Far Too Much To Think About Starting 2019
Yes, I too thought I had seen and heard it all when President Trump fired his Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, because Sessions would not oversee the Mueller investigation, but instead recused himself due to his previous involvement in the 'Russian Affair'. Trump belittled Sessions on and off for more than six months.
All during this time, Sessions continued to carry out Trump's vicious policies on voting rights and border issues regarding immigrants from South and Central America. Not enough for Trump. That was just the tip of the iceberg. Since that time, a mere two months ago, three of Trump's inner circle: Cohen, Flynn and Manafort – all three – have been indicted, pled guilty or sentenced to prison.
While all of that was going on, President Trump openly expressed his disdain for his Chief of Staff, John Kelly. He fired him. This is the same Kelly who was once thought to be one of the 'grown ups' in the White House who would keep Trump from saying or doing outrageous things. It did not work; Kelly received his walking papers.
To be maligned and then fired by Trump is becoming the norm. Were you thinking there could have been nothing more scandalous that could have made us feel we needed Christmas to come soon and get us out of this gloomy December? Sorry to disappoint. President Trump, as Commander - in - Chief of all the Armed Services, concluded he did not need any advice from his national security advisors, nor his Secretary of Defense before he decided to pull all troops out of Syria and half of the remaining troops in Afghanistan within the next few months. You might think this is a good thing, so you begin to sing "Bring the Boys Home" (female soldiers too). But despite our feelings that wars go on too long, there is a process that must be followed so our allies will not be derailed.
The allies most under threat from the decision to pull the 2000 troops out of Syria are the Syrian Kurds. At least this is the thinking of the now - resigned Secretary of Defense, General James Mattis. Yes, another of Trump's top advisors and Cabinet member has submitted a letter of resignation, initially indicating he would be leaving in mid - February. Now, Trump has decided Mattis has to leave by January 1. Trump has already announced that the Deputy Secretary of Defense will serve as acting secretary starting January 1.
Whereas all these resignations, firings and troop withdrawals may be disturbing to Trump, he is probably more upset over New York's prosecutors beginning to look into his personal finances and deciding his Charity Foundation has to be shut down due to abuse, and all remaining funds must be disbursed to charities to be determined by federal courts in New York.
This is getting close to involving Trump's family members in many of the scandals that Special Presecutor Bob Mueller has been investigating. It is becoming quite apparent that money is the greatest concern to Trump.
Okay, I thought the general public would go unscathed in all the December chaos because of the deal President Trump seemingly forged with Congressional leaders of both parties to keep the federal government funded and thus open through the month of February. But after Trump's far - right wing supporters chided him about not demanding Congress give him $5 billion to build his 'wall' at the border between the US and Mexico, he pulled out of the deal and closed down the government. For how long? Who knows?
By the time you read this, the government may have been in a state of limbo for more than a week. The Democrats, who have offered $1.6 billion for border security – not the wall – do not appear to be ready to give much more. Is this too much to think about going into the new year? It is asking a lot of the American people. But we have survived worse.
Happy New Year!
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