wants. octoberlib Mar 2020 #17
"We're going to send you those ventilators... jayfish Mar 2020 #18
TOTALLY This! n/t MFGsunny Mar 2020 #21
'Zactly! FiveGoodMen Mar 2020 #26
Damn right it does. TryLogic Mar 2020 #38
now that is really, really nasty!!! subana Mar 2020 #19
Need to go viral aeromanKC Mar 2020 #20
What's he doing with the supplies? Sending them to red states? sinkingfeeling Mar 2020 #22
So appalling the greed of the GOP iluvtennis Mar 2020 #23
You nailed it! burrowowl Mar 2020 #42
He wants all the credit. xxqqqzme Mar 2020 #25
Maybe Dolt45 wants to rent them out to people who stay in his crappy hotels. MarianJack Mar 2020 #27
Vengeance. Lonestarblue Mar 2020 #28
To control the supply drray23 Mar 2020 #30
Blue states Democrats. Big cities, Democrats. pangaia Mar 2020 #33
It's a Jihad against Democrats bucolic_frolic Mar 2020 #34
GREED!! vapor2 Mar 2020 #35
I hope a bunch of Republican Senators pay a heavy price. TryLogic Mar 2020 #39
The fact that there is bidding is just wrong. mjvpi Mar 2020 #43
Interesting angel823 Mar 2020 #44
Tell me this is not true Botany Mar 2020 #45
That's easy. He believes he can make money. sarge43 Mar 2020 #46
He's using it for leverage Jarqui Mar 2020 #50
Everything Trump does is an asshole move. Mickju Mar 2020 #52
This president needs it for ICE Tweedy Mar 2020 #58
Never forget: the cruelty is the point Hekate Mar 2020 #60
He's a cult leader, he's forcing state and local officials to praise him in order to get the items Snake Plissken Mar 2020 #61
They'll have to keep it a secret, then. That man is a fucking control freak A1. C Moon Mar 2020 #62
Good thing our government doesn't decide who gets health care IronLionZion Mar 2020 #67

Freethinker65

(9,935 posts)
1. To wait for rural red areas and redder states to catch up so he can disperse more to his base?
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 03:44 PM
Mar 2020

To make Governors praise Trump and grovel for help.

Trump sees it as a game show like the Apprentice?

Eliot Rosewater

(31,097 posts)
32. He wants blue states to suffer and if possible, die. That is a simple fact.
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 05:25 PM
Mar 2020

Now I know someone who said this about him years ago...

ME

Rebl2

(13,311 posts)
56. I don't know
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 06:30 PM
Mar 2020

about that. I live in a red state and they are having trouble getting what they need too.

Eliot Rosewater

(31,097 posts)
59. Then you must not be telling him enough about how much you love him or your state isnt
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 06:33 PM
Mar 2020

or maybe your state doesnt have enough money to pay for them...

He ONLY cares about red states for his numbers and profit, he cares NOTHING about the lives in red states.

Absolutely nothing at all.

I_UndergroundPanther

(12,452 posts)
2. We need to get rid of the
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 03:45 PM
Mar 2020

So called elitists that get off on other people's misery and death.

The republicans are full of these toxic people who should never be trusted.

2naSalit

(86,074 posts)
3. He wants to kill millions of us
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 03:47 PM
Mar 2020

so that he will get re-elected... he thinks. I bet certain advisors (Miller, Barr, Pompeo and others) are salivating over the prospect.

MontanaMama

(23,242 posts)
40. I think you're correct.
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 05:46 PM
Mar 2020

Problem with his faulty logic is that while millions of Americans will die, I believe he will lose more MAGAts than he will the rest of us. No common sense in that crowd.

leftieNanner

(14,998 posts)
49. I agree with you
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 06:05 PM
Mar 2020

The Magats think this whole thing is overblown. When November comes around, there may be fewer of them still alive than there are of us who are actually socially distancing and staying home.

2naSalit

(86,074 posts)
64. I also think it is revenge for the impeachment.
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 06:46 PM
Mar 2020

Remember that lady who used to work for him, was on teevee during the impeachment, said that he would be seeking revenge on a lot of people. This seems like it would fit his need.

2naSalit

(86,074 posts)
66. Perhaps WE are the karma.
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 06:53 PM
Mar 2020

Eventually there will be people storming the WH and other locations. All I hope is that someone gets hold of him and whups his ass really good before secret service breaks it up.

Under The Radar

(3,401 posts)
4. I would create a state run company to compete directly with the companies
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 03:48 PM
Mar 2020

That are allowing that to happen. You can staff it with NY prisoners, let Michael Cohen lead the effort and drive those other companies out of business by making medical supplies for the world, if they don’t fair.
Get Biden on board with that too

Under The Radar

(3,401 posts)
57. Try putting that together in one or two weeks. It is a state emergency
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 06:31 PM
Mar 2020

And it was a tongue in cheek statement

central scrutinizer

(11,617 posts)
6. Does he or Jarvanka get to skim off the top?
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 03:52 PM
Mar 2020

Follow the money is always the correct analysis with these grifters

 

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)
7. In any other world, it would probably be best for feds to purchase/allocate items in short supply.
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 03:53 PM
Mar 2020

Caliman73

(11,694 posts)
47. That is how it has functioned in other times.
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 05:58 PM
Mar 2020

With normal functioning administrations, the Federal Government purchases in bulk and States order from the Feds. The problem is that this asshole likes to see infighting and thinks that life is a game show where contestants fight it out for prizes.

calimary

(80,700 posts)
54. "We're not shipping clerks."
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 06:27 PM
Mar 2020

We all owe real, legitimate shipping clerks a big apology, and our gratitude. Many of them are getting hired by Amazon to process online purchases.

MineralMan

(146,192 posts)
9. Trump Wants Control of the Ventilators
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 03:54 PM
Mar 2020

That way, he can use them to reward or punish Governors.

That's his style of leadership.

EleanorR

(2,374 posts)
14. By competing with the states, trump is having to spend more taxpayer money to buy supplies
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 04:28 PM
Mar 2020

than if he'd worked in cooperation with governors on the issue of equipment purchase and distribution. But of course that would have involved leadership, planning, and intelligence not found in the current admin.

And of course trump is a psychopath who likes to see his perceived enemies suffer and die, so swiping from blue states is on brand.

IcyPeas

(21,747 posts)
15. explain this to me like I'm five...
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 04:38 PM
Mar 2020

so my understanding is like this is akin to an auction room. so in the room we have 500 ventilators..... the governor bid $50,000, then the trump admin comes along and bids 50,100. then the trump admin gets them?

so where are they then? who has the actual physical items? where are they being held?

please explain (like I'm 5). thank you

octoberlib

(14,971 posts)
17. Trump admin has them and can dole them out to whoever he wants.
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 04:41 PM
Mar 2020

Just like they sent Florida 100% of the medical supplies De Santis requested and New Jersey got 6% of what they requested.

jayfish

(10,035 posts)
18. "We're going to send you those ventilators...
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 04:42 PM
Mar 2020

but I'd like you to do us a favor first." Ring any bells?

subana

(586 posts)
19. now that is really, really nasty!!!
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 04:59 PM
Mar 2020

it's one thing to fail to protect your citizens but to actually bid against those states, I assume with the intent of refusing to assist them further, that is really fucked up!!!

xxqqqzme

(14,887 posts)
25. He wants all the credit.
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 05:16 PM
Mar 2020

If the Governors take control of their states, he doesn't get any bragging rights (he's not going to get any as it is.) But he is still waiting to feel those worshipful kisses on his ample ass.

Lonestarblue

(9,883 posts)
28. Vengeance.
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 05:20 PM
Mar 2020

Blue states like Massachusetts did not vote for Trump, so now he gets to punish them. I wonder how he’ll treat a state like Kentucky, a red state that voted for him but now with a Democratic governor.

If FEMA is outbidding states, what are they doing with the equipment? This is not the time to stockpile.

bucolic_frolic

(42,681 posts)
34. It's a Jihad against Democrats
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 05:32 PM
Mar 2020

He's playing Jesus for his base, inside deals with Trump will get you salvation, the rest are heathen

TryLogic

(1,721 posts)
39. I hope a bunch of Republican Senators pay a heavy price.
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 05:41 PM
Mar 2020

They let Trump get away with doing this type of thing with Ukraine.

mjvpi

(1,384 posts)
43. The fact that there is bidding is just wrong.
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 05:53 PM
Mar 2020

How can this not be considered profiteering? When you place an order at an agreed upon price, shouldn’t that constitute a contract? And to have it be the federal government. This encompasses everything that is wrong with capitalism. Our economic system should work for us, we shouldn’t work for our economic system.

angel823

(409 posts)
44. Interesting
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 05:53 PM
Mar 2020

I am listening to Houston Mayor Turner, and he is describing this very scenario, where the City of Houston had entered into an agreement for PPE at a certain price, and was told this week that the agreement would not be honored.

Houston is blue, a "sanctuary city". Makes you wonder.

Angel in Texasperated

Jarqui

(10,110 posts)
50. He's using it for leverage
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 06:07 PM
Mar 2020

He'll help the states that can help him win his election.

Same thing with the stimulus

Snake Plissken

(4,103 posts)
61. He's a cult leader, he's forcing state and local officials to praise him in order to get the items
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 06:37 PM
Mar 2020

It's a tactic that he used during his Trump University scam, if the victim left a positive review he would give them a secret real estate tip, which turned out to be nothing of value, but in the meantime he had a positive review signed by them, so they couldn't later claim they got ripped off.

Now he is forcing the Mayors and Governors to praise him in order to get the equipment they need to save lives, so if they later claim he's a complete fuckup, he will play the phone conversation of them praising Trump.

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