Freak Out Friday -March 9, 2018

So let’s start off with the most recent bit of news, which could wind up being a good thing or become a complete and total disaster.

1). What could possibly go wrong?. In a move that is quite literally historically unprecedented, North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un has offered to meet with Trump and even stand down their nuclear program. Although this has the potential to finally simmer down the previously escalating war of words between the two leaders, it could also send things off in an insane new direction. It has not yet been revealed where the meeting will take place, but if it happens in North Korea, Kim Jong-un would have the president of the United States exactly where he wants him. It doesn’t matter how much secret service protection he has; if a squad of armed soldiers surrounds him, the subsequent gun battle will not end well for the US. Trump could be taken prisoner or killed outright, and suddenly we’re in World War III.

Just as intimidating is the thought of the two of them face to face. This would be one of those instances where we would be praying for Trump’s usual psychology to kick in wherein he hates conflict and does his best to get along with whoever he’s speaking to. Because the absolute last thing we need is for him to offend Kim and suddenly the two countries start lobbing nuclear weapons at each other. We can hope that won’t happen because it’s clear that Kim is seeing all the damage that Trump is doing to US world wide relations and is hoping to use that opportunity to prove that he’s a better leader than Trump.

2). Oh yeah, that’ll take care of the problem.. Despite his big talk about cutting back on guns and raising the age to own them, it is obvious that Trump has knuckled under to the NRA and will do absolutely nothing to make any changes at all. But in order to pretend that he is, he is turning around and blaming violent video games for causing violent bastards to pump bullets into helpless students. Despite the fact that the most recent shooter proudly sported a red Trump “Make America Great” baseball cap, Trump is convinced that video games are translating into real world crimes. A summit was held at the White House to discuss this. Curiously–no, wait, wrong word. Unsurprisingly, the summit featured exactly zero psychologists or scientists in attendance to address the underpinning of the meeting’s existence. This is likely because they would have said exactly what we already know: there is zero evidence to indicate that there is any causal link between playing video games and committing violent acts. Just as decades ago there was zero evidence that comic books inspired kids to become juvenile delinquents. This is a non-issue that Trump and his crew are transforming into a big deal to distract from all the other crap that’s going on. Crap such as…

3). A porn star. Seriously. If I had come up with an idea for a novel about a president being sued by a porn star, it would be rejected as being way too out there as a concept. But now we’re finding out that not only is that happening, it’s happening because Trump never bothered to get around to signing the contract with her. THIS is a master businessman? It’s bad enough that he never pays people for the jobs that they do, but now he’s not even signing agreements with people that he’s making deals with in the first place. Let us keep in mind that Congress relentlessly went after Bill Clinton’s sex life for years, but they are standing behind someone who was banging a porn star while his wife was pregnant with their son. We’re reaching the point where telling someone you are a Republican is becoming embarrassing because of the party’s non-stop hypocrisy.

4). Down the Hatch. Have you ever heard of the Hatch Act? I had not. Then again, I’m not someone who has to worry about it. Enacted in 1939, it stipulates that save for the President and Vice-President, employees of the Executive branch in engaging in political activity…such as, say, endorsing people in elections. It is a law that Kellyanne Conway cheerfully ignored and so was in violation of it. Now you may ask, what sort of penalty will she have to pay? The answer is: nothing. All that will happen is that the information is being passed on to the president who will then take whatever steps he deems worthy to punish her. Which of course means that Trump will do absolutely nothing. While it’s possible that Conway might watch her mouth in the future, I wouldn’t bet on it all that much.

5). And another one bites the dust.. Trump’s brand spanking new tariff war has already claimed its first victim: Chief economic advisor Gary Cohn. How much greater damage this dumb-ass move by Trump will accomplish is yet to be seen as other countries are swearing they will likewise implement tariffs on American goods. What kind of a world are we living in where the entire concept of peace is hinging on Kim Jong-un rather than the American president who absolutely thrives on pissing people off and continues to insist that everything is fine in a White House that is rapidly falling apart? Trump insists that it’s no big deal because people come and go from the White House all the time. That’s true, but this is the sixth resignation of a high-profile member of his administration in the last year alone? That’s not normal; that’s insane.

6). California Dreaming. Jeff Sessions is actually launching a suit against California because it has set itself up as a sanctuary state for illegal immigrants. That makes sense since San Diego is bordered with Mexico. Sessions is claiming that California’s laws make it impossible for Federal agents to do their job. Governor Jerry Brown has basically challenged Sessions to bring it on, and California Senate President Kevin de Leon flat out stated, “Bottom line: California will NOT help President Trump, Jeff Sessions or Thomas Homan rip children from the arms of their mothers and fathers. Here in CA, we embrace our historic diversity, and we will do everything in our legal power to protect it.” Now of course we know Trump doesn’t worry about offending states that he will never in a million years carry in an election, but this is a new level of low, to sue politicians who just want to govern in their own way.

Sad.

PAD