#249 Who Took Out the Donald? (Part 6)

14 Sunday May 2017

Posted by Jordan Abel in Causes of the Revolution, Societal Issues, Stupid Is as Stupid Does

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. Series about “Who Took Out the Donald?’ begins Entry #244.

Scene: Restaurant Washington, DC near Jordan’s office. Jordan, Gelly (Jordan’s assistant) and two-long time friends having drinks and hors d’oeuvres.

Greenie: “Jordan, you buy Sandy’s story?”

Jordan: “Sandy’s story is plausible. But I don’t think he’s right.”

Sandy: “OK, why not?”

Jordan: “A couple of Special Forces guys taking out Trump is plausible, but…”

Sandy: “So, you don’t like my logic?”

Jordan: “I didn’t say that.”

Sandy: “Then why not Special Forces? What’s wrong with that? A couple of buddies of mine from the black hole told me.”

Jordan: “Sandy, you and I know better. Guys in the black hole don’t talk…at least not outside a very small group. And no insult to you, but I don’t think you’re in that group.”

Greenie: “OK, Jordan, if Sandy’s story isn’t right, then who did take out the Donald?”

Jordan: “My best guess is the FBI.”

Greenie: “Why?”

Jordan: “Just think back to how Trump insulted the FBI as an agency…and then fired the head of the FBI, James Comey.”

traitor JC: “In the course of a few days, Trump also embarrassed, more like stabbed in the back, second in command at Department of Justice. What was his name?”

Greenie: “Rod Rosenstein. Such a nice boy.”

JC: “You sound like his mother, already.”

Jordan: “So Trump fires Comey but does not have the courtesy to call the guy before he makes it public.”

Sandy: “Didn’t Trump have some body guard deliver the message to FBI HQ?”

gangster-cartoon-clip-art-540px JC: “The delivery boy was a former body guard that Trump promoted to head of Oval Office security, or White House security, or some title like that. Whatever the title, he was a thug in a suit guarding the Oval Office.”

Greenie: “Let’s keep going down the FBI trail. Trump fires Comey. But the rationale for the firing kept changing. I can’t remember how many times.”

JC: “At first, I think Trump cited some letter from Rosenstein or Sessions that claimed the FBI had mishandled the Clinton email investigation. Trump also claimed morale at the FBI was terrible and it was Comey’s poor leadership.”

Greenie: “Except right after that claim the acting director of the FBI said morale at the FBI was very good and Comey highly respected…in public testimony before Congress, no less.”

JC: “Then Donnie Boy changed the story again and claimed he’d been unhappy for some time and thinking of firing him. Right, Donnie, Comey got you in the White House. How quickly you forgot.”

PT Barnum Greenie: “And along the way with the ever-changing story, Trump claimed Comey was a showboat and publicity hound. Pardon me? Looks who’s calling the kettle black. No one was more of a showboat that the Donald. Mr. P.T. Barnum reincarnated. The Donald always had to be at the center of the ring.”

Sandy: “I get why you’re leaning toward the FBI. Plus, I’ll bet the FBI had lots of tapes and other info about Trump and staff dealing with the Russians.”

Greenie: “I agree with your logic…and that I think was the real reason for the firing. And Trump’s threat of having unfavorable tapes about Comey was laughable. But, if you’re the FBI, why not wait for Congressional committees to complete their investigations? If there were a clear connection to Russia, Congress could impeach him.”

Jordan: “I think there was more than ample evidence. Congress should have started impeachment proceedings. But the Mitch McConnell and the head of the Senate Committee, Richard Burr…”

JC: “…from your great state of North Carolina…”

Jordan: “…Please, NC is not my great state. Anyway McConnell and Burr really sat on their hands so the investigation crawled along. The House committee was even worse.”

JC: “That’s what I’ve never understood. As I recall, McConnell was re-elected in 2014 and Burr in 2016. They both had plenty of time before the next election. Why tie your wagon to a liar? Why not do the right thing for the country?”

Jordan: “I’ll never understand it either. Either McConnell was like a deer in the headlight or had no kahunas.”

Siers Irwin and Burr Greenie: “I think both. Burr was more like McConnell’s lackey. Certainly not like the NC senator during Watergate, Sam Ervin.” (Copy of Kevin Siers cartoon from Charlotte Observer.)

Jordan: “I don’t understand either. However, among the adults inside the Beltway, there was a real concern that Trump was out of control. In fact, so out of control he really had no idea what was going on.”

Greenie: “I know there are lots of examples of unusual statements.”

JC: “You mean lies, right?”

trump-scowl Greenie: “Well, lies too. But statements where Trump seemed to have no clue about the topic. Then he’d tried to cover his lack of knowledge with some statement, which often turned out to be head scratching.”

JC: “An example come to mind?”

Greenie: “Ya’ know, for some reason the incident I’m thinking about never got much coverage. Maybe it was the topic or maybe all the other noise going on at the time.”

Sandy: “So what’s the situation?”

Greenie: “Discussion, I think in the White House but I can’t remember for sure. Anyway the topic centers on linking affordable health care and economic growth.”

JC: “Let me guess. Trump states that health insurance cots the average family maybe $100 per month…no $200 per month.”

Greenie: “Try $15 a month. Then he rattles off some other economic statistics that are grossly wrong. And sitting at the conference table are the head of HHS and the Treasury guy…you know the one from Goldman Sachs. And do they correct him?”

Trump King JC: “Of course not. The king had spoken.”

Sandy: “Alright, you’re making me a believer about the FBI. You think he was really that much out of control?”

Jordan: “For the FBI, the icing on the cake, as it were, was Trump’s willingness to tell lies and make no effort to make any correction. Barely 100 days into the Trump Administration, there had been so many lies that no one could be trusted…White House spokes people and certainly not Trump.”

Turtleneck Greenie: “So the FBI must get a sense that the chaos in the White House could start spreading throughout the government, and then spread throughout the country. Widespread chaos almost always leads to one…a revolution. So given that risk, Trump was taken out. All in favor of the FBI, raise your hands.”

Sandy: “Unfortunately we still had a revolution. Admittedly, it probably would have been much worse if the FBI…or somebody…had not taken action. And speaking of taking action, I need to go. Nice to see you all again.”

JC: “Nice to see you. Say goodbye Sandy.”

Greenie: “Goodbye Sandy.”

JC: “Gelly, you’ve been awfully quiet. Everything OK?”

Gelly: “Just listening and I’m fine, thanks. May we order some coffee, please?”

(Continued)

#248 Who Took Out the Donald? (Part 5)

07 Sunday May 2017

Posted by Jordan Abel in Lessons of Revolution, Societal Issues, Stupid Is as Stupid Does

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Scene: Restaurant Washington, DC near Jordan’s office. Jordan, Gelly (Jordan’s assistant) and two-long time friends having drinks and hors d’oeuvres.

Voice: You’re right about how much worse the Revenge Revolution could have been. But the ‘who-done-it’ part is wrong.”

Gelly: “And you are?”

Sandy: “Well, I was at the next table and couldn’t help but hear the conversation. And, you got a key part of it wrong.”

Gelly: “Like I said, ‘who are you?’”

Sandy: “Actually your buddy here…Jordan…knows me.”

Jordan: “C’mon, how would I know you?”

Sandy: “Let me give you a hint.”

Jordan: “Wait…Sandy?”

Sandy: “You got it Jordan. So I’ve lost some weight…”

Jordan: “…and grown a goatee. You look good. But what brings a guy like you to Washington? This is not your kind of town.”

Sandy: “Work here now. Work for the…”

Jordan: “…don’t tell us. Let me guess…the NRA. Right?”

Sandy: “Yes, and loving every minute of it.”

JC: “Could you guys do us a favor and let us in on your secret. Who are you, Mr. NRA?”

Sandy: “Obviously you don’t remember me but we’ve met before. Your name’s something like ‘JC’, right? And I’ve also met you (pointing to Greenie). Your name is some color…but I’ve forgotten what color.”

Greenie: “Greenie. I vaguely remember you. JC and I were having dinner with Jordan and we ran into you in the restaurant.”

Sandy: “You got it. And the third member of the female trio is…?”

Gelly: “Gelly. Nice to meet you Sandy…at least I think so.”

Jordan: “Sandy, tell us what you think’s wrong about our theory of who took out the Donald.”

Sandy: “Like usual, you pointy heads…you know I like you Jordan, but you are a pointy head…you’re making it too complicated.”

JC: “In defense of Jordan, which I don’t do often, how’s it too complicated?”

Sandy: “I agree the Russians, the CIA and even the FBI are good candidates to have taken out the Donald. There were way too many loose cannons on the White House staff and all the agency insiders got real nervous.”

Greenie: “You mean loose cannons in the White House like General Flynn?”

Sandy: “He was borderline crazy and only out for himself. His ego and greed got in the way of any rational thinking.”

JC: “I agree there’s probably a bunch of other candidates who would qualify as incompetent…but who’s on your list of dangerous characters?”

Sandy: “Rather than listing individuals, think about what Trump and his staff did…or at least tried to do for themselves. Not do for Trump supporters, let alone do something for the populous, but just for themselves.”

Trumpcare Rose Garden Greenie: “You mean like completely gutting healthcare for worker bees and transferring a bunch of money to themselves. Everybody from doctors to Warren Buffett thought the House’s version of Trumpcare was terrible. And the Donald and staff praised it, even gloated over it. I still remember the picture from the Rose Garden. Yuch! What else?”

Gelly: “Yeah, you mean the one-page tax plan that transferred even more money to the wealthy…and who knows how much was going to be transferred directly in the pockets of the Trump’s and the Kushner’s.”

JC: “You mean like gutting all the environmental protection so Trump’s so-called Secretary of State could reward his buddies at Exxon by allowing then to drill willy-nilly drilling on Federal land?”

Sandy: “And I’ll tell you one that might get me fired from my current employer. Proposing that a concealed carry permit in any state must be honored nationwide was incredibly stupid.”

JC: “Am I dreaming? A NRA guy is actually saying what I just heard?”

Sandy: “Yes, I said it. That proposal would have allowed some local official in who-knows-where Wyoming with a population of 8,000 to have power over the mayor of NY City with a population of 8,000,000.”

Greenie: “Wow, I’m impressed you feel that way. Maybe this guy is all right after all.”

Sandy: “Look, even in the wild west, you had to check firearms in certain locations. The wild west guys seemed to know more about the dangers of firearms than the dodo birds in the White House.”

Gelly: “So where’s this conversation going? Seems as if we’re off track. I mean, like who killed JR? Well, more like…”

JC: “…more like who took out the Donald? So Sandman, who do you think took out the Donald?”

Sandy: “A couple of regular guys. Maybe not regular guys by your standards, but hey, regular to me.”

Turtleneck Greenie: “Are these NRA kinda guys?”

Sandy: “Big time.”

Jordan: “Former military?”

Sandy: “Special forces and then some.”

Gelly: “But weren’t these kinda guys big Trump supporters in the 2016 election? So why would they take him out?”

traitor Sandy: “You listed all the reasons – tried to repeal health care, tried to give more tax breaks to the wealthy, tried to gut EPA. The supporters felt stabbed in the back.”

JC: “But those actions seem to be the very reasons these guys voted for Trump in the first place. What changed?”

Sandy: “Remember that French lady who said something about letting the starving peasants eat cake?”

JC: “You mean Marie Antoinette.”

Sandy: “That’s the one. And you know where she ended up.”

JC: “Maybe heads should have rolled at the White House sooner. Sorry, that was too easy.”

Sandy: “As I was saying, Trump’s let-tem-eat cake moment…really two moments…were when the worker bees started to realize he wasn’t delivering on the promise of higher-paying jobs. The types of jobs he promised never came back. And then the tax proposals that kept funneling money to his family.”

Greenie: “Not to be a stick-in-the-mud, but making the first family rich has happened the last few administrations…and probably a lot longer.”

Sandy: “I know, but at least the other guys didn’t try to get rich while in office. Trump supporters didn’t want to believe at first what was really happening. But when the tax returns got released, the evidence was in black-and-white. All but the blind could see what was happening.”

Gelly: “So the Trump supporters are not making any progress financially and the Donald and family are getting richer by the day.”

Sandy: “All those excuses about not being able to not release tax returns…all BS and a smokescreen to hide the truth about where the money came from and how much he was raking in.”

Greenie: “So, now the initial Trump supporters are getting very upset. Then, these so-called regular guys…at least by NRA standards…decide to take out the Donald. Jordan, you buy Sandy’s theory?”

(Continued)

#246 Who Took Out the Donald? (Part 3)

23 Sunday Apr 2017

Posted by Jordan Abel in Gov't Policy, Lessons of Revolution, Societal Issues, Stupid Is as Stupid Does

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Scene: Gelly, JC and Greenie having drinks with Jordan following a session in Jordan’s office. Conversation starts Entry #244.

Waiter Waiter delivers a round of drinks.

Greenie: “I have a request, please.”

JC: “And that is…?”

Greenie: “Before we get mired in more Beltway BS, I’d like to propose a toast to the Steak & Shake and the Custard Cup.”

Custard Cup Gelly: “Huh? A toast? I’ve heard of Steak & Shake…in fact I’ve eaten there…but the Custard Cup? What’s that?”

Jordan: “The Custard Cup is a mom-and-pop ice cream stand. But not just any mom-and-pop ice cream stand. It has the best…all caps on ‘THE’…best ice cream I’ve had anywhere, period.”

JC: “I agree. Even though I’m not an ice cream fan…”

Greenie: “…can you believe it, she doesn’t like ice cream.”

JC: “As I was saying, even though I’m not a big ice cream fan, the Custard Cup is king of the ice-cream hill.”

Gelly: “So where is this joint?”

Greenie: “Ice cream stand, please. Custard Cup is not a joint. The Custard Cup is a couple of blocks from where JC grew up. In fact it was well within a mile of where Jordan lived and where I lived growing up.”

Gelly: “So a neighborhood hangout, huh?”

Jordan: “More than the neighborhood.”

Greenie: “A toast to the Steak & Shake and especially the Custard Cup.”

Jordan: “Hear, hear.”

JC: “Alright, now that the sidebar is over, back to the mystery of who took out the Donald.”

Greenie: “Ya know, I think it’s the group we’d rather not think about.”

Jordan: “You mean not the Russians, not the North Koreans, and not the Mexican drug lords.”

JC: “You’re thinking inside job?”

Greenie: “I’m still not sure about the Russians but the more I think about it, the North Koreans and Mexican drug lords seem out of the picture.”

Jordan: “Why’d you drop them from the list?”

Looney Tunes Greenie: “Had the Trump Administration not acted like Looney Tunes characters, I would have left them on the list. But behavior by the Trump family…and even by some of the so-called adults on the Cabinet was so unprofessional. Bizarre is not the right word, because it was worse than bizarre. But I can’t think of the right word.””

Gelly: “You think there was an incident that tipped the scale for the CIA…or whoever the responsible inside group was?”

Greenie: “Yes, and I’m not sure the public appreciated the significance of how the event affected the country’s credibility among world leaders, friend and foe.”

JC: “What was the event?”

Greenie: “In my view, for the serious government officials who actually help protect the country, the scales tipped when the Trump Administration…the president, the Secretary of Defense and the head of the National Security Agency…I’ll ignore press secretary…all claimed that the aircraft carrier what’s-its-name was part of an armada ‘steaming’ toward North Korea when actually it was ‘steaming’ away from North Korea toward Australia.”

JC: “I agree, Greenie. That erroneous claim had to be one of the biggest screw-ups in American history. The statements were not an intentional lie to deceive the enemy, like you might have had in WWII. These guys were trying to intimidate North Korea but just did not know what was going on.”

Gelly: “That was really a ‘duh’ moment for me and I suspect many people. It’s not as if there was no way to track the aircraft carrier and what, a couple of destroyers? I mean, doesn’t the US have satellites, airplanes and even such low-tech things called radios?”

JC: “Jordan, you’ve been around these beltway guys for a while. You’ve even been in the White House. What were these guys thinking? No one checked to make sure the claim was right? You’re pronouncing to the world a major strike force is headed to North Korea and no one checks the facts? Even worse, when they did find out the mistake, no one corrected it publicly.”

Aircraft Carrier Jordan: “Must have been an interesting conversation in the Oval Office after someone pointed out the mistake. ‘Let’s see, if we just ignore telling the public we made a mistake, no one will find out. Those ships are in a big ocean. Who’s going to see them?’”

JC: “That might have worked when countries had an armada, as the Donald called it…but not in the 21^st Century. C’mon guys. Wake up.”

Greenie: “Ok, we need to ask if there was a tipping point other than the claims about the wrong-way armada. What about a series of events that might have tipped the scales?”

Turtleneck Jordan: “I suppose one could point to any number of single events or series of events demonstrating stupid-is-as-stupid-does behavior. But I think for most people, there’s usually a single incident that tips the scale.”

Greenie: “I agree. Think about relationships with other people, feelings about a restaurant…whatever. You go along and go along with a less-than-satisfactory relationship and then at some point you say to yourself, ‘Enough, already. No more.’”

Jordan: “And, I agree the wrong-way armada was probably what triggered the CIA to take action.”

JC: “Bad pun, Jordan.”

Waiter: “Would you folks like to order some food?”

#234 The Bet: How Long before Trump Leaves Office?

17 Tuesday Jan 2017

Posted by Jordan Abel in Causes of the Revolution, Gov't Policy, Stupid Is as Stupid Does

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Scene: Jordan’s office Washington, DC

Gelly: “We have an unexpected visitor.”

JC: “Hi Jordan. Glad to see me?”

Jordan: “Of course, JC. I’m always glad to see you. And you’re in town because…?”

JC: “Greenie is adding a few chapters to her book about the causes of the Revenge Revolution. She wants me to research if and how the tone of the transition after the election and the tone of the Inaugural speech might have influenced the effectiveness of the administration.”

Jordan: “Interesting topic. So, if the transition was smooth, the incoming might be more effective, right?”

JC: “Exactly…and vice versa.”

Jordan: “Speaking of inaugurations, do you remember our conversation in 2017, just before Trump was sworn in?”

JC: “Of course. And the loser, or winner depending on one’s perspective, never paid off the dinner bet. Whadda say we have the payoff this evening?”

Jordan: “Gelly, am I free this evening, please? And, if so, would you like to join us for dinner?”

Gelly: “Yes, you’re available and I would love to join you guys. But I don’t know all the background about the bet, just bits and pieces.”

JC: “Here’s the short version. Remember I stopped by the office a few days before Trump’s inauguration?”

Gelly: “Yes, but just after you got here I had to leave for a meeting.”

(Conversation from January 17, 2017)

Jordan: “JC, you must be in town for the inauguration.”

JC: “You’re right about the inauguration but not here for the swearing-in.”

Jordan: “Listen, if you need tickets, I can get you a couple. Lots of members of Congress are not attending.”

JC: “Not on your life would I attend. I’m in town to join a protest march against Tweety Bird.”

Jordan: “Now, now, you should show the incoming president some respect.”

JC: “Why? He never showed any respect to president Obama.”

Jordan: “But still.”

JC: “The Republicans never showed any respect for Obama either, especially old Mitchie McConnell. What a hypocrite.”

Jordan: “Some people think McConnell was just doing his job…and quite effectively.”

JC: “Now we’re headed into an era where the Republicans…more appropriately called the Republicants and Republirants…actually have to do something other than say ‘no.’ And we’ve got an incoming president who thinks an oligarch is a hero and people with education and experience are trash.”

Jordan: “The oligarch – you mean POTUS’ love for Putin?”

JC: “Please, the Trumpster is not yet POTUS and, yes his love for Putin. I mean really, Jordan, aren’t you upset? The man is crazy!”

Jordan: “You are a bit pumped. Why do you say he’s crazy?”

JC: “Look at his behavior. Remarks during the campaign were bad…and frequently way out of line for a presidential candidate. But his behavior and remarks since the election have been worse.”

Jordan: “Such as…?”

JC: “The list of ‘stupid is as stupid does’ is almost endless and keep growing daily. Let’s start with trashing Representative John Lewis. Trump tweets that Lewis is ‘all talk and no action.’ Really, Donald? Lewis no action? Every read any history? Of course not. And Donald what have you done that merits noteworthy ‘action’?”

Jordan: “You consider that the attack on Lewis classifies him as crazy? Maybe it was just a bad tweet.”

JC: “You know my degree…my degrees are in psychology. Diagnosing from afar is a bit risky. But his behavior is so blatant and so consistently outside the norm that I think there’s a rock-solid case to label him as delusional. He has exhibited no reasoning skills whatsoever. In fact I’m not sure he can differentiate between what’s true and what’s not true.”

Jordan: “Could his behavior be an early sign of Alzheimer’s? Although when first diagnosed I think he was older than the Donald, Fred Trump was afflicted with Alzheimer’s.”

JC: “I didn’t realize his father had Alzheimer’s. Wouldn’t wish that on anybody. Early-stage Alzheimer’s really hard to separate from some other mental illnesses and even dementia caused by say a chemical imbalance.”

Jordan: “No way to really know?”

JC: “If we take his brain out we’ll know for sure. I know, I know.”

Jordan: “So what’s the solution? Your protests aren’t going to change his behavior. He’s so thinned-skinned he’ll probably double down and bully even more people.”

JC: “The only solution I know of is to take him out. Where’s the mafia when you need them?”

Jordan: “You serious? Take him out? Really?”

JC: “Tell me how else to control the guy? He shows no sign of understanding the complexities of many domestic and international issues, let alone how to solve problems. Tweeting does not constitute well thought-out policy. He’s simply dangerous to the country.”

Jordan: “I agree he doesn’t come across as the brightest bulb around but many presidents have not been the smartest guy in the room.”

JC: “But no president that I’m aware of exhibited such irrational behavior. On the Trump scale of behavior, Nixon look almost normal.”

Jordan: “If he’s so bad, then how long do you think he’ll last?”

JC: “Want my honest opinion?”

Jordan: “Yes, please.”

JC: “He’ll be taken out after a year…OK, I’ll give him two years.”

Jordan: “You really mean taken out…or just booted out, like impeached?”

JC: “He will not be president in two years. And I’ll bet you a dinner and drinks I’m right.”

(End of earlier conversation.)

Gelly: “So now I have the whole story. And I’m invited to the payoff this evening.”

(Entry to be concluded sometime.)

#233 Is Revenge Revolution Still Likely? Yes, Outlook Worse. (Part 2 of 2)

07 Saturday Jan 2017

Posted by Jordan Abel in Causes of the Revolution, Gov't Policy, Lessons of Revolution, Stupid Is as Stupid Does

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First-time readers, the blog is usually constructed as a dialogue between characters. The dialogue is set in the future (sometime after the year 2020) and 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 whether Revolution plausible.

Normally, I allocate one entry every six months or so as a “sense check” whether the 5^th US revolution, aka Revenge Revolution, seems plausible by say 2020-2025. Given developments since the election of Donald Trump, and especially given recent actions and statements by the president-elect, I felt compelled to expand “sense-check” entry #232.

If you want to read no farther, my conclusion is this. A Revenge Revolution is not just a possibility, but is quickly moving to the category of “highly likely.” In addition, the US is likely to experience another president being assassinated, or at a minimum removed from office. OK, now the rationale.

Believe what you want…and I don’t care if you voted for Clinton or Trump or a 3^rd party…Trump continues to exhibit behavior that most politely can be described as bizarre and more realistically described as Howdy-Doody like, reacting as would a puppet when various inexperienced people pull the strings. There is no consistent pattern of behavior, just jerky, random motions.

Trump’s campaign promised he would effectively “drain the swamp.” Well, if you want to change the way an organization behaves, rational people know you cannot simply “blowup” the infrastructure of the organization and expect it to remain standing and operate effectively.

If you want to lead an organization through the change, you have to demonstrate leadership qualities yourself. The person trying to initiate the change cannot simply give staff members the finger, belittling the organization they work for and then expect staff members to follow proposed changes enthusiastically. Plus, if one is going to make change, then there must be a plan to follow that leads away from the current way of operating to a new way of operating. Change without a clear plan is a sure recipe for chaos.

So far, Trump has not disclosed anything remotely resembling a plan. And worse, Trump continues to demonstrate an apparent inability to develop a cohesive plan. Sending tweets does not constitute a plan. OK, so you want to cancel Obamacare. What is the replacement? The approach is not like tearing down a building before you’ve decided on plans for the new building and converting the land to a parking lot while building plans are crafted. Such an approach won’t work for making changes to health care, or EPA, or Education or any other agency.

Assessing the structure and efficiency of the CIA seems a fair goal. But if you expect support for such an assessment, why on earth would you claim that Julian Assange and WikiLeaks provide more credible information than the CIA? Such remarks not only fall in the category of “stupid is as stupid does,” but self-destructive. Such remarks can affect national security and beg for some covert operator(s) to take out “the problem”, i.e., the Donald. If you think such an idea is impossible in the US, then you’re being incredibly naïve or smoking way too much weed.

If you want the support of the military, it won’t result from merely appointing a couple of generals to your staff. If you want support of the military, would you claim to know more about field operations than generals in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere?

If the wacko rhetoric had stopped at the end of the campaign, then many in the affected agencies might have sighed and agreed to move on. But, no, the wacko behavior has not stopped. The wacko behavior continues unabated and, if anything seems to have ratcheted up. Before being briefed by the CIA, the Donald claimed to know “what no one else knows” about potential Russian hacking. Well, Donald, that means one of two things – either you’re wired to Putin or you’re stupid.

I have a friend who claims Trump is a great negotiator and incredibly smart. Trump might know how to negotiate a real estate deal, although the track record is anything but stellar. But Trump incredibly smart? That’s one of the funniest statements I’ve heard in years. The man cannot put a coherent paragraph together. I realize many Trump supporters might not care what he says, but a lot of high-powered people worldwide do.

If his words and tweets have to be interpreted by staff…as they are now…then how do critical messages get communicated to government agencies, the public and other world leaders? Why not go ahead and tell the military to launch nuclear missiles…and then sometime later have a staffer clarify the remarks by claiming that’s not what he really meant to say. Oh well, nuclear war means more new buildings are needed…and the Trump organization can build them.

Maybe flaunting social norms, ignoring the press, disregarding protocol and thumbing your nose at possible conflicts of interest feeds the Donald’s ego and makes him feel important. But, Mr. President-elect, you are setting up yourself and the country for failure. Your behavior is Richard Nixon on steroids. Nixon was able to resign. You are likely not to have that option.

Dictators in other countries might be able to bully the masses and stay in power. What’s different about the US is the number of arms held by citizens. Remember the 2^nd Amendment? And, in case you’ve forgotten, thanks to the NRA many of the arms owned by the citizens are military style and military caliber. Oops.

Some icing on the cake. Discussion of and/or Congressional attempts to overthrow the basic operations of the Federal government, including Social Security, Medicare and some form of health insurance, will add fuel to an environment that is ripe for a revolution. I find it interesting that soon after the election, I received an email from an ardent Trump supporter, asking me to sign a petition to ensure Medicare is not changed. Some Trump supporters are starting to connect the dots and apparently are not very happy. Think about this situation – if a segment of the population starts to rebel using firearms, even a small segment of the population, the local police and military will find it nearly impossible to maintain control.

As for Trump himself, while the Secret Service might be able to protect the president, Trump’s primary NY residence, Trump Tower, and other residences and properties associated with Trump will be easy targets. Even for Trump Tower, the Secret Service cannot shutdown commerce on 5^th Avenue just because Trump or some of his family is in residence. Even more challenging is how the Secret Service will prevent IED-drones from being launched from near-by Central Park or even from New Jersey. OK, so a single drone won’t bring down Trump Tower, and maybe five drones won’t…but five drones with high explosives can cause serious damage and a major fire.

Once it starts, the Revenge Revolution will not stop with taking out one key figure in government. Unfortunately, if Trump is assassinated then it is likely vice-president Pence will be taken out as well. Additional targets could be those in the Cabinet and Congress who are perceived to be destroying basic rights.

Do I hope I’m wrong with this prediction? Yes, I hope I am wrong. The segment has not been fun to write, believe me. But like it or not, what we’ve not seen in the behavior of the president-elect is any indication he understands the gravity of the job as president. Further, none of his remarks, tweets and other actions indicate a level of maturity, or even intellect, required to be the US president. A couple of days ago Vice-President Joseph Biden was quoted as telling the president-elect to “grow up.” Joe, you comment is spot on. Unfortunately, for the US, and the world, the president-elect seems incapable of growing up. And aside from that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?

#227 Post Revenge Revolution: Some Lessons Learned (Part 3)

19 Saturday Nov 2016

Posted by Jordan Abel in Causes of the Revolution, Lessons of Revolution, Stupid Is as Stupid Does

≈ Leave a comment

Scene: Jordan’s office, Washington, DC, start of work day. (Conversation starts Entry #225))

Gelly: “Jordan, what was that word you just used? Some kind of ‘tocracy’?”

Jordan: “Kasistocracy. Means government run by unsuitable people or a government that is unsuitable.”

Gelly: “Are you suggesting the Trump Administration was a…say that word again.”

Jordan: “Kas-is-toc-racy.”

Gelly: “Yes, the Trump Administration was a kasistocracy. Is that what you you’re implying?”

Jordan: “That’s not just my assessment. Many people in the US feel that way as do many US allies.”

Gelly: “I admit many actions by the Trump Administration at the beginning were a bit unusual.”

Jordan: “Gelly, you’ve gone from being blunt a few minutes ago to being Ms. Diplomat. You think the actions were just ‘a bit unusual’?”

Gelly: “OK, I’ll be less PC. The actions, starting with the Trump Transition Team, were stupid.”

Jordan: “Now, at least Trump is getting the same treatment I get from you and JC.”

Gelly: “Whoever was advising Trump, and likely Trump himself, had no clue about the breadth and depth of the task that needed to be done before Inauguration Day.”

Jordan: “The turnover of staff made it worse. The coup de gras…maybe the coup de gras of stupidity…was the VP-elect Mike Pence, who was supposed to be heading the transition team full-time, deciding to remain governor of Indiana until just before Inauguration Day.”

Gelly: “Pence deserved the ‘Stupid Is as Stupid Does’ award for that move. He reminded me Goofy. What was he thinking?”

Jordan: “Unfortunately, the Trump Administration dug itself a hole so deep before Inauguration Day it was never able to recover. It’s not as if the Obama Administration and others inside the Beltway didn’t try to help. Most of the people and many of the ideas were just ignored. Instead, I think most of the appointments were more like Trump lap dogs.”

Gelly: “The Trump kasistocracy…I love that word…increased frustration among voters, especially those who thought Trump was going to change Washington in a good way. So voter frustration increased…and voila, the Revenge Revolution…and Trump was fired.”

Jordan: “What’s the lesson from the Trump Administration so a kasistocracy does not happen again?”

Gelly: “Maybe the US needs to drop the Electoral College and go to a system where the presidential candidate with the majority of votes is declared the winner.”

Jordan: “Think that would prevent a kasistocracy?”

Gelly: “I don’t know. But in the span of 16 years there were two presidents elected who did not win the popular vote – Bush 43 and Trump. Do you know the last time that happened before Bush 43?”

Jordan: “As a matter of fact, I do. In 1888, Benjamin Harrison beat Grover Cleveland. It happened a couple of other times before 1888.”

Gelly: “Harrison to Bush 43 was 112 years. Then Bush to Trump was 16 years.”

Jordan: “If presidents were elected based on popular vote, I think that would quell some of the frustration of the side that garners the most votes but ends up losing the election.”

Gelly: “Agreed. However, I’ll bet people could live with the Electoral College if the quality of the candidates improved.”

Jordan: “The lesson might really be – improve the quality of the candidates. If so, then how?”

Gelly: “This might sound naïve but educating the public about issues would be a great start.”

Jordan: “As part of that plan, what about eliminating private funding of presidential elections? Let the Federal government fund presidential elections.”

Gelly: “Wouldn’t public funding be contrary to the Citizens United case?”

Jordan: “Yes, but we are post Revenge Revolution and have a new Congress…well, mostly new. Let Congress pass a bill to have the Federal government fund presidential elections. I can’t think of any Constitutional issues that can’t be addressed.”

Gelly: “If there is Federal funding, there should be an increase in the number of debates. And the debates should be about real issues. If public debates were increased and public advertising decreased, then the candidates could speak in more depth about issues. If they phrased an answer awkwardly or even made a mistake, they could correct the mistake in a subsequent debate. A minor slip now gets blown way out of proportion.”

Jordan: “Along those lines but a bit more esoteric, is the need to eliminate false equivalency.”

Gelly: “False equivalency meaning…”

Jordan: “When groups, and even the media, claim that two opposing positions on an issue should be considered equally legitimate.”

Gelly: “You mean like global warming?”

Jordan: “Good example. And like certain tax policies. There are other examples as well.”

Gelly: “What needs to be done to eliminate, or reduce, false equivalency?”

Jordan: “Both sides need to be challenged to provide evidence to support their position.”

Gelly: “So, for global warming the people who claim global warming has been caused by the effects of the industrial revolution, or at least made worse by the Industrial Revolution, they could use such data as the rate of increase in mean temperature per year over the last 125-150 years and/or the slope of CO2 concentration over the same period. The increase in the slope of both those curves indicates a major change has occurred.”

Jordan: “Compare that data set to those who claim global warming is a hoax perpetuated by 3,000+ scientists, a hoax by the Chinese or some other sinister group. Where are the data to support the argument? None exists.”

Gelly: “So you’re saying why should the naysayers get any airtime until they have some evidence, right?”

Jordan: “The naysayers can get airtime but the media need to be relentless in prodding the quacks to provide evidence. No allowing midnight tweets, including the president’s tweets, to be considered credible evidence.”

Gelly: “OK, then what about tax policy? Deciding which arguments about appropriate tax policy seems less clear.”

Jordan: “I agree that there is no hard evidence on some issues. But for other issues there are lots of solid data.”

Gelly: “Such as?”

Jordan: “Take trickle-down economics, or as Bush 41 called it, ‘voodoo economics.’ Bush 41 was spot on. There is no credible evidence of any country experiencing sustained economic growth based on trickle-down economics. Concentrating tax cuts with the rich does not trickle down and create significant job growth. Tax cuts for the rich concentrates wealth and can make the country poorer, not richer.”

Gelly: “Really? There’s no supporting evidence for trickle-down economics?”

Jordan: “Think about the theory? Give more money to the rich and they will magically create jobs. Why would they? No reasonable company or CEO is going to expand a facility or build a new facility without the prospect of an increase in demand. People need more income if they’re going to increase demand for goods and services. The only time trickle-down economics works — ‘build it and they will come’ — is in the movie, ‘Field of Dreams.’”

Gelly: “You need to tell me more. This is an important lesson.”

Jordan: “Let’s take a break but remember the letters MPC.”

(To be continued)

#225 Revenge Revolution: Some Lessons Learned (Part 1)

06 Sunday Nov 2016

Posted by Jordan Abel in Benefits of Revolution, Causes of the Revolution, Stupid Is as Stupid Does

≈ 5 Comments

Scene: Jordan’s office, Washington, DC, start of work day.

Gelly (Jordan’s Assistant): “Good morning, Jordan.”

Jordan: “Morning, Gelly. Anything hot on the schedule this morning?”

Gelly: “Nothing for a while. You got a minute?”

Jordan: “Sure. Let me get a coffee first. (Gelly hands Jordan a coffee.) You’re really good. Thanks. What’s up?”

Gelly: “Don’t know what caused me to think about this but is anyone writing about the benefits of the Revenge Revolution? You know — lessons learned.”

Jordan: “Good question. Greenie is writing a series of articles about the causes. Matt is helping her on a few articles. I guess the answer to your question is, ‘no, not to my knowledge.’”

Gelly: “Well, maybe Greenie and Matt should write a few articles on lessons learned.”

Jordan: “OK, let me be the interviewer. What do you think are the lessons of the Revenge Revolution?”

Gelly: “The most obvious one to me is people have started forcing politicians to act rationally…like the rest of us have to act, or at least most of us. That change in behavior is a big switch.”

Jordan: “Such as…?”

Gelly: “Lots of examples. One that seems very important is Senators are effectively being forced to vote on judicial nominees. No more stonewalling.”

Jordan: “You mean like in 2016 when Larry, Moe and Curly…I mean Senators Burr, McCain and Cruz…threatened to block every judicial nominee if Clinton was elected president.”

Gelly: “Yep. Those guys acted like the Three Stooges. Let me correct my statement. Burr, McCain and Cruz couldn’t hold a candle to the Three Stooges. For the senators, a better description is more like ‘stupid is as stupid does.’”

Jordan: “Why do you think their statement about blocking all judicial nominees…and possibly other nominees…is so bad? The Constitution does not force the Senate to act.”

Gelly: “True. But you cannot have a functioning democracy if one body refuses to act on behalf of the people and only acts for itself. The country cannot operate when elected officials represent only a portion of the populous and, in effect, stab all other voters in the back. That kind of behavior was a cause of the Revenge Revolution. And since the Revolution people have been forcing elected officials to consider the electorate, not just special interests.”

Jordan: “Aren’t you being a bit naïve? There have always been biases and special interests in Congress.”

Gelly: “I agree. However, real people recognize there are different opinions on how to solve problems. Anyone with any brains, and that used to include Congress before the Republicans in Congress in the 1990’s started taking stupid pills, knows that working through a problem with someone else usually results in a better solution.”

Jordan: “What does that have to do with approving judicial nominees?”

Gelly: “Relevant because Larry, Moe and Curly…err, Burr, McCain and Cruz…refused to even consider working with Democrats to find a solution. The BMC boy’s idea of a solution was the proverbial, ‘my way or the highway.’”

Jordan: “But the country experienced the Revenge Revolution and the likes of Burr, McCain and Cruz are now off in the corner with their dunce caps.”

Gelly: “And the BMC boys deserve dunce caps. And eliminating such behavior is one of the lessons that needs to written about.”

Jordan: “Have another lesson of the Revenge Revolution for Greenie to write about?”

Gelly: “Making voting easier.”

Jordan: “Gelly, surely you don’t think Republicans made an effort to suppress voting, do you?”

Gelly: “Your great state, North Carolina…”

Jordan: “…Please, I’m only a visitor to North Carolina. A long-term visitor but visitor, nonetheless.”

Gelly: “…Your state North Carolina was cited by Federal courts twice in about six months for attempting to stop blacks from voting. Both cases were blatant. One judge indicated the state’s efforts were ‘with precision.’ Oh, no, Republicans made no effort to stop blacks from voting.”

Jordan: “Those efforts were to protect the other residents from voter fraud.”

Gelly: “Jordan, either your tongue is planted deep in your cheek or you need to go see a proctologist and have your head put back on the right part of your anatomy.”

Jordan: “She’s so subtle.”

Gelly: “No reason to be subtle. There was no credible evidence of any voter fraud. All the cases claimed by Republicans were proved to be false. People who are US citizens have a right to vote, period. Do these vote fraud-claim yoyo’s ever read the Constitution?”

Jordan: “You’ve come up with two good examples. Let’s chat more after I take a break.”

#220 Rioters in Charlotte. Drive Looking through the Windshield or the Rearview Mirror? (Part 2)

02 Sunday Oct 2016

Posted by Jordan Abel in Back Asswards Thinking, Societal Issues, Stupid Is as Stupid Does

≈ Leave a comment

First-time readers, 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 whether Revolution plausible.

Scene: Jordan’s office in Washington, DC. Conversation for this series starts Entry #219.

Jordan: “So, Matt, we agree that for anyone or any group to make progress, one needs to look through the windshield and not the rearview mirror.”

Matt: “Yes, it seems logical. But are you suggesting people ignore the past…and just look ahead?”

Jordan: “Not at all. Go back to driving. You look through the windshield and occasionally check the rearview mirror…and the side mirrors. But you check mirrors just for reference.”

Matt: “As simple as the metaphor is, I never thought about viewing life in the same way as how one drives – looking through the windshield. Interesting and simple concept.”

Jordan: “Glad you like it.”

Matt: “I’m still a bit confused, however. How do I let go of the past? You know, stuff in life that you might see in the rearview mirror.”

Jordan: “Give me an example.”

Matt: “What about slavery? Should the black community, or for that matter the white community, just forget about slavery? I mean, that’s hard to forget.”

Jordan: “I agree. However, slavery ended in the US 150+ years ago. That’s 6-7 generations.”

Matt: “So in today’s rearview mirror, slavery is barely visible. Slavery is unlike a highly visible semi-truck tailgating you.”

Jordan: “Now you understand the idea. Look, I’m not saying forget slavery completely. But to make any progress, you have to focus on current issues. Issues that are either causing a problem or going to cause a problem.”

Matt: “You mean like avoiding a major accident.”

Jordan: “Yes. Good example. Have you ever been able to avoid what could have been a major accident?”

Matt: “Several times. For some reason, the one that comes to mind first was in my Miata.”

Jordan: “I didn’t know you had a Miata. I’ve got an original. Bought it new. And a very low VIN. Anyway, tell me about the almost accident.”

Matt: “On the Interstate, right lane and just coming up to pass an 18-wheeler. A tire on the back of the trailer comes apart and I’m faced with a large, ugly tire gator bouncing around in my lane.”

Jordan: “Mmm. Not good. If you don’t get out-of-the-way and run over the gator, the underside of your Miata is ripped out…and who knows what else happens. What’d you do?”

Matt: “Hard right into the breakdown lane. I avoided the gator but made the mistake of cutting back too sharply. I’m then faced with an equally difficult situation. If I try to correct too quickly, I might flip the car and then I’m toast.”

Jordan: “Or…?”

Matt: “If I head across all the lanes as an escape, I’m facing a median blocked by a concrete barrier. There’s no grassy bailout area.”

Jordan: “Now what?”

Matt: “Fortunately, I’d been checking the rearview mirror regularly so I knew I had about ¼ mile space before any other cars. I decided to it the brakes hard and hopefully slide across the road but not hit the barrier.”

Jordan: “Were you successful?”

Matt: “Yes. I ended up in the outside breakdown lane but facing the wrong way – looking into traffic. After a few cars passed, shifted into first, did a U-turn and went on my way.”

Jordan: “Need to change your underwear?”

Matt: “Almost. Now that I’ve told my story, tell me what lessons are relevant for black community? What are they supposed to learn from my experience about avoiding an accident?”

Jordan: “My take is three key lessons. Lesson #1 — conditions in life can change quickly and most of the time those changes are out of your control.”

Matt: “Like having a tire come apart right in front of me. Nothing I could do to prevent that occurrence.”

Jordan: “Lesson #2 — even if the event is out of your control, the response to the event is under your control. You had the option of staying the course and not changing your behavior. You could have whined and blamed the truck driver all day long for the tire coming apart. But, blaming and whining would have accomplished nothing. If you didn’t change your behavior…and change it quickly…the outcome was likely very serious damage to the car and possibly you.”

Matt: “But the avoidance maneuver was not without risk. There might have been who knows what in the breakdown lane and then I slid across the pavement.”

Jordan: “True. But the risks associated with doing something were far less than doing nothing.”

Matt: “What’s the 3^rd lesson?”

Jordan: “Lesson #3 – understand the conditions around you before take action. Make sure you’re connecting the dots. Because you were constantly gathering data as you drove, you knew certain options were available. Even after you made a mistake and over-corrected, you knew you had the option of sliding across the pavement without getting broadsided. Even though you had only a second or so to decide, you were able to consider multiple options because you were knowledgeable and prepared.”

Matt: “I’m still a bit confused. If I’m black, what should I be doing? Obviously the question doesn’t apply to everyone in the black community, but if we go back to the rioters in Charlotte, which is where we started this conversation, what behavior change should I be considering?”

Jordan: “First, spend your time looking ahead. It’s OK to glance in the rearview mirror occasionally, but your life lies ahead of you, not behind you. Second, recognize events will occur that are out of your control. Blaming someone else for those events might make you feel good but blaming…and especially rioting and damaging other property…does not solve the problem. Don’t be stupid and make matters worse. Third, and this may be the most important, take a hard look in the mirror and acknowledge that you and you alone are responsible for how you react to those events. You cannot blame anyone else for how you react. Your reaction is your choice.”

(Continued)

#219 Rioters in Charlotte. Drive Looking through the Windshield or the Rearview Mirror? (Part 1)

25 Sunday Sep 2016

Posted by Jordan Abel in Back Asswards Thinking, Causes of the Revolution, Societal Issues, Stupid Is as Stupid Does

≈ 4 Comments

Scene: Jordan’s office in Washington, DC.

Jordan (Answering phone): “Jordan Abel.”

Matt: “Jordan, its Matt. Got a few minutes?”

Jordan: “You picked a good time to call. What’s up?”

Matt: “You know Greenie is writing a series on the causes of the Revenge Revolution. She realized there was no article about the riots in Charlotte in 2016. She asked me to do some research.”

Jordan: “And you want me to provide some insight, right?”

Matt: “You’ve lived in Charlotte for a while and I thought you would be a good place to start.”

Jordan: “OK, I’m not sure I can help but I’ll try.”

Matt: “As I’ve looked back over the material, the riots seem to have been ignited by the police shooting a black man.”

Jordan: “That seemed to be the trigger. The police were serving an arrest warrant on someone else in the same apartment complex as the guy who was shot.”

Matt: “What was this guy doing?”

Jordan: “As I understand, in his car in the parking lot and smoking some weed. The police ask him to get out of the car. When he gets out he’s got a gun in his hand.”

Matt: “I read that members of the victim’s family claimed he was holding a book and not a gun. Any evidence to support that claim?”

Jordan: “None. Even a phone video made by the guy’s wife has voices of the police telling the guy to drop the gun.”

Matt: “Seems hard to confuse a book and a gun.”

Jordan: “I agree. Why the family claimed it was a book, I don’t know.”

Matt: “Also, from what I read, the police asked the guy a number of time to drop the gun.”

Jordan: “On the family made phone video, the police ask the guy seven times, yes seven times, to drop the gun. They might have asked even more.”

Matt: “Did this guy ever fire at the police?”

Jordan: “No evidence. But if you ask someone with a gun to drop it at least seven times and he doesn’t, what are the police supposed to think? Gee, let’s just wait ‘till this guy starts firing at near point-blank range, then we’ll fire back. The police were in a very difficult situation and this guy was clearly an unknown commodity.”

Matt: “Was all this info known to the public right away? My research indicates info came out in dribs and drabs.”

Jordan: “The dissemination of information turned out to be a real problem. For example, right away the family made the claim the victim had a book in his hand and not a gun. That info spread quickly on social media. Unfortunately, for several days the police stayed quiet and never offered any hard evidence to the contrary, even though they had a video from a body cam.”

Matt: “Thus, without any evidence from the police, the black community…at least part of the black community…views the family’s version as baseline and believes the police shot a black man unnecessarily. But, still, why the riots?”

Jordan: “I’m the wrong guy to ask that question.”

Matt: “Maybe, but what do you think? Why the riots? And especially why did the rioters damage cars, buildings, and businesses in their own neighborhood?”

Jordan: “It makes no sense. To me the rioters in Charlotte are a classic case of ‘stupid is as stupid does.’ Looting businesses and burning buildings in your own neighborhood, which they did the first night, is as dumb an idea as I can think of. If I’m a rioter I want to make sure the companies that employ my neighbors and provide services to the neighborhood are damaged. Duh?”

Matt: “Aren’t you being overly harsh? Many blacks were very frustrated.”

Jordan: “Look, a lot of people were frustrated. Being frustrated doesn’t give you the right to break the law. In case no one told the rioters, damaging property and looting are breaking the law.”

Matt: “What should these people…and I suppose even more important…what should the black community have done?”

Jordan: “Matt, I’ve used the analogy many times over the years, and it seems appropriate now as well. Remarkably, some people just don’t seem to get the gist of it. I’ll start by asking, ‘Do you drive a car?’”

Matt: “Of course. Why?”

Jordan: “When you’re driving, do you look mostly out the windshield or the rearview mirror?”

Matt: “That seems like a silly question.”

Jordan: “Well, I’ll ask again. When driving do you look out the windshield or the rearview mirror?”

Matt: “The windshield, of course. You can’t go very fast looking out the rearview mirror…and that would be dangerous besides.”

Jordan: “Exactly. If you go through life looking mostly through the rearview mirror, then you cannot go very fast and you’ll miss all the opportunities that lie ahead.”

Matt: “Unless you look through the windshield, all those opportunities will pass you by.”

Jordan: “Now you understand why I asked the question.”

Matt: “What about addressing problems from the past?”

Jordan: “I’m not trying to discount the problems of the past. Blaming someone else for those problems might make you feel good. However, running around blaming someone else for problems does not provide a solution. The solution…”

Matt: “…lies with the individual and lies ahead. To solve the problem you’ve got to start looking through the windshield and quit spending all your time looking through the rearview mirror.”

(Continued)

#206 Why Vote for the Donald (Part 3)

02 Saturday Jul 2016

Posted by Jordan Abel in Causes of the Revolution, Societal Issues, Stupid Is as Stupid Does

≈ Leave a comment

Scene: Jordan’s Washington office. Conversation begins Entry #204.

Greenie: “I forgot, what were the 2^nd and 3^rd reasons to vote for the Donald?”

Jordan: “#2 was ‘Put God back in America’ and #3 was ‘Borders, closed and tightly guarded.’”

Greenie: “Let’s take #2, ‘Put God back in America.’ If I’m not mistaken, the founders of this country clearly separated church and state in the Constitution. What are the Trumpsters taking about?”

Jordan: “I suppose they believe…really I have no idea what they are talking about…other than they want the US to become a Christian nation.”

Greenie: “Sorta like some nations in the Middle East where Islam is the state religion? I guess they want the US to be like Saudi Arabia or Syria. How can the Trumpsters keep claiming the US should return to the Constitution as written originally and not understand the separation of church and state?”

Jordan: “Look, I’m equally confused by their reasoning. Let’s move on to #3 – borders.”

Greenie: “I assume they thought a 3,000 mile wall or 6,000 armed border patrol agents stationed every half mile would keep ‘those people’ out.”

Jordan: “I agree that immigration laws should be enforced. That’s pretty much standard procedure worldwide.”

Greenie: “True, but guess what? Republicans in Congress would not support an updated immigration bill that most US citizens considered fair and reasonable.”

Jordan: “Underlying the comment about borders seems to be desire to deport 10+ million undocumented immigrants.”

Greenie: “Were the 10+ million undocumented immigrants an issue? Yes. At the same time, many hard-core Republican businessmen exploited the immigrants. Did these business people press for new legislation or deportation?”

Jordan: “One of the reasons I’ve kept the list all these years is to remind myself how many people can be put in an absolute frenzy by claims with no supporting rationale…or even worse, flat-out lies. It’s like voodoo.”

Greenie: “This conversation is beginning to drive me nuts. But I agreed to write articles about causes of the Revenge Revolution. Let’s address a couple more reasons to vote for the Donald, then take a break.”

Jordan: “#4, ‘Congress: on the same health-care plan as everyone else.”

Greenie: “Since Republicans refuse to support single-payer national health-care, there are a zillion combinations of plans. If the reference point for Trumpsters is the same health-care plan as enjoyed by say senior corporate executives, Congress is probably being short-changed with their current plan.”

Jordan: “I think the Trumpsters meant the plans for the rest of us schmoes.”

Greenie: “But we schmoes have many plans. Which one do the Trumpsters want Congress to have? Yet, another statement with no explanation.”

Jordan: “Alright, #5. ‘Congress – obey its own laws. I assume that an example is members of Congress being exempt from insider trading laws.”

Greenie: “Hey, one Trumpster reason I can agree with. As for insider trading, why should Congress be exempt? The buying and selling of stocks has no bearing whatsoever on their role in Congress. The exemption is a real head scratcher.”

Jordan: “Why Greenie, how dare you think the need for an exemption is a sham? If I’m a Congressman, let’s set up an investigation of an industry or a company. Then make the finding either classified or suggest to DOJ, FBI or IRS to begin an investigation. And before the announcement becomes public…”

Greenie: “…either buy the stock if the news will be good…like a big juicy government contract…or sell shares short if news likely to be bad. And because we’re in Congress the ill-gotten gains are exempt from insider-trading laws.”

Jordan: “If company executives took the same actions, they would be charged with insider trading and subject to fines and/or jail time. Seems only fair that members of Congress should be exempt from insider trading laws.”

Greenie: “Such cynicism.”

Jordan: “You know what’s tragic. I doubt if many of the Trumpsters really knew how egregious some of the exemptions for Congress really were. The use of campaign funds in another classic exemption. Those kinds of exemptions legislated by Congress and for Congress, even if not understood widely, are some of the reasons…at least from my perspective…that we had the Revenge Revolution.”

Greenie: “Next reason for the Donald.”

Jordan: “#6 – English only.”

Greenie: “English only for what? English is already the language for international commerce. Another example — English is required for communications by all pilots on international flights.”

Jordan: “I think the Trumpsters’ point is immigrants in earlier years made an effort to learn English more quickly than today.”

Greenie: “Fact is many earlier immigrants never did learn English. My grandparents are a perfect example. When my parents weren’t around, I became their interpreter. Being their interpreter forced me to learn Yiddish, which I really didn’t appreciate until I got older.”

Jordan: “I understand what you’re saying. What I wonder is whether the Trumpsters ever thought about why there were enclaves of immigrants in major cities. In New York, you had Little Italy, Chinatown and a bunch of places where you were hard pressed to find signs in English, let alone anyone speaking English.”

Greenie: “The problem, if you want to call a non-English language a problem, goes away in a generation or two. If my grandparents spoke English, I probably never would have learned Yiddish. That’s true for 2^nd generation immigrants from most any country.”

Jordan: “What about requiring the immigrant learn English to become a citizen?”

Greenie: “Pardon me? Just how many Trumpsters could pass a citizenship test? Anyway, English has been a requirement for citizenship for many years. There are a couple of exemptions – certain disabilities and being above a certain age – 50 or 55. For the age exemption, which my grandparents qualified under, you also need to have been in the US for so many years. But that’s it for exemptions. The vast majority of people need to learn English to become a US citizen.”

Jordan: “Back to a repeating question as we analyze the list of reasons to vote for Trump – what’s the real issue?”

Greenie: “Jordan, the lack of logic in these reasons…maybe the lack of logic is the Trumpsters’ logic…is why I need a break.”

(Continued)

usrevolution5

~ USA Headed for a 5th Revolution! Why?

Category Archives: Stupid Is as Stupid Does

#249 Who Took Out the Donald? (Part 6)

#248 Who Took Out the Donald? (Part 5)

#246 Who Took Out the Donald? (Part 3)

#234 The Bet: How Long before Trump Leaves Office?

#233 Is Revenge Revolution Still Likely? Yes, Outlook Worse. (Part 2 of 2)

#227 Post Revenge Revolution: Some Lessons Learned (Part 3)

#225 Revenge Revolution: Some Lessons Learned (Part 1)

#220 Rioters in Charlotte. Drive Looking through the Windshield or the Rearview Mirror? (Part 2)

#219 Rioters in Charlotte. Drive Looking through the Windshield or the Rearview Mirror? (Part 1)

#206 Why Vote for the Donald (Part 3)