Opening criminal investigation into the origin of the Mueller investigation is more than a salve for
Donald Trump’s ego. I believe it ties in neatly to Helsinki. Recall Trump’s body language standing next to Vladimir Putin. It seems clear Putin told Trump something that he did not want to hear. I guess he told Trump that he would not be receiving any more help unless he got the sanctions lifted.
Now Trump, facing an uphill re-election bid, needs help from Putin if he has any chance of
Winning in 2020. And if he loses, he will have even more need of the billions he surely has been promised for lifting sanctions. Remember, the Exxon deal, worth $500 billion to Russia, is being held up because of sanctions.
Part of Trump’s Ukraine “deal,” besides demanding a rigged investigation of Biden, was to absolve Russia of hacking the Democratic National Committee’s email and interfering in the 2016 election. The only purpose of this part of the Ukraine deal was to get the sanctions lifted. But now any narrative about election interference coming out of Ukraine will lack the credibility to change public opinion. So, with the Ukraine whitewash blown-up, Trump is running the same disinformation play with Attorney General, Bill Barr, and the Department of Justice that he tried run in Ukraine.
Trump is desperate to remove the reasons for sanctions on Russia. To that end, Trump had Barr appoint John Durham, the U.S. Attorney in Connecticut, to lead an investigation into the origins of the investigation into Russia’s role in rigging the 2016 election. While Durham may be an honorable public servant, we know Barr is not. Barr may be playing the part of the cook who puts a frog in a pot of water to cook. By the time the frog realizes that the heat is being turned up and the water is boiling, it’s too late for the frog. The tale tells us that the frog will be surprised, but it does not tell us if the cook’s assistant is also surprised. In a few months, Barr may fire or remove Durham – especially if he finds corrupt motives underlying the investigation - and replace him with someone like Trump sycophant Matt Whittaker.
And, one should not think (1) that this criminal investigation is only to provide a talking point for Trump or (2) that there will be no indictments or convictions. Donald Trump would not be the first leader who achieved authoritarian power by using trumped-up charges against his political opponents. Some pundits believe that opening a criminal investigation is an attempted diversion from House’s impending impeachment of Trump. It is undoubtedly true that Trump has used distractions in the past. But, Trump’s disregard for the European alliance, abandonment of the Kurds in Syria, and attempt to use his office to increase profits at his properties are not diversions. We make a mistake to assume that everything he does is a diversion from something else. He is unrelenting and powerful, with a strong desire to avenge perceived harm. Why would we doubt his motive for vengeance or tyranny?
Summary
We should not exaggerate Trump’s desire to divert attention from his impending impeachment. A desire to be a tyrant also motivates him. And, one of the first steps many tyrants have used on the road to authoritarianism is to bring false charges against their political enemies. Trump demonstrates his evil over and over.
Donald Trump’s ego. I believe it ties in neatly to Helsinki. Recall Trump’s body language standing next to Vladimir Putin. It seems clear Putin told Trump something that he did not want to hear. I guess he told Trump that he would not be receiving any more help unless he got the sanctions lifted.
Now Trump, facing an uphill re-election bid, needs help from Putin if he has any chance of
Winning in 2020. And if he loses, he will have even more need of the billions he surely has been promised for lifting sanctions. Remember, the Exxon deal, worth $500 billion to Russia, is being held up because of sanctions.
Part of Trump’s Ukraine “deal,” besides demanding a rigged investigation of Biden, was to absolve Russia of hacking the Democratic National Committee’s email and interfering in the 2016 election. The only purpose of this part of the Ukraine deal was to get the sanctions lifted. But now any narrative about election interference coming out of Ukraine will lack the credibility to change public opinion. So, with the Ukraine whitewash blown-up, Trump is running the same disinformation play with Attorney General, Bill Barr, and the Department of Justice that he tried run in Ukraine.
Trump is desperate to remove the reasons for sanctions on Russia. To that end, Trump had Barr appoint John Durham, the U.S. Attorney in Connecticut, to lead an investigation into the origins of the investigation into Russia’s role in rigging the 2016 election. While Durham may be an honorable public servant, we know Barr is not. Barr may be playing the part of the cook who puts a frog in a pot of water to cook. By the time the frog realizes that the heat is being turned up and the water is boiling, it’s too late for the frog. The tale tells us that the frog will be surprised, but it does not tell us if the cook’s assistant is also surprised. In a few months, Barr may fire or remove Durham – especially if he finds corrupt motives underlying the investigation - and replace him with someone like Trump sycophant Matt Whittaker.
And, one should not think (1) that this criminal investigation is only to provide a talking point for Trump or (2) that there will be no indictments or convictions. Donald Trump would not be the first leader who achieved authoritarian power by using trumped-up charges against his political opponents. Some pundits believe that opening a criminal investigation is an attempted diversion from House’s impending impeachment of Trump. It is undoubtedly true that Trump has used distractions in the past. But, Trump’s disregard for the European alliance, abandonment of the Kurds in Syria, and attempt to use his office to increase profits at his properties are not diversions. We make a mistake to assume that everything he does is a diversion from something else. He is unrelenting and powerful, with a strong desire to avenge perceived harm. Why would we doubt his motive for vengeance or tyranny?
Summary
We should not exaggerate Trump’s desire to divert attention from his impending impeachment. A desire to be a tyrant also motivates him. And, one of the first steps many tyrants have used on the road to authoritarianism is to bring false charges against their political enemies. Trump demonstrates his evil over and over.
