This is Not a Good Idea

Bat-shit-crazy

 

 "To Stop Iran's Bombs, Bomb Iran"

 

Headline of a NY Times Op-Ed piece written by John Bolton

 

What could go wrong?

 

When I heard that H.R. McMaster was stepping down from his position as the Donald's National Security Adviser and that John Bolton was being seen as a possible replacement, I knew at that moment that Bolton was sure to get the job. Perceptive on my part? Not really. Trump was elected president due to the machinations of Vladimir Putin, the ruler of a hostile foreign government. Trump is in the position he is in (whether consciously or unconsciously - I'm still undecided about that one) to do as much damage as possible to this already doomed republic. War Hawk Bolton was the logical choice for the position. Less than a month ago, in a piece written for the Wall Street Journal Bolton recommended a pre-emptive nuclear strike against North Korea. During his intelligence briefings during the campaign of '16 and during the transition period, Trump is said to have asked more then once why the USA can't use their "nukes" in any potential conflict.  This is going to end badly.

I have a feeling that John Bolton and Donald Trump will compliment one another in a working relationship - not in a positive way. Their one common denominator is the fact that both men are - undoubtedly - bat-shit-crazy. I do hope (in fact I pray) there are one or two grownups in the West Wing that have the common sense to ensure that the two of them are not left alone with one another for even a minute. The potential for an international catastrophe has multiplied in the past few hours.

I first became aware of Bolton in the months leading up to the inauguration of the village idiot of Crawford, Texas. That the guy was reckless in his approach to foreign policy was an understatement. It would seem that the word "diplomacy" was not in his vocabulary. That's why it was amusing when Bush made him United States Ambassador to the United Nations during a recess appointment early on in his administration. When it became crystal clear that he wasn't going to be confirmed by the senate, he quit the  job to avoid the embarrassment of being turned away. You see, this knucklehead was too much of an extremist for even the Republicans. Apparently, the post of National Security Advisor does not require senate confirmation. That is a situation that really needs to be remedied. Bolton is someone who should not be "advising" anyone, particularly an unhinged buffoon like our esteemed president. I'm just putting the thought out there. Run with it.

One former participant in the presidency of King George the Second described Bolton as the most "dangerous" member of that administration. When one considers the fact that this was the same administration that produced Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz, John Ashcroft, Condoleeza Rice - not to mention George W. Bush himself - that is an eye-opening statement. That a very dark and ominous corner has been turned should not be doubted by anyone who bothers to pay attention to these sorts of things. Bolton also advocates the pre-emptive bombing of Iran. Apparently Trump agrees with this strategy. He has forgotten the lessons learned by the instability in the region that was unleashed in the aftermath of America's invasion of Iraq fifteen years ago this week; the most idiotic military blunder in the history of Idiot Nation. It was a war he criticized relentlessly during the campaign two years ago in the primary debates that Jeb Bush participated in. One thing we've learned about Donald Trump is that there are many labels that may be applied to him. Consistency is not one of them. 

The damage that George W. Bush did to this country will never be accurately assessed. The fact that the brainless twit sat in the Oval Office for eight years is difficult to comprehend in hindsight. And yet, the complete mess of things that Trump has been able to let loose in fourteen short months is astounding. Perfectly sensible people have found themselves waxing nostalgic recently for "the good old days" of Dubya. Indeed, I also have found myself feeling less hostility for the little bastard in a handful of psychologically unguarded moments. Compared to the Donald he's starting to look like George Washington. That odious comparison is why what is happening now cannot - and should not - be allowed to continue for another three LONG years. This has got to end, folks. We'll very soon be at the point of no return.

There is one silver lining behind this extremely dark cloud: the complete and permanent destruction of the Republican Party. Call me a cockeyed optimist.

Tom Degan
Goshen, NY

AFTERTHOUGHT:

On a YouTube comment feed yesterday, someone predicted that Trump will serve two terms - two consecutive life terms.

Ain't that a riot?