First-time readers, the dialogue in this blog is set in the future (sometime after the year 2020). Each entry assumes there has been a 5th revolution in the US — the Revenge Revolution. More about Revenge Revolution and author, Entry #1. List and general description of entries to date. Annual assessment if Revolution plausible.
Note: most characters appear in a number of entries, with many entries building on previous conversations. Profile of characters. You’ll catch on quickly. Thanks for your time and interest…and comments.
Scene: Jordan’s Washington office following meeting with Greenie and JC. Series with JC and Greenie starts Entry #244 and ends Entry #257. This conversation starts #258.
Gelly: “Whew, I feel better. A break and a coffee refill. Now, where were we?”
Jordan: “You were asking why Mueller and the other Congressional investigations didn’t start following the money earlier. Actually, I think they did but tried to keep quiet about it.”
Gelly: “By keeping quiet, you think they reduced the likelihood that Trump would try to fire Mueller? Had Trump really known where the investigation was headed, he might have tried to fire Mueller right away.”
Jordan: “Probably. But one thing about all the investigations baffles me.”
Gelly: “Only one? And that is?”
Jordan: “Trump’s behavior. I mean he had to know one or more of the investigations, especially Mueller’s, would lead to his finances. How could you think otherwise?”
Gelly: “I agree. Somehow…and we’ll never know for sure…Trump seemed naïve enough to believe that he could hide all the illicit financial deals…”
Jordan: “…and even more naïve believing his taxes never would be disclosed. What was the guy thinking?”
Gelly: “He thought he was king. The Donald lived in his own goofy ‘I’m-above-it-all’ world. Surely the rest of the family von Trump had some common sense.”
Jordan: “For a while I thought Kushner might be OK. However, in short order he proved to be the caricature of a developer – shady and untrustworthy.”
Gelly: “I must admit feeling sorry for Ivanka’s and Jared’s kids when he got into so much trouble. But, hey, he was a big boy and should have known better.”
Jordan: “Another example of the apple not falling far from the tree.”
Gelly: “You mean old-man Kushner, I mean Jared’s father, being convicted of tax evasion and witness tampering…and then spending time in jail?”
Jordan: “Yes. OK, so the key players in Trump family were stinko. What’s even worse to me is the family seemed to be able to drag seemingly respectable people into the Trump gutter…and do it quickly.”
Gelly: “I have some friends who were part of the White House staff early on in the Trump Administration. Most had worked for the Obama Administration and a few also had worked for the Bush Administration. All…and I mean every single person…was shocked at the lack of professionalism among Trump’s key staff members. They said calling it ‘amateur hour’ would be a compliment.”
Jordan: “What’s equally shocking to me is how quickly some of the cabinet appointees started to take on Trump’s demeanor. I understand cabinet heads conveying the message but taking on Trump’s a-hole demeanor was frankly shocking.”
Gelly: “In more polite terms, you mean like dogs who take on their master’s behavioral characteristics?”
Jordan: “Never thought about it in those terms but yes. Good analogy, Gelly.”
Gelly: “Look, it’s cathartic to beat up on the Trump family and their lackeys. As I look back, what bothers me the most .was how Trump and his Alt-right crowd attempted to corrupt the democracy and destroy the US. And for what purpose? Money?”
Jordan: “For Trump, money for sure. And Trump had to try to hide the Russian connection. Because of all the earlier shady financial dealings Putin had Donnie boy by the short hairs.”
Gelly: “Jordan, I know what you mean but could you use a different expression, please?”
Jordan: “Alright. In addition to greed, what seemed to drive the Donald was an insatiable appetite for respect. He was the quintessential wanna be.”
Gelly: “Apparently what he never understood was money, wealth and fame don’t buy you respect. It might buy respect with people who voted for him but not with people who really matter and get things done.”
Jordan: “That’s a rather elitist statement. Actually, I think I know what you mean but those words wouldn’t play well with a lot of people.”
Gelly: “There’s probably a better way to phrase it. But just step back and think about it. Who in your life do you respect? If you made a list, I’ll bet many on the list don’t have much money…and certainly aren’t famous.”
Jordan: “You’re right. And you know what? Not a single person that comes to mind sought public recognition. Even if they were rich, they just made things happen…sometimes big things and sometimes small things but always unassuming and humble.”
Gelly: “OK, so there you go. Contrary to people on your list, little Donnie acted like a bully and thought people should respect him. Even after he became president, he tried to bully everyone. And what happened? Did he earn anyone’s respect?”
Jordan: “No, he lost it for himself and the US, other than with the bunch of other wanna be’s who continued to support him. Little Donnie the bully became the laughing-stock of serious people worldwide.”
Gelly: “Well, there is one thing we can thank him for.”
Jordan: “There is? What’s that?”
Gelly: “He hastened the Revenge Revolution. The country was on track for a Revenge Revolution sometime in the next decade or so…but his behavior caused it to occur 5 years, maybe 10 years early. I guess we should thank him for that, right?”
Jordan: “I guess so. It’s about the only thing we can thank him for.”
Gelly: “Thanks Donnie for hastening the Revenge Revolution and getting America back on track…not your track but the right track.”
Jordan: “With that point want to call this a wrap for the day?”
Gelly: “Good idea. Let’s get out of here.”
Greenie:
Greenie:
JC:
Greenie:
Jordan:
Jordan:
Jordan:
JC:
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Jordan:
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Gelly: “Wow, what a pleasant surprise. Two civilized people in the office. Didn’t think you’d still be here.”
JC: “More about scandals? That seems pretty well researched by now.”
Greenie: “I agree it’s unusual for a Congressional committee to be exploring such a topic. Is the hearing going to be open to the public?”
JC: “Any idea what sources of data will be used for the study, aside from our expert witness here?”
JC: “My conclusion was that people who follow religions that preach or instruct congregants to follow strict rules or believe that certain statements are absolutes that should not be questioned…the people who continue to follow the religion have been brainwashed.”
Gelly: “You mean like people who insist on buying only Apple products, even though Apple costs more and might not perform as well? Or those people who vote only for one party no matter how flawed the candidate? Are you considering these people brainwashed?”
JC: “Another group that seemed prone to brainwashing was the group that ‘can’t connect the dots.’ The ‘no-dots’ crowd seems to view each event as discreet and somehow not linked. They cannot fathom that somehow someone might be manipulating them.”
Greenie: “The idea of modern-day mass brainwashing is scary stuff. I never really considered the possibility being so widespread. I mean, there’s always been some portion of the political parties that was effectively brainwashed. The old Blue-dog Democrats, for example, and the more recent alt-right Republicans. But you’re paper implied a higher percentage of the population.”
Greenie: “I’d like a coffee, too, please. By the way, where’s Gelly?”
JC: “You suggesting it wasn’t the FBI…but somebody else?”
Greenie: “I think the real issue was early-stage dementia. It wasn’t very bad before the election. Then the deterioration accelerated once he was in office. It was like his brain was on a ski slope headed downhill fast.”
Jordan: “Alright. I know his father, Fred Trump, had Alzheimer’s. There’s also data indicating a higher probability of being inflicted if a parent has had Alzheimer’s. Assuming your prognosis is correct, do you really think the dementia was having that much of an effect?”
JC: “And think about the tweets? He’d take one position one day and then a few days later he’d do a U-turn and contradict himself. Then he’d claim he never sent the first tweet. I agree he seemed to have less and less control over his emotions.”
JC: “Oh, nothing more than insulting heads of state, insulting the mayor of London and then disclosing Israeli secrets to the Russians. Oops, I forgot he effectively gave the finger to his own cabinet members by regularly contradicting them publicly. Then, he attempted to trash any media that questioned anything about the administration. What was really kooky was the wrestling video aimed at CNN. Shall I go on?”
JC: “I sorta remember that incident but why do you think driving a cart on the green is so important?”
Greenie: “Now, we’re out of here. Please tell Gelly we said hello…and not to take you too seriously.”
Greenie: “Unfortunately, by the time the FBI took Trump out, the damage to the country was too great…and we had the Revenge Revolution.”
JC: “Think about it…and I know you realize this. The Donald was more of an enabler for the Revenge Revolution rather than the cause of the Revenge Revolution. For 20+ years before Trump, the Republicans had been moving farther and farther right. The Donald let the Republicans do a really hard-right turn.”
Greenie: “Exactly. I know you think the comment about brainwashing was tongue-in-check but I really believe many who claimed to be Republicans were brainwashed.”
Matt: “So the total was 1,000 but I guess each team earned 500…right?”
Jordan: “That’s exactly what happened. One team negotiated supposedly in good faith…and then at the last allowed negotiating session told the other team they were being bombed.”
Jordan: “After the class found out about the bombing, people no longer trusted members of the group that bombed. The change was immediate. The entire class has a casino party on Saturday night, the day after the bombing. Some members of the group that bombed staffed the casino tables – dealing cards, for example. And guess what?”
Jordan: “I can still tell you the names of the key players in the group that bombed. What’s more I can tell you their careers were not much different that their behavior in that group. I’m still friends with two of the three key guys but I would never work with them.”
Matt: “Alright, so you had an interesting exercise or even informal final exam. Now bring that exercise back to the Trump administration. You think there were parallels?”
JC: “Agreed, but the Democrats didn’t seem vicious like the Republicans.”
JC: “Republican leaders crafted the proposals to reward the very wealthy and screw the very people who voted them into office. I recall one of the Republican senators who crafted their bill in secret making the following statement, ‘Medicaid does not pay doctors enough per visit.’ Followed by ‘The proposed bill cuts Medicaid payments by hundreds of millions of dollars.’ Duh, oh wise senator, do you understand what you just said?”
Jordan: “Fortunately for them, Trump had so many other personal conflicts that affected the presidency, especially financial links to the Russians, the FBI had to take him out.”
Greenie: “JC, I agree that a lot of people in Congress have been influenced by money. Trump certainly was, too. But…”
Greenie: “The movie director’s problem? He was either too stupid to realize the potential consequences or had too much hubris. And look what happened to the director’s prized possession.”
Matt: “Since when did Fox News become a real news organization? Anyway, Comey’s testimony did not provide clear-cut evidence of obstruction of justice. Questionable behavior by Trump? Definitely, but no clear-cut evidence of obstruction.”
JC: “But, no, the Donald thought he was doing another episode of the ‘Apprentice.’ Scowl and look mean. For some reason he couldn’t apologize and took the opposite approach by ratcheting up the negative rhetoric.”
Matt: “He did make Tillerson and Mattis each look like a fool. Each had worked hard to convince NATO allies that the US was committed. Then during the meeting at NATO, Trump claims…incorrectly I might add…claims that US taxpayers were footing the bill for other NATO countries. Worse still, at the NATO meeting he refused to support Article 5…the key to NATO.”
Greenie: “Can’t have the Attorney General following the law. Have to be tough.”
Greenie: “Mid-June. I remember because we’d just moved to Alexandria…Virginia, not Egypt.”
Greenie: “Think about Trump’s meeting with the Russians in the Oval Office. No reporters except for a Russian photographer. Only when the photographs were published by the Russians did the US public know who really attended the meeting.”
Greenie: “So Trump slobbers all over the Russian’s the Saudi’s and then a few days later trashes our allies in NATO. Trump was clearly not working for the best interests of the United States. His argument at NATO about the extra burden on US taxpayers was wrong. A week or so later his argument to drop out of the Paris climate accord was completely false. That’s why I believe there was lots of money funneled to the Trump family.”
Matt: “And you think Pence and Sessions were in on the deal, too?”
Jordan: “Let me jump in. Yes, the tax returns would have helped. Highly likely that most, if not all the foreign payments were never reported. Releasing the returns would have subjected Trump, and probably Kushner and other family members, to income tax evasion. In addition to tax evasion acknowledging payments from foreign governments would have violated the emoluments clause of the Constitution.”
JC: “Supporters claimed the events were left-wing hyperbole and the actions by Trump were meaningless or innocent. I don’t buy in. There was a pattern. Too many so-called “odd” events in such a short period of time not only doesn’t smell right…but it defies logic.”
Jordan: “I’d say the odds were well beyond 1,000,000:1 and likely well above 100,000,000:1.”
JC: “Let me guess. #1 is supporters didn’t really understand the issues. Recall Trump saying something like, ‘Who knew healthcare was so complicated?”
Matt: “I agree with one exception. People with a college degree who continued to support Trump after the first few months in office. It’s impossible…or at least I think it is…to go through college and not develop some understanding of how events are linked.”
JC: “Yes, Fox News. I’m not certain that was the intent of Fox News, at least when it was started.”
Jordan: “I agree the other channels could be a bit biased at times, but not like Fox. You know as well as I that Fox should have been called the ‘pants-on-fire’ network.”
JC: “That’s my point. Fox routinely made up stuff and presented as hard facts. Trump supporters actually considered Bill O’Reilly and Sean Hannity as serious journalists.”
Matt: “Let me go back and ask again. What about certain members of Congress…McConnell, for example. Was he brainwashed? Is that why he stonewalled any investigation of Trump? What about Pence and Sessions? Were they brainwashed?
Sandy:
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Greenie:
Greenie:
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Greenie:
Gelly:
Sandy:
Greenie:
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Greenie:
JC: “Maybe heads should have rolled at the White House sooner. Sorry, that was too easy.”
Sandy:
JC: “Yes, we would…right Jordan?”
Gelly: “I guess that’s what’s confusing me. I agree Trump was like a water bug when it came to international policies – he’d head off in one direction one second and then quickly shift to another direction. But other than some blustery talk about bombing North Korea and the infamous wrong-way destroyer claim, he never caused any turbulence below the surface. The diplomats and the professionals somehow handled the foreign-policy issues.”
Gelly: “Seems to me that some of the Trump proposals, if implemented as drafted, would have completely split the country. Even though some of the crazier the ideas were eventually watered down, we still had the Revenge Revolution. Just how much carnage would there have been if had not been taken out?”
Gelly: “Ya’ know, it’s probably not fair, but when I think of Trump as president I think of Howdy Doody.”
Greenie: “Thanks for the compliment…but it’s been a while since I was an insider. Anyway, I want to hear your take.”
JC: “Maybe first in not studying and first in narcissism. But he’s no one’s academic. And I’m sure Wharton would rather not admit he’s an alum.”
JC: “More like, if you don’t disappear voluntarily, then you, too, will disappear.”