Trump and Iran - Middle East/Persia

Sky News: Reports " Donald Trump mulled an attack on Iran nuclear site last week - but ended up holding-off, official says....Mr Trump has taken aggressive policy stances with Iran during his presidency, including withdrawing from the 2018 nuclear deal.  "

Lets Get Real:

This has been the nightmare of those that write on US National Security, the transition between Administration and the actions of the Oval and the reaction by others.  The idea that Trump even considered bombing IRAN is dangerous, its one thing to do with a Israel and other allies in the region, but to do it before HELM of state is given to someone else is crazy, one can expect a different policy from Biden, it can be postulated that Biden will appease Iran and try to get the Obama Agreement revoked by Trump back on line.  But the fact is if your Israel and other enemies of Iran might consider it better to bomb Tehran with Trump in the White House, thus in many respects taking the BALL AWAY from Biden.   The only saving grace with Trump is that he is such  DOVE, he was talked out of the idea of bombing Iran, but that might not be the case in Israel and the other Gulf States and Saudi Arabia.  

Trump on China, Ukraine and the Bidens - US Election 2020

BBC News: Reports " US President Donald Trump, already facing an impeachment inquiry after urging Ukraine to investigate his political rival Joe Biden, has now urged China to do likewise.  "

Lets Get Real:

One thing about POTUS, he really does not give a d-m, he is so used to reality TV that he is taking the format of reality to the White House.  What is shocking, is that the Party of Reagan has not draw a line in the sand, the Ukraine crisis is about US national security and the defence of the Ukraine against the Russian Bear.   Today POTUS asked China to investigate the Bidens, this is illegal, and Trump does not care, one has to ask, is he so self deluded or has the Republican Party by the political balls, there is few resistance to Trump from the GOP, also over the past few days, the Ukraine has dragged in the VP, Attorney General Barr and the Secretary of State, so the 25th Amendment is out.  POTUS is making Washington D.C a laughing stock, what will it take for the Republican Senate to remove Trump, as it seems that the VP is implicated in the crisis, there is no way that Republicans would ever allow the Speaker of the House to get in shouting distance of the Oval Office.  What a FARCE, poor US. 

POTUS vs. Senator Warren ? - US Election 2020

BBC News: Reports " Trump v Warren rallies preview possible 2020 populist duel "

Lets Get Real:

The above article is interesting, it was published a few days before the Ukraine scandal broke, and looks at the possible match up of Trump vs. Warren.   The Democrats are rushing for Impeachment to finish by the end of November, of course they have already made their minds up, a thorougher impeachment would take almost a year, the Dems want to keep their base happy, also they do not want the process to damage the Democratic race that will start in 2020 with the Iowa and New Hampshire votes.   The blog has read the transcript, it is damaging, but not enough to impeach a duck never mind a President, it depends of the House Committees can bet officials to come to talk to them and how much roadblocks the White House places on the process.   Trump will be ready for bear, he is a good counter puncher, the CIA official who was the whistle blower better have no connection to the Democrats in any form, otherwise Fox News and the supporters of the POTUS will go after him or her with a fury.    As long as Trump keeps the Senate the trial will be very short, there is no chance, that 20 Republicans will defect to support impeachment, POTUS will be found innocent, and then he can go in to 2020 with the mantra that the Democrats have tried two Coups in attempt to overturn the 2016 Election, and Warren will argue that TRUMP is corrupt, it will be a VERY DIRTY campaign. 

Bolton OUT as NSA, Was he sacked or did he resign? - Election 2020

BBC News: Reports " US President Donald Trump has announced he fired his hawkish National Security Adviser John Bolton, adding that he disagreed "strongly" with him.  "

Lets Get Real:

There is a question as to if Bolton was sacked or he resigned, the Trump Oval states he was fired, while Bolton has told the press he was sacked.   This must be the time that the VP and the US Cabinet consider the 25th Amendment, the removal of the POTUS, he is not fit to be President, he will be on his fourth National Security Adviser when he announces his new pick.  The Republican Party has to consider its future, not just 2020, Trump looks like a major LOSER in 2020, there must be a  respected and well know Republican who wants to challenge him, how about Senator Mitt Romney, it is worth a try, something must be done to protect the US from Trump.  From over the pond it seems that Trump is a major appeaser, from the Taliban to North Korea, what would Ronald Reagan say about the present Republican Party, he would not be happy it can be postulated, Trump is the new Neville Chamberlain. 

US Northern Korean Policy, What is it? - Trump Era

Sky News: Reports " North Korea: US 'hell bent' on hostility and 'obsessed with sanctions'..The US accused North Korea of violating UN sanctions by importing more refined petroleum products than it is allowed.  "

Lets Get Real:

One the hand hand POTUS set up a meeting with the North Korean leader by tweet and crossed the border, the first sitting President to make such a visit, but then the US tries to further sanctions on North Korea.   One can assume that the hawks in the Trump White House have not been impressed with the foreign policy actions of their boss, from the lack of action when Iran shot down a US drone, to cowboy diplomacy of Trump when it comes to the US and North Korea.   It can be argued that the VP and US Cabinet should invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump and place VP Pence as ACTING President, while Pence tries to make some sense of the mess that is the present Trump policy when it comes to the enemies of the US.   Of course this will not happen, as long as Trump has the base he will not be removed either by the US Cabinet or the US Congress. 

Vice - President Pence on the Mueller Report - Trump Era

The White House: Has released the following statement by Vice - President Pence, " Today’s release of the Special Counsel’s report confirms what the President and I have said since day one: there was no collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia and there was no obstruction of justice.

After two years of investigation, conducted with the full cooperation of this Administration, that involved hundreds of witness interviews and millions of pages of documents, the American people can see for themselves: no collusion, no obstruction.

Now that the Special Counsel investigation is completed, the American people have a right to know whether the initial investigation was in keeping with long-standing Justice Department standards — or even lawful at all. We must never allow our justice system to be exploited in pursuit of a political agenda.

While many Democrats will cling to discredited allegations, the American people can be confident President Trump and I will continue to focus where we always have, on advancing an agenda that’s making our nation stronger, safer, and more secure.  "

Lets Get Real:

In this modern world of social media, you live in your own political planet, if you watch CNN you think that POTUS did colluded with the Russians even after the Mueller cleared the Trump Campaign of that allegation.   Also you think POTUS tried but failed to obstruct justice but was prevented by his staff from doing any damage.  If you are a Fox News watcher you will take the words of AG Barr, the President was cleared of collusion, by the way for liberals, collusion is not a crime. Also the AG did not agree with the special prosecutor when it comes to the legal theory of obstruction of justice, and thus cleared the President.   Let's recall Mueller works for AG Barr not the other way around, the AG calls the shots on the final interpretation of the law for prosecution.  Thus those that are sane, just want the matter over with, Mueller cleared POTUS of collusion, however many ways CNN try to say it did not happen, and the AG, and the Deputy AG, are the top law enforcers in the land have cleared Trump when it comes to obstruction.   One will postulate that the Democrats will try to impeach the President on obstruction, but they will fail because it will be seen as partisan, and no Republican is going to go against the AG when it comes to a matter of law.   Again to Democrats, impeachment is not about the law, it's is about the art of politics. 

Trump BOWS to political pressure to Open the Government - Trump Era

Guardian - Live Blog: Reports in its 2.34pm post the following, " Trump agrees to reopen government  "

Lets Get Real:

Thus this a 2nd win for the Democrats in Congress, Speaker Pelosi denied the President the House for the State of the Union and NOW the Oval Office has agreed to open the Government without any payment for the Trump Wall.  The Trump base must have worked out NOW that Trump can be rolled and does not keep to his WORD.   It can be postulated that the Trump White House saw the POLLS and were worried about 2020 and the Russia probe.   The Democrats will now think they can run the domestic agenda and just threaten to close the Government if they do not get what they want.   One doubts that the Trump Oval will want to close the Government again, also one presumes that Trump wants to do the State of the Union on the 29th, will the Speaker allow that without more concessions.   The above has shown that Trump is WEAK, Reagan sacked the Air Traffic Controllers when they went on strike, he was a leader, POTUS has shown that he is not great at the deal and  will  NOT stand firm.   The Republicans, well the Cabinet and VP should consider suspending POTUS and stating this is due to the Russia investigation, the Trump Presidency with this defeat and the Russia probe has become a RISK to Republicans in 2020.    Of course it would take the VP to stand up to POTUS. 

The Syria MISTAKE by POTUS, he is following Obama with Iraq - Trump Era

Guardian: Reports " Trump plans full withdrawal of US troops from Syria...Administration nears end of campaign to retake territory once held by Isis as Trump tweets: ‘We have defeated Isis in Syria’  "

Lets Get Real:

Thus as with Russia and North Korea, the Trump Oval is being weak with Syria, the threat from Daesh is not over in the view of experts and what does President Trump do, he does an OBAMA, while in Office, President Obama pull US troops out of IRAQ, this allowed for the development of Daesh and a threat to the MIDDLE EAST.   At the end of the day the US has to send troops back in to IRAQ, the very fact that Trump is acting on his own gut should be a great worry to the rest of the Trump Administration and the US Congress.   The US Cabinet and Vice - President should consider suspending POTUS, it can be argued that he is not fit for the OFFICE, US national security is coming under threat from the OVAL.  One can only hope the Russia investigation comes up with something REAL, actual links between the Trump Campaign in 2016 and Putin's Russia, otherwise the OVAL will argue with some justification that it is a Partisan hunt by the Democratic lawyers. 

New Lawyer for President Trump - Trump Era

New York Times: Reports that President Trump has hired a new Lawyer, the lawyer is, Emmet T. Flood, the NYT states the following, " Mr. Flood is expected to take a more adversarial approach to the investigation than Mr. Cobb, who had pushed Mr. Trump to strike a cooperative tone.  "

Lets Get Real:

This follows a pattern by POTUS, he has gotten himself a tougher Secretary of State and National Security Adviser, know he wants his legal team to be tougher with the Russia probe.  POTUS should sack the special prosecutor, the D.C swamp would be up in arms, but then what they can do, if the Democrats win the House and Senate in November it is a sure bet they will try to impeach Trump, so might as well make them peeved now, also it takes a lot to get rid of a President through impeachment, there is a the actions by the House then the Senate has a trial, one doubts that the Democrats will win enough seats to get rid of Trump, and even if they do they get VP Pence, who is a real conservative.   TIME TO DRAIN THE SWAMP, POTUS. 

The Russian Probe - Update - Trump Era

BBC News: Reports " After firing James Comey as director of the FBI, US President Donald Trump asked the agency's deputy director whom he had voted for, US media report. "

Lets Get Real:

IF I was Mrs Trump I would start to pack my clothes at the White House, the Special Prosecutor is getting close to a charge of Obstruction of Justice against President Trump.  One might have felt sorry for Richard Nixon or Bill Clinton, not so with Mr Trump, he did not really want the Presidency, the sole point of running was to gain a better Brand with the US voter and then open Trump TV.   The very fact that Trump won was a major shock for Trump and his family.   The political arrows are pointing to a 2nd President to resign the office under the threat of impeachment by Democrats when they win the House after the 2018 Mid Terms.   Ex - President Trump has the money and life style to be happy out of Office, Vice - President Pence is more suited to the Presidency.  It just a matter of connecting the dots at the moment. 

The END of Trump - Trump Era ( 2017 - ? )

Telegraph - Live Reporting: Reports " Flynn is prepared to testify that President Donald Trump directed him to make contact with Russians when he was a presidential candidate, ABC News reported. "

Lets Get Real:

It would be a nice Christmas present to the US and the World if President Trump was to resign at Christmas time.   The Presidency under Donald Trump has been devalued, its Moral leadership thrown in the bin.   Of course one wonders what kind of President Mike Pence will be, how will the US change, the VP has been very loyal to Trump, does he have his own agenda, he is more right wing that Trump, the World awaits.   Also let us recall there is still North Korea and Iran out there, will North Korea try a above ground nuclear test while the US is diverted by a POTUS on the way out.   It would not come as a shock to this blog if NK tries a above ground nuclear test around the Christmas period. 

Is Donald Trump FINISHED ? - Trump Era

BBC News: Reports " Ex-national security adviser Michael Flynn has pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI about meetings with Russia's ambassador weeks before Donald Trump became president. "

Lets Get Real:

In one word POTUS is FINISHED, it is just a matter of time before Vice - President Pence becomes President, it really depends how badly Trump wants to stay as President.  Let's recall the Watergate break in took place in 1972, Nixon lasted in till 1974 when Ford became President.  Those with a brain within the Trump Administration will try to move their support to Pence, the Cabinet will be wondering who will stay in a Pence Administration.   This blog made a mistake in 2016 in predicting that HRC would win and who would be in her Administration, in this case this blog would place a heavy bet on that PENCE will be President before the end of 2018.

The Russian Connection Part 2 - Trump Era

Daily Mail: Reports " A Trump campaign foreign policy advisor who lied to the FBI about his Russian contacts and pushed for a Trump-Putin meeting reported to now-Attorney General Jeff Sessions during the campaign.  "

Lets Get Real:

They say history repeats itself, well it seems that the Trump Campaign did a 1968, in that year Candidate Richard Nixon got the South Vietnam Government not to enter talks with the US and North Vietnam for a peaceful end to the Vietnam War, this lead to the election of Nixon in a very close election.   The question you might ask why bring up that NOW, well it can be argued that the Watergate break in of 1972 was Nixon wanting to know what the Democrats had on Nixon and the events of 1968.   Let's look at the background of 68, LBJ knew that Nixon had been playing dirty games, but did not go public with the news as this could lead to a Constitutional crisis, thus he kep the information to himself, in other words he was making sure that Nixon treated him with respect in his Post Presidential years, well Nixon wanted to know who else knew about 1968, thus the DNC break in, and of course we have Watergate and the resignation of Nixon in 1974.    The actors change but events do seem to follow a pattern, one wishes those in politics knew a bit of political history!!

The Smoking Gun of the Russian Connection ? - Trump Era

BBC News: Reports " An election campaign adviser to Donald Trump has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about the timing of meetings with alleged go-betweens for Russia. "

Lets Get Real:

There were other charges, as the BBC notes, first up Paul Manafort, Trump's former Campaign Manager. " Initial headlines on Monday morning were about Paul Manafort's indictment for money laundering and undisclosed foreign lobbying activities. The real blockbuster, however, may end up being George Papadopoulos's plea bargain, which was disclosed shortly after the Manafort news came out. "  It depends who else is caught in the Russian net, those close to the President could place the President in the frame, this time Trump can not say that his Campaign or Administration had no contact with Russia, as the above proves, also his son in law meet with Russian lawyer who said she had dirt on HRC, also Mr Manafort was present.   Vice - President Pence could find himself President by the end of the year, think what happened to President Ford, he was Vice - President but then took over after Watergate finally broke Richard Nixon.  One thinks that Trump is a fighter, they will have to drag him from the White House, those darn Dems might just have a point, would thought this blog would say that today. 

Trump + Democrats = Deal on DACA - Trump Era

The New York Times: Reports " President Trump came under withering attack on Thursday from some of his strongest supporters, who were outraged and unforgiving about his decision to set aside, for now, a fight over building the border wall he has long promised as part of a deal with Democrats on legislation to protect young, undocumented immigrants.  "

Lets Get Real: 

President Trump won the election on the promise that he would get things done, that he was an expert deal maker.   The Republicans who control Congress have failed to get a deal over ObamaCare, the President's approval ratings are in the tank, no President has been this unpopular at the start of his term in the modern age, so Trump has gone to the Democrats, they tend to vote lock stock and barrel with their leadership.   On the issue of DACA, the President is doing the right thing at last, the more ideological Conservative Republicans are going through the roof, they have failed to understand that Trump is not a true blue Reagan Republican, the only thing that matters to Trump is Trump, the Republican Party can go to hell.   The question is will there be more deals, the Democrats have pressed the Russian issue, they might find that they end up with a Conservative President Pence, just as they are making deals with Trump.   An issue that the Republicans will face will be tax cuts, can they get united on that issue, or will Trump go with the tax hiking Democrats. 

Donald Trump on Race in the US - The Trump Era

BBC News: Reports " Former Presidents George HW Bush and George W Bush have called on the US to "reject racial bigotry, anti-Semitism and hatred in all forms". "

Lets Get Real:

The Republican Leadership should tell President Trump to resign or he will be impeached.  The VP, Mike Pence then could take over and try to repair the damage that Trump has done to race relationship in the US, under President Obama the first African - American President, who tried to be President of ALL the people, one would think that Obama would have handled this tragic mess in a better manner.   It is really time to tell the base it's OVER, and that Trump was not fit to be President.

The White House is a REAL DUMP - Donald Trump

Daily Mail: Reports " Donald Trump 'tells his golf buddies that the White House is a real dump and that's why he spends so many of his weekends away from Washington'  "

Lets Get Real:

IF POTUS is so fed up with the White House why does he not just quit, the Oval Office one had the likes of FDR, JFK, and Ronald Reagan, great Presidents who achieved a lot of the US and the World.   The Trump Presidency has been a disaster, staff in and out of the White House, policy is made by twitter, the Republican Congress does not fear Trump, thus the failure to pass reform of ObamaCare.   The Republicans should consider if they should impeach Trump and get VP Pence in to the White House, one would think he would like the White House. 

What Part did the FSB Play in the Trump Junior's Russian Meeting? - Trump's Russian Scandal

Guardian: Reports " Ex-Soviet counter-intelligence officer says he attended Trump Jr meeting..Rinat Akhmetshin, now a lobbyist, denies current ties to Russian spy agencies and says meeting involving Trump campaign members was ‘not substantive’  "

Lets Get Real:

The US House of Cards and the 1970s Washington Behind Closed Doors has nothing on the present Trump Russian scandal.   The meeting between Trump Junior and a Russian lawyer was bad enough, but now we drag someone in who has worked for Russian intelligence, the writers of political drama in the US must be fed, they think they have gone far and in reality its worse.   The President can not sack his son, but his security clearance must come under review.   The Democrats are playing it for all its worth, they have to be careful as this blog stated yesterday that they do no over play their hand, the US voter know the US media is uber liberal and is out to get Trump, thus they are iffy of any news broke by the main stream media.   This scandal will last for months if not years, this blog has suggested that Trump retire on medical grounds, and then VP Pence can take over, that would resolve the present crisis.

NYT Goes After Donald Junior - Post Election 2016

New York Times: Reports the following on Trump Junior meeting the Russians, " The June 9, 2016, meeting is of obvious interest to Robert Mueller III, the Justice Department special counsel investigating the Trump team’s potential involvement in Russia’s effort to influence the presidential election.  "

Lets Get Real:

Donald Trump Junior has made himself a target, the uber liberal NYT will go after any Trump, they see it as a way to get to President Trump.   The uber liberal left has still not gotten over the fact that Hillary Clinton lost in 2016, when ALL the polls suggested she would win. The Republicans should tell the Donald to throw in the towel, retire with some grace and allow VP Pence to take over, in a few years time there might be a chance for Trump to be Ambassador where he likes, but only if he has the grace to get out before the Sheriff comes along with Jail time. 

The Trump Russian Scandal - Part 2 - Post Election 2016

Guardian: Reports " Donald Trump Jr posts emails from Russia offering material on Clinton: 'I love it' "

Lets Get Real:

Even reality shows end, thus President Trump should consider the interests of the Country, if he were to retire due to health grounds, it can be postulated that the US Congress will end its investigations of the Trumps and the Russians.   IF need be President Pence could grant a pardon to the Trump family.   Otherwise we will have years of investigations, very much like Watergate, does the Trump want that kind of spotlight, it should be noted that Nixon gained some credit after his resignation, it took a few years but at the end he was seen as  elder Statesman, Nixon new foreign policy, whatever his faults.   The Donald could go back to building Hotels other such buildings, he is rich enough to be well off, and the US voter likes someone who comes back after a fall.