Posted on 02/15/2017 4:37:49 PM PST by LS
This is sort of an update, requested by some, on my take on the developments of the last week or so.
First, I have not been in contact with anyone at Team Trump. I think they have plenty to deal with. I am told my streams of contact still work, so they are just busy.
Second, the rollout of the executive orders was not, contrary to some douchenozzle RINOs and know-it-all, inside-the-beltway pundits, "clumsy" or "poorly conceived." The fact is that ANY initiative as big as this is likely to be leaked the longer it germinated, and the more it is discussed and circulated, the more time its opponents would have had to kill it in the crib. I am not optimistic about the 9th Circuit's review, nor in the USSC review, even with Gorsuch---if they can get him seated in time. My guess is that Trump and Sessions will soon roll out new ex orders that are quite nation specific and are more specific in other ways.
The point is, ANY action like this is better rolled out sooner rather than later, and Trump's key to success thus far has been aggressiveness and speed. He has been, as they say in the military, inside the enemy's OODA loop and to succeed he must stay there. That may involve some cases of two steps forward, one step back, but with aggressiveness you can always stay ahead of, and control, the news cycle.
Patton said it: "L'audace, l'audace, toujours l'audace."
Note, for example, real polls from real pollsters like Rasmussen and People's Pundit Daily (the most accurate pollster in the election) show Trump's favorability good and inching up. Best of all, ICE is on a rampage, kicking butt and deporting names. We have anecdotal evidence that some illegals are leaving on their own. This is a massive win for Trump, and will only get better as Sessions gets his footing.
Now, Flynn. I don't know much about him. He was an Obama appointee, which greatly troubled me. All evidence is that there is NO evidence that he did anything wrong. But apparently it's one of those Scooter Libby things where the subsequent actions were worse than the crime, in this case, misleading or lying to VP Pence. Sorry, folks, that will get you canned in almost any admin, especially Trump's. He values loyalty.
To the bigger issue of the "deep state." This is profoundly troubling. Jerkweeds are out there making all sorts of claims about what they're going to release, and apparently the FBI released some of Trump's 1970s business records (??? HUH???). BECAUSE OF THIS, TRUMP HAS TWO CHALLENGES THAT HE MUST FOLLOW SIMULTANEOUSLY. First, he must begin a methodical, quiet, and merciless unraveling of the CIA/FBI traitors. This is incredibly hard, because after all, they have access to all the files, and more so because it will be virtually a "one-at-a-time" process to see who can be trusted. The jury is still out on Pompeo, as to whether he's one of us, or them.
I'm just guessing here, but perhaps---just perhaps---this is why Trump kept Comey. Comey, like the mortician in the "Godfather," now owes Trump big. Trump may soon collect. If I were Trump, I would immediately fire anyone even remotely suspected, or, if that isn't legal, I'd insist they were transferred to "window offices" with absolutely no access to, or control over, anything. When you can legally and quietly ditch them, do so.
Several of you keep asking me, "Does Trump know . . ." "Is Trump aware . . .?" Steve Bannon was in the Navy, and is the most ruthless political operator since Lee Atwater, and he knows EXACTLY what these people are capable of. Yes, they know. I think that's why Flynn was gone. That whole trust thing, on a different level.
The other issue Trump has to work on simultaneously, is the economy, and I think we continue to see progress here. Let me count the ways.
*For whatever reason, the IRS paperwork does not require answering questions about the "individual mandate." That's ball game folks. It doesn't even matter now what Congress does---in one sense---because the individual mandate, hence Obamacare, is dead. Anthem said today that Obamacare is in a "death spiral." Congress may take its time officially "repealing" this, but functionally we have survived the first attempt at socialized medicine in the US and it went with a whimper. It is NOT beyond reason to think that the IRS was acting at the urging, if not direct instructions, of Trump. WINNNING.
*Trump has had several unions, the heads of the tech companies, the heads of the car companies, and today the top retailer heads into the Oval Office. They ALL walk away singing his praises. They have bought into the program. WINNING.
*Trump said flatly on O'Reilly there will be a tax cut this year. To me, the most important element immediately is the reduction in penalties on offshore $, because more than any other one thing, that will IMMEDIATELY brings trillions of dollars back into the government and offset other costs in defense and the border wall. But merely the expectation of this tax reform (and the expectation is YUGE) has caused the stock market to peak at an all time high, has caused retail sales to rise, and business optimism to grow everywhere. WINNING.
*Moonbeam Brown is forced to ask "PRESIDENT Trump" for help with CA's dam problem. This is big. Brown is now humiliated and, much the way Trump used Algore coming to Trump Tower to cement him as "President Elect Trump," so too this will be hard for secessionist Moonbeam to climb back from. Moreover, Trump again will demonstrate that he is president of ALL the people.
You get the point. Trump is on target with the economy. We can see that. What you CAN'T and WON'T see, by necessity, is their careful, methodical, taking apart of the deep state. You will have to trust me on this. It's like the CIA has touted that it can never boast of its successes. If Trump does what I think he'll do, the agencies will be much smaller, leaner, and 100% loyal and pro-American after all this. But even Trump won't go out and tell you how he did this one!
Oh, and one last gem. There was a Morning Consult poll today--the first of 2020, showing Trump beating Liawatha by 6. As we know, if they have Trump by 6, he's up by 10 or more.
My words to the hysterical types out there---and you know who you are---is that you were hysterical during the election and I routinely had to tell you the truth: Trump's team has it under control. As they do now.
You asked for it.
What you`re watching, in real time, is a war between the Deep State/Statists/Obamaites vs. the Constitutional Republic.
This could quickly develop into a shooting war:
“The result might well be violence. Not rhetorical violence. Actual violence. Actual political violence. Actual conflicts between anti-Trumpers and Trumpers. At demonstrations. In the streets. Of our cities. Political violence of a sort we haven’t seen in 50 years, and maybe haven’t really seen in this country in the modern era. Those who believe Trump is a unique menace whose threat to our democratic way of life will be met with those who believe the elites are using illicit means to oust the legitimately elected president of the United States.
This is not a fantasy. This is one possible future.”
https://www.commentarymagazine.com/politics-ideas/beware-triggering-the-coup-theory/
Thanks again, LS....your input is much appreciated!
As always, thank you for your work and posting.
You need a good recently retired intel guy/gal to help you collect the bs being thrown at President Trump to write another book.
Democrat Intel Coup against President Trump failed.
Glad to know they know and that Bannon is ruthless. It makes him a target. Hope he can withstand all coming his way .
This is a nerve wrecking experience to see it play out
Thank you, LS, for your always lucid and reassuring essays. Yes, I have your book, fascinating and very informative. There were lots of tense moments during the campaign and, in a way, it seems a long time ago as much has happened since our victory. Regards.
The swamp is deep chief, much deeper than Trump imaginged can Trump handle it? That remains to be seen. I’m not sure that he’s clever enough. He needs some very smart people to help him and I’m not sure he has that quite frankly. A bunch of Goldman Sachs appointees seems a simplistic thing that doesn’t give me confidence. I love what Trump promised to do, but he hasn’t exactly quelled my cynicism. I give him the benefit of doubt right now, but I sure as heck don’t put him on a pedestal.
LS, thank you for posting this, & for your ongoing, well-informed, intelligent analysis.
“First, he must begin a methodical, quiet, and merciless unraveling of the CIA/FBI traitors.”
I pray this has been activated.
Is LS Lazamataz?
If so - we have disagreed frequently in the past but I think this is spot on. I don’t have access to anyone in the Trump admin so I’m basing this on what I can observe.
Trump can cull SES and SIS level staff. Lower than that and they can be hard to deal with but they can be shuffled off to... Alaska or Ouagadougou. :-)
bttt
VERY nutritious food for thought!
A weekly thread would be nice if you can find time.
Correct on all poits, save Goldman Sachs—Bannon and Mattis and Sessions are nowhere near that mold. But it is a mammoth undertaking, that’s for sure
Excellent work! But why did Trump appoint Pompeo to head CIA if we’re not sure if he is loyal to Trump or the Deep State traitors? We need our guy running (and purging) CIA of the vipers & traitors.
No, but we are both named Larry.
Thank you so much for this.
Patton plagiarized from Danton?
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