Well, we’ve answered the question as to why in the hell Ivanka was standing at the church carrying a $1,ooo handbag. Ivanka’s bag held the Bible. Fitting, since the entire photo-op turned battle was her idea in the first place.

When history studies the Trump presidency, one of the most defining moments will surely be the sights and sounds of militarized police driving peaceful protesters from Lafeyette Square, including news organizations from Australia and Germany (making it now an international incident), with the sounds and smell of battle. Fittingly, for this administration, it was all done so Trump could have his picture taken outside of that White House bunker. A wholly plastic man, with a plastic “tough” facade, sternly looked out as he raised a Bible he’s never read, defining himself for history.

It was all Ivanka’s idea. Hope Hicks managed the “visuals.” And how we got into the position where Ivanka and Hope Hicks are managing events that rock not only our nation but the world, is another question that historians will have to examine. From the necessary New York Times:

Mr. Trump and his inner circle considered it a triumph that would resonate with many middle Americans turned off by scenes of urban riots and looting that have accompanied nonviolent protests of the police killing of a subdued black man in Minneapolis.

Of course, they did. His “inner circle” planned it. It better fcking be a “triumph” or they’ll get the lash. Ivanka is immune, which is why nepotism always leads to an excruciating “workplace,” made all the more excruciating by the fact that some in the White House knew this was a mistake (according to the report). Indeed, some Republicans have come out against it, and every Democrat has fired back. Oh, and at least two other giant nations on the world scene are furious.

Mr. Meadows credited the president’s daughter. It was crafted during an Oval Office meeting the day before that included Ms. Trump; Mr. Meadows; Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and senior adviser; and Hope Hicks, another top adviser.

Stop at that paragraph. One of the most defining moments in recent history was formed in a meeting attended by a former congressman with no White House experience, Ivanka – a failed jewelry designer, Jared – a failed real estate rich baby, and Hope Hicks as “adviser” and former model, who was likely the smartest and savviest person in a room filled with moneyed inexperience and arrogance. Only pureed self-righteousness keeps these people from seeing why they continually fail.

At some point, Anthony Ornato, a Secret Service veteran who serves as deputy chief of staff for operations, was brought in to coordinate the logistics of the visit. Ms. Hicks came up with the visuals for how it would look. But officials privately conceded that little thought was given to what Mr. Trump would do once he actually got to the church.

We’re shocked. Trump never gives much thought to what happens “next” in any situation, that’s why the pandemic is still raging. Trump doesn’t “plan,” he simply rolls along “on brand.” He goes with his “gut,” he likes “chaos,” and has never followed through with anything in his life.

This episode is so reprehensible that it almost seems fitting that it sprung from the minds of a quartet made up of three people with zero experience in government and very little in anything else, for that matter. This is the Trump presidency, incompetence matched with arrogance and recklessness. The White House is supposed to be a place where people with degrees from top institutions and 35 years of successful experience “earn” the privilege to advise a president. Without that kind of fortitude and competence, you get episodes like this, which almost certainly sounded good in Vanky’s pretty little head.

The nation’s problems with protests are bigger today than Monday at noon.

Not for nothing, but don’t think that Australia and Germany are just going to throw their hands up and say: “If only there was something we could do.” No, that’s not how real governments work. They protect their citizens when troops beat the shit out of them for no bigger reason than “because Ivanka wanted Daddy to have his picture taken.”

The protests in DC were even larger last night in response. This incident accomplished nothing except hurting people, it unleashed a dictatorial instinct, created an international incident, threatened the free press, threatened freedom of assembly and scared the living fck out of good Americans.

I suppose we should be happy that’s all that happened given that these four appear to be running the country.

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Peace, y’all
Jason
[email protected]