by Michael DePaoli
1. IF SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN, BLAME TRUMP!
This is what our President tweeted after a Federal Judge ordered a temporary halt to the Muslim immigration ban that unconstitutionally targets seven Muslim countries:
“Just cannot believe a judge would put our country in such peril. If something happens blame him and court system. People pouring in. Bad!” (1:39 PM – 5 Feb 2017)
This tweet is part of the disinformation campaign that Trump is constantly running. The fact of the matter is that Trump himself is intentionally causing turmoil, he knows that he is inciting violence, he knows that he is making enemies around the world, so he is already looking for a scapegoat.
Here are a few examples of Trump’s strategy to irritate the entire world: (1) a dispute with Mexico over building the wall; (2) during the campaign Trump did in fact advocate a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States; (3) one week after becoming President, Trump banned people traveling to the United States from seven Muslim countries; (4) pulling out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership after years of negotiations; (5) calling China a “currency manipulator” in his Contract with the American Voter, then as President siding with Japan in the dispute over the Diaoyu Islands; (6) the Speaker of the UK Parliament wants to prevent Trump from speaking to its members because Trump is so disliked; and (7) Trump even found a way to get into an argument with Australia.
Trump appears to enjoy making people angry, and he has a habit of collecting enemies. Indeed, just this week Trump stated (joked?) that he would destroy the career of a Texas State Senator, for political reasons. Trump has already caused one of the largest protests in American history, the day after his Inauguration. It is clear that Trump actually wants something bad to happen. Thus, when something goes wrong the blame will belong to Trump.
When a President speaks in ominous terms about something in the future that might go wrong, we all should immediately call to mind the Reichstag Fire Decree from Nazi Germany. The fire was used as the excuse to take away the civil rights of the German people in 1933.
Trump has proved, time and again, that he is a pathological liar. What will happen is that something (anything) will go wrong, and then Trump will lie to us and say he wants to protect us, but all the while he is consolidating his control and taking away our rights.
It is simply false to suggest that a Federal Judge could be to blame for a future and unknown anything. Do not blame the judge. Blame Trump!
2. SRI LANKA
In February 2016 Sri Lanka expressed an interest in joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership that was in the process of being negotiated by twelve countries. Last month, after Trump took office he pulled the USA out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Now, the Chinese Xinhuanet is reporting that Sri Lanka is seeking closer ties with China.
Does Sri Lanka matter to the World economy? Probably not very much. But, The EU does matter. China is The EU’s second largest trading partner, and The EU is China’s largest trading partner. In 2013 The EU and China began negotiating a bilateral investment agreement that would allow closer economic ties between the two massive trading partners. When this deal is finally reached, China and the EU will allow cross-investments that should significantly increase each other’s ability to manufacture and trade goods.
So, while Trump is talking about protectionism and “America First,” China and The EU are finally creating the trading empire that Marco Polo envisioned eight centuries ago.
MOVIE UNFAIRNESS
There are three significant movies opening this weekend, all of which look to be great (or at least good enough for a trip to the theatre).
John Wick: Chapter Two will be amazing, to the extent the trailer could be believed. The actors include Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, John Leguizamo, Ruby Rose, Common, and Bridget Moynahan. The plot has something to do with something that does not matter, because this movie will be all action.
The Lego Batman Movie is a Batman Movie. Nothing more needs to be said. Go see it.
Fifty Shades Darker This movie is amoral, disgusting, and simply wrong. (I already have my tickets!)
(Michael DePaoli suggests that when the stress of Trump gets too great, you should watch his Youtube movie called Flower Therapy)