Just because this man can express his views in an articulate and convincing manner does not mean that he is a "fiercely intelligent man".
Anyone who repeatedly shows their inability to think one or two steps beyond the present cannot be considered a "fiercely intelligent man".
Judging by his record and his history of ridiculous and dangerous assertions, he is a dim man who is most likely a horrible chess player. Much like the occupant of the Oval Office, presently. A dangerous duo of ignorance, indeed.
10
In that clever, instinctive way that schoolyard bullies have, Trump is adding Bolton to his bag of Treat Tricks, knowing that, while we have all come to realize that HE is just a blowhard, THIS guy will probably do what he says he wants to do. So when Trump meets Kim Yong Un, having Bolton at his back will give the Korean leader pause before he threatens to bomb us. It could work, I guess, but it's pretty risky for those of us who don't have bomb shelters where we can live for a couple of years till the radioactivity levels are reduced enough that we can come back up - if indeed we'd want to.
Also, it's emerging that Bolton is mixed up with the whole Cambridge Analytical/Bannon/Mercer mess, and has made arms/guns promos aimed at the Russian citizens. He is obviously another one of those people who think the way to go is to completely destroy governments. Start over. Rule of the people.
I dunno. I think the phrase, "Be afraid—be very afraid," applies here.
7
The worst of the worst, ratcheting up the Bush criminal administration 's rating one step ahead of Trump's---both anchoring the bottom of all US administrations. The only hope is that the entire country, specifically the GOP congress, will wise up and put them in jail where they belong.
3
How people perform once they have their finger on the trigger and understand the consequences of pulling it is quite different than pontificating about what those with the hand on the trigger should do.
Speaking clearly about our national security threats have earned John Bolton the predictable scourge of the left and the opportunity to serve in this administration.
Mr. Bolton's main challenges will be to be able to moderate his temperament and impulsiveness to ensure there is a world left for America to be fists of and getting his boss to listen to someone who knows what he is taking about.
2
Bolton is a zealot. Any balanced, rational judgement on his part regarding geopolitics is clouded by his fervent militarism and lack of trust in the negotiating process.
His belief that the U.N. does nothing, that the Iran nuclear deal must be scrapped, that preventive military action is necessary in North Korea are hallmarks of unintelligent thinking.
His hawkish worldview has power over him, to the point where he cannot think logically about geopolitics. His belief system overpowers any number of diplomas.
In this, he is much like other zealots -- V. P. Pence, who only follows god (however Pence interprets him) and not the Constitution, or leaders of ISIS, many well-educated, yet choosing religious dogma over logic and reason.
It's very difficult, if not impossible, to change someone's strongly held beliefs. If it were easy, racism and sexism would have died long ago.
In Trump, he found another person who likes to "blow things up". His zealotry against perceived enemies, and lack of desire to negotiate, makes his advice to Trump, and Trump himself, dangerous to the world.
The EU, the UN, those with calmer heads, will fight his obsessive ideas, and hopefully keep "Bombing Bolton" and Trump in check.
3
On and on and on and on
The circuses proceed
As a knave sans wit or principle
In service ego's need
Such a thing dismantles
As centuries strain to build --
As if all it took to realize wishes
Were they should be willed.
4
John Bolton arguably ranks third in the line of people responsible for the invasion of Iraq. This, along with the fact that he still considers the invasion a good idea, utterly disqualifies him as a National Security Adviser.
4
I would suggest Bolton is an energetic and clever bully rather than an intelligent man. Intelligence requires an understanding of shared humanity and a sense of one's own human flaws.
Bolton has a clever and devious mind with a poisonous psychology. His relationship is with power and national identity not with the breadth and variety of our global human condition - which we all share.
Like Trump, he will always be right and like Trump, Bolton is not so much intelligent as he is unreasonable, clever and persistent. Like a child.
4
Two words: Security clearance. Can't be NSA without one.
Two more words: Cambridge Analytica. Can't get clearance if you're in the middle if an investigation.
6
Bolton has scads of worrisome faults, that's for certain.
But people that doesn't think China is a "strategic competitor" have their heads in the sand. Administrations both Republican and Democratic have been kowtowing to the Chinese for nearly half a century. How did we ever survive before relations were unfrozen? Those at the top of the economic pyramid offshored our jobs there in favor of lower wages. We got ostensibly lower prices on consumer goods (if the labor is so cheap, why does an iPhone cost nearly a grand?), but lost millions of middle class jobs. Helped lift them out of poverty, but at what cost to our own society? Everyone knows they've been stealing our technology with both blackmail (you can't access our markets without divulging your patented technology secrets with our firms), or obtaining them via outright theft via espionage.
Basically we've been playing checkers while they've been playing chess. The only ones happy about lifting hundreds of millions of Chinese out of poverty while impoverishing our own middle class (poverty being a relative thing of course) are those who benefitted from the arrangement, done by Congress and the WH regardless of which political party was ascendant.
"Free" trade? The sooner folks figure out nothing is really free (see Facebook!) the closer they'll get to finding a solution.
"You can pay now, or you can pay later. But you're going to pay one way or another, and it's always cheaper to pay upfront."
1
"The only reliable resource for security in the world today is relationship. When relationships are healthy, you don't need any military to protect you. When relationships are not healthy, the largest military in the world won't keep you safe." ~ John Burch, September 11, 2001.
All war is obsolete. We have no use for it anymore. We need to build quality relationships among nations if we want to survive.
He, as one professor stated, is building a war cabinet. Darker days ahead. Bolton advocates striking Iran and Korea. Odd 2 draft dodgers have so much power to make war.
4
The majority of American voters clearly rejected Trump and are allied with our allies, not Trump, not his Republican enablers, and certainly not Bolton.
6
Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Congress have some kind of say in the Iran nuclear deal? And haven't more than a few repubs spoken out in FAVOR of the agreement and haven't the watchdog agencies said that Iran is in compliance?
To what advantage is it to go around the world picking fights? This whole past 15 months have left me exhausted and deeply troubled for our country.
12
These people that think John Bolton is a "fiercely intelligent" man have apparently not read his bio. With respect to Iraq, this man got EVERYTHING wrong and intelligent men assess all options and considerations before taking a position. Once exposed as having been wrong, this man doubles down on his bad decision ignoring facts and solid information from people who actually are fiercely intelligent.
Mr. Bolton and Donald Trump will get along for the time being, but like all Trump appointees eventually they'll part ways. Mr. Bolton recently wrote an assessment on North Korea that dictates policy and has little room for diplomacy which Trump will love, but is not a viable solution to the problem. Every seasoned military professional agrees a war on the Korean peninsula would be a nightmare, especially for the South Koreans and although we'd prevail, what's the endgame for this plan. Just like Iraq, no exit strategy is presented. A united Korea presents numerous problems Bolton never addresses.
Moreover, the destruction of the Iran deal further alienates the other signers of the agreement and the U.S. loses even more credibility with them and in the eyes of the world. The event would be a "we can't be trusted" signal we simply can't afford now especially since Trump already has created that atmosphere.
John Bolton is a step backwards in diplomacy and international thought and should not have any part of National Security matters.
17
We can only hope that Trump and Bolton - both close-minded, pompous egomaniacs - will clash immediately, and that Bolton will make a quick exit, Scaramucci style.
20
It is all very depressing. If the world survives the remaining two and a half years of this narcissistic, superficial maniac in the White House without a nuclear conflict it will be a miracle.
I am deeply pessimistic about the direction in which world politics (not to mention economics) is moving.
16
@Robert in Melbourne, while many of us have differences with both Mr. Bolton and President Trump, the situation does not seem that dire to everyone. Some of us recall the Kennedy-Khrushchev clash... to include drills in school hiding under desks and watching convoys of troops flood our highways. Despite all the rhetoric, there is no red button on the nightstand that launches an immediate strike. As a former “key turner” I know there is a well defined process with checks and balances. There are a number of means to challenge and block a “Seven Days in May” cabal that might try to launch a catastrophic event on the part of a few by shallow members of this Administration.
4
Hi timpasq,
Thank you for those words of reassurance. I am also old enough to recall the Kennedy-Khrushchev stand-off and the 'Duck and Cover' school drill too. We had plenty of news cover of all those things here in Australia.
In the end. all the rest of the world wants is for sanity to prevail in your country.
Bolton, Bannon, Trump. Bush, Rumsfeld, Cheney. Where is Plato's philosopher king when we need him?
7
Plato lived in a fantasy world of shadows.
The whole world should be frightened, and probably is. Those of us who have survived several wars do not know if the next "Bolton War" is survivable.........But at least now we know what Bolton meant by "Weapons of Mass Destruction".........he was looking in the mirror.
13
Bolton should have stayed at Fox. He would have had more influence on Trump's muddled mind than as NSA. Now if he says something Trump doesn't agree with. (keep NATO, NATO is good for example). he will be dumped quicker than the Mooch.
4
"A fiercely intelligent man with deeply conservative, nationalistic and aggressive views"
The phrase makes no sense.
16
Bolton is not intelligent, as is stafed in this article. He's a zealot.
His belief that the U.N. does nothing, that the Iran nuclear deal must br scrapped, that preventive military action is necessary in North Korea are hallmarks of unintelligent thinking.
His hawkish worldview has power over him, to the point where he cannot think logically about geopolitics. His "shoot 'em up" strategy overtakes his reason every bit as much as any ISIS terrorist.
When the only country in the world that's happy about his appointment is land-grabbing Israel, it's clear he was not the best choice.
In Trump, he found another person who likes to "blow things up". But his zealotry against perceived enemies, and lack of desire to negotiate, makes his advice to Trump, and Trump himself, dangerous to the world.
The EU, the UN, those with calmer heads, will fight his obsessive ideas, and k
7
I just do not want war anywhere in the world and I believe there aren't many situations direr than destruction war brings. If the US cannot think of anything other than war against the North and can tolerate China's nuclear bombs, then why not leave the matter to China, the South and Japan? Without the US to resort to we would find a peaceful settlement however big concessions to make by the South and Japan.
1
@Aki in Japan, meaning no disrespect, sir or madam, but we left things to China and Japan leading up to December 7th, 1941.
doctor strangelove moves ever closer to the nuclear codes . . .
6
How’s this possibly? Idiocy triumphs over reason?
5
Somebody needs to account for the additional $60 billion in military spending Trump just signed for ... the same $60 billion Democrats rolled over and let it happen .. Thanks Chuck, thanks Nancy .. I understand it was your senior citizen nap time and you were asleep when "all this" was going on... Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Old people, VOTE THEM OUT!
9
God save us all from this wretched disaster of an administration.
10
The suddenness and timing of the Bolton appointment, as Trump is being boxed in by Mueller and humiliated by his affairs, suggests to me that he is really desperate.
Frankly, I think he's planning to fire Mueller then promptly go to war. That would distract from Mueller (and Daniels/McDougal, et al.), and, in his delusional mind, trigger a wave of support for him as a 'wartime President'.
Let's hope I'm wrong.
12
Bolton, like most of the GOP, will put Israel's security interests ahead of the U.S., as they always do. The military contractors will make billions, middle-class U.S. taxpayers will foot the bill, Israel will remain secure & the U.S. economy will further decline due to excessive & uncontrolled spending.
11
There is no stopping the con man to fold into the neocon rank when both have the same backers when the people paying the price are those who career prospect is limited.
This is a way of social and financial mobility. The rich children go to private schools, recruited by Harvard and the like for higher education and in turns recruited by Goldman Sachs and the like. Children from a modest family - or worse, a broken one - end up joining the service after high schools as a way of escape. There is no other alternative.
If neocons want a perpetual war, they need to support universal conscription. No deferment like Cheney and Trump and no filler gig like Perry and Bush. With the heirs to their family dynasty on the line, then and only then they understand war has a real cost and won't be so cavalier about it
6
I was (and I suppose I still am, on principle) opposed to universal conscription (AKA "the draft" minus the rich kid exemptions), however, if anything would engender mass protests to make the '60s look like kindergarten recess, it would be a reinstatement of the draft. Possibly even mutinies throughout the military and civil war.
I don't say this like it's a bad thing.
It's purported that Bush-41 personally wrote to each of the next of kin of the Gulf War's American KIA's.
Trump being a total outlier, it's not that they don't know and don't care, it's that they, being personally isolated for the most part, yes, accept the cost in other peoples' lives to achieve the current agendum "Goal"...and never mention to anyone the night -sweets and -mares.
The president took an oath to uphold the constitution and protect the country from all enemies foreign and domestic. John Bolton is a walking/talking security threat. The decision by Trump to make him national security advisor makes us, our allies, and the world generally less secure. The madman now occupying the Oval Office has just recruited someone who could well push us into a global war fought on multiple fronts. Does anyone who has been paying attention to John Bolton's conduct over that past few decades still believe that Trump works for the good of the nation?
7
The rest of the world can relax, for now anyway, Iran is the target. The love fest between this administration, Saudi Arabia, Israel and a like-minded congress has not been for nothing, it was all leading to this, war with Iran before the November elections.
Mr. Trump really needs this and the rest stand to profit handsomely from it, or so they think, what they should be thinking is Iran's asymmetric capabilities, cyber warfare, something there really isn't any effective defense against at this time.
The US government's position is if any country launches a cyber attack against the US it will be considered an act of war and the US will be justified to counter with a military response, meaning cyber attacks can be deadly and cause a lot of damage. But if you have already used the military option in a meaningless exercise to deflect attention from your many personal and public troubles and to appease your handlers, then what Mr. Trump?
Remember what you said during the election about the attack on the DNC computers, how it could have been done by a three hundred pound kid sitting in his bed with a laptop? Now multiply that by a thousand, a million, add in a lot more intelligence and dedication, you see where this is going. War is not the answer Mr. President, get rid of Bolton and Pompeo and bring some sanity into your administration before it is too late.
7
If the U.S. has any allies left they should work to constrain this administration as much as possible, as should Congress, the states, and the courts until he leaves office.
5
As National Security Advisor, will Bolton play the same role as before - playing intelligence agencies off each other to make dubious conclusions - because if the other agency has evidence (even when they don't) the other agency must be in agreement too or be viewed as incompetent - that Iraq has WMDs. So the Intelligence agencies essentially relied on the information they thought the other really did not have, in order not to look clueless.
Bolton will now bolted on to the chock point of many intelligence agencies to play with on behalf of trump and to play trump too.
Indeed, trump will use the intelligence agencies and HIS military as he does with his army of lawyers to sow fear and intimidation around the world and show no mercy and take no prisoners except those who will end up in Guantanamo and subject them to gratuitous torture - inhumanities galore to distract from Mueller's conclusions when he comes out with them.
Nothing irks trump, Netanyahu and the likes of Bolton more than the fact that the Iran nuclear deal is working. They need it to fail. They want it to fail in order to further their nefarious and dangerous agendas - and excuse to destroy yet another nation to achieve their political and wealth goals.
We have arms control - now we need leader control.
3
Trump’s only chance of being elected to a second term is to star a war. He knows that people are too scared to change leaders during wartime. This is his first step in that direction and it’s terrifying.
6
Ironically, Trump's volatility may actually serve to moderate Bolton's behavior. Wouldn't that be something?
4
Perhaps his new post requires that Bolton "must be less public, less strident and more of a mediator of differing policy views," but that doesn't mean he will be.
1
I love all these so-called world diplomats and politicians who push appeasement and think it will make us safe. talk, talk while our enemies build their nuclear armament. It then only becomes a question of time before they attack us with nuclear weapons. Obama appeased and our enemies got stronger. Go back in history to "Peace in our Time" and see what happened. The ability to be strong and destroy any enemy is the best solution for peace.
1
nuclear war will destroy the world. only a fool thinks otherwise.
8
Now I know the truth of that obscure saying: "those whom the gods wish to destroy they first drive mad."
9
John Bolton is an excellent pick and a timely addition to US President Donald Trump's national security team in the White House in Washington, DC. He understands and explains issues quite well, he says that he understands his new job as the President's National Security Adviser requires him to serve as an honest broker of ideas from others. As for his aversion for multi-lateral foreign agreements, it should be obvious to everyone by now that America comes out last when we rely on these international multi-lateral organizations (UN) courts (WTO) trade (European Union) or security (NATO.) As for the muscularity of coming foreign policy decision making, many seem to have no appreciation of decades of failure in reaching accords with North Korea, Russia, China, and Iran. Even when we think we have a deal, the other side reneges. Specific to Iran aka Persia, they have not modified their foreign sphere of influence behavior in the least since our interim 20 year agreement was reached to constrain their nuclear weapons development and to ease European and American sanctions placed on their economy. Had they done so, the current agreement might have maintained some semblance of mutual benefit. Our European allies decry American tariffs, then apply their own immediately within 24 hours. China's tariff impositions took about six (6) hours and were evidently planned well in advance of America's long delayed trade action. Time for results. Change is Good.
3
Bolton was instrumental in convincing Bush Jr to invade Iraq. That change was not good. In fact, it was a categorical disaster. Bolton is on record as saying the Iraq invasion was a success. Bolton has also made it repeatedly clear he supports a strike first policy leading to regime change in North Korea, essentially repeating the Iraq debacle. He has also called for regime change in Iran and has not rule out using force. Nothing from Bolton's history indicates a preference for peaceful and diplomatic solutions. Nor has he backed away from his views. Bolton is skilled at presenting an argument behind the use of force. He shares a lack of faith in diplomacy with Donald Trump. Unlike the President, Bolton has been building up his arguments for years. Facing Bolton, Trump will have no access to any facts allowing the president to argue against Bolton's militaristic world view. As a result, the US will at minimum ramp up tensions in the Korean peninsula and middle east. The US could begin bombing Iran. Eventually, this tension will lead to war during the Trump administration who will use the conflict to bump up his poll ratings and deflect attention from the Mueller investigtion. This is change but it is by no means good.
22
Trump's rashly invoked China traffics rattled world markets and caused the stock market to drop losing all gains achieved this year.
2
I love the way he is all for a military confrontation with NK. He knows that any attack on NK will result in tens of thousands of deaths in South Korea. It will be a war fought on another country’s soil, which is a cheap price to pay for the US, but very costly for the South Korea. This is a guy who has never fought in a war, having escaped Vietnam by joining the national guard. At least macmaster, Mattis and Kelly know what war is... I wonder if this guy (or trump for that matter) have even been in a fist fight. It’s easy to be a hawk if you’re not doing the actual fighting.
2
Whenever Bannon speaks or is quoted, he's "going to war" with someone. He's an angry guy. Bolton is the same sort. Somebody did something to them. Unfortunately, we all might pay.
24
An overly used metaphor is going to war, unless you’re actually going to war, which Bolton was quick to avoid
Well, Trump and Bolton can bond over,threatening war all over the world, but they will need a cooperative military to carry it out. In the past, this would not have been much of an impediment, but in the new Trump world the generals could play it strictly by the book: the Constitution says Congress declares war, so the generals could simply ask for a formal declaration before proceeding. What a novel idea!
29
When Tucker Carlson insults your judgement during an interview, that should be an indication of just how disregarded this buffoon is across the political spectrum. I would put him in the same basket as Cheney, a horrible war monger with immensely poor judgement.
39
Remember the old Sixties song from Barry McGuire, "Eve of Destruction". My God, I'm scared.
20
I tend to believe that it is all a show and scare tactic. Seeing himself besieged on all fronts--Russia, the Kushner affair, hush up payments, WH personnel resignations, Cambridge Analytica, etc..--Trump wants to deflect from his insurmountable difficulties by covering himself under his last mantle--fake manhood expressed in unilateralism and militarism. And who best to publicize those vane glory values but a discredited hawk who still argues for the rightness of invading Iraq. If the President, as it is argued, owes his office primarily to the financial investment of the very wealthy in him-- those that he is now more than reimbursing by cutting them large checks through his tax cuts--these wealthy have no stomach for an unpredictable and insecure world which unilateralism and militarism would result in.
8
"these wealthy have no stomach for an unpredictable and insecure world which unilateralism and militarism would result in." One might wish that were true, but I don't think that logic holds. You might think that wealthy people would want to live in a peaceful, healthy, happy country with a manageable national debt, but apparently that does not cut the mustard. You give them too much credit for forethought. The businessmen loved Hitler...for a while...until their sons were sent to the Russian front and their factories bombed. They might have foreseen that trouble would come, even if they could not have foreseen the details. I think most of our wealthy people (with many important exceptions) are the same way - short-sighted, narrow-minded.
3
Post World War II United States Military Invasions & Wars
"The Forgotten War," The Korean War (1950-53; unsatisfactory stalemate
Vietnam War (1954–75): Defeat
Operation Desert Shield (1990-1991): Coalition forces defeat Iraq, victory
Afghanistan War (2001-present): Infinite quagmire
Iraq Invasion (2003 - present): Failure
I saw some of the tapes of Mr. Bolton's over the top huffing and puffing. The list above should be a sober reminder to use all, there hasn't been a " lot of winning" in are military invasions and wars post WW II. Nobody is scared of the U.S. and we should understand nations aren't going to role over because we have the best military in the world... something our Presidents boast about and often. The list above is proof victory has been very elusive for the U.S. Military campaigns.
More importantly, conflict with North Korean want stay over there, it want be a TV war, if it comes to that. I hope and pray it doesn't...
Mr. Bolton speaks like a man living in a time warp, those days are also gone with the wind. What nation will we borrow money from to fight if we go to war?
7
The Iran nuclear deal IS flawed. it allows Iran to restart its military nuclear development in less than 15 years. Is that what people want our children and grand children to be confronted with? That weak diplomacy of Obama and other former Presidents is what allowed North Korea to build its nuclear arsenal.
John Bolton is a smart man who will shake up the world, forcing it to recognize and deal with the clear and present dangers.
1
Maybe it is flawed, but it had to be done. Americans tend to live in a cocoon. The US is seen as a bully, picking on weak countries that have no chance of winning. I don’t agree with this. I believe that the world needs a policeman, but very few people I’ve talked to, and I’ve travelled a lot, agree with me. Iraq has weakened US popularity enormously, and another war without a provocation will only weaken the US further. And I don’t think Iran would be a pushover, either. It would probably require a longer bombing campaign, and that means more civilian deaths.
1
There is a clear and present danger for the world. However, as much as I dislike the Iranian and North Korean governments, it's Trump, Bolton and the US citizens that cheer them on who scare me the most and pose the real danger.
3
Sure, Bolton will “shake up” the world just like trump did. How dangerous and moronic.
2
Besides having a reputation for treating his underlings like dirt (sound familiar?), Bolton is yet another chicken hawk in this administration. Like GWB, he skirted service in Vietnam by joining the (NJ) National Guard. What is it about these losers who never saw combat that makes them so eager to go to war? Talk to any of those who HAVE and they'll confirm that war should always be the last resort. Last time we tried this we got (and are still paying for) Iraq.
25
The Trump-Bolton team means we get 2 huge dangerous liars at the top of the administration.
Trump has no instincts for this job. He's winging it. His only achievement is that he's the worst potus ever elected.
A gutless coward hires another gutless coward and both have never gone to war but are fond of it, as long as other people get killed and not them!
45
When Boltons children or grandchildren enlist for armed service we will know he believes his own toxic theories. Otherwise.......NYET!!!!
13
Drip Drip Drip! BOOM!!!!!
2
The best thing for South Korea to do is to ask us to stay out of it. “We’ll take it from here.”
7
I doubt that Trump, bolstered by his new war loving team, will listen to the South Koreans - or anyone else.
Bolton's views are extreme and foolish. I would hardly call him intelligent.
18
He may be intelligent. But he's the opposite of wise
Deeply intelligent? Really? Cite a few untarnished, unambiguous examples of his intelligence.
21
It appears that Bolton is involved with another budding scandal. He will last more than 24 days, perhaps.
Always be wary of people who are itching to send others to die to test their... - after skipping an opportunity in their youth. Bush II, Cheney, etc.
11
Bolton may only last long enough to be blamed for the inevitable trouble ahead.
5
Bolton, a fiercely intelligent man? Am I missing something? The guy ginned up false arguments for the Iraq debacle. How did that end up? It destabilized the whole Middle East. He will do the same for starting some stupid war with Iran. This fellow is a crackpot. Let's not elevate him as a genius.
24
What Bolton's appointment "means" is
Firstly: It is long overdue for Democrats in Congress to stop endlessly searching for the gazillionth excuse elsewhere, and finally for once look honestly at their own decisive culpability. Trump was not elected because half the country thought he would make a better president than Hillary Clinton; he was elected because half the country couldn't stand Hillary Clinton (for various reasons, some justified, some not) and so heavily blamed the Democratic Party (for very well justified reasons) for not finding someone else, that they were willing to hold their noses and vote for whomever the Republicans ran against her. Once the Congressional Democrats finally have their feet held to the fire on their humongous blunder of two years ago, and confess it, they will be able in short order to win over enough Republicans to impeach and remove by far the most incompetent and dangerous person to ever disgrace the White House (the justifications for which are a mile long now and growing ever longer).
Secondly,
Since Democrats in Congress show no sign whatsoever of coming to their senses, and helping America instead of eternally cowering over their own hapless backsides, other countries need to get a move on and organize for a world where America wavers between being AWOL, being butterfingered, and being a rogue state.
4
It is important to note that the pervasive negative views of Clinton are largely the result of propaganda, lies and smears by the GOP, Russians and Fox. All you have to do is ask a Hilary-hater what their problem is with her, and they dissolve into meaningless mumble. They don't know what she did, but she did something. They don't know about any specific lies, but she's a liar. They don't know what nefarious thing her foundation did, but there was something fishy. They don't realize she was cleared in the Benghazi hearings, and if you tell them, they don't believe you and refuse to look it up. They don't know about any actual crimes she has been arrested, indicted or convicted of, but she's "crooked", a notion concocted in focus groups and shoveled into the empty heads of the ignorant and resentful. Donald Trump is not worthy to carry Hillary Clinton's luggage.
1
Does Bolton have to be confirmed by Senate?
1
Bolton will last 6 wks tops. He isn’t confused enough to work with Trump.
Yes the rest of the world should be concerned !!! But then that's an understatement as we've been most concerned ever since you elected someone who is totally unfit for the head job in the first place. The whole administration is scary due to their incompetence at every level, whether it's Devos, Ben Martin, Rick Perry, and now this clown.
Isn't time that you realized that not everyone can be president America no matter what you've said in the past.
11
Dangerous Donald continues to gather fellow ditch-trolls into his lair.
Trumpers may be rejoicing and singing, "Make America Horrific Again," but the wind is turning colder and the World increasingly turns its back on us.
7
The rest of the world respected Obama because he is an intelligent, thoughtful, and fair minded man of integrity. A far cry from our current president.
18
After the Fast and Furious debacle which was designed to create a case against guns by letting smugglers buy them with Holder's Justice Department approval integrity is the last thing I'd accuse Obama of having.
Bolton reminds me of the Walter Matthau character in “Fail Safe”.
1
There's a man named Bolton a hawk
Whose belligerency is much talk
But he now has a position
To act on his volition
Away from war he will never walk
1
Strange bedfellows: Plato’s Retreat claims from Bolton’s first wife and Trump’s “Stormy” issues. Both unable to listen to anyone.
1
I did not vote for this man, Jared or Yvonna, and yet my life and the lives of my loved ones are being put at great risk by them. Lord help us all. That angry white men and the women who love them caused this, it’s hard to believe there were enough of them.
14
There's only one way out of this mess...............STORMY 2020.
4
I was thinking Ms. (Bunny) McDougall for Secretary of Education...she seems more sympathetic that the current one, and couldn't be worse.
The NYT and the rest of the main stream media perpetuate the idea that the US has allies. We don't have allies. We have a lot of dependents. Time for Europe, Israel, Saudia Arabia, S.Korea, Japan and others to pay for their own defense. Especially Europe. We have been suporting them for over a century - WWI,WWII, Marshal Plan, cold war, NATO. Time to end the US taxpayer gravy train. Europeans might have to give up cradle to crave healthcare, six weeks of vacation, retirement at 60, etc.. But it's not the US taxpayers' responsibility to subsidize Europe.
4
Robert Mueller needs to make his move while there's still time . . .
6
Trump has no idea about many things---he just blusters on ahead, and this time his mouth over precluded the simplest understanding of someone like Bolton who is going to be a problem that Trump is not going to be able to ignore or fire away. Putin has Trump by the privates and Bolton now has Trump by the remains.
2
With 2 loose cannons who like to bluster, lie and cheat to get their way, maybe, if we're lucky, they will destroy each other. Good by to Bolton and Trump
3
Bolton was a big exponent of our going into Iraq; that alone should disqualify him. But he is known as a belligerent warmonger by all who know him, and could not be confirmed as UN Ambassador.
Great choice, Don!
3
If all you say is true, then Bolton is a great choice!
1
Yawn. The appointment is just intended to scare North Korea. Trump will do what he pleases.
Where in all this is the evidence that Bolton is clever? Rumsfeld, Rice, Wolfowitz, Cheney and the rest of the gang had a fetish for that claim and look where those clever clogs took the world.
8
Someone please coach me on what to say at cocktail parties, if I should ever attend any, about the following state of affairs:
* Bolton will incite Trump to make war on North Korea and Iran.
* Bolton is harshly critical of Russia.
* Trump fears Putin.
* Putin opposes touch sanctions against North Korea and Iran, let alone military action.
I take it this means that Putin is Trump's Better Devil, but who is likely to win the struggle for his mini-soul?
The "go it alone" President has found a soulmate. Bolton has famously decried the usefulness of the U.N. while representing the United States in the very same body. This is consistent with his pick of Pruitt whose qualification to head the E.P.A. includes a record number of times he sued them as Oklahoma's Attorney General. As someone pointed out to me today, we no longer need to drain the swamp (which helps with the environment), but instead we need to unplug the sewer. Washington under this administration is indeed beginning to stink badly.
2
Numerous politicians and many in the media have complained, rightfully so, that Trump is not tough on Russia. Well guess what? We just got a massive anti-Russia hawk in a senior position at the White House!
I'll just sit back and wait for the blast wave to come.
1
I Believe This Is What The Dr. Ordered. America Needs John Bolton In The White House With The President's Ear, Not Just Being A Guest On Fox & Friends. A Hardliner He Is And That's What's Needed To Get Americas Foes Refocused, Because They Seemed Negatively Postured Towards Us As Of Late Because This Is The First Political Office The 45th Has Ever Held, So They're Constantly Trying Him In All Phases Of World Government. President Trump Needs John Bolton To Keep His Presidency On Track. I Applaud The President For This Appointment. Thank You.
You Need Better Programmers,
1
"Fiercely intelligent"?! By whose definition, pray? One so eager to go to war at the press of a button is hardly "intelligent" by ANYONE's definition.
2
Dude, Trump is president. I don’t think our ties to allies could be any worse.
2
If ever there was a truly water-tight case why the criminals who lied us to war should have been prosecuted..... Surely this is it?
3
We must always remember that the USA does not start wars, we finish them.
Now more then ever our military must remember that they swore an oath to defend this nation from all enemies both foreign and DOMESTIC.
Bolton's appointment is mind blowing.
Bolton is arguably a radical when it comes to a militant national security posture.
I'd be very worried if I were Iran, North Korea, Syria etc. Bolton is someone who truly wants to start wars. Someone who wouldn't be afraid of a little 10 day air war.
I'd be worried if I were Turkey or China too. I could the U.S. taking extreme positions--such as on the Taiwan or "one China" policy or with respect to Kurds in the Middle East.
Now should Russia be afraid? Russia is the one state even Bolton doesn't want to mess with.
Should the markets be afraid? Not unless we go to WWIII against a peer state.
Oh I see, so a little war against a nuclear power ought to go smoothly, is that it?
3
Fortunately, I don't belong on this planet, I arrived accidentally, so it disintegrating under my feet is not really among my concerns.
4
An intelligent person would never desire, advocate or irresponsibly risk nuclear war. Such a person's views are in total disconnect from the welfare of human beings they purport to represent and protect. Integrity in office is impossible for a person so disconnected from the consequences of his views and actions on others. Making a war monger the overseer of the nation's security? The guy ("Chico") who commented "it's like hiring an arsonist as fire chief" hit the bull's eye. The same destructive intent was behind naming Tillerson as Secretary of State, Pruitt for EPA, DeVos for Education, only now it is evolving much worse. People who can't connect with the evidence and consequences of climate change, or other pollution, also can't connect with what a nuclear war would do to this planet and all the people living on it. They so exult in a delusional control and power, that they cannot grasp their dependence on a clean, safe environment. Whether a person denies climate change, or the dangers of nuclear war, it is a form of derangement that is capable of doing disastrous damage on a massive scale because of an inability to feel the consequences of acting or not acting. We presently have crazy people in control of government, not intelligent people.
6
Full disclosure..I lead custom culturalt tours to Iran, have lived there and have degrees in ME Studies.. I've also been there recently, 8 times . My heart bleeds at the thought of an attack on Iran. However, I am an American, so my heart bleeds ,even more, for an American soldier , who once again, might have to put his life on the line..for exactly what purpose?. Iran does not threaten the US and surprise, not even Israel.That was back under Ahmadinejad, who the leaders have said.."it's not relevant today". Yes, today they do object to the Palestine situation. .(.but then we don't have to worry, Jared will handle that) Start looking for more media muddle against Iran with Bolton embolding Trump. The European countries have lucrative "deals" with Iran, (except for our great deal-maker,of course )..so don't think they are going to support a war with Iran. So, here we'll be again..even in a worse position than Iraq. Let's be like teen-agers and raise our voices against this no-win situation.
6
"May Strain Ties"? why the enormous optimism?
7
Yet another fine example of why Americans should NEVER elect Republicans. They can't help themselves from surrounding themselves with ideologues and radicals.
5
Bolton is undeniably bright unlike his new boss, but their MO is trying to prevail by bullying and threats. This can sometimes work but odds can be slim when you pull this on world class bullies such as Xi Jinping of China and Vladimir Putin of Russia. Sure there's a rationale behind the US imposition of tariffs as long as we're okay with putting many American businesses at a disadvantage (e.g., those that need steel as a raw material), higher consumer prices and the layoffs that will inevitably follow. Economic consequences are just as significant as assessments as to what's fair and what isn't. The deficit is ballooning which will have its own consequences to Medicare, Social Security, etc. Let's not forget the stock market which was a disaster today. Great job, Donald. Go snarf some Big Macs as a reward.
2
To our foes, this turn of events simply confirms why America should never be the final arbiter of who can and cannot possess nuclear weapons. All their fears are being realized with the positioning of "go-bomb-'em" hawks in the roles of chief U.S. diplomat and national security adviser -- the supposed peace wagers -- while in comparison the only regime "dove" is secretary of war.
Trump's Security Instability Council is as glaring to our allies as well. As long as this man possesses a "Big Beautiful BUTTON," all the sane peoples of this world will toss and turn.
So what, exactly, are we going to do about this? And how long will whatever-that-is take? The last seconds on the doomsday clock are clicking off. I pray that, meanwhile, the few remaining adults -- with the military garb and gear -- will revolt if ever they receive the order. That's a thin hair to split.
1
I was hoping there would be a press briefing today in which some journalist would ask Ms. Huckabee Sanders how Mr. Trump, who claims to have been an early opponent of the Iraq war, had come around to appointing Mr. Bolton, an outspoken Iraq hawk, to guide him on foreign policy.
3
"But Mr. Bolton is also a strong supporter of the NATO alliance and a much harsher critic of Russia and President Vladimir V. Putin than is Mr. Trump, Mr. Janning noted. That point may help protect the president from suggestions that he is “soft on Russia.”
More likely, Trump has NO idea what Bolton thinks about anything.
In Trump's opinion, Bolton is just another person he expects to do whatever he is told.
This should be interesting...
4
The President has often smugly voiced his pleasure in the chaos he has sown in the Whitehouse, on the global economy and in disrupting our long held foreign relations policies. It is clear that he has no grand plan nor strategic roadmap - only a "fly by the seat of his pants" impulsiveness believing he magically possesses great innate wisdom that will somehow dramatically lead to great things for the US. Adding Bolton to such a key position in the Whitehouse assures that we will continue to see unbridled and disorderly leadership from the President; this has been Bolton's modus operandi as well. We have an opportunity to be a great power for good in the world. How sad that this opportunity to shape world history is being wasted on bravado and indiscriminate disruption.
3
Turbulence, the only thing that comes to mind on a daily basis especially now with Bolton's stridency being the best tonic for Trump's view of himself as being omnipotent, walking roughshod over long established alliances. On a lighter note: How will Trump cope being close to the moustache he so disliked previously?
2
This of course does not go far enough. One might want to add to one's reading list the new Intercept piece on Bolton's close relationship with falsifying news and promoting extreme ideologies that demonize Muslims as a whole instead of actual terror groups. This approach has been completely counter-productive for building a safer world: https://theintercept.com/2018/03/23/gatestone-institute-john-bolton-chai...
1
If the only tool you have is a hammer, treat everything as if it were a nail. To Bolton, every problem has a military solution.
2
Let's see now:
How many Billions spent on Iraq?
How many Billions spent on Afghanistan?
How many Billions spent on tax cuts for the wealthy ?
How many Billions spent on the 10% Defense increase in the new budget?
Ok, now we're on a roll. Time to deal with Iran and N. Korea.
Let's turn to John Bolton for advice.
2
One thing we know for certain, Trump is a contrarian and an egomaniac who strives to avoid even the hint of an individual trying to influence or control him. This suggests that his response to Bolton could either be more extreme than Bolton's extreme perspective (which is quite difficult to imagine) or he will reverse himself in response to Bolton's likely attempts at control (which is also quite difficult to imagine). Whatever the actual outcome, given DT's reversal record and willynilly firing sprees, Bolton won't be around for long.
2
I anticipate Bolton will suffer the fate of his predecessors more quickly. Bolton strikes me as having an ego larger than Trump. He will be unable to say, "Mother, may I." Media attention to his actions will frequently exceed the attention Trump craves regardless whether Trump approves the decisions.
2
For the thousands of American citizens now living in South Korea, it's goodbye. I enjoyed my life and am grateful for all I have done and for those I have been able to help. My only regret is that I couldn't have done more to help more people. Service to others is what life is all about. I truly believe that all of here have only a few weeks left. When we are gone, please make Trump and Bolton pay for their crimes. Thank you.
13
Mr. Bolton is an unfortunate choice for the United States vis-a-vis the world as Mr. Trump's latest national security adviser. While Bolton may have impressive intellectual ability and a prodigious memory, his worldview is fundamentally rooted and absolutely stuck in the Cold War mentality of the past. He'll make "the Donald" happy with his hawkish line, but his dour outlook and doctrinaire approach will have few adherents in the integrated global society of 21st century economy and society.
14
At least the End Times Evangelical crowd praying for the end of the world are about to get their prayers answered.
Not so great for normal humans, though.
Deplorable.
107
It's surprising that the President of the United States tries to promote reduced tensions with Russia while appointing Mr. Bolton to be National Security Advisor. If it I true that Mr. Trump does not listen to any one, Mr. Bolton's tenure may be short.
6
Didn't we see this in the 1950s film "Godzilla"?
8
Yep.
youtube.com/watch?v=_LlOCveK57A
Okay, so you've (rightly) scared us. Now when the Trump/Bolton team does something dangerous, but not as dangerous as we fear now, we'll breathe a sigh of relief. This is how democracy slowly deteriorates.
We may never be the same Americans again.
55
Do you mean, pre-9/11? When we asked questions first, and shot later?
1
Hang on until November, get people out to vote, de-fang Trump with a Democratic Congress, and say your prayers for Robert Mueller. If this election was stolen, we can unwind this nightmare, this trainwreck, this warning that Americans have to put more intelligence and effort into their vote.
4
With Bolton in charge of the Five Eyes, I'd expect someone to lose their specs.
Maybe I left them in Mueller's office? I'll go ask him. Get in line, New Zealand!
3
I wish you would not use the adjective "intelligent" as you do. Your usage has a subtext—whether you intend it or not suggesting that"intellgence" however defined—is a quality that trumps (forgive me!) all else: openness to evidence, calmness, honesty, and (finally) sanity.
50
You are right which implies that the use is wrong. An intelligent person cannot be closed to evidence. If he is then of what use is the so-called "intelligence"
1
God ... WELL said! Thinking that precisely.
1
Crazy trumps smart every day of the week. I don't care how smart John is, it's the crazy that will make Nukes fly.
1
With Bolton's well known statements about/positions on North Korea and Pompeo's well known statements about/positions on North Korea and Trump's well known...er...tweets and tantrums, I can't imagine why Kin Jong-un would actually go through with a meeting.
15
Bolton is all about negative campaigning. I used to go through my FinL's junkmail, and Bolton's pleas for funding were beyond the pale. His hate mail was disinformation plus! FinL and I laughed he wanted us to buy his book so he could tell us which ones to burn!
So, knowing he helped to make CA the hate based profiler driving much of our nation's divisiveness, what could go wrong is anybody's guess. It won't go well, I know that, unless you are a plutocrat.
17
Let's look inside those hard lines. Bolton was 100% wrong about Iraq and did his best with Cheney and the gang to drag us in the stupidest and possibly most immoral war in US history, to say nothing of helping destabilize the entire middle east. We are still paying the price in lives and dollars.
Trump's appointment has taken the Peter Principle to heretofore un-imagined extremes...except maybe for Trump's ascendancy itself.
120
How about Bolton's claim that Cuba had weapons of mass destruction? Totally wrong (uh, where exactly were they?) but wanting to mess things up. This is bad ju-ju.
5
How can someone with his reputation for lying and distortion of facts get a security clearance, or are we now in the practice of giving high level security clearances to possible traitors (see article on Bolton's role in the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
85
For many years I was in the intelligence community (80s-90s), I primarily worked as an analyst of nuclear proliferation. I remember well one conference on North Korea and policy options in light of its nuclear and missile programs. Ever been to one of those freewheeling discussions when someone says something and the whole room goes silent, and not in a good way? That was Bolton. He's one scary, angry man. Lots of inner demons at work. He's never met a security threat that he's not willing to see thousands of American servicemen and women die to rerdress.
180
That's why he's known as "Bonkers" Bolton. At least now "Heel Spurs" Won't have to come up with a nick name for him. He already has one.
Strain ties? How about global depression or nuclear war? I wish I could move to Mars!
14
For anyone who hasn't heard the song "Political Science," by Randy Newman, the lyrics seem more apropos today than at any time since the end of the Cold War. Set to music, the sing is delightfully comic and catchy. Only in a time like this, who is going to laugh without also feeling the chill? (I inserted the breaks. Apologies for any mistakes, but not the sentiments.)
"No one likes us
I don't know why
We may not be perfect
But heaven knows we try
But all around
Even our old friends put us down
Let's drop the big one
And see what happens
"We give them money
But are they grateful
No, they're spiteful
And they're hateful
They don't respect us
So let's surprise them
We'll drop the big one
And pulverize them
"Asia's crowded
And Europe's too old
Africa's far too hot
And Canada's too cold
And South America stole our name
Let's drop the big one
There'll be no one left to blame us
"We'll save Australia
Don't want to hurt no kangaroo
We'll build an all-American amusement park there
They've got surfing, too
"Boom goes London
And boom Paree
More room for you
And more room for me
And every city the whole world round
Will just be another American town
"Oh, how peaceful it'll be
We'll set everybody free
You'll have Japanese kimonos, baby
There'll be Italian shoes for me
They all hate us anyhow
So let's drop the big one now
Let's drop the big one now"
11
Silly unwarranted gloom and doom.
What could possibly go wrong if you attack a nation with nuclear weapons?
10
All should be worried. Bolton is as toxic and combative as trump -and a heck of a lot smarter.
34
The picture of Dorian Bolton. Thanks, GOP.
7
Trump says the Iraq war was the biggest mistake in U.S. history, then heirs an architect and champion of that war.
Election Trump president was bigger miistake.
49
I always felt that Jimmy Carter was right in his decision to remove US troops from Korea. The US is in no position to be the policeman of the world. Instead, we just make enemies of everybody. Every military action has ended in diaster. What is scary is that Mr. Bolton, like most of our government leaders in the past 20 years, never served in the military or suffered the consequence of war.
38
Hmmm. Do smart guys engage in diplomacy with a gas can and match in hand? Would 'eminently qualified' nominees have difficult gaining majority support in Congress? It would be better if people simply said what they were thinking. Bolton certainly has never suffered from any affliction of self-restraint.
Did we not learn lessons from having chickenhawks in power and using highly cooked intelligence to get into wars that, 15 and 17 years later, are still producing US and civilian casualties and costing billions in the aggregate?
As Chalmers Johnson once said, when war becomes that profitable, you're going to see a lot more of it. There are too many generals and investors in the defense industry who would stand to profit while American soldiers are sent off to shoot and get shot at. And let's not leave out the chickenhawks in the Congressional GOP, who get an opportunity to look tough without facing bullets or roadside bombs. Or an actual declaration of war, as per the Constitution.
And then there's Trump. President Bone Spur. For all we know he's just angling for distraction from the Mueller investigation and trying out his 'war president' character, like Bush II, to burnish his delusional re-election chances.
Are we stuck in some sort of continuous loop from history's darkest outtakes? Or is this what the dying days of empire look like?
71
"I'll be the best jobs president ever." Sure; he's planning to build up the military in preparation for a world-ending war, a great way to create jobs for cannon fodder who happen to be mostly kids of color and have no other prospects. His sons aren't young enough to be drafted, so he doesn't care (he probably wouldn't, anyway). Hiring Bolton gives him the prospect of, and support for, "winning" the big kahuna. Trump doesn't understand that nuclear winter isn't good for the grass on a golf course.
1
Naming John Bolton as National Security Advisor in these times, is equivalent to hiring an arsonist as the Fire Chief or Commissioner.
I think everyone needs to fasten their seatbelts, because this is only the beginning.
42
Where is the right-to-life movement now? Surely the loss of innocent life would concern them?
48
Nah, they are only concerned about the life of fetuses, not human beings. And if Trump starts a nuclear war they will just give them another mulligan, they seem to have infinite numbers of those...
2
Nah. They just care about controlling women. Life? Not so much.
6
After having worked with John Bolton, I urge all Americans to search for nuclear fallout shelters that may still exist in their towns, or to make plans to move out of the country to safer locations (e.g., Antarctica). If you are in the U.S. military, make sure your estate is settled before your next deployment, which will probably be unexpected. I am very serious, and am even more concerned now that Mike Pompeo is moving to State.
I ask all Republicans that have embraced the President: how do you like your blue-eyed boy, Mr. Death?
127
U.S. allies need to realize that the U.S. has NO allies...except Russia.
17
As the saying goes, with Putin's Russia as our "friend", we really do not need enemies. In seriousness, we still have allies, but they are increasingly worried about the sanity of our leadership, and rightfully so. The congressional GOP leadership today will live in infamy for spinelessly enabling Trump to destroy our nation.
3
Pure NYT rhetoric "should be concerned"...the more accurate
title would be a tad bit stronger I would think...
"All but suicidal gravely worried"
would seem closer to what is at hand and forthcoming.
The hardcore duo running things by tweeter in chief for his
20 second engagement with all things foreign seem to think
that bluster and rhetorical fury when done unilaterally is
an effective strategy. When that only serves to ratchet
up tensions, then their only recourse will be to either
exhibit their bluff and cave, highly unlikely given
the amount of alpha male testosterone flowing in their veins, or
to run roughshod over the military's advice to cool it and
impose military solutions re NK and Iran, in particular.
And let's not also forget little things like Chinese claims in South China Sea
or Taiwan Straits that can just as easily lead to the type
of military interaction that gets out of hand very quickly since they
end up being challenged by this country for no very good strategic reason.
I would vote for Iran as being the first consequential big problem we
all get to deal with very soon. The security adviser and sec of state
now have all the power they've been lusting for these many years
to "take on the ayatollah" without constraints...they must
be tingling with anticipation at all the bluster they now
get to heave in our name.
But what'll they do when they actually hit a wall with the other signatories
of the agreement, and congress insists upon renewal?
3
‘The Whole World Should Be Concerned’: U.S. Allies React to Bolton’s Appointment
When did China become a U.S. ally?
2
On the other hand, if fear produces some spine with our esteemed European allies, maybe it'll be for the better.
why would the support the US?
3
Has Donald Trump been watching 'Canadian Bacon'? Does he think starting wars will increase his approval rating, strengthen his base, give the American people some confidence in him?
Wait, isn't there some odd part in your laws governing declarations of war that allows the President to place a hold on elections? No, that can't possibly factor into his decision making process...
4
Great Choice! We don't want to approach the negotiating table with our negotiator known to be a push-over. Trump runs our country like a business - deciding things to win; he's not a politician - who decides things to win votes. What a refreshing breath of fresh air.
1
Government is not a business and Trump repeatedly fails in business with bankruptcies and never ending lawsuits for non-payment. That refreshing breath of air will be the smell of war.
12
Chauffeur - will you be the first to volunteer to be on the front lines? I hope so - you sound like you will.
7
Any Russian play could guarantee. See the same person making same claims beneath you.
3
With Bolton leading national security, America's friends and foes alike will know America means business. No more weakness. No more. Thank you.
3
Get ready to pay for a couple of additional unnecessary wars - and if you actually have any young relatives, get ready to lose them. You cannot seriously believe that the US can bully the world, especially a couple of countries who are itching for a battle we can't afford to fight.
56
‘Reading your comment inspired me to go flex some muscles, Putin like, in front of the mirror, all this while practicing my snarls and foot stomping.
9
Then you get to libe in the DMZ while the rest of move to Antarctica.
3
Should we worry that a perfect storm is coming together to usher in war and death before the Robert Mueller III team completes its investigation of the Trump international crime family, team and appointees?
111
Yes
He has to be confirmed by the Senate, right?
3
Unfortunately not. That should be changed.
3
Nope.
No confirmation
2
Bolton and Trump are nothing but misery machines.
And everyone else pays for their mistakes.
91
“Fiercely intelligent man”?
No, that doesn’t accurately describe Mr. Bolton
How about: “Fiercely overconfident and hateful man.”
170
You beat me to it!
1
Thank you Randy Newman
No one likes us
I don't know why
We may not be perfect
But heaven knows we try
But all around
Even our old friends put us down
Let's drop the big one
And see what happens
We give them money
But are they grateful
No, they're spiteful
And they're hateful
They don't respect us
So let's surprise them
We'll drop the big one
And pulverize them
Asia's crowded
And Europe's too old
Africa's far too hot
And Canada's too cold
And South America stole our name
Let's drop the big one
There'll be no one left to blame us
We'll save Australia
Don't want to hurt no kangaroo
We'll build an all American amusement park there
They've got surfing, too
Boom goes London
And boom Paris
More room for you
And more room for me
And every city the whole world round
Will just be another American town
Oh, how peaceful it'll be
We'll set everybody free
You'll have Japanese kimonos, baby
There'll be Italian shoes for me
They all hate us anyhow
So let's drop the big one now
Let's drop the big one now
Songwriters: Randy Newman
Political Science lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc
51
Marvelous song, I, I confess, never heard about. Shma on me, for tupis. And, America, get rid of chie crase and much, much dangerous man, please.
another week, another blunder
27
Trump isn't "soft on Russia" any more than the employee of a company is "soft on said company".
9
The Doomsday Clock by the Science and Security Board, already put at 2 minutes to midnight on 28 January 2018 and closest it has been to midnight since the early 1980s will be jolted forward by the nefarious ill-advised appointment of John Bolton.
Duck and cover - the Doomsday clock will get a jolt, on - account of John Bolton.
Beware the danger of the unaccountable process for appointing National Security Advisor without congressional review or approval. Congress needs to step up to this crucial responsibility and intervene - and take oversight on National Security Advisor appointments.
44
John Bolton's appointment will not strain ties because ties are already strained. The US president has insulted and demeaned traditional allies and offended most of the world. He publicly boasted he lied to the Canadian Prime Minister and bragged about his ability to fabricate his own facts. He attempted to bully and extort both Canada and Mexico. He threatened NATO allies and he has upended the global order. He has left a trail of destruction in his wake and has promoted global instability. The depth of enmity for this menace knows no bounds. Trump has only been in office for a little over a year and it feels like an eternity.
137
Trump is a deeply unhappy man. Unhappy most with himself.
1
Even if Trump, Bolton and Pompeo aren't successful is starting world war III, they will surly be successful in starting a new cold war (especially with China) which will be very costly to us both in dollars spend on the military and loss of respect and good will towards the U.S. around the world. These negative effects might take 50 years to reverse.
64
Trump's calculation with every move he makes is 'what will cause the greatest chaos?' Most of these actions are taken, at this point, to distract us from his own criminal conduct.
No sane person could believe that Bolton is a good pick for National Security Adviser.
178
I want to take and complete my vacation before the world goes up or the economy crashes. Everywhere peoples feel under pressure. Like is it 1913?
64
I'm heading for the hills where you can't even get cell service. The Elgin Club, where they filmed Red River! Nothing but ranchers and their families who thankfully have the manners to keep conversations away from religion, politics and how big one's herd is. Don't ask.
Or 1939.
9
The tanking market - echoes of Wall St in '29
The rise of xenophobic nationalism - echoes of Berlin in '33
The strained polarization in the populace - echoes of Madrid in '36
We walk in circles, led by blinded fools
2