Russian Dreams
Michael Flynn. Paul Manafort. Carter Page. Rex Tillerson. And President Trump, of course. All deeply entwined with Russian What, is this a contest to see how many compromised people we can nominate to high-level positions?
Trump Noise
Feb 14, 2017
One of Trump’s recent tweets: I know Mark Cuban well. He backed me big-time but I wasn’t interested in taking all of his calls. He’s not smart enough to run for president! — Donald J. Trump@realDonaldTrump, Feb. 12, 2017 Nothing important about it; Trump and mega-rich Mr. Cuban have been on-and-off for years. But it’s telling about his character. This is the American President, and...
Russia Breaks Missile Agreement
Feb 14, 2017
Interesting timing. US intelligence reports say that Russia has deployed SSC-8 missiles — intermediate-range nuclear cruise missiles — violating the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty. The Obama administration warned Russia that deploying the then-developmental Russian SSC-X-8 missiles would violate the treaty, signed by President Ronald Regan and Mikhail Gorbachev. I wonder if it was Russia or the US intelligence community that decided now was...
Armchair Analysis
Feb 14, 2017
I’m loath to give armchair psychological analyses much weight, but there’s an interesting New York Times letter to the editor today: Mental Health Professionals Warn About Trump. It’s by two retired professionals, and it’s a short, interesting read, but here’s the paragraph that caught my eye: Mr. Trump’s speech and actions demonstrate an inability to tolerate views different from his own, leading to rage reactions. His...
Democrats’ Demand
Feb 14, 2017
The New York Times writes about Democrats pushing for a fuller accounting: Democrats Demand: What Did the President Know and When Did He Know It? I’m feeling twitchy. Trump cannot brook anything like this. He can’t answer, and he can’t back down on anything, ever. How desperate will he become?
Today’s Distraction
Feb 14, 2017
I wonder what today’s distraction will be? Yesterday, National Security Adviser Michael Flynn resigned after the Washington Post revealed that the Trump administration had already been warned that he was lying so badly he’d opened himself to Russian blackmail. Flynn had lied that he wasn’t offering the Russians concessions. I still want to know what he traded them for. So do other people, presumably. Flynn fell...
Flynn Resigns
Feb 13, 2017
Just got the news that National Security Advisor Michael Flynn has just resigned. Good of him to fall on his sword, I suppose, but it doesn’t even lessen my questions: Who was Flynn working with inside the administration? Trump remains the most likely figure. What were they trading for the reduced sanctions? Was the coordination connected to the Russian election interference?
Interesting Security Hygiene
Feb 13, 2017
President Donald Trump was eating dinner with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, when they received news that North Korea had launched a ballistic missile. They held an open conversation about the event, opening paper and electronic documents, surrounded by other Mar-a-Lago guests who’s only qualification to view classified documents was that they were rich. I’m sure all the Republicans how railed...