The political establishments Russian collusion delusion/caption
Supposed Russian interference" is the Democrats morning-after poison pill for the results of the 2016 election. From November 9 onward this narrative has been intended to undermine Donald Trump and hamstring his Make America Great Again" agenda.
Unfairly the liberal MSM has rabidly embraced wild-eyed supposition based upon unsubstantiated innuendo. Its underlying purpose is a face-saving measure to distract from the complete repudiation of progressives eight years of failures. This effort also had the immediate benefit of painting responsibility-phobic Hillaryand her Democratic fellowsas victims of an international conspiracy".
Given this contrivance one is reminded of Mrs. Clintons outrageous January 27 1988 claim of a vast right wing conspiracy" against her presidential hubby for his adulterous affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Then as now a pattern of pure fiction spun as a distraction for Clintonian misdeeds. Specifically during the last election cycle what of Hillarys less than truthful answers; her highly suspect decisions related to her Server-gate scandal; her influence-peddling Charity-gate dealings; her obvious deficiencies as a politician?
Unfortunately the entrenched Washington establishment has used this political smoke and mirrors as a feeble excuse not to pass meaningful legislation. That means both parties. On one hand Democrats take up wasted space in Congress filling the air with anti-Trump rhetoric. On the other Republicans sit on their hands ignoring their languishing seven-year pledge to repeal and replace ObamaCare. These dysfunctions epitomize the swamp" President Trump is working mightily to drain.
Ah the idle political classtypified by poster boy Paul Ryan (R-WI). He stated on May 17 2017 It is obvious there are some people out there who want to harm the president. As he acknowledges this is the case why not put a stop to months of nebulous fruitless inquiries? With no evidenceand no end in sightwhy do GOP enablers facilitate a huge distraction from the successful agenda the president ran on? Is it political cover for their own fecklessness?
For historical context recall Mr. Ryans acceptance speech as House Speaker on October 29 2015:
But lets be frank: The House is broken. We are not solving problems. We are adding to them. And I am not interested in laying blame. We are not settling scores. We are wiping the slate clean. Neither the members nor the people are satisfied with how things are going. We need to make some changes starting with how the House does business."
Doe-eyed Ryan promised a fresh start" but delivered more gridlock. Conciliatory lip service notwithstanding what of his results? Likewise what of his Senate counterpart Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)? Both seem to have an innate aversion to taking the political heat leadership requires. In large part this ire comes from collectively intractable Democrats. Yet where is their consensus building within GOPs ranks? Given the rejection of the status quo articulated by the last election cyclewhy hasnt either man forcefully defended the president? Why havent they told Congressional Democrats to stow their obstructionist carping? As a touchstone why wasnt the ObamaCare repeal bill ready for President Trumps signature on day one: January 20 2017?
After all the Republicans ran against the healthcare debacle for years. Precisely as establishment Democrats Congressional RINOs played politics to gain legislative majorities. Now after six months of a new administration and GOP dominance in Congress what do Ryan and McConnell have to show for it? The American Healthcare Act (AHCA) barely passed the House 217-213 and may not pass in the Senate. Hows that for snatching failure out of the jaws of victory? Indeed if McConnells minions dont coalesce behind the presidents policies forthwith they will be swamped" by Democrats eager to replace them in 2018.
Its not the Trump campaign that needs attention here but Hillary Clinton herself. Specifically as then Secretary of State she rubber stamped the Uranium One deal" in which 20 of U.S. domestic uranium production was ceded to Kremlin control. In exchange the now defunct Clinton Foundation received four donations totaling $2.35 million. A real Soviet windfall! If thats not blatant enough Bill Clinton also received $500000 for a Moscow speech from a Russian investment bank with government ties promoting Uranium One stock. So who has Russian ties and likely colluded? Thats clear to anyone not subscribing to the Democrats dishonest red scare". A politically expedient bogeyman spawned by do-nothing Republicans and corrupt liberals wishful thinking.
David L. Hunter is an Associate Editor at Capitol Hill Outsider. Hes on Twitter and blogs at davidlhunter.blogspot.com. He is published in The Washington Post The Washington Times FrontPage Mag and extensively in Patriot Post Canada Free Press and American Thinker.