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Senator Hatch to Retire

Today Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) announced he won’t seek re-election to the U.S. Senate in 2018. Mr. Hatch, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, was responsible for shepherding the recent changes to the U.S. tax code through the Senate.

“Although I will miss serving you in the senate, I look forward to spending more time with my family,” Hatch said via Twitter.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trumps-drive-to-block-mitt-romney-from-senate-stumbles

https://www.thedailybeast.com/tax-cuts-check-funding-the-government-not-so-fast

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2018/01/02/as-orrin-hatch-retires-here-are-six-things-to-watch/

Mr. Hatch, along with Sens. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) have all announced they will not run in 2018. Unlike those two seats, Utah is solidly Republican and should remain in the GOP column.

However, if a moderate Republican such as Mitt Romney were to be elected, the Senate suddenly becomes more problematic for President Trump.

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2018 and Beyond

Things here at State of the Superpower became very busy during 2017. Life commitments, combined with Trump fatigue, combined to shut us down for the second half of the year. Actually, politics became too ugly. Instead of the usual policy/political differences, discourse degenerated to unacceptably  nasty levels . Political coverage became an unpleasant chore.

However, the new year brings new opportunities. Granted, the daily Trump outrage is omnipresent, but we are facing a critical year. The 2018 off-year elections  are only 11 months away, meaning there will be plenty of interesting and varied political topics to cover. After two years of Trumpism, this year we  determine the type of nation we are.

In addition, we here at State of the Superpower intend to broaden coverage to include international news, social commentary,  film/pop culture, and sports. We also want to expand our military and economic coverage. In short, the goal is to expand into more than a political blog.

For full disclosure, our writers do lean left politically. That being said, we’re not here to act as an echo chamber offering prepackaged liberal ideas. We want to look at both sides of a topic, and support what  works. If our writers can take both liberal and conservative readers out of their comfort ones, then we are achieving our goal.

So buckle up buttercups, it’s going to be a rough ride.

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Trumpcare in the House

With a 217-213 vote along party lines, the Republican controlled House of Representatives passed its GOP replacement for the Affordable Care Act better known as Obamacare.

The bill now goes to the Senate. There it will either be passed, changed, or ignored. Unlike the House where it takes only a majority to pass legislation, the Senate usually needs 60 votes.

And if the passed through the budget  reconciliation process, Republicans can only afford to lose three GOP Senators.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/portman-concerns-ahca-house-passage

Unlike the House, Senators answer to an entire state. You can’t gerrymander districts to protect seats or dilute minority voting blocks. Senators answer to everybody.

And cutting medical access, because money does equal access, won’t go down well on a state level. and the estimated 14 million people losing insurance/medical access in 2018 will not be happy.

And neither will their friends and families.

 

 

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Blackwater & Russia

According to The Washington Post, Blackwater founder Erik Prince met with a representative of Russian President Vladimir Putin after the 2017 elections. The reason for the January 11, 2017 meeting was to create a back-channel line of communication between President-elect Donald Trump and the Russian government.

The meeting, which took place in Seychelles, was arranged by the United Arab Emirates. Despite Mr. Prince not being a member of the Trump campaign or transition team, UAE officials treated him as an “unofficial envoy” for Mr. Trump.

“Erik had no role on the transition team. This is a complete fabrication,” a spokesman for Mr. Prince said to the Post. “The meeting had nothing to do with President Trump. Why is the so-called under-resourced intelligence community messing around with surveillance of American citizens when they should be hunting terrorists?”

The White House has also denied The Washington Post’s story. “We are not aware of any meetings and Erik Prince had no role in the transition,” White House press secretary Sean Spicer said in a statement.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/04/03/washington-post-report-erik-prince-back-channel-trump-putin/100003832/

http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/04/erik-prince-blackwater-trump-russia

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/04/03/blackwater_s_erik_prince_met_with_putin_ally_on_trump_s_behalf_wapo_says.html

So Erik Prince, the same asshole who set up Blackwater as the mercenary wing of the American military during the War on Terror is now back door representing Donald Trump.

And don’t forget Blackwater, who’s “brand name” is forever linked to weapons smuggling and murder, changed it’s name to XE Services. But because nobody knew what the fuck XE meant, they changed it again to Academi.

And for the record, Mr. Prince is not associated with Acadami, which was purchased in 2011. In 2014, Academi was acquired/became a division of Constellis Holdings. They also own Triple Canopy and other security organizations.

http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,150197,00.html

Iraq War documents leak

Mr. Prince’s new company,  Frontier Services Group (FSG) is now working to expand “expeditionary logistics and asset management” to Chinese companies operating in Africa. And “logistics” and “assets” means training Chinese mercenaries to work where the Chinese Army (PLA) can’t operate.

Is The Former CEO Of Blackwater Working With The Chinese To Send Illegal Paramilitary Forces Around The World?

Based on Mr. Prince’s past record and current activities, the Trump Administration is making a huge mistake working with him.

But this isn’t an Administration known for making good choices.

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The Two Percent Rule

In his first NATO meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson presented our allies with two choices. They either increase defense spending to two percent of GDP, or devise a  plan to reach the 2 percent budget guideline.

Mr. Tillerson wants those plans completed in time for a May 25th NATO meeting in Brussel. President Trump, long critical of NATO members he feels aren’t paying their fair share, will attend the meeting.

“Allies that do not have a concrete plan to spend 2 percent on defense by 2024 need to establish one now. Allies that have a plan to reach the 2 percent guideline need to accelerate efforts and show results,” Tillerson said Friday in Brussels.

Currently, only four Member states (Great Britain, Greece, Estonia, and Poland) have met the defense spending goal of 2 percent set in 2014. In contrast, Germany spent 1.19 percent GDP on defense.

http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/03/31/tillerson-to-nato-get-it-together-in-the-next-two-months-or/

http://wdef.com/2017/03/31/tillerson-sets-nato-allies-2-month-goal-on-spending/

http://www.defenseone.com/news/2017/03/the-d-brief-march-31-2017

I have been very critical of the Trump Administration, but this something they are getting right. If you want to be a NATO member, you have to meet your spending obligations. The United States can’t be expected to subsidize European welfare states.

Like it or not, President Trump’s 2018 budget makes deep cuts in everything but defense. The United States spends over 3 percent GDP on defense. Asking American taxpayers to shoulder deep domestic cuts while subsidizing NATO isn’t politically feasible.

It also isn’t fair

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Gates Out and Walsh In

Katie Walsh, the White House Deputy Chief of Staff, is leaving that post to work as a senior advisor for America First Policies, a nonprofit group created specifically to support the Trump Administration’s political agenda. The nonprofit has so far failed to have any political impact.

Rick Gates, a founding America First Policies member, left his position with the organization because of his connections to former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort.  This is the same Paul Manafort who, due to his work for the Ukrainian government, was forced to leave the Trump Campaign last summer.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/23/politics/rick-gates-manafort-russia-ties/index.html

http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/30/politics/donald-trump-white-house-staff/index.html?sr=fbCNN033017donald-trump-white-house-staff0631PMStoryLink&linkId=36024969

http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/21/politics/paul-manafort-ukraine/index.html

Mr. Manafort recently volunteered to speak before the House Intelligence Committee, which is currently looking at questionable contacts between the Russian Government and Trump campaign officials.

The hope is Mrs. Walsh, a well established GOP operative with a proven track record, will bring stability to the under-performing organization.

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Jared the Oligarch

President Trump plans to open the White House Office of American Innovation, which will serve as a “think tank” on how to apply private sector solutions to government problems.

“All Americans, regardless of their political views, can recognize that government stagnation has hindered our ability to properly function, often creating widespread congestion and leading to cost overruns and delays,” Trump told The Washington Post. “I promised the American people I would produce results, and apply my ‘ahead of schedule, under budget’ mentality to the government.”

This new office, which is to be manned by former business executives, will be run by Mr. Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.

“We should have excellence in government,” Kushner said. “The government should be run like a great American company. Our hope is that we can achieve successes and efficiencies for our customers, who are the citizens.”

Topics the White House Office of American Innovation will tackle range from changes in veteran care to providing internet access to undeserved communities. The new office will also look at privatizing some government functions.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2017/03/27/kushner-to-lead-innovation-wh-office.html?via=desktop&source=copyurl

https://www.veooz.com/news/PMaYPot.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-taps-kushner-to-lead-a-swat-team-to-fix-government-with-business-ideas/2017/03/26/9714a8b6-1254-11e7-ada0-1489b735b3a3_story.html?utm_term=.584b4120ce75&wpisrc=nl_most-draw10&wpmm=1

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-taps-kushner-to-lead-a-swat-team-to-fix-government-with-business-ideas/2017/03/26/9714a8b6-1254-11e7-ada0-1489b735b3a3_story.html?utm_term=.584b4120ce75&wpisrc=nl_most-draw10&wpmm=1

The idea of running government like a business isn’t new. It also doesn’t work. Former President’s Obama and Bush suggested similar ideas.  Can you recall how successful those attempts were? I thought so.

The problem is America isn’t a company. Government doesn’t run on profit margins. Also, there is no CEO or “owner” that can fire unruly employees. Government is meant to represent the needs of all citizens. By putting billionaires an business people in charge, you end with a government that represents their interests.

And that isn’t because business people are bad. Like most people, they measure success as what works for them. Why would someone change an institution that has made him or her successful?

And just because it works for them, doesn’t mean it is good for the rest of us.

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Meanwhile in Russia

Today, Russian dissident Denis Voronenkov was assassinated in Kiev. Mr. Voronenkov, a colonel in the Russian Armed Forces and a former member of the Russian Parliament, was an outspoken critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea.

Mr. Voronenkov planned to testify against former Ukraine President Victor Yanukovych. Mr. Yanukovych, a pro-Russian Putin ally forced into exile since 2014, is being tried in absentia for treason. From at least 2006 until 2012, Mr. Yanukovych employed former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort as a political consultant.

[How Trump adviser Manafort revived his career — and business fortunes — in Ukraine]

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/03/23/521215078/former-russian-lawmaker-is-shot-to-death-outside-hotel-in-kiev?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20170323

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2017/03/23/anti-putin-exile-gunned-down-in-the-streets-of-ukraine.html

There is a point where coincidence ends and conspiracy begins. Not the tinfoil hat type X-Files  conspiracies, but the two interested parties working together to achieve mutual goals.

The Russian government did not want Hilary Clinton to win the 2016 Presidential Election. They didn’t necessarily want Donald Trump to win, but like Bernie Bro voters, the Russians were in the anybody but Hillary camp.

Donald Trump and his supporters wanted to win the 2016 election. That is a “no shit Sherlock” statement true of any campaign, but you do what you need to do to win.  And supporters select candidates based on their interests.

That Paul Manafort, a well established GOP player, supported Donald Trump in 2016 isn’t much a shock. It also isn’t shocking that the Russian Government, who wants anybody but Hillary Clinton to win, would use those connections (and the power of the state) to advance their national interests.

Everything  else that follows is just business.

And that is why business and government shouldn’t mix. Business is about making money and maximizing profits for investors.T here isn’t any ethical long term goal beyond profit.

Government is about enacting policy that benefits it’s citizens. Government doesn’t make a profit. Government works for the security and benefit of all citizens. Government is ethical, or at least it should.

And if you elect a profit driven businessman who then surrounds himself with other profit driven businessmen……….

 

 

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From Russia Without Love

During a March 20th 2017 five-hour hearing before the House Intelligence Committee, FBI Director James Comey confirmed the FBI is actively investigating allegations that members of President Trump’s 2016 Campaign team worked with the Russians to influence the election outcome.

“We’re investigating whether there was any coordination between people associated with the Trump campaign and the Russians,” Comey said.

And yesterday, the Associated Press reported that in 2005 Paul Manafort collaborated with Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska to advance the interests of the Russian government.

Mr. Manafort is the former campaign chairman for President Trump. He left the Trump campaign in August 2016 due to questionable financial dealings with several Russian organizations.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/new-documents-say-trump-aide-hid-payments-from-pro-moscow-ukraine-party/2017/03/21/92ec85f2-0e11-11e7-9d5a-a83e627dc120_story.html?utm_term=.6bfb8e8c1cb5

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/03/22/report_paul_manafort_had_plan_to_influence_american_politics_for_putin_in.html

http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2017/03/22/manafort-secretly-worked-for-russians.html?via=desktop&source=copyurl

Mr. Manafort is a well established GOP operative, and his client list reads like a collection of Bond villains. Mr. Manafort has worked/lobbied for such distasteful assholes as Ferdinand Marcos, Mobutu Sese Seko, and Jonas Savimbi.

He also represented former Ukrainian president  Viktor Yanukovych. Mr. Yanukovych, who now lives in exile in Russia, is wanted by the Ukrainian government for high treason.

And for those keeping score, former Trump National Security Adviser and raging Islamophobic d-bag Michael Flynn was forced out of his position after lying about talks he had with the Russian Ambassador.

Despite what they say, the Trump Administration has a Russia problem. And it isn’t going away anytime soon.

 

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Trump Can’t Stop Lying

Yesterday, the House Intelligence Committee questioned both National Security Agency Director Mike Rogers and FBI Director James Comey regarding Russian efforts to influence 2016 presidential election.

The five-hour hearing answered two important questions. First, we now know the FBI is actively investigating allegations that members of President Trump’s 2016 Campaign team actively worked with the Russians to undermine Hillary Clinton’s campaign.

“We’re investigating whether there was any coordination between people associated with the Trump campaign and the Russians,” Comey said.

And secondly, there is absolutely no evidence to support Mr. Trump’s accusations that President Obama wiretapped Trump Towers prior to the 2016 elections.

“The FBI and the Justice Department have no information to support’’ Mr. Trump’s wiretap accusations, Comey said.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/20/us/trump-obama-wiretap-comey.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2017/03/republicans_don_t_want_to_find_out_what_happened_with_russia.html

http://resistancereport.com/news/new-documents-suggest-trumps-ex-campaign-manager-laundered-money-ukraines-former-president/

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/01/donald-trump-lies-liar-effect-brain-214658

At this point, the media needs to stop calling Mr. Trump’s statements unsubstantiated claims. They are lies. He isn’t some college bro lying to his buddies about getting laid. He is the President of the United States lying about all types of petty bullshit.

Mr. Trump has always had a truth problem. And it isn’t like his fucktard voters didn’t know it.  During the 2016 campaign, PolitiFact found 70 percent of Trump’s campaign statements to be complete false. Think about that for a moment. Seven out of every ten thing he said were complete and total bullshit.

But when called out on his truth dodging fuckary, Mr Trump just keeps repeating the same bullshit lie over and over again. It is like he thinks that through sheer repetition, his bullshit will magically be transformed into truth.

And he then attacks those who call him out for his bullshit.

Donald Trump is a man with absolutely no integrity. He is a man that can’t be trusted. He is a man that will do and say whatever he thinks gets him what he wants.

And he is also the President of the United States.