This is the core question: Is America and Americans abroad safer that now that Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani has been killed by a U.S. military drone strike?
Before we get to that answer, it's important to consider what individuals on today's program said. First, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and presidential candidate suggested that the president engaged in a 'wag the dog' scenario - escalating military action to distract from impeachment - which is incredibly cynical. It's not an unthinkable notion for Donald Trump to go in the direction but for the moment, we'll have to give him the benefit of the doubt... For the moment. That aside, Betsy Woodruff-Swan explained that Ms. Warren's statements in the past week are trying to placate both edges of the Democratic party. She called Soleimani a terrorist and then said his killing was an assassination, which carries legal ramifications in the United States. It's this type of modulating that ultimately makes Ms. Warren a potentially disastrous president. Domestically, it was first Medicare-for-all and now it's a transition.
One the other end of the spectrum there is Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who told Chuck Todd the the United States is 'absolutely' safer as a result of this escalation with Iran. That statement on its face is troubling because nothing is absolute especially when you're dealing with an adversary such as Iran that is vowing 'harsh revenge.' Secretary Pompeo explained that Soleimani is a terrorist and that the cost of doing nothing was greater than acting now, tamping down the suggestion that this attack was a political distraction. This along with the fact that Jeh Johnson, fmr. secretary of Homeland Security said that his former department just issued a warning that Iran can conduct cyber attacks against the United States and that Hezbollah is able to attack the American homeland. How are we 'absolutely' safer?
Even though Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) was briefed after the military action, he said that he believed there was a real threat. That's not a statement to be taken lightly, but he also explained that he needed have more information to determine if it was imminent. What's problematic in all cases with this administration is more information is never forthcoming. Going back to Mr. Pompeo for a moment, he said something that certainly raised an eyebrow. He stated that Mr. Todd was focusing on the moment, but that President Trump was concerned about Iran in terms of the 'long haul.' If we look at the administration's track record so far, a long-term strategy on anything hasn't been in the offering.
As of this writing the Iraqi prime minister is recommending that U.S. troops leave the country, which will only give Shiite militias aligned with Iran more room to operate. NBC's Richard Engel reported at the top of the program that the push back and protests against too much Iranian control in Lebanon have ebbed and that in Iran itself protests against the government have now changed into denouncing the actions of the United States. Mr. Engel reported that the Iranian government was on the ropes but the actions of the Trump Administration has had the opposite effect as the country's citizens are now rallying behind the government. He also assessed that if an attack were to come, it would most likely be an asymmetrical one, coming from Iran's proxies in the region.
So to revisit the question of whether or not America is safer, it's difficult to conclude that it is when there is such a strong possibility of armed conflict. The harsh revenge that the Iranian regime promises it will only prompt the United States to reciprocate in a bigger fashion.
Panel: Betsy Woodruff-Swan, The Daily Beast; Jeh Johnson, fmr. secretary of Homeland Security; Kasie Hunt, NBC News; Pat McCrory, fmr. governor of North Carolina
Sunday, January 05, 2020
Sunday, December 29, 2019
12.29.19: What Mr. Trump and Mr. Zuckerberg Have in Common
There's much to unpack from today's "Meet The Press" special edition on Facts and a Post-Truth Society. However, as a jumping off point it's worth pointing out that at this moment in time, there is a party that is most responsible and a party that is most irresponsible in this country.
Most responsible to the attack on truth and our institutions is Donald J. Trump. Over 15,000 misleading claims since he has become president with countless attacks on individuals all to satisfy his own ego and greed for power. Executive editor of The Washington Post, Marty Baron, pointed out that the public may be numb to all of Mr. Trump's misleading statement but that it's important to keep holding political leaders accountable. But that's the problem. Ultimately, Mr. Trump has not been held accountable in the slightest. Mr. Trump has been impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives but the Senate will acquit or let's say absolve him of any wrongdoing, which will only enable him to continue on this destructive course.
Russia, specifically the Kremlin, is almost a sidebar from this perspective because the Trump Administration has done little to beat back their propaganda because Mr. Trump has personally benefited from it. The president acting in the best interests of the country over himself is quickly becoming an antiquated notion. Dean Baquet, executive editor of The New York Times, said that it is the responsibility of journalists to separate the fact from the fiction and to be more open minded when reporting. These are qualities that entities like The Washington Post and The New York Times demand of themselves and it is what the public demands. But it is not demanded from the president of the United States.
Whether you agree with the viewpoints of those respective journals' editorial page, they strive to be responsible in their reporting.
This brings us to the most irresponsible for the assault on truth, unregulated social media and it's biggest offender of taking no responsibility whatsoever, Facebook. Mark Zuckerberg, the hero, has now lived long enough to become the villain. The dream of connecting people around the world has become a dystopian nightmare. As Kara Swisher explained, Mr. Zuckerberg has conflated free speech with hate speech, and we'll say propaganda as well. A media and content distribution platform that demands no accountability of itself as Mr. Zuckerberg has irresponsibly defended.
Chuck Todd mentioned the phrase 'toxic cynicism' where nothing is on the level and everything is for sale. This is what Mr. Trump and Mr. Zuckerberg have propagated; it's what they have in common.
Panel: Matthew Continetti, American Enterprise Institute; Kara Swisher, technology journalist; Joshua Johnson, NPR, Susan Glasser, The New Yorker
Most responsible to the attack on truth and our institutions is Donald J. Trump. Over 15,000 misleading claims since he has become president with countless attacks on individuals all to satisfy his own ego and greed for power. Executive editor of The Washington Post, Marty Baron, pointed out that the public may be numb to all of Mr. Trump's misleading statement but that it's important to keep holding political leaders accountable. But that's the problem. Ultimately, Mr. Trump has not been held accountable in the slightest. Mr. Trump has been impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives but the Senate will acquit or let's say absolve him of any wrongdoing, which will only enable him to continue on this destructive course.
Russia, specifically the Kremlin, is almost a sidebar from this perspective because the Trump Administration has done little to beat back their propaganda because Mr. Trump has personally benefited from it. The president acting in the best interests of the country over himself is quickly becoming an antiquated notion. Dean Baquet, executive editor of The New York Times, said that it is the responsibility of journalists to separate the fact from the fiction and to be more open minded when reporting. These are qualities that entities like The Washington Post and The New York Times demand of themselves and it is what the public demands. But it is not demanded from the president of the United States.
Whether you agree with the viewpoints of those respective journals' editorial page, they strive to be responsible in their reporting.
This brings us to the most irresponsible for the assault on truth, unregulated social media and it's biggest offender of taking no responsibility whatsoever, Facebook. Mark Zuckerberg, the hero, has now lived long enough to become the villain. The dream of connecting people around the world has become a dystopian nightmare. As Kara Swisher explained, Mr. Zuckerberg has conflated free speech with hate speech, and we'll say propaganda as well. A media and content distribution platform that demands no accountability of itself as Mr. Zuckerberg has irresponsibly defended.
Chuck Todd mentioned the phrase 'toxic cynicism' where nothing is on the level and everything is for sale. This is what Mr. Trump and Mr. Zuckerberg have propagated; it's what they have in common.
Panel: Matthew Continetti, American Enterprise Institute; Kara Swisher, technology journalist; Joshua Johnson, NPR, Susan Glasser, The New Yorker
Sunday, December 22, 2019
12.22.19: Trump Formally Impeached... What Now?
This week for the third time in American history, the president of the United States has been impeached by the House of Representatives so what's next?
There's already been a lot of back and forth with the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) describing the senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell (R-KY) as a rogue leader of the Senate, who has already said that he is coordinating with the White House on the Senate trial. Senator Lindsey Graham has also stated that he does not intend to be impartial at all, but none of this comes as a surprise to anyone as the sides have already dug into their respective positions.
As for procedure, Speaker Pelosi is holding back on delivering the 2 articles (abuse of power and obstruction of Congress) to the Senate until Mitch McConnell and minority leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) negotiate what the rules will be, namely if additional witnesses will be called. Marc Short, chief of staff to vice president Mike Pence asked how you reconcile the statements of Speaker Pelosi that this is an air tight case against the president but that the Senate should call additional witnesses. Mr. Short must not have read the second article, which is obstruction of Congress. Additional witnesses must be called because the White House has refused to have anyone in the Trump Administration testify and has provided no requested documents with regard to the withholding of aid to Ukraine. It is an air tight case, but so that the American people know to fully know all the facts, administration officials must testify. And speaking of witnesses, what about the Bidens? Senator Corey Booker said he was exhausted with this angle of the Ukraine affair because calling them as witnesses is not germane to the president's actions and it's not.
What is also exhausting is person's like Mr. Short defending the president's reprehensible comment he made this week about deceased Congressman John Dingell (D-MI) at a rally in Mr. Dingell's home state, in which he said Mr. Dingell was 'looking up at us' [from hell]. Mr. Short also said that evangelicals are not a monolithic group in response to a query about Christianity Today's editorial calling for the impeach and removal of Mr. Trump on moral grounds, but how is one anymore able to accept or take seriously anything that comes from evangelical leaders who still support Mr. Trump? Answer: You can not.
The president is guilty of obstructing Congress and if he were innocent, these administration officials would testify under oath about what they know. Why is the president blocking this? It's not because he did nothing wrong. If the president has nothing to hide then he would provide documents and witnesses, however, this president has run his administration accountable to no one, putting himself above oversight and the law.
Chuck Todd asked the question of whether impeachment would curb the president's monarchical behavior or accelerate it. With the easily predictable acquittal in the Senate, Mr. Trump will be given a green light to break norms and laws in what ever way he decides. A sham trial for a slimy man in the presidency will only embolden him more. Also, it will not keep him for seeking foreign interference in the U.S. presidential election because in his mind the Senate will have said that it is OK to do so.
The chaos that is the Trump presidency will continue and the acceleration of it will be lead by one of the worst people to ever hold political office in American history, Senator Mitch McConnell. Democrats are hoping that in November that the electorate will vote Mr. Trump out, but sadly the same result as in 2016 may happen. The administration will more quietly (this time) welcome foreign interference and Mr. Trump will once again lose the popular vote but sneak by in the electoral college. Former Congressman Tom Davis (R-VA) said that voters have already sorted themselves. There is no middle.
But have voters really sorted themselves or have politicians sorted the voters? You want more civility, more truth, more compromise in U.S. politics? Make all the congressional districts square. All gerrymandering has done is further divide the country to keep ultra-partisans in power.
Panel: Peggy Noonan, The Wall Street Journal; Helene Cooper, The New York Times; Rich Lowry, The National Review; Doris Kearns Goodwin, presidential historian
One more thing...
Helene Cooper clarified a tragedy of American society when discussing the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. She explained that this shooting prioritized gun rights over children's deaths. For defenders of the NRA, let that sink in hard...
There's already been a lot of back and forth with the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) describing the senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell (R-KY) as a rogue leader of the Senate, who has already said that he is coordinating with the White House on the Senate trial. Senator Lindsey Graham has also stated that he does not intend to be impartial at all, but none of this comes as a surprise to anyone as the sides have already dug into their respective positions.
As for procedure, Speaker Pelosi is holding back on delivering the 2 articles (abuse of power and obstruction of Congress) to the Senate until Mitch McConnell and minority leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) negotiate what the rules will be, namely if additional witnesses will be called. Marc Short, chief of staff to vice president Mike Pence asked how you reconcile the statements of Speaker Pelosi that this is an air tight case against the president but that the Senate should call additional witnesses. Mr. Short must not have read the second article, which is obstruction of Congress. Additional witnesses must be called because the White House has refused to have anyone in the Trump Administration testify and has provided no requested documents with regard to the withholding of aid to Ukraine. It is an air tight case, but so that the American people know to fully know all the facts, administration officials must testify. And speaking of witnesses, what about the Bidens? Senator Corey Booker said he was exhausted with this angle of the Ukraine affair because calling them as witnesses is not germane to the president's actions and it's not.
What is also exhausting is person's like Mr. Short defending the president's reprehensible comment he made this week about deceased Congressman John Dingell (D-MI) at a rally in Mr. Dingell's home state, in which he said Mr. Dingell was 'looking up at us' [from hell]. Mr. Short also said that evangelicals are not a monolithic group in response to a query about Christianity Today's editorial calling for the impeach and removal of Mr. Trump on moral grounds, but how is one anymore able to accept or take seriously anything that comes from evangelical leaders who still support Mr. Trump? Answer: You can not.
The president is guilty of obstructing Congress and if he were innocent, these administration officials would testify under oath about what they know. Why is the president blocking this? It's not because he did nothing wrong. If the president has nothing to hide then he would provide documents and witnesses, however, this president has run his administration accountable to no one, putting himself above oversight and the law.
Chuck Todd asked the question of whether impeachment would curb the president's monarchical behavior or accelerate it. With the easily predictable acquittal in the Senate, Mr. Trump will be given a green light to break norms and laws in what ever way he decides. A sham trial for a slimy man in the presidency will only embolden him more. Also, it will not keep him for seeking foreign interference in the U.S. presidential election because in his mind the Senate will have said that it is OK to do so.
The chaos that is the Trump presidency will continue and the acceleration of it will be lead by one of the worst people to ever hold political office in American history, Senator Mitch McConnell. Democrats are hoping that in November that the electorate will vote Mr. Trump out, but sadly the same result as in 2016 may happen. The administration will more quietly (this time) welcome foreign interference and Mr. Trump will once again lose the popular vote but sneak by in the electoral college. Former Congressman Tom Davis (R-VA) said that voters have already sorted themselves. There is no middle.
But have voters really sorted themselves or have politicians sorted the voters? You want more civility, more truth, more compromise in U.S. politics? Make all the congressional districts square. All gerrymandering has done is further divide the country to keep ultra-partisans in power.
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| United States Congressional Map |
Panel: Peggy Noonan, The Wall Street Journal; Helene Cooper, The New York Times; Rich Lowry, The National Review; Doris Kearns Goodwin, presidential historian
One more thing...
Helene Cooper clarified a tragedy of American society when discussing the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. She explained that this shooting prioritized gun rights over children's deaths. For defenders of the NRA, let that sink in hard...
Sunday, December 15, 2019
12.15.19: After The President's Impeachment Acquittal, His Problems Will Only Be Just Beginning
The conversation with voters in Kent County, Michigan that includes the city of Grand Rapids was the most informative bit on impeachment from today's program. Six individuals, consisting mostly of Republicans, were individually unsure if the president had committed an impeachable offense but were very certain on the outcomes - that House Democrats would vote to impeach and that the Republican-controlled Senate would acquit.
The result, as one person put it, is baked in. What you could glean from the conversation was that the group of voters were leaning toward not impeaching the president, however also very informative was the fact that they all agreed that the president, on a daily basis, does something wrong.
If you consider that conversation and the panel's discussion of how there will be more information coming out after the impeachment saga is over, what we can expect is that the president will be deeper underwater in his approval rating he can anticipate. Heidi Przybyla explained that after impeachment some will say that he's already been exonerated (Republicans) and some will say that he walked (Democrats). However, the information that will come out - the trial of Lev Parnas and potentially criminal charges against Rudy Giuliani coupled with the Supreme Court possibly ruling that the president's tax returns will be released to Congress and or the Southern District of New York. The president will be pushed into some very awkward explanations as to why he may have paid no taxes. For the American people, it's one thing to explain that one has paid little tax, but it's another to read that he may have cheated on paying tax. The latter is something that the American people will not look kindly upon.
Regarding the Senate impeachment trial, Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) said that it was in the best interest of the Senate that Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell (R-KY), work across the aisle to set the rules. However, if there is one thing that we have come to learn, it's that Mr. McConnell has never had the best interest of the Senate, as a body, in mind - only maintaining power. Mr. Coons also said that it is in times like these that we miss the late Senator John McCain who was able to speak truth to his own party, not to mention keep the president's chief toadie Lindsey Graham from making a mockery of the institution.
Senators will have to take an oath, invoking God, before the impeachment trial begins that they will be impartial jurors. Despite what they say at this moment, the oath means little to them especially if you listen to Senator Graham and that Republicans' loyalty is solely to this president. Just writing the name Lindsey Graham causes this column to throw up in its mouth a bit.
However, there are Senators like Pat Toomey (R-PA) who take care to be honest brokers to their principles. He may not vote to impeach and remove the president but he was not dismissive of calling witnesses. Maybe it's setting the bar too low, but at the very least it's refreshing that Mr. Toomey stays away from the hyperbolic partisan rhetoric.
There's also Mr. Todd's question about how the Democrats could vote for impeachment this week but then turn around and approve the USMCA trade deal (the new NAFTA), wondering how it makes sense. Ultimately, it's a longer game the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is playing in as much as that it shows that Democrats can legislate and conduct oversight at the same time. It weakens the president's argument that Democrats are only obsessed with impeachment. If you look at it objectively and consider that Senator Toomey was disappointed that the president capitulated to all Mrs. Pelosi's demands, who is more obsessed with impeachment? The House Speaker or the gas lighter in chief? The only protections, Mr. Toomey explained, would be for the automotive sector and no others, which won't help his constituents in Pennsylvania.
The results of impeachment may already be baked in and the president will be acquitted, however, come June when it will seem like a distant memory, Mr. Trump's problems will only be beginning.
Panel: Heidi Przybyla, NBC News; Danielle Pletka, American Enterprise Institute; Eddie Glaude Jr., Princeton University; Peter Baker, The New York Times
The result, as one person put it, is baked in. What you could glean from the conversation was that the group of voters were leaning toward not impeaching the president, however also very informative was the fact that they all agreed that the president, on a daily basis, does something wrong.
If you consider that conversation and the panel's discussion of how there will be more information coming out after the impeachment saga is over, what we can expect is that the president will be deeper underwater in his approval rating he can anticipate. Heidi Przybyla explained that after impeachment some will say that he's already been exonerated (Republicans) and some will say that he walked (Democrats). However, the information that will come out - the trial of Lev Parnas and potentially criminal charges against Rudy Giuliani coupled with the Supreme Court possibly ruling that the president's tax returns will be released to Congress and or the Southern District of New York. The president will be pushed into some very awkward explanations as to why he may have paid no taxes. For the American people, it's one thing to explain that one has paid little tax, but it's another to read that he may have cheated on paying tax. The latter is something that the American people will not look kindly upon.
Regarding the Senate impeachment trial, Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) said that it was in the best interest of the Senate that Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell (R-KY), work across the aisle to set the rules. However, if there is one thing that we have come to learn, it's that Mr. McConnell has never had the best interest of the Senate, as a body, in mind - only maintaining power. Mr. Coons also said that it is in times like these that we miss the late Senator John McCain who was able to speak truth to his own party, not to mention keep the president's chief toadie Lindsey Graham from making a mockery of the institution.
Senators will have to take an oath, invoking God, before the impeachment trial begins that they will be impartial jurors. Despite what they say at this moment, the oath means little to them especially if you listen to Senator Graham and that Republicans' loyalty is solely to this president. Just writing the name Lindsey Graham causes this column to throw up in its mouth a bit.
However, there are Senators like Pat Toomey (R-PA) who take care to be honest brokers to their principles. He may not vote to impeach and remove the president but he was not dismissive of calling witnesses. Maybe it's setting the bar too low, but at the very least it's refreshing that Mr. Toomey stays away from the hyperbolic partisan rhetoric.
There's also Mr. Todd's question about how the Democrats could vote for impeachment this week but then turn around and approve the USMCA trade deal (the new NAFTA), wondering how it makes sense. Ultimately, it's a longer game the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is playing in as much as that it shows that Democrats can legislate and conduct oversight at the same time. It weakens the president's argument that Democrats are only obsessed with impeachment. If you look at it objectively and consider that Senator Toomey was disappointed that the president capitulated to all Mrs. Pelosi's demands, who is more obsessed with impeachment? The House Speaker or the gas lighter in chief? The only protections, Mr. Toomey explained, would be for the automotive sector and no others, which won't help his constituents in Pennsylvania.
The results of impeachment may already be baked in and the president will be acquitted, however, come June when it will seem like a distant memory, Mr. Trump's problems will only be beginning.
Panel: Heidi Przybyla, NBC News; Danielle Pletka, American Enterprise Institute; Eddie Glaude Jr., Princeton University; Peter Baker, The New York Times
Sunday, December 08, 2019
12.8.19: The Weary American Soul
There will be many in Congress weighing in on what articles of impeachment will be drafted, but they will certainly be drafted. Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, couldn't say which ones specifically but did say that it is clear that abuse of power and obstruction of Congress were two that were certainly clear. The latter is without question something that the president is guilty of as Mr. Trump has instructed his administration officials to refuse to testify or to hand over any documents pertaining to his seeking Ukrainian help leading up to the 2020 presidential election. This blanket refusal is something that no administration has ever done. Donald Trump has obstructed the Congress's Constitutional right, by law, to conduct oversight of the executive branch.
The Washington Post's Robert Costa explained that Republicans behind the scenes are weary of how an impeachment trial will go, with vulnerable Republican senators and evidence that is clearly not in Mr. Trump's favor. Regarding such evidence he also explained that he spoke with Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) who said that if the evidence and the Senate trial isn't going the president's way that he would call a vote to dismiss. The 'take the ball and go home' strategy. The Republican-controlled senate may have to employ such a strategy as they have no counter evidence and only attack the process, which if you're paying attention in the slightest is bogus on its face.
There is also the counter argument by Republicans that Ukraine also meddled in the 2016 election, which the intelligence community has widely condemned as a false narrative, but today we have Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) saying that he believes that Ukraine meddled citing an OpEd piece as evidence. Senator Cruz is definitely no profile in courage, that much is clear. Mr. Cruz supports a man who defamed his family, who he himself called a sniveling coward, but here we are. The political animal that he is, Texas right now goes for Trump so therefore Mr. Cruz is on board.
Mr. Cruz also said the Chuck Todd called Senator John Neely Kennedy (R-LA) a stooge for Russia, to which Mr. Todd refuted. However, this column will resolve that by saying that Mr. Kennedy by repeating Kremlin talking points is indeed a stooge. We'll get to Congressman Denny Heck (D-WA) more in a minute, but he said he is tired of politicians on the opposite side of the aisle continually taking views that are absent of truth.
Speaking of an absence of truth, there is fmr. New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani who is at the center of this scandal in Ukraine this week concocting evidence to what end, no one seems to know. Under investigation by the very office he used to lead, the Southern District of New York, Mr. Giuliani's fall from grace and respect has washed away all good deeds in his past. Supposedly, he intends to present his findings to Congress and to this end, Speaker Pelosi should review the coming articles of impeachment and sit on them and compel other potential witnesses to testify, namely fmr. National Security Advisor John Bolton who would effectively render Mr. Giuliani's finding void. Kristen Welker explained that once the articles go to the Senate, majority leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) could set a rule that bars any additional evidence from being presented or considered once the trial has started. However, Mr. McConnell should be weary of setting such a rule because if new evidence/ testimony comes up given the light and attention of the American people during an impeachment, it could easily steep public opinion away from his party, jeopardizing the Republicans slim majority in the Senate.
This brings us to the Congressman Denny Heck's (D-WA) retirement from Congress, who said he is tired and that his soul is weary from all the investigations but really it is from what he called the absence of the greater sense of decency and truth from Republicans. He also cited the lack of Constitutional principles on behalf of Republicans who have abdicated their responsibility to country. He said that the reelection of President Trump is a nightmare scenario, one that this column feels is an all too real possibility. If Mr. Trump is reelected, there is little doubt that American democracy will be changed forever for the worse. The equal rule of law will no longer apply to those in the president's favor.
Panel: Stephanie Cutter, fmr. Democratic campaign manger; Kristen Welker, NBC News; Robert Costa, The Washington Post; Carlos Curbelo, fmr. Republican Congressman of Florida
One more thing...
It's looking like that the Saudi national that shot 3 people at a Naval base in Pensacola, FL was an act of terrorism. We'll see how the investigation plays out but an apology from the Saudi government is hollow at the least and disingenuous at the worst. What's really disgusting is the president of the United States being the apologist in chief from despotic regimes.
The Washington Post's Robert Costa explained that Republicans behind the scenes are weary of how an impeachment trial will go, with vulnerable Republican senators and evidence that is clearly not in Mr. Trump's favor. Regarding such evidence he also explained that he spoke with Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) who said that if the evidence and the Senate trial isn't going the president's way that he would call a vote to dismiss. The 'take the ball and go home' strategy. The Republican-controlled senate may have to employ such a strategy as they have no counter evidence and only attack the process, which if you're paying attention in the slightest is bogus on its face.
There is also the counter argument by Republicans that Ukraine also meddled in the 2016 election, which the intelligence community has widely condemned as a false narrative, but today we have Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) saying that he believes that Ukraine meddled citing an OpEd piece as evidence. Senator Cruz is definitely no profile in courage, that much is clear. Mr. Cruz supports a man who defamed his family, who he himself called a sniveling coward, but here we are. The political animal that he is, Texas right now goes for Trump so therefore Mr. Cruz is on board.
Mr. Cruz also said the Chuck Todd called Senator John Neely Kennedy (R-LA) a stooge for Russia, to which Mr. Todd refuted. However, this column will resolve that by saying that Mr. Kennedy by repeating Kremlin talking points is indeed a stooge. We'll get to Congressman Denny Heck (D-WA) more in a minute, but he said he is tired of politicians on the opposite side of the aisle continually taking views that are absent of truth.
Speaking of an absence of truth, there is fmr. New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani who is at the center of this scandal in Ukraine this week concocting evidence to what end, no one seems to know. Under investigation by the very office he used to lead, the Southern District of New York, Mr. Giuliani's fall from grace and respect has washed away all good deeds in his past. Supposedly, he intends to present his findings to Congress and to this end, Speaker Pelosi should review the coming articles of impeachment and sit on them and compel other potential witnesses to testify, namely fmr. National Security Advisor John Bolton who would effectively render Mr. Giuliani's finding void. Kristen Welker explained that once the articles go to the Senate, majority leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) could set a rule that bars any additional evidence from being presented or considered once the trial has started. However, Mr. McConnell should be weary of setting such a rule because if new evidence/ testimony comes up given the light and attention of the American people during an impeachment, it could easily steep public opinion away from his party, jeopardizing the Republicans slim majority in the Senate.
This brings us to the Congressman Denny Heck's (D-WA) retirement from Congress, who said he is tired and that his soul is weary from all the investigations but really it is from what he called the absence of the greater sense of decency and truth from Republicans. He also cited the lack of Constitutional principles on behalf of Republicans who have abdicated their responsibility to country. He said that the reelection of President Trump is a nightmare scenario, one that this column feels is an all too real possibility. If Mr. Trump is reelected, there is little doubt that American democracy will be changed forever for the worse. The equal rule of law will no longer apply to those in the president's favor.
Panel: Stephanie Cutter, fmr. Democratic campaign manger; Kristen Welker, NBC News; Robert Costa, The Washington Post; Carlos Curbelo, fmr. Republican Congressman of Florida
One more thing...
It's looking like that the Saudi national that shot 3 people at a Naval base in Pensacola, FL was an act of terrorism. We'll see how the investigation plays out but an apology from the Saudi government is hollow at the least and disingenuous at the worst. What's really disgusting is the president of the United States being the apologist in chief from despotic regimes.
Sunday, December 01, 2019
12.1.19: The Whining and Complaining President
If impeachment inquiry of President Trump ends up with the Judiciary committee drawing up articles for a vote in the House which passes and then goes to the Senate for a trial where they vote to keep the president office (both votes along party lines), it will be what the American people already expect. This is exactly what will happen.
Republican strategist Al Cardenas explained that what President Trump did was worse than what Richard Nixon did, but that opinions on the president have already been set. Worse than Richard Nixon... think about that for a moment.
Impeachment must go forward even if the outcome is predetermined, which it seems it is because of the larger point that Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) outlined that the president has betrayed the trust of the American people. He consistently puts his personal advancement above the agenda of the American people. What kind of person who wins the presidency of the United States to become the most powerful person in the world constantly whines about unfairness like Donald Trump. This column for one is sick and tired of Mr. Trump playing the victim card.
He has gotten nothing done as president with the exception of a wasteful corporate tax cut and two Supreme Court justices. Healthcare, nothing. Prescription drugs, nothing. Opioid crisis, nothing. Gun violence, nothing. Foreign policy, worse than nothing - the American people have taken hits all over the world for the impulsively poor decisions that this president has made.
As for the circumstances of impeachment, it must move forward, popular or not, because you can not let the president's lawbreaking go unaccounted for. Of course, the president is going to muddy the waters and talk about the unfairness of it all. Please, he's the president and he's a whiner. All he does is whine and complain and Americans have little tolerance for someone if that's all he does. Yes, you could say that this column is filing a complaint about the president's whining and complaining.
The converse of this is what you heard from Senator Kennedy (R-LA) who seems like a pleasant person, but a person who had the gall to say that this president has a demonstrated record on fighting corruption. Where did this notion even come from? He also said that the former Ukrainian head of state, Petro Poroshenko, actively worked with Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election. Simply stated, Mr. Kennedy is spouting Russian talking points. After Fiona Hill's testimony, an expert on Russia, the Senate was briefed by the intelligence community on Russian versus Ukrainian interference and the information on Ukraine is fiction. Mr. Kennedy told Chuck Todd that he wasn't briefed and that Ms. Hill is entitled to her opinions. It's funny in the most profoundly sad way that these are the people representing our country. Mr. Kennedy, sir, do your job and go to the briefings on national security.
And that's what is at stake here. John Kerry and Arnold Schwarzenegger started a World War Zero project to combat global warming and climate change. However, what's really should be in the works is a cyber-informational WW III in which America and it's allies stand up to Russia and cripple the economy and disinformation infrastructure. Russia is a petrol state and the two are tied together. Talking and doing something about climate change and the environment directly impacts Russia and its misinformation hegemony.
However, not with this president, and not with this Republican senate, blindly loyal to a petty commander in chief who whines and complains about unfairness. Speaking of unfair, David Brooks reported that many Trump supporters were disgusted with the president's intervention in military cases involving Navy SEALS acting unlawfully. What sets America apart from others is our morality and our belief that we fight for good with honor, but the president not having any understanding of what it is to be in the service of one's country has decided that one of the aspects that makes the United States exceptional doesn't matter.
Mr. Trump makes irresponsible decisions all the while complaining and whining about fairness when he has broken the law. Life's not fair Mr. President, get a helmet.
Panel: Theresa Maria Kumar, Voto Latino; Betsy Woodruff Swan, The Daily Beast; David Brooks, The New York Times; Al Cardenas, Republican strategist
Republican strategist Al Cardenas explained that what President Trump did was worse than what Richard Nixon did, but that opinions on the president have already been set. Worse than Richard Nixon... think about that for a moment.
Impeachment must go forward even if the outcome is predetermined, which it seems it is because of the larger point that Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) outlined that the president has betrayed the trust of the American people. He consistently puts his personal advancement above the agenda of the American people. What kind of person who wins the presidency of the United States to become the most powerful person in the world constantly whines about unfairness like Donald Trump. This column for one is sick and tired of Mr. Trump playing the victim card.
He has gotten nothing done as president with the exception of a wasteful corporate tax cut and two Supreme Court justices. Healthcare, nothing. Prescription drugs, nothing. Opioid crisis, nothing. Gun violence, nothing. Foreign policy, worse than nothing - the American people have taken hits all over the world for the impulsively poor decisions that this president has made.
As for the circumstances of impeachment, it must move forward, popular or not, because you can not let the president's lawbreaking go unaccounted for. Of course, the president is going to muddy the waters and talk about the unfairness of it all. Please, he's the president and he's a whiner. All he does is whine and complain and Americans have little tolerance for someone if that's all he does. Yes, you could say that this column is filing a complaint about the president's whining and complaining.
The converse of this is what you heard from Senator Kennedy (R-LA) who seems like a pleasant person, but a person who had the gall to say that this president has a demonstrated record on fighting corruption. Where did this notion even come from? He also said that the former Ukrainian head of state, Petro Poroshenko, actively worked with Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election. Simply stated, Mr. Kennedy is spouting Russian talking points. After Fiona Hill's testimony, an expert on Russia, the Senate was briefed by the intelligence community on Russian versus Ukrainian interference and the information on Ukraine is fiction. Mr. Kennedy told Chuck Todd that he wasn't briefed and that Ms. Hill is entitled to her opinions. It's funny in the most profoundly sad way that these are the people representing our country. Mr. Kennedy, sir, do your job and go to the briefings on national security.
And that's what is at stake here. John Kerry and Arnold Schwarzenegger started a World War Zero project to combat global warming and climate change. However, what's really should be in the works is a cyber-informational WW III in which America and it's allies stand up to Russia and cripple the economy and disinformation infrastructure. Russia is a petrol state and the two are tied together. Talking and doing something about climate change and the environment directly impacts Russia and its misinformation hegemony.
However, not with this president, and not with this Republican senate, blindly loyal to a petty commander in chief who whines and complains about unfairness. Speaking of unfair, David Brooks reported that many Trump supporters were disgusted with the president's intervention in military cases involving Navy SEALS acting unlawfully. What sets America apart from others is our morality and our belief that we fight for good with honor, but the president not having any understanding of what it is to be in the service of one's country has decided that one of the aspects that makes the United States exceptional doesn't matter.
Mr. Trump makes irresponsible decisions all the while complaining and whining about fairness when he has broken the law. Life's not fair Mr. President, get a helmet.
Panel: Theresa Maria Kumar, Voto Latino; Betsy Woodruff Swan, The Daily Beast; David Brooks, The New York Times; Al Cardenas, Republican strategist
Sunday, November 17, 2019
11.17.19: The President's Torment
This column cannot hide its feeling that Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) is the ultimate partisan and that he's one of the worst representatives of our country ever elected. He speaks of the constant torment that the president has endured since he's been elected, but when Chuck Todd called him out for blaming everyone but the president for the situation we find ourselves in, he said that he wasn't blaming others, but he's also not blaming the president? Despite all the finding from the U.S. intelligence community, Mr. Johnson still calls Russia collusion a false narrative. Not to mention that when he is interviewed his tone is erratic and he's always on the defensive which clearly illustrates that he knows the facts are not on his side.
The president's torment is of his own making. Hard. Stop.
There is no one else to blame, but the president and if he conducted government business for the sake of the government and not himself then there wouldn't be impeachment hearings that had begun this week. In two days of testimony State Dept. official George Kent, Ukraine ambassador Bill Taylor and fmr. ambassador Marie Yovanovitch provided a compelling portrait of a president that is more concerned about himself and his reelection than he is about the United States and its security. Obviously, it didn't help that the president tweeted a derogatory message about Ms. Yovanovitch while she was testifying. As Peggy Noonan explained, this was an embarrassment and discomforting to Republicans during the hearing and that they had to change their strategy in as much as they couldn't go on the offensive to start that she is not a fact witness, but only a material one that really had no bearing. With the president's tweet, she, in real time, became a fact-based witness in reacting to his tweet. Self-inflicted torment on the part of the president.
Quid pro quo? Bribery? Extortion? No matter how you phrase it, this is what the president and specifically Rudy Giuliani were up to with regard to Ukraine. The only real argument that is left is that this shouldn't be happening in an election year and that the American people should decide next November. However, Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) made the cogent argument that this has to happen now because the president's actions are motivated by reelection.
No matter how the impeachment shakes out, despite Danielle Pletka saying most people have already made up their minds about it, it is going to be damaging to the president and his reelection prospects. As Eugene Robinson said, the president is poison to suburban white voters who want nothing to do with him. And speaking of elections, the president has made all the subsequent elections after 2016 about him and it has been a disaster. Despite visiting the state twice in eleven days, a Democrat, John Bell Edwards, won reelection as governor.
The impeachment hearings are only going to get worse for the president given what has come to light with through closed-door testimony and the upcoming Gordan Sondland appearance this Wednesday.
Also...
It pains this column to spell out fmr. governor Deval Patrick's (D-MA) last-minute entry into the presidential race in cynical terms, but here's how we see it. Given what he said that he is not going to block Super PAC money, in which Chuck Todd specifically cited Bain, as in Bain Capital, one would have to surmise that Mr. Patrick received some endorsement and advice from such entities. And what does an entity like Bain Capital see? They don't want another term of Donald Trump but they also don't see a candidate on the Democratic side strong enough to beat him. His advisors have most probably told him the Joe Biden is too old and falling in the polls; Elizabeth Warren is too radical in her huge government proposals; and Pete Buttegieg though the best candidate at the moment in his moderation, his elections prospects are in doubt because of his lack of African-American support and the fact that he is gay, which factors into the calculus that America is not ready for an openly gay president. Again, this is the cynical view of why Mr. Patrick is getting in the race.
Panel: Peggy Noonan, The Wall Street Journal; Jeff Mason, Reuters; Danielle Pletka, American Enterprise Institute; Eugene Robinson, The Washington Post
The president's torment is of his own making. Hard. Stop.
There is no one else to blame, but the president and if he conducted government business for the sake of the government and not himself then there wouldn't be impeachment hearings that had begun this week. In two days of testimony State Dept. official George Kent, Ukraine ambassador Bill Taylor and fmr. ambassador Marie Yovanovitch provided a compelling portrait of a president that is more concerned about himself and his reelection than he is about the United States and its security. Obviously, it didn't help that the president tweeted a derogatory message about Ms. Yovanovitch while she was testifying. As Peggy Noonan explained, this was an embarrassment and discomforting to Republicans during the hearing and that they had to change their strategy in as much as they couldn't go on the offensive to start that she is not a fact witness, but only a material one that really had no bearing. With the president's tweet, she, in real time, became a fact-based witness in reacting to his tweet. Self-inflicted torment on the part of the president.
Quid pro quo? Bribery? Extortion? No matter how you phrase it, this is what the president and specifically Rudy Giuliani were up to with regard to Ukraine. The only real argument that is left is that this shouldn't be happening in an election year and that the American people should decide next November. However, Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) made the cogent argument that this has to happen now because the president's actions are motivated by reelection.
No matter how the impeachment shakes out, despite Danielle Pletka saying most people have already made up their minds about it, it is going to be damaging to the president and his reelection prospects. As Eugene Robinson said, the president is poison to suburban white voters who want nothing to do with him. And speaking of elections, the president has made all the subsequent elections after 2016 about him and it has been a disaster. Despite visiting the state twice in eleven days, a Democrat, John Bell Edwards, won reelection as governor.
The impeachment hearings are only going to get worse for the president given what has come to light with through closed-door testimony and the upcoming Gordan Sondland appearance this Wednesday.
Also...
It pains this column to spell out fmr. governor Deval Patrick's (D-MA) last-minute entry into the presidential race in cynical terms, but here's how we see it. Given what he said that he is not going to block Super PAC money, in which Chuck Todd specifically cited Bain, as in Bain Capital, one would have to surmise that Mr. Patrick received some endorsement and advice from such entities. And what does an entity like Bain Capital see? They don't want another term of Donald Trump but they also don't see a candidate on the Democratic side strong enough to beat him. His advisors have most probably told him the Joe Biden is too old and falling in the polls; Elizabeth Warren is too radical in her huge government proposals; and Pete Buttegieg though the best candidate at the moment in his moderation, his elections prospects are in doubt because of his lack of African-American support and the fact that he is gay, which factors into the calculus that America is not ready for an openly gay president. Again, this is the cynical view of why Mr. Patrick is getting in the race.
Panel: Peggy Noonan, The Wall Street Journal; Jeff Mason, Reuters; Danielle Pletka, American Enterprise Institute; Eugene Robinson, The Washington Post
Sunday, October 27, 2019
10.26.19: A Parting Gift for President Trump
There's no doubt that the killing of Abu Bahr al-Baghdadi is good news. However, today it came with a lot of qualifiers from the panel, reporters and analysts. The common thread through out was that American Special Forces don't get al-Baghdadi without intelligence on the ground, which the Kurds instrumental in helping us get.
As fmr. DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson pointed out, now was the time to go with U.S. Special Forces pulling out later down the road would have been much more difficult. While the U.S. Military, specifically U.S. Special Forces, are commended for they work, professionalism and bravery as they should be and are, the heavy hand of politics weighs on this entire episode. Andrea Mitchell explained that it is Putin who is the leader in Syria and has influence over Turkey, Assad in Syria, and in effect Iran as well. President Trump completely ceded control of northern Syria to Russia and as a parting gift the U.S. got al-Baghdadi.
At this point it's to be expected, when thanking people the president in his statement started with countries and at the top of the list was Russia, even though National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien clearly stated that Russia is not our ally, though pointing out that interests do overlap.
You can watch the president's full statement:
Since a 'Russian' thank you at the top is no longer considered odd, one aspect of Mr. Trump's statement was his repeating and rephrasing a description of how al-Baghdadi screamed and cried, running in fear, humiliated; the president even used the word 'terrorized,' certainly done to send a particular message.
Maybe it was a metaphor for what he'd like to do with his Democratic adversaries in the House after this devastating week for the president in terms of the impeachment inquiry. Mr. Trump needed something good to happen.
As Amy Walter pointed out, the impeachment is underwater in the polls in the swing states of Minnesota, Wisconsin et al. The question that Mr. Todd brought up is how are Democrats going to deal with this is an election year? That's why the Democrats need to get the public phase quickly. The consensus is that the House will vote to impeach and then the Senate will acquit the president. W
However, the panel didn't explain that given this inevitable outcome, Nancy Pelosi has laid out the case of why the president is unfit for office through public hearings. The Senate for its part doesn't impeach the president's breaking the law, voting down mostly party lines so Mrs. Pelosi has Republican senators on record as supporting lawlessness. The House is aiming to finish around Thanksgiving and when the smoke eventually clears it will be fresh in the minds of Iowa caucus voters.
So for the Democratic candidates who have to answer a disproportionate amount of questions on impeachment, the House Speaker has it covered.
Panel: Andrea Mitchell, NBC; Amy Walter, The Cook Political Report; Lanhee Chen, Stanford University; Jeh Johnson, fmr. DHS Secretary
As fmr. DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson pointed out, now was the time to go with U.S. Special Forces pulling out later down the road would have been much more difficult. While the U.S. Military, specifically U.S. Special Forces, are commended for they work, professionalism and bravery as they should be and are, the heavy hand of politics weighs on this entire episode. Andrea Mitchell explained that it is Putin who is the leader in Syria and has influence over Turkey, Assad in Syria, and in effect Iran as well. President Trump completely ceded control of northern Syria to Russia and as a parting gift the U.S. got al-Baghdadi.
At this point it's to be expected, when thanking people the president in his statement started with countries and at the top of the list was Russia, even though National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien clearly stated that Russia is not our ally, though pointing out that interests do overlap.
You can watch the president's full statement:
 | ||||||
| CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO |
Maybe it was a metaphor for what he'd like to do with his Democratic adversaries in the House after this devastating week for the president in terms of the impeachment inquiry. Mr. Trump needed something good to happen.
As Amy Walter pointed out, the impeachment is underwater in the polls in the swing states of Minnesota, Wisconsin et al. The question that Mr. Todd brought up is how are Democrats going to deal with this is an election year? That's why the Democrats need to get the public phase quickly. The consensus is that the House will vote to impeach and then the Senate will acquit the president. W
However, the panel didn't explain that given this inevitable outcome, Nancy Pelosi has laid out the case of why the president is unfit for office through public hearings. The Senate for its part doesn't impeach the president's breaking the law, voting down mostly party lines so Mrs. Pelosi has Republican senators on record as supporting lawlessness. The House is aiming to finish around Thanksgiving and when the smoke eventually clears it will be fresh in the minds of Iowa caucus voters.
So for the Democratic candidates who have to answer a disproportionate amount of questions on impeachment, the House Speaker has it covered.
Panel: Andrea Mitchell, NBC; Amy Walter, The Cook Political Report; Lanhee Chen, Stanford University; Jeh Johnson, fmr. DHS Secretary
Sunday, October 20, 2019
10.20.19: How to Go From Bad to Worse and Back Again
What do you do if you're caught in a quid quo pro as president pressuring a foreign country for your own personal political gain? You make a disastrous foreign policy decision that leaves our allies hanging in the wind and damages U.S. credibility around the world. What do you do if said foreign policy decision is so roundly criticized by Democrats and Republicans alike and you can't take it back? You announce that you are going to enrich yourself with a government contract.
The week that was...
There is no doubt that after the 72-hour ceasefire that Vice President Mike Pence negotiated with Turkey is over, the violence will continue. NBC's Richard Engel stated that ethnic cleansing is 'underway' in northeast Syria, along with evidence of roadside executions. Brett McGurk, Fmr. Security Council official in the Trump Administration heading up the anti-ISIL division, confirmed it would continue as Turkey moves to control a strip of Syrian land 435km in length, 30km inland. Mr. McGurk didn't commit to the notion that Turkey was trying to annex the territory but that's exactly what is happening. President Erdogan of Turkey wants his piece of the pie and the U.S. was unwilling to give him, but Russia would. You can imagine the conversation in which the Turkish president tells Mr. Trump this and explains in order to get his piece, U.S. troops have to get out of the way, and Mr. Trump gave it to him by trying to wash his hands of the whole thing. But they just got dirtier as it prompted an overwhelming wave of bi-partisan condemnation that the White House felt compelled to write a letter to Turkey - president to president - which Mr. Erdogan literally threw in the trash and invaded full force anyway.
Turkey will annex that region because Assad will give it up to them. The Syrian dictator gets his country back, be it under Russian and Iranian influence, by letting Turkey have a strip of land he didn't control anyway. It's serves Erdogan's strategic interest to drive the Kurds back into Iraq, a de facto buffer zone from which Turkey can establish further incursions. So if you're interested in American interests, Mr. Trump ceded Syrian to the control to Russia and Iran, not good news for Israel; literally blowing up bases to pull out on Erdogan's timetable so that his military can ethnic cleanse a region controlled by a U.S. ally, the Kurds, with the help of 10,000 extremist fighters; and of course in defending themselves, the Kurds could no longer guard the camps that contained ISIS making U.S. and our European allies less safe. Thank you Mr. Trump.
The kicker...
The troops aren't going home, they're being deployed to Iraq, as Rep. Justin Amash (I-MI) pointed out in today's interview. With regard to the U.S. troop deployment to Saudi Arabia, the political hypocrisy of it we discussed in our last column, Mr. Amash called them 'mercenaries,' in other words for sale when a 'friend' needs them. He continued on saying that he thinks the president feels he's 'untouchable.' It's clear through this debasing foreign policy move, Mr. Trump is not, nor should he be. When Mitch McConnell condemns the decision so publicly with an op-ed in The Washington Post, you know it's bad.
Presidential candidate Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN) explained that what we had in Syria is how it should look like, if we have to be there or find ourselves there then it should be a light footprint. Then work the diplomatic front. This is what he sees as a goal for Afghanistan as well.
Mr. Buttigieg also said that while there should be consequences for Turkey's actions, he explained that given they are a NATO member, they should be negotiated with as an ally... a NATO ally that has an all too cozy relationship with Russia. Where have we heard this story before?
The mess...
Mick. Mulvaney.
Paraphrasing: We withheld the aid to Ukraine because of our concern about corruption. Quid pro quo is something we do all the time, "Get Over It."
The acting Chief of Staff is genuinely trying to act like a chief of staff, however... A reporter even gave him a chance to clarify or walk it back in real time and he doubled down on it, in direct opposition to what the president had been saying all week. Maybe Mr. Mulvaney realized he may have made an error and decided to clean these up by informing the press corps that of the several sites they reviewed, Doral was the best place to have the next G7 summit. Plugging the boss's golf resort isn't a bad idea if all you want is to stay in his good graces. But three times was not the charm as later in the evening in a written statement correcting Mr. Mulvaney's misstatement and he unequivocally maintains that there was no quid pro quo.
And there's no G7 at Doral. Under pressure from Republican criticism of blatant self-dealing, the Trump Administration said last night that a new site will be chosen.
The Panel: Dan Balz, The Washington Post; Danielle Pletka, American Enterprise Institutue; Betsy Woodruff Swan, The Daily Beast; Joshua Johnson, NPR
One more thing...
American Hero, Mr. Elijah E. Cummings
The week that was...
There is no doubt that after the 72-hour ceasefire that Vice President Mike Pence negotiated with Turkey is over, the violence will continue. NBC's Richard Engel stated that ethnic cleansing is 'underway' in northeast Syria, along with evidence of roadside executions. Brett McGurk, Fmr. Security Council official in the Trump Administration heading up the anti-ISIL division, confirmed it would continue as Turkey moves to control a strip of Syrian land 435km in length, 30km inland. Mr. McGurk didn't commit to the notion that Turkey was trying to annex the territory but that's exactly what is happening. President Erdogan of Turkey wants his piece of the pie and the U.S. was unwilling to give him, but Russia would. You can imagine the conversation in which the Turkish president tells Mr. Trump this and explains in order to get his piece, U.S. troops have to get out of the way, and Mr. Trump gave it to him by trying to wash his hands of the whole thing. But they just got dirtier as it prompted an overwhelming wave of bi-partisan condemnation that the White House felt compelled to write a letter to Turkey - president to president - which Mr. Erdogan literally threw in the trash and invaded full force anyway.
Turkey will annex that region because Assad will give it up to them. The Syrian dictator gets his country back, be it under Russian and Iranian influence, by letting Turkey have a strip of land he didn't control anyway. It's serves Erdogan's strategic interest to drive the Kurds back into Iraq, a de facto buffer zone from which Turkey can establish further incursions. So if you're interested in American interests, Mr. Trump ceded Syrian to the control to Russia and Iran, not good news for Israel; literally blowing up bases to pull out on Erdogan's timetable so that his military can ethnic cleanse a region controlled by a U.S. ally, the Kurds, with the help of 10,000 extremist fighters; and of course in defending themselves, the Kurds could no longer guard the camps that contained ISIS making U.S. and our European allies less safe. Thank you Mr. Trump.
The kicker...
The troops aren't going home, they're being deployed to Iraq, as Rep. Justin Amash (I-MI) pointed out in today's interview. With regard to the U.S. troop deployment to Saudi Arabia, the political hypocrisy of it we discussed in our last column, Mr. Amash called them 'mercenaries,' in other words for sale when a 'friend' needs them. He continued on saying that he thinks the president feels he's 'untouchable.' It's clear through this debasing foreign policy move, Mr. Trump is not, nor should he be. When Mitch McConnell condemns the decision so publicly with an op-ed in The Washington Post, you know it's bad.
Presidential candidate Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN) explained that what we had in Syria is how it should look like, if we have to be there or find ourselves there then it should be a light footprint. Then work the diplomatic front. This is what he sees as a goal for Afghanistan as well.
Mr. Buttigieg also said that while there should be consequences for Turkey's actions, he explained that given they are a NATO member, they should be negotiated with as an ally... a NATO ally that has an all too cozy relationship with Russia. Where have we heard this story before?
The mess...
Mick. Mulvaney.
Paraphrasing: We withheld the aid to Ukraine because of our concern about corruption. Quid pro quo is something we do all the time, "Get Over It."
The acting Chief of Staff is genuinely trying to act like a chief of staff, however... A reporter even gave him a chance to clarify or walk it back in real time and he doubled down on it, in direct opposition to what the president had been saying all week. Maybe Mr. Mulvaney realized he may have made an error and decided to clean these up by informing the press corps that of the several sites they reviewed, Doral was the best place to have the next G7 summit. Plugging the boss's golf resort isn't a bad idea if all you want is to stay in his good graces. But three times was not the charm as later in the evening in a written statement correcting Mr. Mulvaney's misstatement and he unequivocally maintains that there was no quid pro quo.
And there's no G7 at Doral. Under pressure from Republican criticism of blatant self-dealing, the Trump Administration said last night that a new site will be chosen.
The Panel: Dan Balz, The Washington Post; Danielle Pletka, American Enterprise Institutue; Betsy Woodruff Swan, The Daily Beast; Joshua Johnson, NPR
One more thing...
American Hero, Mr. Elijah E. Cummings
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