As He Nears the Nomination, the Chaos Grows
Trump warns Republicans not to arm Ukraine and to blow up the border deal
This is how the U.S. government has been run since Newt Gingrich led the “Contract with America” revolt during Bill Clinton’s first mid-terms. Do as little as possible, yell as much as possible, and focus all your energy on the next election. “Get Re-elected at any Costs” is the slogan for Republicans.
On page one in the “Chaos Playbook,” the strategy is laid out in straightforward language so the average Foxified American can understand: Republican inaction creates a problem. Republican hyperbole and right-wing propaganda make the problem worse than it is, eventually pushing the country to the right and forcing Democrats to compromise with Republicans to mitigate the formerly non-problem. Realizing that Democrats will be seen as responsible and willing to seek bipartisan solutions, the Republicans blow up the solution they initially sought, labeling it ineffective.
Or, as Ted Cruz recently called the bipartisan border deal, “causing more problems than it solved.” This is what is happening with the border deal. As Trump’s power shifts from la-la land to official head of the Republican mob as nominated candidate for the presidency, his every chaos-sewing whim is regarded no longer as noise but threats disguised as responsible governance: “Do as I say or is I will toss out the jar in which I have your balls soaking in formaldehyde.”
As former President Donald J. Trump moves closer to becoming his party’s presidential nominee and Republican lawmakers consolidate behind him, he is wielding a heavier hand than any time since leaving office over his party’s agenda in Congress. His vocal opposition to the emerging border compromise has all but killed the measure’s chances in a divided Congress as he puts his own hard-line immigration policies once again at the center of his presidential campaign (Trump Strengthens Grip on Capital).
The army of ball-less are stampeding to fall in line to kiss the ring of the King of Chaos. Do you know who has a smile as wide as the Joker? You guessed it: Vladimir Putin.
Putin’s bet on Trump in 2016 paid off for him handsomely. Left alone for four years, Putin re-established control over the Soviet Union’s backyard, reminding everyone that the regional power was in the area. That confidence eventually infected the few parts of Putin’s brain still dedicated to rational thinking, leading him to believe he could “take Kyiv in three days.” Thanks to Joe Biden’s leadership and a post-Trump, reinvigorated NATO, much of Russia’s power gained thanks to the chaos of the Trump years was not just reversed. Today, Russia is weaker than ever since the collapse in 1991.
Trump didn’t like seeing his mentor, and holder of the piss tape, being so dissed by silly, American foreign policy. In his best effort at weakening the country — again — Trump has not so much as signaled that there could not be a border deal, which Republicans also tied to aid for Ukraine; he has made it a campaign promise to Putin.
“If I can turn this immigrant thing into a full-scale shit show by telling the Republicans muppets to do nothing at all, then we can blame it all on Biden. Then, Americans will forget all about Ukraine. Then, Kyiv is yours really ‘in 3 days’ Comrade.”
Putin’s puffy face turns into a Grinch-like smile, “Thanks, buddy, we’ve missed you.”
Mitch McConnel, in a closed-door meeting with Republicans, said it best — without freezing, by the way:
What was supposed to be the sweetener for conservatives opposed to sending tens of billions of dollars to Ukraine had become just as politically treacherous terrain as the foreign aid itself, he acknowledged. Mr. McConnell regards the border deal as less important than sending military aid to Ukraine (Trump Strengthens Grip on Capital).
They can pretend all they want that the policy isn’t strong enough; that’s a crock, and most sane Americans know this. Republican Senator Thom Tillis called out his fellow Republicans and challenged them to go and tell Trump that the policy was strong.
“Don’t pretend that the policy isn’t strong. If you want to admit you’re just afraid to tell President Trump the truth, that’s fine (Trump Strengthens Grip on Capital).”
The stupid clan, senators who won’t piss if their pants were on fire without Trump’s approval (Ted Cruz, JD Vance, Ron Johnson, Mike Rounds, and more), upon receiving their orders from the Kremlin — oops, Trump — hit the airwaves to trash the policy calling it “weak.” Some of the lies were also directed at Mitch McConnell, calling him out for trying to blame “MAGA” for the intransigence.
Republicans smell Trump in the air, and they are going to ride his wave one more time to re-election — or prison, as so often happens to people who remain close to him for too long.