Kiyoat Husker Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 ^^^ seems to me like he is trying to improve his image politically, and doing so independently from the president's agenda. He has given statements that conflict with the president before, but they are typically more moderate in tone. Interesting. Link to comment
Fru Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 2 hours ago, dudeguyy said: All of these firings - every single one - are merely ancillary. The problem is at the top, and it always has been. A fish rots from the head. 1 Link to comment
BigRedBuster Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 2 hours ago, dudeguyy said: All of these firings - every single one - are merely ancillary. The problem is at the top, and it always has been. I wouldn't necessarily say...merely ancillary. Yes, the main problem is Trump himself. He is the one in charge and he is THE major problem. However, we have seen over the last 7 months how easily he is swayed by who is talking in his ear. We have seen the disaster on many occasions with Bannon whispering in his ear. Now....HOPEFULLY, people like Ivanka can put someone in front of Trump that is at least reasonable on the issues. I know....it's a pipe dream. But, with Bannon gone, at least there's a chance. Link to comment
Kiyoat Husker Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 3 minutes ago, BigRedBuster said: I wouldn't necessarily say...merely ancillary. Yes, the main problem is Trump himself. He is the one in charge and he is THE major problem. However, we have seen over the last 7 months how easily he is swayed by who is talking in his ear. We have seen the disaster on many occasions with Bannon whispering in his ear. Now....HOPEFULLY, people like Ivanka can put someone in front of Trump that is at least reasonable on the issues. I know....it's a pipe dream. But, with Bannon gone, at least there's a chance. Not so fast, my friend. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-breakingviews-idUSKCN1AY243 Quote [...] Bannon leaves behind several mini-mes, including senior policy advisor Stephen Miller, who has become a Trump favorite. [...] On trade, Miller is backed by former University of California economics professor Peter Navarro, who is head of Trump’s trade council. Along with Bannon, he has advocated starting a trade war with China by imposing tariffs on steel and other goods. Link to comment
BigRedBuster Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 I didn't say he was the only one that needed to go. Link to comment
Danny Bateman Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 Knapp had a good counterpoint to your hopes above, BRB. Quote Bannon is just being tossed off the ship because Trump needs to stop the bleeding after his bad week. This is more PR move than personnel move. Bannon is not out of Trump's circle, and won't stop having an influence on him. This move really means next to nothing. Bannon and his billionaire donor are already working on their next moves. Trump has kept in contact with Corey Lewandoski after he was fired as his original campaign manager, and Roger Ailes stayed on as an advisor even after it was revealed he was a serial sexual predator of women. Bannon isn't going to just go away. I think this just frees him up to rail on his "globalist" (or, as others have noticed, the Jewish people inside the Trump administration) from outside the WH. I'm sure he'll still be in Trump's ear pushing his agenda. 1 Link to comment
Kiyoat Husker Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 Trump's whittling down of his advisors based on who has vexed him the least reminds me of "The Apprentice" .... and also of King Lear. I'm sure he will end up with Goneril and Regan instead of Cordelia..... 2 Link to comment
zoogs Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 Yeah. From atop his media empire perch, Bannon may just end up having a different kind of sway. We'll see. Paul Krugman outlines a worry about the fallout: https://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2017/08/18/whither-trumpism/?mcubz=0 So if Bannon is out, what’s left? It’s just reverse Robin Hood with extra racism. On real policy, in other words, Trump is now bankrupt. But he does have the racism thing. And my prediction is that with Bannon and economic nationalism gone, he will eventually double down on that part even more. If anything, Trumpism is going to get even uglier, and Trump even less presidential (if such a thing is possible) now that he has fewer people pushing for trade wars. 2 Link to comment
zoogs Posted August 19, 2017 Share Posted August 19, 2017 This is well said. Trump is irredeemable, and because he lays himself bare every time he "goes upstairs" beyond his advisors' control and influence, we all know this. We all know who he is and what he's made of. There's no honor in pretending otherwise. There's no honor in those who labor (skillfully, as Gen. Kelly, or poorly, as The Mooch) to conceal these things and put ab better face on the administration. Link to comment
zoogs Posted August 19, 2017 Share Posted August 19, 2017 Steve Mnuchin calls his shot: tl;dr -- the President is great and actually "gets it", the media-fanned "culture wars" are terrible, and he wants to see the Trump agenda prevail. Thus he's happy where he's at and will keep working for these things. Link to comment
Moiraine Posted August 20, 2017 Share Posted August 20, 2017 Our president looking super important and serious. Link to comment
commando Posted August 20, 2017 Share Posted August 20, 2017 15 minutes ago, Moiraine said: Our president looking super important and serious. he is thinking "how many of these people can i fire in the next 6 month?" Link to comment
NM11046 Posted August 20, 2017 Share Posted August 20, 2017 2 hours ago, Moiraine said: Our president looking super important and serious. Photographer prior to the shot: "Ok, hands loose, look relaxed. Mr. Sessions can you stand up a bit taller? No? Ok. We need one woman, can someone ask that gal in the hallway to step up here inbetween a couple guys. Any minorities we can grab? No? How about a confederate flag or monument? Too much? Ok. Alright now folks, this is a very important, blank piece of paper - look serious. I'm going to count to three and you can choose, say: immigrant/black/gay/muslim/woman - nice. Very good mean angry faces." Link to comment
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