[A slightly edited version of this was first published by The Progressive.]
Many so-called progressives are stoked that Trump's National Security Advisor, Michael Flynn, resigned charges surrounding his discussions with a Russian ambassador while Trump was president-elect.
Congressional Democrats want to use this to go after Trump. Rep. Nancy Pelosi: "After Flynn resignation, FBI must accelerate its investigation of the Trump Administration's Russian connection."
Even before Flynn's resignation, Rep. Maxine Waters did a segment on "Democracy Now:" "Trump Should Be Impeached If He Colluded with Russians Ahead of Election."
But he somehow gets depicted as "reasonable" by many. In fact, just as the major media were closing in on Flynn, Elliott Abrams appeared on CNN,
saying he thought Steve Bannon was behind him not getting the job. Damn
that crazy Bannon for apparently blocking a certifiable war criminal.
Trump won the presidency in large part because he was a Republican who could with minimal credibility talk about being against the "establishment." I didn't buy it, but lots of people did. He won an election that I doubt many in the vast Republican field could have. Trump talked about non-intervention, he talked about preserving Social Security and Medicare.
But any meaningful
critique of Trump can't possibly be one that demonizes the other major
nuclear power, especially given the litany of U.S. illegal aggression
around the world, including it's provocations against Russia -- such as
violating promises and expanding NATO to Russia's border. Besides,
Putin makes U.S. allies like israel and Saudi Arabia look like idyllic
democratic wonderlands.
If only all these liberals scrutinized presidents when they want to go to war like they do Trump when he wants to make peace with Putin.
Many so-called progressives are stoked that Trump's National Security Advisor, Michael Flynn, resigned charges surrounding his discussions with a Russian ambassador while Trump was president-elect.
Congressional Democrats want to use this to go after Trump. Rep. Nancy Pelosi: "After Flynn resignation, FBI must accelerate its investigation of the Trump Administration's Russian connection."
Even before Flynn's resignation, Rep. Maxine Waters did a segment on "Democracy Now:" "Trump Should Be Impeached If He Colluded with Russians Ahead of Election."
There's certainly reasons to want to see Flynn go -- he recently put Iran "on notice" while the White House tried to gin up the case against Iran.
And
there are obvious reasons to try to impeach Trump that don't require
congress people to qualify them with an "if" -- his violations of the "emoluments clauses."
But
it's perhaps easier, more "nationalistic" and ultimately horrifying for
"progressives" and others with an alleged interest in peace to be
harping on the Russian angle.
The Clinton
campaign repeated that time and again during the campaign -- with
disastrous results. Clinton talked about Russia and Trump talked about
jobs in the rust belt. Guess who won the presidency?
Many so-called progressives are in effect making an alliance with the most war-mongering parts of the U.S. establishment. They are in effect buttressing incredibly dubious notions of U.S. victimology and demonizing official enemies that increase U.S. militarism and the likelihood for confrontation with the other nation on the planet that could destroy the planet a hundred times over.
Many so-called progressives are in effect making an alliance with the most war-mongering parts of the U.S. establishment. They are in effect buttressing incredibly dubious notions of U.S. victimology and demonizing official enemies that increase U.S. militarism and the likelihood for confrontation with the other nation on the planet that could destroy the planet a hundred times over.
Trump had just reportedly turned down Elliott Abrams'
bid to be number two at the State Department. That was a good thing.
Elliott Abrams was part of the Iran-Contra scandal and needed a
Christmas Eve pardon from George H.W. Bush. He backed death squads in
Central America. He then did a stint in the George W. Bush
administration in charge of "democracy promotion" and was almost
certainly behind still unaccountable horrors by Israel and in Iraq and
elsewhere.
Trump won the presidency in large part because he was a Republican who could with minimal credibility talk about being against the "establishment." I didn't buy it, but lots of people did. He won an election that I doubt many in the vast Republican field could have. Trump talked about non-intervention, he talked about preserving Social Security and Medicare.
One upshot of the Flynn resignation
is that Vice President Mike Pence, a white "Christian" nationalist, who
is also is a darling of both Wall Street and the "neo con"
interventionists comes out smelling like roses. Trump is a twisted
narcissist who is a political opportunist. But Pence is likely what a
lot of people claim Trump is.
Flynn was
compelled to resign in large part because what is euphemistically called
the "intelligence community" apparently had recording of his dealings
with Russian representatives that he allegedly mischaracterized.
This
implies that people will be held accountable for their falsehoods if --
and only if -- their stance upsets the CIA, NSA, et al.
It's
worth keeping in mind that when Trump seem to challenge this part of
the permanent government in January, leading Democrat Chuck Schumer said
Trump was "really dumb" for attacking the intelligence agencies. Said
Schumer: “Let me tell you, you take on the intelligence community, they
have six ways from Sunday at getting back at you.”
And
what else did we just see happening as Flynn was resigning? Steven
Mnuchin, from the good folks at Goldman Sachs was confirmed as Treasury
Secretary. The case against Mnuchin is so massive
and his Wall Street / Goldman Sachs / Soros / foreclosure king / Skull
and Bones pedigree is so not "populist" that it's quite remarkable that
he was able to get through.
Virtually all the
Democrats in the Senate did vote against Mnuchin. But they all knew that
that wouldn't stop him. Schumer got to put out some populist rhetoric,
conveniently ignoring his own deep ties to Wall Street.
Four
of Schumer's top funders through his political career are in insurance
and finance: Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase & Co, Credit
Suisse Group. Heck, he even took money from Mnuchin himself.
Wall
Street and other corporate interests are quite firmly in control of the
Democrats in Congress and Trump has put them in power in his cabinet.
Part of the twisted dynamic is that the populist / nationalist wing of
the Trump administration would disappear were he to disappear as Flynn
has.
Trump is an obvious con artist and is not
to be trusted. I'd bet his attempts at a detente with Russia have to do
with profiteering -- or worse, with trying to go after China or such.
But the crit to date bares more resemblance to the Republican obsession
with Benghazi than with an attempt to meaningfully try to change U.S.
agressions around the world.
If only all these liberals scrutinized presidents when they want to go to war like they do Trump when he wants to make peace with Putin.