Blast #181

                                               March Hares & April Fools
                                                                              That Was The MONTH That Was

                       T.S. Eliot famously wrote “April is the cruelest month” as the first line to The Wasteland in 1922.  In 2017, the Trump Administration might well write, “March is the cruelest month,” since it has been a bruising 31 days for the nascent presidency.  In case you missed it, here’s a quick rundown.

     * March 1 – The House Intelligence Committee opens its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 American presidential campaign.  * The Justice Department announces that Attorney General Jeffrey Beauregard Sessions met with Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak in September --- contrary to his statements at his Senate confirmation hearing! (perjury from the AG?)
 

• March 2 – The White House confirms that Jared Kushner met with Ambassador Kislyak, along with Michael Flynn during the campaign.

 

• March 4 – Trump tweets that his campaign was “wiretapped” by the Obama Administration.

 

• March 9 – Six states join a suit against the Trump “travel ban”

 

• March 10 – The President calls on 46 U.S. Attorneys (including NYC’s Preet Bhrara) to resign.

 

• March 15 – House Intelligence Committee Chair Devin Nunes declares there is “no evidence” to substantiate Trump’s claim that Obama wiretapped the Republican campaign.

• March 16 – Sean Spicer announces FoxNews’s Andrew Napolitano stated that the British General Communications General Headquarters (GCHQ) conducted espionage against the Trump campaign for the Obama Administration! 

 

• March 17 – British GCHQ totally denies the FoxNews claim!

 

• March 20 – FBI Director James Comey tells the House Intelligence Committee that the Trump campaign has been under investigation since JULY for collusion with Russia and there is no evidence that the Obama Administration surveilled the campaign.  Also, the Senate Confirmation hearing for Judge Neil Gorsuch begins.

 

• March 21 – Devin Nunes, Republican Chair of the House Intelligence Committee secretly visits the White House.

 

• March 22 – Nunes holds a "press conference" announcing some “evidence” was brought to his attention that lends credence to Trump’s “Obama surveillance” claim but will not reveal his sources (leakers).

 

• March 23 – House Speaker Paul Ryan postpones the “repeal and replace” ACA (Obamacare) vote until Friday, July 24th.

 

• March 24th – The ACA vote is “postponed indefinitely” after Ryan confers with Trump.  Huge black eye for Trump and Ryan.  Trump attacks Republican "Freedom Caucus" members on Twitter.

 

• March 26 – South Carolina Senator Lindsay Graham declares Devin Nunes has conducted an “Inspector Clouseau investigation," producing no evidence that Obama surveilled Trump.

 

• March 27 – Trump creates the "White House Office of American Innovation” (“an economic SWAT team”) headed by his son-in-law, Jared Kushner.  Attorney General Jeffrey Beauregard Sessions announces that Federal government funds will be withheld from “sanctuary cities.”

 

• March 28 – Executive Order 13783 essentially abolishes the Clean Power Plan instituted by the Obama Administration.

 

• March 29 – Federal Judge Derrick Watson (Hawai’i) orders an “indefinite injunction” against the travel ban.  The White House announces that Ivanka Trump will be an “unpaid Federal employee” in the West Wing.

 

• March 30 – Michael Flynn seeks immunity from the FBI.  The New York Times reports that two White House employees, Ethan Cohen-Watnick and Michael Ellis (a Michael Flynn stooge) provided Devin Nunes with his “evidence” of Obama surveillance of Trump.  Sean Spicer, who has been decrying “leakers” now says we should focus on the “substance” not the process (“leaking!”) of the information.

 

• March 31 – Trump tweets that the Russian investigation is a “witch hunt” and Michael Flynn should seek immunity.

 
And, if all that wasn’t enough for you, consider these stories that may have slipped under your radar.

• The North Carolina “bathroom ban” repeal --- although watered down, it is a step in the right direction for transgender civil rights.

 

• EPA Secretary Scott Pruitt lied during his confirmation hearing about --- you have to love this --- using a private email account to conduct business as the Attorney General of Oklahoma.  A Senate investigation and an Oklahoma Bar investigation are under way!

 

• There may have been a record number of civilian casualties in Iraq as a result of U.S. bombing raids --- from the President who promised to “kill the families” of “terrorists.”

 

• The massive public protests in Russia that, in the past, would have drawn comment (and support) from the U.S. State Department received no comment from the Trump State Department.

 

• And, speaking of the State Department: where’s Rex?  The Secretary of State held numerous meetings during the month (though not with any nations “of consequence” beyond a phone call to Japan’s Abe) and, again, held no press conferences.  Where’s Waldo?   Where’s Rex?

 
So, That Was The MONTH That Was.  We’re not even to Trump's Day 75 and “some people are saying” DJT may be thinking about resigning.  Of course, the advent of “I’m a Christian, a Conservative, and a Republican, in that order” Pence would be nothing to look forward to.  As Oliver Hardy used to say to Stan Laurel, “Here’s another nice mess you’ve gotten me into.” Can’t wait to see what lies ahead.   Paul Simon wrote, “April come she will.”   Indeed.
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                      Enjoy the Final Four!  Go ‘Heels.