Yesterday, a senior Trump administration official published an anonymous Op-Ed in the New York Times titled: I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration.
“I work for the president but like-minded colleagues and I have vowed to thwart parts of his agenda and his worst inclinations,” the article begins.
The Op-Ed is prefaced with this note:
The Times today is taking the rare step of publishing an anonymous Op-Ed essay. We have done so at the request of the author, a senior official in the Trump administration whose identity is known to us and whose job would be jeopardized by its disclosure. We believe publishing this essay anonymously is the only way to deliver an important perspective to our readers. We invite you to submit a question about the essay or our vetting process here.
Here are a few select excerpts from the piece (which can be read in its entirety here).
From the opening:
President Trump is facing a test to his presidency unlike any faced by a modern American leader.
It’s not just that the special counsel looms large. Or that the country is bitterly divided over Mr. Trump’s leadership. Or even that his party might well lose the House to an opposition hellbent on his downfall.
The dilemma — which he does not fully grasp — is that many of the senior officials in his own administration are working diligently from within to frustrate parts of his agenda and his worst inclinations.
I would know. I am one of them.
The writer goes on to say that this “resistance” is not the same as that of the Left. He/she claims that they want Trump’s administration to succeed…
But we believe our first duty is to this country, and the president continues to act in a manner that is detrimental to the health of our republic.
That is why many Trump appointees have vowed to do what we can to preserve our democratic institutions while thwarting Mr. Trump’s more misguided impulses until he is out of office.
Then, the Op-Ed’s author goes on to say that at the root of the problem is “the president’s amorality”:
Anyone who works with him knows he is not moored to any discernible first principles that guide his decision making.
Although he was elected as a Republican, the president shows little affinity for ideals long espoused by conservatives: free minds, free markets and free people. At best, he has invoked these ideals in scripted settings. At worst, he has attacked them outright.
In addition to his mass-marketing of the notion that the press is the “enemy of the people,” President Trump’s impulses are generally anti-trade and anti-democratic.
Trump’s leadership style is “impetuous, adversarial, petty and ineffective,” according to the piece:
From the White House to executive branch departments and agencies, senior officials will privately admit their daily disbelief at the commander in chief’s comments and actions. Most are working to insulate their operations from his whims.
Meetings with him veer off topic and off the rails, he engages in repetitive rants, and his impulsiveness results in half-baked, ill-informed and occasionally reckless decisions that have to be walked back.
“There is literally no telling whether he might change his mind from one minute to the next,” a top official complained to me recently, exasperated by an Oval Office meeting at which the president flip-flopped on a major policy decision he’d made only a week earlier.
Russia is mentioned, of course:
On Russia, for instance, the president was reluctant to expel so many of Mr. Putin’s spies as punishment for the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain. He complained for weeks about senior staff members letting him get boxed into further confrontation with Russia, and he expressed frustration that the United States continued to impose sanctions on the country for its malign behavior. But his national security team knew better — such actions had to be taken, to hold Moscow accountable.
This isn’t the work of the so-called deep state. It’s the work of the steady state.
It appears that the Leftist resistance isn’t the only one that likes the idea of Trump being removed from office:
Given the instability many witnessed, there were early whispers within the cabinet of invoking the 25th Amendment, which would start a complex process for removing the president. But no one wanted to precipitate a constitutional crisis. So we will do what we can to steer the administration in the right direction until — one way or another — it’s over.
The bigger concern is not what Mr. Trump has done to the presidency but rather what we as a nation have allowed him to do to us. We have sunk low with him and allowed our discourse to be stripped of civility.
So, who wrote this Op-Ed? There’s a lot of speculation about that. Some believe the author is none other than Vice President Mike Pence, in part because of the use of the word “lodestar” in the piece:
We may no longer have Senator McCain. But we will always have his example — a lodestar for restoring honor to public life and our national dialogue. Mr. Trump may fear such honorable men, but we should revere them.
Indeed, “lodestar” is an unusual word – one that Pence uses often:
Here's Pence saying #Lodestar eight times, going back to 2001. I'm just saying! pic.twitter.com/oWWtngCgpK
— Tommy Christopher (@tommyxtopher) September 6, 2018
It is possible that the Op-Ed’s author is not Pence and used the word intentionally to make the VP a suspect.
Jarrod Agen, Director of Communications for Vice President Mike Pence, said that his boss did not pen the Op-Ed:
The Vice President puts his name on his Op-Eds. The @nytimes should be ashamed and so should the person who wrote the false, illogical, and gutless op-ed. Our office is above such amateur acts.
— Jarrod Agen (@VPComDir) September 6, 2018
Others have suggested the use of another phrase hints that Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen is the author:
Don’t get me wrong. There are bright spots that the near-ceaseless negative coverage of the administration fails to capture: effective deregulation, historic tax reform, a more robust military and more.
Nielsen has used the phrase “Don’t get me wrong” in more than one instance.
We may never know who wrote the piece, and perhaps guessing is futile, as Dara Lind suggests in an article for Vox:
We don’t know how many rounds of edits Times editors went through with the op-ed author, and anyone who’s been edited can tell you that after even a moderate edit the prose doesn’t necessarily read “like you.”
The term ‘senior official” is pretty elastic; the term “Trump administration” is even more so. It could refer to someone in the White House or at any of the executive-branch agencies.
CNN has posted a list of possible authors. The list includes:
- Don McGahn, White House counsel
- Dan Coats, Director of National Intelligence
- Kellyanne Conway
- John Kelly
- Kirstjen Nielsen
- Jeff Sessions (this actually makes a LOT of sense, considering the tension between him and Trump)
- James Mattis
- Fiona Hill (a Russian expert who joined the Trump administration from the Brookings Institution)
- Mike Pence
- Nikki Haley
- “Javanka” – Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump
- Melania Trump
This morning, Zero Hedge reported that “Mike Pence is the bookies’ favorite named insider to be the ‘gutless’ wretch who wrote the ‘reckless’ anonymous NYTimes op-ed from inside the ‘resistance’ with 2-to-3 odds according to MyBookie website.”
“What tipped us off was ‘lodestar,’'”MyBookie head oddsmaker David Strauss said of Pence.
“When you search members of the administration (who have used that word) only one name comes up – and that name is Mike Pence. He’s used in multiple speeches this year.”
“Hours after MyBookie posted numbers, Canada-based Bovada issued its own Trump-leak odds and listed embattled AG Sessions as its favorite at 5-to-2,” writes Zero Hedge.
Not one to remain silent – especially when facing criticism – Trump posted the following Tweet yesterday afternoon:
TREASON?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 5, 2018
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) told CNN (the credibility of both Graham and CNN are questionable, I know, but Graham appears to be correct here) that the Op-Ed is NOT treason:
Lindsey Graham just responded to Trump's treason tweet on CNN: "This is not treason under the Constitution."
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) September 5, 2018
Of course, the “treason” Tweet was not the only one Trump posted about the Op-Ed:
The Failing New York Times! pic.twitter.com/SHsXvYKpBf
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 5, 2018
Does the so-called “Senior Administration Official” really exist, or is it just the Failing New York Times with another phony source? If the GUTLESS anonymous person does indeed exist, the Times must, for National Security purposes, turn him/her over to government at once!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 5, 2018
I’m draining the Swamp, and the Swamp is trying to fight back. Don’t worry, we will win!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 6, 2018
The Deep State and the Left, and their vehicle, the Fake News Media, are going Crazy – & they don’t know what to do. The Economy is booming like never before, Jobs are at Historic Highs, soon TWO Supreme Court Justices & maybe Declassification to find Additional Corruption. Wow!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 6, 2018
Meanwhile, Glenn Greenwald – the Pulitzer Prize winning co-founder of The Intercept, called the author of the Op-Ed a “coward” whose ideological issues “voters didn’t ratify.”
The irony in the op-ed from the NYT's anonymous WH coward is glaring and massive: s/he accuses Trump of being "anti-democratic" while boasting of membership in an unelected cabal that covertly imposes their own ideology with zero democratic accountability, mandate or transparency
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) September 5, 2018
Who do YOU think wrote the Op-Ed?
$10 says this is a complete and utter fabrication made up by the liberal pukes at the NYT.
Warning: ALL Traitors will be Shot.
All Trump has to do is Deputize his supporters, You and I, aka: American Loving Patriots, given full immunity, and we can clean house in a few months. The Great Culling needs to happen. Just give us the word Pres Trump. Ready–> Aim–> Fire–>!!
TharSheBlows, make a list and check it twice for naughty and nice !
Spot on Stuart !!! This is classic psyops by the Deep State seeking to confuse, undermine, and create suspicion to spread discord in the Administration.
A red tsunami in November will crush the “resistance” once & for all. 🙁
Everyone should watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKGdLSVYLWQ
It raises many questions. 🙂
durangokidd, interesting clip. Notice who was standing in the middle? Mr. “They” himself, Henry Kissinger. It’s amazing how much he shows up.
Yes but no one was talking to him because ….. he talks so slow. 🙂
durangokidd, no doubt there is no blue wave. That false narrative and nearly every poll is just another psyop ! Consider who creates the polls and narratives ? They were all completely wrong last time as well for the same exact reasons. It is all bullshit on steroids by PRAVDA/MSM and the DEM/DSA.
Completely agree… they can print anything they want …just more to confuse, destroy, lie, slander…. and the JYT prints it…hmmmmm.
Stuart, no bet from me because anybody that is stupid enough to believe this is a fool. It is obviously just another NYT/WAPO psyop written by one of the CIA paid shills of the DEM/DSA !
The DEMS are clearly desperate with this junk piece as they just got caught with the Lanny Davis/Cohen fiasco and nobody seems to notice ? They are simply throwing shit at the wall hoping anything sticks ! Utter fucking nonsense that is sooooooo obvious.
Also clear they have ramped up every possible false narrative they can think of as a deterrent, because they know the FISA docs are coming out any day and it will expose many more crimes and give names, dates and agencies. Bottom line, they are caught and desperate. Obama even proved it with his recent pathetic speech where only 900 people showed up in LA, lefty capital of the world ! They all know they are caught.
I have written articles about CIA paying supposed journalist as well how FB, Google ,Twitter and even Amazon were given seed money by CIA and all manner of special assistance from the DEM/DSA ! It is all verified and completely accurate. anybody that believes anything from the DEM/DSA is completely brain dead
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-09-09/heres-criticism-jeff-bezos-and-amazon-actually-deserve
http://www.downtoearththinking.com/our-government-created-google-and-facebook-.html
I would sure as hell not want to be an ally of this country. We are so totally screwed
Definition of the word ‘treachery’ = Willful betrayal of fidelity, confidence, or trust.
Definition of the word ‘traitor’ = One who betrays one’s country, a cause, or a trust.
Maybe Trump is not especially man of great character, but I do not think treachery is better.
rrrr, depends on what you call character and ethics
the man who never was. Its a total fake designed to sow mistrust in the White House. The allies did this in WWII creating a fake officer with faked papers on his body to fool the Germans. Same thing here a great huge hoax to grab headlines and to give the left talking points created out of thin air
I won’t take that bet.
Given recent developments in FUSA, it takes a lot to shock me.
I’m shocked that people take an anonymous op-ed from the NYSlimes seriously.
I think this totally has Jeff Sessions written all over it considering he has done absolutely nothing to thwart Mueller’s totally farce of an investigation of the so called Russian Collusion. In fact Sessions has done nothing to earn his salary as US Attorney General at all. I say oust him along with a few others.
Norrak, It wasn’t Sessions but he will be gone very soon any way. Maybe before the midterms ?
My own opinion is that it very well may be a foreign country and not within the white house. Cause more destabilization in the country as well as within the Republican party just before the elections. A total breakdown of the administration, with everyone blaming everyone else. Will we have a complete purge of the administration over this and total disfunction of our government? How soon will we see the implications on the campaign trail that the Republicans are loosing control and must be voted out?
Trump is a organized crime planted spokesperson obviously because the entire federal government is organized crime no matter who occupies the office of president. His present goal to install the far rightwing anti people rights Supreme Court justice Kavanaugh is music to the ears of corporatists who will further reduce the people’s majority voice for decades. How far will these criminals go to subvert justice? Replace Trump for what? Just the latest banker globalist warmongering puppet on a string. Drain the swamp, laugh my ass off. The American people will believe any lie if it is repeated often enough.
Well aljamo, hopefully you will realize your ignorance when you hit 6th grade.
aljamo, I agree with every word.
aljamo and Anonymous, pathetic stupid.
You are about to get a serious schooling !
Trump is a GREAT President, perhaps the GREATEST ever. And his enemies, enemies of the people as well as the President, are beside themselves because, Trump is actually leading this Country to SUCCESS; much to the dismay of those who hate the USA and it’s people.
_
Yep. All you have to do is look at the timing of this oped. Just before the mid terms. Someone is trying to influence the elections. I see this being used to denounce the GOP and push for their removal.
The question is, how many will buy into this anti Trump push by the liberals?
I’m thinking it will be quite effective and destroy enough of Trump’s support for the Democrats and Leftists to regain control of Congress and get rid of him. Too many of those who bitch and grouse about the establishment deep state government won’t even bother to vote, much less offer any other resistance to the Left.
We’ll know in November, a matter of only weeks away.
Way too many will.
Anonymous, absurd comment and thesis!
You are buying into the desperation being projected.
Fake News.
“Fooled em again didn’t we Josie?”
“I reckon so.”
Soros is doing his bit to sow a lack of confidence in the election…among others. Doesn’t matter who the Repubs had put in there was going to be resistance. The dems were supposed to win and are having a tantrum to get it back. the public sees it…
Anyone not completely bamboozled by the media and possessing even a rudimentary grasp of the English language knows that Juan McCain was one of the most manipulative, mendacious, dishonorable, self serving people to have ever worn the uniform of a US Naval Officer or to have sat in the US Congress. When the author holds McCain up as a man of honor I can say this is written by an individual or entity with which I have nothing at all in common.
PlainOldAmerican, completely agree !
Hey “Resistance” If Trump is taken out of office by you turds playing games you had better lock and load, because you will start Civil War 2.
To all my friends AIM SMALL MISS SMALL!
Sgt.
Kavanaugh allows the potential repeal of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision so the leftists are bringing out everything and the kitchen sink to protect their essential child sacrifice to Baal.
More dirt follows. I’m waiting for the NYPD cops to finally release what was called “insurance” on the Weiner Abedin laptop. It’s going to come out. Will that be when the 2nd Civil War is declared?
Based on reports to reliable sources, those cops and some FBI were so horrified and were vomiting after seeing the evidence which allegedly is monsterous.
probably child torture and murder
Maranatha, excellent comment, all true and yes it will come out after then FISA docs are released unclassified any day now !
The FISA docs are now being reviewed at WH for the fake security issues and they are coming out ! This will be a game changer in many ways and Sessions and Rosenstein will both be fired and prosecutions will follow. And that so just the beginning.
I cannot wait to see the vice peddling pussy grabbing Orange Satan IMPEACHED, just so I can watch the dumbed down, obese, toxic dump, drunken bum Trumpbot cowards running to the booze and hiding out on the golf course, where ALL Trumpbot Satan Pedophile worshipping American COWARD little boys hide out while they get drunk and DEPRESS the FACT they whored out their children’s health, freedoms, and future to Satanic Pedophile PSYCHOPATHS they worship as Gods from the inner pits of the bowels of hell in Washington DC.
Ron Ahrens, you just described the left and completely exposed yourself as a target ! HA HA HA
Everybody knows that both sides are full of members of the shadow government and who runs the shadow government well at this stage it is the AC’s mother.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50F9906QzII
Stupid fucks! Even if the demorats gain the house and file impeachment against the president it will fail. THERE HAS TO BE A REASON THAT IS IMPEACHABLE! So far there is nothing but panty wetting crybaby crap out of demorat mouths. So all of this is a load of crap to fool people that are too stupid to see through it. GO Mr. Trump!
ronna, Spot on , but they are not gonna win anything, but another ass whoopin !
Interesting
@MightyCassandra
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Replying to @Torian_Girl
Or duped by a USC student, which is my theory. I ran the “essay” through http://Turnitin.com . It popped as a 100% match to a USC student essay, turned in w/out citation-making it an original essay-sept 5-overachiever! Archived & submitted to the repository w/in minutes of NYT
Stuart, Sweet assessment !
I smell bullshit.
Stand firm Men , God will win in the end . Maintain the moral high ground and you have nothing to fear . Godspeed true Patriots . Matthew 5:9
Does anyone think the revelations contained in the letter are peculiar? Sure, its publication is very new. But only a Disney Baby would not know that Presidents have been manipulated by “staff” (CIA) in this fashion since forever. Duh.