The big question being asked this morning is "Why?" Why would the Trump White House keep Rob Porter (the former WH Secretary) on the payroll when they'd known for months that he couldn't get security clearance and had a restraining order against him for spousal abuse?
It seems pretty clear to me....who could they get now to come on board and replace him? People are fighting for a place on the lifeboat now to get OFF the Trumptanic, not ON it! What experienced, respected pro or up-and-coming star in the public or private sector would want to get on board right as the deck chairs were sliding overboard? Who would want to have on their resume "served in the Trump White House"?
Look at Trump's cabinet Secretaries. Sec Def Mattis is by all accounts top shelf, and he's still there probably because he feels a sense of responsibility to his military brothers and sisters in uniform. Sec State Tillerson is probably still there because he knows he is the adult in the room most qualified to run around the world behind the Prez and clean up his messes. The rest IMO are either worn out retreads or those who just like to see their name at the top of fancy stationary.
I can understand why many people were willing to hitch their wagon to Trump's horse during the campaign....they liked his agenda. But now that they've seen how he operates up close and personal, I doubt they remain as motivated to serve him. I think Trump's agenda could have been packaged and presented by someone far more palatable.
S
I've been around a long time. I've seen some really crazy things. I've done some really crazy things. But I've never seen anything like what is going on in the world right now. We've seen things spin out of control before....a couple of world wars and some crazy-assed terrorists blowing things up come to mind....but we've always had some sane leaders, usually led by the President of the United States, who stepped forward and righted things.
Today, instead of putting out the fires, President Donald Trump is throwing gasoline on them. Around the world he's giving mixed signals to our friends and foes alike. Our NATO allies don't know whether they can count on us or not. Everybody from our VEEP on down tells them we're rock-solid, but the POTUS finds it hard to even grudgingly say it out loud. (Commitment issues?) Meanwhile Russia keeps sucker punching us, and everyone but President Trump sees it. I'm sure Vladimir Putin is laughing his ass off! WTH?
Inside our Executive Branch President Trump, who should be thoughtfully leading us, is tweeting all night, leaving his subordinates to try and figure out what he wants them to do the next day. And about the time they begin to get a handle on it, he tweets something that completely countermands his earlier tweet. DOH!
Yesterday he tweeted that transgender people cannot serve in our military, completely blindsiding his Secretary of Defense and Joint Chiefs of Staff, THE VERY PEOPLE HE SHOULD BE CONSULTING WITH ON SUCH MATTERS. They say they had zero input. Agree or disagree with President Trump's position, this is just ass backward.
Trump is pissed upset that his Attorney General recused himself from an investigation as he was legally required to, and is now threatening to fire him. Congress, Democrats and Republicans alike, are saying "there will be hell to pay if he does."
Ditto his desire to fire Special Counselor Mueller, who is looking into collusion between Trump's campaign staff and Russian election interference. The bipartisan word is that if he does, it will be "the beginning of the end of the Trump Presidency" (per Republican Senator Lindsey Graham).
Trump's Chief of Staff and Communications Director are openly feuding, and his Ethics Chief and Press Secretary have both quit.
The Mideast oil sheiks are fighting among themselves, and while the capable Sec State Rex Tillerson is trying to calm tensions, Trump comes riding through popping caps. Now rumors are flying Tillerson has had enough and is considering moving on to something less stressful, too, like maybe defusing IED's in Afghanistan.
Nice team building President Trump!
Trump even went before 40,000 Boy Scouts at their annual National Jamboree and, instead of giving them the customary inspirational talk about doing good and helping little old ladies across the street, launched into a mildly profane rant on Hillary and her emails, or some such. Why would he think a bunch of 12-year-old boys would give a shit about Hillary's emails? It was so embarrassing the Boy Scouts of America had to issue an apology for Trump's improper address.
Let's just be honest for once and say it out loud: President Donald Trump is having an epic mental meltdown. His insecurity and paranoia are eating him alive. Trump is the personification of the Peter Principle....he has risen to his "level of incompetence". It's actually painful to watch, and with him still in control of our nuclear codes, more than a little....uncomfortable.
That said, let's all go have a "beverage" or two. Cheers!
S
