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Indeed... also, it doesn't make much sense to write an anonymous letter only to use words that make it obvious who wrote it!
America - The Official Thread
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But then again.. Mike Pence does seem out of touch enough to think lodestar is a common used word. What does the word actually mean?
Joey D
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It's something that serves as a guide, like the Pole Star.
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- TexRex72
To be fair, it used to be fairly common (at least in literature) in the more literal sense relating to navigation.
Of course now it's a little unusual and I think Pence uses it to stand out, and that lends credence to the notion that it was employed to serve as a breadcrumb. Then again, I often employ certain landmark words subconsciously, only to catch them in re-reading things I've written.
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An indicator that points people in exactly the right direction - how ironic!
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- Neomone
With regards to the author of the article, it's worth remembering that a lot of people in high politics are quite smart. Trump is an outlier. It's entirely plausible that the author knew that their words would be analysed for authorship, and threw some misdirection in there that would point to others. I find that about as likely as the idea that Mike Pence wrote it. If it was me, I'd have written it and then spent a lot of time going through to remove as many indications of my style as possible.
As far as the article itself, there's several things that could be going on here. It could be what it appears on the surface; a disgruntled employee frustrated that they're not getting credit for stopping Trump from ruining the country. But it could also be a calculated move by the Republicans to start distancing themselves from Trump, as it's looking more and more like he's not a political actor that you'd want to be associated with, even if he's never formally accused of anything. "See how our people tried to look after the country even against the President's wishes?"
Or it could be something else entirely. Who knows these days? Maybe Trump wrote it himself.
As far as the article itself, there's several things that could be going on here. It could be what it appears on the surface; a disgruntled employee frustrated that they're not getting credit for stopping Trump from ruining the country. But it could also be a calculated move by the Republicans to start distancing themselves from Trump, as it's looking more and more like he's not a political actor that you'd want to be associated with, even if he's never formally accused of anything. "See how our people tried to look after the country even against the President's wishes?"
Or it could be something else entirely. Who knows these days? Maybe Trump wrote it himself.
Dotini
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I agree with many people who see Trump as a boorish, unpredictable amateur, guilty of numerous petty sins and gaffes. But is this enough to impeach him and convict him, or is it enough to remove him from office on the basis of the 25th Amendment? In my view, by far and away the two most important deliverables of any US President and administration are (1) peace and (2) prosperity. While neither of these two is entirely satisfied in my mind, neither can I pronounce a failing score.
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It is quite plausible that Mike Pence did it knowing perfectly well that Trump would know it was by him, but he is literally unsackable - not only can the POTUS not remove the VP without congressional approval, but it would be a fatal blow to the Presidency.
Also, one thing is clear - whoever wrote it has a crap-ton of influence, power and support - arguably considerably more so than a President that commands zero respect, even (and so may say especially) within his own party. Who is better placed to tell the President that there are limits to what he can do?
That said, Pence's comments about it make it pretty clear it wasn't him.
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What if Pence did it because he knows that Trump can't sack him, but also knows that Trump is a little prone to retaliatory rage and might well try if and when he finds out that it was Pence?
Trump tries to fire Pence (or do something else similarly stupid), Trump gets booted out, all rise for President Pence. Check and mate.
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But if it was him then you could say "but he would say that, wouldn't he?".
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Trump wants this to be investigated because its a breach of national security?
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/09/07/...anne-conway-national-security-oped/index.html
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/09/07/...anne-conway-national-security-oped/index.html
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- Johnnypenso
It could be but that's not what it says in the link you provided.
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Sorry used the wrong word again I should have said Breach in national security.
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Doesn't say that either. Says the person suspected of writing the letter might work in national security as in not in the White House or not on his direct staff.
Joey D
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This actually concerns me more:
Not all government officials need to be loyal to the president. That's what separates a government like the US's from say North Korea, where unquestioned loyalty is required or else you "disappear".
It's like no one who gets in front of a camera or microphone that works in the White House thinks before they speak.
I'm not sure if this will be investigated, but if it is, Trump or anyone else can't really do anything about it. Trying to silence them is a violation of the First Amendment since the government can't silence people.
I am sure glad that all the issues in the country are taking care of those so people can complain about an op-ed and how Nike paid a football man to sell shoes. Nevermind international trade is still goofed up, there's still a real possibility of war with Iran or North Korea, and the US spending is still dangerously out of control.
CNN
Not all government officials need to be loyal to the president. That's what separates a government like the US's from say North Korea, where unquestioned loyalty is required or else you "disappear".
It's like no one who gets in front of a camera or microphone that works in the White House thinks before they speak.
I'm not sure if this will be investigated, but if it is, Trump or anyone else can't really do anything about it. Trying to silence them is a violation of the First Amendment since the government can't silence people.
I am sure glad that all the issues in the country are taking care of those so people can complain about an op-ed and how Nike paid a football man to sell shoes. Nevermind international trade is still goofed up, there's still a real possibility of war with Iran or North Korea, and the US spending is still dangerously out of control.
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President Donald Trump believes the author of an anonymous op-ed criticizing his leadership and detailing a "resistance" within his administration is "somebody in national security," Kellyanne Conway said on Friday.
Trump said he would like to see the Justice Department investigate and uncover the author of the op-ed, even though he has yet to identify a crime that has been committed.
Dont have your glasses on right?
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/09/07/politics/donald-trump-jeff-sessions-investigation/index.html
edit: added another link
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- TexRex72
Trump tweeted that NYT should turn over the op-ed author in the interest of national security, but the piece to which you linked doesn't address that. The linked piece says that Kellyanne Conway said that Trump said he thinks the author of the op-ed might work in the national security branch rather than in the White House.
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"Somebody in national security" =/= breach in national security. It means they work in national security, not that they've breached it.
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- TexRex72
Do yourself and everyone observing this discussion a favor and re-read what I posted a couple minutes ago.
Joey D
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Got it. Still incorrect though. The article you linked does not contain the words "breach national security" or any derivation of it.
Fire them obviously. You can't have someone actively subverting your agenda working in your administration. One can only imagine the hysteria that would have occurred in the mainstream media had a conservative posted the same anonymous letter from within a Clinton administration.
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"What if it was Oba--"
Hang on...
*replaces "Obama" with "Clinton"*
...
Same tune, different key.
Joey D
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It'd be hard to prove though. For all we know someone at the NYT could have made the whole thing up. It wouldn't be the first time a journalist did that for the paper either.
It just seems weird that any effort would be paid to this at all. If Trump we smart, he'd ignore the criticism and focus on more important things going on in the country. Or just deal with the matter internally instead of blabbing about it on Twitter. Whoever wrote it accomplished exactly what they wanted, they got under Trump's skin.
Although, I still think it's Pence because I firmly believe the two hate one another. Either that or it was Clinton, because her and Trump are still in cahoots.
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Pretty obviously the purpose was to get under Trump's skin but it remains to be seen if this can titillate any longer than the usual 24-48 hours of any "news" story. If they are found and fired the MSM will go ballistic for 24 hours and then on to Cardi B or Trump's latest tweet. If they aren't found and go silent it'll just be forgotten. The most intriguing story will be if it turns into an ongoing stream of letters. The NYT got a lot of attention for this and it's a way for them to come back to relevance in the MSM and drive the clicks and views. It's far too enticing to just be a one and done. I'd actually like to see that for a variety of reasons and I personally think that's the way it's going to go. Not hard to bait someone that is easily baitable though. Happens around here too
