So I have a theory. I mean, it’s really an extrapolation of lots of different people’s theories. But it goes like this: I think Trump has been trying like crazy to get rid of John Kelly almost since he hired him to be the chief-of-staff of the West Wing. I think Trump hired the man because he was a hardline conservative and a 4-Star General. Trump thought he was hiring on an old school badass, and Trump thought that it was what he wanted and needed at the time. And then, very quickly, Trump realized that it was in fact exactly what he needed, but NOT AT ALL what he wanted. You see, rumor around the watercooler is that Trump likes a yes man. In fact, when Trump and staff say that “Loyalty” is Trump’s most valued trait, I think what he really means is “submissive”. He wants people around him who will nod yes, and tell him how great his ideas are. More points to you if you can both agree with his ideas and actually help him accomplish them. But John Kelly is no one’s yes man. While Trump and Kelly might fall on the same side of the ideological divide, John Kelly, according to the folks in the know doesn’t suffer the kind of foolishness that Trump pulls, and apparently, he was never afraid to say so to Trump’s face. But the problem for Trump is that, unlike his TV personality would have you suggest, he’s not very good at firing people. You ever notice that when Trump wants to get rid of someone, the story accompanying it is how John Kelly would be the one to ask for a resignation? So when it came to getting rid of that Frosty old general, Trump didn’t have anyone to turn to in pulling that Trigger, and I’m guessing the only reason we’re seeing Kelly finally leave the picture is because he knows full well that sticking around may not be great for him in the long run. I dunno. Just a theory. But one I’d put money on.
I don’t have a high opinion of Lindsey Graham. Every time I’ve ever seen him talk, it’s always him trying to sanitize a horrible opinion/gross political motivation or he’s gaslighting his political opponents. In my humble opinion, he is, and always has been a man with a stunning lack of integrity or empathy. He looks, acts, and sounds like a Looney Tunes villain. The one time he appeared to sound like he had any kind of concern for anyone other than himself, was when he was defending Jeff Sessions in the early days of the Russia Investigation. He used forceful language to defend a man that he presumably considered a friend. The exact words were that Trump would have “Hell to pay” if he canned Sessions. Not that I think anyone took that bloviating very seriously. And it appears that they were right not to. Because low and behold, Trump forced Sessions out, and when confronted with a video clip of his own words, Graham literally laughed it off. Let me tell you, it says a lot about your credibility when you scoff at the validity of your own threat. Lindsey Graham is a joke.
There was a lot of speculation, even before the Midterms, about the fate of Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the Russia Investigation. Rumors were abound that one way or the other, with or without a “blue wave” at the ballots, Trump would likely feel the pressure to deal with Mueller’s investigation, and likely with Sessions, as it was no secret that Trump for all intents and purposes saw the guy as a traitor. I mean, how dare he do the only responsible thing and recuse himself from an investigation in which he had a conflict of interest?! To be fair, that moment of responsibility was quite a surprise to most people. But with the House now making it clear that their priorities are to take Trump to task for his malfeasance, Trump moved quickly to start trying to put what ducks in a row he could afford. People were awfully surprised that it only took him a day to can Sessions. Frankly, I’m surprised he waited til the next morning. That’s a level of restraint I didn’t know Trump was capable of.
So, there had been some rumbling around the newsblogs about David Shulkin, VA Secretary, getting ousted from his position. It didn’t seem too out of the blue. I mean, honestly, at this point, no one getting canned is. When your Secretary of State gets put on the chopping block, no position seems safe. But the person that Trump is nominating to replace him feels kind of interesting. Rear Admiral Ronny Jackson, on the face of it, might not seem like such a weird choice. But considering how disingenuous RA Jackson’s medical diagnosis of Trump was earlier in the year was…well I can’t be the only one making the connection between his sweet new gig. Am I saying Trump is paying Jackson off with a promotion? No. But it makes for a good joke.
So Trump’s legal team seem to be imploding on themselves, and Trump is trying his level best to assure people that it’s not an ill omen of trouble ahead. First, Trump’s lead lawyer, John Dowd, resigns, because Trump can’t seem to keep his foot out of his mouth. But Trump then tried to bring on Joseph diGenova and his wife, both who are essentially Deep State conspiracy theorists on as new council, only for them to suddenly say “peace out” to that invitation. Of course, Trump couldn’t bear to let people think he’s treading water, that things are looking morose. He wanted to assure people that he was having no trouble finding good lawyers, that people are chomping at the bit to help him prove his “innocence”.
White House Economic Advisor Gary Cohn, a man considered to be a “stable presence” in the White House, resigned a mere 2 hours after Donald Trump assured the nation that everyone wanted work for him in the White House. He obviously came out and said this amid rumors and suggestions that his White House was in turmoil. I can see why people might think that, what with scandals arising every other day, and just the boat load of employment turnover which might seem to already undercut Trump’s statement. But Cohn resigning so quickly afterward had to really makes a profound point. I can’t imagine that Trump had a good Tuesday.
Trump has successfully bullied another person out their position. Andrew McCabe can’t handle the craziness anymore, and I don’t know that anyone can blame him. But it’s really becoming scarier to realize that people who are brave enough to not have any honest allegiances to Trump are becoming de-legitimized, disenfranchised or forced out. Trump supporters keep saying how over the top liberals concerned with Trump’s draconian dictatorial methods are being, but is it only going to be ok to say I told you so when he’s finally named himself emperor of the US? Will it be ok even then?
Mind the Exit 