By Jane Mayer
"The Danger of President Pence" (click here)
Trump’s critics yearn for his exit. But Mike Pence, the corporate right’s inside man, poses his own risks....
In my travels on the way home today, I was listening to NPR. I hadn't read the article yet. I was far too busy this trip collecting the information of a delayed autumn. But, this time I wanted to drive awhile to get closer to home.
October 18, 2017
Host: Terry Gross
This is FRESH AIR. (click here) I'm Terry Gross. Many of President Trump's critics are hoping he won't serve his full term, but what kind of president would Mike Pence make? That's one of the questions Jane Mayer sets out to answer in her new article about Pence titled "The President Pence Delusion." It's published in the current issue of The New Yorker....
The interview by Gross of Mayer was lengthy, but, the more Ms. Mayer spoke the more intrigued I became. I have always considered Mike Pence a poor legislator from his time in the US House and I thought the Vice Presidency fits him somehow. Considering he would never be elected Governor again, I thought it a smart move.
For Pence, lawyering never seemed to pay as well as a place in government. Possibly in more ways than one. But, let me not imply corruption, so much as, permitted corruption in campaign donations that can be used for other things, like paying for lawyers and housing (including personal housing - hurry and pay off the mortgage if possible) during a campaign.
But, all corruption aside and not as a distraction; as Mayer spoke and Gross asked I realized Pence was sinking the Trump Tea Party agenda. But, why?
Why? Because Pence has always been in the Koch's back pocket. But, how is it the Koch's could back all these political PACS that demanded changes by Trump's administration while being sabotaged by their very financier?
27 July 2017
By Jacob Pramuk
Republican leaders working on tax reform say they have set aside the controversial border adjustment provision. (click here)
OMG, the very tax, which is really a tariff, Donald Trump promised his loyal voters he would pass as soon as in office was defeated. He believed the tax/tariff was to create competition in the American marketplace to ensure American jobs. It had failed to pass. Like, what the heck?
Pence. Pence lobbied for the Kochs in Congress to defeat "The Border Adjustment Tax." But, why would Pence go against the PACs that elected him? They were Koch PACS, so what was this all about?
China. The Kochs have significant family members running a large business in China. If Trump was successful in passing "The Border Adjustment Tax" it would challenge the Koch's Chinese empire and could cause a loss of customers in the USA. Kochs still practiced cheap labor in China rather than building a Chinese Middle Class.
So, there it was right in front of me. Ms. Mayer going on about all things Pence and then the picture cleared. The Kochs could have control of everything. They obviously controlled political PACs that won elections; stacking the vote in the US House and possibly a Senator or two. And when it came to the legislation actually passed, the Kochs had control via Pence who had no re-election issues in House districts.
The Tea Party was stabbed in the back by the very family money they need to survive and thrive. For the Kochs, it doesn't matter who wins an election so long as they are controlled when the time comes to vote.
So, you see. The GOP isn't running the country. Trump isn't running the country. The Kochs are running the country, compliments of a hostile Robert's court that calls political speech the most valuable speech. For the Kochs, that has never been truer.
Poor, Trump. He has no friends. There is a growing disapproval by the USA in general, there is disdain in Congress for him, his cabinet might be growing in skepticism in his ability to lead and now it would seem his Vice President is Delilah to Trump's Sampson. And to add to the betrayal are The Kochs; another private set of billionaires that do not compete with Trump in their business and that is even more interesting. The Koch Tail wagging the Trump Dog.
Indeed.
