Update no.864

Update from the Sunland

No.864

23.7.18 – 29.7.18

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

            To all,

            The follow-up news items:

-- After the BIC created the trade war by unilaterally imposing punitive tariffs [802] on our Allies and adversaries (competitors) alike, the administration announced a plan to extend some US$12B (money the USG does not have) in emergency aid to farmers amid growing concerns that the U.S. agricultural sector could suffer from the escalating trade dispute with allies.  Guess who pays for all of this?

-- In the wake of the Cohen recordings revelations [863], the reverberations continue.  One of the BIC’s small army of attorneys, in this instance Guiliani, flipped in a heartbeat from praising Cohen to condemning the erstwhile personal attorney as a pathological liar . . . of course he would say that. This whole sordid affair is taking on bizarre dimensions.

-- The on-again, off-again follow-up Putin summit after the Helsinki debacle [863] has apparently been delayed until next year (if ever) . . . after the Russia investigation is concluded.  Since we have no idea what was discussed or agreed to at the Helsinki summit, we have only the public press conference to go by.  Let it suffice to say, I am embarrassed as an American citizen to state the president of Russia was far more of a calm, steady, stable, statesman than the president of the United States.  In a sad way, I understand the BIC’s attempt at a do-over, but unfortunately that is rarely possible with international diplomacy.  With the Putin regime’s implied effort to undermine the image and authority of the United States, he was successful far beyond expectations. Further, his publicly professed choice of the BIC to become president, for that purpose, his choice and actions have paid off in spades.  Putin has made the United States look feckless, marginal, isolated and unworthy.  Tragic . . . tragic, I say.  The BIC’s campaign slogan was “Make America Great Again”; he has single-handedly done more to destroy the status and prestige of the United States.  I am wondering how the BIC defines “great” in the context of his slogan?

-- The BIC and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker held a joint Rose Garden press conference to announced that the U.S. and the EU have agreed to “work together toward zero tariffs, zero non-tariff barriers and zero subsidies on non auto-industrial goods.”  The BIC also stated, “This was a very big day for free and fair trade.”  The BIC unilaterally imposed steel and aluminum tariffs [842/4, 845], presumably to induce the Europeans to conduct fairer trade.  This was a notional but positive step.  If the BIC’s bad cop routine ultimately improves trade, I will be the first to sing his praises, although I shall remain critical of his methods. From the BIC’s statement, why did he specify “non auto-industrial goods”?  What about automobile tariffs?  Are they now acceptable?

              The White House fired a broadside as a warning shot—a rather unusual, if not unique, action.  They announced they were considering revocation of the security clearances of six former national security officials who “politicized and in some cases monetized their public service and security clearances.”  White House Spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the administration is examining the clearances of:

-- John OwenBrennan (former CIA Director), 

-- James Brien Comey Jr. (former FBI Director),

-- Lieutenant General James Robert Clapper Jr., USAF (Ret.) (former Director of National Intelligence),

-- General Michael Vincent Hayden, USAF (Ret.) (former Director of the National Security Agency),

-- Susan Elizabeth Rice (former National Security Adviser and United Nations Ambassador) and

-- Andrew George McCabe (former FBI Deputy Director).

            First, it is my understanding that the clearances of Comey and McCabe were automatically revoked when their service was terminated, so their clearance is moot.  Second, this action in conjunction with the BIC’s well-documented vindictive behavior over many years well beyond his current employment stands out as consistent and of equally bad form.  It has been common practice for former intelligence officials to retain their security clearances to be readily available to the current officials for consultation on past and contemporary matters.  While the administration has not yet revoked their clearances, they are clearly warning those named citizens (and anyone else with a clearance, frankly) to refrain from speaking out against the president or the administration’s actions.  Presumably speaking in favor would be acceptable.  Third, the retention of their clearances is only valuable or important to the current administration . . . of no value to the former intelligence officials.  Fourth, even with a clearance, they still have to be granted access and have a need to know, which are both determined by the current administration. Lastly, this initiative simply makes and affirms the BIC as a simple, shallow, thin-skinned, spiteful person—not the qualities needed in a president.

            The CFO of the BIC’s private business, Allen Weisselberg, has been subpoenaed to testify before a federal grand jury in the criminal probe of Michael Cohen.  While the Cohen case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, the examination of the BIC’s financial gatekeeper cannot be a comfortable feeling for the BIC, given the fact that the case was referred to the Justice Department by the Special Counsel.

            The Commerce Department reported the U.S. economy grew at a seasonally and inflation-adjusted annual rate of 4.1% in 2Q2018—the strongest pace in nearly four years (4.9% annual rate in 3Q2014—the Obama administration).  The increase from 1Q2018 rate of 2.2% was powered by a rebound in consumer spending, exports and firm business investment.

            The BIC, of course, took sole credit for the thriving economy; he alone has stimulated the economy, and we all know that to be true.  To his credit, every president in my lifetime has taken credit for a booming economy and naturally blamed everyone else for a failing economy.  So, yes, the BIC has a strong economy. The Great Recession began in 2008. President Bush (43) applied the tourniquet.  President Obama applied the necessary stimulants to revive the economy in a slow, methodical and careful manner, like a doctor treating a patient suffering from malnutrition, dehydration and starvation.  So, if anyone deserves credit for the recovery from the Great Recession, it is President Obama and his administration.  However, in this instance, I will not deny the BIC his moment of glory. That said, I will confess my concern that the BIC may be over-stimulating the economy with the tax cut, wanton spending, and pressure on the Fed to keep interest rates low; his actions may be too much stimulation that may generate runaway inflation.

            Comments and contributions from Update no.863:

“On the ZTE deal: that one smells, too. On the other hand, the phone provided to me via a ‘privatized’ government program is a ZTE, and nothing else is available from this source.  So there’s one more self-dealing Trump issue, but my phone service probably won’t be interrupted.

“Let’s summarize the current drama and let go of agonizing for a moment. Governments routinely try to influence one another, often by subversive means.  Russia’s current projects in that regard with respect to the USA have been spectacularly successful, culminating in Trump’s election as President.  The operation didn’t begin there and is not over.  It has made the very most of U.S. oligarchs’ takeover of both major political parties and, at some levels, partly supports their aims because of the degree to which they weaken our nation.  The Russians chose Trump as the best tool for the job.  They might have expected to control his behavior more than they have, but maybe not.  Whether Trump is mentally ill/impaired, spectacularly corrupt, or the object of extortion is not especially relevant except in upcoming legal actions.  Your other correspondent’s all-caps assertion of ‘no indictments’ is outright ignorance unless he refers to Trump himself.  Give Mueller a little more time.  (There have, in fact, been some allegations of miscounted votes in Wisconsin and I believe, Michigan, but they went away.) 

“The only different factors in the current drama from any number of other similar spy adventures are (1) the Trump operation successfully captured the highest office in the USA, and (2) true secrecy has become impossible, so these stories play out on TV and the Internet.

“All that media coverage distracts from Russia’s accomplishments.  They are, in fact, destroying our unity and our social progress, distorting and otherwise harming our economy (and hiding that by choosing the stories the media cover), and costing us enormous amounts of money, lives, and international standing via pointless military activities.”

My response:

            Yes, it smells to high heaven.  None of his actions make sense.  My salient question is, what does he gain by this action.  On a related note, I seriously wonder about why the joint reconciliation committee abandoned the rebuke section of the defense bill.  Why haven’t the supporters called out what happened?  Why did they abandon that section?

            Your observations regarding the BIC are spot on, it seems to me.  We really need to Special Counsel’s final report, so we can move on. I’m really tired of listening to him whine incessantly . . . he’s worse than a bratty toddler.

            I do not give Russia that credit.  If we were strong and believed in ourselves, it would be impossible for them to do what they have done.  Russia (and the Soviet Union from Stalin onward) has been trying to diminish the United States . . . and far worse . . . half of We, the People, are allowing the BIC to help them do it, and sadly praising him for his actions.

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

Cheers,

Cap                        :-)