Facing the Darkness
This week, New York Times columnist Charles Blow wrote a depressing, but I believe accurate opinion piece about how Trump will respond to Mueller’s report on the Russia investigation. It ain’t pretty. Blow compares Trump to Nixon, pointing out their difference in response to unassailable facts. When Nixon was facing an actual impeachment vote, he resigned a crawled back under his rock at San Clemency. Blow says that Trump will NEVER yield, even after an unlikely vote for impeachment.
His point here is that the end of the Mueller investigation isn’t the end of a long nightmare, but actually only the beginning. Even in the face of incontrovertible evidence, Trump will admit nothing. He’ll attack on Twitter. Trump’s network of propaganda outlets, lead by Fox Noise, will spin the findings at hypersonic speeds to twist up the finding to assert that negatives are positives, red is blue, the sky is green, the sun rises in the west, and that Trump is a “victim” of a smear campaign.
Blow describes the looming constitutional crisis as the “country’s crucible” that will test the very strength of our constitutional form of government. Trump won’t go down without taking the country with him. That is darkness that is no less threatening than the Great Depression, the rise of fascism in Europe in the 1930s, and the Great Recession. And, it could start any day.
Sleep tight…
A good commentary, both by El Jefe and Charles Blow/NYT. Glad that more and more Americans are finally getting edgy about the treasonous bastard currently squatting our White House.
I have to quibble a little about a few things though.
Taking his closing first, Blow hedges it a bit. We do have an American “true comparison”, the Civil War. That “crucible” of Mr. Blow could well be Civil War II, and we get closer to it every week. Are y’all near to ready should it come?
“The country is about to enter the crucible. This test of our republic is without a true comparison.”
I wish people would stop using that vague ‘soft’ word “collusion” and use the more forceful, descriptive, and constitutionally actionable word “conspiracy”.
“What if Donald Trump or those closest to him were compromised by the Russians or colluded with them?”
And please stop describing components of OUR government as being “his”, referring to that seditious SOB as ‘owning’ them (even in a diffuse form). This is like when GW Bush was slammed for referring to “his government”.
1Their administrations, OK, but not their government, CIA, FBI, EPA, or whatever. Those entities belong to us, we the people, not some craven proto-wannabe Hitler or Mussolini.
” to take Russian President Vladimir Putin’s word over that of his own intelligence agencies”
Agree with everything, El Jefe Supremo, except the very last sentence. The eve of Trump’s destruction began with that Moscow beauty pageant back in oh-’13 or whenever it was Putin caught him putting on some other girl’s high-heels.
Since, Trump has been hell-bent to rape, maim and destroy with his very own thousand points of darkness wherever they might be imposed, domestic or foreign.
2Wow! It is really extraordinary to be so old that I can remember stuff like Nixon and his reactions. He was also seen by his “base” as a victim and even compared to Abraham Lincoln when it came to “greatness”. I also recall that he agreed that he was a “victim” although completely incomparable to the way tRump is doing it. As I have said before, I envisioned tRump leaving the WH not at all quietly. What we have to do is strap on our seatbelts to the hilt and be the steadiness required by the occasion.
3I find this incredibly depressing because I find it so true.
4Much of this truly depends upon whose lying lips we are to believe, Orange Foolius or the ‘previous’ liars around him who are now lying and not lying. Or, we can go with Dotard45’s tweets and all the documented evidence gathered by Team Mueller. I believe the “eyes” have it, while the “lips” are being both played and betrayed.
Meanwhile in his tweets Donnie Tiny Hands continues to flirt at the precipice of US code. Neal Katyal says the relevant sections are 18 U.S.C. §§ 1503, 1512. Back at the Conway mansion George agrees, while Kellyanne is grabbing for her newest fistful of alternative facts.
And, the reading assignments are coming out this week. What Team Mueller writes about Mike Flynn today and on Friday, Cohen and Manafort. Then, Mueller also has those who are not going to court (for now) such as Allen Weisselberg, Trump Org CFO who could corroborate what Cohen has said and what Manafort hasn’t said.
Last but not least, Little Donnie’s tax returns. Those seem to be the “best seller” everyone needs to read. However, note of caution, as with everything about Donnie do not be surprised to see a crack in the old adage “numbers don’t lie.” What’s taking Mueller so long? Maybe after months of forensic audit, he’s now looking at the real numbers.
5Leslie Jones: “put some white guy in a cell” with 6 SNL women on what we all want from Mueller this Christmas. https://crooksandliars.com/2018/12/all-they-want-christmas-mueller
*** contains some swears*** It is wonkette. But also a thorough rundown of why the wingnuts like Matt Schlapp are wrong. https://www.wonkette.com/well-paid-moron-matt-schlapp-pretty-sure-robert-mueller-has-no-case-against-trump-because-cmon
6Script proposal: The Manchurian Candidate meets Pogo:
Tagline: We have met the enemy, he is one of us. But the cartoon version of us.
7Aside from the narcissism and other raging psychiatric disorders, there’s a greed related aspect to him refusing to hang it up. He or Pence can pardon himself and anyone else he chooses from the federal charges, but his corporate entities can’t be pardoned. Take TrumpOrg away from him and he has nothing left, and nothing left to lose.
8I agree that everybody should fasten their seatbelts, because it’s going to be a bumpy ride. But this doesn’t reckon with the fact that trump, like many bullies, is a coward at heart. Throughout his nefarious career, he has lied, threatened, blustered and sued (or threatened to). But when people really have the goods on him, he folds and scampers away. Whether and how this pattern will repeat in the White House are of course the questions.
9As I watch all the obsequies about Bush, a persistent thought enters my head: what would Trump’s funeral be like? Perhaps his most stalwart can surround his casket with Tiki Torches and send him off to redneck valhalla?
10Linda Phipps, when his time comes (and dog may it be soon) would you please hold one of my beers? Plan to be “locked and loaded” when the time arrives to water the grass above that ***king moron. Hope it snows so “spudrirse en el infierno que auto traficante bastardoo” can be written in the grass.
11Jane & PKM, that’s going to take several beers.
An intelligence report for the US military during WWII said that Hitler was unlikely to be captured; his ego wouldn’t allow it, and he’d kill himself first. That turned out to be right. Pity it may not be true of Donnie– it would save a lot of trouble.
12I worry that should he make it to a 2020 election and lose, he won’t leave!
13Ruh Roh…
1) “‘Tariff Man’ Tanks Stock Market”
https://crooksandliars.com/2018/12/tariff-man-tanks-financial-markets
2) “The Treasury yield curve just inverted, sounding the alarm for recession”
14https://finance.yahoo.com/news/treasury-yield-curve-just-inverted-sounding-alarm-recession-194921816.html
@Jane & PKM
You remind me of an awful jokie…
One morning, President Reagan woke up to a beautiful snowy day. He looked out of his window upon the snow-covered White House lawn and marveled at its beauty. Then he noticed something. Yellow lines in the snow. On further investigation, our President realized that the lines spelled out “Reagan Sucks” in urine. Furious, he called the FBI and demanded to know who had inscribed these blasphemous words on his lawn.
The FBI mounted a massive investigation, and By dinnertime, the Attorney General had some bad news and some worse news for Mr. Reagan.
“It turns out,” he said, “that the urine sample come from none other than your Secretary of State, George Schultz.”
“This is terrible,” said the president.
“I’m afraid I have worse news,” said the secretary.
“What could be worse,” said Reagan, “than finding out that George, the only member of my administration not to be tainted by scandal, is involved in this conspiracy?”
“Well, you see Mr. President, it was written in Nancy’s handwriting.”
15Only marginally on topic, but the willingness of hyperpartisan repugnantcan douchebags to use their positions of legislative power for political gain, and to do everything they can to destroy political opponents has been around for awhile. But in the age of the Golgothan, it’s in hyperdrive. Bengahzi. E mail’s.
16This kinda thing didn’t use to be normal. Now it’s expected. So when Mueller’s report comes out, repugnantcans will project hyperpartisanship, like they always do.
On us. Project hyperpartisanship on us.
17Cause that’s what the f**king douchebags do.
18F**cking douchebags. Sorry Mama.
Micr, good friend, Raygun’s Nancy was the subject of a number of jokes, most of which were true. Without a doubt the best part of this pResidency will be the jokes following his departure. Albeit his leaving will be the highlight. We will need a Mueller beer to celebrate the occasion. Many gallons, vats and kegs to be hoisted in preparation for watering the grass.
19Churchill famous quote…”It’s not the beginning of the end, but the end of the beginning” would also be appropriate for the situation in which we currently find ourselves.
20Jane & PKM, thanks for the SNL “All I want for Christmas” song. Made my morning. And put me in the holiday spirit!
21