Trump erroneously says 1918 Spanish Flu 'probably ended' WWII, which happened two decades later

[archer75]

I'm okay with a higher standard but not over this sort of trivial slip of the tongue. We all knew what he meant.

I don't know that at all. A normal person, yes, we'd guess that this is a slip-up. But this person is confused, anxious, and poorly informed in the first place.

 

[Archivist]

I think it's a matter of open debate. People can discuss and debate the end of the war and reach different conclusions. I happen to think there were many reasons for the armistice but I have no problem with other people disagreeing and even limiting ending factors to one or two things or events. We ought to be able to have a robust discussion and draw our own conclusions.

Then we have to agree to disagree.

 

[Jonathan Walkerin]

In spite of the bumble and the media pettiness, he was right about the virus ending the war for lack of healthy soldiers to die.

Where did you find that as a fact ?

 

[JackRT]

Where did you find that as a fact ?

That is because IT IS NOT A FACT.

 

[Jonathan Walkerin]

That is because IT IS NOT A FACT.

Indeed.

 

[Archivist]

Indeed.

Correct. World War I ended because of the influx of American troops and because of US victories in the field. Troops on both sides were hit by the flu so it had an effect but it didn't end the war.

 

[Redwingfan9]

Correct. World War I ended because of the influx of American troops and because of US victories in the field. Troops on both sides were hit by the flu so it had an effect but it didn't end the war.

The flu may have hit both sides but because the US was new to the war (our troops didn't fight in earnest until 1918) the flu disproportionately hurt Germany, which was struggling with morale at home and in the military as it is. An argument can be made that the flu pushed them over the edge. The fact that Trump has said this is not a reason to discount the theory.

 

[JohnDB]

Excuse me? You're the one who brought up bones in these women's closets.
If Trump was a viable candidate with all his closet bones than surely they are. None of them come anywhere close to Trump's messy closet.

There's always things like Hillary's insider trading of cattle futures and Bill's Jennifer Flowers running around in people's pasts. No one lives perfect lives.

Reagan, both Bush, and Clinton all had standard practices and track records of behavior...those things are perfectly acceptable to debate and discuss for whether they are going to be good for our nation.
We knew that Reagan was going to outspend any increase in tax revenue by his record as governor of California.
We knew Bill was going to steal other people's popular agendas and act like they were his own.

We knew that Obama was difficult to work with and a coalition with him at the helm was just about impossible when he was in Chicago.

These things are fair game to talk about and examine. Gaffs, past mistakes, and misdeeds are "gotcha politics" and mudslinging...and why I really am not a partisan of either side of the aisle.

Both sides have great merit in ideas...both sides have lousy ones too.

I Can't really join in with either side.

 

[timothyu]

No the war ended cause Germany was losing on the Western front.

Why? Sickness.

 

[Jonathan Walkerin]

The fact that Trump has said this is not a reason to discount the theory.

No. The reason to discount the theory is that there is no facts to support it.

Like most of Trumps statements that his apologists have to work overtime to make plausible.

D for effort.

 

[Jonathan Walkerin]

Why? Sickness.

Do link any credible source that says Germany surrendered because of sickness will you ?

 

[timothyu]

Why are we holding politicians to a higher standard and not allowing them to correct themselves without a media frenzy?

Because the cable media needs to justify it's existence since it reports opinion rather then who what when where and why. They are not the news. They are fear and gossip mongers that people have come to accept as informative, probably because these pundits speak to the majority at their own level. Such is the decline of empires.

The real outcome of this election will be which side can be the most petty and who lost more supporters as a result.

 

[Redwingfan9]

No. The reason to discount the theory is that there is no facts to support it.

Like most of Trumps statements that his apologists have to work overtime to make plausible.

D for effort.

Are you kidding me? The Spanish flu has long been acknowledged as one of the reasons the war ended. What Trump said isn't new at all.

 

[nolidad]

Trump: 1918 Spanish Flu 'probably ended' WWII, which happened two decades apart
So...the President Said this today:

tulc(heard the 1917 pandemic may have closed all the airports during the American Revolution as well)

So you wish to make a mount everest over a grain of sand! have at it!

Just remember, Obama campaigned in all 57 states! He said so! Politicians like every other person on the planet are guilty of misspeaking from time to time. Only the petty like to stir up a tempest in a teapot over it!

 

[Sistrin]

This thread is hilarious.

 

[JackRT]

Are you kidding me? The Spanish flu has long been acknowledged as one of the reasons the war ended. What Trump said isn't new at all.

The Spanish flu did not yet have a serious effect on the war effort by either side. It really hit hard when the troops were repatriated home. My father was seriously wounded in the last few days of WW1. He talked extensively with me about his experiences and I cannot remember him ever speaking of the Spanish flu. The war ended because the German army was defeated in the field and in full retreat.

 

[Redwingfan9]

The Spanish flu did not yet have a serious effect on the war effort by wither side. It really hit hard when the troops were repatriated home. My father was seriously wounded in the last few days of WW1. He talked extensively with me about his experiences and I cannot remember him ever speaking of the Spanish flu. The war ended because the German army was defeated in the field and in full retreat.

Your father's experience is not necessarily the experience in Germany, either their army or the homefront.

 

[Archivist]

The flu may have hit both sides but because the US was new to the war (our troops didn't fight in earnest until 1918) the flu disproportionately hurt Germany, which was struggling with morale at home and in the military as it is. An argument can be made that the flu pushed them over the edge. The fact that Trump has said this is not a reason to discount the theory.

But the flu also hit the French and British who were just as exhausted as the Germans. Any evidence that you might have showing that the Germans were "disproportionately hurt" might help your claim, but from what I've read on the war that isn't the case.

 

[Jonathan Walkerin]

Are you kidding me? The Spanish flu has long been acknowledged as one of the reasons the war ended. What Trump said isn't new at all.

There is a pretty significant difference saying War ended because of the Spanish flu or saying it was one of the reasons.

Bit like saying US won the war of independence because of French support compared to a statement that the French support was one of the reasons why US won.

See the difference ?

 

[Jonathan Walkerin]

Your father's experience is not necessarily the experience in Germany, either their army or the homefront.

You are free to link a credible source that advocates your case of Spanish Flu being a significant contributor to Germany’s surrender.