@Rothko posted:I try to avoid the political discussions here, and maybe I'm making a mistake posting this, but can someone explain to me the thought process of our President pushing for a Covid vaccine to be authorized before Election Day?
It's pretty clear by now that the scientists and FDA want a possible longer wait period that would push a decision past Nov. 3rd. The President clearly wants to be able to make an announcement sometime before the Election, as an "October Surprise" that a vaccine has received an emergency use authorization.
What does such an announcement get him? Is anyone really going to change their minds about their vote based on such an announcement alone? Is anyone going to really rush out and get a shot in the arm if all the doctors and scientists come out and say that the decision has been rushed and people should be cautious until more data has been received and analyzed. Does anyone think that the President announcing a vaccine a few days before the Election will make rational people think the Pandemic is over and we can all thank the President for it?
What's the play here?
This may sound counterintuitive given that he won the election, but Trump isn't any better at politics than he is at governing. He won the election through a perfect storm of flukes, election interference and Hillary's overconfidence. So no surprise to me that he constantly says things that serve no political purpose or even hurt him. He just has no clue.