helping Trump and company mislead the public it could enable far more damage to that much damaged institution. Future presidents may go more into tyrant territory with even more corruption.
I can only conclude, when it comes to the true nature of Trump, Dennis Kucinich is in a state: one of denial. And how I “love” this esoteric, oh so convenient, concept; “The Deep State.”
Tinfoil hat time! Oggie, boogie, fear, fear, fear, monsters under your bed, ignore the very obvious monsters who did so poorly in an election they had to rely on gaming the Electoral College through massive voter suppression.
Are there anonymous unelected whistleblowers in gov leaking stuff? Yes, but the key here is, “anonymous.” That means it could be anyone and therefore only deserves as much credibility as we wish to give. As far as we know the original source could be some low level employee who wishes to gain attention, or even someone Pence-sively pining for the presidency.
Simple rule: if the source is anonymous we have choices; believe, check it out, or not. We have another choice: follow the lead intensely, somewhat or ignore it. Then the rule is to give whatever gravitas to it we think it deserves: none, little, to a lot. If the source is what they refer as “Deep State” that doesn’t auto negate that source.
Perhaps the real “deep” evil here is not those who are “ratting,” but politicians and partisans eager to accept anything bad about whom they disagree with, or reject anything negative about Trump, Hillary, Bill, Bernie, Obama or Yogi the Bear, whom the cartoon “Deep State” claims is still stealing pic-a-nik baskets.
A Hanna-Barbera-based joke? Yes. But no Yogi for president, please. We know who the VP would be and we’ve already had too many… Boo-Boos.
The deeper evil here is the attempt to silence those who feel need to do what they can. This includes those who feel they would be personally, financially destroyed, as well as those close to them, if they didn’t remain anonymous.
The way to stop those who have evil intent is not to silence both; it’s to give less automatic credibility to “anonymous.”
Shall we mention the obvious?
The former presidential candidate says this goes beyond party. I agree. He says it threatens the nation. I deeply disagree with his conclusion about what actually threatens the nation, and its nature: hyper-partisanship.
Let’s remind ourselves that Trump’s problems are far from being even close to all being anonymous. This could become a successful attempt to put all that unravel corruption, high crimes and misdemeanors under the ominous title “Deep State.” Let’s remind ourselves much of this isn’t anonymous. Comey comes to mind. Trump’s close associate, perhaps soon to be ex-lover, Putin comes to mind, John McCain too. And let’s not forget the self incriminating Trumpster himself. When accusations fly, sometimes Trumpie is like some evil Roger Rabbit who can’t resist Shave and a Haircut (Two Bits).
Framing it all as some Deep State conspiracy provides a singular, therefore bogus, Boogie Man to blame and for Donnie to hide behind. Where does this massive group of traitors meet for tea and crumpets? Do they plot in the tasting room of Traitors R Us Brewery? Poor helpless Donald who has never said or done anything to deserve this! Don’t let Deep Boogie crawl out from under some bed and eat a poor defenseless president; pure as driven snow, who only has had well wishes and kisses for all. Like Sergeant Schultz he knows nothing. NOTHING!
OK, that last may be close to true.
Let’s also remind ourselves there are reasons people choose to be anonymous that have nothing to do with some hypothetical Kaos-like, inner government, block of Deep State villains led by some invisible force. Perhaps led by Mini-Me who stole Harry’s invisibility cloak?
Unfortunately, doing the right thing often has horrendous consequences. Especially these days in cases deemed national security-related. Defendants are not legally allowed to defend their actions, just plead guilty to doing it, or not. Gee, I wonder if any claims of collusion with Putin might be declared a national security-related case?
Duh.
Reporting it to their superiors isn’t an answer. In many cases it’s like asking the true monsters to eat you.
Could some have bad intent and harbor grudges, resent being low level appointees, have partisan agendas and be willing to say anything? Absolutely, you know, like Linda Tripp?
The problem is not anonymous; it’s hyper-partisanship that has caused this: people seeking any reason, any lie, which serves partisanship and their inability to think things through rationally. That last thing: our collective inability to think things through rationally, is something we desperately need to get back. Hyper-partisanship leads us to believe anything bad about those with whom we disagree and punish anyone who tells us bad things about those we agree with. This is a call to punish the guy in line behind us, as cult enforcers hover nearby, who whispers in our ear, “Um, I think that Favor Aid may have cyanide in it.” We can believe, we can check it out or just drink and take our chances.
”Deep State” is a stupid conspiracy-based talking point meant to encourage silence. Such silence furthers the destruction of our freedoms by those who wish to never, ever be held responsible for their actions or behavior.
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Inspection is a column that has been written by Ken Carman for over 40 years. Inspection is dedicated to looking at odd angles, under all the rocks, and into the unseen cracks and crevasses, that constitute the issues and philosophical constructs of our day: places few think, or even dare, to venture.
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Ken Carman and Cartenual Productions
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