I used to think John Kelly was one of the more sane people in the White House... but after reading that interview, now I am not so sure. He has clearly either drank the Kool-Aid himself or is at...
I used to think John Kelly was one of the more sane people in the White House... but after reading that interview, now I am not so sure. He has clearly either drank the Kool-Aid himself or is at least willing to pretend he has in order to keep his job.
How would you describe his intellect?
Very smart – a very, very smart guy. I mean a super smart guy. But I think it wouldn't surprise you to know he's very strong. He's very strong in terms of trade, taxes, business and he's a quick study on everything else. He's a pretty bright guy.
I don't think he can answer that any other way and keep his job. Reading it in text it almost sounds sarcastic. My quick takeaway is that Kelly is the organizational/sane influence on the White...
I don't think he can answer that any other way and keep his job. Reading it in text it almost sounds sarcastic.
My quick takeaway is that Kelly is the organizational/sane influence on the White House. The firewall between the staff and the legal issues plaguing Trump is hugely important. Remeber: lots of underlings went to jail when Nixon was ousted. Nixon did not. I think Kelly knows there's incredible legal jeopardy there if you touch it and keeps the staff running as 'normal' a White House as possible.
The rest of the interview I think showed that Kelly is the only source of stability in the White House. He also had an eerily similar stance to the president as Comey—namely, that he'll give him the truth and honest opinion, and nothing more. Considering how bad firing Comey went, it almost seems like "plot armor" for Kelly keeping his job no matter what.
Kelly's lament about the first 6 months I think illustrates that when he entered his position life was a complete clusterfuck.
If he is merely pretending in order to keep his job so he can continue to "protect" the underlings that work in the White House by maintaining the "firewall", I guess that is sort of admirable,...
If he is merely pretending in order to keep his job so he can continue to "protect" the underlings that work in the White House by maintaining the "firewall", I guess that is sort of admirable, but at the same time, not... since it puts a legitimate face on what is, underneath, really just a complete farce and potentially delays the inevitable, increasing the damage done by squashing the leaks that may be necessary for justice to be served. I don't know. I am kinda torn.
On Russia: That is utter bullshit, unless he's referring to Fox News exclusively, because every other media outlet has shown tons and tons of smoke (not necessarily a burning fire yet), unless I'm...
On Russia:
From what I read in the newspaper, because I have no knowledge — as I say, I've built a firewall. From what I read and observe in the news media — something that has gone on this long without any real meat on the bone, it suggests to me that there is nothing there, relative to our president.
That is utter bullshit, unless he's referring to Fox News exclusively, because every other media outlet has shown tons and tons of smoke (not necessarily a burning fire yet), unless I'm misunderstanding the phrase "meat on the bone." Because there is definitely some meat on the bone. It might not be a whole rack of ribs, but there's factual proof that Russia interfered with our election, and probable cause that Trump and/or people in his administration had ties to Russia.
I'm disgusted with people who lie for this man just to keep their job. If more people were like Sally Yates or (slightly begrudgingly) James Comey, the situation would be less insane.
I used to think John Kelly was one of the more sane people in the White House... but after reading that interview, now I am not so sure. He has clearly either drank the Kool-Aid himself or is at least willing to pretend he has in order to keep his job.
Hah.
I don't think he can answer that any other way and keep his job. Reading it in text it almost sounds sarcastic.
My quick takeaway is that Kelly is the organizational/sane influence on the White House. The firewall between the staff and the legal issues plaguing Trump is hugely important. Remeber: lots of underlings went to jail when Nixon was ousted. Nixon did not. I think Kelly knows there's incredible legal jeopardy there if you touch it and keeps the staff running as 'normal' a White House as possible.
The rest of the interview I think showed that Kelly is the only source of stability in the White House. He also had an eerily similar stance to the president as Comey—namely, that he'll give him the truth and honest opinion, and nothing more. Considering how bad firing Comey went, it almost seems like "plot armor" for Kelly keeping his job no matter what.
Kelly's lament about the first 6 months I think illustrates that when he entered his position life was a complete clusterfuck.
If he is merely pretending in order to keep his job so he can continue to "protect" the underlings that work in the White House by maintaining the "firewall", I guess that is sort of admirable, but at the same time, not... since it puts a legitimate face on what is, underneath, really just a complete farce and potentially delays the inevitable, increasing the damage done by squashing the leaks that may be necessary for justice to be served. I don't know. I am kinda torn.
On Russia:
That is utter bullshit, unless he's referring to Fox News exclusively, because every other media outlet has shown tons and tons of smoke (not necessarily a burning fire yet), unless I'm misunderstanding the phrase "meat on the bone." Because there is definitely some meat on the bone. It might not be a whole rack of ribs, but there's factual proof that Russia interfered with our election, and probable cause that Trump and/or people in his administration had ties to Russia.
I'm disgusted with people who lie for this man just to keep their job. If more people were like Sally Yates or (slightly begrudgingly) James Comey, the situation would be less insane.