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DonViejo

(60,536 posts) Wed Sep 5, 2018, 09:17 AM Sep 2018

Bob Woodward, and the hostages serving in Trump's White House

The Fix - Analysis

By Aaron Blake
September 5 at 7:00 AM

One story from Bob Woodward's book has stuck with me more than others. It involves former chief White House economic adviser Gary Cohn reportedly attempting to resign after President Trump's controversial comments about “both sides” being to blame in Charlottesville.

Trump likened Cohn's attempted resignation to “treason,” but then talked him out of it — at least for a few months. Chief of Staff John F. Kelly later told Cohn, “I would have taken that resignation letter and shoved it up his ass six different times,” according to Woodward. Kelly, of course, has also threatened to resign himself.

It's hardly a secret that serving Trump's presidency isn't always fun; I've labeled the administration as where one's pride goes to die. But increasingly the picture painted by reporters such as Woodward is that it amounts to something approaching a hostage-kidnapper relationship. Staffers and even Cabinet officials think the whole thing is a lost cause, and yet they feel compelled to carry on, either because they can't quit, they want power, or they worry about what comes next.

Kelly has long been Case Study No. 1 in this. Based upon anonymous sources, Woodward quotes him as saying of serving Trump: “It’s pointless to try to convince him of anything. He’s gone off the rails. We’re in Crazytown. I don’t even know why any of us are here. This is the worst job I’ve ever had.” (Kelly denies calling Trump an “idiot,” and the White House says Woodward's book is full of fabrications.)

Former White House staff secretary Rob Porter is quoted (again via anonymous sources) as saying, “It felt like we were walking along the edge of the cliff perpetually.” Defense Secretary Jim Mattis reportedly ignored a decision by Trump to assassinate Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Cohn took to literally stealing documents off Trump's desk, justifying the move to another aide as being necessary for national security.

more
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/09/05/bob-woodward-hostages-serving-trumps-white-house/

3 replies

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Bob Woodward, and the hostages serving in Trump's White House (Original Post) DonViejo Sep 2018 OP

Hostages Cannot Leave Me. Sep 2018 #1

These people are willing hostages peggysue2 Sep 2018 #2

I Think SDJay Sep 2018 #3

Me.

(35,454 posts)

1. Hostages Cannot Leave

Reply to DonViejo (Original post)

Wed Sep 5, 2018, 10:51 AM

Sep 2018

these people can if they choose to

peggysue2

(10,836 posts)

2. These people are willing hostages

Reply to DonViejo (Original post)

Wed Sep 5, 2018, 11:38 AM

Sep 2018

I can see someone like Mattis feeling he's a necessary guard rail for the Trumpster's more insane impulses. Kelly's presence no longer seems relevant, however, since he no longer functions as anything but a spectator.

For the rest of the staff? They made their beds. They could tear the blankets off and walk into the daylight. But they prefer the Darkstar.

Never forget!

SDJay

(1,089 posts)

3. I Think

Reply to DonViejo (Original post)

Wed Sep 5, 2018, 11:42 AM

Sep 2018

a lot of them know that after this permanent shitstain on their records and integrity, they have absolutely no options for themselves after this horror show finally ends. Who's going to hire them? Any of them? Seriously, what private company or public entity is EVER going to hire Sarah Huckabee Sanders? Or John Kelly? Or (name the person)? The Dump Stink doesn't go away, and I think that's deserved.

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