By Dan Peak
The Commoner Call (8/22/19)
Dear Fellow Readers,
Sometimes there is a perfect headline. There is one key Trump-Russia flavor to Trump’s recent frenzy of batshit statements, but it’s hard to pass this up:
The President Is Currently Serving Up Several Flavors of Batshit on Twitter
The ‘twitter’ part is irrelevant, what Esquire columnist Jack Holmes describes as “lunacy” is the important part. Holmes highlights (and links to the Trump tweets) Trump’s notice that he will “reschedule” his trip to Denmark since Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen didn’t immediately embrace Trump’s offer to purchase Greenland. Whatever you might think about Trump’s interest in Greenland, it’s hard to imagine how his original announcement by tweet had any chance of a warm reception. Trump diplomacy is as subtle as his pursuit of his love interests.
Without bothering to look I envision rapture by many over the strategic genius that is Trump and his plan to purchase Greenland. Speaking of rapture…
This from a threaded Trump tweet:
“Thank you to Wayne Allyn Root for the very nice words. “President Trump is the greatest President for Jews and for Israel in the history of the world, not just America, he is the best President for Israel in the history of the world…and the Jewish people in Israel love him….
“….like he’s the King of Israel. They love him like he is the second coming of God…But American Jews don’t know him or like him. They don’t even know what they’re doing or saying anymore. It makes no sense! But that’s OK, if he keeps doing what he’s doing, he’s good for…..
“….all Jews, Blacks, Gays, everyone. And importantly, he’s good for everyone in America who wants a job.” Wow!”
Even scarier, Wayne Allyn Root is “a conspiracy theorist who has trafficked completely evidence-free stories about Obama’s birthplace, Seth Rich, the Las Vegas shooting, and Charlottesville. He is nuts.”
Trump went on to his “doing great with China and other Trade Deals” while attacking the Fed and Chairman Jay Powell.
And he promised to make our cars safer, “run smoother” and save us “$3,000” on the average price of a new car.
Trump Craziness Brings Risk of Global Financial Crisis
The economies of Italy and Germany are now officially in decline. For Germany this is due to a decline in exports and car production and credit is given to Trump’s trade war with China. Germany is expecting further decline in third quarter.
The New York Times Editorial Board lays the heightened concerns at the feet of Trump with, “The most obvious corrective is to abandon Mr. Trump’s erratic campaign to extract concessions from China and other major trading partners.”
Even though Trump wrongly claims US consumers and companies are not paying for his tariffs he contradicts himself by seeking alternate ways to delay tariffs that affect consumer products and/or embrace tax changes that might increase consumer spending. Trump we assume, like always, will double down and sure enough…
Trump admits his trade war could lead to recession but says ‘I have to do it’
While looking for quick fixes Trump declares “there is no recession on the way”. Then followed this denial with a full-on embrace:
““I am doing this whether it’s good or bad for your statement about, ‘Oh, will we fall into a recession for two months?’ The fact is, somebody had to take China on,” Trump said.”
Recession – no, yes. Payroll tax cut as short-term incentive to paper over the damage he is causing the US economy – no, yes, no. And this is the pattern; consider gun control.
Trump Retreats, Again, on Guns
Trump and gun control – no, yes, no, yes, no. This time it only took one call from National Rifle Association chief executive Wayne LaPierre for Trump to cave on universal background checks, something supported by “More than 90 percent” of voters.
Another Trump fuck-up – not only will he not balance the budget…
U.S. deficit to expand by about $800 billion more than previously expected over 10 years, CBO says
Trump’s tax cut for the very rich already increased the deficit hitting an estimated $1 trillion” annually, but latest estimates are even worse yet again.
His tax increase resulted in new record budget deficits while fears of a recession increase. Stable genius.
*****
Lost in all the batshit noise and nastiness, Trump is quietly pushing to advantage Putin and Russia – again. The Trump-Russia quid pro quo hidden in mix.
Trump Again Pushes For Russia’s Readmittance To G-7, Says It Would Be ‘Appropriate’
A reminder, Russia was pushed out of the G-8 after annexing Crimea in 2014.
And Trump believes Russia should be rewarded for what reason? The only point he offers is something about Obama was “outsmarted” by Putin and thus wanted Russia out of the G8. No mention of the 13,000 deaths in Ukraine or the ongoing conflict.
But former FBI Assistant Director Frank Figliuzzi offers a different opinion, characterizing Trump’s message to Putin as, “you can do anything you want and you’ll still have a champion in the Oval Office and that champion is Donald Trump.” And more to the point, after 2016 election interference and Trump’s lack of accountability for Putin:
“Is this a quid pro quo playing out in the public arena, I do this for you, you do this for me?”
Trump 2020, “Russia if you’re listening…”.
Can you take full-on Trump batshit crazy – unlimited time in office, executive order to change the constitution over citizen birthright and MUCH more.