Rachel's Response

[G_j]

Trump tweeted this to Rachel Maddow:

Thank you to Rachel @Maddow for putting our Military on full display, and showing how GREAT a job the Federal Government is doing! Also, a special thanks to General Semonite, a Patriot of the highest order and a truly talented engineer and builder!

Maddow responded with this thread:

Hi, Mr. President -- thanks for tweeting that interview. Gen. Semonite and the Army Corps are indeed doing great work, but at nowhere near the scale that is needed.

We're hundreds of thousands of hospital beds behind, months behind schedule, and...
...we're about to see the number of sick patients surge and hospitals overflow in multiple US sites at once.

This is not an NYC problem or even just a city problem. The apex patient surges will not happen tidily, one after the other, they'll flare up all over, overlapping.

Mr. President, with all the heroism and good work we're seeing from Americans around the country, you personally are leading the worst national response of any industrialized nation in the world, in what is now the largest COVID-19 outbreak on earth.

I say this without any malice at all, but please know that the US response is a catastrophe that is on track to cost hundreds of thousands of lives.

Stop talking about yourself and hyping unproven treatments and demanding people compliment you and all the rest of the nonsense.

(1) Nationalize the supply chains for critical medical supplies -- you should have done that months ago. Fifty states fending for themselves is idiotic, but it persists day after day, week after week. You can fix this now.

(2) Get people like VP Pence and your son-in-law out of the way and bring in actual, experienced pandemic response experts and scientists to lead the response and brief the nation.

(3) Some Governors are following your zig-zagging and dithering lead and refusing even now to institute clear stay at home orders to slow the spread of the virus -- tell them unequivocally to change course, now.

(4) Prisons, jails, detention centers will be death traps for prisoners/detainees and staff. They'll also become leaking reservoirs of infection for every community -- order emergency decarceral measures, now, before it spreads wildly everywhere people are kept behind bars.

(5) We're going to need mass testing, a massive effort to isolate those with the virus (separate and apart from uninfected people staying home), a huge data-driven contact tracing effort, and a wartime-level mobilization of health workers and people to support them.

You're failing to do any of that. Any of it. Any of it. You're failing on every measure, and it is worse by the day. Find experts who can do this for the country and please, sir, get out of the way.

Thank you again for tweeting that interview.

[dalton99a]

1. Great response.

[malaise]

2. Rachel is the best bar none

I'll rec every post on her response

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

33. Agreed! I've long been a huge fan, but had the good fortune of

attending one of her remote location shows a few years back and seeing her in person I was even more struck by her awesomeness. Just as everything about the monster in the White House broadcasts what a horrible human being he is, everything about her did the exact opposite.

Here's my favorite photo from the event:

Most of the rest of the pix you'll find here are also mine https://www.flickr.com/search/?text=rachel%20maddow%20deer%20park (I lost my log-in credentials to my flickr so I can't link directly.)

They're pretty all crappy as photos go, but still...

[niyad]

35. That is a great pic of a truly amazing person. Other pics looked like everyone was enjoying

Themselves immensely. Thank you so much for sharing!

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

44. Happy to do so!

Thanks for looking. It was so crowded that it was hard to get any decent pix of Rachel, but I'm still so happy to have the ones I got.

Even without them, though, I'd always remember how Rachel exuded an air of calm compassionate authority. I'm a person who has trouble concentrating on tasks with any sort of commotion going on around me, so I was also very impressed with her powers of concentration in all that hubbub!

[malaise]

37. Lovely pic

Thanks for posting

I'm sure I heard her say that her dad was in the military. The Con wouldn't know that.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

45. I wish it wasn't blurry, but I think you still can see how she radiates beauty

of both the inner and outer kind. As far as I'm concerned, Rachel is a national treasure.

I've read that her dad was in the Air Force and also a lawyer. But, of course, we can't expect the SociopathInChief to hear anything that doesn't directly apply to himself.

[hlthe2b]

3. I suspect he knew who she was before; Now, he DEFNITELY does...

[padah513]

8. Absolutely

Notice that he never says anything negative about her? He's so emotionally insecure/immature that that's likely to change now, but she can take care of herself. The last thing he wants is a twitter war with someone who can talk circles around him in less than 280 characters.

[gibraltar72]

4. Smartest person on television.

[Laf.La.Dem.]

5. What will Trump say -

I know more than the experienced pandemic response experts
I know more than the so-called scientist
I know more than all the Governors
I know more than all the Doctors
This will all be over in a couple of weeks

[The Magistrate]

6. Ms. Maddow Is The Queen, Sir

A national treasure.

[bubbazero]

7. Flame me, if you must, this will not be PC

Dear Mz. Maddow, In regards to your twitter communication to our "Twit in Chief"; THANK YOU! and DAMN STRAIGHT! Clear concise message, delivered with a firm understanding of President's shortcomings and outlining a plan of action that even this idiot should be able to follow. The following reaction is honest, and should be taken as the highest compliment of the rural, redneck, bubbazoid contingent. You, Ma'am are clearly a ROCK SOLID, STAND UP BROAD! COURAGE TO YOU! Bubbazero

[chillfactor]

9. Rachel is awesome!

I cannot wait until Monday when she is back on the air. Trump must be dirting his diaper after her response. Every point she made hit the nail on the head!!!

[Scarsdale]

10. Think he cares?

He is more concerned about having to cancel the Trump Hotel in D.C. Easter Bruch for $130.00 a person. Should have mentioned that many of the dying will be republican voters. THAT would get his flabby orange arse moving.

[hkp11]

11. Rachel is our national treasure!

Rachel can run circles around the turd!!

[NoMoreRepugs]

12. Wittle Donnie is going to have a big mad over this and

unleash that mental giant Sean Insanity to put Ms Maddow in her place.

Am popping corn at a furious pace in anticipation.

[SheltieLover]

13. Rachel is SPOT ON!

As always!

Donny Domwit must have loaded several diapers over her response!

[smirkymonkey]

14. Hear, hear, Rachel!

However this is going to make him feel even more defensive and vengeful. He will not do the right thing. He just won't. It's not in his nature.

He will destroy this country and our economy and it will be the end of him, but he will take us all down with him. I honestly hope the virus gets him very soon, since it seems like the republicans are not going to save us from this disaster of a president.

[BarbD]

15. Rachel is a gem!

In order to keep my sanity, I limit my cable news, but always tune in to Rachel.

[Martin Eden]

16. Rachel Rules!!!

She's never held a position in government but is orders of magnitude more qualified the Hair Twitler and his sycophants.

[Paladin]

17. A thousand thanks, Rachel.

Talk about somebody who genuinely deserves that presidential medal. Looking forward to a decent president being in place, to award it to her.

[Smackdown2019]

18. Shocking

Its shocking that he is watching her show. Too bad he doesn't learn from her.

[Hekate]

19. Stay healthy, Rachel. Your nation needs you.

This is an object lesson in speaking truth to power: robust, honest, intelligent, and no half-measures.

[marieo1]

20. Perfection

Perfect.......she tells it like it is. Go Rachel!!!!!! He needs to get out of the WH and go back to Russia!!! He is a Russian operative, we all know that.

[Ferrets are Cool]

21. He stopped reading after "Hi, Mr President. Thanks for tweeting that interview."

[PatrickforO]

25. You think he can read? Hmm. Maybe.

Probably not at adult level though.

[Karadeniz]

22. Thanks for posting the whole thread...I couldn't get it myself!❤

[G_j]

23. Yes,

I don’t have a link. A good friend sent it, and I trust it is accurate.

[spooky3]

28. It is on the NewsWeek website. Nt

[ladym55]

24. Spot on, Rachel!

So polite as you shredded Dear Leader and made him into cole slaw. I keep thinking of all the people who will die as a result of this incompetent raging narcissist.

[spooky3]

26. Wow. Rachel nailed it. Nt

[customerserviceguy]

27. I smell a trap

Which of Rachel Maddow's faithful viewers will vote for the Orange Menace?

He's tying her up, so that she focuses on him, and not on Joe Biden. Remember all of those times during the 2016 campaign when the news media was full of "OMG, he's really shot himself in the foot this time!" moments? It's how Trump stole the spotlight away from his competition.

He's keenly aware of how much she wanted him impeached, and instead of ignoring her, he's using her. He'd rather run against Rachel Maddow than Joe Biden.

[RVN VET71]

29. I'm not sure you are on the same planet as the rest of us.

You refer to Trump as the Orange Menace, but suggest that Rachel should focus not on Trump and the damage he has done and continues to do to this Country but on Joe Biden? Really?

You assume Trump has hatched a devious plan to lure Maddow's attention away from Joe Biden so that Trump will glide into an easy victory in November? Rachel Maddow and the media should be quiet about Trump's transgressions and incompetence because writing about them will make people want to elect the man a second time?

"Ladies and Gentleman of the jury, my client, as we've shown you, has been pilloried in public as a rapist, a murderer, a bank robber, all of which has been unequivocally proven by the prosecution. What fools they are! Because, by demonstrating the guilt of my client, by hammering home their witnesses and evidence showing his trail of crimes, the prosecutors have foolishly made you the jury more convinced than ever to set him free." Really?

[customerserviceguy]

30. Rachel Maddow

is pretty much preaching to the choir. I think there's a strong possibility that Trump responded to her (the usual expected thing to do would be ignore her) in order to suck some oxygen out of the room from Biden.

I've been observing politics since I was a kid in the 1960's, and I saw how Trump was able to manipulate media coverage (even with negative stuff that should have gotten no traction) to beat well over a dozen Republicons who were more qualified that he was.

I'm not advocating that Maddow ignore Trump's incompetency and misdeeds, only that she not take the bait and get into a pissing match directly with him. Trump is trying to goad Andrew Cuomo into a fight over a NY area quarantine right now, and to some extent, this is succeeding.

Look at all the people here who have expressed that Cuomo should either be our presidential or VP candidate. It's taking away attention from Joe Biden, who should be our focus from now through Election Day.

[RVN VET71]

39. OK, I understand your point, but disagree with it.

Trump is the story here because he's badly mismanaging -- maybe deliberately, maybe because he's just that incompetent -- the Country's response to the pandemic.

But I do agree that Rachel need not have made such a production with her response. A simple acknowledgment of the tweet with a simple statement and maybe a simple "but instead of thanking me, I think you'd make better use of your time leading instead of belittling your purported critics and further dividing the nation."

But Rachel does what Rachel does. Still, I disagree that her response in any way was "taking the bait" from Trump -- or whichever of his lackeys who actually put out the tweet for the barely literate failed businessman, husband, father, and president.

Even less do I think that a focus on the Biden campaign would be particularly useful for her to talk about at this time. She will, of course, be talking about and reporting on Biden as the nominating convention draws near, and even more so after Biden gets the nomination and begins campaigning in earnest for the presidency. But now is not that time. Now the biggest and most compelling story is the pandemic and, in particular, America's response to it.

[oldsoftie]

49. When she answered his tweet, every one of HIS followers also saw it. Thats a LOT

And even if it only gets thru to a few, this is happening more and more. And getting thru to "a few" several dozen times adds up. EVERY changed vote will matter, because trump is not going to gain many NEW votes that he didnt get in '16.

[customerserviceguy]

50. And how many

of his followers were convinced of the truth of her arguments? I'm sure they found some homophobic thing to mutter to themselves, if they even bothered to read it.

The point I was trying to make is that Rachel should do whatever she would do if Trump ignored her. Getting down in the mud and wrestling with him is something he wants, it sinks anyone who does so to his level.

[oldsoftie]

53. I'm sure you've seen some of the posts about disillusioned Trumpers

I know a few of them too. My point is that every time something like this happens and it shaves off some number of voters, it matters. Because think about it; this election is like no other. In any given election, you'll have Presidents who gain people and lose people from the previous election. Trump will hold onto "X" % of what he got in '16. But can you think of ANY Hillary voter who would now vote for trump? No. The only new votes he gets are ones who didnt vote in '16 & maybe some who werent 18. Thats why his numbers hardly ever go up; he's not convincing previous voters to now vote for him
EVERY vote counts. And EVERY one of his that can be shaved off is hard to replace

As for Rachel, i see what you're saying, but she made her point & i bet that will be the last post she makes about it; regardless of any new post from Trump. And i doubt he will respond because he cant refute her points

[customerserviceguy]

54. You don't get through

to a disillusioned Trumper by smacking them upside the head with a two-by-four, you have to reach them subtly, as posters on the subject have reported. Rachel Maddow tells an heroic truth, but she's not the messenger to reach the folks who are just learning how to hear the message.

First rule of journalism: Report the story, don't be the story. Trump's trying to make her into the story to gin up the vast majority of his base that is absolutely not responsive to Rachel Maddow or the way she delivers her message.

[oldsoftie]

48. Oh good lord...........

[KT2000]

31. Love love Rachel!!

She speaks for the same among us.

[Talitha]

32. She should have Biden on a few times a week - just to piss off shitler.

[Mr.Bill]

34. I predict Rachel

is about to get a presidential nick name.

[littlemissmartypants]

36. Unfortunately, she just gave him the perfect list of what not to do.

As a psychopath he now has the playbook to enact maximum pain. He will only use the list to create more suffering. He's a twisted psychopath. It's what they do.

[G_j]

38. That's a chilling take

REALLY chilling, because it has the ring of truth.

[subana]

40. as usual, she made some great suggestions

I hope he will consider but I don't have much faith that he will!

I wish ivanka would get it, then he might understand why these things are so important!

[Upthevibe]

41. Wow!!!!

That's all I can say.....Just Wow! There's nothing more I can say to express what I believe to be the brilliance that is Rachel Maddow....

[maryallen]

43. Nobody but Rachel could have given Trump his marching orders in a constructive, useful list.

Imagine finding the courage to present these recommendations, knowing full well that Trump will likely retaliate against her in numerous ways: threaten to call her bosses and complain; accuse her of having low ratings for her show which he's already done several times; deriding her looks, her wardrobe, or her sexual identity. Yet, Rachel chose to confront him anyway.

Thank you, Rachel. We are all so lucky to have you.

[ooky]

52. Nobody but Rachel will do it.

Kudos to Rachel, but as far as our media is concerned, it looks as though she's a voice in the wilderness. I haven't heard a peep from anyone in the media about her tweet since she tweeted it.

[klook]

46. Just fantastic.

She has more brains in her left big toe than Trump has in his entire dead-ferret-covered head.

[OhioChick]

47. She hit that right out of the ballpark! n/t

[krkaufman]

51. A plan

It’s painful that Rachel managed to quickly publish a plan for combating the virus that the admin is yet to do. It’s just daily PR parades to fill the news cycle; no plan with objectives and metrics for success.