The Wall Street Journal has been treating Trump like an old farmer firing rock-salt at trespassers. Now they’ve given him a double-barreled blast in his butt. Best of all the “rock-salt” in their load is one of Trump’s favorite things – TARIFFS!
It seems the WSJ Editorial Board is convinced Trumpty’s recent outburst of frustration with his pal “Pootie” was sort of a one-time thing. That nothing has really changed between the two and objectively looking at that little rant they’ve got a point. Trump’s riff started with him complaining about Putin but ended with him also taking a shot at Zelensky! I suppose it’s news in the sense Trump lost his cool enough to publicly criticize ole Vlad, but not really newsworthy. Policy itself hasn’t changed and the Kremlin’s characterization of Trump having gotten ’emotional’ seems spot on.
Ukraine was invaded by a murderous Russian dictator who’s dreamed of restoring the old USSR ever since it fell. Never, EVER forget that. Ukraine is the linchpin to that. It’s a big country with smart, hardworking people (albeit people who mostly hate all things Russia down to their DNA) with vast tracts of farmland and plenty of natural resources. Putin lusts after Ukraine the way Trump used to (or maybe still does) lust over his oldest daughter Ivanka. The only way this war ends is with Russian forces driven back within their own borders, and Russia so devastated by their losses in troops and money that new, saner leadership takes over.
There’s not a snowball’s chance in hell Trump would ever consider throwing the full weight of his administration into the kind of effort his predecessor wholeheartedly backed. Why Trump is so in thrall to Putin is a lengthy subject I won’t discuss here. All that matters is that a recent mild tantrum notwithstanding Trump isn’t about to cross Putin!
So as this article from HuffPost tells us the WSJ Editorial Board (which in turn means Rupert Murdoch and his vast media empire) is calling on Congress to step up and DO what Trump WON’T. They set up their recommendation noting how Trump and his people see themselves as ‘steely’ eyed tough guys when they are actually only ‘starry-eyed idealists’ who think Putin will do Trump a solid. They go on to take Trump to task for allowing Putin to drag out his invasion. Their “enough” solution is startling:
It called on GOP lawmakers to push a bipartisan bill ― co-sponsored by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and signed by dozens of colleagues ― to slap 500% tariffs on products imported into the U.S. from countries that buy Russian oil and gas.
“Energy sales are Mr. Putin’s financial lifeline” and sanctions may change his “calculations about the price of war,” it said. Senate Republicans “can act whether or not Mr. Trump approves” and force Trump to “face the hard reality” of Putin’s ambitions, the board concluded.
Wow. A five hundred percent tariff targeting Russia? Don’t get me wrong, I love the very idea of this being debated in the Senate with even some Republicans being in favor of crippling Putin once and for all. Can you imagine how spectacularly Trump would melt down? Of course, given Trump’s hold on the GOP the situation he faced in his first year of his first term isn’t the same. Congress overwhelmingly voted sanctions on Russia and it was clear if Trumpty vetoed the bill they’d override it. So he grudgingly signed it.
I doubt that would be the case if Congress took the lead and passed a sanctions bill of this magnitude. Hell, I’m not sure even the House would pass it. Or that it would even come up for a vote. If Trump tells Moses Mikey Johnson NO then that will kill the whole thing. Still, it would change the dynamic. Given how our stature in the world is sliding it might cause our allies to at least make plans that still let us sit at the ‘adult’s table.’
Well, as I said Trump loves tariffs. However this is NOT one he’ll love, or even like one little bit. It will be interesting to see his reaction to this so stay tuned.
***From Ursula*** Zoomers, if you’re able to contribute in any way, we could use help. I’ve been ill and recuperating from a brief hospitalization. Times are tough for political commentary to begin with, and that’s been the case since November 5. Half the country is in a major depression. But we need to keep on keeping on. This too shall pass and there will be a brighter, post-Trump day if we work for it. Please join us and help if you can. Thank you. Ursula
