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Rosie DiManno: Donald Trump, the liar-in-chief, unmasked: No one can take comfort from his assurances now

Sep 22, 2021 , , , , by shlf

Deus ex machina.

Literally: god from the machine.

An unexpected event saving a seemingly hopeless situation. For the Greeks who coined it, in a theatrical context, a contrived plot twist.

President , by testing positive for — the global plague that he mocked, lied through his teeth to diminish, issued absurdist advice to counteract (ingesting bleach) — has not saved himself from the hopelessness of his re-election chances, as projected by every poll out there. But the republic may have been saved, at least temporarily, from the exhausting madness of his berserk election campaign.

America was still trying to recover from Tuesday’s jaw-dropping debate between Trump and Democratic nominee — essentially a primal scream from the president, every facet of his unfitness for office on full public display — when the country learned both Trump and his wife, Melania, had tested positive and were entering isolation in the White House.

Indeed, the president had ridiculed his rival for following the government’s own protocols for limiting infection, beating that nag again in the debate. “I don’t wear masks like him. Every time you see him, he’s got a mask. He could be speaking 200 feet from him, and he shows up with the biggest mask I’ve ever seen.’’

Then Trump attended fundraisers in Minneapolis and New Jersey, the latter apparently after his adviser and close confidante, Hope Hicks, had already tested positive for the coronavirus. Hicks was part of the entourage that had travelled to the Cleveland debate with the president, aboard Air Force One. Trump’s adult children and senior aides were also on that flight — none of them wearing masks or physically distancing. If Bloomberg hadn’t broken the news about Hicks on Thursday, would the White House have tried to sit on that information, prevent it from getting out?

The state of the president’s health is not a private issue.

So now Trump is the same boat as 7.31 million Americans who’ve contracted COVID-19, an unknown number likely because they were following their president’s indefensible lead when he could have and should have promoted safety measures. Upwards of 208,000 have died.

It’s unclear when Trump contracted the virus. It usually presents within five to 10 days after exposure. So maybe not Hicks; maybe the rally held at the White House lawn last Saturday, 200 people present for Trump’s announcement of his Supreme Court pick, Amy Coney Barrett. Or the rally he attended that night at Harrisburg International Airport in Middletown, Pa. Either occasion may turn out to be a super-spreader.

Every single person who was in close proximity with Trump needs to self-isolate, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Republican Sen. Mike Lee, who’s on the Senate judicial committee, was at the White House lawn event, unmasked. Lee revealed Friday that he’d tested positive. That could throw a wrench into advancing Barrett’s nomination from the judicial panel to the full Senate for a confirmation vote. Pshaw, countered McConnell: full speed ahead.

The president is 74 years old and, at 244 pounds, officially obese. Both are factors placing him at high risk for the worst portents of the disease, although the White House said Friday that Trump was experiencing only mild symptoms. “He continues to be, not only in good spirits, but very energetic,’’ White House chief of staff Mark Meadows told reporters.

But, as we now know about COVID-19, symptoms are usually mild in the first few days after infection, even in cases that subsequently rise to the level of requiring ventilation. By late afternoon, there were reports Trump had a fever and was receiving experimental therapies. He was taken by helicopter to the Walter Reed military hospital Friday evening, and tweeted a short video saying he thinks he’s doing well.

Tell me one good reason why anybody should believe anything coming out of this White House, anyway.

For nearly four years, the administration has obfuscated, prevaricated, falsified and outright deceived the country, on matters large and matters picayune. The Washington Post fact-checker blog had tracked 20,000 lies that came out of Trump’s mouth, as of mid-July. Even his supporters concede Trump is a bald-faced liar. An ABC-IPSOS poll last month showed seven in 10 Americans (69 per cent) didn’t trust the president on the pandemic specifically.

He may be the liar-in-chief but that duplicity cascades through his administration. Nobody can take any comfort from their assurances now, especially given the opaque bulletins provided about the president’s condition. They have no history of giving straight answers.

Which leaves the election campaign — the , only a month away — in utter chaos. All of Trump’s scheduled events for the next week have been postponed or will, according to the White House, be conducted virtually.

It Trump’s condition deteriorates, that could trigger the Twenty-Fifth Amendment, his powers transferred to Vice-President Mike Pence, who said Friday that he has tested negative. But of course that doesn’t mean he might not test positive tomorrow or the next day, given the COVID-19 incubation period.

This campaign, from the Trump camp, has been all about sidestepping the pandemic. Earlier this week, he maintained happy days again were “just around the corner,’’ the coronavirus crisis almost laid to rest. Wasn’t true then, certainly isn’t true now, probably won’t be true for months and months to come. The only consolation is that Trump, recovered or convalescing or seriously ailing — as so many victims who’ve “recovered’’ complain about ongoing fatigue and aches and breathing issues — will, fingers crossed, not be occupying the White House for much longer.

The country was already bracing for potential mayhem on Nov. 3, in no small part because Trump has steadily undermined the legitimacy of the election, casting thoroughly discounted imputations against mail-in ballots. He hasn’t explicitly agreed to accept the results; indeed, tacitly invoking an army of brownshirts to stand by. Such is the spectre of violence hanging over the election that the Justice Department is planning to station officials in a command centre at FBI headquarters to co-ordinate a federal response to disturbances that may arise across the country.

Trump has bickered endlessly and publicly with his own health experts, with the scientists, over the seriousness of and treatment for the pandemic. He’s shown reckless and wanton disregard for the lives of Americans. Now here he is, a symbol of his own folly, surrounded by the erosion of truth and facts.

The White House has provided a case study in how not to handle a highly contagious illness in the workplace. They didn’t even inform the Biden camp about Trump’s positive result. Trump has rejected the clear risk of COVID-19 from the start, doubling down on its harmlessness to most people, even as his generic fabrications and sophistries — on everything — reached breakneck speed.

It was patently clear from Trump’s conduct during the debate — the childish insults, the overwrought bullying — that he knows he’s headed for defeat on Nov. 3 and that the balance of his campaign would be scorched-earth bedlam.

There is one way out of this mess. Trump can withdraw. Deus ex machina.

There’s no precedent for it but there was no precedent for a president of such buffoonery and malice either. It would be a gracious retreat.

But what knows Donald Trump about grace and integrity and honour?

Proud Boy that he is.

Rosie DiManno is a Toronto-based columnist covering sports and current affairs for the Star. Follow her on Twitter:

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Canada’s top doctors say the science of COVID-19 is clear — but how to act on it is up to politicians

Sep 2, 2021 , , , , by shlf

OTTAWA – Canada’s top public health officers say medical and public health experts agree on the science and how to stem the growing COVID-19 tide, but it’s up to “political masters” to act on that information.

Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam avoided directly criticizing the Ontario government after the Star reported Premier Doug Ford’s government ignored its own expert advice on when to impose new pandemic restrictions.

But she said all medical officers of health have reached a consensus on the course of action that’s needed, issued clear advice, and are warning that Canadians must further limit their contacts.

Modelling shows that Canada could hit 10,000 daily new cases by the beginning of December if nothing changes, she warned.

“Fires are burning in so many different areas” outside the Atlantic bubble, Tam told reporters.

Deputy public health officer Dr. Howard Njoo warned the epidemic’s second wave could swamp the health-care system, given the current rate of hospitalizations and deaths.

He went further than Tam regarding Ontario’s actions, laying responsibility clearly at the feet of the premier and his ministers.

“Speaking for myself personally, as a public health physician and expert, our job really is to look at the evidence, the science, and do the analysis, the interpretation and then give our best advice and recommendations to our political masters,” Njoo said.

“At the end of the day, I think we recognize the elected officials are the ones that make the final decisions.”

Two hours later, Ford changed course and imposed tougher benchmarks than announced just this week for when new restrictions would be imposed in Ontario.

The Star reported this week the chief health protection officer at the province’s public health agency had urged the Ford government to set the threshold for action in the fourth colour-coded stage — known as red or “control” (one short of a lockdown) — four times lower than the government announced last week.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declined to express his view of the Ford government’s actions.

The federal government’s job is to support the provinces, he said, and Ottawa will do “whatever it takes” to support Canadians in the health crisis.

He said it is best if “we move quickly, firmly” to impose restrictions where warranted.

Tam’s warning that Canada might hit 10,000 daily cases within weeks “should be a wake-up call for everyone,” Trudeau said.

Ottawa has provided more than $21 billion directly to provinces since the spring for health, school and business measures to allow them to fight the pandemic.

Trudeau, who has consistently rejected declaring a national emergency, said the “optimal thing” would be for everyone to work together, to take the right measures.

“I think it’s important to remember that we’re in a federation where the federal government is not higher than or more important than provincial governments,” he said.

”We work as partners together. The provinces expressed a need for these supports and we delivered these supports … and we will continue to.”

Trudeau said questions about whether the provinces are spending the federal money on the right things are “quite appropriately to be asked by citizens in the provinces and organizations in the provinces of their provincial leaders.”

But Trudeau said he warned premiers on a conference call Thursday night that the federal government’s resources are “not infinite.”

He later clarified he meant resources like the provisions of personal protective equipment, people to do contact tracing, and Canadian Red Cross and Canadian Armed Forces personnel.

Still, the dichotomy between political views and the views of medical experts was on full view in the prime minister’s own news conference when Trudeau left open the possibility for family gatherings during the holidays.

“We need to hang in there a number more months,” Trudeau told reporters, adding what Canadians do in the “days to come will determine what we get to do” at Christmas.

Tam offered a dimmer view.

“Right now it’s not looking good,” she said.

“Given the projection that we have now, which is we could get to 10,000 cases by the beginning of December if we didn’t cut down on our contact and drastically flatten this curve now, I think it’s very unlikely that by the holiday season – I don’t think anyone’s advocating parties.

“This is not going to be a normal Christmas, but you can have a safe and a fun Christmas that includes social connection if you do it safely.”

Thanksgiving and Halloween celebrations offer a “cautionary tale” because despite warnings against holding parties, private get-togethers “may have increased acceleration in a number of areas in Canada,” Tam said.

“That cannot be done. Right now, that is not recommended.”

Again, Njoo was clearer: “I don’t foresee gatherings of large families, perhaps only those in the same household,” he said. “We may need to limit even more, have only some members of the family for a visit.

“Every Canadian has to perhaps look in the mirror and ask, ‘What can I do today?’”

Tonda MacCharles is an Ottawa-based reporter covering federal politics for the Star. Follow her on Twitter:

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Midland businesses benefitting from shop local campaigns

Jul 29, 2021 , , , , by shlf

Businesses in downtown Midland are being kept afloat thanks to a community effort to encourage more residents to shop local this holiday season.

“We are seeing a lot of people that we’ve never seen before,” said Sarah Kenney, co-owner of Georgian Bay Books at 247 King St. “People are really making an effort to shop local.”

Sales at Georgian Bay Books have been steady since September and are now on par with last year. This comes as a welcome surprise for Kenney and co-owner Sandy Dunsford, who struggled through the spring and summer.

“It was a rough summer,” said Kenney. “But sales have been back up to normal from September through to December. Which is great. Christmas is always a busy time for book stores.”

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and King Street reconstruction project dramatically affected sales for many businesses. 

and other businesses in downtown Midland, are relying on this holiday season more than ever before. Because of this, a variety of local organizations are encouraging residents to shop local in hopes of keeping more money in the community.

The has spent the last eight months pushing the shop local message.

“Small business owners pay taxes, they employ local people, and they most likely try and support local as well,” said Cathy Tait, executive director of the chamber. “Local business owners are also the ones giving back to non-for-profit organizations and sports clubs. So, when you support these businesses, you are supporting our community.”

For every $100 spent at a small business, roughly $68 stays in the community, according to Tait. For every $100 spent at a local franchise operation, $48.95 stays in the community.

“These operations are run by real people. They are our neighbours, our friends or our family. They really do have a vested interest in the business,” said Tait. “They keep our communities authentic and interesting by offering products and services that wouldn’t normally be available in big-box stores.”

One of these unique small businesses is , which carries Canadian-made clothing. Owner Nancy Spiker regularly gives back to the community, helping non-profit organizations.

This holiday season, Spiker is inviting a number of different local artists to her store and giving them space to sell their work. 

“There is definitely some cross-promotion. I think it works well for both parties,” said Spiker. “It gives the artist a very accessible public space to show their work.”

Sales at A Passion for Fashion have improved over the last few months. According to Spiker, sales in November were on par with last year. She credits that to a noticeable effort people are making to shop local.

“It’s important to shop local,” said Spiker. “Then money circulates within our community. If we continue helping out one another, we all have a great chance of thriving and surviving this pandemic.”

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Reporter Andrew Mendler decided to talk to businesses in downtown Midland about the importance of shopping local.