By now you must have heard about the op-ed published in the New York Times two days ago, the one by an anonymous senior official in the White House. It’s titled “I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration” and details how “many of the senior officials in his [Trump’s] own administration are working diligently from within to frustrate parts of his agenda and his worst inclinations.”
The author goes on to say they want this administration to succeed but their first duty is to the country:
That is why many Trump appointees have vowed to do what we can to preserve our democratic institutions while thwarting Mr. Trump’s more misguided impulses until he is out of office.
The root of the problem is the president’s amorality. Anyone who works with him knows he is not moored to any discernible first principles that guide his decision making.
…
It may be cold comfort in this chaotic era, but Americans should know that there are adults in the room. We fully recognize what is happening. And we are trying to do what’s right even when Donald Trump won’t.
The Times knows who the author is but of course won’t reveal the name. And Trump is absolutely beside himself with anger, demanding to know the identity of the traitor in his midst.
When I first read the piece, I was pleased and somewhat reassured that there are indeed some “adults in the room” trying to make sure Trump doesn’t drop the nation into an abyss. But then I started reading the comments and many mentioned how self-serving this was, or just flat out called the author a traitor, condemning him or her for not being loyal to the man they work for.
The speculation, of course, has been rampant. Who is “anonymous”? Perhaps the language, the phraseology, can tell us. Perhaps there were several authors, to ensure no single person could be identified.
And then last night Stephen Colbert did some speculating of his own. He focused on the word lodestar. I had thought it interesting, too, because I’d never seen it before. Then he ran a video compilation of one person using the word repeatedly — Vice President Mike Pence.
Here's Pence saying #Lodestar eight times, going back to 2001. I'm just saying! pic.twitter.com/oWWtngCgpK
— Tommy moderna-vaX-Topher (@tommyxtopher) September 6, 2018
Bingo! I was on board immediately. Pence is as high as you can get, short of the presidency, and he’s close enough to Trump to monitor his every move. I also wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if he’s positioning himself to be the next president, either in the event of Trump being thrown out of office or as a candidate to replace him in 2020. He’ll always be able to point to this op-ed, if need be, to show what a true patriot he is (although maybe someone else included lodestar to make us think it’s Pence). He’s an uptight, extremely conservative, God-fearing, far right fundamentalist. He’s not the amoral nut job that Trump is, but in his own way he’s almost as objectionable.
Trump is so angry and so paranoid he might try firing everyone on his staff, just to get rid of the anonymous author. But Pence wasn’t hired by the president. He was elected by the people. Trump can’t fire him.
In any case, I find the whole thing very interesting. At the very least, if Trump is raging about this, he’s not focused on doing further harm to the nation. And maybe that was the point all along.
I agree w your conclusion! So interesting about the word!
The whole thing intrigues me. I’m actually watching national news again.
Me too
As am I. I’ve watched and read more these past 2 days than I have these past two months. I just wish McCain was still alive to see this.
Me too.
Why is trump so concerned about something in the NYT, after all isn’t it a “False News” paper?
I doubt he even thought about it being the NYT. He demands absolute loyalty and the idea that someone in the White House is actively working to thwart him is enough to drive him crazy(er).
I’m enjoying every minute of it!Er, it’s sad that something like this is happening in our White House.I am not enjoying every minute of it… I am enjoying every second of it. I was in the other room a short while ago, national news was on in a different room but I couldn’t quite hear everything they were saying, but I did hear someone say “Benghazi”. OMG! Trump’s groupies are going to try to do everything they can to pull the focus away from Trump, but they won’t be successful this time. They’re riding a sinking ship and I hope to hell that they invoke the 25th Amendment.
Yes, if this isn’t a case for the 25th Amendment, I can’t imagine what would be. The man is dangerous. His keepers only need to slip up once for him to do something disastrous, irretrievable, and irreversible.
I’m still amazed that so many people did not see this coming — that thought Trump would be the best thing to happen to this country ever.
And still think it!! Those people scare me almost more than Trump himself.
Not convinced it’s Pence. Frankly it might make sense to write in the style of others in order to remain anonymous. Just sayin’.
That’s entirely possible. I’m certainly not dismissing it. And I’m looking forward to seeing how the mystery unfolds.
Yes, I saw that “lodestar” mention. It could be that the entire resistance uses it frequently enough, even tho we first heard it from Pence, that it was bound to be used regardless of who wrote it. But Pence would be a good choice — Trump cannot fire him. I had a feeling that there was some sort of “resistance” in the background as they’d all be idiots to let Trump run amok and they know it. It doesn’t surprise me one bit that paperwork hasn’t been getting to Trump that normally would. I had a feeling that was going on, too, and it’s nice to be reassured the staff has been being responsible. Downfall is Trump is livid and will be demanding to see this document about North/South Korea and I wouldn’t be a bit surprised to see him take action on it just for spite. He’d also want to teach his administration not to f*ck with him regardless of the reason. He thinks he is more important than the security of our nation and the success and happiness of our citizens.
I hope this is the beginning of the end of Trump’s dictatorship.
I was reassured too, although I’m trying to temper my reaction. I’d hoped there were people close to Trump who were trying to rein him in. But if what we’ve been seeing is a “reined in” Trump, it’s terrifying to think what he might have been doing otherwise.
Actually, I hope it’s not Pence. I wouldn’t want to see him ride this story into the presidency someday.
Personally, I don’t think it’s Pence. And definitely not Melania for several reasons. Honestly, I haven’t really though a lot about who it may be. I’m just relieved that there is someone, or many “someone’s” in this case. Just waiting and watching now with bated breath as Trump’s ego, and presidency, goes tumbling to the ground like a house of cards in a tornado.
Melania’s grasp of English rules her out. I don’t really care who it is, as long as it’s someone. Except Pence. I really, really don’t want to see him end up as president.
I’d take Pence over Trump any day. Trump is destroying our international relations.
Trump is destroying everything he touches.
Okay, slight exaggeration there. But not by much.
I suspect that the “lodestar” thing is a red herring. Whoever wrote the letter is no dummy. The publication of it ought to be a clarion call to all citizens to get out and vote in the mid-term election. The very idea that the government is operating this way (which is no surprise by now) ought to energize everyone who is still sane.
The government is operating? Could have fooled me. But absolutely, for the sake of all concerned, everyone MUST vote in November. I can’t remember when it’s been more urgent.
Ive heard some contrary points. And I don’t think it’s Pence…he’s too loyal with those puppy dog eyes he displays for trump.
I watched Obama’s Speech, which was excellent and his point was this protecting the public from an insane trump was not how government was suppose to work. And that these group may be still aiding in pushing through 90% of trump’s agenda and what 10% they thwart? Like who’s really running the govt at this point… certainly not elected officials. I guess he felt trump should be dealt with through the normal channels. But of course congress is loaded for trump. Anyway I just thought it was a good point.
Plus someone said that if this mystery person was doing this, why would he even say, as it would draw attention to himself and perhaps thwart what this group was trying to do.
I hope I’m alive when we do find out. It took Deep Throat 30 years to say.
Yes, all kinds of questions have been raised. It’s just no way to run a government. I haven’t read Obama’s speech yet but I’d have assumed he made some good points. I count on him to be thoughtful and calm about everything.
And I couldn’t stand waiting 30 years to find out who it is. I’m already half crazy waiting for Mueller to do something.
Waving red in front of a bull for sure. What would this administration be without drama? HAHA
They are calling the writer “Deep State Throat” or something – I fear instead of being legit, it’s some low level no stroke bureaucrat…which just makes the situation worse. Distraction to so much really serious stuff for his/her childish game. So they do need to find out – one way or another. Ee were all taught “anonymous” means nothing real and if it is we do need to know…backroom actions are really not what voters want – either side. Dangerous precedent. Great way to get the public stirred up for the elections…and I fear that’s all it is – political maneuvering
We’ll see! It’s gonna be fun!
It’s all so interesting. Of course the “perp” will deny it just like everyone else. It is a dangerous game if it’s just to stir up interest for the election. But the president himself is dangerous. I just want this whole nightmare to end … preferably while I’m still around to see it.
It’s going to get worse before the mid terms.
Hopefully the weather will be good enough to go outside and avoid as much as possible
If the weather doesn’t cooperate, I’ll just hide under my bed.
I’m thinking you’re giving too much credit for honesty. The trump supporters are (in my opinion) never going to abandon Trump, but they realize that fear of Trump being brought down by members of their “swamp” will bring them to the polls… thus the fake letter designed to create the needed fear. These people are idiots, but devious idiots.
Who knows what to believe these days. But apparently the op-ed echoes much of what Bob Woodward wrote in his book, and I trust Woodward. However, I see your point about loyalists using fear to drive their vote. Fear of one thing or another has always been a motivation for Trump & Company. I guess we’ll have to hope that fear of Trump’s fear will eventually bring him down.
Creating fear of the alternative is usually a successful tactic… regardless of party or candidate… unfortunately.