Day 1,373: As COVID-19 nears record high, GOP touts manned mission to Mars, permanent moon presence as Trump second term top priorities

Donald Trump and the GOP decided to not have a 2020 platform where they listed plans and goals for a second term.

During Thursday’s debate with Joe Biden, that void shone through brighter than ever. Time after time, Trump deflected on plans related to the coronavirus, healthcare, race relations, immigration, a nuclearized North Korea and more. He offered plenty of blame but little detail.

Trying to spin and show Trump planning for beyond 2020, the GOP proudly touted that “Trump is fighting for YOU!” before listing some priorities should he be reelected.

As COVID-19 is surging to record levels again, and deaths could more than double by February, the first two priorities listed by the GOP were “Establish[ing a] Permanent Manned Presence on The Moon” and “Send[ing] the 1st Manned Mission to Mars”. Of those, the latter is something that is likely closer to a decade or more away and neither means much to people struggling to remain economically and healthily afloat in the U.S. back on Earth in 2020.

Also on the list were ridiculously nonsensical items like “Build World’s Greatest Infrastructure System,” missing the irony that “infrastructure week” is one of the longest-running jokes involving the Trump administration’s plans.

Nearly two hours later, seeing the mocking responses, the GOP added new “priorities” for Trump’s second term. One of them was “Develop a Vaccine by The End Of 2020,” which is still squarely within Trump’s first term set to end on January 20, 2021.

Another priority was “Refill Stockpiles,” presumably medical supply stockpiles that Trump frequently alleges, without evidence, were left raided by Barack Obama four years ago. It’s a tacit admission that either Trump has been lying or has done nothing about the problem in four years.

Later added to the list was “Cover All Pre-Existing Conditions,” which is presently done by the Affordable Care Act, signed into law by Obama. The Trump administration is currently trying to get the ACA invalidated wholesale at the Supreme Court next month, which would eliminate protection for Americans with pre-existing conditions.

Trump and the GOP have no plans for a second term. That’s been obvious for some time. But even a faux last-minute list of items is riddled with laughable priorities and meaningless words that do nothing for the average American.

1,373 days in, 89 to go

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