Brazil's Bolsonaro fails at being a human being

Imagine that you are president of a country gripped by a pandemic, and a reporter asks you to comment about the record number of deaths that day. Of all the possible responses you could think of, would "So what?" be your first choice?

But on Tuesday night Brazil’s president shrugged off the news. “So what?” Jair Bolsonaro told reporters when asked about the record 474 deaths that day. “I’m sorry. What do you want me to do?”

Bolsonaro’s 11-word response – the latest in a series of remarks belittling the pandemic – sparked immediate fury. One newspaper, the Estado de Minas, stamped the president’s words on to a black front page beside Brazil’s death toll: 5,017.

“Bolsonaro isn’t just an awful politician and a bad president, he’s a despicable human being,” tweeted Marcelo Freixo, a leftwing opponent.

Bolsonaro has done the impossible and made Trump look good in comparison.
The city of Manaus recorded 142 deaths on Sunday. Workers in the main cemetery have been digging mass graves because the city was running out of coffins and "there could soon be corpses left on corners.”

Since Brazil confirmed its first coronavirus case on 26 February, Bolsonaro has continually minimised the pandemic, rejecting media “hysteria” over its dangers and suggesting Brazilians could swim in excrement and emerge unscathed.

The Trump-admiring populist has also purposefully undermined social distancing guidelines, mingling with supporters and sacking his health minister on 16 April after he publicly challenged the president’s behaviour.

Brazil's covid-19 outbreak could end up being the worst in the western hemisphere.

Brazil officially reported about 4,500 deaths and almost 67,000 confirmed infections. But the true numbers there, as in many other countries, are believed to be vastly higher given the lack of testing and the many people without severe symptoms who haven’t sought hospital care.

Some scientists said over 1 million in Brazil are probably infected. The country is heading into winter, which can worsen respiratory illnesses.

Firing the health minister for taking the pandemic seriously was not a good look, but causing the Justice Minister, Sergio Moro, to quit on live TV is having serious political consequences.

Yet Bolsonaro still decided to be Trump-like and double-down on his corruption, by naming a family friend to head the federal police.
Well, that appears to be one step too far.

Brazil’s Supreme Court on Wednesday temporarily suspended the contentious appointment of the new director general of the Federal Police, delivering a fresh blow to the Brazilian leader.

The abrupt removal of the former federal police chief in the midst of a health crisis and the nomination of Alexandre Ramagem, who is considered to be close to the Bolsonaro family, had prompted concern that he would give them undue preferential treatment at a time when at least one of the president’s sons is reportedly under investigation.

It looks like Brazil's right-wing is going to discredit itself.

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longtalldrink's picture

"It looks like Brazil's right-wing is going to discredit itself."

We all know the right-wing here in 'Merica love their "fearless leader" and even he has said he could shoot someone on Fifth Ave. and they would not care. See their dumb azzes trying to "re-open" America...shoving people back to work in meat plants. Telling their workers that if they DON'T show up for work, they will consider that the employee quit and therefore ineligible for unemployment. We sit snug and smug in our homes when other countries show complete disregard for their people...but look...ours is doing the same thing.

I have said before and I will say again...they will enslave us. It is already beginning. Not only that...what have we been doing anyway but being wage slaves?

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Well done is better than well said-Ben Franklin

Lookout's picture

and the US is guilty as hell that he is not. Bolsonaro's 1st trip to the US after being elected included a trip to CIA headquarters.
https://apnews.com/9e097b1cb92c4400b76c096da8f26910

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Pluto's Republic's picture

He sees the abyss gaping open at his feet. He won't be with us for long.

I have always disbelieved that Brazilians would vote for him after looking at his face. I challenge the outcome of that election.

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7 users have voted.

____________________

The political system is what it is because the People are who they are. — Plato
Bollox Ref's picture

That up-and-coming economy and market of a decade ago, is not looking so rosy if you're a multi-national with other places to locate.

Mrs. B. went a couple of times to scout things out, but hasn't been back.

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5 users have voted.

Gëzuar!!
from a reasonably stable genius.

Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal's picture

During their second term, a reporter told him polls showed a majority of the American people now opposed the Iraq War. "So what?" was his response.

As in this case, many thousands--perhaps a hundred thousand or more--of lives were at stake, though Cheney's contempt was more directed at the idea that the people should have any influence over whether they went to war.

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8 users have voted.

"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha

"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver

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Hawkfish's picture

During a major speech the other day. Maybe Mother Earth wants a word with him?

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3 users have voted.

We can’t save the world by playing by the rules, because the rules have to be changed.
- Greta Thunberg