The unique perspective and provocative opinions of Joe O’Neill
Trumpster Diving
This has to be part of anyone’s takeaway from that sham summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin: Something is compromising Trump’s behavior. Increasingly, it looks like it’s a lot more than “golden showers.”
Trump accepts the word of Putin that Russia didn’t meddle in our election. He dismisses the word of Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats—and demeans the entire intelligence community—who say they certainly did meddle. How does Coats not quit? Or is he concerned that next up will just be a Trump sycophant who will make matters even worse?
Bottom line: Trump is good for Russia, not America. In an international forum, he stands forcefully against American media’s “witch hunt,” but he stands down to Putin.
Donald Trump, as we know, is the “enemy of the press.” But he looks almost tolerant when juxtaposed to Vladimir Putin. That’s because the bar is subterranean low. Trump demonizes, stigmatizes, threatens and scapegoats. Putin does mob hits.
Speaking of the media, this just in from Donald Tusk, president of the European Council: “America and the EU are best friends. Whoever says we are foes is spreading fake news.”
Amid all the back and forth regarding the Russian state’s obvious meddling in the U.S. elections, one quote continues to resonate more than any other. “Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing.” It should still Make America Grate.
It says a lot about our virulent, divisive politics when Stormy Daniels and Michael Avenatti are cast as the “good guys.”
That Judiciary Committee exchange that featured FBI Deputy Assistant Director Peter Strzok, the F-bombing Trump disparager, was beyond contentious. It was an in-your-face exercise in mutual contempt that most American observers, including “Saturday Night Live” staffers, would find deplorably embarrassing.