The Fog Of War

Have you gotten tired of all the back and forth blogging and tweeting that take us from "Trump is Toast" to "The Deep State is Going Down?"

Does anyone really know what is truly happening? I have a strong feeling that if they do, they're keeping mum about it, for good reason. The number of unsolved homicides and suspicious suicides surrounding national political intrigue is enough to give anyone pause.

I believe we are experiencing the Fog of War. Both sides are using smoke screens to obscure their maneuvering, to draw the public's attention away to something shiny while actual events are occurring. This is to be expected. And let's not doubt for a minute that there is a war in progress and it still could go either way. Mueller wants to hang Trump's pelt on his tent post and Trump wants to destroy the bureaucratic and financial/global interests that drive so much of this nation's foreign and domestic policies.

During much of my recuperation from surgery I have tried to follow the various threads/sources that allegedly reveal the various plots and subplots that are gripping the nation's political elites. I feel that I am little more informed than I was several months ago simply because ... who can you trust? Who is spinning and who is straight? Who sees through the chaff and who is co-opted?

To no one's surprise, the Kabuki theater antics of the media are of no help at all.

But in the flood of emails that have received so much attention there are several opinions I have formed/strengthened that I can espouse:

1. The upper level management of the FBI was/is severely politically compromised. No surprises here.
2. The upper level management of America's intelligence community was/is likewise compromised. The extent of this is somewhat surprising.
3. The upper level management of all three branches of our government is lying through their teeth in one way or another. No surprises here either.
4. Everyone at these stratospheric levels knows what the others at this level are doing and they are all scared spitless. Hence the lies, hence the Fog of War.

Eventually heads are going to roll. Bet your bottom dollar on this.

Whose heads? 

Good question.
It will probably take several months before we know. Grab some popcorn and adult beverages of your choice, it will take a while before all the maneuvering is done and the strongest (smartest? most clever? most ruthless? most prepared?) emerges as the winner. I sincerely hope Trump emerges victorious, but probably not unscathed.

What really ticks me off is that the Fog will probably not be completely swept away for years. The Fog surrounding the assassination of President Kennedy still lingers and I have a feeling that present day events will be no different.

But that's just my opinion. What do I know...

I Know The Feeling

The way things have gone, she won't go back to France either.

The White House Moved To LA Last Night

You may as well bring a big pan of lasagna or a bundt cake to the Emmy Awards as a house warming gift; President Trump has taken up permanent residence inside their heads.

Los Angeles (AFP) - Television's glittering Emmys placed politics front and center on Sunday, lavishing "The Handmaid's Tale" with awards for its bleak portrait of an authoritarian America.

The glitzy ceremony in downtown Los Angeles -- the first under the administration of President Donald Trump -- was widely expected to have a strongly political flavor, and host Stephen Colbert set the tone in his opening monologue. 

Stephen took a break from spraying graffiti on the sides of subway cars in order to host the awards.

"However you feel about the president, and you do feel about the president, you can't deny that every show was influenced by Donald Trump in some way," he said.

First Lady Melania will have her staff sweep out the dust liberals, spray for Screen Actors Guild cockroaches and toss out the porn before settling in for a major remodeling effort.

The news article goes on to list the programs that received Emmy awards but *yawn* who cares...

Gorsuch Confirmed 54-45, Chuck Schumer Hardest Hit

Gorsuch confirmed...this is not exactly breaking news, is it? In fact, he's getting sworn in today at the White House. But, I saw this over at Polination, and the numbers struck me.

A) “Joe Donnelly (IN), Heidi Heitcamp (ND) and Joe Manchin (WV)”

Q) Name three Democrats up for reelection, in states that voted heavily for Trump.

Fifty-one would have been a bare majority. Gorsuch passed with three to spare. Three Democrats voted to confirm...Hmm. A bandwagon, perhaps??

One of the dirty little secrets of politics, is the ability of Congress Critters to cast a vote in such a manner so as to bamboozle, to use our former president's favorite word, one's constituents in order to deceive them, as you fleece them of their votes. First, is there any one among us who believes that if the vote were say, forty nine to forty nine that any of these three would have cast a deciding vote to put a conservative on the Supreme Court and risk the wrath of their party to do so? I don't think so.

Each party in the Senate and House have a Majority and Minority "Whip". The whip is responsible for counting votes and making sure that the party faithful follow the party line, or face the consequences. With just one exception, that is, hot button issues in an election year. We've seen this in the past.

That There Is Funny

Right Jabs For Sunday, August 28, 2016

Patriot Retort:  Keep your word.

90 Miles From Tyranny:  Look to the Netherlands for Clinton Foundation’s ongoing source of cash.

Ace of Spades:  Colin Kaepernick: The NFL's Newest Blithering Idiot

Hot Air:  Christie: Trump's immigration comments won't turn off supporters

The Guardian:  Welcome to Iowa, where Trump's purple patch could turn a blue state red.

New York Post:  Team Obama’s new low in the name of ‘trans rights’

Daily Mail:  NIGEL FARAGE: Trump was MY warm-up man... but I gave him a bounce - and he'll be new Ronald Reagan 
The New York Times:  Breitbart Rises From Outlier to Potent Voice in Campaign

USA Today:  Clinton's cash for access diplomacy: Glenn Reynolds

The American Spectator:  The Standard Bearer of Bull Connor’s Party Calls Trump Racist

American Enterprise Institute:  How Obama’s FDA keeps generic drugs off the market

The Long War Journal:  Zawahiri calls on Muslims to support Taliban, reject Islamic State

The Times of Israel:  Obama’s $400m cash payout to Iran is unprecedented, say legal experts

Manhattan Institute:  Covering Up the Pension Crisis

Commentary Magazine:  Hillary Milhous Clinton

Real Science:  Another Arctic Alarmist Disaster

Fred On Everything:  Milwaukee

Battle Royale: The CNBC GOP Presidential Debate

Tonight as the GOP presidential candidates converge at the University of Colorado-Boulder to debate the nation’s economy the stage has been set for far more than just a debate.  It’s going to be a battle royale.

John Kasich is fed up.  “I’ve about had it with these people.  I’m sick and tired of listening to this nonsense and I’m going to have to call like it is in this race…I’m done being polite,” he said.

A few days ago Donald Trump insisted on taking credit for a business move made by Ford Motor Company that he had absolutely nothing to do with and was decided on nearly four years ago.  Kasich pushed back tweeting, “Together Ohio brought Ford back from Mexico.”  Ford spokeswoman Kristina Adaminski flatly refuted Trump’s claim.

Kasich and the Ohio legislature have been working hard to stop the migration of automobile manufacturers from his state to Mexico and are trying to prevent a move by General Motors.  Trump stopped tweeting and talking about Ford immediately.

Marco Rubio has raised the ire of Floridians for having missed more votes than any other senator this year.  His seat is “regularly empty for floor votes, committee meetings and intelligence briefings.”  He has said in veiled words that he hates his job as senator.  One editorial in the Sun Sentinel suggested, “If you hate your job Senator, follow the honorable lead of House Speaker John Boehner and resign.”

And Jeb is a miserable guy citing the yuuuuuge amount of aggravation he never signed up for in this election cycle saying, “I’ve got a lot of really cool things I could be doing instead of being miserable listening to people demonize me.” I’d bet the farm that Jeb regretted saying that the moment the words left his whiny little lips.

Miss Lindsey confessed his wonderment earlier in the week:  “On our side, you’ve got the No. 2 guy [who] tried to kill someone at 14, and the No. 1 is high energy and crazy as hell. How am I losing to these people?”

Lindsey Graham was also the first celebrity bartender for CNN’s Politics On Tap pouring beers and playing the “Fuck, Marry, Kill” party game with Dana Bash who gave Graham three choices:  Hillary Clinton, Carly Fiorina, and Sarah Palin.

"Sarah Palin—we'll go hunting on our first date," he said. Next was "marry," an easy joke set-up. "Carly, because she's rich," said Graham.  When Bash pressed, and asked Graham if he would erase the existence of Hillary Clinton, he was ready with the punch line.

"No, but is she rich? She said she was flat broke."

The debate will be broadcast live on CNBC, CNBC.com and in the CNBC apps.  The moderators are Carl Quintanilla, Becky Quick and John Harwood.