Sunday, May 14, 2017
Take Heed Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu --- This Guy is a Quart of Oil Short! Library is well stocked - with Dr. Zeuss books. Life by Norman Rockwell, screenplay by Stephen King. A few tiles missing from his Space Shuttle. An ego like a black hole..
He Shows He Is Unfit. Yet He's Still the President.
*"Living proof of evolution. A hump short of a camel. Mentally qualified for handicapped parking. So dumb, blondes tell jokes about him. So stupid, mind readers charge him half price. A "crackpot" without the cholent" Takes him 1.5 hours to watch "60 Minutes".*
The system can deal with a crooked president. But not a crazy one.
President Donald Trump is not always crazy like a fox.
And that -- more than obstruction of justice, or any potential
criminality related to Russia -- is the greatest threat facing the U.S.
It's also a threat that U.S. institutions are failing to acknowledge,
let alone confront.
Trump is unlikely to succeed at completely derailing the FBI investigation into his campaign's ties to Russia. But he might undermine it enough to avoid any serious consequences. Even without his subterfuge, the investigation could prove inconclusive.
But at least there is an investigation into Russia, in addition to congressional inquiries, news reporting, and a general mobilization of expert opinion and institutions. The investigations are vital. Unless they are, ultimately, beside the point.
For two days early this week, Trump's staff went to great lengths to establish a plausible claim that Trump did not instigate the firing of FBI director James Comey. Instead, White House aides and Vice President Mike Pence insisted that Trump was responding to concerns raised in a memo by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.
This White House has not assembled a highly competent or ethical team. So the explanations were pretty dodgy. But they nonetheless represented a coordinated effort to define Trump's actions and confine the political damage from firing Comey.
Then on Thursday Trump told NBC News anchor Lester Holt that Rosenstein's memo wasn't even significant. "I -- I was going to fire Comey," Trump said. Holt immediately questioned him on the issue, all but encouraging Trump to get his story aligned with the previous White House talking points. Trump wasn't having it.
"Oh, I was gonna fire regardless of recommendation," Trump said.
There is good reason for journalists and others to ask whether Trump's statements to Holt constitute something close to an admission that he fired Comey to impede the Russia investigation. (Trump said he was eager for the investigation to end.) There is good reason to use this interview as evidence that Trump's White House staff is often no more truthful than Trump himself.
But the issue of the motives and means of the Trump White House is small compared with the enduring madness of the man himself. Trump's admission to Holt was not an effort to distract from a bunch of bad news stories. Does Trump use such tactics? Frequently. And from this comes the notion that Trump is "crazy like a fox."
But the Holt interview wasn't evidence of being crazy like a fox. This was not a devious move.
Trump can be cunning. But he also flails wildly, harming others often and himself occasionally. His recent interviews with the Economist and Time were bizarre and frequently incoherent.
As my colleague Jon Bernstein wrote:
The Russia investigation serves as an outlet for collective anxiety about Trump's unfitness, just as the prospect of indictments offers a potential deus ex machina to resolve the dangers inherent in Trump's administration. But what if they resolve nothing? Or take too long doing so?
It's easy to miss the dense and haunted forest of Trump for all the trees. Speaking to National Public Radio, Republican Senator Ben Sasse, who has kept a safe distance from Trump, spoke of his concerns and lamented the state of American political conflict.
Trump is unlikely to succeed at completely derailing the FBI investigation into his campaign's ties to Russia. But he might undermine it enough to avoid any serious consequences. Even without his subterfuge, the investigation could prove inconclusive.
But at least there is an investigation into Russia, in addition to congressional inquiries, news reporting, and a general mobilization of expert opinion and institutions. The investigations are vital. Unless they are, ultimately, beside the point.
For two days early this week, Trump's staff went to great lengths to establish a plausible claim that Trump did not instigate the firing of FBI director James Comey. Instead, White House aides and Vice President Mike Pence insisted that Trump was responding to concerns raised in a memo by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.
This White House has not assembled a highly competent or ethical team. So the explanations were pretty dodgy. But they nonetheless represented a coordinated effort to define Trump's actions and confine the political damage from firing Comey.
Then on Thursday Trump told NBC News anchor Lester Holt that Rosenstein's memo wasn't even significant. "I -- I was going to fire Comey," Trump said. Holt immediately questioned him on the issue, all but encouraging Trump to get his story aligned with the previous White House talking points. Trump wasn't having it.
"Oh, I was gonna fire regardless of recommendation," Trump said.
There is good reason for journalists and others to ask whether Trump's statements to Holt constitute something close to an admission that he fired Comey to impede the Russia investigation. (Trump said he was eager for the investigation to end.) There is good reason to use this interview as evidence that Trump's White House staff is often no more truthful than Trump himself.
But the issue of the motives and means of the Trump White House is small compared with the enduring madness of the man himself. Trump's admission to Holt was not an effort to distract from a bunch of bad news stories. Does Trump use such tactics? Frequently. And from this comes the notion that Trump is "crazy like a fox."
But the Holt interview wasn't evidence of being crazy like a fox. This was not a devious move.
Trump can be cunning. But he also flails wildly, harming others often and himself occasionally. His recent interviews with the Economist and Time were bizarre and frequently incoherent.
As my colleague Jon Bernstein wrote:
Trump can't be bothered to even master his own talking points, even in something which could put his entire presidency at risk. Or perhaps he's intellectually incapable of doing so.Trump is almost supernatural in his multivariate unfitness, combining combustible levels of ignorance, amorality, venality and mental imbalance in a way not seen even when Richard Nixon drank alone.
The Russia investigation serves as an outlet for collective anxiety about Trump's unfitness, just as the prospect of indictments offers a potential deus ex machina to resolve the dangers inherent in Trump's administration. But what if they resolve nothing? Or take too long doing so?
It's easy to miss the dense and haunted forest of Trump for all the trees. Speaking to National Public Radio, Republican Senator Ben Sasse, who has kept a safe distance from Trump, spoke of his concerns and lamented the state of American political conflict.
We have a crisis of public trust in this country that is much deeper than just the last four months or the last 18 months. We have an erosion of a shared narrative about what America is about. And we have the huge unpopularity of almost all of our governing institutions. That should trouble everybody.Yes, indeed. That's all true. Meanwhile, however, we have a slightly more pressing problem. The president of the United States is mentally and morally unfit with a nuclear arsenal at his fingertips. And no one in Washington knows what to do about it.
This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial
board or Bloomberg LP and its owners, but does reflect the opinion of
this Blogger!
- He told the Economist he invented the use of "priming the pump" with regard to the economy. It's probably most associated with Franklin Roosevelt, and even if Trump meant "came upon it" rather than "came up with it" it's remarkable for anyone in his position to be that ignorant of normal economics usage. Then again, he's never shown that he knows anything about economics.
- He spoke gibberish about aircraft carriers to Time magazine: "I said what system are you going to be–'Sir, we’re staying with digital.' I said no you’re not. You going to goddamned steam, the digital costs hundreds of millions of dollars more money and it’s no good." I know very little about aircraft carriers, but the people who do know this stuff confirm that he doesn't know what he's talking about. Not that he's wrong, mind you; he isn't coherent enough to be wrong.
- Then he completely contradicted his own explanation on James Comey's firing to NBC News. The old story that Trump was reacting to a recommendation from the Department of Justice; the new story is that he was always going to fire Comey.
7 comments:
Test
The formatting is a bit off - is this the comment section for Monday on "Oval Office Crazy"?
https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-rival-saar-hires-anti-trump-lincoln-project-founders/
While it's true that Bibi is no angel & Trump is no Baal Musser, Sa'ar & his rabid anti-Bibi, anti-Trump backers at the Leftist Times of Israel are looking really pathetic right now.
They are boasting that the sour grapes losers from the Lincoln Project have been brought in to ramp up badmouthing of Bibi.
https://nypost.com/2021/01/16/lincoln-project-co-founder-john-weaver-exits-after-sexting-young-men-report/
They make zero mention that a week earlier a Lincoln Project founder was forced out because he was abusing his authority to get maysei toyevah out of young new hires in exchange for their employment.
https://theunorthodoxjew.blogspot.com/2008/11/opportunities-in-adversity.html
November 4, 2008
https://matzav.com/bombshell-cnn-was-in-on-it-reporter-disguised-herself-as-trump-supporter-and-plotted-with-blm-member/
Shoyn nishtatef geven in dem petition vus Trrrump darrrft gebben posthumous parrrdon tzim Yidi Kolko?
Kal vuchoimerrr, ben bnoi shel kal vuchoimerr oib meh vett parrrdonen Herrring Frrresserrr Shelly Silverrr & rrroish haganuvim Shulem Veiss!
Kolko! Kolko!
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/18/us/politics/trump-pardons.html
The NY Times is reporting that former NY State Legislative Speaker Sheldon Silver is among those under consideration for a pardon or a commutation by President Trump.
Silver was convicted twice on corruption charges & sentenced to prison.
Another person under consideration for clemency is Sholam Weiss, the recipient of the longest-ever white-collar prison sentence in US history, according to a source who discussed the matter with a family member & another person briefed on conversations in the White House.
Weiss was sentenced to 800+ years in prison for racketeering, wire fraud & money laundering related to an immense scheme that siphoned $450 million from an insurance company, leading to its collapse. He spent a year on the run before being arrested in Austria & extradited to the US.
Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu warns today of extended lockdown, despite a successful vaccination campaign
At a vaccine center in Beit Shemesh with Health Minister Edelstein, Bibi said, “We need another short period of restrictions. In any case, we won't extend by more than 2 weeks”
Channel 13 reports Bibi supports extending lockdown by at least 10 days, for 2 weekends
The Cabinet meets tomorrow on extending beyond the scheduled end on Jan 21
Edelstein also supports longer lockdown: “We request extended lockdown. There’s no option”
Bibi lauded Israel’s response to the pandemic & blamed more contagious virus variants for runaway infections
“The mutation runs wild around the world. Europe talks of lockdown until Apr. That’s not our situation”
Bibi added he spoke to world leaders to advance research & vaccines for viruses & future pandemics
He instructed Edelstein & Transport Minister Regev to immediately test travelers entering Israel & to further tighten regs for flights
An ongoing concern is Haredi outbreaks & violations in some of that community
Roni Numa, the official overseeing pandemic response in the Haredi community, said today more enforcement's needed to close Haredi yeshivas
Numa said shutting yeshivas for another 10 days is exceedingly difficult, emphasizing most yeshivas are closed, only about 15% remain open
“Even if only a small part's open, if we don’t stop it, the pandemic grows,” he warned
He said 30% of infections come from Haredim who're only 10% of the population
20+% of tests come back positive in Haredi areas compared to 5% in the general population, Numa said
Bibi today asked a Haredi leader Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, to keep yeshivas shut if lockdown's extended, as per reports
Bibi presented Kanievsky data on outbreak severity & told the rabbi the Israeli public / media are looking for yeshivas in violation, resulting in widespread loss of faith in the lockdown that endangers the public
Bibi's message to Kanievsky was thru the rabbi’s nephew. It wasn’t clear if Bibi & Kanievsky spoke directly
Haaretz reported yesterday Kanievsky authorized yeshivas to reopen, but officials close to the rabbi didn't confirm it. Kanievsky previously ordered yeshivas shut “for days,” following a previous Bibi appeal
Yesterday, Defense Minister Gantz, amid many reports of large-scale institutional Haredi lockdown violations, said there's “no point” in lockdown if enforcement's selective
Haredim repeatedly flout govt rules thru the pandemic, while authorities do little enforcement in the Haredi public. Critics say Bibi avoids it, to not anger his Haredi coalition partners
Police attempts to enforce laws are often met with violence
The Health Ministry today said positive tests yesterday were 9.1%, the highest in 2+ months
Today's test positivity passed 10% for the 1st time in 3+ months, 7,098 new infections for active cases at 81,532 & 11 new deaths, bringing the tally to 4,040
Ministers are divided on extended lockdown, which shut business & education, but officials say it needs extending for at least a week to bring infections in control
Health officials hoped for infection-serious case drop, but there's no such trend. More contagious variants (UK) are blamed for difficulty bringing down illness rates & easing heavy loads on hospitals, despite lockdown & mass vaccinations
Last night, the Cabinet put further limits on arrivals from abroad, deciding all from UAE & Brazil be quarantined in govt-run hotels. Arrivals from South Africa & Zambia are also currently forced to quarantine hotels
Other arrivals can quarantine at home — but only if tested on arrival & again 9 days later
Ministers are weighing more restrictions, even banning all travel from Israel
For the first time since the pandemic began, more than 10,000 new virus cases were confirmed yesterday in Israel, despite ongoing lockdown.
The Health Ministry said this morning a record 10,021 infections were confirmed, bringing the total since the start to 562,167, including 81,059 active.
Positive tests passed 10% for the 1st time in 3+ months, with 10.2% of 100k positive. There were 1,114 serious cases, including 347 critical & 277 ventilated. The death toll grew to 4,049.
Oxford University figures indicate Israel leads the world in new cases per capita over the past week, ahead of Portugal, Andorra, Czechia, Ireland & Lebanon. However, that figure's affected by Israel conducting the 4th highest number of tests per capita in the world.
Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu & Health Minister Edelstein ignored the dire statistics in tweets this morning highlighting Israel’s successful vaccine campaign, regarded as the world’s earliest & quickest. However, the vaccines have yet to slacken the pace of the outbreak.
Bibi said: “We continue full force, reopening our economy & going back to normal.”
But normal's not on the horizon. The virus cabinet convenes today to decide if to extend lockdown. It's expected to be extended 7-10 days.
Defense Minister Gantz, who said extending's “pointless” if enforcement's selective, told ministers in his Blue + White party he supports extending 10 days, but only under several conditions.
The conditions: enforcement in Haredi hotspots, immediate hiking violator fines, increased govt payouts to business, required negative test for passengers before flights to Israel & immediate vaccinating ages 16-18 to ensure bagrut matriculation exams as planned.
A report yesterday said ministers will be presented with a grim prediction of renewed major outbreak in coming months.
Reported by Channel 12, rapid spread of the more infectious British mutation could cause a 4th wave in Mar / Apr after the economy reopens. The scenario sees the variant responsible for most infections.
Accordingly, even few members of risk groups not vaccinated can be enough to send 100s of serious COVID patients to already overcrowded hospitals under immense strain.
A health official told Channel 12 that Bibi’s frequent remarks Israel's overcoming the pandemic are over-optimistic & irresponsible. Bibi made vaccines his campaign centerpiece ahead of elections.
Meanwhile, criticism intensifies on discrimination in enforcing lockdown, of significant fewer fines in Haredi areas, where the outbreak's disproportionately intense with widespread flouting of measures. Meanwhile, most fines are in Arab locales, with infections significantly lower than by Haredim
Kan reports Haredi Bnei Brak, with 20% positive, saw just 2.6 fines per 1000 residents, while Tel Aviv (4% positive) has 5.6 fines per 1000 & Beersheba (6%) has 5.15.
Footage of yet another mass wedding in Bnei Brak drew outrage last night, with police taking an hour after it was widely reported to arrive. Officers eventually ended it, handed out fines & summoned organizers for questioning on suspicion of spreading disease.
Condemnation came from across the spectrum, including from Aryeh Deri, head of Shas. He said the wedding contravened a Torah commandment to “be very careful with your lives,” caused “severe desecration of G-d’s name” & tainted the image of all Haredim.
The town at the highest rate (28.5%), Beitar Illit, sees widespread calls to not “inform” on rule flouters. The town’s rabbinical court forbids informing authorities without its approval.
Roni Numa, govt official on pandemic response in the Haredi community, said yesterday that more enforcement's needed to close Haredi yeshivas.
Bibi yesterday asked Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, a major Haredi leader, to keep yeshivas shut if lockdown's extended, according to media reports.
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