It’s doubtful any situation could be worse than having one’s direct well being wholly dependent on the whims of Donald Trump. The Apprentice, primarily responsible for our current national crisis, used the formula of contestants placed in just that situation and milked the ugliest human inclinations they displayed in the “boardroom,” begging our now President not to literally kick them to the 5th Avenue curb, for Nielson ratings relevance. Of course, what’s guilty pleasure humorous in prime time is now ruinous in real time. The crisis is here, nothing to debate. The least informed, most amoral and hypocritical, nastiest and self-centered political bloc since the Civil War pulls the strings of a POTUS with identical qualities, ultimately in service to a foreign adversary who likely forced his candidacy for the office he occupies in the first place. Whew! That’s a mouthful. Tough to contract a national nightmare.
It’s now just this simple: if you aren’t horrified by what the news offers us about this White House, your informers hail from the deepest bowels of Fox/AM. Congrats, reasonable Americans are at your mercy. Or, you are part of an equally deleterious group of citizens so intent on ignoring anything outside of their personal life narrative/struggle that militant insularity is the path you would rather die than abandon; currently, we are your subjects, too…. enjoy. The rest of us are left to suffer the chaos psychopathic personalities typically offer those unfortunate enough to dwell within their sphere of influence. Worse than a stick in the eye!
One of the most surreal and impactful scenes in movie history occurs in Apocalypse Now, after Martin Sheen’s lead character hooks up with a boat patrol crew and heads way up river to the intestines of the Vietnam War. Eventually, they come upon a situation straight out of hell, as a platoon without any leadership at all runs amok, with no rhyme or reason, aimless in a playground of death and destruction. It’s movie magic that creates nightmares, but we can awake and realize it’s fiction and it’s over. This is real, and we’re all in it up to our knickers!
General Mattis’ letter of resignation is a masterpiece of understatement. While its essentials are eloquent and constructive – the exact opposite of its recipient’s means of communication – the thesis is two big middle fingers directed toward a former employer he could no longer abase himself for. All adults have officially left the building, Fox is in the house! Government by Miller and Bolton, Pompeo and Conway. When Mick Mulvaney is guarding the codes, one best seek distance… plenty of it.
Anyone wanting to make sure they don’t overeat this Yuletide season merely needs to repeatedly ponder who Trump may land on to replace Mattis. Secretary of Defense Hegseth?! Levin?! The crazy cross-eyed Judge whats-her-name?! Even Roger Ailes is rolling in his grave. Too much of a good thing is a bad thing.
Richard Nixon was forced to resign under a cloud the growing list of charges against Trump surpassed long ago. And say whatever you want about Nixon, he was a highly educated man, a deep and fully informed geopolitical strategist, and, for all of his insecure dishonesty, in the end at least cognizant of the depth of his responsibilities. Of course, Trump possesses not an inkling of any of those qualities; we are way up river with Martin Sheen.
To those who want to make some argument that the policies he is pursuing aren’t all that bad. For example, there is a point to be made we shouldn’t have one toe in Syria, or it’s time Europe did more for its own security. You all haven’t been listening. Process and continuity are everything, and neither now exists. Try to turn a container ship on a dime and everything falls into the ocean, and believe me, Queeg’s got nothing on our imbecile. Without a Presidential decisionmaking process, with its numerous filters and safeguards, its diverse collection and analysis of information, its policy working group recommendations, rigorous executive debate, you get what we now have, policy by whim. At that point the world stands at the mercy of the qualifications and temperament of who is calling the shots…. nuff said.
There is not an indicator available that suggests the Trump Administration will do anything other than further implode. Trump has always isolated himself, it’s what wretched malcontents do. Albert Einstein could offer nothing he would record and learn from. By now there is no mystery. Shameless self-promotion, one lie after another, ceaseless attacks on anyone not wholly sycophantic, constant whining about being victimized or unappreciated, zero preparation for public remarks, zero interest in learning issues or policy, full indifference to the standards and traditions of his office, full determination to divide the country… the list is endless and certain.
It’s never been about the daily Trump inanities, or even the normalized disdain for the pluralism he is supposed to protect, the real danger is the catastrophe rendered exponentially more possible under his sorry watch. An economic meltdown, regional military conflagaration, 9/11 type terrorist venture, all will force acquiescence to whatever this White House brings to the table because such crises offer no other alternatives. At that point Mueller no longer matters, checks and balances don’t apply, no other condiments will be available to make our lot less distasteful… a shit sandwich will be all the menu offers.
In short, this buggy is heading toward a cliff and at least a third of its passengers are psyched about its direction. The rest of us better figure out fast how to regain the controls because parachutes aren’t available. Why more of this nation’s governing “establishment,” – those in attendance at George HW’s funeral etc. – aren’t making overt efforts to remove Trump befuddles and worries me. Perhaps the “deep state” and remote nooks and recesses on Capitol Hill have some things going on to speed his departure and prevent calamity. Who knows? One thing is certain… all of the fail safes and layers of protection we imagined kept us safe from Trump’s worst last January have fallen away one by one. We are all now in the boardroom. BC