That Was the Week That Was

Since I last did a post about the rampant insanity surrounding the administration of He Who Must Not Be Named (HWMNBN), I decided to observe the never ending looney happenings for about a week and reflect on them.  Here’s what happened in a big ugly nutshell.

• The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refused to reinstate HWMNBN’s travel ban on immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries.
• Kellyanne Conway, counselor to HWMNBN, violated federal ethics rules by promoting Ivanka’s fashion line from the White House.  Office of Govt. Ethics Director Walter Shaub, in a letter to the White House, said Conway's urging of Americans to buy Ivanka’s products during a television interview from the White House briefing room "would establish a clear violation of the prohibition against misuse of position."  The letter further states "Under the present circumstances, there is strong reason to believe that Ms. Conway has violated the Standards of Conduct and that disciplinary action is warranted."
• HWMNBN castigated Nordstrom in one of his incessant Tweets (or in his case, Twits) for removing that fashion line.  Nordstrom stock increased in value.  As a businessman, he should understand the concept of removing merchandise that doesn’t sell well.
• Mike Flynn, National Security Advisor, discussed sanctions with the Russian ambassador before the HWMNBN administration took office, reported by the Washington Post.
• 6 New England Patriots have said they will decline the invitation to the White House which is the norm nowadays for champion teams.
• At a D.C. public middle school, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos had to enter through a side door when the front door was blocked by protesters including parents, teachers from other schools, and union officials.
• At various Republican town halls, angered citizens protested the proposed scrapping of ObamaCare.
• Flynn resigned on Feb. 13.  HWMNBN was notified about Justice Dept’s concerns about Flynn Jan. 26.   VP Mike Pence wasn’t told by HWMNBN until Feb. 9.
• The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in North Dakota asked a judge to block an easement granted under the HWMNBN administration that allowed the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline project to go forward. Attorneys for the tribe said in court documents that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers committed to a full environmental review of the project but was ordered to rush approvals after you know who took office. The documents state "Within a few days of his inauguration, the new President abandoned this commitment — perpetuating our nation's pattern of broken promises to the Tribe — and directed the Army to 'review and approve' pipeline permits on an expedited basis." The tribe and its supporters believe the pipeline poses a threat to a reservoir that supplies the tribe's drinking water. The pipeline project, which crosses four states, is estimated to be able to transport 570,000 barrels of oil a day.

Well, that was some week.  What are we to make of it?  One thing that seems painfully apparent, this political circus won’t run out of steam any time soon.  Conway’s political faux pas was more than just a rookie mistake.  It showed that she is incapable of conducting herself in the manner necessary for a presidential advisor.  That’s no surprise since she has done nothing but drop the ball since the Nightmare on Pennsylvania Avenue commenced on Jan. 20.

As bad as Conway is, Flynn was potentially worse.  He blamed his major blunder on the “fast pace of events”.  A retired General can’t handle fast paced events?  To quote the immortal John McEnroe, you can’t be serious.  Pence being kept in the dark for 2 weeks brings to mind former Vice President John Garner’s statement that the Vice Presidency wasn’t worth a bucket of warm piss.

The angry reception DeVos and some Republican representatives have faced is a good sign.  Keep it up, folks.  So far this presidential administration is not business as usual, it’s an ongoing train wreck with catastrophe just around the bend.  

The Dakota pipeline decision, Conway’s shilling for Ivanka, and Melania’s husband bitching about Nordstrom’s decision show that HWMNBN was full of crap about draining the swamp.  He is still a businessman at his core and, as much as those who voted for him griped about politicians, his actions show the danger of letting a high-powered international businessman try to ramrod that business approach into handling national and international politics.

That’s all for now and, as Hawkeye said, bye-bye and buy bonds.

Posted by Exile in Oregon - Medford