Thread by @anamariecox, I know lots of progressive folks are giddily using this “end of [...]

I know lots of progressive folks are giddily using this “end of American exceptionalism” article as yet more proof of Trump’s incompetence, but maybe pause to ask yourself if the problems with America’s particular form of leadership pre-date Trump. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/23/world/europe/coronavirus-american-exceptionalism.html

‘Sadness’ and Disbelief From a World Missing American Leadership

The coronavirus pandemic is shaking bedrock assumptions about U.S. exceptionalism. This is perhaps the first global crisis in more than a century where no one is even looking for Washington to lead.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/23/world/europe/coronavirus-american-exceptionalism.html

Trump can be tragically unfit for office and responsible for the unnecessary deaths of thousands due to CV, but we’ve been responsible for the deaths of thousands many times before, under “good” leaders and bad. Maybe we’ve been needing to re-earn the world’s respect for awhile.

(Defensively adds:) I love this country, I do believe in a form of American exceptionalism, we are conducting the world’s longest experiment in self-governance. Go us! USA! Still, Trump only squandered most of the goodwill we had left, our reserves were already low.

I mean, this is one hell of a smash cut:

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