Re: The anonymous White House Resistance op-ed

[fridi]

I know this is counter-intuitive, but here's my take: the Trump presidency is the end point of a road the US society has been on for over 40 years.

During this time (of Neoliberalism) democratic institutions and the rule of law have been systematically dismantled as the result of the wholesale takeover of all relevant levers of power by American oligarchs (both in industry, characterized by the rise of monopolies, oligopolies, cartels, media conglomeration, and government, as the result of influence-peddling corruption).

This process can be thought of a "creeping fascism," as the legal, societal, and technological infrastructure for an eventual fascist state was put in place.

Trump's ascension to power (however it happened) represents the tipping over (of the country) into an actual fascist state.

Within that context, I believe we've been experiencing a sort of psyops campaign at the national (and international) level; this situation has caused enormous stress on the population, to the point that people feel psychologically exhausted and overwhelmed.

I see this unprecedented anonymous op-ed in that light: as another (psyops) attack on the population.

Who does it benefit (ultimately)? Trump. Why? It should be clear by now that he will not be impeached or prosecuted.

Given that reality, and given the depravity of his administration, convincing people that he may be a little (or a lot) crazy will ultimately serve as a shield for future unconscionable actions.

Comments

[oportet]

He's trying to prove the size and reach of a 'deep state' (yes, typing it is just as annoying as hearing or reading it), so in that sense - it helps him.

Now that I think about it, a plant seems more likely than not-a-plant. Everyone knows how fire-happy Trump is - if you were really on the inside, if thought you were making a difference, if you truly believed you were the last line of defense - why announce it make him paranoid?

[asthfghl]

Too troll him some more. For the shits'n'giggles.

[johnny9fingers]

I must apologise about the delay in getting to comment on this analysis. Before I begin though may I recommend this post.

Some quibbles, obviously. And I don't quite agree with your conclusion.

Qui bono? Everyone apart from the US and Europe, excepting the coming financial downturn means everyone is going to be a little worse off.

Trump will leave the presidency with the US significantly less powerful than ever. It has lost the soft-power war completely, 45 being slightly too clever to understand the use of such methods; some folk only believing in stick not carrot, obviously. He will have squandered the US's position as the leader of the "free world" and China will have more clout than ever.

Spot on about the international psyops campaign, the fallout from which still settles. From an historical perspective, I wonder if it is going to be seen as the first great psyops campaign and the first great victory against the odds - because it is my contention that a lot of this has been done by folk for whom English is not their first language.

Now, trying to tell our respective polities of this is next-to-impossible. The situation in the White House prevents candour and disclosure; and the UK is reeling from its own disaster, while the fifth columnists, spivs, and chancers upholders of the will-of-the-people are keeping folk focused on what really matters.

Trump is unlikely to be impeached unless the GOP loses badly in the mid-terms. There are so many contingencies before that scenario can become an eventuality; but the context needs to shift more in order to arraign 45 if there is no obvious smoking gun. (One problem appears to be, if you will allow me to extend my metaphor beyond breaking point, that the field is strewn with smoking automatic weapons all of which belong to the Donald, and the fact he can't have fired them all confuses things.)

The lovely thing about the internet is it gives a timestamp on opinions, and sooner or later all of that information will be collated, ordered, and understood. It appears we have all been loading a datamine for exploitation at a later date. Control of the opinions within the dataverse is often dependent upon volume - numbers or loudness, if you like.

Which is why I'm a party of one in this game, obvs.

[nairiporter]

Great re-analysis, and yes, a good and important post.

[johnny9fingers]

It's always easier to pick apart someone's work than create something yourself, so most credit goes to the OP.

When you start from good analysis (or a good analytical structure) it often only needs the reflection of debate to trim it to fit even better.

I mean there are always positions with which we disagree; but some things appear to me true, inasmuch as I am a judge of truth.