Trump, Cuomo Bicker Over Potential Reboot

After weeks of doom and gloom, government officials such as New York Governor Andrew Cuomo are finally starting to talk about reopening the nation’s paralyzed economy. However, the timetable for a potential reopening has become a touchy subject amongst two of the nation’s most prominent political figures.

On Monday, Cuomo, whose state has been ground zero for the pandemic, told reporters that “the worst is over” and it’s time to start thinking about reopening the economy. He said he and 6 other nearby states would begin coordinating their strategies for easing restrictions and returning to normalcy.

Cuomo has been a prominent voice during the pandemic. Additionally, the Democratic governor has become a mainstream media darling over the past few weeks. Unsurprisingly, the media applauded Cuomo’s announcement and praised his bold leadership skills. The media’s favorable treatment of Cuomo has served as an interesting contrast to their portrayal of President Trump, who they have criticized at every turn.

Double Standards?

In fact, when Trump expressed an interest in reopening the economy the media blasted him for risking American lives and having unrealistic expectations. However, Cuomo’s push to begin planning for a reopening was cast in an entirely different light. We already know the president can’t win with the leftist media establishment. Although, it’s somewhat surprising that the media would continue to divide the country in the midst of a national crisis.

President Trump told reporters in a White House press briefing on Monday that he will make the final call on reopening the economy. However, his comments in previous appearances indicate that he’s in favor of reopening things as soon as possible.

The president warned that the restrictions to reduce the spread of coronavirus “can’t be worse than the problem itself,” from the very beginning. He also has repeatedly pushed for a quick reopening. Trump recently announced the formation of a special taskforce. This group will have the sole focus of restarting the economy in an orderly fashion. Therefore, there’s no doubt that this president wants to get things rolling again as soon as possible.

However, Trump’s assertion that the decision to open the economy ends with him rests on questionable legal ground. Some legal experts have said that the president will have very limited options for recourse. This is if the states begin reopening without his approval. Cuomo called the president’s claim of total authority “aggressive” and “hostile”.

Looking Forward to Normalcy

Despite the political back and forth, most Americans just want to go back to normal. Strict lockdowns have been in place throughout the country for weeks. These restrictions have become a major impediment to economic production. Unemployment has skyrocketed to historic levels. Additionally, the country has taken on trillions in national debt to pay for expensive and arguably overly-generous stimulus programs. Meanwhile, freewheeling state governors are using the crisis as an excuse to broaden their authority over both the economy and the day-to-day lives of their constituents. However, the outbreak is beginning to show signs of slowing and public opinion is rapidly turning against the shutdown.

Many Americans are beginning to question whether the government response is beginning to expand past the limits of reason. Millions of Americans have been deprived of their civil liberties based on speculative projections from doctors and scientists that are thriving on their inflated sense of self-importance. Now, as the outbreak begins to slow, it looks like these projections were way off base. The so-called experts will undoubtedly claim that it was only by the result of their swift and bold action that a catastrophe was avoided. However, many citizens have started to question the motives behind the wildly exaggerated figures.

Up Next:

• Trump Claims ‘Total’ Authority, Over Governors, to Reopen Economy
• President Trump: More Than $70 Billion Has Been Processed for Small Business Loans
• Cuomo Extends New York Shutdown Until April 29

Featured Image by Gage Skidmore/Flickr