Cross Town Thoughts
Follow the money. Mueller will subpoena Trump’s tax returns. They may well reveal shady dealings. Loans from Russian banks? Deutsche Bank can’t be the only source of funding. Donnie Jr. already admitted as much. And. Kushner comes from a sleazy clan with a history of crossing legal and ethical lines. So. Here we go.
Pence has lawyered up. He must have been witness to compromising discussions of at least obstruction. He’ll have to tell the truth. Or resign. Next in line. President Paul Ryan.
House of Cards is back. Yay! Since we last left President Frank Underwood there has been a real election. And somebody even worse than Frank has won. Or does he make even The Donald look good? Does Claire? We’ll see. Ready for a binge-fest.
What would be a House of Trump fantasy plot? The Cabinet which consists of generales and consiglieres resigns after Melissa McCarthy announces at her press briefing that Trump is declaring war on Germans who still look like “nah-zees”. Mattis & McMaster mount a military coup. They deport the Donald to Russia to build concrete condos for Putin & Co. Pence joins Church of Scientology and Karen goes missing. The Donald’s current and former wives whose names end in the letter “A” create a pink pussy hat coven. Don Jr. & Eric retreat to a big-game hunt in Africa and are eaten by hyenas. Jared & Ivanka hightail it to Southeast Asia to make cheap shoes. Tiffany heads to law school after she puts covfefe in Barron’s Cocoa Puffs.
FBI-Ex Director Jim Comey thought Hillary was going to win. So revealed Anthony Weiner’s server investigation to save his skin. Just covering his ass. But. Hillary did not win. And Comey’s now potentially complicit in a Trump presidency.
How does Jimmy Comey right that wrong? He needs to take Donny Trump down. It becomes too easy. Donny keeps calling Jimmy. Jimmy could say no no I can’t take the call. No no I won’t have dinner with you. Instead he says yes. Keeps Donny talking. Then writes everything down. Laying the trap for obstruction of justice. Devious.
– Washington Post somewhat agrees.
Trump is off the rails. As usual. Petulant Adolescent President. Tweeting breathless threats. No change there. Comey’s firing has set the mainstream media’s hair up in smoke. Dems talking impeachment. Russia obsession cranked into hyperdrive. So. Let’s say Trump blows himself up. Resigns. Gets run out of D.C. What then? 3 + years of Pence. A saner yet far right-wing regime. Would that be an improvement? We may find out.
Kind of like the odds of hitting a hole-in-one on the island green. Sergio?!
An endplay, in bridge and similar games, is a tactical ploy where a defender is put on lead at a strategic moment. Cue Rod Rosenstein confirmation as the deputy attorney general who will oversee the Russia investigation. Trump seemingly on defense has now taken the helm. First act. Fire FBI Director, James Comey. Discredits him on that front and creates doubt about ending Hillary’s email investigation. Could backfire. Demand for special prosecutor got louder.
Brilliant? Or. Cynical? We’ll see. Hot summer ahead.
Soap opera awards. Daytime Emmys. Didn’t even realize they were yesterday. Who won? Who cares? There’s more drama in real life morning television. Just a few blocks from here, Kelly announced new co-host Ryan Seacrest as Megyn Kelly threatens to compete against her Live!. Or. Kathie Lee might become her Today rival time-slot. Just as Ripa’s jilter-in-chief Michael Strahan’s new gig GMA gets the nod for best morning show. And. Seacrest just oversaw Megyn Kelly’s interview with his production company’s Kardashian clan. Can a soap beat that?
While all of this was unfolding, GMA‘s nemesis CBS This Morning was making headlines live from the White House as Diva-in-Chief kicked Dickerson out for asking about Obama.
Oh and the big eyuuu. Morning Joe‘s Mika & Joe are off on “vacation”. Together. After an on-air dust-up. Yup. No need to watch fiction any more. Outside by 10am.
On one side of the big top, Gorsuch patiently endures as Senators pontificate. Then when it’s his turn he decides to lean back to hug his wife. What?! Over on the other end of the tent, Sean Spicer looks ready to hurl the podium in Melissa McCarthy style as reporters laugh at his lame attempt to tap dance. In the center ring, master Comey is in full control. He reveals an investigation into Trump world’s possible collusion with Russia to tilt the campaign.
Will the whole show go the way of Ringling Brothers?
Bi-partisan comedy shows. Rachel Maddow. Judge Napolitano. Very little comity to go around. Colleen columnist Peggy Noonan calls for reaching across the aisle in today’s WSJ. It’d be a nice change. From farcical hyperbole to creative cooperation. Green beer and shamrocks notwithstanding. Won’t happen.
What’s funnier than Carol Colitti Levine celebrating St. Patrick’s Day?! Irish eyes are smiling, Mom!
Unprecedented resistance march on Central Park West. He’s Not My President’s Day rally from 59th to 67th. Even Northamptonites were there. A young kid yelled, “look it’s Steve Bannon!” Ha. It’s going to be a long four years. Fun to watch the throngs gather. 
Better to walk just down the hill to Tavern on the Green’s outdoor garden for a private protest on a sunny warm February afternoon.
Who is in charge? Nikki Haley gives a strong anti-Russia speech at the U.N. Secretary of Defense off to Japan. Secretary of State takes the helm. They all make their own cases in direct opposition to the President’s. Senators call ambassadors to smooth over commander-in-chief’s nasty phone calls to foreign leaders. Generals crash press briefings with macho proclamations to Iran. Trump whisperers lurking in the White House behind curtains all over the place. Nope. Even Frank Underwood couldn’t make this up.
Side Trek . NYC 