Update no.797

Update from the Heartland

No.797

20.3.17 – 26.3.17

Blog version:  http://heartlandupdate.blogspot.com/

To all,

            The follow-up news items:

-- Representative Devin Gerald Nunes of California (Republican), Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, took an extraordinary step to abandon impartial and independent oversight of the Intelligence Community to make a rather lame attempt at political cover for President Trump – an overt and parochial political action.  After Trump’s bombshell accusation that President Obama wiretapped his telephone [794] and the rapidly growing number of congressional, intelligence and law enforcement people rejecting the President’s wild, irresponsible claims [796], Nunes publicly announced there was surveillance undertaken at Trump Tower.  Nunes gained access to classified intelligence reports from unspecified source(s) that he claims indicate legal, warranted surveillance of specified individuals within Trump Tower, New York.  Conversations with other individuals were incidentally recorded and transcribed.  Apparently, according to Nunes, some of the unwarranted individuals were “unmasked,” meaning the identities of unwarranted individuals were publicly disclosed by inference, implication or intention.  The government did not protect the privacy of the individuals about whom information was “incidentally” collected.  Also apparently, members of the Trump campaign and transition teams were among those incident collections.  There are a whole lotta collateral consequences in all this mess.  Trump has not obtained vindication.  Nunes has seriously, if not totally, compromised his position as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.  Any semblance of impartial, unbiased congressional investigation has evaporated.  The collateral damage to feed Trump’s ego and narcissism is rapidly approaching the incalculable level.  This is the price we must pay.

            Our hearts and prayers go out to the families and friends of those innocent people lost and injured in the terrorist attack on Westminster Bridge in London.  Public information to date indicates the attacker was an indigenous, radicalized, Muslim convert lone-wolf.  ISIL claimed responsibility, however no direct linkage has yet been identified.  More below.

            A conservative newspaper editorial this week cut right to the bone.

“A President’s Credibility – Trump’s falsehoods are eroding public trust, at home and abroad.”

Editorial

Wall Street Journal

Published: Tuesday, March 21, 2017; 7:28 p.m. ET

https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-presidents-credibility-1490138920

The WSJ editorial board clearly reached their threshold of tolerance after only 60 days of President Trump’s 1,460 day term of office.  The wild wiretapping accusations were the final straw.  They wrote, “He has offered no evidence for his claim, and a parade of intelligence officials, senior Republicans and Democrats have since said they have seen no such evidence.

            “Yet the President clings to his assertion like a drunk to an empty gin bottle, rolling out his press spokesman to make more dubious claims.”

            An empty gin bottle indeed!  His irresponsible conspiratorial claims worked for him sufficiently during the campaign that he convinced himself he could get away with such slight-of-hand distraction as President.

            The editorial concluded, “Two months into his Presidency, Gallup has Mr. Trump’s approval rating at 39%.  No doubt Mr. Trump considers that fake news, but if he doesn’t show more respect for the truth, most Americans may conclude he’s a fake President.”

            The declaration may well prove to be a serious understatement of the consequences of what we bear witness to in current events.  Trump’s conduct is not just damaging his reputation, it is degrading the Office of the President of the United States, which is far greater than any man, including the Donald.  The only question remains, how long will We, the People, continue to tolerate his aberrant behavior?

            Amongst all this ugliness, a contributor sent:

“OMG, I saw the latest news from the FBI, Russian meddling in an election and false accusations of wiretapping holy shit it's like a soap opera down there in the U.S.A.  It should give you plenty to write about on your blog.  I’ll tune in next week to see what you have to say!

“And they're putting that Gorsuch into the Supreme Court (that's a lifetime appointment correct?).  I'm not clear on why Obama didn't appoint a Democratic judge before he left office.

“I went to the CNN site and they have a tab for ‘Trumpmerica,’ a bit disrespectful I think even though I dislike Trump he is the President but the fact they did that reflects the terrible state of affairs between the media and the White House.  It's also a little rude to the 'working class' folks; CNN is sort of mocking them don't you think?

“Anyway, I had to say something this is nuts it can't go on for 4 years!  Today I shall be grateful for our rather handsome Prime Minister...not to rub it in or anything.  LOL.”

            Senator Benjamin Eric ‘Ben’ Sasse of Nebraska, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, offered us an important observation.

“If politicians turn the IC’s report into a Red vs. Blue shouting match, Putin gets a free pass.  Moscow’s influence operations are aimed at undermining confidence in self-government and that’s an attack on who we are, not as Republicans or Democrats, but as free people.  Instead of another round of Trump vs. Clinton, we need to debate a strong menu of responses that use all elements of national power - robust sanctions, diplomatic hardball, and other measures that upend Putin’s calculus.”

‘Nuf said!

            The House failed to pass HR 1628 – American Health Care Act of 2017 (AHC) – the latest move by the Republican majority to repeal the PPACA [553].  Speaker Ryan and President Trump recognized after postponements that they could not bring the Freedom Caucus (Republicans INO) [AKA Tea Party] to heel.  They tried to do what the Democrats did in 2010 – jam it through with their majority.  What the leadership undoubtedly believed they could overcome was the intransigence of the Tea Party representatives.  The reality is, the Republicans do NOT have a majority; they have a coalition, and the majority of Republicans would be better served by a coalition with moderate Democrats than their current approach of bending to the ultra-conservative all-or-nothing, burn-the-house-down attitude exhibited by the Freedom Caucus.  Trump has put his name on everything from buildings, steaks, water, wine, toilet paper, everything, but he refused to put his name on AHC; there is a very real reason for that reality.  The best thing he can do is to convince sufficient Republicans to expel the Freedom Caucus members from the party and find a new coalition with moderate Democrats.  The Freedom Caucus must NOT be allowed to hold the Republican Party hostage.  Further, President Trump blaming Democrats, when it appears very little effort went into seeking Democrat contribution / participation, does little but diminish his position as President.

            An interesting opinion on Russian meddling:

“Trump’s Russia House – The intelligence agencies’ Russia investigation is a hall of mirrors that distorts and diminishes everyone who comes near it.”

by Daniel Henninger

Wall Street Journal

Published: March 22, 2017; 6:35 p.m. ET

https://www.wsj.com/articles/trumps-russia-house-1490222128

I am conflicted . . . yes, I admit it.  I cannot agree with Henninger’s opinion and counsel, and yet I cannot reject it either.  There is far too much smoke for my liking.  The smoke does not mean there is fire.  However, I am a firm believer in the old aviator’s adage: better safe than sorry.  If my aircraft was smoking like this, I would find the nearest safe landing spot.  The implications of all this smoke are far too critical, essential and vital to our sense of freedom, democracy, fairness, justice and the rule of law – the smoke cannot be ignored.  I respectfully disagree with Henninger and call for an independent commission to investigate and assess Russian involvement in our internal politics.  If the President and/or his henchmen get caught up in the investigation, then he should rightfully be impeached, and violators of established law should be accused, tried, convicted and appropriately sentenced.  Transgressions on the basic morality of anyone, including the President, should be ostracized, even if they are not prosecutable.

            Minority Leader Senator Charles Ellis ‘Chuck’ Schumer of New York announced the intention of his Democrat Caucus to filibuster President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Judge Neil McGill Gorsuch of the 10^th Circuit Court of Appeals [790].  This is wrong!  What the Republican Majority Leader did in the last administration with President Obama’s nominee was also very wrong . . . and one of many reasons the Republican Party has alienated me.  Now, the Democrat Minority Leader has chosen a path to finish the job to alienate me as well.  Vote up or down, but vote in accordance with the Constitution.  Judge Gorsuch is an experienced, highly qualified jurist, just as Judge Garland is [744].  What the Republicans did was wrong, but that does not make what the Democrats are about to do correct! 

            Comments and contributions from Update no.796:

Comment to the Blog:

“Scotland illustrates one problem of ‘successful’ conquest.  People don’t stay conquered. In anything from a few weeks to several generations, they rise up all over again.  Also, if Scotland achieves independence, it may give us a case study of EU membership versus England’s stand-alone approach.

“In the meantime, Theresa May and the UK (or English) government will surely discover the differences between campaigning and actually achieving significant changes.

“President Chump has surrounded himself with yes-men (and women), as his style of executive typically does.  One hazard of that approach is that the puppets may say ridiculous things to the outside world in their efforts to support the boss’s equally irrational statements.  Thus, Kellyanne Conway spouts nonsense about spying via microwave.  (She probably meant to refer to hacking via the ‘Internet of things,’ but didn’t know enough about it to make sense.)  Sean Spicer, if anything, says irrational things even more often.

“That’s not even the most serious part. The term for people who should know better going along with a consensus even when they know they ought to speak up is ‘groupthink.’ That is the only explanation I can find for the health care fiasco and the budget proposal, among other things.  Trump knows very little actual fact, policy, or history.  He makes up an idea to deal with some issue, and the idea reflects his aggressive ignorance.  Rather than stand up to ‘the big guy,’ people with better minds but no character keep their jobs by playing along and trying to make Trump sound not-crazy.  This has somehow spread to the Republican Party, who have ceased to consider their own re-election prospects.  Some of the Democrats lost their backbones long ago, and when push comes to shove they vote against their own interests yet again.  So here we are.  The investigations and what not were bound to happen sooner or later unless Trump had been able to immediately seize all power.  He’s not there.”

My response to the Blog:

            The Scotland case is indeed an interesting study, as is Ireland, Ukraine (Crimea), Taiwan, et al.  Independence is not always the answer.  Taken to the end point, each individual person cannot be a state.  Scotland independence (or affiliation with the EU) is a substantial complication to the whole Brexit affair.

            Theresa May appears to be a far more serious and capable politician than our president, but hey, that is just me.

            Generals Mattis and Kelly are not “yes-men” in any form.  It will be interesting to see how their integrity plays in the rampantly narcissistic Trump-sphere.  Far too many of those he has put in the White House use the decoder ring they were issued and taught to use properly when they entered the sphere; you mentioned two of those in that category.

            I have friends and contributors to this humble forum who are staunch supporters of the Donald – before & after his election.  I have tried to understand the basis of their support.  I have tried to coax them into explaining why they voted for and support him.  So much seems to be tied up in anger at, frustration with and rejection of the political establishment of both parties in federal Washington, and those negative emotions are so great that a form of desperation compels them to overlook the character flaws of their champion.  And now, we have Republican establishment politicians who know better and are driven by party loyalty more than reason and logic.  To me, Trump is the ultimate symbol of resentment toward establishment Washington.  Frankly, I share their frustration and anger.  I have voiced my anger as long as I have had an audience of one or more to listen.  My inability to get beyond the Trump-ster’s character flaws is a direct product of my life experience with men like him.  I shall continue to search mightily for the positive in all this.

            “That’s just my opinion, but I could be wrong,” and I am humble enough to admit that reality, which is validation that I could never be president.

 . . . Round two:

“‘Taken to the end point’ is another way of citing the ‘logical extreme.’  That is a fallacy in the absence of credible evidence that such an ‘end point’ might somehow occur.

“Virtually every politician is more capable the President Chump.

“General Mattis, in particular, has clearly and openly corrected Chump.  My only qualm about him and Kelly is their military backgrounds.  Too many nations have gone from the frying pan to the fire via military figures.

“I share with Trump supporters the ‘resentment’ (fear) of the Establishment. (I just think they're ignorant and/or delusional.)  If you go back over our pre-election correspondence, you will see that I noted over and over that this election was about the Establishment.  It's sad the Democrats have yet to catch on, but people like me have done all we can.”

 . . . my response to round two:

            Re: “logical extreme.”  Thank you for your opinion.  OK, let’s take your position.  Where is that end point?  Tribes, families, households . . . how far do we take statehood?

            Re: “Virtually every politician.”  I do not and cannot discount him that easily.

            Re: “fire via military figures.”  For better or worse, military service instills certain qualities and skills that have value (positive & negative) in political service.  As with all generalities, we cannot condemn all for the behavior of some.  After all, there are positive examples as there are negative examples, e.g., Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus (519–430 BC).

            Re: “Democrats have yet to catch on.”  I will argue Republicans have yet to catch on, either.  So much of politician behavior appears to be focused upon sustenance at the public teat.  If Trump manages to shake things up, without doing too much collateral damage, then perhaps all this agony will be worth it.  Only time shall tell.  His performance to date has not been positive to that end, but he has 3+ more years to go.  My nature causes me to remain guardedly optimistic.

 . . . Round three:

“I find myself in sad agreement with your sentence, ‘So much of politician behavior appears to be focused upon sustenance at the public teat.’  It goes deeper as well. Any given ‘establishment’ seeks stasis, and Trump is arousing resistance throughout government and much of society.  Very likely, society will shut him down or suffer serious damage.  Trump himself (and Bannon even more) want destructive, rather than constructive, change. I suspect we are bumping up against the limitations of our two-party system and relatively powerful leadership.”

 . . . my response to round three:

            You may well be correct, but I am not there yet.  And, I truly hope you are wrong about destructive . . . but, performance to date tends to support your assertion.

Another contribution:

“Thanks for your understated tribute to Mr. Charles Edward Anderson ‘Chuck’ Berry.

“As I quickly ‘emarked’ to my high school classmates immediately upon hearing the news,

“‘Gonna be a whole lotta shakin' goin' on tonight among the angels.’

“This is somewhat inconsistent with my unconventional but spiritually sincere skepticism about the popular descriptions of a physical heaven accepted by many, but at times like these I feel that one should, maybe must, join in the appropriate emotion of the day.

“May he rest, indeed, but not quietly.”

My reply:

            “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” is actually Jerry Lee Lewis (another great of the era), but I recognize your sentiment, and I agree wholeheartedly.  Incredible music.  Well said, my friend.  Thank you.

A different contribution:

“Yes, still alive which is more than I can say for our policeman on duty at Westminster on Wednesday.  We, the nation, are mourning him and the others murdered by a senseless barbaric act.

“There are many questions outstanding, the main being was he working alone followed by others asking who are those who fermented this individual’s demented mind?

“Why do these misguided and mentally sick individuals even try to terrorise people who are governed by a democracy, not terror and horror. We here are a nation that has survived Zeppelin raids, the blitz and the general depravation of two world wars.

“Well Cap what is the answer? Surely the defeat of ISIS will be a start.

“Having just spoken at one of our Legion events we have learnt that our murdered police officer was formerly a soldier, an artillery man.  A moment of silence was in order while we all considered his wife and children.  Our work will never be finished. Of that Cap I’m quite certain.”

My response:

            The tragedy at Westminster amplifies our need for vigilance.  I hope that MI5 can resist the temptation to reduce the threshold of action.  The Islamo-fascists want us to impose a police state.  To do so would play directly to the objectives of the Islamic fascists in this world.

            Yes, we grieve with you over the loss of innocent lives at the hands of a mentally disturbed citizen.  Barbaric is an understatement, I’m afraid.

            Re: “who are those who fermented this individual’s demented mind?”  Well, the answer varies in specific instances, but in general, it is the ideology that convinced disturbed people Muslims are persecuted solely because of their religion.

            Re: “Why do these misguided and mentally sick individuals even try to terrorise people who are governed by a democracy, not terror and horror?”  Short answer: because they do not understand freedom; they only understand power and violence.  They expect to intimidate everyone and make them submit to their will.  Other fascists have tried that approach.  The contemporary variant will find the same fate.

            Re: “what is the answer?”  “Surely the defeat of ISIS will be a start.”  ISIL will be defeated, as all fascist entities bent upon domination of others have been beaten.

            My condolences to you, the family of your colleague, and those loved those we lost.  May God rest their immortal souls.

 . . . a follow-up comment:

“Currently, we are told the murderer was an entity, a bad apple.  As a nation we will not be truncated in our continued and long-lived democratic way of life by these senseless and barbaric acts.  Such actions will only strengthen our will and our role in destroying the very basis of the cause of such contemptible and pointless actions.”

 . . . my follow-up response:

            That is what our information sources claim as well – no direct linkage to ISIL, other than the Islamo-fascist organization’s claim of responsibility.  By their tribal heritage, they must see us as weak and on the verge of collapse.  They will learn in time.

            My very best wishes to all.  Take care of yourselves and each other.

Cheers,

Cap                        :-)