Trump’s ‘Intended ‘ Consequences

Samantha Sophis @samanthaspohis from Upspash

I wonder: are people so naive to Mr. Trump’s intentions as a man who wields tremendous power? I hope not. It is about time that all Americans realize what a foolish, dangerous man he is — people of all political persuasions.

NPR’s Steve Inskeep talked to Hugh McColl, ex-Bank of America CEO, on February 28th, and McColl claimed he “is a life long Democrat” and is willing to vote for just about any democratic contender ; he favors Bloomberg. He hopes that a moderate candidate can get America back to a place of sanity, not just financial markets but in the marketplace we seem to have lost hold of: one governed by the rule of law. McColl is certainly not naive.

Of course, Trump’s actions are intended, and they have been from the very start. He’s been attacking the media as the ‘enemy of the people’ as his first priority because anyone who criticizes him fair game to what he calls a ‘counterpunch’. Common sense dictates that the greatest leaders of any company, classroom, or government are only as strong as their ‘team of rivals’; however, for Trump any rival is a threat, which speaks to his own insecurity and shallowness.

His intent is to use ICE and the American military (on the Mexican border) as part of his political power. This is what blow-hard bullies do. They pick on the weakest link (migrants) or those who play by the rules (mainstream journalists) and then do all they can to delegitimize them. He will claim the powerless migrants are the great danger to America since they are “rapists and murders”; and as he claims only “I can solve” these problems. He reminds citizens that “I know more than the generals.” (Of course he does. He has so much military experience that it boggles the mind.) All of this is intentional.

As for journalists, he interviews with only those who lick his boots (a classic Russian TV strategy via Putin). He made a huge (impeachable) mistake speaking with Lester Holt years ago and stupidly admitting that he fired FBI Director James Comey because he was nosing into the “Russian business.” Trump won’t make that mistake again. Or will he? John Dickerson of CBS tried to follow up with a question that required some substance in the answer (other than ‘believeme’), and Trump kicked him out of his office. Meanwhile, proxies like Hannity and Limbaugh, who have no journalistic degrees (not to mention college degrees), spread propaganda over their airwaves.

Make a list of the intentional crimes he would be under indictment for: The Mueller Report listed TEN. The only thing that protected him was that “a sitting president” cannot be under indictment. He is already and “un-indicted co-conspirator” in the case that sent Michael Cohen to the slammer. It is intentional, that he refuses to release his taxes, and he lied about that in gaining the trust of voters in 2015–16, claiming he would release his taxes “once my audit is complete.” Never happened. Never will unless a whistleblower does it.

He fully intended to take resources allocated by Congress for the military (housing, schools, etc.) and ship that money to ‘the Wall.’ This is a decision the courts will rule on soon. He intended to strip down the State Department. He leaves ambassadorships unfilled because he is a nationalist. (We don’t need to get along with other nations; we just tell them what they want and they will do it — or else. Doubt that? Have a conversation with Ukraine.)

He intentionally cut back programs that deal with National Security, the programs that deal with disease and pandemics. According to NBC News: “‘President Donald Trump’s decision to downsize the White House national security staff — and eliminate jobs addressing global pandemics — is likely to hamper the U.S. government’s response to the coronavirus, according to veterans of past disease outbreaks and experts who have studied them. “This is why you have a National Security Council,’ said John Gans, a former Pentagon speechwriter who wrote a book about the NSC, which has long been the principal advisory body inside the White House for national security affairs. ‘The changes have made it much harder for the NSC to do this.’” Now heads of those organizations are not allowed to speak to the American public, unless the science wizard Mike Pence approves it. And that too is intentional.

Ask the typical American if they are in significantly better financial shape, and they will tell you — about the same or worse. Ask them if they got a big tax break. Nope. Most paid more in taxes.

For those voters who think that his intentions are theirs, ask yourself these two questions: 1. Has this President made America ‘greater’ than it was before his term? People are more divided. People do not know whom they should trust. Those with Green Cards are petrified. Dreamers are in danger. Medical costs for all have risen. Millions of people have lost their insurance as the ACA is under attack. In 2018, voters rose up and said enough of the McConnell/ Trump stall game on legislation and the House of Representatives turned deep blue. Does that seem like a nation satisfied with “Make America Great” hats?

Question 2. Is the economy better? Don’t bother pointing to the Stock Market as a sign of progress. As of this writing, it is continuing to free fall for the simple reason that when this administration says not to panic — Americans do NOT believe them. Why should they? They lied about the size of an Inaugural crowd; lied that the tax cut to the richest people would ‘pay for itself’; lied that the Russians interfered in our elections; and all those lies add up to a Congress that demanded Trump’s impeachment.

Hugh McColl, told NPR that America’s deficit, under Trump, is not sustainable. So the rich get richer, and companies like Amazon pay no taxes. Zero. So is America ‘greater’ — financially? Just because unemployment is down does not make a nation great when wages are generally suppressed. Ask the typical American if they are in significantly better financial shape, and they will tell you — about the same or worse. Ask them if they got a big tax break. Nope. Most paid more in taxes. Remember, Trump claims in his new budget he will reduce money allocated for Social Security and Medicare. Great!

In the end, Trump will be seen as a President who rode the Obama success, despite McConnell’s obstruction, into the ground. Republican strategist Rick Wilson was spot on: “Everything Trump Touches Dies.” One day soon, Trump will have a reckoning, and he will claim to be a sad, unfairly treated soul. He will discover no one cares — and he will be alone.

And it is all intentional.