The lone bulwark against catastrophe
Uh oh, now it’s Kelly’s turn to be fired on Twitter.
White House chief of staff John Kelly has eroded morale in the West Wing in recent months with comments to aides that include insulting the president’s intelligence and casting himself as the savior of the country, according to eight current and former White House officials.
Moral would be high without that, would it?
The officials said Kelly portrays himself to Trump administration aides as the lone bulwark against catastrophe, curbing the erratic urges of a president who has a questionable grasp on policy issues and the functions of government. He has referred to Trump as “an idiot” multiple times to underscore his point, according to four officials who say they’ve witnessed the comments.
Kelly says nuh uh he did not.
Current and former White House officials said Kelly has at times made remarks that have rattled female staffers. Kelly has told aides multiple times that women are more emotional than men, including at least once in front of the president, four current and former officials said.
And the unspoken (but very much received) second half of that thought is “…and men are more rational. And intelligent, and capable, and stable.”
And during a firestorm in February over accusations of domestic abuse against then-White House staff secretary Rob Porter, Kelly wondered aloud how much more Porter would have to endure before his honor could be restored, according to three officials who were present for the comments. He also questioned why Porter’s ex-wives wouldn’t just move on based on the information he said he had about his marriages, the officials said.
What a prince. Fuck those bitches for ruining Rob Porter’s honor, right? Just because he beat them up now and then. Why can’t they just move on and leave the poor guy alone?
Eventually they’ll all eat each other.
It would appear that those in search of the moral high ground around Trump’s White House had best wear gumboots or waders: if not scuba gear. As well, and at all times they should be wary for an encounter with an alligator or two.
It’s that sort of gig.
But, Omar, he’s draining the swamp! The alligators will all move into gator holes somewhere, unable to survive in the drained swamp!
(By the way, as a wetland biologist, I am categorically against draining swamps…and against comparing the Trump administration to a swamp, which host a wide variety of interesting and colorful wildlife, most of whom look cuddly and sweet next to Trump…and never claim to be a stable genius with the best brain).
Ha – I was thinking that just yesterday, while walking on a boardwalk through a swamp on the edge of Lake Washington just east of the University.
Only Trump gets to be a “straight shooter” who “tells it like it is.” I guess it’s bad form to call idiots “idiots” and to call liars “liars.” There are only so many euphemisms to go ’round, and circumlocution only gets you so far.
I’ve always thought “cesspool” or “toxic waste site” as more apt descriptions of the WH that avoid maligning swamps. I hope these descriptions are not too harsh for the delicate sensibilities of the Washington perss corp.
This boardwalk in this swamp: Yesler Swamp trail.
Oooh, Ophelia, can I come to visit you? Then you can come visit me, and I’ll take you around the salt marshes in Lincoln. Wonderful stuff….
Hell yes!