It’s all so overwhelming, so disheartening, everything
this country has stood for through so many presidencies, and now being sold to
the highest bidder (I’m talking about principles). A transactional President. Let’s make a deal, Trump elbowing his way to
the center of chaos, his ego knowing no bounds.
How could this have happened? But
more importantly, what can be done?
Resist.
Let Congress and the appointee of the Justice Department do
their job now investigating possible collusion with Russia in the election,
presuming they are not thwarted. I’ve argued in a previous entry that even without
collusion, the gas-lighting, the poor timing of Comey coming out about more
Clinton emails, and the exposure of the DNC communications by Wikileaks
probably was just enough to tip the scales in four swing states. Russia may have merely been the conductor of
this dissonance, or, worse, perhaps the financial ties of the Trump empire to Russian
oligarchy run deep. Subpoenaing those
tax returns that are under perpetual audit might do much to make that clearer. Hopefully that lies in the future.
Meanwhile, we are watching the dismantling of decades of
foreign policy, trade, and environmental policy agreements, by a know-nothing
administration under the cover story of creating jobs at all costs to our
allies, and our environment. Why? A show for his base. Corporatocracy. Profit for those in power, sliding towards autocracy.
The withdrawal of the US from the Paris Accord to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions puts us in a select group with just two other countries,
Syria and Nicaragua. There are some 200
others still in the agreement. Even Rex Tillerson,
an ex CEO of Exxon, has advocated staying in the agreement. So why does Trump want to withdraw? Yes, we’ll hear about jobs (a canard, pure
and simple, more the consequences of automation and that argument ignores the
opportunities to create new jobs in technology and alternative energy) but it’s
probably Trump’s ultimate f**k you to the world, something that obviously gives
him pleasure. He certainly doesn’t care
about what people think, but that goes for psychopaths as well.
“It is time to put Youngstown, Ohio, Detroit, Mich., and
Pittsburgh, Pa., along with many, many other locations within our great country
before Paris, France,” he said. “It is time to make America great again.” But this is not at the expense of Paris, Mr.
President, it’s at the expense of the world including our own country. When Mar-a-Lago is knee deep in sea water,
perhaps you’ll rue removing this country from a position of leadership in
climate change issues.
His first foreign trip was revealing. In Saudi Arabia, he obviously felt right at
home. In fact, it sort of looked like
Mar-a-Lago and his quarters in Trump Tower, the glittering gold, the grandiose chandeliers,
the kind of digs and “respect” to which he feels entitled. And he did “deals” -- $110 billion in arms. Ka-ching,
ka-ching!. But outside that comfort zone
it was different.
Trump left a “message” in the Book of Remembrance at Yad
Vashem, Israel's memorial for the Holocaust.” "It is a great honor to be
here with all of my friends – so amazing & will never forget!"
“My friends.” “Amazing.” That’s it. Just a few words, so vapid.
Here's what Barack Obama, then in the middle of his first
presidential campaign, wrote when he visited in July 2008: "I am grateful to Yad Vashem and all of
those responsible for this remarkable institution. At a time of great peril and
promise, war and strife, we are blessed to have such a powerful reminder of
man's potential for great evil, but also our own capacity to rise up from
tragedy and remake our world. Let our children come here, and know their
history, so that they can add their voices to proclaim 'never again.' And may
we remember those who perished, not only as victims, but also as individuals
who hoped and loved and dreamed like us, and who have become symbols of the
human spirit."
Is it no wonder he hates Barack Obama? No matter how much wealth he amasses, he will
never have an ounce of Obama’s humanity or intelligence or capacity for empathy.
His G7 meeting with the Europeans was a disaster, they
sizing him up for what he is: the ugly American. Swaggering, braggadocio, nouveau riche, bullying
his way past Montenegrin Prime Minister Dusko Markovic for a photo-op, he
assumed an alpha male pose and scowl. It
inspired the author of the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling, to tweet “You
tiny, tiny, tiny little man.” I’m afraid
that’s what most Europeans now think of us and our leader. Shouldn’t that matter to all Americans? These
are among (or were) our most steadfast allies.
Frankly, I'm ready to accept a President Pense if impeachment or resignation is the result of the investigation. Never thought I could type those words.
Read Tom Friedman’s breathtakingly brilliant op-ed piece
in yesterday’s NYT, Trump’s United American Emirate.
It is so succinct, prescient, a sadly true overview of what this country
is becoming under Trump.
I’ve often praised Tom Friedman, even nine years ago
writing a tongue in cheek piece advocating him for President. In retrospect, I should have been
serious.
Read his entire essay.
Not a word should be missed. But
I am concluding by quoting some of his main bullet points:
Merkel is just the
first major leader to say out loud what every American ally is now realizing:
America is under new management. “Who is America today?” is the first question
I’ve been asked on each stop through New Zealand, Australia and South Korea. My
answer: We’re not the U.S.A. anymore. We’re the new U.A.E.: the United American
Emirate…..
So any lingering
Kennedyesque thoughts about us should be banished, I explained. Let every
nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay no price, bear
no burden, meet no hardship, support no friend, oppose no foe to assure the
success of liberty — unless we’re paid in advance. And we take cash, checks,
gold, Visa, American Express, Bitcoin and memberships in Mar-a-Lago.
The Trump doctrine
is very simple: There are just four threats in the world: terrorists who will
kill us, immigrants who will rape us or take our jobs, importers and exporters
who will take our industries — and North Korea. Threats to democracy, free
trade, the environment and human rights are no longer on our menu.
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| Climate Change: More violent storms; higher water levels |
