Trump has no idea what duties he owes the United States as president. He may not even have any sense that he's "doing Russia's bidding." He thinks he's just being "agreeable," and might therefore be genuinely confused about why that's "bad."
And when he insists he's being "tough on Russia," and points to increased military spending and the like, declaring that "bad for Russia," it only highlights the problem he has distinguishing between Russia the nation and Putin's enterprise, which leverages Russia's state power.
Trump genuinely thought that "running America" was going to be just like "running the Trump Organization." He thought it was about executing his own will, and that "great deals" for him were "good for the US," the way "great deals" for the Trump Organization were good for Ivanka.
He has no understanding of, and certainly no patience--let alone aptitude--for the concept of fiduciary duties that come before pursuing profit. The various institutional requirements designed to thwart running an unaccountable, personal regime from the WH baffle & frustrate him.
And being a “Russian asset” doesn’t require any particular allegiance to Russia. Or even to Putin. It simply requires that you reliably do what you’re asked to do.
If they ask for a meeting with no staff present, you give them that meeting.
If they ask for a meeting with no staff present, you give them that meeting.
Meanwhile, you think you’re giving them that meeting because when you were a “businessman,” such meetings were considered “high powered” and therefore “good” in themselves. They were places you “got things done.”
And all the annoying bureaucrats who try to tell you that such meetings “aren’t done,” or even “aren’t allowed” just don’t know “what it takes” to “run a business,” or whatever.
And you think it’s OK, bc you’re “in control.” You’re not going to give Putin something you know is “bad” just because he asks!
But in the meantime, you have no clue how much of the world turns on what “gets done” there, and WHY there would need to be a transparent record of it.
But in the meantime, you have no clue how much of the world turns on what “gets done” there, and WHY there would need to be a transparent record of it.
So I'm gonna just go livestream this thread as a radio show, then. netroots-main-1.stream.creek.fm:8000/stream
