See You on the Dark Side of The Loon

At my most cynical, I wonder if the sheer mindless stupidity of TrumpWorld is a kind of rodeo-clown act intended to distract. In just the way the staggering stupidity bordering on mental disorder of the "stable genius" could be an act, the last refuge beyond religion or patriotism when neither could be believed, the argument of non compos mentis, the weird and constant misspellings found in White House productions, and in even Trump Tweets, seems so glaring as to possibly be a set-up for the grossest of pleadings: We are not evil--we is incompetent!

So it could just be that a supposedly benign picture of Trump from the White House Twitter account that somehow spotlights his incredibly awful too-orange television make-up is put out to take attention away from the "Day of the Pikes". That is to say, the day that Alex and, for some reason, his brother Yevgeny, Vindman (I guess because they are twins and...shenanigans regarding mistaken ID could ensue as if in a nutty comedy?) were fired, and so was Ambassador Sondland. (Lt Col Vindman, fired despite what DOD Chief Esper said about it. Maybe as bad as Pompeo at protecting key personnel, I think.) 

So, maybe one could chalk up the release of Lt. Col. Alex Vindman due to a preplanned reduction in NSC personnel (that only was planned after a certain event, you know?) but I think I want to call bullshit on that.  Here's the score:

Marie Yovanovitch retired last week, Kurt Volker turned over texts and quit, Sondland testified now fired, Taylor testified removed Jan 2., Morrison left week after testified, Vindman testified, escorted out today along w twin brother, Pence aide Williams left OVP for Centcom

— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) February 8, 2020

That looks like a purge. That is getting rid of troublemakers. There's rumors he's getting rid of Mulvaney too, but I thought he was still the cat who know where all the mice were buried, so that could be dead wrong.

Maybe he'll have trouble starting his car or something. See, the thug people of Trumpworld, like Sonny, I mean, Donald Trump Jr., can be hotheads,

Allow me a moment to thank—and this may be a bit of a surprise—Adam Schiff. Were it not for his crack investigation skills, @realDonaldTrump might have had a tougher time unearthing who all needed to be fired. Thanks, Adam! 🤣 #FullOfSchiff

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) February 8, 2020

and don't care if they telegraph their thuggery--it's kind of the point. Even if it looks like witness retaliation, which is a real law, just like witness tampering or jury tampering, or any of a number of things TrumpWorlders seem to take in stride. Which should be impeachable (again!), Or illegal!

So, I know, "heh heh, orange man weird." But my eye is also on the ball: this looks bad because it is bad.

Also there is a great argument to be made that Trump is genuinely incompetent, and doesn't know he looks like he's been sloppily snorting lines of nacho dust. That just doesn't make him, yet, incompetent enough to not be liable for what he says and does--but where are the people who care about him?

I'm reading this as a cry for help. Why isn't Don Jr. tending to his infirm Papa like Lev Parnas is taking care of this obviously unwell drooling old man?

Eh, Trump is dangerous, whether the White House is competent or not. There is a dark side to this loon.