‘… more serious for the country (and the rest of the world) is the realization that America is now led by someone who wants only yes-men around him, and wants his closest circle to be a circle of sycophants first…’
IN a recent tiangge-like event at the Oval Office, #47 trotted out new red baseball caps (possibly made in China) with a new message in front: “Trump was right about everything.”
I watched that clip with deep delight as it reflected the leadership at one end of Pennsylvania Ave. and showed the world how best to get into the good graces of the second most powerful man in the United States today. It also revealed – to me at least – how his political critics have always been right about the man who was #45 and is not #47.
The only sad part is that some of his critics – particularly those from within the Republican Party – lost their cojones along the way and “bent the knee,” all in the pursuit of political survival.
In some respects, who can blame them? Of what use is being right if you’re out of power? At least, even if you have to sell your soul to the Devil, you’ll still bask in the glory of his power, as Marco Rubio has obviously chosen to do.
But what’s most revealing to me about that clip (which shows an unsmiling Robert F. Kennedy Jr. standing stiffly behind his president) was not so much what was on the caps, or that #47 tried to gift newsmen covering him with them. What’s most revealing was the refrain that one gentleman standing behind #47 kept repeating over and over again, and one refrain or mantra that I hope they take seriously in the US Government for the next three plus years.
Listen to the clip, and you’ll hear the gentleman with a mustache repeatedly say, “Always say yes to the President.”
Always say yes to the President.
That refrain reflects the ego in the White House today, one that dwarfs the well-known egos of Richard Nixon and Lyndon Johnson combined. These two gentlemen had huge ones; Nixon’s mixed in with a lot of paranoia.
It is reflective of the warnings that political opponents from within the Republican party had constantly warned – if you don’t kiss the ring, you’re (politically) dead.
And that’s serious. But more serious for the country (and the rest of the world) is the realization that America is now led by someone who wants only yes-men around him, and wants his closest circle to be a circle of sycophants first, and always.
This is exciting. Because it will either lead to America flourishing – or America’s downfall. Now, if all the books and histories of presidential leadership that I’ve read are correct, then it will be more of the latter than the former.
And this will be good for history as it will usher in a new world order that finally shifts the center of power away from North America towards Asia. It’s our time!
So yes, America – always say yes to the President. If that’s the leadership you want, then so be it.
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(Mabuhay PAL. I was a passenger on PR 2786 (PPS to Manila) last Saturday. In the cockpit were two female pilots: Captain Michaella Gay Biron and First Officer Joanna Aniban. They were assisted by an efficient cabin crew led by Michelle Barrientos, Camille Puzon, Justine Dorado and Cyrille Guinto, arriving ahead of schedule.! I look forward to flying with more of PAL’s female pilots soon!)
