Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D.

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To the editor:

While I firmly believe that Trump is dangerously malevolent, I am equally dismayed by the 40-year evolution of Republican “leadership” aimed at starving our government.

President Ronald Reagan proudly stated in his first inaugural address that “government is the problem.” Before he was speaker of the House, former Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) handed out copies of Ayn Rand’s novels. Steve Bannon, Trump’s former chief political strategist, famously called for the “deconstruction of the administrative state.”

Trump has tried to cut the budgets of the CDC and the National Institutes of Health, and he has failed to fill the position of the White House official responsible for coordinating our response to a pandemic.

Nov. 3 cannot come too soon.

Ken Dusick, Los Angeles

Note from KBJ: Stop projecting your malevolence onto President Trump, Ken.

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The DNC will have gotten their fondest wish and defeated Bernie Sanders, far ahead of schedule. Now they are doing everything possible to be nice to him in order to keep his supporters. Bernie has given up, just like he did last time. He will be dropping out soon! MAGA/KAG

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2020

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Donald Trump's approval rating is 46%. Barack Obama's approval rating at the same point of his presidency (17 March 2012) was 50%.

America is bracing for the onslaught of COVID-19 cases and deaths. Local and state governments have initiated coronavirus preparations. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced agreement on a bipartisan plan to help Americans affected by this pandemic. Sadly, President Donald Trump never spoke to Ms. Pelosi during these negotiations.

Through March 13, only about 16,500 Americans were tested for the disease, while South Korea can conduct 15,000 tests per day. When pressed to explain the lack of testing, Mr. Trump said, “I don’t take responsibility at all.” No leadership.

In May 2018, the Trump administration disbanded the White House office responsible for early detection and protection against pandemics like COVID-19. When asked about this, Mr. Trump said, “I don’t know anything about it.” No leadership.

In a devastating March 13 piece in The Atlantic, lifelong Republican Peter Wehner documented how the administration delayed and blocked efforts by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to prepare for this pandemic.

Before the end of the president’s disastrous March 11 address to the nation, U.S. stock market futures started dropping like a rock tossed from Mount Everest.

In turbulent times, leadership matters. I hope and pray this pandemic will not be as grave as some predict. The next few weeks will be crucial, but Americans need some questions answered right now.

1. Who closed the White House pandemic office, and why?

2. Why was the U.S. government so terribly unprepared for COVID-19 testing?

KARL KLINE

O’Hara

Note from KBJ: President Trump is doing a great job, Karl. Where are you getting your information? Oh, wait. You're getting it from Trump hater Peter Wehner.

Failing Michigan Governor must work harder and be much more proactive. We are pushing her to get the job done. I stand with Michigan!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 17, 2020

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