Twisting in the Wind [View all]

[H2O Man]

“I think we ought to let him hang there. Let him twist slowly, slowly in the wind.”
John Ehrlichman; 1972.


Since joining in 2003, DU has been my favorite internet site. I've enjoyed “meeting” many individuals who have become good friends ….some of whom are still part of the DU community, and others who are no longer here. I like the the discussions about important topics where one can learn new things, including other points of view, regardless of if I agree dully with them. There are some people who always make me think. One of these people is “grantcart,” and his response to my last OP reminded me of a story that Rubin once told me.

An isolated tribe of people came upon an airplane that had been left in the wilderness. The first man who climbed into it was amazed by the comfortable seats within the plane. In time, another man figured out how to start its engine, and began using it as a convenient car. But because they were satisfied with comfort and convenience, the tribe never understood that the plane could fly.

I thought of this, because frequently, “grantcart's” posts take discussions to a higher level. They soar above the more common communications found on OP/threads. In the current post, he noted – in detail – some of the history of another large nation, a century ago. Because, as historian Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. documented, history tends to go in cycles.

Back in the “good old days” of DU:GD during the Plame scandal, a significant number of community members posted high-quality essays and posts that drew upon their personal knowledge of history, political science, sociology, psychology, and other areas of interest. These helped the larger community “connect the dots,” and more fully understand the national and international events that were spinning out of control under George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and assorted neoconservatives in their administration.

This got me thinking about some current events that I'd like to focus on now. The general topic is how the Mueller Team is approaching the on-going investigation, based in part on their understanding of the personality structures of three of the criminals – Flynn, Manafort, and Trump. Let's take a brief view.

Michael Flynn is a strange case, but certainly not unique. People of my generation are reminded of General Edwin Walker. (Robert Mueller, for example, is fully aware of this.) Both were products of military schools, both had rigid, authoritarian personalities, and that combination allowed both to function within the structure of the military. Both would be promoted to high levels, which eventually led to their personality deficiencies being exposed. In their post-military careers, each became involved in right-wing politics.

Paul Manafort provides an example of serious anti-social personality disorder. He belongs to a group of corrupt people, who only have an allegiance to each other, primarily because they work together on various criminal enterprises. People with personality characteristics such as Manafort are often drawn to working with a psychopath.

Trump is a psychopath. More, he belies the mistaken belief that psychopaths are “evil geniuses.”

Now, the current manual for diagnosing mental illness in the United States makes psychopaths a part of ASPD. This is relatively new. It is because insurance coverage was far more available to pay for treatment of ASPD, which can be successful in certain circumstances, than psychopathy. Hence, the change. But, to be sure, investigators and prosecutors understand the distinction, and attempt to use it to their advantage.

Team Mueller is aware that both Flynn and Manafort attempt to live by a code that is distinct from that of the larger society. Flynn views Mr. Mueller as an “enemy of the state,” and thus hesitates to cooperate with him. Manafort views Mr. Mueller as “the law,” and likewise hesitates to cooperate. Neither wants to be a “rat.” But, in both cases, they have sons who are identified as being in legal jeopardy, and have thus the human impulse to protect their offspring. And that is exactly where Team Mueller will apply maximum pressure to turn them.

Trump's son, daughter, and son-in-law are also at risk of being indicted. One can easily identify a number of questions that Mr. Mueller will ask Donald, Jr., For example, what exactly did Junior mean a few years back, when he said that “Russian money is flowing in” to the family business? We know his father dictated the lie about his “adoption” meeting, which on the surface could be mistaken for a dad trying to protect his son. But that isn't the way Trump rolls.

When push comes to shove, Trump is the most cowardly of men. He lacks the trait that would allow him to even consider accepting responsibility for his actions, even if doing so would potentially protect his spawn. For he has no conscience, no meaningful concept of “family,” beyond as an extension of himself. And he will sacrifice any such extension – be it family or friend – to save himself.

When investigators and prosecutors approach a case with such dynamics, they identify such personality traits. They focus on those weak links in the chain, both within the group and within the individuals involved. This includes the weak spots within the individuals who are considered “strong” by the group.. Those weak spots are known as “keys.” And we are seeing Mr. Mueller playing those keys like a master plays a piano.