Going Mobile [View all]

[H2O Man]

“For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.”
Newton's Third Law


I'm not a scientist, by any means. So, instead of a discussion with either atoms or solar systems as a model, I shall instead use a mobile hanging over an infant's crib. This is easier for me, a simple person of limited insight and understanding on a good day …..much less so in recent days.

With such a mobile, as we know, if one piece moves, all others must shift their position, in order to maintain balance. In “mobiles” composed of human beings – be they families, communities, schools, government agencies, or the Trump administration – there is another dynamic that can take place: if one piece attempts to move, some or all of the other pieces may attempt to remain entrenched. And, if that entrenched piece (or pieces) enjoy powerful positions, they may even “cut” right off the mobile.

We've witnessed an example of this very thing when Nikki Haley, the UN ambassador, announced that there would be more sanctions against Russia. Although meetings among high level administration officials had agreed to this, one piece on the mobile became entrenched in opposition to this shift after Haley spoke publicly. That piece, of course, was Donald Trump.

On the surface, it might appear that Trump's lone reason for doing so is his relationship with Putin. And that should always be considered, in the context of every move Trump makes. Indeed, Putin provides the context for the entirety of Trump's presidency. But there is another factor that lies just beneath the surface, one that the media has not fully taken into account, simply because of the rapid pace of “breaking news.”

It has to do with the dynamics within the mobile. Let's consider this in terms of individual pieces, before looking at the entire mobile. If one piece explodes – say, “attorney” Cohen – another pieces will implode – say, Sean Hannity. It is never a coincidence that the exploding and imploding pieces are closely related to one another.

Now, briefly, let us examine a “quiet” news story:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/13/us/politics/pence-jon-lerner-nikki-haley.html

VP Pence had decided to hire Jon Lerner – top assistant to Haley – as his new national security advisor. Now, Lerner has no background and zero qualifications to serve either in the United Nations position, or as a national security adviser. His experience is in being a republican pollster who led the “Never Trump” movement of the republican primary season of 2016. On the surface, he is a strange choice. Under the surface, it was even stranger: Lerner, we learned, would continue with Haley, as well as with Pence. Only in this administration could an unqualified person be assigned two full-time positions.

When Trump learned of this, he asked, “Why would Mike do this to me?” Surely, Trump remembered that Lerner strongly opposed him during the primaries. And just as surely, he remembers that during the general election campaign, the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape surfaced, Pence had quietly told republican leaders he was prepared to become their presidential candidate.

Now, let's focus on the entire Trump mobile. As the pressures on the entrenched central piece become greater, we have seen his “trusted circle” become smaller. He communicates less and less with individuals such as John Kelly, or the other semi-establishment people in his administration. Thus, those people communicate more and more with one another – for example, Kelly, Haley, Sessions, and Pence.

It has dawned upon Trump that these people are preparing for other forces to clip Trump, remove him from the mobile, and have Pence assume his position. Hence, his attempt to humiliate Haley in a very public manner, that all of the others can see.

In time, Trump will indeed be removed from office. In a very real sense, that is a good thing. However, it is a bad thing that shit-stains such as Kelly, Haley, Sessions, and Pence would assume more power, thus allowing for them to become entrenched for the 2020 elections.

And that is why – exactly why – we need to harness all of our potential strength to re-institute constitutional democracy in 2018, 2020, and beyond. There is no time to waste.

Peace,
H2O Man