The news of news: Roger Ailes, pioneer of the number one ranked news network, died this week at 77. He had his share of scandals, considered by many to be large among his demographic, yet small by the working standards of his industry. He was held to a higher standard as did he hold his organization. He oversaw the original Rush Limbaugh TV show before making Fox News into a household name. In both success and failure, Roger Ailes proved that Conservative opinion hadn’t gone out of style, that agenda-driven news reporting had, and that no establishment is too big to fail, including his own. Those who worked with him have much more to say. He will remain among history’s more remembered.
Now, the entire news industry has it’s eyes on Donald Trump. The vultures and sharks are circling, thinking to get lucky for the first time. In former FBI director Comey’s long list of problems, even after all the opposition from the political Left, the news narrative is that Trump’s only important reason for firing the FBI chief was Trump himself.
Good luck with that.
While the birds and fish swarm around abandoned driftwood, hoping to find something to feast on, the Republicans on Capital Hill do what they always do: nothing. Talk of impeachment, then markets tumble. Lay off on the word “impeachment” and the markets rebound. So, it’s clear what the money wants and why the economy improved. Notoriety for Trump from the markets is the most this vulture cluster will accomplish, second-most being that the political class will have something to keep them distracted. Third-most is the entertainment the Russians are getting out of this. And, hiding somewhere in the back of the room, someone made money last week and someone else lost money last week. But, the money made on market dip days isn’t newsworthy, right?
Speaking of Russian entertainment, Putin may respect Trump more for this whole “investi- gate” jazz, which could lead to peace in other regions, perhaps.
America is divided, but this isn’t news. A political class was evicted. Young, entitled, socialist “Hippies” were denied: They were told to work and give to themselves rather than receive. This Sunday, angry students, who lacked the maturity to accept election results—something Obama dissidents were able to do for eight years—walked out on Pence’s speech at their own graduation ceremony at Notre Dame.
Complaints continue and will continue. The current cloud mounting against Donald Trump can’t be taken seriously because the rage behind it is old and waning. The cat who walked by himself has returned, sits outside the the back door, and cries in the rain. But, this is not a hotel. Once you’re gone, you’re gone, no matter how much of a fuss you make of it.
That’s all this is.
From this storm of headlines, not one vote will swing against Trump. If anything, his support will increase with every “surely this is the end this time” attack against him that fails.
This is a great danger to the remaining political establishment. And, Trump isn’t in political danger, he’s out-smarting the bull once again. Allowing Robert Mueller to return as special prosecutor is outright “Rooseveltian”—keep them distracted while continuing right on schedule. Mueller won’t indite Trump anymore than Snowden couldn’t not defend Comey.
Flynn’s situation is becoming suspicious, but not from digging into his ties with Trump, his problems beg questions of the Obama years. Trump fired Flynn on principle: He gave a dodgy answer to Pence’s direct question. Anything we discover bad about Flynn at this point applauds Trump’s firing principles and smears Obama. But, that won’t stop the angry bull from thinking he’s gonna’ finally kill the blanket this time!
What’s all the confusion about? What’s the real story? The real story is that Washington scrambles to discover the real story while Trump travels overseas to coordinate with Israel, the Vatican, the Saudis, NATO, and G7. There won’t be any coordinated scheme against the president while he is gone.
It seems crazy. It is. The line between brilliance and insanity is too fine for the media’s eye to see. The smokescreen of chaos in the nations’ capital, just in time for the president to travel and create new headlines, is as masterful and understandable as abstract art. It may be good, it may be evil, but it is neither unintended nor unskilled.
So, another bullfighter triumphed against another angry bull this week. So what?
Look to the seas. Venezuela has real trouble, so does North Korea. China and Russia are on the move. China’s execution of CIA spies during the Obama years is just now making headlines. Europe faces a “Muslim” reformation it invited. All the while, the US military just got a $15B injection, thoroughly-opposed by pro-military members of Congress, and is undergoing fat-trimming scrutiny so severe that the over-eaters are whining as tax vultures have found a less crowded sky to circle above the Pentagon. While Capital Hill’s buzzards circle an empty coffin, work continues.
And, whoever bought all that discount stock that sold off on Wednesday stood to make a lot of money selling it back on the Thursday and Friday rebound, just as they will at the next opportunity, and the one after that… especially the dip days that are reported as market “panic”, rather than the “opportunities” they often prove to be.
President Trump and First Lady Melania escape DC scandalfest for nine-day foreign tour… | Daily Mail
GREAT AGAIN: Unlike Obama, Trump doesn’t bow to Saudi king | American Mirror
Trump urges Mideast nations to drive out ‘Islamic extremism’ | AP
Saudi king slams Iran as ‘spearhead of global terrorism’ | Yahoo – AFP
Next stop for Trump is Israel, in pursuit of ‘ultimate deal’ | AP
Roger Ailes is Dead
Roger Ailes, former chief of Fox News, dies at 77 | NY Post
Shepard Smith pays tribute to Roger Ailes | YouTube – Fox News
Elizabeth Ailes’ statement on husband Roger Ailes’ death | Breitbart
Spent magical day with Ailes in Palm Beach last month. He loved life, country, Beth. News! We sat for 9 hours. He was excited for the future pic.twitter.com/iouxq3E0uK
— MATT DRUDGE (@DRUDGE) May 18, 2017
Violence, Assembly & Speech
State Department Summons Turkish Ambassador After Bloody Brawl in D.C. | NBC News
1 person dead, 22 injured at New York’s Times Square after car drives onto sidewalk | Global News
Notre Dame graduates walk out on Pence as he touts free speech | Yahoo – Reuters
Revealed: Facebook’s internal rulebook on sex, terrorism and violence | Guardian
FBI, “Investi- Gate”, et Cetera
Putin offers transcript to prove Trump did not pass Russia secrets | Yahoo – Reuters
Robert Mueller appointed special counsel | CBS
How Did Russiagate Start? | Rolling Stone
Trump blames Obama for Mike Flynn scandals | WA Examiner
Trump can’t waft away stench of Flynn scandal | CNN
Comey agrees to testify in open hearing before Senate Intelligence Committee | CNBC
Conservatives begin to whisper: President Pence | Politico
Worried about fallout, Dems poised to poll-test impeachment | McClatchy DC
Democratic Leaders Try to Slow Calls to Impeach Trump | NY Times
Special Prosecutor For Trump/Russia Investigation Is A Disaster | Dick Morris
Comey prepped responses ahead of Trump discussions | CNN
Hill GOP Reels From Trump Chaos, Struggles to Chart Course | Bloomberg
Chaffetz invites Comey to testify next Wednesday | Politico
Money & Military
Riot Police on Venezuela’s Front Lines Seek a Way Out | WSJ
Stocks close higher as tech, economic data power rebound | Market Watch
After a sudden crash, investors are betting on a rebound in this market | CNBC
U.S. dollar rebounds after hawkish Fed comments, data | Market Watch
The Pentagon Is Almost Ready for Its Close-Up | The Atlantic