The Collusion Illusion
(Collusion: Secret or illegal cooperation or conspiracy, especially in order to cheat or deceive others.)
I don’t know about the Russians, but the only collusion I’m seeing lately is between and among the President and his posse -- his cabinet, his staff and advisors, appointees, and members of his own family.
One after another, they are all shamelessly stonewalling the Senate Intelligence Committee, charged with getting to the bottom of the Russian collusion allegations, the James Comey firing, and other aberrations of the Trump presidency as they are revealed. Their evasive, deflective, and otherwise filibuster-type commentary to questions that would require a direct simple yes or no answer are a testament to the convoluted diatribe which has become the hallmark of Donald Trump and his administration’s hierarchy.
From U.S. Attorney General, Jeff Sessions to CIA Director, Dan Coats to National Security Agency Director, Admiral Michael Rogers, they are all obviously forming a protective barrier around their president. They duck and bob and weave around questions regarding their own personal actions, and when asked about the President’s role in these various scenarios they either say they don’t know, or they refuse to answer claiming a misguided ‘executive privilege’ right to withhold, or they just simply won’t answer due to some fallacious protective subterfuge of the President’s integrity.
Or, more correctly, they are fearful and protecting their own jobs.
“Oh! What a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.”
These are grown professional, intelligent men in the highest positions in our American government, we expect so much more from them, but they are acting like sophomoric schoolboys called before the headmaster’s disciplinary committee for organizing a panty raid on the girl’s dormitory.
Brings to mind Al Pacino’s famous defendant’s integrity speech in “Scent of a Woman” when he took the unscrupulous Headmaster to task:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUE4v1rUpSM
To be fair, I do agree and realize that discretion must be maintained when it comes to discussing sensitive matters of national security in a public forum. After all, loose lips sink ships. But these men were testifying to a Senate Committee under oath, the questions were measured, gauged and appropriate, but their performance under oath was disgraceful. They showed no respect to the body of the committee or to the individuals asking the questions. They showed no respect for the truth or for the American people.
They showed only fear for their own jobs, their own hides, and fear of the other consequences of disloyalty to President Trump.
It would appear to be a more serious scandal if Trump fires special council Muller and blocks the investigation into the Russian collusion allegations. Will, can, President Trump be called to testify?
So far, the Senate Intelligence Committee hearings were a “sham.”
Watching President Trump’s televised Cabinet meeting the other day spoke volumes of the hierarchy and relationship he has fostered within his administration. It was like watching a boardroom of junior executives trying to impress the boss, fearing for their jobs and status. Embarrassing to say the least, the most ridiculous display of kiss-ass cronyism I’ve ever witnessed in a boardroom. Trump went around the table for a brief report from each Cabinet member.
Each and every one of them declared what an honor it was to serve under him, that he was a brilliant leader, and that the goals he’s set for each of their departments was the absolute correct path and all was going well. The future was rosy. I was waiting for them to start kissing his ring! For a minute there I thought I was watching Kim Jong-un’s daily adulation ceremony.
The only person in the room that seemed uncomfortable with the “daisy chain” format was Secretary of Defense, James Mattis, a Marine General with the nick name “Mad Dog Mattis.” I wonder how just much of these shenanigans he will be able to take. This man seems to me to have the right stuff to hold that cabinet position. He was interviewed on ‘Face the Nation’ a few weeks ago. He was direct and well spoken. When asked “what keeps you up at night?” regarding the volatile situations with North Korea, Russia, Syria, ISIS, etc. His answer was perfect ..what I would have expected from a high caliber professional executive Cabinet member.
He said, without missing beat, “Nothing. I keep people up at night.” The man instills confidence, trust and integrity. A leader. A good choice by Trump for his Secretary of Defense.
Trump is obviously running a tight ship. And that is a good thing. But things can get out of control when the captain of the ship becomes couched in cynicism and paranoia ..like Captain Bligh on the HMS Bounty, as in “Mutiny on the Bounty.”
Mutiny. Could happen.
Could be more like rats exiting sinking ship.
The Trump administration will go down in history as the most controversial. And we’ve only just begun. This megalomaniac personality could use a little humility. He could display a little humility as well. Would do him, and us, good. I don’t mean he should kiss the feet of prisoners like the Pope did in South America last year, but maybe Trump could give a nod toward the planet regarding climate change and global warming. Instead of preaching the “winning” Trump Doctrine, he could show some humility and respect for all creation and his home’s environment ...our collective home.
If the illusion of collusion has you bamboozled, you are not alone. It’s hard to think that these “great Americans” serving us are all a bunch of dirty rotten liars, I don’t want to think that or even really want to know that.
But something’s rotten in Denmark.
John Kushma is a communication consultant and lives in Logan, Utah.
