Symphony

Encore of Revival: America, November 13, 2017

The vote swing in this week's "off-year" election is not a referendum on Trump, but a referendum on a divided Republican party. The victories came largely from a state that twice elected Obama. The party will succeed in elections as much as it succeeds in unity. Disowning Trump has now proven that it only helps Democrats, which makes all the sense in the world.

Trump has every reason to continue to allow Mueller's investigation. There doesn't seem to be any dirt on Trump to find, Mueller keeps losing credibility, and Anti-Trumpists are well-distracted by the distant hope that Mueller might find something to warrant impeachment. While the Mueller drama continues, Trump can get legislation through Congress, many Anti-Trumpists are too tired to notice, and the press doesn't have any ink left to report on it. That's not to mention that the stronger the fruitless scrutiny, the stronger it makes Trump look, not to mention a 25% boom in stocks since Hillary conceded. If Mueller is part of a conspiracy, it almost seems that his "conspiracy" would be to help Trump. That's what he is accomplishing, anyway.

Christians are getting even more guns. They are doing it legally and they are arming to the teeth. The Texas Church Massacre has opened many eyes to the vulnerability of certain traditions. "Conceal carry" seems to be a favored answer. Everyone is hardening their stance, the country is polarizing, and, thanks to social media, everyone's political opinion is on record. This year, the country is getting some of the strongest—and most helpful—looks in the mirror we've gotten for a long while.

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Symphony

Encore of Revival: America, August 21, 2017

Popularity collided with reality. The departure of Peter Strzok from Mueller's investigative team comes in the wake of revelations that Russianewsgategate is "nonsense". Strzok wasn't wet behind the ears; he knows counter intel. An experienced investigator doesn't leave a team for no reason. With the financial-legal load of people being investigated and the widespread opinion that Mueller had stepped way beyond scope, Mueller and his team could be looking at being investigated for investigating a "known nothing".

It takes two to fight. There are always heroes, cowards, and hate mongers on every side. Not everyone in Charlottesville, VA wanted violence. Many wanted to peacefully make their point. But, ideologies don't always lead where their supporters intend. Trump said as much and condemned everyone who contributed to violence in Charlottesville. But, that didn't fit the pre-scribed "who to condemn before seeing evidence" playscript of populism and "looking cool" tactics of business leaders. So, the big money CEO council Trump put together condemned Trump's remarks about the riot and resigned from giving the country business advice.

Their resignations, and Trump's disbanding the group likely due to their resignations, are out of place. It's a business advisory committee, not a counter-riot think tank. If IBM and General Electric know so much about riots, they should have provided a privatized solution, if nothing other than research. But, they didn't. They were simply trying to look good by throwing people under the bus at the right moment. Many companies, including NBC and Macy's tried similar tactics, which consistently backfired.

The resignation-instigated dissolution of that business advisory council carries two implications: 1. They will no-longer have voice, much like North Korea cutting off relations, which only hurts itself. 2. Business leaders aren't political experts and should stick to their purpose, no matter how tempting it is to parrot populist mantra. Both of these two reasons will come back to haunt these very companies because their comments were a departure from the mission of their businesses and the task of their council. By commenting off topic, they were the ones who lost.

Republicans in Congress, also, seem to be unwilling to publicly defend Trump, merely because the timing makes it "not cool". It is interesting that corporate leadership, political leadership, and FBI investigation leadership disbanded after their teams had gotten off task. The country is in a "mission-statement" crisis and the establishment is hammering itself in the foot over and over again with playbook grandstanding. Sooner or later, unnecessary appendixes of the establishment will do themselves in, most likely for the better.

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