"You're damn right I'm taking hydroxychloroquine."
-
@Improviso said in "You're damn right I'm taking hydroxychloroquine.":
@xenon said in "You're damn right I'm taking hydroxychloroquine.":
I'll chime in here with the preface that my key criticism of Trump is that he's just not intellectually up to the job of governing.
Well... up to the point where China and WHO fucked us in the ass, he was doing a pretty damn good job in my book.
It's curious - he was praising Xi pretty hard until the end of Feb. On transparency - lol. Raise your hands if you believed China was being transparent at any point.
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/15/trump-china-coronavirus-188736
-
George - your premise that the things he says don’t have real world effects and can therefore be swept aside seems pretty obviously wrong.
As for actions, the administration fucked up testing, was late in treating equipment procurement as the emergency it was (and is) and remains insufficiently prepared for reopening. He lives too much by the news cycle to ever get ahead of this.
Let me turn the question around - what part of our covid response did we really get right?
-
My main problem isn't with what Trump's administration has done, it's been his appalling communication.
He's contradicted himself, Tweeted really stupid things that undermine his own government's policies, and during some of the briefings has gone on truly bizarre flights of fantasy. This stuff has encouraged people who think this is all some deep-state conspiracy to do Christ-alone-knows-what. The single most important job you have in a briefing is to be clear. This isn't an election rally, he's supposed to be addressing a national crisis.
And no, I don't think he's done a fantastic job with his actions either, but to be fair to him, most countries have fucked this up.
Yes, I think Biden's shit as well, so don't bother.
-
George - is your implicit argument here that we didn't need as many ventilators as we thought - so what a waste of time and effort? Similarly PPE isn't that important, it was/is going to be a waste of time anyways?
I don't want to put words in your mouth, so help me unpack that.
I didn't say anything about PPE, to be sure. Perhaps someone who has a better understanding of how these contracts work can tell me if this was truly negligence on the part of the Obama/Trump administrations in not securing them vs them not being available (see Improv's comments above).
As to ventilators, Cuomo claimed that NY would need, iirc, 40,000 ventilators (the number might be wrong, but it's the correct order of magnitude). And yet, lo and behold, at the beginning of May, New York was shipping them elsewhere. They came nowhere close to needing 40K. The peak need in early April was ... 5,000.
As to projecting other needs, how did that need for 140K ICU beds work out? New York needed 23,000.
[snark] Of course, those needs were mitigated by having about 5,000 die in nursing homes by being exposed. [/snark]
The future's hard to predict, isn't it?
"Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08
The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.
-
@xenon said in "You're damn right I'm taking hydroxychloroquine.":
I'll chime in here with the preface that my key criticism of Trump is that he's just not intellectually up to the job of governing.
Theres two reasons for that... the first reason is because you formed your opinion of him from what the media tells you to think, and the second reason is because you don't know how to tell who is and who is not "intellectually up to the job".
That's laughable, anyway. That is the argument used by elitist snobs.
-
Is that what was meant by this being a family forum - we post pictures of our mentally disadvantaged relatives?
Proud supporter of Plan 2525. Everything you think, do and say will be in the pill you took today.
-
@89th said in "You're damn right I'm taking hydroxychloroquine.":
@Jolly while that timeline has bias smeared all over it, it does include a number of actions Trump took that were good. I've never argued against that. Which leads me to...
@Larry Incorrect, indeed that is exactly what I've been saying all along. It just triggered your TDS, but my message has been the same. You can view the start of this in Post 63 of the US has Shitloads thread and follow my comments there as well as in this thread. It's been the same message all along. Don't let your TDS blind you. I've been apolitical the entire time.
The bottom line also remains the same. We now have over 90,000 american deaths, and my position is this number would be smaller had the president not taken a "not as bad as the flu" position in early/mid March and had he advocated for stricter social distancing earlier, it would've helped lower the exponential growth we have seen since. None of this is even debatable, really. But go ahead...let the TDS "most competent president of our lifetime" kick in.
I admitted bias and asked for refutation. Is the timeline factually correct?
Always remember, Operation Valkyrie was an act of sedition.
Warning: I post things that interest me. Read and comment at your own discretion. -
@xenon said in "You're damn right I'm taking hydroxychloroquine.":
@Improviso said in "You're damn right I'm taking hydroxychloroquine.":
@xenon said in "You're damn right I'm taking hydroxychloroquine.":
I'll chime in here with the preface that my key criticism of Trump is that he's just not intellectually up to the job of governing.
Well... up to the point where China and WHO fucked us in the ass, he was doing a pretty damn good job in my book.
It's curious - he was praising Xi pretty hard until the end of Feb. On transparency - lol. Raise your hands if you believed China was being transparent at any point.
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/15/trump-china-coronavirus-188736
Skippy,
At that point, we're still wondering whether we were being lied to, or not.
Secondly, do you really want to piss on the guy who can put a stop on the PPE pipeline?
-
@George-K said in "You're damn right I'm taking hydroxychloroquine.":
George - is your implicit argument here that we didn't need as many ventilators as we thought - so what a waste of time and effort? Similarly PPE isn't that important, it was/is going to be a waste of time anyways?
I don't want to put words in your mouth, so help me unpack that.
I didn't say anything about PPE, to be sure. Perhaps someone who has a better understanding of how these contracts work can tell me if this was truly negligence on the part of the Obama/Trump administrations in not securing them vs them not being available (see Improv's comments above).
As to ventilators, Cuomo claimed that NY would need, iirc, 40,000 ventilators (the number might be wrong, but it's the correct order of magnitude). And yet, lo and behold, at the beginning of May, New York was shipping them elsewhere. They came nowhere close to needing 40K. The peak need in early April was ... 5,000.
As to projecting other needs, how did that need for 140K ICU beds work out? New York needed 23,000.
[snark] Of course, those needs were mitigated by having about 5,000 die in nursing homes by being exposed. [/snark]
The future's hard to predict, isn't it?
Get Your Business Ready for Federal Contracting
Each year, the government awards hundreds of billions of dollars in federal contracts to businesses to meet the needs of federal agencies and the military. The government’s goal is to award at least 23 percent of those contracts to small businesses.To sell your products or services to the federal government, your business must meet specific requirements. Although the contracting process can seem complicated and overwhelming at first, the government provides lots of information and tips to help you learn to compete as a federal contractor.
Find Sources of Federal Contracts
There are several different ways you can find opportunities to do business with federal agencies and the military. You can use these resources to get a sense of the federal marketplace for the products or services your business offers.Sign up for notifications from and search the Contract Opportunities Search Tool on beta.SAM.gov, which is now the official database of federal contracting opportunities.
Become part of the General Services Administration (GSA) Schedules Program.
Find contracts through individual agencies’ Offices of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization.
Become a subcontractor by working for another company that already has a contract with the federal government. This is a good way to introduce your company to contracting with the government and to build a track record of success.
Prepare Your Business for Federal Contracting in 8 Steps
Make sure you read through all of the steps in the list before getting to work. This will help you understand your timeline and what to expect from the process. You may also choose to reorder these steps to fit the specific needs and timing of your work.Decide if federal contracting is a good idea for your business. Consider factors including whether your company has enough time and resources to invest in the process. GSA’s Vendor Toolbox can help you make the decision.
Research the demand and pricing for your product or service within the government. Determine demand for your products or service with the Contract Opportunities Search Tool on beta.SAM.gov or the GSA Forecast of Contracting Opportunities Tool. And use the Contract-Awarded Labor Category (CALC) site to get an idea of hourly labor rates in federal contracts.
Avoid costly errors and potential legal problems by researching the regulations and laws for federal contractors. The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers resources that can help you learn about the responsibilities of federal contractors. You can also contact a Procurement Center Representative (PCR) for assistance and counseling.
Create a business plan. It should include a marketing plan, staffing details, and a calculation of how much money you expect your business to gain from the contract.
Look up the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for your industry. You must know your six-digit NAICS code to compete for federal contracts.
Determine whether your business is eligible for any special labels (set-aside types) or programs. If so, you can compete for additional contracts that are “set aside” by the government for small and/or disadvantaged businesses. You may also receive preferential treatment when competing for contracts, depending on the specific set-aside type(s) you qualify for.
Register for a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) code. You must have a nine-digit DUNS code to compete for federal contracts. The government uses this code to track your company’s credit record. This system is managed by Dun & Bradstreet, which is a private company. Registration is free for federal contractors.
Register in the System for Award Management (SAM). You must have a SAM account to compete for federal contracts. The government uses this system to store information about your business, including certifications, so it’s important to keep your SAM profile updated. Registration is free.
Note: While learning about contracting, you may see information online about the Central Contractor Registration (CCR), however, this system was replaced by SAM. Currently, contractors only need to register in SAM. -
@Jolly said in "You're damn right I'm taking hydroxychloroquine.":
@xenon said in "You're damn right I'm taking hydroxychloroquine.":
@Improviso said in "You're damn right I'm taking hydroxychloroquine.":
@xenon said in "You're damn right I'm taking hydroxychloroquine.":
I'll chime in here with the preface that my key criticism of Trump is that he's just not intellectually up to the job of governing.
Well... up to the point where China and WHO fucked us in the ass, he was doing a pretty damn good job in my book.
It's curious - he was praising Xi pretty hard until the end of Feb. On transparency - lol. Raise your hands if you believed China was being transparent at any point.
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/15/trump-china-coronavirus-188736
Skippy,
At that point, we're still wondering whether we were being lied to, or not.
Secondly, do you really want to piss on the guy who can put a stop on the PPE pipeline?
@Jolly What did you learn in March that you didn't know by the end of Feb? Also - why put in your first N95 order on March 21st - if this was all about managing supply from them?
I'm sure you'll crank up the degrees on the chess for yet another brilliant rationale.
-
Second part (I'll get back to Xenon in a moment...)
How to Bid on a Federal Government Contract Solicitation
Once you’ve completed the steps to get your business ready for federal contracting, you can begin the steps for searching for and responding to contracting opportunities.To find a federal contracting opportunity that’s a strong match with the products and services your business is prepared to offer, search with the Contract Opportunities Search Tool on beta.SAM.gov.
Read all of the documentation about the contracting opportunity very carefully. Every opportunity is different and reading all of the information is extremely important so you’ll understand the requirements.
Make sure you’re responding to a solicitation rather than a presolicitation, which is often just a request for information and not actually a request for offers. If you need help understanding what certain contracting terms mean, visit the Common Federal Contracting Terms glossary.
Ask questions--don’t guess. Before you submit your material, get your questions answered by reaching out to the agency contact person listed in the solicitation, or a Procurement Center Representative.
Submit the requested forms and technical, past performance, and pricing information in the appropriate format by following the instructions in the solicitation. (Only the person legally authorized to enter into contracts for your business should sign forms.)
Prepare to negotiate your best offer with the government. Make sure you know the pricing you included in your offer and have a strong understanding of the requirements listed in the solicitation.
A federal agency may reject or seek clarifications on your submission if it is incorrect, unclear, incomplete, or late. Many contract submissions are unsuccessful for these reasons. Give your business its best chance by responding to the solicitation on time and correctly the first time.After You Submit an Offer
The government usually takes 30 to 120 days to review submissions. A Contracting Officer (CO) handles each review. Generally, contracts are awarded based on multiple factors, includingHow responsible and responsive a business is
How technically acceptable a proposal is
Past performance references
Pricing and terms of the proposal
Once your offer is reviewed, you will receive a response from the government. The response could let you know your offer has been accepted or rejected, it could be a request to schedule a meeting to negotiate terms, or it could be a request for more information. If you do not receive a response from the government within three months, reach out to the contact person listed in the solicitation. -
@xenon said in "You're damn right I'm taking hydroxychloroquine.":
@Jolly said in "You're damn right I'm taking hydroxychloroquine.":
@xenon said in "You're damn right I'm taking hydroxychloroquine.":
@Improviso said in "You're damn right I'm taking hydroxychloroquine.":
@xenon said in "You're damn right I'm taking hydroxychloroquine.":
I'll chime in here with the preface that my key criticism of Trump is that he's just not intellectually up to the job of governing.
Well... up to the point where China and WHO fucked us in the ass, he was doing a pretty damn good job in my book.
It's curious - he was praising Xi pretty hard until the end of Feb. On transparency - lol. Raise your hands if you believed China was being transparent at any point.
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/15/trump-china-coronavirus-188736
Skippy,
At that point, we're still wondering whether we were being lied to, or not.
Secondly, do you really want to piss on the guy who can put a stop on the PPE pipeline?
@Jolly What did you learn in March that you didn't know by the end of Feb? Also - why put in your first N95 order on March 21st - if this was all about managing supply from them?
I'm sure you'll crank up the degrees on the chess for yet another brilliant rationale.
You know what you know, when you know it. To ignore that things change daily, sometimes hourly in a pandemic...Well, go look at Jon's daily thread.
Secondly, how do you do an addendum to a Federal contract? Or in this case do you think it better to do a RFP? Or course, Trump has more latitude in a crisis, but how many laws do you wish him to break, in order to satisfy your whims?
-
@Jolly I'm not disagreeing with you that things change on the daily and there's tons of ambiguity.
Again - my main point is that Trump is a bad thinker. It's clear he's just reacting.
It's always a gamble to have a strong POV about something as it's developing and as your understanding is developing. I know - that's a big part of my job.
The thing is - when it turns out you were wrong - you need to explain why you thought what you did and how circumstances changed.
If you keep taking strong points of view and come up short time after time, then gloss over the fact that it happened - well then anyone paying attention can see you're full of crap.
And again - my issue is the guy at the top is full of crap to the point of being useless. Nothing he says has any credibility. He's funny though.
I'm no expert on pandemic response.
-
@xenon said in "You're damn right I'm taking hydroxychloroquine.":
@Jolly I'm not disagreeing with you that things change on the daily and there's tons of ambiguity.
Again - my main point is that Trump is a bad thinker. It's clear he's just reacting.
It's always a gamble to have a strong POV about something as it's developing and as your understanding is developing. I know - that's a big part of my job.
The thing is - when it turns out you were wrong - you need to explain why you thought what you did and how circumstances changed.
If you keep taking strong points of view and come up short time after time, then gloss over the fact that it happened - well then anyone paying attention can see you're full of crap.
And again - my issue is the guy at the top is full of crap to the point of being useless. Nothing he says has any credibility. He's funny though.
I'm no expert on pandemic response.
Dance, monkey, dance.
-
Example - look how much uncertainty he's sown on masks. There's a bunch of research coming out daily now that masks work.
He could throw his weight behind masks and say - let's get back out there. Masks give us some added protection, let's keep social distancing to the extent possible. But let's get out there.
It'd actually help the economy open faster.
But no - he has political hills he wants to die on.
:
