For those who feared that Trump's actions were part of a big oil conspiracy, we now see he simply weaves policies and actions based on grandiose notions fabricated from his unexamined and preposterously constructed belief system.
Relieving on one hand that Trump is not supported by a corporate cabal that offers muscle to flesh in his dictatorial over reaches, but terrifying on the other hand that we have a child in the basement playing with C-4 explosives.
The veneer of Trump's power and authority is wearing very thin both domestically and internationally. The absurd vacuousness of his policies, coupled with his lawlessness and abject cruelty of his actions are not sustainable.
A tide of discontent is developing and hopefully will explode into a tsunami of outrage, demanding correction. We enter an fateful but unstable period testing whether the will and stridency of the American People can successfully extinguish the toxic poisoning of our nation by this opportunistic Trump regime malignancy.
It sure would have been nice if the oil CEOs would have whispered in Trumps one good ear that "Venezuela was uninvestable" before his and Hegseth's rampage against Venezuela.
I’m waiting for a conclusive expert diagnosis of Trump’s personality disorder, which is manifest. A big clue is his pronouncement that nothing can or will constrain him other than his own “morality” and “mind”.
His “morality” is “I want, I take” - sociopathic and predatory. No surprises there.
His “mind” seems locked in notions he formed a half century+ ago, further influenced by those who pump up his penchant for dominance through Big Lies, lawlessness, vengeance, hate and violence and a more recent god complex.
The global extractors destroying our planet for oil and minerals have apparently convinced him we need to take over regional territories that have them. But details matter, and Trump doesn’t process details, such as Venezuelan heavy crude oil and instability are not attractive to American oil companies.
Whatever the most accurate diagnosis or descriptors, Trump acts with unchecked power because his MAGA enablers in the administration, Congress, courts, media, foreign governments, private institutions and the public allow him to. Evil and insanity thrive on the complicity of others. Every spoken and written truth and strategic act of resistance matters.
Thank you, Mary, for your commentary on the very public and fully deserved embarrassment of Trump in his meeting with oil executives. While reading about it was refreshing in a way, it immediately made me wonder what sort of vengeance Trump would wreck on these executives.
I also wonder how much more chaos it's going to take before the Republicans who continue support Trump's every utterance acknowledge that he must be removed, if not for the good of the country then for their own political survival.
Very good commentary today. I commented on FB (same article) and reposted. Mary, your description of Trump rising from his seat and looking at the rubble once the East Wing is metaphorical: Ready, Shoot, Aim. As usual, the Trump fantasies crash hard into reality. Paul Krugman noted the recovery costs and refinement for Venezuelan is around $80/bbl, compared to a historical average of $62/bbl. Trump’s $50/bbl is egregious math.
Trump’s foreign policy is feckless, reckless, and dangerous. Sadly for us, even if we reversed or, ousted, Trump the damage remains. The US for the future has become an unstable partner. Without serious reform and substantive action to return to rule based order, we are not trustworthy.
I like our four year system with eight year term limits. But, if you pair this with our current polarization, to the world we look increasingly like too high of a risk to partner with. We indeed, have our work cut out for us.
A radioactive President and a gift not appreciated...
When was the last time you saw a top oil executive decline a new market for oil?
It is just a hunch, but I believe ExxonMobil would prefer to fly a little more under the radar. The whole world is awake right now. Everyone is talking. Even little Slovenia that you richly pointed out. This is terribly bad branding and the world is taking notice.
Oh, and BTW, Venezuela is a founding member of OPEC. You don't think those ExxonMobil executives got a call from the Saudis, do you?
Well since Trump has referred to his "own morality" as his only guide, I think we need to focus on that morality in essays... starting from his childhood.
Please point out exactly where in the hour and a half video described in this article you see these moments of schadenfreude. The notion that Trump “lost the room” seems basically untrue. I just watched the whole video. This is a beautifully written piece as always and I understand it’s supposed to be “encouraging.” By the way, I want to be proven wrong here. I want the oil executives to offer Trump a hard no. So please tell me what I missed in this video. Thank you.
I was amused when I saw reports that, in the context of hinting at more donations to his ballroom, trump told the oil companies that the US would "guarantee" investments. Corporate counsel must have had a belly laugh. A guarantee is a promise that the treasury would fork over money. No president can make that promise without the Congress approving it, which I rather doubt even this one would. The promise isn't worth the air it's blathered with.
For those who feared that Trump's actions were part of a big oil conspiracy, we now see he simply weaves policies and actions based on grandiose notions fabricated from his unexamined and preposterously constructed belief system.
Relieving on one hand that Trump is not supported by a corporate cabal that offers muscle to flesh in his dictatorial over reaches, but terrifying on the other hand that we have a child in the basement playing with C-4 explosives.
The veneer of Trump's power and authority is wearing very thin both domestically and internationally. The absurd vacuousness of his policies, coupled with his lawlessness and abject cruelty of his actions are not sustainable.
A tide of discontent is developing and hopefully will explode into a tsunami of outrage, demanding correction. We enter an fateful but unstable period testing whether the will and stridency of the American People can successfully extinguish the toxic poisoning of our nation by this opportunistic Trump regime malignancy.
It sure would have been nice if the oil CEOs would have whispered in Trumps one good ear that "Venezuela was uninvestable" before his and Hegseth's rampage against Venezuela.
I’m waiting for a conclusive expert diagnosis of Trump’s personality disorder, which is manifest. A big clue is his pronouncement that nothing can or will constrain him other than his own “morality” and “mind”.
His “morality” is “I want, I take” - sociopathic and predatory. No surprises there.
His “mind” seems locked in notions he formed a half century+ ago, further influenced by those who pump up his penchant for dominance through Big Lies, lawlessness, vengeance, hate and violence and a more recent god complex.
The global extractors destroying our planet for oil and minerals have apparently convinced him we need to take over regional territories that have them. But details matter, and Trump doesn’t process details, such as Venezuelan heavy crude oil and instability are not attractive to American oil companies.
Whatever the most accurate diagnosis or descriptors, Trump acts with unchecked power because his MAGA enablers in the administration, Congress, courts, media, foreign governments, private institutions and the public allow him to. Evil and insanity thrive on the complicity of others. Every spoken and written truth and strategic act of resistance matters.
Thank you, Mary, for your commentary on the very public and fully deserved embarrassment of Trump in his meeting with oil executives. While reading about it was refreshing in a way, it immediately made me wonder what sort of vengeance Trump would wreck on these executives.
I also wonder how much more chaos it's going to take before the Republicans who continue support Trump's every utterance acknowledge that he must be removed, if not for the good of the country then for their own political survival.
Very good commentary today. I commented on FB (same article) and reposted. Mary, your description of Trump rising from his seat and looking at the rubble once the East Wing is metaphorical: Ready, Shoot, Aim. As usual, the Trump fantasies crash hard into reality. Paul Krugman noted the recovery costs and refinement for Venezuelan is around $80/bbl, compared to a historical average of $62/bbl. Trump’s $50/bbl is egregious math.
Trump’s foreign policy is feckless, reckless, and dangerous. Sadly for us, even if we reversed or, ousted, Trump the damage remains. The US for the future has become an unstable partner. Without serious reform and substantive action to return to rule based order, we are not trustworthy.
I like our four year system with eight year term limits. But, if you pair this with our current polarization, to the world we look increasingly like too high of a risk to partner with. We indeed, have our work cut out for us.
A radioactive President and a gift not appreciated...
When was the last time you saw a top oil executive decline a new market for oil?
It is just a hunch, but I believe ExxonMobil would prefer to fly a little more under the radar. The whole world is awake right now. Everyone is talking. Even little Slovenia that you richly pointed out. This is terribly bad branding and the world is taking notice.
Oh, and BTW, Venezuela is a founding member of OPEC. You don't think those ExxonMobil executives got a call from the Saudis, do you?
Well since Trump has referred to his "own morality" as his only guide, I think we need to focus on that morality in essays... starting from his childhood.
Please point out exactly where in the hour and a half video described in this article you see these moments of schadenfreude. The notion that Trump “lost the room” seems basically untrue. I just watched the whole video. This is a beautifully written piece as always and I understand it’s supposed to be “encouraging.” By the way, I want to be proven wrong here. I want the oil executives to offer Trump a hard no. So please tell me what I missed in this video. Thank you.
I was amused when I saw reports that, in the context of hinting at more donations to his ballroom, trump told the oil companies that the US would "guarantee" investments. Corporate counsel must have had a belly laugh. A guarantee is a promise that the treasury would fork over money. No president can make that promise without the Congress approving it, which I rather doubt even this one would. The promise isn't worth the air it's blathered with.