* Two words nobody should want to see in the same sentence: “Trump” and “nuclear.”
And one topic no one should want to see as the subject of a president-elect tweet: nuclear policy. Is nothing serious enough to be off limits to knee-jerk tweeting to fans?
* A recent comment by Trump aide Anthony Scaramucci spoke volumes about Trump’s campaign appeal and his president-elect and presidential MO. “Don’t take him literally, take him symbolically,” Scaramucci explained.
He might as well have said: “Who the hell’s kidding who here? You hear what you want to hear. That’s how code language from a cult political figure works. You think George Wallace was really just talking about ‘states’ rights'”?
* More than a few Trump enablers and apologists–national and local–have selectively and disingenuously used Ronald Reagan as a Trump model–and a rationale for excusing a lack of foreign-policy experience. From upbeat “morning in America” and “shining city on a hill” perspective–likened to a “Make America Great Again” rallying cry–to the pull-no-punches, straight-talking exponent of military strength and leverage who won the Cold War.
But let’s never forget one key Reagan variable: timing. In Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, Reagan had the epitome of sane and the antithesis of authoritarian to work with. He was our kind of Russian. Vladimir Putin is not.
Two existential threats to world order could be courting mourning in America. Unless, of course, some “Mr. Putin: Tear down this hacking obsession” rhetoric resonates in the Kremlin.