AP (c) 2018
Just as the president was wrapping up his first Asian trip as Commander-In-Chief, he couldn't resist himself. I mean, throughout the trip the president stuck very closely to prepared teleprompter generated texts so as not to embarrass his hosts or our nation. Curiously during this recent trip, Trump praised China and its rulers, despite making it a regular practice of railing against China for their alleged abuses of trade practices. At one point, Trump accused China of "raping" America when it came to trade practices (See: www.cnn.com/2016/05/01/politics/donald-trump-china-rape/index.html). Tough talk like this certainly appealed to many of his cult-like followers believing him to the the "one" to straighten everything out for America that they have been told by Right Wing Media had been so bent out of shape for so long. China was his foreign "boogeyman" throughout the campaign and early part of his presidency when it came to trade imbalances. Until this recent trip.
Seems the "Gung-ho" proponent for American dominance in trade couldn't seem to muster up much of a fight when put face to face with Chinese leaders to discuss trade issues. Instead of pursuing American dominance in trade deals, Trump proceeded to compliment China for taking advantage of America, since former presidents allowed them to do so. Huh? Does this mean that to Trump, if he had an opportunity to abuse someone in a business deal, it certainly would not be his fault ethically or morally because the "other side" was too stupid to stop him from conducting questioning business practices? Is this really how Mr. Trump operates his businesses? Is this really what Americans thought Mr. Trump was going to do to China - applaud their efforts and blame Americans themselves for trade issues? (See: abcnews.go.com/Politics/10-times-trump-attacked-china-trade-relations-us/story?id=46572567).
I guess "America First" now means blame America first for all of our problems, regardless of their causation (or at least blame Americans he seems to have personal beefs with). What gives? Could it be that our president loves hyperbole but lacks the intestinal fortitude to actually lead? By taking a hard stance behind another's back and then shrinking from that stance when facing an adversary reveals a lot amount the man - and none of it is positive. What conclusions could be reached by our adversaries when our leader lacks the moral courage to pursue his complaints and instead substitutes perceived grievances with platitudes instead? Think I am wrong? Then how does one further explain Trump's stated refusal to accept the conclusions of multiple American intelligence agencies that Russia actively interfered with our 2016 elections?
Once "off script", the President of the United States actually labeled Americans engaged in intelligence gathering to counter enemy efforts to attack America as "Political Hacks" more concerned with politics than intelligence gathering. Except every American Intelligence agency reached the same conclusion that Russia engaged a strategy to interfere with our electoral process. In addition to every Agency, the United States Congress has also reached the same conclusion. But not in the eyes of Donald Trump. According to him, “I really believe that when he (Putin) tells me that, he means it . . . I think he’s very insulted, if you want to know the truth.” So the President of the United States publicly declares his belief that former KGB Agent Vladimir Putin is sincere in his denials of ordering social media and cyber attacks on American institutions as "honest" as opposed to those concluding otherwise? What? (See: www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-insists-putin-means-it-in-denying-election-meddling-critics-say-thats-unconscionable/2017/11/11/af0b7c9e-c71a-11e7-afe9-4f60b5a6c4a0_story.html?hpid=hp_rhp-top-table-main_trumpputinreax8pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.1705d0b53595). But nothing seems grave enough to derail support from his cult of followers - no matter how many times he denigrates American institutions. I doubt his supporters realize that perhaps Trump's "MAGA" slogan really means "Make America Guilty Again?"
As President John F. Kennedy once wrote, "Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty." Words Mr. Trump seems to have never understood. Have a great week!
Seems the "Gung-ho" proponent for American dominance in trade couldn't seem to muster up much of a fight when put face to face with Chinese leaders to discuss trade issues. Instead of pursuing American dominance in trade deals, Trump proceeded to compliment China for taking advantage of America, since former presidents allowed them to do so. Huh? Does this mean that to Trump, if he had an opportunity to abuse someone in a business deal, it certainly would not be his fault ethically or morally because the "other side" was too stupid to stop him from conducting questioning business practices? Is this really how Mr. Trump operates his businesses? Is this really what Americans thought Mr. Trump was going to do to China - applaud their efforts and blame Americans themselves for trade issues? (See: abcnews.go.com/Politics/10-times-trump-attacked-china-trade-relations-us/story?id=46572567).
I guess "America First" now means blame America first for all of our problems, regardless of their causation (or at least blame Americans he seems to have personal beefs with). What gives? Could it be that our president loves hyperbole but lacks the intestinal fortitude to actually lead? By taking a hard stance behind another's back and then shrinking from that stance when facing an adversary reveals a lot amount the man - and none of it is positive. What conclusions could be reached by our adversaries when our leader lacks the moral courage to pursue his complaints and instead substitutes perceived grievances with platitudes instead? Think I am wrong? Then how does one further explain Trump's stated refusal to accept the conclusions of multiple American intelligence agencies that Russia actively interfered with our 2016 elections?
Once "off script", the President of the United States actually labeled Americans engaged in intelligence gathering to counter enemy efforts to attack America as "Political Hacks" more concerned with politics than intelligence gathering. Except every American Intelligence agency reached the same conclusion that Russia engaged a strategy to interfere with our electoral process. In addition to every Agency, the United States Congress has also reached the same conclusion. But not in the eyes of Donald Trump. According to him, “I really believe that when he (Putin) tells me that, he means it . . . I think he’s very insulted, if you want to know the truth.” So the President of the United States publicly declares his belief that former KGB Agent Vladimir Putin is sincere in his denials of ordering social media and cyber attacks on American institutions as "honest" as opposed to those concluding otherwise? What? (See: www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-insists-putin-means-it-in-denying-election-meddling-critics-say-thats-unconscionable/2017/11/11/af0b7c9e-c71a-11e7-afe9-4f60b5a6c4a0_story.html?hpid=hp_rhp-top-table-main_trumpputinreax8pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.1705d0b53595). But nothing seems grave enough to derail support from his cult of followers - no matter how many times he denigrates American institutions. I doubt his supporters realize that perhaps Trump's "MAGA" slogan really means "Make America Guilty Again?"
As President John F. Kennedy once wrote, "Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty." Words Mr. Trump seems to have never understood. Have a great week!
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