Getting the news about HWSNBN and Melania before even a drop of morning coffee was something of a wake-up-now slap in the face. I've been expecting this from time to time but figured the staffers around HWSNBN would be keeping him as insulated as possible. But no, one source says that Hope Hicks flew on Marine One and Air Force One with HWSNBN even though it was known that she'd had a positive covid-19 test. I wonder if HWSNBN, feeling immortal, knew about her condition and okayed her presence. He's 74 years old and more than a little overweight, putting him in the high risk group. He is supposedly exhibiting "minor symptoms" now; I would imagine the concern is if or when they might become major symptoms. I don't think any head of state has yet died of covid-19; I know several have had it and recovered.
In terms of the upcoming election, this is a hell of an October surprise! Will he send Pence out to rallies as a surrogate? Will he try to do something virtually? And how does this figure in the two remaining debates. Biden did get tested today, and his result was negative. Still, I'll feel better if he gets tested another couple of times in the near future. The 25th amendment would come into play were HWSNBN to not be able to discharge the duties of the presidency; VP Pence would function as president. He would also become president should HWSNBN die before the election. Were both HWSNBN and Pence unable to discharge presidential duties, the next in line is Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and, yes, a Democrat. And if the person at the top of the ticket dies before an election, does the VP nominee move up and then pick their own running mate? It's all very intriguing, but can you say, "constitutional crisis"? As I typed that, it occurred to me that such a scenario could be one more thing 2020 throws in our faces. For those out there who were thinking 2020 had had enough surprises and could not get any worse, think again!
I normally sit and read the front section of The Washington Post as I cool off from my morning walk. I sat down today, looked at the front page and realized that most of the stories there were altered given the news about HWSNBN. I did read the article on how covid-19 is affecting college towns, but that was about it. We live far enough away from Washington that we get one of the first editions printed if not the first. Sporting events are often described in captions as having "ended too late to be included here. For results, check our website."
It just occurred to me that I could have had CNN on TV all day as I flit back and forth tackling different little things related to unpacking and putting away. That would have been news overload. Things can only happen so fast, and I don't relish hearing news anchors repeat the same facts every 30 or 60 minutes. I will watch the network news later and possibly CNN as I am making dinner. There is so much that can't be known yet. The first five days are apparently critical though someone with covid-19 can take a turn from bad to worse even two to three weeks after initially testing positive. With the election a mere 32 or 33 days away, things could get very interesting very quickly.
Given today's news, who knows what news will greet us tomorrow morning and how it might affect the weekend. Honestly, I'm still trying to wrap my head around this morning's bulletin.
2 comments:
More people associated with HWNSNBM (sp?) have now also tested positive, including Kellyanne who no longer works closely with him, leading toward the possibility of the ceremony in the Rose Garden to welcome SC nominee Barrett being a super-spreader event.
The steps taken since, though (especially his fundraising trip to NJ after he knew Hope Hicks was infected, and possibly even himself), are just irresponsible; the rapid testing they used is designed more to confirm a diagnosis in someone with symptoms than predict infection in asymptomatic people. It was just a matter of time.
As for the election, the GOP candidates are set; if the president were to succumb before the election his name is still there and if he "won" Pence would assume the office and supposedly name his own VP, similar to what happened after Nixon resigned (Ford became President and named a new VP, Rockefeller). I assume the VP nominee would then need to be confirmed by the Senate similar to SC justices. But let's hope that's not the outcome.
I couldn't remember HWSNBN and went with he whose name shall not be mentioned. :-)
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