Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Trump White House and Administration: Chaos, Discord, Turmoil, Deceit, and Lies

One-man Show Shrinking One Scandal at a Time
(Almost daily)

Most-recent: Rob Porter hiring, clearance, and firing
(Latest but not the last)

“Trump’s Terrible Tactics” quite a laundry list: 

Most recent and on-going top story: That is the Rob Porter firing and security clearance process vis-à-vis his wife beating record that was not fully disclosed by this White House and keeps changing almost daily. More from NBC news here cite:

The House Oversight Committee announced it has launched an investigation into how the former White House staff secretary (Porter) was allowed to handle classified information in the White House without being granted a full security clearance.

House Oversight Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy (R-SC) wrote in a letter to White House Chief of Staff John Kelly:The Committee is investigating the policies and processes by which interim security clearances are investigated and adjudicated within the Executive Branch, and the extent to which any security clearance issued to Porter comported with those policies and processes.”  

Gowdy went on to tell CNN that he’s “...troubled by almost every aspect of the scandal involving Porter, who is accused of assault by his two ex-wives. Who knew what, when and to what extent? Those are the questions that I think ought to be asked.”

Then this pretty startling news about Trump and the “Stormy” Daniels affair and who and how much money was paid and why and money sources:

Trump’s lawyer Michael Cohen told the New York Times: “Neither the Trump Organization nor Trump campaign was a party to the transaction with Stephanie Clifford (aka: Stormy Daniels), “and neither reimbursed me for the payment, either directly or indirectly.”

Note: Cohen would not say what the payment was for, but other outlets have reported it was to prevent Clifford from speaking publicly about the alleged affair. 

While Cohen was probably trying to put Trump in the clear by saying he had nothing to do with it, his very explanation paints a picture very similar to that of former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards. Ironically, however, Cohen’s very explanation could land Trump in serious trouble, and possibly vulnerable to criminal charges similar to the Edwards case (more on that at this Law and Crime link).

Regarding that Cohen statement from Business Insider, in part, a good analysis:

This is clear but still an unknown that needs to be proven one way or the other regarding the Cohen statement: What was his INTENT in giving Daniels the $130,000. Legal impact questions:

(1)  If the payment was made because Trump and Cohen didn't want Melania Trump to hear Daniels' allegations, then they are probably fine, but…

(2)  If the payment was made because they didn't want the electorate to hear then that's very critical difference…

(3) Or, if the payment was made in consultation with Trump, then


It becomes a huge and potentially a very serious criminal issue for Trump and the courts.

Then add this to all that and previous similar stories regarding Pruitt and Price and Zinke and Munchin and their travel BS trips and deceit – this case involving the VA Secy.  – cite:

VA Secy. David Shulkin has been under review over a trip he took to Europe last year. Now it seems ethics watchdogs have found out that he and his team made falsified statements in order to get his expenses covered with taxpayer money. 

The Washington Post reports that when Shulkin and his wife traveled to London and Denmark last July, VA official Vivieca Wright Simpson “doctored an email about the trip.” The purpose was to make it look like Shulkin was on a business trip that involved receiving an award from the Danish government - oops.

Note: This new makes Shulkin the latest Trump Administration member to come under scrutiny for potentially using taxpayer funds for personal reasons

As mentioned below, former HHS Secy. Tom Price was forced to resign over a similar controversy last year, then EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, then Interior Secy. Ryan Zinke, and then Treasury Secy. Steven Mnuchin have also raised questions with their travels in the past and billing the taxpayers’ huge amounts.

EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt is it: He is again flying all over the place even DC to NYC and Baltimore and overseas 1st class at huge rate increases and saying it’s for security purposes.

(The Tom Price story: he pulled the same crap and was fired – Pruitt needs to go, too).

Now Trump is ready to replace SNAP (food stamps for the needy) with canned food to “save money.”

(I note: That for damn sure is NOT helping needy people – not one bit).

In essence Trump is taking from the needy, poor, and unfortunate for his top BFF's - at the same time, Trump's base falls for his line of BS - that my friends is how he has operated is whole life: The Art of the Con right in our face.

Now the security clearance mess in the W/H with a dozen or so top officials (Porter, gone; Kushner same interim clearance for over a year), and now the FBI director disputes the W/H BS timeline story when they plead ignorance – he said the W/H knew about wife beater Rob Porter for months.

My 2 cents from all the evidence to date, that still building, and the media coverage, which Trump hates and labels the facts and reporting and such as “Fake News, a Hoax, a Witch Hunt” – the facts say otherwise.

Let’s face America – this White House and administration under Donald J. Trump is hands down the worst in American history. All those hired and fired or resigned or dismissed up to this point - wow... that must be another first, but one that Trump will NOT brag about ... 

Also, recall how Trump bragged in a a string of promises about hiring the best, the brightest, and not “hacks” … whew boy – take a walk down memory lane as I conclude with this: Only hire best said Trump.


And thanks for stopping by. And, certainly stay tuned - we have a long way to go.

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