Trump vs Putin

Yesterday was the big Summit and, not much happened. And that figured. You rarely work out complex issues in a few hours. Folks don't seem to get that. To hear the Media, Democrats and a some Republicans comment. you would have thought that the President handed Putin the keys to the White House and the Nuclear codes.
I think they wanted Trump to slap Putin and challenge him to 2 out of 3 falls in a steel cage wrestling match. Or, more appropriately, a Russian Death match. They very obviously do not understand diplomacy,
No one is stating the obvious. President Trump did not remove the sanctions on Russia. He signed no agreements. They talked. That is all and, talking is better than arguing and threatening. Maybe these people have forgotten the nightmare of the Cold War.
The President did express some doubts about our Intelligence agencies, Well, the recent FBI issues should give cause to doubt their efficacy. A revue of CIA history creates even more doubts. Did Russia muck about in our politics. Of course, just like we have messed with internal politics in many other countries. Read history if you doubt that. And, while doing so, grow up. That is just how politics in the real world works. It is not tight, but it is the way things are and we will never change that by denying reality
Do I think Putin a great, trustworthy guy, No. But he is, for now, who we must deal with. Does he trust us? Of course not. We are witnessing a dance of mistrust and double dealing, but it is far better to dance than fight.

America - The Donald Chronicles, Part 4

The inauguration is almost here. Woo Hoo. The long National nightmare of the 2016 campaign is over, except that it's not. The Democrats seemed to have missed the memo. Trump won.

Still, day after day, they go after him. Okay, he gets pissed off by that and I can understand that, but his solution should be to ignore them. Instead, using his increasingly annoying Twitter account, he responds. Just today, he issued a rant again attacking Hillary. Does she deserve it? Of course, but doesn't he have bigger fish to fry?

His response to all of their lame attempts to discredit and delegitimize his Presidency, should be simple dismissal. Just say that you have no time for these silly distractions and move on.

Speaking of distractions, we still have the whole Russia affair lingering. I have no idea what the truth of the matter is and neither does almost anyone else. A very few in Trump's family and business and another very few in Putin's inner circle may know, although really, it is possible that only the 2 main players, Trump and Putin, know the whole story.

Americans need to grow up. All countries that have enough wealth to have the means spy and manipulate. All of them make every effort they can to influence each others Governments. And, every one has skeletons in the closet and people trailing them who will threaten to open those closet doors. This is the way things have been as long as we have had governments. It's not a good idea. In fact, it is a wretched way to do things, but it is what it is and things are not likely to change soon.

Anyone who expects Trump and his Administration to solve all of America's problems should immediately be lobotomized. They are seriously deranged and such a view is dangerous. The American people should not trust them as far as we can toss Donald himself, and he is a pretty big guy. But, it is possible that they can and will change enough to get the Country moving again.

Then, it is up to us.

America - The Donald Chronicles, Part 2

Well, today, the Electoral College votes and it is almost a sure thing that Trump will be named President. America had best hope and pray that this goes smoothly. If it does not, if enough Electors go rogue and this is not finalized today, all Hell will break loose. But, let's assume all goes as scheduled.

I have had, and continue to have, grave doubts about Trump. But, to be fair, he has surprised me a little. At first, it looked like he was creating his Cabinet out of an assortment of tired, old Washington insiders. That would have been disappointing, but not surprising.

Then, he began loading the Cabinet with military personnel. For a while, I thought I was witnessing a junta, a military takeover. Then, he surprised me. He name Tillerson as Secretary of State. This was a huge surprise. The man is a talented business man and will bring a new approach to that office.

Some, both Republicans and Democrats, are upset. While they will not admit it, I am sure that the naming of a business leader instead of the usual political hack, to that office is not what they were looking for, In addition they are all in a snit because he is friendly with Putin. They have done business together and the Established politicians seem to think Tillerson is going to hand Vlad the keys to the Nation.

Personally, I would rather see a guy who gets on with Russia in the State Department than someone who is hostile. Putin is by no means saintly, but then, neither is Trump, neither are any of you, and neither am I. We need to get a grip on something. The rest of the World is not the same as us. They have radically different traditions and their government cannot and will not be the same as ours. Putin could not be President here and Obama would not have worked there. In addition, where do we get off complaining about Russia when we support some absolutely wretched leaders in other nations. An example? Our good buddies the Saudis. Their monarchy is nightmarish and still brutally suppresses women. They make Putin look like an old hippy.

Looking over Trump's nearly completed Cabinet is interesting. He has mixed old time Washington insiders, the military, business people, and a few off the wall characters (like Steve Bannon). They all disagree on many issues, both with each other and Trump. I like it. Such tension, if handled correctly, can lead to new ideas, and God knows we need that. It might work. I still think it's a long shot, but it might work.

One thing for sure. The next four years will be interesting. Pay attention. It might be the best show around.