It has finally gotten through my thick skull that DefSec Mattis’ resignation, and today firing, is not just “Another One Bites the Dust,” that rather, with the departure of the last of the three adults who tried to act as counterweights to the “juvenile” in the White House, and before them with Gary Cohn and others I may be forgetting, The End is Near. The end of everything, the nation, whatever this nation now is, the government, democracy, the rule of law, the nation’s physical existence, for never have we been more susceptible to, because so completely ill-equipped to defend against, an existential attack. Not the end of the Trump presidency, the End of Everything. For with Mattis now gone Trump can be Trump and God help the rest of us. Below are excerpts from most of the recent writings and sayings of others that have penetrated my gray matter and effected one incremental turn of the kaleidoscope producing this new ominous scene. Senator Schumer’s speech in particular was powerful on me tonight.
“to go to work for a man who is pretty undisciplined, doesn’t like to read, doesn’t read briefing reports, doesn’t like to get into the details of a lot of things, but rather just kind of says, ‘This is what I believe.’ ” (Former StateSec Rex Tillerson)
"Great men, great nations, have not been boasters and buffoons, but perceivers of the terror of life, and have manned themselves to face it."-Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Always impulsive, the president increasingly believes he does not need advisers, according to people close to him.
At the midpoint of his term, Mr. Trump has grown more sure of his own judgment and more cut off from anyone else’s than at any point since taking office. He spends ever more time in front of a television, often retreating to his residence out of concern that he is being watched too closely. (Baker and Haberman, NYT)
“The president is making decisions without counsel, without preparation, and even without communication between relevant departments and relevant agencies." (Sen. Schumer)
“This is a made-up fight so the president can look like he’s fighting.” (Sen. Corker)
When we talk about the “wall” as if it’s real, we’re reifying a dark fantasy, a vague, though powerful, signal of anti-immigrant sentiments, not an actual, physical thing. (Washington Post columnist)
“to go to work for a man who is pretty undisciplined, doesn’t like to read, doesn’t read briefing reports, doesn’t like to get into the details of a lot of things, but rather just kind of says, ‘This is what I believe.’ ” (Former StateSec Rex Tillerson)
"Great men, great nations, have not been boasters and buffoons, but perceivers of the terror of life, and have manned themselves to face it."-Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Always impulsive, the president increasingly believes he does not need advisers, according to people close to him.
At the midpoint of his term, Mr. Trump has grown more sure of his own judgment and more cut off from anyone else’s than at any point since taking office. He spends ever more time in front of a television, often retreating to his residence out of concern that he is being watched too closely. (Baker and Haberman, NYT)
“The president is making decisions without counsel, without preparation, and even without communication between relevant departments and relevant agencies." (Sen. Schumer)
“This is a made-up fight so the president can look like he’s fighting.” (Sen. Corker)
When we talk about the “wall” as if it’s real, we’re reifying a dark fantasy, a vague, though powerful, signal of anti-immigrant sentiments, not an actual, physical thing. (Washington Post columnist)
