Friends?

Stuck in Second Gear:  Friends are not supposed to let friends drive drunk or push them to do really stupid things but then again Trump isn’t anyone’s friend.  He’s a transactional guy who acts impetuously and does whatever he thinks is good for him without caring about the long term consequences for his “friends.”  His decision to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to ban Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar from visiting Israel violated norms, was heavy handed and feeds the already strained relationship between Israel and the left.  Ironically, it’s also not likely to bring Trump any additional voters, right leaning Jews and Christian groups are already in Trump’s camp but liberal and moderate Jews who mostly vote Democrat, are largely horrified, even AIPAC, the staunch supporter of Israel that rarely strays from the Israeli government party line has expressed its disapproval.  Yesterday they issued a statement saying “We disagree with Reps. Omar and Tlaib’s support for the anti-Israel and anti-peace BDS movement, along with Rep. Tlaib’s calls for a one-state solution. We also believe every member of Congress should be able to visit and experience our democratic ally Israel firsthand.” As to Netanyahu, his administration had previously said that  Omar and Tlaib’s visit would be approved, despite the fact that their vocal support of the BDS (Boycott, Divestments, Sanction) movement violates an Israeli law that permits the government to deny entry to outspoken foreign supporters of the movement, out of respect to the US Congress.  However, under pressure from Trump, Netanyahu another self-interested politician, facing a tight election mulligan and pressure from his right flank, caved to his puppet master, well mostly caved.  This morning, perhaps in response to pushback from almost everyone not named Trump, Israel’s Interior Minister approved a humanitarian request from Congresswoman Tlaib to visit her grandmother who lives in the West Bank.  In exchange Tlaib has agreed to “not promote any boycotts against Israel during her visit.” The bottom line, making Tlaib and Omar the face of the Democratic party is one of Trump’s election strategies, and in a week dominated by recession fears, a market meltdown and increasing tensions in Hong Kong, dissing the two “pack” members provided a much needed diversion.  Whether that diversion will have enough staying power to help Trump in the long term is anyone’s guess but one thing is for certain, Trump’s pressure and Netanyahu’s acquiescence has done nothing good for Israel.

2020:  As expected, yesterday former Colorado Governor Hickenlooper announced that he is no longer running for president.  Instead he is giving serious consideration to running for the Senate, a net win for Democrats because he is very popular in Colorado and, assuming he runs and wins the Democratic primary, he should be able to run a competitive campaign against Republican Cory Gardner.  Beto O’Rourke is back from the break from the campaign trail that he took to spend time commiserating with the El Paso injured and the families of the dead victims.  In an emotional and forceful “return” speech he made it clear that he "will not in any scenario run for the United States Senate... I’m taking this fight directly to Donald Trump and that is what I am exclusively focused on doing right now."  He also said that he’s not going to go to traditional places and by that he means he won’t be eating corndogs in Iowa, rather he is going to follow his heart, taking the battle against Trump to the places where he feels he is most needed.  He plans to start by going to Mississippi, his counter to Trump’s INS raids.  For his part, Trump, whose up again, down again popularity ratings are in a down phase, or are at least in a down phase for now, took to New Hampshire last night.  He stuck to his usual themes, doubled down on  Tlaib and Omar, claimed that the markets would really crash if any of his Democratic rivals make it to the White House,  bashed “Sleepy Joe Biden,” promised to bring back his Pocahontas nickname for Elizabeth Warren, a recognition of her steady climb in the polls, and spit out Kah-mah-la and Beto’s names with his usual disdain. He also expressed support for his one-time campaign manager Corey Lewandowski who is considering running against Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen who is up for reelection in 2020 even though mainstream New Hampshire Republican officials intensely dislike Lewandowski and do not want to see the “thug” run but then again making mainstream Republicans, if there even is such a thing any more, happy isn’t Trump’s mission in life.  Yesterday, Dee Margo, the Republican mayor of El Paso, revealed that Trump dissed him, calling him a RINO (Republican in name only) during last week’s “compassion” visit.  Trump did that after Margo corrected him for saying that El Paso had been crime ridden before it got its sliver of border wall, a lie that really rankles Margo. 

Green Day:  Yesterday, the Wall Street Journal, not the Onion but the Wall Street Journal, reported that Trump has asked his aides to look into the possibility of purchasing Greenland.  Among the things that have been discussed is “whether it is even legal, what the process would be for acquiring an island that has its own government and population, and where any money to purchase a giant landmass would originate.”  It’s not clear what Trump would do with the island’s 58,000 residents, 82% of whom are Inuit, few of whom resemble Trump’s preferred blonde Norwegians because what he wants are all those natural resources not the people.  Maybe Trump’s legal wizards are also evaluating whether it would be legal for him to deport people from their homeland?   On the legal front, White House officials are considering invoking executive privilege to limit Corey Lewandowski, who together with former White House aide Rick Dearborn, has been subpoenaed by the House Judiciary Committee,  from complying with his subpoena despite the fact that Lewandowski never served in any role in the administration.  The Judiciary Committee wants Lewandowski to testify about that time when Trump asked him to obstruct the Mueller investigation by getting the then recused Attorney General Sessions to dramatically limit its scope.   Exerting executive privilege over Lewandowski’s testimony  makes about as much sense as buying Greenland but then again Trump seems to get away with doing whatever he wants so who knows? If things don’t work out in New Hampshire maybe Lewandowski can become the Governor of Greenland.