As we watch the turmoil that is the Trump regime, fear descent into authoritarianism, and mobilize/execute resistance to these anti-Democratic fascist forces in charge of the US government, Steve Bannon is a clear nexus and strategist for the disaster not ‘unfolding’ in this nation (and around the world) but being created and driven from the Oval Office.
On the front page right now is White supremacist Steve Bannon, now on National Security Council, running Trump's immigration policy. As per the headline, this diary lays out a sad reality: that Bannon is a puppet master (alongside or for Putin?) driving much in the White House and that we now have a (neo)Nazi (enabler) with a seat in the National Security Council. Critical to highlight — but seemingly missed in many discussions like that diary — are a number of truly critical issues and implications.
This diary derived from a comment to that post and to comments that seem to be ridiculing Bannon, which might be tempting but highly dangerous. In considering (some of the) comments & the diary, the following thoughts:
Bannon is DANGEROUS
We should never pretend that Bannon is not brilliant: brilliant in service of evil and destructiveness, but brilliant. He is — without exaggeration — one of the most dangerous people on the planet right now.
In a normal world, NSC restructuring would be story #1
The restructuring of the National Security Council — should be a banner headline issue around the world. The NSC is a critical institution in the United States and plays a key role in a wide range of US government decision-making that can have (without any exaggeration) life/death implications for millions of people. Missed — by far too many— is a key point: the GOP screamed (generally BS) about ‘politicization of national security’ yet here we have a political operative given a permanent seat on the NSC while the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Director of National Intelligence are to be invited in participants.
Where is former Secretary of Defense Gates today?
The Russia connection
Also not discussed, we have at least two members of the NSC now (putting aside Trump) who should be under active investigation for their links to a foreign power: Bannon and Flynn. And, they are in an even stronger position to undermine or stop any possible continuation of investigation into this from/by the intelligence agencies.
Alternative Facts with seats at the table
Bannon is not just a political flack nor are Bannon/Flynn possibly (likely?) in some form of (near)traitorous relationship with a foreign power (or powers), they both are purveyors of #AlternativeTruth feeding a POTUS who might not be lying but who simple doesn’t have a handle on reality (other than whatever/however he defines it). Removed from the table are two positions/people who have to deal in reality, to comprehend facts, replaced by two who see facts as malleable to fit agenda(s) as/when they see fit.
And, that is the relatively benign #alternativefact world, go into the (neo)Nazi discussions and it is even more depressingly ugly. Of course, by the way, this is quite possibly setting up the stage for imposing martial law and — essentially — the declaration of the end of American Democracy.
Tearing down institutions?
Bannon has been explicit about wanting to tear down the nation and its institutions.
We have, as the closest person to the President, someone who sees the best world path forward to follow Lenin in tearing everything down. That should scare us all. [Note: My original academic training and passion was Russian/Soviet history & affairs: that the key counselor to the man sitting in the Oval Office (especially one suffering from NPD) views what happened in the Soviet Union from Lenin tearing it all down as some form of positive role model to follow isn’t ‘scary’ but outright terrifying in its implications.]
Bannon is Public Enemy #1
Bannon should be target #1. He isn’t an easy target, but this seems the right path forward:
And, here is someone doing and framing this extremely well:
As Sarah Kendzior puts it:
Trump is just [Bannon’s] Celebrity Apprentice.
That meme is exactly the sort of message to get under Donald Trump’s skin, to upset his apple cart of unending ego and insecurity and narcissism, and to potential spark a strong Trump reaction against Bannon.
The 2020 election cycle is well under way
One of President Obama’s signature failings was/is a belief in a differentiation between ‘campaigning’ and ‘governing seasons’ (last heard, by me, from him in a December interview). The GOP and Team Trump are under no such illusions.
Thus, every single action by Team Trump should be seen within the context of yet another unprecedented: even as Trump looked out at the largest inauguration crowd in history [note any sarcasm …?], he filed for the 2020 election.
Read that thread for a window on some implications of this, including opening the door for Bannon to direct US government legal resources for going after any non-profit which criticizes Trump by name since he is a ‘candidate’ and active engagement in politics is illegal for non-profits.
We are still in a bubble
While likely most of the world and most Americans saw protests at airports as defending innocent people and Constitutional rights, that is not what Trump devotees (and Pepe-ists) saw and shared. It is painful (on multiple levels) to delve into the #alternativefact world of the Trump base, yet it is critical to do this to have a window on the delusions that they are suffering (and potentially derive lessons on how to crack them). (I am trying to spend at least a few minutes per day doing this.) Thus while you, I, we either went out to airports or watched fellow citizens flock to airports to protest for/help people harmed by Bannon/Trump, there are things like this:
Bannon knows what he is doing
While much of the public discussion about Trump’s first week seems to be about ‘chaos’ and ‘incompetence’ and similar terms suggesting ineptness and inexperience on a learning curve (though they will get better at doing the disastrous, let’s not lose sight of the probable (which most commentators seem to be missing): Bannon knows what he is doing:
Which takes back to what might be the simple truth: Steve Bannon is Public Enemy #1.