Well, The author of this op-ed clearly idolizes John McCain and denies the existence of a “Deep State,” preferring instead to describe the cabal responsible for the slow-motion coup conducted through the increasingly brazen “special counsel” as the “steady state” –— an apt descriptor of the permanent government bureaucracy that has been weaponized against the president since early 2016.
Here is also an important “tell”. The author writes:
“It’s not just that the special counsel looms large. Or that the country is bitterly divided over Mr. Trump’s leadership. Or even that his party might well lose the House to an opposition hellbent on his downfall.”
The emphasis is mine. A Republican would likely not say “his party,” but rather “our party” or “my party.”
I am of the opinion that this is likely an Obama holdover (of which there are still more than a hundred in the employ of the White House alone) writing as if he were in fact a disaffected member of the Trump inner circle when he is in truth a bitter refusenik still stinging from the rejection of November last.
Obama holdover, Jon Huntsmen. He served as President Barack Obama’s ambassador to China. His brother, Paul Huntsman, bought the Salt Lake Tribune newspaper in 2016 and is currently its owner and publisher (liberal newspaper in Utah). His daughter hates Trump. Her tweet after the Russian summit, “No negotiation is worth throwing your own people and country under the bus.”
Russian Ambassador, so the Russian talk makes sense.
I agree that it’s probably a holdover. I’ll echo Mark Levin’s criticism at the time the new administration came in of the failure to ask for and accept the resignations of ALL political appointees. You can’t go into battle with people who by definition aren’t loyal to you in positions of high responsibility. By the way, whatever happened to the tradition in the western democracies of resigning your post if your ethics don’t allow you to serve the government of which you’re an employee? I guess money’s more important than integrity.
“I am of the opinion that this is likely an Obama holdover (of which there are still more than a hundred in the employ of the White House alone) “
I don’t understand why these people are still there? When you are the kind of “change agent” that Trump is, it seems to me that getting rid of holdovers would be a priority. Just move them out wholesale at the beginning and you severely reduce the chances of what’s playing out now occurring.
Anyone in mind? Let me know by message to not start rumors by speculating. I’m wondering if adoring McCain and not acknowledging the Deep State would lead to someone in the State Department who’s been feeding Trump real bad information to keep the war-mongering going.