DC TURMOIL

  Turmoil is the norm in Trump’s Washington. The revolving door has hit the core of lawyers devoted to the Mueller investigation . Last week his personal lawyer resigned. Trump’s newest hire left after two days. Leaving only one to counter charges against Trump in the Russian influence/hacking case.
  In a far-ranging interview with Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page, the 39th president spoke about the 45th. Carter, one of the few U.S. officials who has traveled to North Korea and met with its leaders, expressed hope for the planned White House summit with Pyongyang but warned that President Trump may have made "one of the worst mistakes" of his tenure by naming John Bolton to the sensitive post of national security adviser. He also discussed the political repercussions of allegations by porn star Stormy Daniels, aired in an interview on CBS' '60 Minutes' Sunday. (USA Today)

  Prior to today Trump appeared to be a defender of Russia as well as an admirer of Putin even acknowledging that he had congratulates Putin on his “reelection” 

   However, Trump finally took action against Russia by expelling 60 members of its political delegation. Putin has already hinted on retaliation.  

   The appointment of Bolton seems to indicate a hawkish shift in our foreign relations.

On Feb. 13 on Fox News: when asked whether Russia already is trying to interfere in the 2018 midterm elections, Bolton said, “sure. I don't doubt it.. the effort is to sow distrust about American institutions. and if you look at our past year's debate over Russia collusion, the role of the FBI, they're doing a pretty good job.” and on March 1 on Fox News: “is it a week before the Russian election? sure.does Vladimir Putin have the slightest doubt who's going to win that? he knows how to fix elections when he wants to.”. 

 He would take strong action against Iran. On March 25, 2015, in a New York Times   he wrote:“the inescapable conclusion is that Iran will not negotiate away its nuclear program. nor will sanctions block its building a broad and deep weapons infrastructure. the inconvenient truth is that only military action like Israel’s 1981 attack on Saddam Hussein’s  Osirak reactor in Iraq or its 2007 destruction of a Syrian reactor, designed and built by North Korea, can accomplish what is required. time is terribly short, but a strike can still succeed.”

  Bolton remarked this Jan. 14 on Fox news: “the alternative policy is regime change in Iran. you  go to the Europeans, you go to others — our Arab friends in the middle east, Israel  and say, 'this is happening. you know it as well as we do there's no fix to this [nuclear] deal. now let's figure out how.

   Bolton has always urged a military resolution of the North Korea threat. This year Bolton on North Korea  about March 7 on fox news: Bolton said chances are “pretty remote of a diplomatic solution with North Korea,” adding that “the two choices, both bad, are you accept North Korea with nuclear weapons or use military force.”  He said on March 10 on Fox News: “I think nobody wants to see military force used here. but we don't have very many options after 25 years of talking have failed.
   There is little doubt that he shares Trump's "damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead philosophy. 
   And overhanging everything is the Stormy Daniels  issue. How long can Trump ignore it is questionable. The biggest danger will come from the 130K payment and where the funds came from. Clinton was able to survive all charges involving women and even today with the changing attitudes Trump probably would have little problems if it were only extramarital sex. 

A PERTINENT ISSUE

 Black ribbon Monday; when Allen’s shot rimmed the basket and fell out my last hope bracket died. Yes I will watch next week’s final four and Mon day’s championship game. Also get ready for the Mets.

 I am being overwhelmed by happenings, especially in Washington, to be able to compose an all-inclusive blog. or even one that covers the most important items. There have been too many.

 Worse I have fallen behind on my extracurricular readings. Even though there are 24 hours in the day unfortunately they do not all fall in the so called 16 awake hours.

 Obscure in all of today’s turmoil is the race issues and bigotry often associated with ethnicity... We should revisit it in this week leading up to Easter and to the Jewish Passover celebrating the escape of the 12 tribes from Egyptian slavery.

 We should face it worldwide as it being a political force when practiced by the autocratic rulers in Russia Iran  Saudi Arabia as well as various African nations to name a few.

 We should denounce it when used for by own political leaders or those that would be; especially the users of the 1^st Amendment to justify their hatred.

 We should look at ourselves in the mirror. A large number of our population forget that they too were immigrants, becoming American Firsters, Skinheads, KKKers, some are dedicated Farrakhan disciples. Yes, racists and hate bigots are not limited to Northern European Whites.
 A bright side is the National Geographic latest issue devoted to the ethnic issue as well as two informative articles in the Times Sunday Review. “How Genetics Is Changing Our Understanding of ‘Race” by DAVID REICH MARCH 23, 2018; and “We’re All in the Ghetto Now” by ERIN AUBRY KAPLAN. If you have time, read them. 

 Perhaps there are some voices of reasoning wishing to be heard.Lastly because of space, I would recommend periodic revisiting Blogs such as SPRING MAY HAVE SPRUNG for the comments and answers.   I always accept and appreciate all comments, pro and con, UNLESS they contain obscene or personal remarks.
 Tomorrow I hope to write about more pertinent issues.

MORE MADNESS

  

 Loyola Chicago, Florida State. Kansas State, and Michigan did what they were supposed to do Thursday night so my bracket has had some recovery. Tonight I need West Virginia and Purdue over favorites. It is unlikely that Clemson will cooperate to form an all ACC Mid-West Regional championship game.

  Right after I posted yesterday Trump fired McMasters and made a new national security adviser, John Bolton, who had earned a reputation at home and abroad for his jingoism. An architect of the U.S. - led Iraq war, which began 15 years ago this week, he is expected to encourage Trump to take on a more belligerent foreign policy – especially toward Iran. A return to Cheney-ism; “nobody can stand up to America; we are invincible”.

  Bolton is also an advocate of a preemptory strike against North Korea even though that might cause Russia and China to take action in Korea and possibly against US soil.

  Kelly and Sessions may also be on Trump’s hot seat.

  The government will not shut down this weekend. The House passed the Omnibus Spending Bill midday Thursday, and the Senate cleared the measure shortly after midnight.

  This am Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump  tweeted; “I am considering a VETO of the Omnibus Spending Bill based on the fact that the 800,000 plus DACA recipients have been totally abandoned by the Democrats (not even mentioned in Bill) and the BORDER WALL, which is desperately needed for our National Defense, is not fully funded.

  However early this afternoon he signed the bill;

  Delivering a long speech blaming the Democrats for all delays and deficiencies in the bill, despite without some Democrats voting in favor of the bill which overcame the resistance of a few conservative Republicans.

  Prodded by Trump, Republicans eliminated some provisions favoring the $30 billion Gateway project, a major New York-area infrastructure program backed by Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.). The legislation also includes a fix for a provision in the new GOP tax law that favored grain cooperatives over traditional agricultural corporations. And it incorporates bipartisan legislation meant to improve the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) for gun buyers.

  The big gainer was in military spending.

  Lawmakers have left town for a two-week recess, some of them on overseas trips and with no plans to return to Washington. The House passed the bill midday Thursday, and the Senate cleared the measure shortly after midnight.

  March Madness; basketball and Administration continues. Both will keep us on the edge of our seats.