President Trump: The Beginning of the End
An unindicted co-conspirator is now the new status of President Trump. Cohen pleads guilty of payments ordered to keep women quiet, to influence the election, by Mr. Trump. Stolen election! His two earlier supporters (Republican) indicted for financial corruption, likewise. Mr. Trump is on his way out! Lies, hush money, and Cohen is talking. If all this is a witch hunt, they have found the witch. Mr. Trump needs to spare America the pain and give up the presidency or be impeached. America has been down this road (Nixon) before. Manafort, Trump, and Cohen the "Trinity" of political corruptions. Elected Republicans are a sad group of people. I am not a Democrat or Republican. I am an observer of reality and a voice of reason. CM
Comments
-
"The Accuser" @C_M_ mouths off again. The devil may as well go on vacation.
The end will come when God says so. Trump is doing fine. Cohen plea bargained and likely made up something to accomplish that (which is why plea bargains are never accepted as legal precedents). The guy may be a coward and a traitor.
What may (or may not) end now is the prevailing swamp-rat politics/justice in Washington enabled by previous administrations. We are making good progress thanks to America's choice, President Trump, and by God's grace and blessing.
I am an observer of reality and a voice of reason
Who are trying to convince?
[This should bring Billium out of the woodwork--unless @C_M_ has some secret message from Bill for us as to why he needs a ghostwriter]
Post edited by GaoLu on -
@C_M_ said:
An unindicted co-conspirator is now the new status of President Trump. Cohen pleads guilty of payments ordered to keep women quiet, to influence the election, by Mr. Trump. Stolen election! His two earlier supporters (Republican) indicted for financial corruption, likewise. Mr. Trump is on his way out! Lies, hush money, and Cohen is talking. If all this is a witch hunt, they have found the witch. Mr. Trump needs to spare America the pain and give up the presidency or be impeached. America has been down this road (Nixon) before. Manafort, Trump, and Cohen the "Trinity" of political corruptions. Elected Republicans are a sad group of people. I am not a Democrat or Republican. I am an observer of reality and a voice of reason. CMYou really are a liberal hack. Cohen and the payment was the least of the charges against him. It wasn't a stolen election. You have zero evidence of that. Besides, you can't really steal an American Presidential election. That's not how it works.
They haven't found anything against Trump. Nothing that has been indicted and/or convicted so far has anything to do with Russia or Trump. This is NOTHING like Nixon. To say so is ignorant and stupid. Hardly political corruption. Look at Obama for that. You hardly are living in reality and I have never heard sound reason come from you with regard to politics.
Idiot.
-
@reformed said:
@C_M_ said: An unindicted co-conspirator is now the new status of President Trump. Cohen pleads guilty of payments ordered to keep women quiet, to influence the election, by Mr. Trump. Stolen election! His two earlier supporters (Republican) indicted for financial corruption, likewise. Mr. Trump is on his way out! Lies, hush money, and Cohen is talking. If all this is a witch hunt, they have found the witch. Mr. Trump needs to spare America the pain and give up the presidency or be impeached. America has been down this road (Nixon) before. Manafort, Trump, and Cohen the "Trinity" of political corruptions. Elected Republicans are a sad group of people. I am not a Democrat or Republican. I am an observer of reality and a voice of reason. CM
You really are a liberal hack. Cohen and the payment was the least of the charges against him. It wasn't a stolen election...Besides, you can't really steal an American Presidential election. That's not how it works.
If Trump didn't pay off (reimbursed) a second Porn "star", days before the election, he would not have won. He stole the election and is an illegitimate American President. Don't dirty yourself for the keeper of the Washington Swamp. Even the Trump Foundation, his daughter, and son-in-law are under a lawsuit by New York State. Republicans want Mr.Trump Out! They are working the plans like a frog in luke-warm boiling water. Haven't you noticed, Republicans read my posts? They know what I am saying is so.
You have zero evidence of that...
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME!
They haven't found anything against Trump. Nothing that has been indicted and/or convicted so far has anything to do with Russia or Trump. This is NOTHING like Nixon. To say so is ignorant and stupid. Hardly political corruption. Look at Obama for that. You hardly are living in reality and I have never heard sound reason come from you with regard to politics.
Idiot.
Is this the way you speak to other Christians, your wife/children, and adults? If yes, you need to more of Christ and consider embracing changes. If not, and if this is just the way talk to me, you being a hypocrite. you're living a double life. You're not the man you profess to be. May I suggest you need re-acquaint yourself with Jesus and consider embracing changes. CM
PS. If you feel justified in calling me the name above, what justifiable name you called Rep. Duncan Hunter of California? He was indicted today for using campaign funds as their personal bank account. You may not know about this yet, so, get up to speed and get back to me. CM
-
@C_M_ said:
@reformed said:
@C_M_ said: An unindicted co-conspirator is now the new status of President Trump. Cohen pleads guilty of payments ordered to keep women quiet, to influence the election, by Mr. Trump. Stolen election! His two earlier supporters (Republican) indicted for financial corruption, likewise. Mr. Trump is on his way out! Lies, hush money, and Cohen is talking. If all this is a witch hunt, they have found the witch. Mr. Trump needs to spare America the pain and give up the presidency or be impeached. America has been down this road (Nixon) before. Manafort, Trump, and Cohen the "Trinity" of political corruptions. Elected Republicans are a sad group of people. I am not a Democrat or Republican. I am an observer of reality and a voice of reason. CM
You really are a liberal hack. Cohen and the payment was the least of the charges against him. It wasn't a stolen election...Besides, you can't really steal an American Presidential election. That's not how it works.
If Trump didn't pay off (reimbursed) a second Porn "star", days before the election, he would not have won. He stole the election and is an illegitimate American President. Don't dirty yourself for the keeper of the Washington Swamp. Even the Trump Foundation, his daughter, and son-in-law are under a lawsuit by New York State. Republicans want Mr.Trump Out! They are working the plans like a frog in luke-warm boiling water. Haven't you noticed, Republicans read my posts? They know what I am saying is so.
\I would laugh at you and what you believe if it wasn't so sad.
You have zero evidence of that...
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME!
They haven't found anything against Trump. Nothing that has been indicted and/or convicted so far has anything to do with Russia or Trump. This is NOTHING like Nixon. To say so is ignorant and stupid. Hardly political corruption. Look at Obama for that. You hardly are living in reality and I have never heard sound reason come from you with regard to politics.
Idiot.
Is this the way you speak to other Christians, your wife/children, and adults? If yes, you need to more of Christ and consider embracing changes. If not, and if this is just the way talk to me, you being a hypocrite. you're living a double life. You're not the man you profess to be. May I suggest you need re-acquaint yourself with Jesus and consider embracing changes. CM
PS. If you feel justified in calling me the name above, what justifiable name you called Rep. Duncan Hunter of California? He was indicted today for using campaign funds as their personal bank account. You may not know about this yet, so, get up to speed and get back to me. CM
We aren't talking about Hunter. He doesn't represent me so I don't care.
-
Another investigation-Trump Foundation. National Inquiry's boss working with Feds.
Trump is going down! The Republicans are closing in on your President, his family, his business, and money. Ttump has to go! CM -
@C_M_ said:
Another investigation-Trump Foundation. National Inquiry's boss working with Feds.
Trump is going down! The Republicans are closing in on your President, his family, his business, and money. Ttump has to go! CMSure ... in the eyes of the world/hegemon enemies of the US American people ...
-
For those interested, a bit of a different view of what's going on in the USA (beware folks, the author is P.C. Roberts who appears to be not liked very much by some or perhaps many)
From the article's introductory remarks:
Update August 23: Mark Penn writing in The Hill points out that Cohen pleaded guilty to campaign violations that were not campaign violations. Moreover, Cohen himself did not make the hush payment to Karen McDougal. He coordinated the payment made by American Media. The hush payments were not made with campaign funds and in no way comprise violation of any law. This false plea by Cohen was apparently made in exchange for light treatment of his apparently very real income tax evasion. In other words, Cohen “composed” to use Alan Dershowitz’s phrase. http://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/402959-cohens-plea-deal-is-prosecutors-attempt-to-set-up-trumpThe Brennan-Rosenstein-Mueller–Comey-Presstitute Witch Hunt
Some more from toward the end of the article:
_The Russiagate “investigation” appears to be timed to influence the midterm elections with unsubstantiated accusations made just before the elections in an attempt to produce a Democratic Congress that would impeach President Trump on false charges. The presstitutes would cover up the frameup. In other words, the real election meddling is being done by the Russiagate “investigation.” _[https://www.americanlibertyreport.com/articles/americans-should-brace-for-mueller-election-meddling/ See also: https://beforeitsnews.com/v3/survival/2018/2704912.html](https://www.americanlibertyreport.com/articles/americans-should-brace-for-mueller-election-meddling/ See also: https://beforeitsnews.com/v3/survival/2018/2704912.html "https://www.americanlibertyreport.com/articles/americans-should-brace-for-mueller-election-meddling/ See also: https://beforeitsnews.com/v3/survival/2018/2704912.html")Such an impeachment would be a coup. The consequence would be deep and permanent divisions in American political life and more rabid Russiaphobia that would result in war.
Post edited by [Deleted User] on -
If Trump has committed a crime he should be as responsible as anyone else. So far, there is nothing.
@Wolfgang
I am not a fan of PC Roberts, but that doesn't really matter here. The statements above seem spot on. Thanks for sharing that. This wording especially resonated with what I am seeing:"In other words, the real election meddling is being done by the Russiagate 'investigation.' "
-
@Wolfgang said:
For those interested, a bit of a different view of what's going on in the USA (beware folks, the author is P.C. Roberts who appears to be not liked very much by some or perhaps many)From the article's introductory remarks:
Update August 23: Mark Penn writing in The Hill points out that Cohen pleaded guilty to campaign violations that were not campaign violations. Moreover, Cohen himself did not make the hush payment to Karen McDougal. He coordinated the payment made by American Media. The hush payments were not made with campaign funds and in no way comprise violation of any law. This false plea by Cohen was apparently made in exchange for light treatment of his apparently very real income tax evasion. In other words, Cohen “composed” to use Alan Dershowitz’s phrase. http://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/402959-cohens-plea-deal-is-prosecutors-attempt-to-set-up-trumpThe Brennan-Rosenstein-Mueller–Comey-Presstitute Witch Hunt
Some more from toward the end of the article:
_The Russiagate “investigation” appears to be timed to influence the midterm elections with unsubstantiated accusations made just before the elections in an attempt to produce a Democratic Congress that would impeach President Trump on false charges. The presstitutes would cover up the frameup. In other words, the real election meddling is being done by the Russiagate “investigation.” _[https://www.americanlibertyreport.com/articles/americans-should-brace-for-mueller-election-meddling/ See also: https://beforeitsnews.com/v3/survival/2018/2704912.html](https://www.americanlibertyreport.com/articles/americans-should-brace-for-mueller-election-meddling/ See also: https://beforeitsnews.com/v3/survival/2018/2704912.html "https://www.americanlibertyreport.com/articles/americans-should-brace-for-mueller-election-meddling/ See also: https://beforeitsnews.com/v3/survival/2018/2704912.html")Such an impeachment would be a coup. The consequence would be deep and permanent divisions in American political life and more rabid Russiaphobia that would result in war.
I meant to mention that earlier about Cohen pleading guilty to crimes that are not crimes. Good catch.
-
@Wolfgang said:
Such an impeachment would be a coup. The consequence would be deep and permanent divisions in American political life and more rabid Russiaphobia that would result in war.
I don't agree with your findings or your conclusions. CM
-
The saga continues ... the current DNC/military-security complex/Clinton clan/ mainstream presstitutes/etc war on Trump is heating up ... elections coming up
Watching America Collapse -
No, it's not the current DNC/military-security complex/Clinton clan/ mainstream presstitutes or the "Russiagate 'investigation". Its dirty deeds of the past are coming to light. Start the clock... CM
-
@Wolfgang said:
The saga continues ... the current DNC/military-security complex/Clinton clan/ mainstream presstitutes/etc war on Trump is heating up ... elections coming up
Watching America CollapsePerhaps PC gives the evil axis too much credit. Too much honor and glory to the devil. God is in control. Really.
By grace, He has given us a season of reprieve through Donald Trump. We should be giving our days and hours over to thanksgiving.
What will American Christians do with this season of God's blessing (frankly I suspect that non-Christians have little to do with it)? I dunno. Look at some of those on the forums. Doesn't look good. But here we have just a few fringe fruitcakes. When I visited America earlier this summer I was greatly impressed by the solid young people and churches yet unblinded. I don't know what God will do with America, but no collapse isn't happening yet.
-
@GaoLu said:
What will American Christians do with this season of God's blessing (frankly I suspect that non-Christians have little to do with it)? I dunno. Look at some of those on the forums. Doesn't look good. But here we have just a few fringe fruitcakes. When I visited America earlier this summer I was greatly impressed by the solid young people and churches yet unblinded. I don't know what God will do with America, but no collapse isn't happening yet.
God is going to teach America to "humble" herself, "seek his face" and "turn from her "wicked ways"...have compassion and return the children! CM
PS. God is inclined to gift America a new President. CM
-
@C_M_ said:
@GaoLu said:
What will American Christians do with this season of God's blessing (frankly I suspect that non-Christians have little to do with it)? I dunno. Look at some of those on the forums. Doesn't look good. But here we have just a few fringe fruitcakes. When I visited America earlier this summer I was greatly impressed by the solid young people and churches yet unblinded. I don't know what God will do with America, but no collapse isn't happening yet.
God is going to teach America to "humble" herself, "seek his face" and "turn from her "wicked ways"...have compassion and return the children! CM
PS. God is inclined to gift America a new President. CM
He already did, Donald J Trump.
-
Here is the heart of America's chosen resident Trump, the leader God has established for our day:
The White House Hosted 100 Evangelical Leaders for a State-Like Dinner: "This Is Spiritual Warfare"
-
@GaoLu said:
Here is the heart of America's chosen resident Trump, the leader God has established for our day:The White House Hosted 100 Evangelical Leaders for a State-Like Dinner: "This Is Spiritual Warfare"
Trump will need all the prayers he can get, after today. He is done. He needs to pray to accept his fate. CM
PS. I believe in strict separation of church and state. This could be a slippery slope.
-
@C_M_ said:
@GaoLu said:
Here is the heart of America's chosen resident Trump, the leader God has established for our day:The White House Hosted 100 Evangelical Leaders for a State-Like Dinner: "This Is Spiritual Warfare"
Trump will need all the prayers he can get, after today. He is done. He needs to pray to accept his fate. CM
Are you a prophet? If so, tell us how God spoke to you. If not you are a false prophet.
PS. I believe in strict separation of church and state. This could be a slippery slope.
I never met a man who claimed to be Christian who connected church and state more than you do--(along with Billium).
-
@GaoLu said:
The White House Hosted 100 Evangelical Leaders for a State-Like Dinner: "This Is Spiritual Warfare"
Trump will need all the prayers he can get, after today. He is done. He needs to pray to accept his fate. CM
Are you a prophet? If so, tell us how God spoke to you. If not you are a false prophet.The Troll will go hungry tonight. Not falling for it here or anywhere. However, we can discuss prophets (biblical, ancient or modern) in another thread, if you start it.
PS. I believe in strict separation of church and state. This could be a slippery slope.
I never met a man who claimed to be Christian who connected church and state more than you do--(along with Billium).
I am talking about the state (US Gov't) appearing to cozy-up to one religion. I would love it to be Christianity, but we don't live in a perfect world.
Besides, a few turns of the pages of religious history reveals some ugly things when the church gets in bed with the state. You know this for yourself. So, let's not repeat history. The time will come again, let's not hasten its day. CM
-
Speaking of church and state Democrat style (see @Big_Snort_'s posts above), here are the true state and colors (in jump-suit orange polyester) of the Liberal's goddess:
https://dailycaller.com/2018/08/27/china-hacked-clinton-server/
-
@C_M_ said:
@GaoLu said:
Here is the heart of America's chosen resident Trump, the leader God has established for our day:The White House Hosted 100 Evangelical Leaders for a State-Like Dinner: "This Is Spiritual Warfare"
Trump will need all the prayers he can get, after today. He is done. He needs to pray to accept his fate. CM
PS. I believe in strict separation of church and state. This could be a slippery slope.
What happened today that would cause you to say that?
-
Interesting thoughts on "Russiagate" and what was recently pulished in a NYT article
-
@Wolfgang said:
Interesting thoughts on "Russiagate" and what was recently pulished in a NYT articleWolfgang,
You don't believe this nonsense yourself. Are you a servant of Vladimir V. Putin and the Kremiln”? Come on, you're too intelligent for this. Trump is a rich old man, with too much power, and in a lot of trouble, with the walls of indictment closing in on him.Enjoy your Chancellor. She has much more of her senses about herself. Count your blessings. CM
-
@C_M_ said:
@Wolfgang said:
Interesting thoughts on "Russiagate" and what was recently pulished in a NYT articleWolfgang,
You don't believe this nonsense yourself. Are you a servant of Vladimir V. Putin and the Kremiln”? Come on, you're too intelligent for this. Trump is a rich old man, with too much power, and in a lot of trouble, with the walls of indictment closing in on him.Enjoy your Chancellor. She has much more of her senses about herself. Count your blessings. CM
What evidence of walls of indictment closing in on him do you have? So far zero evidence has been produced.
-
@C_M_ said:
@Wolfgang said:
Interesting thoughts on "Russiagate" and what was recently pulished in a NYT article
According to the New York Times Putin Rules America
Wolfgang,
You don't believe this nonsense yourself. Are you a servant of Vladimir V. Putin and the Kremiln”?No ... endeavoring to be a servant of God, encouraging others to walk circumspectly and to use their God given abilities to distinguish between truth and error.
Come on, you're too intelligent for this. Trump is a rich old man, with too much power, and in a lot of trouble, with the walls of indictment closing in on him.
See above ...
Enjoy your Chancellor. She has much more of her senses about herself.
See above ...
Count your blessings. CM
I endeavor to do so each day.
-
@Wolfgang said:
No ... endeavoring to be a servant of God, encouraging others to walk circumspectly and to use their God given abilities to distinguish between truth and error.
Wolfgang,
The "truth" is, the American President is in over his head. He needs to either remove himself or be removed. He's a walking disaster. If God put him in office, he's not being obedient to God's commands. The children, 400+ will not be returned. This is unforgivable! Your Ms. Merkel would never do or allow such. CM -
Why talk about "truth" in "..."? Truth is that your claim here is only your claim!
He needs to either remove himself or be removed. He's a walking disaster.
That is your opinion and your claim made on your opinion.
If God put him in office, he's not being obedient to God's commands.
Are presidents of the USA put in office by God?
The children, 400+ will not be returned. This is unforgivable!
What do you know about the future? are you a prophet?
These children are in the predicament in which they are due to the irresponsible doings of their parents who at least in part - so are the indications - tried to (mis)use the USA law of "citizenship granted by birth on USA soil" in order to illegally acquire USA residency and/or citizenship for themselves.Your Ms. Merkel would never do or allow such. CM
You may be correct, seeing that she has allowed far worse illegally by disregarding existing German law as well as EU law ... for which she ought to have been driven from office a few years ago, arrested, put on trial according to a number of esteemed professors of law.
-
- Look around the news feeds or reports outside the USA. America is fast becoming a "by-word" and a "hiss" (See Bible).
He needs to either remove himself or be removed. He's a walking disaster.
That is your opinion and your claim made on your opinion.
- It is, on one hand, and on the other hand, a sad reality in the eyes and experiences of the American people. Like some people, I don't need to eat a whole cow to know that I have eaten beef. "It is, what it is."
If God put him in office, he's not being obedient to God's commands.
Are presidents of the USA put in office by God?
- I said this more in line with GaoLu and Reformed sentiments about Mr. Trump. Allow me to defer this to one of them and then I would give my personal response to this question.
The children, 400+ will not be returned. This is unforgivable!
What do you know about the future? are you a prophet?
- As for the children, 400+ who not be returned, I speak based on the US own reports. They don't have any records. It's doesn't take prophetic abilities to reach a conclusion.
These children are in the predicament in which they are due to the irresponsible doings of their parents who at least in part - so are the indications - tried to (mis)use the USA law of "citizenship granted by birth on USA soil" in order to illegally acquire USA residency and/or citizenship for themselves.
- Maybe a few children, but it's mostly US propaganda. Don't buy the "bill of goods". Many of the parents were lied to and denied asylum or to see an immigration judge. You know how one can be treated coming into America WITH proper documents. Put yourself in the place of just one of those parents, whose child has been taken away. Your heart would be broken and you would cry yourself to sleep each night.
- Besides, who can believe Mr. Trump and his administration in view of the many falsehoods told?
- In addition, these are parents who loved there. They were either seeking safety, work or betterment to provide for the children God gave them. They heed the voices of the "right-to-lifers and anti-abortion groups/institutions; "have your baby", "care for your baby" and what? They did and they are still childless and labeled as unfit parents. America can and should do better. Where is her heart? Where is her shame?
Your Ms. Merkel would never do or allow such. CM
You may be correct, seeing that she has allowed far worse illegally by disregarding existing German law as well as EU law ... for which she ought to have been driven from office a few years ago, arrested, put on trial according to a number of esteemed professors of law.
- If there ever do anything to Ms. Merkel as mentioned, I would be inclined to come to Germany and support her. CM
-
@reformed said:
@C_M_ said:
@Wolfgang said:
Interesting thoughts on "Russiagate" and what was recently pulished in a NYT articleWolfgang,
You don't believe this nonsense yourself. Are you a servant of Vladimir V. Putin and the Kremiln”? Come on, you're too intelligent for this. Trump is a rich old man, with too much power, and in a lot of trouble, with the walls of indictment closing in on him.Enjoy your Chancellor. She has much more of her senses about herself. Count your blessings. CM
What evidence of walls of indictment closing in on him do you have? So far zero evidence has been produced.
@C_M_ still waiting to hear from you on this one...
-
@C_M_ said:
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME!
CD Users,
I told you Republicans read my posts here in CD. Why won't you believe me? Trump is losing it, He has to go! He's no longer useful to his party or America. Since you don't believe me, read now, for yourself from one inside the Trump Administration:I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration
I work for the president but like-minded colleagues and I have vowed to thwart parts of his agenda and his worst inclinations. -- Sept. 5, 2018
The Times today is taking the rare step of publishing an anonymous Op-Ed essay. We have done so at the request of the author, a senior official in the Trump administration whose identity is known to us and whose job would be jeopardized by its disclosure. We believe publishing this essay anonymously is the only way to deliver an important perspective to our readers. We invite you to submit a question about the essay or our vetting process here.
President Trump is facing a test to his presidency unlike any faced by a modern American leader.
It’s not just that the special counsel looms large. Or that the country is bitterly divided over Mr. Trump’s leadership. Or even that his party might well lose the House to an opposition hellbent on his downfall.
The dilemma — which he does not fully grasp — is that many of the senior officials in his own administration are working diligently from within to frustrate parts of his agenda and his worst inclinations.
I would know. I am one of them.
To be clear, ours is not the popular “resistance” of the left. We want the administration to succeed and think that many of its policies have already made America safer and more prosperous.
But we believe our first duty is to this country, and the president continues to act in a manner that is detrimental to the health of our republic.
That is why many Trump appointees have vowed to do what we can to preserve our democratic institutions while thwarting Mr. Trump’s more misguided impulses until he is out of office.
The root of the problem is the president’s amorality. Anyone who works with him knows he is not moored to any discernible first principles that guide his decision making.
Although he was elected as a Republican, the president shows little affinity for ideals long espoused by conservatives: free minds, free markets and free people. At best, he has invoked these ideals in scripted settings. At worst, he has attacked them outright.
In addition to his mass-marketing of the notion that the press is the “enemy of the people,” President Trump’s impulses are generally anti-trade and anti-democratic.
Don’t get me wrong. There are bright spots that the near-ceaseless negative coverage of the administration fails to capture: effective deregulation, historic tax reform, a more robust military and more.
But these successes have come despite — not because of — the president’s leadership style, which is impetuous, adversarial, petty and ineffective.
From the White House to executive branch departments and agencies, senior officials will privately admit their daily disbelief at the commander in chief’s comments and actions. Most are working to insulate their operations from his whims.
Meetings with him veer off topic and off the rails, he engages in repetitive rants, and his impulsiveness results in half-baked, ill-informed and occasionally reckless decisions that have to be walked back.
“There is literally no telling whether he might change his mind from one minute to the next,” a top official complained to me recently, exasperated by an Oval Office meeting at which the president flip-flopped on a major policy decision he’d made only a week earlier.
The erratic behavior would be more concerning if it weren’t for unsung heroes in and around the White House. Some of his aides have been cast as villains by the media. But in private, they have gone to great lengths to keep bad decisions contained to the West Wing, though they are clearly not always successful.
It may be cold comfort in this chaotic era, but Americans should know that there are adults in the room. We fully recognize what is happening. And we are trying to do what’s right even when Donald Trump won’t.
The result is a two-track presidency.
Take foreign policy: In public and in private, President Trump shows a preference for autocrats and dictators, such as President Vladimir Putin of Russia and North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, and displays little genuine appreciation for the ties that bind us to allied, like-minded nations.
Astute observers have noted, though, that the rest of the administration is operating on another track, one where countries like Russia are called out for meddling and punished accordingly, and where allies around the world are engaged as peers rather than ridiculed as rivals.
On Russia, for instance, the president was reluctant to expel so many of Mr. Putin’s spies as punishment for the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain. He complained for weeks about senior staff members letting him get boxed into further confrontation with Russia, and he expressed frustration that the United States continued to impose sanctions on the country for its malign behavior. But his national security team knew better — such actions had to be taken, to hold Moscow accountable.
This isn’t the work of the so-called deep state. It’s the work of the steady state.
Given the instability many witnessed, there were early whispers within the cabinet of invoking the 25th Amendment, which would start a complex process for removing the president. But no one wanted to precipitate a constitutional crisis. So we will do what we can to steer the administration in the right direction until — one way or another — it’s over.
The bigger concern is not what Mr. Trump has done to the presidency but rather what we as a nation have allowed him to do to us. We have sunk low with him and allowed our discourse to be stripped of civility.
Senator John McCain put it best in his farewell letter. All Americans should heed his words and break free of the tribalism trap, with the high aim of uniting through our shared values and love of this great nation.
We may no longer have Senator McCain. But we will always have his example — a lodestar for restoring honor to public life and our national dialogue. Mr. Trump may fear such honorable men, but we should revere them.
There is a quiet resistance within the administration of people choosing to put country first. But the real difference will be made by everyday citizens rising above politics, reaching across the aisle and resolving to shed the labels in favor of a single one: Americans.
The writer is a senior official in the Trump administration.
Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook and Twitter (@NYTopinion). Allow ads on nytimes.com. Thank you for your continued support.
America, hope for the best and prepare for the worse. Trump days are numbered. CM
![[Deleted User]](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fcddec765be35f238a0844bd23f54b59/?default=https%3A%2F%2Fvanillicon.com%2F8ce8323767a20f0f45db140c4cd2cea1_200.png&rating=g&size=200)