[Politics] Trump fires national security advisor John Bolton

[Agema]

Well, this is a toughie. No tears over John Bolton being kicked into touch, but it's yet more ludicrous shenanigans in the USA's high office.

I am fascinated by the wording from Pompeo:

"The president is entitled to the staff that he wants at any moment. He should have people he trusts and values and whose efforts and judgment benefit him in delivering American foreign policy."

I find the wording of this quite interesting. Is it a deliberate dig, or a Freudian slip? Notice that the phrasing is all about how the president appoints people at his whim to the benefit of the president doing what he wants. What it really is not saying is that the president appoints staff to the benefit of the USA.

"When the president of the United States makes a decision like this, he's well within his rights to do so,"

Again, what's not being said here is that this was a good decision.

 

[PsychedelicDiamond]

I'm happy about Bolton being fired. I'd be even happier about Bolton being fired at.

 

[Saelune]

Trump is a fascist. This is just a fact.

 

[bluegate]

Now, the question is; what kind of scum will he replace Bolton with?

 

[Worgen]

Now, the question is; what kind of scum will he replace Bolton with?

Normally I would say he would have to dip pretty far down to get worse but this is trump, hes probably got worse on speed dial.

 

[Trunkage]

I'm pretty sure very similar wording has come out of other people who have quit/ got fired. It definitely came out of Huckabee Sanders when she quit.

I don't know why this is surprising though. Trump has been consolidating power since he took office, giving his family more responsibility. For some to become Authoritarian, you've got to significantly reduce the number of keys to the kingdom and hand them out to loyal followers. The more keys, the more likely someone will take you out.

As far as I'm aware, Trump was the soothing salve in this relationship. He stopped Bolton from doing really insane stuff. So, Bolton not having any power id a good idea. I doubt Trump did it to help with foreign relations, its a further power grab

 

[Seanchaidh]

John Bolton should be rotting in the Hague [https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/09/12/top-3-charges-which-john-bolton-should-be-tried-intl-criminal-court]. But so should Pompeo, (Elliott) Abrams, Trump, and many others in the United States NatSec blob.

 

[Silent Protagonist]

Apparently Bolton wants to make it very clear that he was not fired but resigned

 

[Neurotic Void Melody]

Looks like what an old Republican would consider "sass." Nevermind, Bolton can bolt on...ahaha, sorry, not clever and very low effort. Can't wait for the next psycho to replace that bristly war head.

 

[jademunky]

Now, the question is; what kind of scum will he replace Bolton with?

Normally I would say he would have to dip pretty far down to get worse but this is trump, hes probably got worse on speed dial.

Tough to find someone worse than Bolton. Guy was one of the top cheerleaders of the Iraq war. The Reality TV star/slumlord/rapist looks positively saintly by comparison.

 

[Worgen]

Now, the question is; what kind of scum will he replace Bolton with?

Normally I would say he would have to dip pretty far down to get worse but this is trump, hes probably got worse on speed dial.

Tough to find someone worse than Bolton. Guy was one of the top cheerleaders of the Iraq war. The Reality TV star/slumlord/rapist looks positively saintly by comparison.

Yeah, that's the really weird thing about this, bolton is the worst, so... I'm actually not sure how trump could get worse, probably just be more corrupt instead of hawkish.

 

[Smithnikov_v1legacy]

And now Fox News has declared Bolton to be a "man of the left" and a "Progressive".

I'll let that sink in.

 

[CheetoDust_v1legacy]

And now Fox News has declared Bolton to be a "man of the left" and a "Progressive".

I'll let that sink in.

I mean I'm sure there's someone on these forums who'll make a similar argument now.

 

[Agema]

Apparently Bolton wants to make it very clear that he was not fired but resigned

I'll bet he does. He claims he offered to resign, Trump told him they'd talk about it tomorrow, and then fired him. And honestly, I can totally believe Trump did that just because it's the sort of cheap shot power trip and showmanship Trump would enjoy.

It's extremely obvious that Pompeo and the guy with him (Mnuchin?) seemed very cheery at the conference - I have to assume neither of them liked Bolton at all. In fact, does anyone like John Bolton?

 

[Baffle]

In fact, does anyone like John Bolton?

Mrs Bolton? Actually, Your Honour, I withdraw the question. Of course she doesn't.

 

[Kyrian007]

Pompeo is an interesting voice to comment on it, as he has his own decision to make regarding remaining with Trump or abandoning ship. KS' Senator Pat Roberts is not seeking re-election, and Kansas Republicans are in trouble because the candidate with the important Trump seal of approval... lost a gubernatorial election to a Democrat while he was KS' Secretary of State. Meaning he lost an election he was the HEAD OFFICIAL of (how was that even legal in the first place... and he lost.) KS Republicans either defy Trump... or elect someone who might just lose to a Democrat. How does Pompeo fit in? He is seen in as a shoe-in to win the primary and general election in that Senate race. So far he has repeatedly stated he is completely focused on his job as Secretary of State. But note, that isn't the same thing as saying he absolutely won't run.

He knows if he leaves to run in the Senate race... he really pisses off Trump. Pompeo is one of the few left that has been with him from the beginning. But if Pompeo stays, Trump could easily lose in 2020. And that Senate seat won't be available for another 5 years, and he'd have to fight an incumbent for it even then. Whereas if he leaves the administration, he's basically set up as a Senator (as easy as republican incumbents get elected in Kansas) for life. And if he doesn't leave, and Kobach wins the primary... with Trump's trade war with China souring the normally right-leaning agriculture sector... Republicans could lose a Senate seat right before they potentially could lose the White House.

Behind the scenes, the Republican party is begging him to run for Senate. Meanwhile he remains maybe Trump's most trusted advisor. What will win out, loyalty to party or to President. Especially when loyalty to party means you are set for life while loyalty to President means maybe losing much.

 

[Gordon_4_v1legacy]

And now Fox News has declared Bolton to be a "man of the left" and a "Progressive".

I'll let that sink in.

Christ they wanna be careful there, he could sue for defamation of character.

 

[aegix drakan_v1legacy]

I was so happy to hear the news.

The odds of trump starting a war with Iran just went down a noticeable amount, which is an intense relief.

Now, obviously, I'd love that war criminal to be tried at the Hague, but him just not having a hand on the wheel is already an improvement.

And now Fox News has declared Bolton to be a "man of the left" and a "Progressive".

I'll let that sink in.

Someone cue the Spider man "Ahahahaha, you serious?" meme...
https://youtu.be/pBrU9laptGI

But no, really, they actually did that?

Yes, because nonstop offense-driven wars against nations that haven't attacked you (which murder thousands of innocent people) are TOTALLY a progressive idea, Fox.

They totally weren't started and popularized by a republican president named after a shrubbery, who went and attacked Iraq without any provocation and lied his entire nation into a pointless useless war that's left the region even MORE unstable and violent. Nope, warmongering is now a completely progressive priority, riiiiight.

Now, let's see if some of the establishment dems fall for that and try to rehabilitate Bolton like some of them did with ol' W Bush. >_>

 

[CaitSeith]

And now Fox News has declared Bolton to be a "man of the left" and a "Progressive".

I'll let that sink in.

Big deal. Fox News calls "Progressive" to anyone who doesn't march with a goose step to the GOP's beat.

 

[Asita]

And now Fox News has declared Bolton to be a "man of the left" and a "Progressive".

I'll let that sink in.

Someone cue the Spider man "Ahahahaha, you serious?" meme...
https://youtu.be/pBrU9laptGI

But no, really, they actually did that?

Yes, because nonstop offense-driven wars against nations that haven't attacked you (which murder thousands of innocent people) are TOTALLY a progressive idea, Fox.

Yes, yes they did. In fact here it is from the horse's mouth.

Tucker Hails Firing of John Bolton: He was 'fundamentally a man of the Left'