Things are changing so quickly and so dramatically that it is clear to the staff of As The Donald Turns that we are “On The Edge.” We are on the edge of a legitimate constitutional showdown. We are on the edge of going so far down a conspiratorial rabbit hole that there is no hopping out of it. The edge of even being able to tell the truth anymore is being rapidly pulled away from us. The good news? At least most of us recognize we are “On The Edge.”
As The Donald Turns; On The Edge
- It is impossible to keep up where we are with regards to the release of “the memo.” At this point it is likely to be released sometime Friday. Devin Nunes, who has been caught conspiring with the White House to make up false stories already, has made changes to his four-page writing. The White House added color animation and pictures of gorillas fighting so Donald would finally read it, and they have given their blessing for the House Intel Committee to do with it, as they wish. That would be releasing it.
Weighing In On The Memo
- The memo is only four pages long and Nunes, who had recused himself as the committee head months ago, had no basis from which to write his analysis. He had no access to the underlying intel that the memo purports to assess. Still, the memo is the whole topic across the country:
- Congressman Jeff Duncan is eager for it to get out. He is the one caught on the hot mic with Donald after the State of the Union speech. Donald guaranteed him, “100%” the memo would be released. Duncan went to Twitter to say the release is everything.
Rep. Jeff Duncan Verified account
“Having read “The Memo,” the FBI is right to have “grave concerns” – as it will shake the organization down to its core – showing Americans just how the agency was weaponized by the Obama officials/DNC/HRC to target political adversaries. #ReleaseTheMemo” 10:32 AM – 1 Feb 2018
Donald himself has reportedly told political allies the memo will cast significant doubt on the Mueller investigation. It will, according to Donald, put the work of the FBI investigators into question.
House Speaker Paul Ryan told the Republicans gathered for a camp out and weenie roast in West Virginia, the memo will not, in any way, impugn Mueller or his investigation.
The Fallout Of The Memo
- So, what is the real value of the memo? Absolutely nada, except a political fight that puts the country “on the edge” of a crisis. Nunes wrote a book report without ever reading the book. His evaluation of the FBI files is about as valuable as that of the high school intern in his office. But the government is in paralysis waiting for the report. What little exists of Nunes’ credibility is “on the edge” of extinction along with it.
Or, if you believe the conspiracies, we are “on the edge” of getting rid of the entire FBI and turning over all national investigative powers to Eric Trump. Beyond that, there are media reports that FBI director Chris Wray will quit if the memo goes public. He asked Donald, in person, not to release it and gave the reasons why it concerned the entire intelligence agency. If Donald ignores that, why would Wray want to continue to work for him?
If he does, that will mean two directors are out within one year. The FBI will under absurd dissection for what amounts to an effort to get Donald off the hook. If it happens to the FBI, then Rod Rosenstein at the DOJ and Robert Mueller himself cannot be far behind in terms of their shelf life. That takes this episodic adventure to a whole other level of democracy in danger.
People Weren’t Watching
- Hey, did you know that Donald gave the State of the Union address Tuesday night? We are guessing you did not watch. We make that assumption because the ratings were down by about 9% over Barack Obama’s last one in 2016.
What the heck, you say? Donald tweeted Thursday morning that it was the most watched SOTU ever in the history of the country. Well, Donald is not living on the edge of truth. He is not even in the same zip code as truth. The highest rated SOTU was George W. Bush’s in 2003 as he made the case for the invasion of Iraq.
Because Donald has been very busy, there have been no White House press briefings since Monday. Sarah Sanders has not had to answer questions about her boss’ tendency to lie about things that are easily discoverable. There were several stats thrown out by Donald during the speech that bore no resemblance to the truth.
We were, however, touched by the stories of the some of the special guests in the gallery. The young man who escaped the totalitarian North Korean regime was compelling. We could not help but notice how his family was later allowed to join him in the US. That would be called chain immigration to Donald.
The Muhammad Ali Of Presidents
- Speaking of being “on the edge” of truth and lies; at the GOP marshmallow roast toast Thursday, Donald talked about how he is the greatest president ever. Really. Donald paraphrased what Utah senator Orrin Hatch said about him.
(Photo courtesy SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
“He said once I am the single greatest president in his lifetime, now he’s a young man, so it’s not that much. He actually once said I’m the greatest president in the history of our country. I said, does that include Lincoln and Washington? He said yes. I said, I love this guy.”
The great thing is Hatch said no such thing ever. Donald starts telling a story, swerves away from the truth and steps on the gas to make sure he is lying at well over the speed limit. What Hatch had said was that he wanted to work with Donald to make him the greatest president ever, and that he was one of the best he had served under.
Why should Donald tell the truth when he can just make stuff up, knowing there are millions that are gullible enough to believe it? It is the permeating reality throughout his first year in office. He is living “on the edge” and taking the country with him.
