Trump Wags The Dog, Media Chases

So, this morning the top news story on the morning shows was the CBO score on the life- threatening Senate TrumpCare bill... haha no!

The Top News was a statement put out by the White (Supremacist) House asserting that Syria's Assad was about to use chemical weapons on his people and the U.S. would respond harshly should that happen, news that caught U.S. military officials off guard (hmmm, curious). No further information or background was forthcoming, leaving us to wonder if this was a "wag the dog" effort to distract from the aforementioned damning CBO analysis of the latest TrumpCare shit sandwich (spoiler alert: we think so!).

(To be clear, we have no doubt whatsoever that the Assad regime would be capable and willing to pull off this kind of a war crime -- again. It's just that the circumstances have the smell of a decomposing rat.)

We recall the last time the regime of nitwit Donald "Rump" Trump used military force in Syria was in early April, about a week after the Russiagate investigation was heating up with the offer of former NSA advisor Michael Flynn to testify in exchange for immunity. You'll also recall several puerile commentators lost their credibility forever by praising Rump for the April 6 cruise missile strike ("he became president last night") and gawking at the cruise missiles being launched. That's just what the Rump regime intended for the media to portray, of course, and they largely got it from them, because there's nothing like a little boom- boom to get these armchair chin strokers excited. (The morning print media may not have had time to react today -- at least the print and on- line versions of the Washington Post are not taking the bait so far.)

This time, it would appear the diversion was to get the CBO score off the tee- vee for a few precious hours, while making Rump look tough vs. the Syrians and their Russian patrons. A win- win for them. Call us cynical, but from the looks of this morning's shows, it looks like the diversion worked.

BONUS:  Steve M. covers the coverup in the wingnut media (so we don't have to).

You Got That Right!

Unlike our puerile media, guess who wasn't impressed by Giant Toddler Donald "Rump" Trump's cruise missile strike on empty fortified hangars in Syria:

With President Xi Jinping safely out of the United States and no longer President Trump’s guest, China’s state-run media on Saturday was free to denounce the missile strike on Syria, which the American president told Mr. Xi about while they were finishing dinner. 

Xinhua, the state news agency, on Saturday called the strike the act of a weakened politician who needed to flex his muscles. In an analysis, Xinhua also said Mr. Trump had ordered the strike to distance himself from Syria’s backers in Moscow, to overcome accusations that he was “pro-Russia.”

Ouch! And he thought he made such a good impression. Let's all hope when Rump finds out about this he doesn't start lobbing Tomahawk missiles into Beijing.

Profiles in Expediency

Hat tip to Daily Kos for uncovering this convenient flip-flop by Staten Island Rethuglican Rep. Michael "Prospects Are" Grimm:

Today, I decided to withdraw my support from President Obama’s proposal for a military strike against Syria. I have heard from many of you in Staten Island and Brooklyn, and it is clear to me that their is strong opposition to the strike. As your voice in Washington, I will continue to listen and take a stand for you.

Will you stand with me in opposing President Obama’s plan with a donation of $25 or more right now?  (our emphasis)

Apparently, after taking the temperature of his district, Rep. Grimm did the only honorable thing... and decided to make a buck off his flip-flop. It's giants like him that are running the nut factory otherwise known as Congress.

It's also why we can't have nice things in this country.

(Photo:  Rep. Michael Grimm:  "Can you send me some moneez to oppose President Obama, whom I supported yesterday?  Pleeze?")

Massacre

Lest we forget, here's what Ahmadinejad's and Putin's BFF Bashar al-Assad is up to in Syria.

(Photo: Reuters)

On Pratfalls and Fumbles

Today's editorial in the New York Times, "The Real Fumble in Damascus," properly frames the real issue concerning Speaker Pelosi's trip to Syria: that the Bush Assministration's refusal to have discussions with Syria over a range of issues is what is truly "unproductive." It contrasts with Thursday's opinion on the neocon editorial page of the Washington Post ("Pratfall in Damascus") that mocked the Speaker's efforts. Key quote in the Times' editorial:

"Such Congressional visits can serve the useful purpose of spurring a much needed examination of the administration's failed policies."

AMEN.