Number Five

Another one.  This time, a French historian, Henry Rousso, was detained by immigration for ten hours.  Pretty soon, tourists will decide that traveling to the US is too risky and that will diminish tourism income. 

Guess What?

DUH! Trump just discovered that the American healthcare delivery system is complicated!  Wow.  How insightful.  A high school student could have told him that.

And a Fourth - even worse, If possible

Passengers on a domestic fight form the West Coast to JFK were asked to show ID?
what is happening to our country? Does one have the right to ask to see a warrant before showing id when asked?
We can't change the direciton of our country fast enough - this is like a police state! Plus declaring the media the "enemy of the people"? Yes, this is heading toward authoritrianism. Thank God for the press and the courts

That Makes Three

An Australian author interrogated for two hours at LAX, a senior Canadian couple fingerprinted at the border and Mohammed Ali's son, American citizen, detained for hours and questioned about his name on arrival from Jamaica.
I no longer know my country,  How do we stop this NOW?

Impeach Now

Do it now and get it over with before it gets any worse.
First, we learn that the Chief of Staff asked the FBI to rebut talk about the administration's involvement/connections in Russia.
Next, we learn that Homeland Security intelligence ahs been given back their three page conclusion that the seven Moslem nations are not priorities for risk issues (however it was worded).  And HSA is told to rewrite their position!
And, almost simultaneously, we learn that the chairs of both the House and Senate Intelligence Committees have actually contacted news media to tell them that there is nothing to the Russia connection - at the White House's behest.
No wonder Trump is calling the media fake news and the enemy of the people.
If there was doubt that the Russia connection needed independent investigation, this should confirm it.  If there was no actual evidence, then the administration would welcome the investigation, but no, they want it squelched.
And, if the administration cannot face real facts about terrorist threats and risk, we as a country are at serious risk.  If politics and saving face matter ore than truth, we're just another banana republic.
We already know that we have a President who lies and exaggerates pathologically.
Time to stop this through impeachment before Trump causes something dangerous to occur.
Can't wait to her his response to National Security Advisor McMaster statement that the word "Islamic" be removed from description of terrorism.

Ah Ha Moment!

Steve Bannon at CPAC said it clearly.  He wants to "deconstruct" the federal government.  This also clarifies who is running the Trump administration - and it's Steve Bannon.  It explains Jeff Sessions, Betsy DeVos, Scott Pruitt and Tom Price.  I haven't heard about Rick Perry lately, but him too. 

Bannon's deconstruction objectives fall neatly into Trump's own chaos theory.  Maybe Trump actually thinks that chaos is the best way to negotiate - even though his "deals" wound up in bankruptcy more than five times.  But I digress.  Deconstructing the federal government flies in the face of a highly industrialized, complex country, in an age of high complexity and risk.

But what does Bannon's objective of deconstruction accomplish?  Maybe he thinks it will reduce the deficit?  I don't know.  I do know that deconstruction will help the rich get richer and destroy the middle class.  We will find more problems like Flint, Michigan.

But truth is simple - plain and simple - deconstruction will wreck the fabric of society

Not If, But How

There is beginning to be talk ad writing about how Trump might leave office before the end of his term.  There's impeachment, resignation and the 25th Amendment.  Interesting that this discussion is getting pretty widespread, including the mainstream (not the enemy of the American people BTW) media.
My bet is on resignation.  Trump won't want to be embarrassed or disgraced.  As the Russian connection is explored and revealed, possibly finally including revelations about his taxes and financial interest, I think Trump will find a reason to need to quit.
Meanwhile, Lt Gen McMaster sounds almost too good to be true - a much needed addition to the White House as National Security Advisor.  A huge relief to American security.  I wish him luck - if he can't contend with the factions, personal agendas and chaos in the White House, I doubt that anyone could.  Best of luck - he might be our hope for our security.
However, regarding Trump's Presidency, even though VP Pence is an arch conservative with many views abhorrent to me, I would prefer him to the current President who exhibits mental instability and undermines both trust in the office of the President and in American values.  Too bad Republicans can't find their ethics to put country over party, well, except for John McCain.
Now the question is, when?

Bad Moon Rising

Various innuendoes of what is coming are beginning to show ugly hints foretending the future.
Today was a rally - something new Presidents have never done before and I gather that Melania began with the Lord's Prayer.  So much for the separation of church and state.  Whether the rally was to feed Trump's bottomless need for stroking his ego or for maintaining the enthusiasm of his base, a rally such as this promotes the personality of the President.
There is serious talk of expanding the "deportation force" and expanding categories of illegal immigrants that are to be targeted for deportation.
The President has declared that the press is "the enemy of thee American people" and that the press publishes "fake news", also known as lies.  He calls whistleblowers illegal leakers, and referred the matter to the Attorney General.
Trump has said that he will end crime and his Attorney General has lied about the level of crime in the country that he, along with the trump administration, will work to bring order back to the country.
Then there are Trump's disregard for the norms of the Presidency, such as releasing taxes and disclosing and divesting financial assets.  This disregard reflects distain for our fundamental values and, as the 31 year old senior policy advisor, Stephen Miller, declared, this President's "authority will not be questioned".
We have Steve Bannon, an avowed right winger whose goal is to deconstruct the very fabric of American democracy, sitting closest to the President.
I won't go into the developing issues of Russian influence on American government.

In summary, look at all these facts together and face the reality - that we are moving toward a level of authoritarian government that defies anything we have ever seen since the founding of the country.  This is not a Republican versus democrat issue.  This is a fight for American democracy.

Press Conference Clip

I just caught a snip from the press conference - I only saw it once - I wonder if the media are unwilling to scare Americans too much by running it more - or perhaps media fears the Russia factor. 
In any case, responding to the presence of a Russian spy ship just off the coast of Norfolk, VA, that had just sailed down from spying offshore toward the Connecticut coast guard station, Trump said that he could prove he was not in cohoots (my word) with Russia by blowing up their spy ship.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congressional Republicans literally ran away from journalists after the press conference - they could not even bring themselves to make comments  - proving that at least these Congressional Republicans are not total idiots, but rather just stooges for a fool in the White House.  When will they come to their senses?  What the senate did do today was confirm Pruitt for EPA.  I wonder if he could be forced to resign next week when 33,000 pages of materials that he is being forced by the courts to release under sunshine laws that he has ignored for years.  Maybe he could break Flynn's record for a quick turn around.
When will Republicans take responsibility and do something?

Just Get Him Out Of There

Time to start discussing alternative exit solutions.  The country can survive intensely conservative policies but the country is at risk with Trump in the Presidency.
There is impeachment.  There is counseling him to resign - find an excuse like his businesses needing him.
Republicans need to take responsibility to exercise leadership for the sake of the country.
The Washington Post wrote about the cost of protecting the large jet setting First Family - protecting Don Jr and Ric travel around the world?.  The cost of protecting Melania and Barron in NYC alone is costing more than the entire annual budget of the National Endowment for the Arts.
Republicans need to fix this mess in a Constitutional way before we are in the streets every day or the military and intelligence communities are forced to act.  Don't turn the USA into a banana republic.

Fear and Sadness

I just came across this article - http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/319702-schumer-warns-of-possible-cover-up-by-trump-administration

Senator Schumer fears that the Trump administration will destroy materials detailing the  Russian connection.  yikes.  a very reasonable fear, given that the administration is full of lies and Trump himself creates an alternative reality with no regard for truth.  A thirty-one year old senior advisor Stephen Miller  announced that the President would not be questioned. 

Schumer is right.  We should be afraid, be very afraid.  This is going to be worse than Watergate.

I can't take pleasure in this level of governmental deconstruction.

No Use

Trump is seriously mentally disturbed.  whatever the technical diagnosis.  Blaming everyone but himself and his administration - press, judiciary, Democrats, Obama. 
Talking heads are trying to discern the purpose of his press conference, citing diversion from Flynn and the Russia story.  maybe some truth there.  But the very idea that there is method to his madness is equally diversionary.
The serious mainstream press needs to call out Trump lies for what they are, lies, no the reports are not fake news.
Where are the Republicans in Congress?  nowhere to be seen or heard.  Clearly, they are putting the Republican Party over national security.  2018 is when the Republicans will pay.  Let's just hope that the remaining hero among the Republicans, John McCain, can hold the country together long enough for sanity to return.

Unraveling

Very comforting that the US intelligence services have chosen to withhold information, both facts and methods, from President Trump.  Some US assets remain safe.
The facts are so obvious.  There is a Russian connection to the Trump campaign and administration. 
Then there are all the pro-Russian comments by Trump while he simultaneously severely criticized and dismissed the US intelligence services. 
And today, Trump called the most respected news media of the country - NY Times and Washington Post - fake news.  If not by name, he referred to media that ruined Flynn.  So of course he meant those two newspapers.  He blamed the press for Flynn being treated so badly.  And he blamed the democrats for Flynn's problems because they ran such a bad campaign - not that that comment makes an iota of sense.  .But Trump asked for Flynn's resignation. 
Well, Trump knew about Flynn's transgressions weeks before he asked for the resignation and only asked when the press brought the issue to light.  We can only presume Trump would have kept Flynn heading the national security community for however long Trump felt like it.  Clearly, Trump didn't mind that Flynn had Russian connections.
Why?  As I keep writing, we will never know until Trump's taxes and financial holdings are revealed.

When asked by a reporter - Israeli, I think - about anti-Semitism on the increase in the US, Trump answered by reminding him of his large Electoral College win and that he had Jewish friends and family.  Huh?

What is going on with Trump's thought processes.  Is it his ego? Or is it even worse - a more severe form of mental disturbance?

A week or so ago, the following would have been a story.  Now, it's small potatoes.  Jared Kushner's brother is arranging to buy the Miami Marlins baseball team.  It is under discussion (or already finalized? I'm not sure) n that the Trump administration is making the current Marlins owner Ambassador to Paris.  Quid pro quo to a new level, but small potatoes compared to the Russia story.

Resign Now

So Flynn talked to Putin about sanctions the day Obama implemented them.  Do you think he did this independently?
The FBI is investigating Trump and associates about their Russia contacts.  NYTimes reveals that four people from the Trump campaign talked with Russian intelligence operatives.
The FBI investigation continues.
Trump knew for two weeks that Flynn had potential to be blackmailed.  Trump only asked for Flynn's resignation when the Flynn story went public. 
Trump equates Putin's murdering opponents to the US as US "is not so innocent".
We still haven't seen Trump's taxes or financial disclosures.
Meanwhile, Trump ahs not nominated assistant or deputy secretaries for almost all cabinet departments. And now, with the Russia scandal, Trump and dangerous staff like Bannon, Conway and Miller, this chaotic administration is dead in the water.
Eventually, any Republican who wants to get reelected is going to agree to a nonpartisan investigation and our country will be at a standstill for months or years.
Trump needs to resign now.  Spare the USA another Watergate Presidency.

What Makes You Think.....

The Acting Attorney General, Sally Yates, told the White House that the National Security Advisor Flynn might be susceptible to Russian blackmail because of his violation of the Logan Act.  She told the White House before the Executive Order fiasco and her firing, allegedly for refusing to defend the EO in court.  So, the White House ahs known for weeks that Advisor Flynn lied to  Vice President Pence about discussing sanctions in December before taking office.
Hmm. So Flynn continues to serve in this key security post.  Presumably Trump himself has known that Flynn lied.  Why is Flynn still serving as security advisor?
Hmm.  Perhaps because Trump himself knew how Flynn was communicating with Russia about the Obama initiated sanctions before taking office?  Was trump involved in these discussions at the time?
What makes you think that Trump would be above this?  We already know that Trump has been acting like a Russian asset.  In a campaign speech he literally asked Russia to pursue hacking Hillary Clinton.
What all is the FBI investigating?  What will Attorney General Sessions, a core Trump supporter, do about it?
Constitutional crisis may come sooner than I originally thought.

Diversion

The diversion is so obvious, it's stupid.  The latest false claim of voter fraud is 50 bus loads brought from Massachusetts to vote in New Hampshire.  This follows the three thousand illegal immigrants who voted for Hillary Clinton. 
All the false claims divert form the real voting concern - Russian hacking.  It is actually a two0fer because in addition to diverting from Russian hacking, Trump-ites can make the false claim of the need for tighter voter id laws. 
But really, it all comes back to Russia and Trump.  It appears that National Security Advisor both broke the Logan Act - (by speaking as a private citizen, prior to taking office,with the Russian Ambassador about sanctions) - and then lied. about the conversation.  If he didn't lie, then  Vice President Pence lied when he told the press that there was no discussion about sanctions in that conversation.
And all that is on top of Trump's abundant expressions of preference for all things Putin and Russian while questioning the Western NATO Alliance. 
Maybe this will be the issue that eventually leads to Trump's impeachment or resignation.  But yes, the diversion about fake voter fraud has its objectives/.

Kellyanne

She knew better.  she is a lawyer for heaven's sake.  She knew exactly what she was saying when she went on at some length advocating that the listeners buy Ivanka's clothes line.  So ask yourself why?  She is doing what the Trump team has been doing since campaign days.  They are testing limits. 

How far will public figures and the American electorate let them go?  Not release his taxes?  Sure!  Not reveal international holders of Trump loans? No problem.  Put Trump businesses in a fake pseudo-trust  (reversible, not irreversible, run by his family, under Trump's own Social Security number).  Not to worry.  Continuing to break the emoluments clause via the DC Trump hotel, if not more stuff.  Don't worry about it. 

This is about raw power.  Just like the Executive Order on immigration.  He expected no one would worry about the contents, so he bulled his way forward without consultation or consideration of what he was authorizing.  Then he defends the EO, saying security the Presidential prerogative.  But he didn't consult knowledgible officials and private sector experts on the impact of his EO.  If nothing else, he knows what a green card is but he signed that EO.  Sloppy and careless. 
So, he learned where there is a limit on executive power.  Most concerning is his carelessness with the foundation of American safety and jurisprudence.
Time for Congress to insist on release of his taxes and true divestiture. 

Now What ?

One issue that the 9th Circuit Judges raised was what was the risk that precipitated the Executive Order.  The judges were willing to take such evidence under seal if it was such that it could not be publicly reveled.  The government presented no such evidence.
Trump has continued to talk about the need for this ban due to the risk of terrorism.  He has being saying that he wanted such a ban from early days of his campaign.  He has being saying this from the time before he received his first high level security briefing.  His most memorable campaign comment was that he wanted to ban Muslims entering the US "until we can figure out what the hell is going on".  Well, how could he have figured out anything when he had practically no high level staff and had been in office for about seven days?  Especially to promulgate such a vast reaching order as to include green card holders.
If Trump truly believes that there are suddenly circumstances that put American safety at immediate risk, then he has an obligation to draft action to address that risk.  If he chooses to wait out the judicial process, then he doesn't have much of an immediate concern.
My belief is that Trump glibly tried to fulfill a campaign promise by disrupting thousands of lives without legitimate legal foundation and damaging, perhaps irreperably, American relations with the broad Arab world.  He also lied about the extent of the impact in terms of numbers of people affected and he lied when he characterized the implementation as being smooth.
We can only be thankful that he learned a limit on Presidential power before his actions got any worse.

Shame

Senator McConnell silenced Senator Elizabeth Warren for reading a letter written by Coretta Scott King.  He used a technical procedural point - saying the letter maligned Senator Sessions, whose nomination was being debated.  An unbelievable exercise of power and censorship. 
Chaos is contagious.

Motivation

Over the weekend, Trump declares the federal court judge to be "so-called" and then tells interviewer that the US is "not so innocent" in comparison to Putin killings of journalists. 

Whatever his motivation, he undermines faith in US federal government institutions and, thus, stability.

Why does he say these things?  Well, he isn't that stupid.  He has that much lack of self control in his personal expressions, perhaps with that much lack of understanding of the US Constitutional system.  He is acting like an authoritarian ruler and tht's where his enablers, Bannon and Conway, come in.

And his response to Putin's killings?  Could he possibly think that he and Putin will control the world together?  I don't think so.  The only alternative to that idea is that Trump owes Putin - that he has personal financial business debts to Putin and that Putin hacked Trump to elective victory.  As Malcolm Nance correctly says, Trump is Putin's asset.

The continued question is when will responsible Republicans, maybe so-called "responsible", intervene?  Probably after they get a SCOTUS, plus repeal of Dodd-Frank and repeal of Obamacare.  Then the Reps will hold Social Security and Medicare hostage or the Reps will dump him.  The Reps will have plenty of cause in his tax and hidden business interests and the emoluments issue.

What Can I Say?

Nothing, if I might (NEVER!) work for Trump.  I did not know until this morning that Trump is requiring his employees - federal, not his personal businesses - to sign nondisclosure agreements (NDA's).  How would that function?  Does that mean a member of his staff can only say what Trump declares the staffer can say?    If nothing else, isn't there is a whistleblower law in place?  How does this fit with sunshine laws? 
NDA's reflect Trump's basic personal insecurities as well as a concern that revelations about his words or actions are in some way a negative reflection on himself or offensive to others.
The US government   - that's us tax payers - pays these stafffers salaries but Trump tries to make them more loyal to him personally than to the government they serve.

Answering the question about Putin as  "killer", Trump said the US is "not so innocent". 

The immigrant Executive Order has the administration proclaiming the need for security in a dangerous world - like no vetting process was in place.  As in other instances, the administration is ginning up fears without a basis in fact.

Now, all I am doing is documenting further evidence of a man with presidential authority who has serious mental disturbance.  Individual actions are problematic, but even more serious is the potential of what Trump might do.  I wonder about the full context of Senator McCain's conversation with the Australian ambassador.  Can you hear him saying, I'm sorry.  We know he has some personal issues. 

What circumstance will do Trump in?  How long will it take to remove Trump?  All we can do is call him out and protest and hope it ends before he wrecks our country.

"So-called" Judge

Trump called the federal judge "so-called" when the judge didn't agree with Trump.  This erosion of the checks and balances of the governmental system designed by the US Constitution reflects Trump's authoritarian approach to governing and, maybe, his lack of understanding of American political science and history.  Whatever.  Trump chips away at the very foundation of American democracy.  Let's just pray for the democracy and work as actively as each individual can.

Liar Pants on Fire

Last Saturday, Press Secretary Spicer declared that the immigration Executive Order (EO) was affecting a mere 109 people.  In court today, responding to law suits attacking the EO, The Homeland security reps revealed that 60,000 visas had been cancelled and the Justice Department lawyers said that 100,000 visas were cancelled.  It was reported that the judge hearing the case gasped.
Last Friday night, when the EO was signed and subsequently, this visa cancellation component of EO remained secret.
Meanwhile, Homeland Security indicated that they were told to continue implementing the EO when courts declared parts of it unconstitutional last weekend - while the visa component was not even known.
So, now we know why Sally Yates, Acting Attorney General, refused to defend the EO last weekend, triggering her firing by Trump.
Late today, the entire EO was declared unconstitutional.  Those either 60,000 or 100,000 people affected cannot seek remedy until counselor offices open on Monday. 
We are moving toward presidential ignorance of the law.  That is called contempt of court.  Two weeks into this administration and already there is discussion of constitutional issues, putting it mildly.  Or might say Constitutional crisis. 
Trump simply does not understand how the government of the USA works.  Or, Trump thinks he can ignore the rule of law.  He has already done that  by filing to divest his wealth into a blind trust, hiring his son-in-law and allowing his cabinet nominees to work within the departments that they will lead if approved by the Senate.
Ignoring the law.  Trump will not last for a full term.  Any bets on when this administration will end?

"I Fix Things"

The world is a mess and America needs to show some strength.  It's a mess and I'm going to get a little bit tough.  It's what I do, "I fix things".  Right, along with his more than five bankruptcies.
The USA and te planet are in terrible trouble.  Where are the checks and balances - that would be the Republican controlled Congress.  Pray for the appellate judges that Obama appointed - our only hope right now.  Republicans will pay a price at the ballot box for sure, whenever that happens.  Meanwhile, they will allow American position as a world leader to go into the toilet as the USA leads the world into world war III.  No joke, no hyperbole, no lie.  Be afraid.

WOW

Defense Department people are saying that Trump should not have approved the mission in Yemen because it wasn't properly vetted.  The Trump Administration says it was an Obama approved mission. 
State Department staff of one thousand have signed a decent cable over the immigration executive order.  Trump administration identified the seven countries as those named by Obama as most dangerous.
When judges overturned aspects of the immigration executive order, Trump told departments responsible for implementation to ignore the judge's order
Trump has threatened Mexican President with military action.

We have several points here -
when something goes wrong, Trump is blaming Obama 
career staff are protesting the actions of the chief executive
response to decent is urging that the staff quit
disagreements are met with threats
judge's order should be ignored

Clearly, the USA cannot be run this way for four years.  There will be Congressional elections in two years.  Eventually, Congressional Republicans will stop being yes people.  Surely, citizens will be in the streets until that happens.

The irony is that as Trump bullies about the USA's strength as a world power, that very strength and prestige diminishes.  The US is slowly creeping toward banana republic status with no friends.

Real Trouble

It has been reported that Trump had two absurd phone calls.  In one phone call, he threatened the Mexican President that the USA would invade Mexico.  In another call, with the Australian prime minister, after discussing immigration issues, Trump spoke about his electoral victory and hung up on the prime minister.
In the chaos over the Executive Order (EO) on immigration, among the various problems created by the EO, it may have been overlooked that, after the first judge in New York issued an order invalidating aspects of the EO, Trump directed the departments obliged to implement the EO to ignore the judge's directive.  This directive from the President is contrary to American jurisprudence.  Technically, this could be an impeachable offense. 
National Security Advisor, Michael Flynn, announced that he was putting Iran "on notice" because of a ballistic missile test.
Not only did Trump nominate a radically conservative judge, Neil Gorsuch, but then he told Senate leader, Mitch McConnell, to use the "nuclear option".  Why is the President openly tyring to tell the Senate leader what to do?  Of course, there has always been lobbying back and forth.  But openly telling the Senate leader what to do?
Yesterday, I wrote about process and content.  Here's the answer.  The process really matters.  The United States of America has a Constitution, laws and history.  Not only is Trump making decisions with bad content, but he is not upholding the process of governing.  I thought this would happen with a Trump Presidency, but I had no idea that it would begin so quickly.

The wheels are coming off the truck.