Posted on 01/09/2018 12:03:33 AM PST by lowbuck
Hello FReepers,
I wanted to bounce my thoughts about the goings on in Washington/World as seen from my perch in Germany and see what you think.
Again, we are seeing a “tempest-in-a-teapot (TITP)” with the latest purported “tell all” on President Trump and his administration. I say TITP, as everyone’s eyes (especially the MSM) are focused on this and missing all the other things happening in the world. These events move along with little coverage as everyone is focused on the latest salacious rumor. When the current tell-all becomes “old news” you can bet your bottom dollar that something new will be coming along. Some limited observations:
On the international scene:
• The Korea’s seem to be “thawing” and talks might be in a very early stage.
• ISIS (and other terrorist groups often unnamed) continues to get the crap hammered out of it.
• The civil wars in Syria and Libya seem to have cooled, or, at least moved toward a resolution
• Saudi Aribia new “ruler” seems to have consolidated power and makes new allies (Israel) in the region with new power centers emerging. Iran is not a happy place. I wonder why?
• Japan (and much of the far east) is rising in a military manner to confront the realities of an expansionist minded China.
• You can go on and on, these few just come to mind. What I see is that real change is allowed to take place without being “pecked to death” by the news media and activist.
How about on the domestic scene?
• The EPA is being returned to its congressional mandated work.
• Energy production is going through the roof with more and more needless restrictions against searching on federal lands/oceans being lifted. The “blue” states clearly show their SJW buddies their allegiance by banning fracking. Meanwhile, states all around them laugh all the way to the bank (workers, companies and tax collectors)!
• Illegal executive orders (DAPA) have been kicked to Congress who is solely authorized to enact a law to cover these individuals. Will Congress do anything?
• Behind the scenes a LOT is going on regarding the use of the government to spy on and trash the opposition to Hillary. Be it the FBI, NSA, DOJ and/or other people in power positions they have been sidelined and I think the poop is getting ready to hit the fan. Even folks in (formerly) high positions when confronted with the power and endless pockets of the government will be ruined unless they give up the next big cheese up the chain. Works against the Mafia and I think over the next year or two we will see it work against the deep state.
• This to me is a BIG ONE and a sleeper issue: Sessions has rescinded the rule from Obama’s administration “to not enforce the Federal law” concerning marijuana. His job is to enforce the law. So, change the law or go to court to seek to overturn it because it infringes on states’ rights. Are you following me? OK, California and Colorado now you can sue and argue STATES RIGHTS. I hope you win because you now set up a WIN for all the other states who have had their powers diminished by Congress’s failure to adhere to Amendment X of the Bill of Rights. Liberals, be careful what you wish for. It might be what a lot of us constitutionally minded Americans have been calling for most of our lives.
Overall, the Trump administration seemingly has gone to war with the Green Blob, the administrative/deep state, unaccountable bureaucrats, the open borders crowd and the climate wackos to name but a few groups.They are “resisting” on so many fronts that their resources in time, manpower and money cannot possibly fight the endless resources of the federal government. Think of it as when the IRS decides to audit you to hell-and-back. You aren’t going to win, but, you can spend a lot of time and money fighting your case and you might win on some points. But in the end, you lose the big battle. Now you are tired, broke and are unprepared for any additional onslaught. And I expect with Mr. Trump’s administration the “hits will keep on coming”.
Finally, with the wisdom gained from many, many years on this planet, I have finally figured out that American politics is like Wrestling Mania. The fix is almost always in. Sometimes the “white hat” wins and sometimes the nod goes to the “heel”. Every once and a while, the “designated loser” goes off script and beats the hell out of the other guy. (This doesn’t happen often but very exciting when it does!) All of us around the ring become engaged in the cathartic moment and don’t notice that both the winner and loser walk away happy, paycheck in hand and ready for the next match. I think President Trump is our “White Hat” and he knows how the game is played. The “heels” will be given some token wins (while we are screaming to the ref that the bad guy is cheating) but in the end, we win (more than lose) and the heel goes back to his supporters having fought the good (losing) fight.
Your thoughts?
Been around FR since 2002 with a little lurking beforehand. So please don’t flame me too hard!
Lowbuck
No, go ahead, do another. Good analysis.
The first and last vestige of Human Liberty, Freedom, Goodness and genuine Civilization has been mislead, and is still in very big trouble.
I tend to agree with the analysis. My chief four observations:
1. The EU is in a bit of a bind because of BREXIT, the opposition from Eastern Europe, the fake enthusiasm for migration, a weaker Germany, and some perceived competition from the US business sector.
2. Very high odds of some coup or revolution coming out of Saudi Arabia over the next two years, and it’ll change the dynamics of the ‘evil’ Iran slant.
3. If these US companies do take advantage of the tax situation and remove their money from the European and Asian markets, and going back into the US...something of a dramatic nature will occur with foreign stock markets.
4. The wrestling scenario that you describe is basically proving itself true. I lay the blame for the soap-opera-like device at round-the-clock news and the internet. People started asking questions about a decade ago, and they can’t resolve the mess via the GOP or Democrats. I think the Macron-creation in France was the solution to satisfy the same type of disgruntled voters. I’m also of the mind that Trump will accomplish 90-percent of his goals by the 4th year (to include 3 nominations to the Supreme Court), with a 4-percent GNP for 2018 and 2019, and a total of 3.5 million new jobs. It’ll be enough for him and he’ll retire.
At the heart of this ‘reshuffle’ (my word for this era), is the fact that a large amount of the public in the US and growing number in Europe...see politics as fake. Digging out of this ‘fake-pit’ is going to take a while.
I agree. A very worthy contribution.
With one thing I add, my own view is EVERYONE is sold out to China. Possibly with the exception of Trump. But this year, we are heading toward YET ANOTHER new all-time high trade deficit with China. All time high.
Everyone. Both parties. Almost all companies. Our politicians. Someone really, really needs to start to turn this around, and be for America again.
China is making, and selling everything we buy, anymore, it seems.
Someone needs to be for America again.
But a good post.
I think the big story in the next few weeks will be the DOJ Inspector Generals Report on the FBI handing of the 2016 campaign: Clinton emails, GPS Fusion, FBI wiretaps, FISa warrants... and all the rest (currently due Jan 15)
A small preview tonight of the dirty FBI and DOJ that will be exposed
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/368003-fbi-agents-text-messages-spur-congressional-probe-into-possible-news-leaks
CTH has a long running series on the activities of both the OIG and Congress against the anti-Trump activities of the FBI/DOJ et al.
If DJT retires in 2020 as you predict, then it will be only a matter of a year or two that all he accomplished will be unraveled by the new Democrat in the WH along with the Democrat controlled House and Senate.
Not only just unraveled but with a vengeance:
The EPA will immediately go back to forcing coal out, ending fracking nationwide, while imposing California CO2 emission standards across the board;
The military will accelerate its SJW and Diversity programs to the point of no longer ordering new weapons systems or maintaining current obsolete and obsolescent ones;
And that’s just for starters (not counting the elimination of all border controls).
Oh, I don’t think any Democrat in the 2020 election will be able to beat the GOP replacement (if Trump does retire). I think the job creation, tax reform (don’t just gauge this one reform here at the end of 2017, there will likely be another by the end of 2019), and the GNP growth for 2018, 2019 and through the summer of 2020....will be carried on by the Republican President (whoever it is).
The control of the Senate and House will continue on through this election cycle (2018) and probably through 2020. The Republicans might even reach 58 GOP senators at the end of this year. This Jones-character from Alabama will himself be replaced in the 2020 election (he doesn’t even get much of a chance to accomplish anything before he’s thrust into another election).
All of the things that Trump is accomplishing...will be a clear path for the next decade.
good analysis. Freerepublic was once filled with great optimism and activism. Freerepublic is what took down Dan Rather in 2000. Freerepublic was way ahead of the curve on researching Lewinsky scandal.
now it is filled with so many joyless whiners. I guess scepticism has sunk in for many and has never left.
Let’s hope some other non-squishy conservative steps up to the plate. It’s not going to be Pence. He seems too plastic and practiced with his tone and head bobs, sort of like Romney. I couldn’t stand listening to Romney speak. His voice would trail off to higher notes at the end of every sentence “like it was being lifted into the heavens”. He’s no angel. Just a plastic and possibly faux Christian.
It’s going to have to be another normal person, not another smooth talking lawyeritician.
“... will be carried on by the Republican President (whoever it is).”
The closest to DJT I can think of would be Tilman Fertitta, from Houston, worth around 2.4 billion (The Billionaire Buyer, Landrys: restaurants/hotels/casinos, Houston Rockets), but I don’t know his politics.
I am not optimistic about any DJT successor after only one term., which will be used against the next candidate as in: DJT was a Quitter, and so would the next candidate (by inference).
Hi Pepsionice,
Good observations.
Slightly different question regarding the UK and BREXIT. If you believe what is in the papers the Brits are a bunch of keystone cops headed to total failure.
I cannot decide if this is more “rope-a-dope” from the Tories or if they are really screwed up.
Your thoughts?
P.S. Read your blogs daily. Keep up the good work!
Although rocky roads are ahead (market corrections, possible loss of the House) over the longer term I expect what Mr. Trump has done to fire up the economy.
It is true, “People vote their pocketbook”, so except for some black swan event I think the GOP canidate in 2020 should be elected to continue the good work.
I think Mr. Trump is a “doer” and by the end of four years he will be content with his changes and happy to turn the whole mess over to the next guy (Mr. VP?).
Just my 2¢
Lets hope your 2 cents isn’t worth anything and DJT continues in office and is not a self-proven quitter ... which quitting, by the way, will pretty much end the political capital of any future Republican to do anything in office since the voting public will never be sure if they will quit, while the Democrats will always stay the 8 years, if possible, doing as much damage as possible.
Being called a quitter is one of the things that killed Palin, and now some want DJT to attach that label to himself?
It’s a keeper. :)
It’s a keeper. :)
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