First things first. It is the day before, we rush to the table to get all the dark meat turkey (my preference), avoiding being left with the dry breast, and I am giving appreciation. I want to thank Financial Times writer Robert Armstrong for coining the phrase TACO to describe President Donald Trump. Trump Always Chickens Out first came about when Trump waffled on his plate of tariffs, like canned cranberry sauce on a serving dish. The latest example is the deadline Mr. Trump gave to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept the Russian-inspired peace plan to end the invasion of his country. The haphazard plan, which he hoped would solidify his campaign for the Nobel Peace Prize by having Zelenskyy drop his country to its knees and acquiesce on Thanksgiving Day in the United States, is as chicken-scared as his policies. Mr. Trump’s original deadline for Zelenskyy to accept the deal was November 27.
The President’s rancid mashed potatoes and gravy of contradictions and vagaries is enough to spoil any meal. His word salads, which he calls “the weave,” would be funny if not for the dire consequences. On Friday of last week, he said, “He'll have to like it, and if he doesn't like it, then you know, they should just keep fighting,” Trump told reporters. “At some point, he's going to have to accept something.” The countless threats and promises of punitive punishment for Russia and his ‘friend” Vladimir Putin’s blatant violation of international law are met with appeasement. Generally, Mr. Trump’s threats are preceded by promises of harsh retaliatory actions, ending in one case with the red carpet being rolled out. CNN chronicled at least 37 times Mr. Trump has either backed away, created excuses for, turned on our allies, or made excuses for Putin’s atrocities.
Part of the problem is how easily the President is swayed by flattery. It has risen to laughable proportions with the latest revelation that the President's envoy, Steve Witkoff, tasked with resolving the Ukraine/Russia conflict, was advising the Russians on how to manipulate the US President to achieve their goals, as reported in an October 14th call obtained by Bloomberg. Just yesterday, we saw the delayed release of the much-ballyhooed healthcare plan from the President, which has been promised for ten years. The biggest objections came from his fellow Republicans, who saw his plan as just a rejiggered version of Obamacare. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) reportedly told the White House that Republicans are not interested in extending ACA subsidies.
The Trump Ballroom may be hitting a snag. Donald Trump’s handpicked architect, James McCrery II, has told the President that the size of the ballroom he wants, 90,000 square feet, would dwarf the 55,000 square foot White House mansion, violating basic architectural principles. It should come as no surprise that a lame-duck president is contemplating his legacy, but Mr. Trump's view of legacy is driven by narcissism, not accomplishment. Additions to the White House are not without precedent or reason. Mr. Trump, it can be reasonably perceived, wants to leave a lasting and obvious homage to himself. One that dwarfs the White House itself, but his need to be larger than life is overshadowed by his being smaller than reality. So, when you carve your turkey tomorrow and eat pie in a food stupor while watching football, the lame duck is spoiling rapidly.
Be Thankful for Your Vote, it is Still Your Voice
