President Trump is on the wrong track with Venezuela. Where is the Good Neighbor policy?
Today (August 28, 2017) we learn that the President has instituted sweeping financial sanctions on Venezuela that will prohibit financial institutions from providing new money to the government or its critical oil industry. These policies will only make the present dire circumstances in Venezuela all the worse for all of its citizenry. Why are we doing this? Why is Mr. Trump butting his nose into Venezuela's internal affairs when we have so many problems to solve here at home? The Venezuelans certainly pose no threat to us.
The ostensible reason for Mr. Trump's ire is that Venezuela is governed by a "socialist"---Mr. Maduro--whose socialist policies are making a terrible mess of that nation's economy. Maduro is considered a failed leader, and a socialist. But Mr. Trump is known to support vicious dictators, and terrible leaders in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt and elsewhere. What has he got against Mr. Maduro? Other than that leader has recently instituted a constitutional convention *perfectly legal) that may (or may not) give him dictatorial powers. Perhaps the Venezuelan move for governmental renewal is not such a bad idea (we need such a renewal too). But one must ask should Mr. Trump and his generals in DC be making decisions for the people of Venezuela>. Should the USA be deciding on what form of government Venezuela should have? One of the basic principles of the GOP( and of President Regain) was that "local government" is the best government. Is it not best to let the citizens of Venezuela and the leaders in Caracas decide what form of government is best for them?
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But is it simply Mr. Maduro;s socialism which is the perceived threat to the USA? Are we so fearful of Venezuela's not so successful socialism that we will pursue policies that will push that struggling nation into a failed state--with all the attendant problems of hardship, violence, economic collapse, impact on its neighbor states (and the USA), its displaced citizens, and perhaps massive movements of refugees? Of course--- all these conditions of a "failed state" are very familiar to our leaders in Washington DC. Sadly the foreign policies and wars of choice of the last several administrations (both Democrat and Republican) have generated chaos and failed states all across the Middle East. Does Mr. Trump want to create another failed state here in the Western Hemisphere too? Does he want his own failed state? Bush 43, and Obama each have several...perhaps Trump wants one too?
Rather that putting the pressure on Venezuela and creating chaos in South America should we not be looking to hold out our a hand of friendship to help that nation?
Let's wise up--butt our noses out--offer help. Let's not push Venezuela and millions of its innocent citizens over the cliff,
Monday, August 28, 2017
Tuesday, August 22, 2017
TRUMP:: WE ARE STUCK WITH AFGHANISTAN--YOU BREAK IT--YOU OWN IT.
TRUMP: BUSH-NEOCON WARS OF CHOICE ARE AN UNENDING COSTLY COMMITMENT
CONCLUSION: WE CAN NEVER MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN WITH THE COSTLY ECONOMIC MILLSTONE OF SIMMERING OLD WARS LIKE AFGHANISTAN, IRAQ, SYRIA, AND YEMEN AROUND OUR NECEKS FROM WHICH WE CAN NOT EXIT!
ALTERNATIVE: WE MUST BREAK FREE--OR FACE A FUTURE OR PENURY AND DECLINE.
IMMUTABLE TRUTH: WE CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO BE THE WORLD POLICEMAN
My mom had a favorite little antique shop she would drag me into as a small boy. It was cluttered with fine, very old and very delicate things. Things a little boy might bump into and easily break. Old Mr. Wither's who owned the place, sat at his desk in the corner and watched me like a hawk watches its prey. If I got too close to a shaky table of stacked with ancient and delicate ceramics he would tap his pencil on a little glass vase on his desk to get my attention. Then seeing me look up, he would point to a large sign on the wall over his head with his pencil. It read: "IF YOU BREAK IT YOU OWN IT!"
That is just how it is with the nations we have invaded--some unecessisarily. When we invade a nation, we destroy its infrastructure, we capitate its leadership, we often destroy its infrastructure ---we take over. We impose our ideas of government and culture on a alien, uncompliant, resistant population. No one--least of all Americans--want some alien invaders to tell them how to live. Yet that is what we do as invaders.
As a consequence...the governments we impose on the invaded countries DO NOT REPRESENT THE PEOPLE THEY GOVERN. The Afghan government we have inserted into that nation does not represent the people of Afghanistan it represent the American overlords to whom they are responsible and who pays them. That is the incontestable, introconvertable fact twhy the Afghan government...with all its American military advisors, embedded troops and military hardware can NEVER WIN THE ALLEGIENCE OF THE PEOPLE. It is an American government IMPOSED on the Afghans.
The Taliban still control nearly half off the that nation...after sixteen years of continuous pounding by American arms and bombs. That is how it will be forever. You don't have to be a genius to figure that out. If we can only our political and military geniuses could have realized that back in 2001!
Last night President Trump fell in line with the globalists, new-cons, war mongers and Democrats when he "reluctantly" explained to the nation why we are stuck in Afghanistan. The fact is that Afghanistan and the other nations we liberated are all costly millstones around our necks---forever more.
President Bush 43's disastrous decision to STAY in Afghanistan to make that nation safe for "democracy" after bin Laden sneaked away..will be one of the dumbest, costliest mistakes in /American history. Someone should fund a huge DC monument for him. To remind us of our greatest errors. Perhaps we can then remember these errors before we are urged to mindlessly repeat them over and over again.
The only glimmer of hope is that....the Taliban will wise up---since we cant do it---and agree to a cease fire and a coalition government. But sadly we are in this case now dependent upon the wisdom and good sense of the bearded, ssandlaed , turban headed Taliban to pluck our chestnuts out of the hot fire.
CONCLUSION: WE CAN NEVER MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN WITH THE COSTLY ECONOMIC MILLSTONE OF SIMMERING OLD WARS LIKE AFGHANISTAN, IRAQ, SYRIA, AND YEMEN AROUND OUR NECEKS FROM WHICH WE CAN NOT EXIT!
ALTERNATIVE: WE MUST BREAK FREE--OR FACE A FUTURE OR PENURY AND DECLINE.
IMMUTABLE TRUTH: WE CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO BE THE WORLD POLICEMAN
My mom had a favorite little antique shop she would drag me into as a small boy. It was cluttered with fine, very old and very delicate things. Things a little boy might bump into and easily break. Old Mr. Wither's who owned the place, sat at his desk in the corner and watched me like a hawk watches its prey. If I got too close to a shaky table of stacked with ancient and delicate ceramics he would tap his pencil on a little glass vase on his desk to get my attention. Then seeing me look up, he would point to a large sign on the wall over his head with his pencil. It read: "IF YOU BREAK IT YOU OWN IT!"
That is just how it is with the nations we have invaded--some unecessisarily. When we invade a nation, we destroy its infrastructure, we capitate its leadership, we often destroy its infrastructure ---we take over. We impose our ideas of government and culture on a alien, uncompliant, resistant population. No one--least of all Americans--want some alien invaders to tell them how to live. Yet that is what we do as invaders.
As a consequence...the governments we impose on the invaded countries DO NOT REPRESENT THE PEOPLE THEY GOVERN. The Afghan government we have inserted into that nation does not represent the people of Afghanistan it represent the American overlords to whom they are responsible and who pays them. That is the incontestable, introconvertable fact twhy the Afghan government...with all its American military advisors, embedded troops and military hardware can NEVER WIN THE ALLEGIENCE OF THE PEOPLE. It is an American government IMPOSED on the Afghans.
The Taliban still control nearly half off the that nation...after sixteen years of continuous pounding by American arms and bombs. That is how it will be forever. You don't have to be a genius to figure that out. If we can only our political and military geniuses could have realized that back in 2001!
Last night President Trump fell in line with the globalists, new-cons, war mongers and Democrats when he "reluctantly" explained to the nation why we are stuck in Afghanistan. The fact is that Afghanistan and the other nations we liberated are all costly millstones around our necks---forever more.
President Bush 43's disastrous decision to STAY in Afghanistan to make that nation safe for "democracy" after bin Laden sneaked away..will be one of the dumbest, costliest mistakes in /American history. Someone should fund a huge DC monument for him. To remind us of our greatest errors. Perhaps we can then remember these errors before we are urged to mindlessly repeat them over and over again.
The only glimmer of hope is that....the Taliban will wise up---since we cant do it---and agree to a cease fire and a coalition government. But sadly we are in this case now dependent upon the wisdom and good sense of the bearded, ssandlaed , turban headed Taliban to pluck our chestnuts out of the hot fire.
Monday, August 21, 2017
NAVY DISASTERS AT SEA-
NAVY DISASTERS AT SEA: TOO MUCH SOCIAL EXPERIMENTATION?
I read with shock yesterday (Sunday August 20, 2017) that ANOTHER US Navy ship was struck by another merchant vessel with again more loss of US lives. Only a few weeks back, the US destroyer Fitzgerald was struck by a container ship with the loss of seven sailors dead, others seriously injured and the ship heavily damaged.
The USS guided missile destroyer John McCain (no not named for the Senator but for his grandfather and father both were Navy Admirals of that name) was struck late Saturday or early Sunday at sea by a Greek owned oil tanker in the Malacca Straits, a narrow body of water between the Malay peninsula and the Island of Sumatra northwest of Australia. The Greek tanker drove its bow into the aft port side of the destroyer, punching a ten meter (thirty foot) hole into the side of the ship at the water line. Five sailors were injured and ten are missing overboard. Sadly the likelihood of their recovery alive is dearly hoped for but is not good.
As in the case of the Fitzgerald, there should have been a sailor on watch at the bow, and one at the stern. There should have been several commissioned officers on deck closely monitoring the ship's radar and sonar (and other more sophisticated listening technology---after all remember this is multi billion dollar US guided missile destroyer!) What the hell was the crew doing? Having a party?
This is not only a massive embarrassment for the Navy. It also in an indictment of policies imposed on the military by several successive Democrat governments to try to have our fighting forces reflect perhaps too closely the culture of our nation's coastal and urban elites. It too has been the military service in the last decades which has been forced to engage in perhaps too much social experimentation with the make up of its crew. Has it spent too much time and effort attempting to decide on which bathrooms or showers must crew members use? Or what gender they are, or think they should be? With these efforts in the fore has it perhaps let its main function--readiness--lethality and war fighting-- drop to a lower rung on the ladder of importance. If so this is is a dangerous and worrisome trend.
These two disastrous accidents should raise our concerns about our readiness to defend ourself. What is the message regarding our readiness and lethality we send to North Korea and China? What ideas have we given ISIS terrorist cells? Do they get the idea that a good night to sneak aboard a US destroyer for an attack is late on a Saturday night--when the crew are partying and the captain is sleeping?
Let us hope we can correct these recurrent "accidents". It is not a Democrat or Republican problem...it is an existential American problem.
I read with shock yesterday (Sunday August 20, 2017) that ANOTHER US Navy ship was struck by another merchant vessel with again more loss of US lives. Only a few weeks back, the US destroyer Fitzgerald was struck by a container ship with the loss of seven sailors dead, others seriously injured and the ship heavily damaged.
The USS guided missile destroyer John McCain (no not named for the Senator but for his grandfather and father both were Navy Admirals of that name) was struck late Saturday or early Sunday at sea by a Greek owned oil tanker in the Malacca Straits, a narrow body of water between the Malay peninsula and the Island of Sumatra northwest of Australia. The Greek tanker drove its bow into the aft port side of the destroyer, punching a ten meter (thirty foot) hole into the side of the ship at the water line. Five sailors were injured and ten are missing overboard. Sadly the likelihood of their recovery alive is dearly hoped for but is not good.
As in the case of the Fitzgerald, there should have been a sailor on watch at the bow, and one at the stern. There should have been several commissioned officers on deck closely monitoring the ship's radar and sonar (and other more sophisticated listening technology---after all remember this is multi billion dollar US guided missile destroyer!) What the hell was the crew doing? Having a party?
This is not only a massive embarrassment for the Navy. It also in an indictment of policies imposed on the military by several successive Democrat governments to try to have our fighting forces reflect perhaps too closely the culture of our nation's coastal and urban elites. It too has been the military service in the last decades which has been forced to engage in perhaps too much social experimentation with the make up of its crew. Has it spent too much time and effort attempting to decide on which bathrooms or showers must crew members use? Or what gender they are, or think they should be? With these efforts in the fore has it perhaps let its main function--readiness--lethality and war fighting-- drop to a lower rung on the ladder of importance. If so this is is a dangerous and worrisome trend.
These two disastrous accidents should raise our concerns about our readiness to defend ourself. What is the message regarding our readiness and lethality we send to North Korea and China? What ideas have we given ISIS terrorist cells? Do they get the idea that a good night to sneak aboard a US destroyer for an attack is late on a Saturday night--when the crew are partying and the captain is sleeping?
Let us hope we can correct these recurrent "accidents". It is not a Democrat or Republican problem...it is an existential American problem.
DNA COMES TO MISSOURI'S MARCELLUS WILLIAMS
WILL THE STATE HALT THE EXECUTION?
When the State of Missouri convicted Marcellus Williams of killing a white woman during a botched burglary in 1998, there was no DNA testing available for a poor black man in St. Louis who insisted on his innocence. The state depended on two shaky and questionable witnesses who received cash compensation for fingering Williams. The prosecutor had nothing more to present to the Williams' jury of 11 white folks and one black man--than the seemingly tainted testimony of these two witnesses. No physical evidence at all. Williams' overworked, unprepared appointed attorney was not up to task of shaking the testimony of these witnesses. Williams was quickly convicted and after almost two decades on death row he now awaits his cruel execution sentence tomorrow.
In the interim, time and advances in DNA technology as well as money raised by Williams' advocates have permitted scientific testing of the knife used in the crime. Williams' DNA was not present--but the DNA of another man was, There was no physical evidence to support Williams' conviction. His advocates have submitted this new DNA evidence which supports their contention that Williams is innocent. Yet the State Supreme Court has not made what for them is a wrenching decision to stay the execution and subject the state and prosecutors to a new trail
Better to kill an innocent man--and bury their mistakes--.than go back on a bad decision.
That kind of thinking is all too common these days.
Let's hope that the recently elected new Governor of Missouri can turn the page on history and stay this execution. Let's hope he can give Williams a fair opportunity to prove his innocence---and save the State of Missouri--(remember Ferguson) its well meaning white folks, its police and its black folks a great deal of grief,
When the State of Missouri convicted Marcellus Williams of killing a white woman during a botched burglary in 1998, there was no DNA testing available for a poor black man in St. Louis who insisted on his innocence. The state depended on two shaky and questionable witnesses who received cash compensation for fingering Williams. The prosecutor had nothing more to present to the Williams' jury of 11 white folks and one black man--than the seemingly tainted testimony of these two witnesses. No physical evidence at all. Williams' overworked, unprepared appointed attorney was not up to task of shaking the testimony of these witnesses. Williams was quickly convicted and after almost two decades on death row he now awaits his cruel execution sentence tomorrow.
In the interim, time and advances in DNA technology as well as money raised by Williams' advocates have permitted scientific testing of the knife used in the crime. Williams' DNA was not present--but the DNA of another man was, There was no physical evidence to support Williams' conviction. His advocates have submitted this new DNA evidence which supports their contention that Williams is innocent. Yet the State Supreme Court has not made what for them is a wrenching decision to stay the execution and subject the state and prosecutors to a new trail
Better to kill an innocent man--and bury their mistakes--.than go back on a bad decision.
That kind of thinking is all too common these days.
Let's hope that the recently elected new Governor of Missouri can turn the page on history and stay this execution. Let's hope he can give Williams a fair opportunity to prove his innocence---and save the State of Missouri--(remember Ferguson) its well meaning white folks, its police and its black folks a great deal of grief,
Saturday, August 19, 2017
AFGHANISTAN BAD INVESTMENT--GET OUT
Today (August 18, 2017) we learn that President Trump has decamped from seamy, humid and festering DC to the cool air of the Catoctin mountains and Camp David where he will be ensconced with his military team to plan a "new" phase for the war in the long losing war in Afghanistan. His military advisors are --true to form--pushing him toward---guess what?---more troops to turn the "tide". They have no other ideas--keeep pushing more men, money and materiel in a losing battle. These military have not progressed beyond the the trench warfare practices of WWI. They can not envision leaving that harsh mountainous nation with our tails between our legs. And the dumbest reason of all...to prevent those military who sacrificed their lives in the past to have done so for a losing cause. Wasting lives and money for no conceivable gain does not seem averse to the military mind.
We have been fighting in Afghanistan since 2001--now for sixteen years. This longest war began when the Taliban refused to give up Osama Bin Laden--the mastermind of the 9-11 attacks. But after Bin Laden eluded US troops and escaped across the border into Pakistan--- we stayed on. Why have we stayed on for sixteen years? There is no answer for that query and no one can or will give a good answer today. .
Today Afghanistan is "celebrated" as as "America's longest war.". Some might add our longest lost and losing war, and perhaps our dumbest one too. The Congressional Budget office has tallied up a $1.1trillion dollar price tag for the direct costs of Afghanistan in 2014--and counting. But when economists tally in the additional years to the present and the long term costs (military death and family benefits, medical costs, disability, replacement social costs) these Bush era (stirred up and supported by Neo-cons Kristol, Kagan, Nuland, Wolfowitz and other) exercises in stupidity will cost us somewhere between $4 and $6 trillion dollars. Think of what we could have done had we spent those funds here in the USA. We could have had a world class educational, medical, transportation systems and a real functioning wall to control illegal immigration.
We sacrificed (and continue to sacrifice ) the lives of two US Army battalions or a whole Regiment of soldiers-----the "dead regiment of Afghanistan" (We lost about 2300 troops in that nation) and we suffered more than 20 thousand wounded. Many of these brave military wounded continue to live lives of pain and suffering, and mental anguish and will need perpetual care for the rest of their lives.
After all our trillions of tax dollars spent, heroic efforts, lost lives, nothing has changed in Afghanistan. The Taliban still control more than half of that nation. Where we have weakened and killed them off in parts of the northeastern region--another threat--ISIS has gained a foothold. Nothing much has changed since President George Bush gave the Taliban the ultimatum--to "give up Bin Laden". Innocent civilians still die in counterproductive drone strikes which kill more civilians, women and children (as they work in the fields, attend celebrations, or funerals) than terrorists and insurgents. These drone deaths only act as a super effective recruitment tool for ISIS and Taliban insurgents. They love our drone attacks. The "drone strategy" is one "sanitary" way to fight and lose a war.
So what now? Will President Trump go along with the generals all around him and make this a Trump War? Or will he use his business acumen and realize that Afghanistan is only a hole in earth to throw away American lives and tax dollars. Afghanistan is the epitome of a bad investment from the beginning. A wise businessman would see this and end the waste. Will Mr. Trump remember his campaign promises in which he claimed to focus his efforts on tax reform, ending uncontrolled immigration, trade reforms, building the wall, and making America Great Again?
Or is he like Obama going to take his pants down for the generals and sacrifice more companies and battalions into the "Afghan Dead Regiment?
Saturday, August 12, 2017
VENEZUELA MILITARY OPTION---OFF THE TABLE
PRESIDENT'S TOUGH TALK ON NORTH KOREA.----.OK WE FACE A REAL THREAT THERE
BUT VENEZUELA?
TWO WORDS....RIDICULOUS AND FRIGHTENING.
MR TRUMP WILL LOSE HIS POPULIST BASE ON THIS KIND OF BLATHER
REMEMBER THE TRUMP MANDATE: CONTROL IMMIGRATION, END OPEN BORDERS, BRING BACK GOOD JOBS FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS, AND GROW THE ECONOMY.
VENEZUELA, IS SIMPLY IS NOT OUR BUSINESS, AND NOT A THREAT TO US ---AND NOT PART OF THE TRUMP MANDATE.
DUMB, WASTEFUL FOREIGN ADVENTURISM WAS FOR THE CLINTONS, THE BUSH FAMILY, NEOCONS AND DEMOCRATS.
PLEASE---NO MORE OFF THE CUFF REMARKS ON "MILITARY OPTIONS" THE POTUS IS UNDERMINING ITS USE AS A THREAT AND ITS MEANING.
ALSO DISCONCERTING TO LEARN THAT MR MADURO MADE A CALL TO THE POTUS.
IT WAS REJECTED. "HE WON'T SPEAK TO DICTATORS"
SO HE WILL GLADLY SPEAK WITH COMMUNIST DICTATOR KIM OF NORTH KOREA BUT SOCIALIST--ELECTED--MR MADURO GETS THE COLD SHOULDER?
BUT VENEZUELA?
TWO WORDS....RIDICULOUS AND FRIGHTENING.
MR TRUMP WILL LOSE HIS POPULIST BASE ON THIS KIND OF BLATHER
REMEMBER THE TRUMP MANDATE: CONTROL IMMIGRATION, END OPEN BORDERS, BRING BACK GOOD JOBS FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS, AND GROW THE ECONOMY.
VENEZUELA, IS SIMPLY IS NOT OUR BUSINESS, AND NOT A THREAT TO US ---AND NOT PART OF THE TRUMP MANDATE.
DUMB, WASTEFUL FOREIGN ADVENTURISM WAS FOR THE CLINTONS, THE BUSH FAMILY, NEOCONS AND DEMOCRATS.
PLEASE---NO MORE OFF THE CUFF REMARKS ON "MILITARY OPTIONS" THE POTUS IS UNDERMINING ITS USE AS A THREAT AND ITS MEANING.
ALSO DISCONCERTING TO LEARN THAT MR MADURO MADE A CALL TO THE POTUS.
IT WAS REJECTED. "HE WON'T SPEAK TO DICTATORS"
SO HE WILL GLADLY SPEAK WITH COMMUNIST DICTATOR KIM OF NORTH KOREA BUT SOCIALIST--ELECTED--MR MADURO GETS THE COLD SHOULDER?
Friday, August 11, 2017
PLAYING GOLF AND SHOOTING OFF ONE'S MOUTH--DANGEROUS
THE DANGER OF PLAYING GOLF AND SHOOTING OFF YOUR MOUTH
BLOVIATING ON VENEZUELA--NOT THE WAY TO "MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN"
When Presidents are playing golf---reporters must please act responsibly. At such times, no one should ask the President loaded, non-golf-related questions. Queries like: "Mr. President would you use the military option in Venezuela?" That and similar questions should not be permitted.
This form of "gotcha' questioning is simply not fair to the President, to our nation, our military (it is totally confusing for them--where are they to prepare to deploy? South America, Asia?) and not to mention the consternation in er--- say Venezuela and other nations around the world..
At these times--as in this instance--on the golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey---let's face it---the President's hands are engaged, but his brain may not be. His hands, as at this instance were grasping his Presidential "DJT" monogrammed Calloway Driver. His whole being is at these times focused--not on Venezuela, or North Korea, or Mitch McConnell's stinging remarks. His whole being is engrossed with making intense contact with that little white golf ball. His mind is engaged in picturing how the white sphere will appear to rapidly diminish in size as it curves up into the air and draws a little toward the left on this long par 4 dogleg left in balmy Bedminster.
So in response to this loaded question, which he heard---but which did not register in his mind, because he was staring at the white sphere at his feet--which sat perched engagingly and tantalizingly on a tall plastic "DJT" monogrammed tee. So the President's disengaged response was:
"Yeah nothing's off the table for..... uh what was it?......North Korea, you asked?"
"No sir, the question was about ....er you know,,,,ahhh,,Venezuela".
"Oh...ahhh where?"
The President seems not to have heard this persistent reporter's last comment. He is obviously visibly distracted. At this juncture the POTUS turns away from the determined reporter and gazes out at the beautiful green fairway in front of him.
Then as if he had not a care in the world, he steps up to address his ball. He wiggles his club, and shimmies his hips. Very slowly he draws the club back and makes a complete twisting turn. The massive 550 cc Calloway "Mother of All Wars" "special Presidential issue" driver rises way above the POTUS's head. The presidential hands pull the club down on an inside-outside path, with the massive head swishing along the recently trimmed low green grass of the tee box to make "nuclear contact" with the dimpled white orb.
"Craaaaaaaaaack!"
As the sound of the impact fades the President stands in classic golf pose watching his ball arch through the clear Bedminster air. Way down the fairway the ball clips a tiny branch of an overhanging oak tree on the right side, then spirals downward skimming along the brushy margin of the fairway. It bounces a few times rolling toward the center of the wide greensward . Finally coming to a stop on a small elevated area in the center of the fairway about 210 yards away.
"Nice drive," calls out one of the reporters, as many in the Presidential entourage clap their hands in appreciation.
"Yeah a good 280-290 yards," remarks the President.
The insistent reporter continues to push forward through the crowd attempting to get an answer from the President. "So ...ah...Sir....then, Sir you are saying that the military option NOT...that is NOT off the table?" .
OH yeah.....its still .....on the table", responded the POTUS..thinking only of his ball sitting on a tiny rise 210 yards away--and thinking to himself: "Yeah....I guess that little mound could be called a "table".
Then another thought come to him. He turns to remark to the crowd...."But, d'ja see how that ball just ticked that branch? Betcha it woulda gone a good three-hundred yards if it hadn't hit that twig."
Then the President had another idea.
The President turned to catch the eye of a tall man in the rear of the crowd, He raised a white-gloved hand to direct the man forward.
"Manuel"!", he called.
"Yes Sir!", responded Manuel with alacrity. .
"Manuel, see to it that the trees on that side of the fairway are properly trimmed, will you?."
"Yes Sir, Mr. President, I will get the grounds crew to take care of that immediately!"
The formerly insistent and questioning reporter was not present for this last conversation. He had already disappeared among the crowd having immediately turned away scribbling furiously on a tiny pad after the Presidents's last response to him,
This type of "off the cuff" dialog with the President can be a dangerous exercise. Please reporters, in the future be, sure the President is actually paying attention to you--and is not distracted--- when you ask questions.
Reporters....think of it....invading Venezuela may be YOUR responsibility.
BLOVIATING ON VENEZUELA--NOT THE WAY TO "MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN"
When Presidents are playing golf---reporters must please act responsibly. At such times, no one should ask the President loaded, non-golf-related questions. Queries like: "Mr. President would you use the military option in Venezuela?" That and similar questions should not be permitted.
This form of "gotcha' questioning is simply not fair to the President, to our nation, our military (it is totally confusing for them--where are they to prepare to deploy? South America, Asia?) and not to mention the consternation in er--- say Venezuela and other nations around the world..
At these times--as in this instance--on the golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey---let's face it---the President's hands are engaged, but his brain may not be. His hands, as at this instance were grasping his Presidential "DJT" monogrammed Calloway Driver. His whole being is at these times focused--not on Venezuela, or North Korea, or Mitch McConnell's stinging remarks. His whole being is engrossed with making intense contact with that little white golf ball. His mind is engaged in picturing how the white sphere will appear to rapidly diminish in size as it curves up into the air and draws a little toward the left on this long par 4 dogleg left in balmy Bedminster.
So in response to this loaded question, which he heard---but which did not register in his mind, because he was staring at the white sphere at his feet--which sat perched engagingly and tantalizingly on a tall plastic "DJT" monogrammed tee. So the President's disengaged response was:
"Yeah nothing's off the table for..... uh what was it?......North Korea, you asked?"
"No sir, the question was about ....er you know,,,,ahhh,,Venezuela".
"Oh...ahhh where?"
The President seems not to have heard this persistent reporter's last comment. He is obviously visibly distracted. At this juncture the POTUS turns away from the determined reporter and gazes out at the beautiful green fairway in front of him.
Then as if he had not a care in the world, he steps up to address his ball. He wiggles his club, and shimmies his hips. Very slowly he draws the club back and makes a complete twisting turn. The massive 550 cc Calloway "Mother of All Wars" "special Presidential issue" driver rises way above the POTUS's head. The presidential hands pull the club down on an inside-outside path, with the massive head swishing along the recently trimmed low green grass of the tee box to make "nuclear contact" with the dimpled white orb.
"Craaaaaaaaaack!"
As the sound of the impact fades the President stands in classic golf pose watching his ball arch through the clear Bedminster air. Way down the fairway the ball clips a tiny branch of an overhanging oak tree on the right side, then spirals downward skimming along the brushy margin of the fairway. It bounces a few times rolling toward the center of the wide greensward . Finally coming to a stop on a small elevated area in the center of the fairway about 210 yards away.
"Nice drive," calls out one of the reporters, as many in the Presidential entourage clap their hands in appreciation.
"Yeah a good 280-290 yards," remarks the President.
The insistent reporter continues to push forward through the crowd attempting to get an answer from the President. "So ...ah...Sir....then, Sir you are saying that the military option NOT...that is NOT off the table?" .
OH yeah.....its still .....on the table", responded the POTUS..thinking only of his ball sitting on a tiny rise 210 yards away--and thinking to himself: "Yeah....I guess that little mound could be called a "table".
Then another thought come to him. He turns to remark to the crowd...."But, d'ja see how that ball just ticked that branch? Betcha it woulda gone a good three-hundred yards if it hadn't hit that twig."
Then the President had another idea.
The President turned to catch the eye of a tall man in the rear of the crowd, He raised a white-gloved hand to direct the man forward.
"Manuel"!", he called.
"Yes Sir!", responded Manuel with alacrity. .
"Manuel, see to it that the trees on that side of the fairway are properly trimmed, will you?."
"Yes Sir, Mr. President, I will get the grounds crew to take care of that immediately!"
The formerly insistent and questioning reporter was not present for this last conversation. He had already disappeared among the crowd having immediately turned away scribbling furiously on a tiny pad after the Presidents's last response to him,
This type of "off the cuff" dialog with the President can be a dangerous exercise. Please reporters, in the future be, sure the President is actually paying attention to you--and is not distracted--- when you ask questions.
Reporters....think of it....invading Venezuela may be YOUR responsibility.
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