The 500 Billion Dollar Answer

Even before the general election Putin pandered to Trump. The reason for this symbiotic relationship has long been the million dollar question.  There is a 500 billion dollar answer.  The answer also covers a flock of related questions, about Carter Page, Michael Flynn, Rex Tillerson, and the state of the State Department.

Put an Exxon the spot.   Exxon is now seeking a waiver from sanctions against Russia so that it can implement the deal Rex Tillerson,  as Exxon CEO,  made with Rosnoft, the Putin controlled Russian oil and energy monopoly.  The deal has been estimated to have a value of as much as 500 billion dollars.  As Senator John McCain said, "Russia is a gas station masquerading as a country."   Remove oil related sanctions and all that remains is window dressing.

The pieces all come together.  Under someone's influence, Trump lends an ear to an energy guy, Carter Page, for foreign policy advice.  The same energy guy who was  recruited by Russian agents in 2013.   Trump's choice for National Security Advisor likewise had ties to Russia, and met with Russian interests on the subject of sanctions.   Although Flynn was fired,  the firing came not when Trump learned of Flynn's lies about sanction discussions, but rather, when they became public.  The lynchpin is Rex Tillerson.  The Secretary of State has deep ties with Putin, and obviously, with Exxon.  The proposed waiver is the love letter than fueled the Trump/Putin bromance.

The waiver decision will be made by the Secretary of the Treasury, but as protocol dictates, with heavy reliance on the State Department.  Tillerson has recused himself, theoretically allowing input from State Department professionals.  But early in their tenure, Tillerson and Trump conveniently fired the senior State Department professionals without notice, or replacement.

Public scrutiny may yet block the waiver, but we can wave goodbye to good governance, and say hello to crony capitalism and cynical corruption.

China Green

Black China is a character on the Kardashians, China White is heroin, China Green is the highest level of corruption in our nation's history.  Jared Kushner is being given 400 million dollars by the Chinese.

A Chinese firm with close ties to the Chinese government is grotesquely over paying for a New York building, bailing out the Kushner family business, netting them a profit of 400 million dollars. Coincidentally, Jared, as has been widely reported, is the direct line of communication between China and the president, bypassing the Secretary of State.

The only thing standing between Jared, and serious jail time, is Rex Tillerson acting as a beard.  If you compare Kushner's portfolio to that of the reclusive Tillerson it is clear who is assuming the duties of Secretary of State.  But if Kushner had been named Secretary of State he would have required Senate approval and close legal scrutiny.  Is it to early to chant, "Lock him up."

Strong Obama, Weak Trump

How one weathers criticism is a gauge of self confidence and strength of character.  For Obama it is blue skies all the way.  He had the strength to choose his primary opponent, Hillary Clinton, as Secretary of State.

Trump becomes dark and stormy, with irrational outbursts of thunder and lightening.  His Secretary of State. Rex Tillerson, has international experience as an oilman, but not in government.  In a hopeful sign, he selected Elliot Abrams, a fixture in past GOP administrations, to fill the gap.  All looked well after a dinner with Trump.

But then Trump's den of Steves, alerted Trump to an anti-Trump editorial by Abrams.  The editorial was not one of the harsher articles, nor did Abrams join the "Never Trump" gang.  But the editorial was enough to quash Abrams ascension.

If Trump's skin were any  thinner we would see his internal organs.