So basically you are saying “the President of the United States did not say the totally crazy thing you said he did, rather, he said something less crazy which was both incomprehensible and totally irresponsible.”

Is that correct?

I say it this because at this point, it’s not as if we are dealing with a honest broker known for truthfulness, so, especially since everyone seemed to understand exactly what I was referring to and the “bleach” thing was a common point of mockery across media and late-night television, aren’t we kind of missing the forest for the trees?

The forest of course is a President who is utterly irresponsible and has contributed to the unnecessary deaths of over 200,000 Americans.

I absolutely apologize for and retract my incorrect description. Can we now talk about the reality of a covid-diagnosed President walking around in public without a mask?

Or does someone want to diddle and play and parse with words again?

If you are interested in rallying the base then go ahead and mock like late night comedians, but if you want to have a discussion with someone who may not be wearing the same jersey as you then you may want to be more precise.

Sure. Do you think what the President actually said - not my paraphrasing of it - was responsible and appropriate under the circumstances?

Did he demonstrate good judgement?

Also, again, I think you’re constructing an issue where none exists. Everyone in this discussion seems to have understood perfectly well what I was referring to.

I do not think what I said is really the issue here.

The issue is a number of irresponsible politicians actively and knowingly undermining public-health efforts during a pandemic.

That’s what we should be talking about.

And I find it frustrating that folks seem to want to shy away from this unpleasant truth when it’s raised.

It’s like if a truck is going to hit you and someone yells “watch out for that damned truck”, and you yell back “can’t you tell me that without cursing?”

Or if you said “you know I worry the way you said that might make it difficult for someone else to understand your message of the impending truck.”

While the truck is hurtling towards you.

Focus on the truck.

If you keep cussing at people to get out of the way of a truck and they keep getting hit by trucks because they stop and say “did you have to use so many swear words?” maybe stop cussing.

The problem is the person driving the truck irresponsibly, not the person pointing out the impending accident.

Look. Point is. President Trump and his political enablers have proven themselves to be dangerous and irresponsible, and bear significant responsibility for the deaths of tens of thousands of americans because of the administrations terrible handling of the pandemic.

That is the truth.

I understand some people disagree. Those people are wrong.

This is ultimately about right and wrong, and irreconcilable values.

The current administration and its political enablers are pandering or outright leading the worst aspects of American society - white supremacy, exploitation of the poor and powerless, sexism, and authoritarian/fascist tendencies.

This is what I believe to be true, and while I will listen and discuss with people who may not agree with me in full, I will not equivocate about the immoral, unethical, un-American nature of the Trump Administration and what the bulk of the Republican party has become.

The great thing about a well-working democracy is when people talk with each other and select a good truck driver. (Though I’m not a fan of thinking of the President as the driver of the truck, but that’s a different issue).

We're talking to each other now.

Do you believe the President of the United States spoke in a responsible fashion? Do you believe his words were responsible, prudent, and appropriate to the moment?