I don't dispute the value in listening to speeches, verbatim, via YouTube.

Unfortunately, most such political speeches are propaganda (from the left and from wherever our alleged leader is standing at the moment). They seldom offer much value, if any.  The news I look for during this crisis comes from the likes of Dr. Fauci; stuff you can actually derive something useful from.  Instead, for the last couple weeks, all I hear from our daily "Corona-virus Task Force" briefings is self-congratulatory campaign rhetoric... regardless of whether I listen to it on Fox, on CNN or on YouTube.

Like ST, I lean to the right.  Heck, I must even shamefully confess I voted for the current administration.  Generally, I quickly attempt to exculpate myself by insisting that our political system gave us the worst choice I've ever seen in a presidential election... but, truthfully, I should have paid closer attention. Since then, I have listened carefully to the actual words of the guy I voted for.  He told me such things as: his inaugural crowds were bigger than Obama's, a hurricane was headed to Alabama (then made his weather service adjust their map), etc. and etc. and then, finally, that a virus that affected less than 15 individuals in the USA was no problem and it would go away as soon as it warmed up (listen to his actual words contained in this link which I believe to be mostly factual:    (You need to Login or Register ).  Of course, there are many more examples.  My point is: that the inability to confess even harmless, simple mistakes, and to instead "double-down" and never admit "errors" is a critical flaw in a national leader... especially now.  It has shaken my confidence and has, almost certainly and irretrievably, lost my vote.

That last example I gave (out of the many dozens I could surely find on YouTube) was likely the most grievous.  I'll leave it to future historians to define the magnitude of our failure to address an exponential growth curve situation in a timely manner.  Personally, I believe it will be spelled out in terms of tens of thousands of lives.  However, I shall defer to their objectivity and perspective, as Time reveals more, for any final judgment.

Again, my disillusionment stems from small issues (crowd sizes, weather reports... the easily verifiable stuff) and a core disposition to never admit a mistake.  To err is human, they say, and I could forgive that... if ever it was admitted. 

Right about now, however, I insist upon a leader whose words can be believed.  I insist on credibility.  I sincerely hope our political process will yield a better choice this time around.

I am reading a book right now (I'm 815 pages deep into its 1300 pages), one that won every major award in sight for its thoroughness, detail & historical accuracy.  I recommend it to anyone who can keep their eyelids open through it; it's an endurance test.  Anyway, the striking thing for me was this: quote after quote after quote from actual speeches made at the time have a very familiar "ring" to them, seemingly echoed in today's news.  Most of the book's contents come directly from eyewitness reports, fully recorded speeches, and captured documents that came to light during the Nuremburg trials.  The book is entitled, "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" and the star of the book wasn't inclined to admit mistakes, either. 

As George Santayana said, ""Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."  Whatever your political leanings - and, remember, I lean right - I urge vigilance.

That's my final word on the subject in this forum... and I will not blame db in the least should he elect to "delete" this particular post and others that have gotten "political."  They probably have no business here.

Jimbo   8-)