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So here's one of the fundamental problems: all the power of the entire executive branch, the branch that executes the laws, the entire functional apparatus of our government... it all devolves from the office of the president.
Practically speaking, nobody at the NWS or the DOJ or the USSS has any power, they are borrowing the power of the president which theoretically exists to enforce the laws passed by Congress (establishing a NWS or a US geological survey or whatever) but in practice is unchecked.
DC Comics has a version of the Batgirl character named Cassandra Cain. Like most Batfamily characters, she has no superpowers as such but represents a fantasy level of human skill. In her standalone comic, someone once rated her abilities to determine if she was powered...
... and determined that no one act she performed in a fight was superhuman, they were all individually things that any reasonably skilled combatant might do, but if you took her whole output in aggregate, all her actions, it was impossible for a human being to do at once.
And that is kind of how Trump operates. You expect the various federal agencies to bend a little to avoid embarrassing the chief executive. That's not extraordinary. You expect a little politicking to happen, even in non-partisan agencies...
... and maybe one or two fantastical stretches right into "who do they think they're kidding" territory once or twice per presidency, for the best president. It's not impossible.
But Donald Trump operates on an entirely different level. If it is not impossible to make one stretch, he will demand it constantly. No one distortion is completely beyond the pale but the aggregate is... superhuman. Beyond belief.
Everyone who works for the federal government at a practical, functional, executional level... works for Donald Trump. At his sufferance
If they have any aspirations to do good, when he asks, they must bow. Must. No choice.
If they have any aspirations to do good, when he asks, they must bow. Must. No choice.
We have seen this from his knights in the Secret Service and his generals in the armed services, when tensions boil over and reporters ask comment on the record. They all deny the strife in plain view and pledge fealty anew when pressed to the point.
I mark it a sign of how much he cares about the Alabama criticism and how little he cares about Mike Pence that he the Secret Service hasn't been called to refute the reporting on their grumbling, re: official business at Trump resorts.
And that also tells you how much sway his ego holds, because for all that learned pundits want to tell us that Alabama is a distraction... he is distracted, too.
He cares more that we think him foolish than he cares that we think him corrupt.
He cares more that we think him foolish than he cares that we think him corrupt.
Donald Trump would rather we think he is getting away with something (that makes him clever!) than have us think he made a mistake on Twitter.
Think on that a spell, friends and neighbors.
Think on that a spell, friends and neighbors.
Oh, I don't think you are far wrong on this score, beloved.
Donald Trump will accept any usefulness Pence presents, but his open bribery buys him nothing. Hair Furor accepts the tribute as his due and then asks "But what have you done for me lately?"
If my thoughts come together, I'll have more to say about Pence tomorrow.
In the meantime if you get something of value out of my work and you'd like to see more of it in the future, feel free to throw in to the tip jar.
paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr…
In the meantime if you get something of value out of my work and you'd like to see more of it in the future, feel free to throw in to the tip jar.
paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr…
Tell you what, I will split any money I make between now and when my ride gets here with the bartender who has been enabling me. Let's make some internet magic happen. #ShowUpForWishes
paypal.me/AlexandraErin
paypal.me/AlexandraErin
I am a legit cultural phenomenon and I should never doubt my relevance or your support. Thank you! 
Also, yes, the Camel has a cocktail called Supreme Ordeal and one called Pandora's Box. Supreme Ordeal is my habitual comedown drink after I do open mic night. Rye, coffee, cayenne pepper, some other stuff. It's bracing.
