November 7, 2017--Swamp Creatures

Every day yields revelations about the arrogant behavior of one or more of Donald Trump's bottom-feeding associates. 

Be they cabinet members such as Commerce's Wilbur Ross, former chief of staff Michael Flynn, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, or recently indicted Trump campaign manager, Paul Manafort.

The list goes out.

In some cases such as Ross they are being exposed as continuing to engage in covert financial shenanigans, seemingly always involving Russians. Oligarchs as well as a son-in-law of Vladimir Putin.

In other instances, Mnuchin's, they have been nailed for deep feeding at the governmental trough. 

Our Treasure secretary, nearly a billionaire from his years at Goldman Sachs and a stint in Hollywood (like Steve Bannon), appears to have a penchant for the luxe life, especially flying around the country and world in private jets billed to the U.S. government (us) with his trophy wife who, while he spends an hour or two "working," shops.

Last week the New York Times had a good time revealing the details of these trips, quantifying their cost--how much it would have cost if he flew commercial and paid the highest coach fare versus how much his private military jet travel actually costs.

For example, the Times reported about the cost differential for the now infamous trip he and Mrs. Mnuchin took to and from Louisville, KY. Coach would have been $1,239; the private jet was a whopping $26,900!

If one costs out all his trips--Washington to/from Miami; New York to Washington; the Louisville junket; to/from Parkersburg, W.Va; a European excursion (London, Berlin, Baden-Baden); to/from Bari, Italy; and a round trip to Ottawa--commercial would have totaled $19,265 versus how much these trips in fact cost--$631,959.

As usual, when confronted with this information, the Trump administration's default response was that this is nothing new. Particularly, Obama's people did the same thing.

Actually, this is another example of alternative facts--for example, Obama's Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner always travelled commercial, not even seeking to bump up to business or first class.

I know Tim Geithner (his father was a colleague at the Ford Foundation) and this doesn't surprise me at all. I know how he was raised. At Treasury he was far from perfect, but decidedly was not a denizen of the Washington swamp.

Steve Mnuchin's Private Jet Domestic Travel--$94,101

August 28, 2017--"This Jew"

According to Gary Cohn, Donald Trump's top economic advisor, he came very close to resigning after Trump, at his intemperate news conference three days after the violent torch-lit march by white supremacists in Charlottesville, equated the counter demonstrators with the neo-Nazis."

With Cohn standing awkwardly next to Trump in the lobby of Trump Tower, the president said, there are "very fine people on both sides," presumably including among the anti-Semites who chanted, "Jews will not replace us."

As one of Trump's highest ranking, most observant Jews (Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump aside), pressed for comments, Cohn had nothing to say publicly for days, though people close to him, the New York Times reported, said he was "disgusted and deeply upset" by Trump's comments.

He now claims he was thinking about what to do. Even, he said privately to friends, going so far as drafting a letter of resignation. 

Finally on Friday, after nearly two weeks of silence, Cohn revealed the results of his struggle--

Citizens standing up for equality and freedom can never be equated with white supremacists, Neo-Nazis, and the K.K.K. I believe this administration can and must do better in consistently and unequivocally condemning these groups and do everything we can to heal the deep divisions that exist in our communities.

He added--

As a Jewish American, I will not allow neo-Nazis ranting "Jews will not replace us" to cause this Jew to leave his job. [My italics]

Cohn also revealed that he spoke directly with Trump about his feelings. Thus far there is no detailed report of this alleged discussion. From the tepid nature of Cohn's formal statement, one can only guess how the meeting went.

The last thing Cohn wants to do, as he said, is to leave or lose his job. Especially since he has another one in mind as the current one awkwardly unfolds--he is looking forward to being named by Trump to replace Janet Yellen when her term as Federal Reserve System chair expires at the end of January.

In the long tradition of Jews serving as counsellors and advisors to princes and men in power (a version of this is Henry Kissinger serving anti-Semite Richard Nixon), Cohn does not want to receive the Reince Priebus/Steve Bannon heave-ho when he has something else of self-interest in mind. 

As skin-crawling as this makes this Jew (me) feel, Cohn doesn't get the prize for the most craven comment of the week by Trump's palace Jews. His other sycophantic Jew, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin--(who my mother, I know, would refer to as Steve Munchkin)--shortly after the events in Charlottesville came to his lord's defense--

While I find it hard to believe I should have to defend myself on this, or the president, I feel compelled to let you know that the president in no way, shape or form believes that neo-Nazi and other hate groups who endorse violence are equivalent to groups that demonstrate in peaceful and lawful ways.

This must mean that Munchkin doesn't want to mess up what he perceives to be a good thing and that the missus has more shopping to do.

After the Holocaust, surviving Jews vowed "never again." They pledged to do all in their power to confront anti-Semitism and prevent future genocides. And to that end committed themselves to not remain silent but to act fearlessly in the face of bigotry and hate. 

Though I am a non-observing Jew, I know this is still my responsibility. To the Jewish people, and more generally to all of humanity. We are required to speak out when we see injustice. And, equally important, to do our part to actively heal the world. Healing the world is Judaism's highest calling. It is called Tikkun Olam. 

Tikkun Olam is not about clinging to one's job. It is not about ignoring the moral implications. In fact, it is all about being guided by moral implications.

For the sake of their souls, Cohn and Mnuchin need to talk with their rabbis. 

Left to Right--Cohn, Mnuchin, Trump

August 25, 2017--Friday Potpourri

Some end-of-week reflections--

On America's declining competitiveness, a quote from Edward Luce's Time to Start Thinking--

"America spends more on potato chips every year than on [scientific and technological] research and development. More than half of U.S. patents are now awarded to non-U.S. companies. And there are now almost as many people (770,000) working in the country's correction industry, mostly prison guards, as there are employed in the auto sector."

*  *  *

A friend, who I had not thought would succumb to eclipse-mania, had a great time on Monday keeping track of it and taking all sorts of truly beautiful photos, including through the dozens of apertures that punctuate a kitchen colander so that it serves as a kind of multiplex pinhole projector. 

I asked her why she thought the solar event had so engaged millions of us. "Easy," she said, "It was the American eclipse, visible in its totality from coast to coast. No need as in the past to travel to Eastern Europe or some remote Pacific island to have the full experience."

Obsessed as I have been this week with reading Time to Start Thinking, which presents a convincing and disturbing picture of America's decline, thinking metaphorically, I wondered if Americans were so intrigued because we are in our own form of eclipse?

*   *   *

Then there is Louise Linton, B-picture actress wife of treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin, who really stepped into her Marie Antoinette impersonation. 

She was caught posting photos of herself on Instagram, stepping off a government jet, shlepping armfuls of shopping bags from designer shops including Tom Ford, Hermes, and Valentino.

To make matters extra vulgar she hash-tagged her purchases in case anyone didn't recognize the designer labels.

Apparently many did recognize them and eviscerated her in their comments. Not phased, as one peripheral to the in-your-face Trump administration, she responded--

Aw!!! Did you think this was a personal trip?! Adorable. Do you think the US govt paid for our honeymoon or personal travel?! Lololo. Have you given more to the economy than me (sic) and my husband? Either as an individual earner in taxes OR in self sacrifice to your country? [My italics]

I'm pretty sure we paid more taxes toward our 'day trip' than you did. Pretty sure the amount we sacrifice per year is a lot more than you'd be willing to sacrifice if the choice was yours.

Three "sacrifices" in fewer than 60 words. Clearly, they must be hurting, though from his financial disclosure form hubby Steve appears to be doing fairly well. He's worth at least $300 million.

*   *   *

Then what about ESPN's madness?

They pulled from the play-by-play booth one of the announcers who was set to call the season-opening football game in Charlottesville between the University of Virginia and William & Mary, Thomas Jefferson's alma mater. 

They did so, as they put it, to "avoid offending" some viewers.

What, I wondered, might be doing the offending? 

The ESPN answer--the announcer's name. It's Robert Lee.

Not Robert E. Lee, but apparently close enough. And no matter that ESPN's Robert Lee is Asian American.

A couple of issues--

How many people who might be offended--and for what reason that might be escapes me--how many do you think know enough about Robert E. Lee to be offended? UofV students? The college is about as selective as it gets and one would think students there would know the difference between a 19th century Confederate general and someone on ESPN of Chinese descent.

White supremacists, though, are another matter, and with ESPN losing money they don't want to offend this part of their shrinking viewership.

Louise Linton

August 18, 2017--What's Really Going On

From Donald Trump's perspective, it's not about white supremacy, it's not about America first, it's not about support for neo-Nazis, nor is it about immigrants. Though he does have hateful positions about all of these. 

As with almost everything about him, it's personal

For most of his followers, including that frightening base of about 25 percent of racist Americans as well as nearly 80 percent of Republicans who still support him, it is about some of these matters; but his appeal continues to derive primarily from his ability to mobilize the anger Americans feel at the eroding quality of their lives and their frustrations about America's diminishing place in the world.

Trump continues to be depressingly adept at exploiting their sense of decline and dislocation. He knows the buttons to push to elicit support when he sees it necessaryto shore up his coalition. Especially those who are at the hard core of his base. The ones he encourages through dog whistle statements and tweets that sanction the ugliest of reactions. The kind of scary hatred and violence we saw on display this past weekend in Charlottesville.

Again, none of this comes from genuine concern about Americans who feel they have been left behind (too many in fact have been). It is all about Donald Trump. Not about America but Donald Trump.

And so what we are witnessing is his latest reaction to what special counsel Robert Mueller is bringing to the boiling point--the role Trump himself played in stealing the presidency and his years of financial dealings with the Russians.

Concurrent with giving sanction to the mobilization of neo-Nazis and white supremacists were reports during the past two weeks about the FBI raid on former Trump campaign manager, Paul Manafort's house; what is turning up in the more than 20,000 documents the Trump campaign turned over to Mueller's people and what their perusal is beginning to reveal about collusion in the election with the Russians; and Mueller's move last week to seek testimony from senior White House aids, including recently-fired chief of staff, Reince Priebus.

Only Donald Trump knows what he did and didn't do. And this is clearly terrifying him.

If his hands are clean, he should have no concerns. On the other hand, if there is clear evidence that he knew and/or encouraged working with the Russians to undermine Hillary Clinton and/or if he has had significant financial dealings with Russians (many of them likely to be dirty), he has a lot to be more than concerned about. He should be feeling desperate.

Feeling desperate would explain much of his recent behavior, most vividly on display in his gyrating reaction to what was perpetrated in Charlottesville.

His desperation about his own, personal collapsing circumstances could be what has been motivating his increasingly grotesque behavior.

Again, it's all about Mueller.

Thus, we should soon see a renewed move to fire him and the offer of pardons to Michael Flynn and Paul Manafort. Both vulnerable to being "squeezed" by investigators in the hope that they will throw Trump under the bus to save their skins and keep them out of jail--which is where both are headed.

Meanwhile, while Charlottesville was blanketing the news, North Korea hasn't been sitting on its hands--expect reemerging threats from moves to launch more ICBMs and even renewed testing of nuclear weapons. This will give Trump the pretext to strike back and thereby clear the headlines of anything having to do with white supremacy or Trump people colluding with the Russians to undermining Clinton's campaign.

We'll see what the generals will say or do about that.

Of course, expect to see Steve Bannon receive his walking papers from the current chief of staff, John Kelly. Assuming Kelly himself doesn't quit before doing that.

Then, there is what Trump's senior advisors who are Jewish will do--treasury secretary, Steve Mnuchin and chief economic advisor Gary Cohen . . .

Son-in-law Jared Kushner might . . .

And daughter Ivanka may . . .

Left to Right--Gary Cohen, Steve Mnuchin, Donald Trump

April 10, 2017--Trumpology

In the old days of the Soviet Union, since it was a closed system impervious to Western snooping, one way to read the currents and countercurrents of Soviet leadership--who was in, who was rising, and who was about to be disappeared--was to analyze the pictures of the fur-hatted inner circle arrayed on the top of Lenin's tomb during May Day and other revolutionary celebrations.

Kremlinologists in Washington were tasked to figure this out and they did so by comparing from year to year who was moving into closer proximity to Lenin or Stalin and who was about to slide off the picture plane and soon thereafter into the literal abyss.

Where is the notorious Lavrentiy Beria, head of the fearsome KGB, this year? What about Molotov? Is he losing or gaining power and influence? And who is this upstart Nikita Khrushchev who's star seems to be rising--last year he was nowhere in sight; this year he's only four places from Stalin?

With the inner circle of the Trump White House in turmoil, with the Steve Bannon faction trying to oust son-in-law Jared Kushner and his allies, with Reince Priebus struggling to hold on as chief of staff, and with others close to Trump denying that anything of this sort is going on, with everyone spinning and lying, to get to the truth, as with the Russians, we are left with having to analyze images of the president's unruly team in action. We need to do a content analyst of them in much the same way that we used to try to figure out what was happening in Moscow.

Look carefully of the picture below. It is of the Mar-a-Lago situation room where Trump and his team retired Thursday afternoon to discuss the missile attack on a Syrian airbase.

Mar-a-Lago Situation Room

Seated at the adult table, of course, are Trump at its head and an assortment of Cabinet secretaries. To Trump's left is Rex Tillerson, the almost mute Secretary of State who up to now, nearly three months into the Trump presidency, has not spoken many more than 200 words in public. Across from him, at the president's right are fellow billionaires Wilber Ross, Secretary of Commerce and Steven Mnuchin, Secretary of the Treasury, who is not quite at the table. And then it gets interesting.

To Mnuchin's right, decidedly at the table is Jared Kushner and across from him, not at the table but leaning aggressively forward is Gary Cohn, Trump's favorite economic advisor and Kushner ally, who is being discussed as Reince Priebus' replacement. At the table, with the growing bald spot or tonsure is Priebus himself who appears to need to be careful because Cohn is eyeing him ominously and is about about to pounce on him and seize both his chair and job.

Most interesting to Trumpologists is where Steven Bannon is relegated. Earlier in the week he was unceremoniously dumped from his self-assigned seat on the "Principals Committee" of the National Security Council. Here, about as far away from the adult table at a small children's side table of his own, is the dramatically deflated Senior Strategist. And because of the nasty way in which the picture is framed it looks as if Bannon is wearing a lampshade on his head.

 Moscow, Palm Beach--a picture is worth at least a thousand words.

And, oh, my advice-don't bet against the son-in-law.