Content and Process

Which is worse?  Content or process?

An executive order that resulted in the confiscation of legally held Green Cards and denial of legal remedies to people on American soil.  An executive order that denies fulfillment of promises to those who have assisted American military operations in Iraq and gives ammunition to ISIS as well as potential domestic terrorists.

An executive order written by a young 31 year old staffer without consulting at least two military Generals who have responsibility for the order's implementation or its impact.  Also, Congressional leaders of their own party were not informed or consulted. 

Then the administration's representatives blamed the selection of these seven countries as Obama's selection.  So much mention of Obama.

No wonder no one was able to implement the order is a manner worthy of the government of the USA.

When 100 State Department officials use their long established legal channel to object, the press secretary suggested that these State department long time staffers should resign. 

Then Trump fired the Acting Attorney General and the head of Immigration and Customs.  Trump ahd other remedies to represent his position in court without firing the Acting Attorney General. The ICE head was probably fired sso his involvement in implementation could be the one to blame for the administration's failure in the policy roll out.

Ultimately, before the nominee for Secretary of state was confirmed, with the next four top state officials gone (because Trump wanted them gone), with no consultation with all relevant government parties, why did Trump do this?  There was no urgency - an adequate vetting program was in place.  Did Trump ever even explore it? 

The USA is not a dictatorship.  This is a frightening beginning.  And we are heading to a Cnstitutional crisis faster than I ever thought

Biggest Danger

The most serious danger to the USA and world peace is Donald Trump. rump is President and he is in charge, no matter who in the White House writes or announces a decision as a directive or as staffing.

A 30 year old staffer. Steven Miller, wrote the executive order prohibiting refugees and limiting immigrants without consultation by the departments and agencies who would implement it.  Miller actually countermanded the clarification made by General John Kelly, head of Homeland Security, allowing green card holders back in the country.

Steve Bannon, former head of right wing Brietbart news, has been added to the sitting National Security Council, while the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Director  of National Intelligence Agency have both been excluded.

Trump is responsible for these actions.  Today, on tv, Trump said that the implementation of the exec order was smooth and any problems related to the weekend were about the Delta power outage (which happened a couple days after the order was announced).  The poor communication was a media problem.  More lies. 

Then there are the gaps that indicate generally poor management practices in the White House,ie, leaving mention of Jews out of the Holocaust Remembrance Day statement and misspelling the name of British Prime Minister, Theresa May.

Then there is the dominance of the right wing supporters in the White House.

Then there are the cabinet nominees.  Deplorable backgrounds, many without any legitimate experience in government or the area they are designated to lead.  Or a desire to eliminate the area they are designated to lead.

Trump is responsible.  He has demonstrable mental limitations.  And he is seventy years old.  He already looks worn down with a puffy face.  One way or another, we will have a Constitutional crisis - I predict within two years.  Probably Trump will decide to find an excuse to resign.  We can only hope it happens sooner rather than later.

rump is responsible for all.

Chaos

No secretary of state in place, top four officials at State Dept have been fired.  Perfect time to shut down entry into the country for immigrants and refugees.  Some are trapped at American airports; some are sitting in foreign airports.  Homeland Security didn't get implementation instructions.  You know, Trump likes the element of surprise.  He is behaving like a dictator.  No input from long standing members of agencies who know how things work.  Keep out people with green cards whose home is the USA.  Offend foreign governments - Iran has already banned Americans form their country in response to Trump's order.   

Chaos.  Repubicans are muttering about how, well, maybe the roll out is sloppy, but we need to have secure borders, etc.  Blah Blah Blah  Like Trump arrived and nothing was working before he descended upon the US government. 

I am beginning to have second thoughts.  The new governing cadre - should I say junta? - well, just let them implode into a pyre of self destruction.  But of course, we must continue to resist.  The world must hear that there is some sanity in the USA. 

First Person Pronoun

"I" will institute taxes on goods coming into the country.  "I will allow General Matis to override me"" on torture.  Not to mention his blatant threat to "take the oil" from Iran.

Trump is atributing unilateral power to himself.  I question if he realizes what the roles of the various branches of government are. And that best  decisions are made in consultation.  Especially this torture thing - just what could Trump, personally, possibly know about the value or not of torture!  Just another sign of the megalomania that the world is facing.

He was actually prepared to send the National Guard into Chicago.  Again, unilaterally.  No discussion with the Governor of Illinois nor the Mayor of Chicago.  He thinks he can just do this!

Gorbachev just wrote an op ed indicating that he sees the world moving toward war.  He is right.  Trump is questioning the UN and NATO, picking a needless fight with our neighbor, Mexico. 

Maybe even worse, if that's possible, is that all of this bullying is based on his view that the USA, richest, most successful nation in the world, is being pushed around economically by other nations!  Now that sounds like pre-World War II Germany.  At least Germany had a complaint based in reality, ie., the harsh terms of the Versailles Treaty.  Trump is concocting a down trodden, beat upon image of the USA that is a lie.  This bizarre leadership can translate into a fascist power grab.  Perhaps his only reason for this endless criticism is that he can later try to say he rescued the USA.  Except tht he will actually bring back the "Ugly American", ruin our goodwill around the world and very possibly initiate yet another war.

And this is only Week One.

Negotiation

Here's the thing.  Negotiating in business is to get the best deal, make the most money, basically win.  Trump might be able to do that, although his bankruptcies even question that.  But I digress.

In international diplomacy, the goal is not to win but to develop mutually beneficial relationships that contribute to a stable world at peace.  IMHO  Bottom line - Trump doesn't have a clue.  He does not indicate that he has any notion that the USA is the strongest most powerful country in the world.  He has no concept at all.

He is behaving like he does about his perception of his popularity - like an insecure, inferior player.  He does not recognize that the USA cannot expect other countries, all more vulnerable one way or another, to conceded that they should give special benefits to the wealthiest nation on the planet. 

The USA has vast responsibilities that Trump dismisses.  Prime example is NATO.  A more modest issue is contributing to health initiatives in other countries that he ahs already ended because of their stances on abortion - but he also took away contributions for HIV and zika.  The notion of taking the oil from Iraq - besides being contrary to international law - why steal from a nation with vast vulnerabilities?

Maybe our best hope is that he doesn't have a clue and we can hope he won't accomplish any of his absurd, unethical, immoral goals.

Mental Reality

Trump is making a huge deal about his popularity - the size of the inaugural crowd, the reality of the popular vote.  Regarding the vote, he went so far as to discuss initiating  formal governmental investigation into his allegation of illegal voter fraud - that he declared had all voted for his opponent!  He constantly talks about his ratings in the polls
Here's the thing.  A really sane person would try to hide their true egomania.  Why would anyone want the world to see the extent of their egotism?  Who would reveal that their fundamental top priority is how the world views them?  Someone who is dense, oblivious and ultimately totally vulnerable to anyone who challenges his sense of self.

 

Playing with Toys

Trump seems to act like that's what he's doing.  Playing with toys.  How would he know whether or not torture works?  Take the oil!  How in the world would that be done, practically speaking? Not to mention the illegality of it.  But who cares? Sure! Take the oil.  Nuclear weapons?  Sure!  Use 'em.  Make a foreign country pay for something he wants? Sure! Throw out the experienced hands with institutional memory who know how to deal with the various aspects of international relations?  Fire 'em!
Megalomania.  His "team" are actually enablers.  Paul Ryan will play with Trump as long as he can.

What You Wish For

Be Careful!  Imagine - a big investigation in voter fraud in the 2016 Presidential Election.  What would trump do if he was informed of a result that Clinton's votes were somehow undercounted?  What would he do with that?  What would the USA do with that?  If we discovered we had installed the wrong person as President!  Let's take it a step further.  So Trump gets results of his investigation that he doesn't like - would he suppress the results?  And where would that take him?

Pul Ryan Sold His Soul

Yes, Paul Ryan has sold his soul.  When interviewed, he has a smirk and an almost giddy laugh, trying to justify Trump's activities.  Well, he says, somehow we will get payment from Mexico, some alternative way.  Kind of like Kellyanne's "alternative facts".
So Ryan wants a conservative SCOTUS and evisceration of Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security.  Then what?  Ryan and his "conservative principles".  He is not stupid.  He knows Trump is off the reservation and pursuing personal aggrandisement without any regard for consensus, even in the Republican Party.  But Ryan laughs along, hoping he will get what he wants.  Maybe it will turn out for him like it did for Chris Christie who sold his soul, maybe not.
Either way,  Paul Ryan has sold his soul.  Eventually, Republicans will pay.

International Fiasco

I planned to write about the Mexican President's response to Trump's orders to build the wall and to remove funding from Sanctuary Cities.  Whether either will happen is still a debate - the funding for the wall needs to be arranged, if not allocated by law, and the US Constitution prevents the federal government from using the states to its work.  So maybe neither will happen, hopefully. 
But the point of my writing was to be the Mexican President's response - which is to offer legal assistance through its 50 consulates to immigrants who need it.  And his planned visit next week to the US is no longer likely to happen.

In the meantime, equally bad, or possibly worse, Trump is working on another Executive Order to diminish US financial contributions to UN and to UN peace keeping missions.  If Trump thinks he can improve the world by withdrawing the US from it international leadership, this notion simply proves that Trump knows nothing about the history of the past century. 

Well, Trump is making the job of the Democratic Party a bit easier.  I hope he isn't too destructive during the coming years.  Even a Republican pundit has expressed his belief that trump would be impeached - if the Democrats win a majority in the midterms.

Either way, the coming turmoil - Trump Carnage - will make for a rough ride for at least a couple years. 

The United States of America has lost its way

.A quick word about Voice of America, the radio network that fought Communism by piping eal news behind the old Iron Curtain.  Its funding was included in the comprehensive defense funding bill, so Obama had to sign it, the VOA piece with reservation.  But the bill changed its leadership from a board of bipartisan governors to Presidential appointees AND allowed it to broadcast in the USA.   To run it, Trump has already appointed a couple 20-something eyar olds who worked on his campaign.  Think about it - with the instigation of the Republican Party, Trump ahs created a domestic propaganda arm.  Fortunately, radio isn't the most important contemporary emdia, but still, this is fascism in the making.

Another final word.  The Dow hit 20,000 yesterday.  It may still rise further for a while - the money grubbers are happy about corporate tax reductions and end of regulations, not to mention encouraging fossil fuels and banking deregulation.  I don't want to make profits from these ruinous moves.  And, anyway,  I guarantee that a crash will come, either from a Constitutional or international crisis.  20,000 or otherwise, trouble is coming.

O M G

He wants a major investigation of voter fraud in two states - let's guess which ones.  California for sure.  I guess he could make the Justice Dept do it - maybe a good thing - it would totally debunk the conservative state efforts at voter suppression through voter id laws.
Of course, he's only doing it because his press secretary got peppered with media questions about why Trump "believes" there was voter fraud.  After all, in Trump's mind, he can never be wrong.

Meanwhile, he is tweeting about "sending the feds" in to Chicago to fight the "carnage".   Well, Ike sent the 101st Airborne to desegregate Little Rock schools, but under what circumstances does the President have the authority.  Mayor Emmanuel had the right answer - sure, send in the federal dollars for after school, job and prevention programs.

An insightful point - Jared Kushner a sane voice that can reach Trump was not available on Saturday when Trump went off the rails.  Kushner is Orthodox and was observing the Sabbath.  What a problem that the country needs to rely on the President's son-in-law for sanity in government.

Overall, TERRIFYING

Next Up - Importing Labor

Trumps says we are building factories in US "bigly".  Bringing manufacturing - all sorts of industries - back to US.  In addition to added costs passed on to the retail consumer, resulting in inflation, there is the issue of labor.  US is at 4.7% unemployment.  Where is he going to get the labor for all these factories? IMPORTED LABOR! 
Net result - inflation and imported labor - financial and immigration problems -DESTABILIZING
What an idiot

Surrounded by White Men

the look of the news administration.  There he was.  Trump was signing the "gag law".  This law is usually enacted by Republicans and rescinded by democrats.  It prevents the US from providing any funds to foreign nonprofits, or other entities, that offer so much as a discussion of abortion or family planning.
Cecile Richards, Planned Parenthood Exec, explained that trump's version goes even further and precludes funding for HIV, Zika virus as well.  The HIV and Zik piece is new to Trump's version of the law.
The ultimate irony is that Trump was surrounded by white men as he signed away help for much fo the world of color - and, of course, of need.  In front of his new gold drapes.

Trump Profits from Inflation

So Trump is going after foreign trade treaties.  OK, manufacture here in the US and retail prices will go up to defray the higher production costs.  OK, impose import taxes on goods made outside the US and that cost will be passed on, so retail prices go up.  Result?  Inflation.  Who benefits from inflation?  Certainly not the individual, rather the corporate world.  Inflation will fuel higher interest rates.   So who would benefit most from inflation?  Banks will benefit from higher interest rates and inflation will benefit a real estate (supposed) mogul.
In fact, Trump has already raised interest rates on FHA mortgages.  Who will benefit from that?  Certainly not the home owner.  And if wages don't rise, inflation will hurt the working person.  And,a after all, how will Trump get the unemployment rate below the current 4.7%?  As always, sincere thanks to President Obama!

Alternate Facts

Kellyanne Conway has alternate facts.  She swore by them through her phoney smile.  I thought Chuck Todd on Meet the Press would have a stroke.  There are facts and lies, not alternative facts.

Shawn Spicer, spokesman for Trump, has  been declaring alternate attendance figures at both the inauguration and the Women's March. 

Alternate facts plus dismissal of the media as conveyors of truth might enhance Trump's view of himself, but both - plain and simple - mislead the population, especially the people who don't make a career of following every word and action of the President. 

Alternate facts and disparagement of the media are the nourishment for totalitarian regimes. 

My Problem

Well, I have more than one problem, that's for sure.  but at the moment, my problem is that I cannot bear to listen to Donald Trump.  I read most of his speech t the CIA, apparently unscripted, and a self-referential aggrandizement in front of their revered Wall of Stars.  I have read selected comments have his Inaugural Speech.
At a gut level, I cannot listen to someone with such deep seeded emotional troubles.  Every speech, one or another, reflects his lack of knowledge of history and lack of leadership in public life.  Not to mention outright lies.
Each speech confirms that our new President is narcissistic and self centered, fixated on his popularity as reflected in how many votes he received in the election.
Somehow, concerned citizens and the media need to focus on the content, not the ephemeral antics.  While he is blabbing about himself, his "government" is taking serious, incomprehensible steps.

Trump Carnage

First action - sign an Executive Order allowing the federal government to rescind steps in the ACA healthcare law.  No one seems to know what that means.  Sounds like ways to undermine the law.  OK - just remember who caused the law's failure - Trump.  Don't let Ryan and Republicans blame Democrats - Trump destabilized the provisions of the law.

Next. - Raise interest rates on FHA home mortgages raising monthly mortgage payments.
plus delaying judicial action on the discriminatory Texas voter id law.

Think about that if you voted for Trump carnage.

Injustice Already

A suit brought by the US Dept of Justice against the Texas voter id law - toughest in the nation - was due for a final hearing after reaching US appellate court.  First Trump administration action was to delay the hearing for a month.  The question is why not let the justice staffers represent the US at the hearing and get rid of the law?  Because once Jeff sessions is in place, the US will withdraw from the suit.  Bottom line - donate to the southern Poverty Law Center because the Justice Dept Civil Rihgts Division isn't going to do crap.

Meanwhile, there is no indication that Trump has divested any of his holdings.

And "American Carnage stops here and now"?  Hyperbolic, insulting nonsense at every level.  "American carnage" ignores the facts and as to stopping here and now, ineffectual insulting garbage.

Resist at every opportunity.

Illegitimate

Yes, that's my conclusion.  For many reasons.  First, there is the Russian interference, which is under serious investigation as to its extent.  Then there is the popular vote, with Clinton gaining 2%, almost 3 million votes, more than Trump.  Then there is FBI Director Comey's interference in the campaigns. And, finally, there are Trump's lies and his flaunting of campaign norms of releasing his tax returns and divesting his holdings.  No he is not legitimate.
Yes, he won the Electoral College vote.  And perhaps we must play out this obscene charade and of democracy by rule of law. 
If Trump wanted to bring the country together and move us forward, he would have managed his transition entirely the opposite of what he's done.  But, no.  This is continuing his illegitimate power grab. 
We will have a Constitutional crisis within two years.  If the country and planet survive long enough.  What a rpice the Republicans have paid for power.

Great

The American people have some sense.  Trump's favorability in the most recent poll is at 32%.  No President has had an unfavorable - less than 50% - on the eve off his inauguration.
Hopefully, this will be more meaningful to Trump than his tweeting nonsense leads us to believe.

Will he, wisely,  allow the 17 agency investigation into Russian involvement in influencing his victory to continue?  Our first Constitutional crisis, like with Nixon. 

He gets control of nuclear codes tomorrow. 

God help save our country and the planet.

Thank You, Senator Olympia Snow !

I have read that Senator Snow suggested recommended allowing states to decide on their health insurance plan, ie., they could keep if they wished or develop the individual state's plan.  Brilliant!  At least it would appease the insane repealers while actually allowing the ACA to survive.  What state would want to develop their own plan?  Even if the state did develop their own, at least we are paring down the level of damage.
Way To Go, senator Snow!

Inauguration/Resistance

Some Congress members are not going to attend the Presidential Inauguration.  They are talking about Trump's "illegitimacy".  The alternate argument, ie, to attend the event, is the celebration of the peaceful transfer of power.  Also, I suspect, that the former Presidents and their First Ladies may be attending to provide a sense of support to Trump - support that Trump could feel willing to reach out to when (not if) he gets himself into trouble and, someone with Trump's ego and desire for retribution would only reach out if he felt an absolute sense of support.  The former Presidents would want to be available and accessible to help when it becomes necessary.

Other than that, this is not an inauguration as usual.  Trump goes beyond presenting new ideas.  This is not about a change of party in control.  There are the open issues - Russian involvement in the election and Trump's role in it, Trump's finances, his lies, his demonstrated lack of knowledge of government working and international affairs and history and, finally, his personal characteristics of egotism and vindictiveness.  And he surrounds himself with inexperienced extremists.  f course he disparages and distances the media - they might reveal just how lacking in relevant knowledge and how self-absorbed he really is. 

From his interview with The London Times, his answers were shocking.  When asked who - in all of world history - were his heroes, his reply was that his father was a good salesman and then Trump rambled on at length about himself.  When they asked if he could understand why the Balkan states were fearful of Putin and Russia, Trump talked about how NATO was obsolete.  Never even mentioned Russia. I see two possible reasons for these replies - he did not know the real answers, ie, some thought about what makes a person have characteristics or accomplishments that allowed them to be considered a hero or what the issues of the Balkan states are as former Soviet dominated countries, so he obfuscated.  Or he is so egotistical or insecure that he chooses to talk about himself.

Either way, it is terrifying.

Then there is his John  Lewis tweet.  "No action"?  That tweet was just plain stupid on every level - lacking knowledge and lacking any sensible tactics, if not basic human respect.

I truly believe that there is no help for this man who will be President.  Every ounce of energy must be used in Resistance.  I hope that the Russia connection will lead to an impeachment - soon, before he makes a terrible mess. 

I will be spending Inauguration Day at a Resistance Rally in Philadelphia.

Healthcare

Let's not forget! The only reason Republicans are talking about health insurance is because passage of the Affordable Care Act has forced them to concede that the USA needs to make sure that the populace ahs access to healthcare.  President Obama made that happen.  Whatever comes next, Obama changed the debate to how to provide health insurance, not if there should be health insurance available to most everyerone.
The big question si what the Republicans want to do.  The more I hear (particularly through Ryan, along with his alternative to Planned Parenthood) sounds like block grants for "community health clinics".  Clinics which may or may not exist or be located conveniently or be staffed with qualified doctors and professionals.  Not to mention the potential lack of choice for the healthcare consumer.
Yesterday, Trump proclaimed his soon to be revealed plan - coverage  for everyone!  And the only detail that he mentioned was having drug companies negotiate with the government over prices through Medicare and Medicaid.
Great, let Trump and the Republicans fight over their plans.  They break Obamacare, they own it.
Overall, the democratic Party will make big gains in 2018, if we can hold out.  The Republicans will pay for their radical and rude strategies.  Time for the democrats to fight like Republicans.
BTW, contrary to precedent and decency, when Senator Booker and Congressman Lewis testified against sessions, they were made to wait until the end of all the others who testified.  That meant that they were forced to spend the day waiting - when they could have gotten some real work done - if they were scheduled earlier on, which ahs been the normal practice in Congress.  Politics is going to have to be nasty for the foreseeable future.

Shocking

The now famous unverified dossier includes the statement that the Kremlin has been providing Trump with information on his opponents.  Unverified.
This entire dossier was provided to the FBI by its creator, a British ex-MI6 agent, last summer.  This ex-MI6 agent is believed to be extremely professional and reliable.  He built this file first while paid by Republican opponents of Trump for the nomination and later by some Democrats after Trump had the nomination.
The FBI Director Comey testified privately to the Congressional Intelligence committee today and, as Democrats exited, the expressed fury but were unable to talk about it.  Publicly, Comey refused to answer anything about any possible investigation as the policy being never to comment on any investigation or non-investigation.  Senator Alfonso King of Maine just responded with incredulity,  after Comey publicly made pronouncements about investigations o Hillary Clinton.
Meanwhile, Trump says isn't it better that Putin likes him?
If Trump's campaign actually got information from the Russian government, that would break the Logan Act which prevents that very activity.
This morning, the Intelligence Committee head was refusing to open an investigation.  Tonight, that has changed and there will be an investigation by the House Intelligence Committee.
Meanwhile, Trump's approval rating is %.
I don't need to editorialize.  Facts say more than I could.

Layers of Chaos

Just what trump wants.  so many issues, so little time.
Kushner as illegal advisor, lack of Trump tax returns, Trump's debts to international banks including China, lack of Trump divestiture, Russian hacking, questionable Flynn contacts continuing with Russia, Trump's unknown Russian involvement, criticism of the US intelligence apparatus while praising Putin, positions on Israel as indicated by the ambassadorial nominee, Trump's position on NATO and use of nuclear weapons, the mostly white male billionaire/millionaire cabinet, cabinet members who oppose the mission of their particular cabinet assignments, continuing twitter barrage over the long settled election outcome, attacks on individual corporations, taking credit for corporate decisions not related to trump, and, finally, and always, lies lies, lies.
No wonder the media has trouble focusing.  It's time to look at the key issue - Trump is unfit to be President and what will help reveal that most fully.  Time to investigate his personal empire.

Time to Coordinate

I have made a New Year's Resolution to become active in the Resistance and to develop a network of friends who are of the same political persuasion, but less inclined to activism.
The Resistance - I hope we can call it a Movement - is developing rallies and marches to speak out on numerous vital topics - healthcare, Planned Parenthood, general women's issues with women's political power.  First off in order of being announced is the nationwide Women's March on January 21 - with supporting marches in cities around the country.  Next up are coordinated national rallies in support of Planned Parenthood on January 25.  And yesterday added to the calendar is a nationwide coordinated healthcare march on January 15 and a working families event on January 16, which is also ML King Day.
PHEW!
Worthy and vital issues, all.  My thoughts?  Let's not divide and lose.  Lots of little gatherings will not impress Trump and Congress.  Let's not wear out the activists who will need to prioritize their time and issues.  It is crucial that the large numbers in the Resistance not be diluted and divided.  Let's Multiply!
Coordinate the resistance, Please!

Ryan Drank the KoolAid

Obamacare is failing, says Ryan, parroted Trump's declaration.  The Republicans are going to fix it and give people affordable health insurance.  No stated plan, however.
And they are going to give money to the great community health centers instead of Pplanned Parenthood.  So they will be taking away choice of provider from a woman, if they are not going to allow insurers to reimburse Planned Parenthood.  maybe also putting qualifications on what those centers would provide.  Since so many Republicans are opposed to even the most ordinary birth control provisions, among others.
Resist!

Down the Rabbit Hole

Trump says he will repeal the ACA Obamacare to save the Democratic Party from its failure!  If you believe that, I will sell you the Brooklyn Bridge.
We have long since reached the level of insult to the intelligence of the electorate.  If anyone believes him, they have lost their minds.
As Senator Schumer says, you break it, you own it.
BTW, yes, I believe that Hillary Clinton would have been tougher on Russia than Trump, despite what Trump says.
Trump's lies are so numerous and extensive, you will find one every time he opens his mouth and starts a topic.

Voters Knew????

Please!  I only watched a snip of the Trump news conference.  What gymnastics of logic.  They say the conflicts are no big deal since his voters knew that he was a businessman and that's why they voted for him.  So it is okay that he has conflicts of interest?  Breaking the law is okay if the voters say it is?  Why should trump assume that voter even knew that he would break the law and have conflicts of interest?  Not even good logic, let alone an attempt at honesty.
Here's the thing.  Eventually, maybe not today or tomorrow, but eventually, the Republican Party will pay for this behavior.
But, in the meantime, another step toward totalitarian governing.
Frightening and Disgusting

Now We Know

US intelligence has informed Obama and Trump that Russians have damaging info - personal and financial - about Trump.  No wonder Trump dismisses US intelligence and praises Russia.  Today he denied it as fake news.  Today James Comey said he couldn't talk about an ongoing investigation after what eh said about Hillary?  Why is this coming out now when James Comey revealed less damaging stuff publicly about Hillary Clinton.
Actually, Marco Rubio made sense today - the level and impact of disruption from Russian hacking does lead to the conclusion that in that sense, the Russian hacking was effective.
Malcolm Nance predicted four months ago that Trump was compromised by the Russians.
What a mess. And this is without looking at then absurd cabinet that Trump ahs nominated.  The US Government will not be in any position to function after January 20.he Congress needs to be re-elected.
Why is the Republican Congress going along with this insanity? They want a conservative Supreme Court nominee.  I bet, after that, they will dump Trump like a hot potato.  T

Post Reality World

This really is a post reality world.
We have a President-elect who is complaining that the intelligence apparatus leaked some news to NBC, with Trump wanting a major investigation.  But he continues his unwillinglness - that's putting it mildly - to accept the entire intelligence community's conclusion that Russia hacked the recent election -and it's sole purpose was to elect Trump.

Throughout the campaign, Trump praised WikiLeaks, urged Russia to hack into Hillary Clinton's private emails and admired Putin.  No wonder he doesn't want to accept the intelligence agencies' conclusions - it de-legitimizes his election and embarrasses the basis of his campaign which was to undermine Hillary Clinton.

Trump says that the voting machines weren't hacked, so Russia didn't influence the election.  Huh?
Now, intelligence agencies don't come out and state outright that the Russian efforts actually resulted in tilting the election in Trump's favor.  Huh?  Let's be realistic.  All the negative hacked and leaked information about Hillary Clinton, while Trump shouted "lock her up" did influence the election. 

Based on all the facts that have been revealed, yes, Russia influenced the election. 

Trump continues his lies that his election as a landslide, based on a relatively narrow Electoral College win (compared with all previous elections) despite loosing the popular vote by almost 3 million votes.

Now what?  Trump has designed a set of advisors and cabinet nominees as radical as could possibly be imagined.  An Education secretary who doesn't support public education, a Health & Human Services who wants to dismantle healthcare, social security and the American safety net, an Energy Secretary who wants to get rid of the Energy Department, an Environmental Protection Agency ehad who is actually suing the EPA and doesn't accept the reality of climate change.  Maybe the most bizarre of all is Jeff Sessions for Attorney General who is an avowed racist!  Plus a Secretary of state who just got 180 million dollar buy out to leave Exxon Mobile.

My conclusion is that Trump has listened to Kellyanne Conway and Steve Brannon.  The only logical reason is because their tactics led to his election win.  And maybe Trump has no idea what to do with his election victory. 

What we know for sure is that the electorate didn't buy into this vision.  And the Republican Congressional majorities are ready to milk this administration for all its worth.  The Republicans in Congress will use Trump to sign off on their own agenda.  But Trump and the Congress are not in lock step agreement.  Once Congress gets what they want from Trump, before the results of the legislative changes hit the public and screw up their popularity, the Republicans will dump Trump like a hot potato.  How else could Republicans win future elections?

I hope my future posts will take a new direction.  The facts of the election and the coming mismanagement are there for all to see.  My future posts wil emphasize resistance and actions available to all reasoning people. 

For starters, join the Women's March on January 21.  Find a local march in your city if you can't get to Washington. 
I will be posting as I get the details.

JOIN THE RESISTANCE !

Ego Over Facts

The Director of National Intelligence fired General Flynn - Flynn is Trump's national security advisor.  Guess who Trump is probably listening to?  "They" say trump is vindictive and we have here a cult of personality.  But taking this logically, it explains why Trump dismisses the intelligence apparatus. This is especially dangerous because the one person - Flynn - that Trump appears to listen to, is himself exactly like Trump - with outrageous ideas and also directed by his ego.  Explains Trump's dismissal of intelligence and is terrifying for all aspects of Trump's governing style. 
No way to run a country.

Trump breaks it, Trump owns it

He believes Assange instead of the billion dollar, patriotic US intelligence services.  Huh? 

Now there are hints that he is going to reorganize the intelligence agencies.  Huh?  Homeland Security was the result of improvements felt necessary after 9/11.  Trump does remember that, doesn't he?

He doesn't even take security briefings that might help him make accurate evaluations.  Who is he listening to?  General Flynn? - who was fired during the Obama Administration - was said to have been combative during Trump's initial intelligence briefing.  That tells us a lot.

Remember, God willing to include the next 16 days, there has been no major international terrorism attack during the Obama Presidency.  While very serious domestic terrorist attacks - Boston Marathon and California - there was no repeat of 9/11.  And many potential attacks were thwarted.

Trump said he alone could fix it.  Huh?  What are American international allies and adversaries thinking about this nonsense?  They are certainly NOT saying or thinking, gee, isn't the USA o the right course.  Of course not!  They are smarter than the Trump ego.

Between his views on Russian hacking and his disrespect for US intelligence agencies, is the US even fundamentally safe?

Enlightenment

Ah Ha! No wonder Trump didn't want the ethics committee ended.  Not having ethics examined closely in the Congress will raise questions about his own ethics problems, which, we know, are extensive.  He could not be seen as interfering openly with ethics.

Meanwhile, Trump is questioning the delayed timing of his intelligence briefing and accusing the heads of the CIA, FBI and NSA as needing more time to get the info together.  But the timing was never changed.  Why in the world is he incorrectly stating that the heads of these three agencies delayed their meeting?  And why he is accusing them of ulterior motives for doing so?  The intelligence  heads immediately refuted Trump's accusations.  He is setting up a deliberate fight with this crucial component of the federal government.

I listened to Senator Chuck Schumer with Rachel Maddow tonight.  He is energized at the potential to take a strong stand against Trump.  He recognized the limitations that Trump seems unable to grasp even now.  Perhaps there is more hope for the liberal - yes, majority - than I previously thought.  After all, Hillary won the popular vote by over 2.8 million votes.  We may still be heading for upheaval, but I am thinking that the upheaval may have a more positive outcome.

Alternative Intelligence Sources

Trump's ubiquitous advisor, Kellyanne Conway, declared that Trump has "other sources" of intelligence, other than the 17 governmental departments that have declared Russia to be behind the hacking.  Wow.  Alternative sources of intelligence.  Who the H*** is he listening to?
Trump says he knows things that no one else knows.  Besides fighting the intelligence apparatus that he will head in three weeks, comments like this are the stuff of authoritarian leadership. 
Time to Resist.

Impeachment ?

Maybe Trump's stance on Putin and Russia might be the basis.  Impeachment is likely to happen in the next four years -maybe this will be it.
If Trump undermines US intelligence and supports Russia and Putin, maybe we will get to impeachment sooner rather than later.

Disinformation

Regarding Russian hacking, Trump says he knows things other don't and he will reveal that!  So he doesn't take intelligence briefings and he knows things that are not consistent with the information of 17 national security agencies.
His words are nothing but disinformation.  How can he believed when he dismisses the reliable sources within the American government and at the same time does not provide any alternative content?  Does he realize that he is setting himself and his government up to never be believed and trusted?
We know Trump has millions in outstanding loans.  But his tax returns are still a big secret.  How much does Trump owe to Russians?
He was explicit during the campaign, declaring that the CIA is the agency that declared Iran's weapons of mass destruction - which was incorrect, btw.  Does he really expect to run the country this way?
I go back to his frightening comment during the campaign that "I alone can fix it".  This is the stuff of authoritarianism, just as his dismissal of government generated information. 
In three weeks, he will own it.  Terrifying.