Quo Vadis, American Democracy?
Here’s a meme that reminds us all of the unpredictable nature of life, or, better, how the future always looks like the past, until it looks like something completely different.
When I was a little boy, my aging grandmother “Dodo,” who had lived through thoroughly racist times and was now confronting the earliest days of the civil rights movement, lamented to me, “Some day we’ll be taking orders from the colored people.”
Well, that never happened, but to the surprise of everyone, we are covertly, though in large measure, being ruled by Russia. I’d like to shake the hand of anyone who could have possibly seen this coming.
Craig,
Ruled by Russia ? Now you’re just getting silly ! The only authority you can quote is a rant from “occupy Democrats” which quite rightly enjoys the reputation of “least trusted news source” and was probably a major contributing factor in Hillary Clinton’s electoral defeat.
Mitt Romney never had a chance of being appointed to any office in the Trump administration. It wouldn’t have mattered if the Russians had thought he was better than a bath in vodka, he’d never be have been considered.
The Trump administration has pursued a policy of engagement and containment toward Russia and Russian interests. Trump and Tillerson have strengthened the economic positions of immediate Russian neighbors by lessening dependence on Russian energy and trade.
The problems of Russian minorities(and some times majorities) cut off by the old and unsuitable USSR borders are complex and not easily understood by people with little knowledge of the localities concerned.
Tillerson has worked to contain Russian ambitions without provoking warfare or embroiling the US in more military adventures involving distant lands where the US is neither wanted, nor helpful.
Russian interference in US domestic affairs has been remarkably ineffective and even bizarre. Consindering for the last 100 years at least the US has interfered in nearly every other nation’s domestic affairs (whether friend or foe) it isn’t surprising no one out side the US has much sympathy for the current cries of indignation and dismay emanating from the US.
Russia’s economy has shrunk to a minuscule $1.2 trillion, (smaller than Australia) only 6% of US GDP. The Russian economy is barely able to sustain Russia’s military commitment. With less than half the US population and facing a bitter and vengeful foe in the fast growing PRC, Russia is no longer the threat once posed by the old USSR.
As the world begins to evolve a new set of Geo-political dynamics, Rex Tillerson astutely regards Russia as a useful counter-buffer to growing PRC ambitions.
The stubborn ” America First” stance by the Trump administration is a response to changes in the Geo-politcal dynamic.
Many observers of US politics have been slow to comprehend or appreciate the radical difference of the present administration. The old rules don’t apply to the way Trump conducts politics and government.
Trump is not a professional politician, he not only doesn’t play by the conventions of the Washington political elite, he neither knows nor cares to learn. Trump isn’t even a business man in the sense of US corporate executives, he’s a horse trader.
Professional media pundits get over excited by resignations and departures from the administration. These are often people whom previous regimes considered powerful, even essential, political appointments. They ascribe this to “chaos” or instability, but fail to understand the departures are of no concern to this President.
President Trump has no ‘party loyalty’ no deep commitment to any political ideology, no succession plans. His policy decisions are of his own devising, and based around his negotiating strategies. Government is conducted on a flexible day to day basis, with constant changes in personnel depending on the situation.
He has little regard for cultivating a network of reliable political allies, instead he by-passes both party leaders and media and speaks directly to the party base. His selection of Rex Tillerson is important since this will be Tillerson’s only public office appointment.
Tillerson is not using the State Department to build political allies for a tilt at high elected office. He’s no challenge to the President.
Trump’s great strength is he sees things in terms of objectives and results. His ability to be flexible but decisive is an asset . His weakness is administration and a lack of understanding for the complexities of civic issues and the aesthetics of government.
Russian interference in US domestic politics is wildly exaggerated, the US political system, media and people are far too robust for any Russian interference to make any difference.