Think about it. For days we’ve been hearing about Trump’s ‘Deal” with Iran, in actually a MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) but Team Trump fought like hell to keep it under wraps. Until Friday which I contend not at all coincidently happens to be the day the Obama Presidential Center will formally open. Yep, out petulant orange hued manbaby with the tissue paper thin ego just can’t stand the idea that another President might get a meaningful amount of attention.
It’s not like this is Trumpty’s first trotting out his “LOOK AT MEEEEE” schtick. In fact, when it comes to Obama and Trump’s feelings of inadequacy on about everything when comparisons are made Trump taking a dump on the opening of Obama’s Presidential Center (Library) was entirely predictable. In any case word has been that the MOU with Iran is pretty much Iran winning and Trump LOSING. Not one of the objectives he laid out when he started the whole mess has been attained. Given the leaks that have been springing in Trump’s White House today a copy of the ‘deal’ was finally read.
Not distributed mind you, but read. Am I crazy to suggest Trump literally doesn’t get how easy it is to create a transcript? And that news outlets would publish it? Because as you can see here exactly that was done within an hour or so. I was out of commission much of the day but after getting back from the VA checked out some of the coverage. Sure enough Trump is getting ripped even harder than he was before the big reveal of what’s in the MOU.
There’s an awful lot to take him to task for and of course he’s got Netanyahu/Israel freaking out. None of us should be surprised that since part of the MOU involves the U.S. slapping Israel down in Lebanon ole Bibi will launch the biggest and most appalling attacks the IDF can put together by tomorrow. Not that Trump would actually care all that much. It’s not like he’s not taking criticism, if not ridicule for not even achieving what the Obama administration (and key allies) did with the agreement Trump tore up. And some of the farce has already been pointed out because there are points that were literally part of what Trump claimed in his first term made it a bad deal!
However I want to return to the point. As the final work on the Obama Presidential Center wrapped up and plans for a grand opening were made Trump has obsessed on stealing the spotlight for himself. Add in that in recent weeks he’s had to admit to himself he needed a way OUT of his stupid Iran war. As many a politician and pundit has said a way to ‘Declare Victory and move on.’ Coming up with his bigly ‘deal’ that’s really a cease fire and a set of points ‘to be negotiated’ is the best he could hope for. He could have done it weeks ago. I believe he realized he had no choice, but held off until this week specifically to turn attention away from the opening/dedication of the Obama Presidential Center!
Some like the main ‘Presidential Library’ building and some don’t. What’s undeniable is this is way more than a mere Presidential Library with perhaps some special landscaping and a grand, perhaps garish exhibit like the 747 at Reagan’s.  The more I’m learning about what’s there the more impressed I am. Here’s a link to the official website for the place.
There is of course the actual main library in which all the records are fully digitized. Some have criticized that the actual physical copies will be stored/maintained elsewhere but I think it’s incredible to have everything digitized. So will academics/researchers and scholars not to mention anyone (including regular folks like you and me) who want to initiate a FOIA request. However, that won’t be the only library on the campus (which was incorporated into historic Jackson Park) as there will be a second, regular library. A branch of the Chicago Public Library. There will be a building for forums and classes. There will be a recreation center. There will be a restaurant and it seems one that’s affordable for those not at leader at the upper middle class income level. The open spaces will have a children’s play area. A garden. Another area for families that will include a sledding hill – this is Chicago after all! A water feature. Other open space where people can gather.
The point is that it will be a place that offers a lot to a lot of people and groups beyond researchers and scholars. The whole concept is to have a vibrant, multi use space, one that regular people can enjoy. The kind of people Trump wouldn’t give the time of day to even if he had a crate full of alarm clocks. Or cheap-ass RUMP (yep, the manufacturer sent a batch out that said Rump instead of Trump!) watches. Barack and Michelle Obama wanted something that would be about more than them and their time in the WH. That type of thinking OFFENDS Trump so he found an excuse to keep it out of the spotlight.
However the Obama Center will be there long after Trump is gone and when not forgotten cursed. Even by conservatives. Even though I’m agnostic I enjoy the thought of Satan popping in on Trump not just to savor the agony but adding some. Like “Hey Donnie. Check out these videos and selfies I took during my visit to Earth yesterday. That Obama Center is quite the place with all those people enjoying themselves. Oh, here’s a t-shirt I got for you at one of the shops.” The sound of Satan’s laughter at Trump’s whining and tears would be lovely to hear…
Friends, I know everyone begs you for money. I promise, among all those asking for spare change, we are the smallest and the hardest working. We’re a group of old, disabled people, except for one writer in his mid-50s. The rest of us are in our sixties and seventies, and this is a labor of love. All we’re asking for is the chance to keep telling the truth about Trump and help ensure democracy survives. If you can help, please do. Thank you. Ursula
