What’s most discouraging to me is not the repetition, nay, the droning on of most if not all mass media outlets about this Russo-phobic narrative; nor the obviousness of the agenda behind it. Rather, it’s that so many nominally “liberal”, presumably well-enough educated folk have suspended all critical thinking and disbelief and joined the ranks of those pushing the narrative. When I see friends, whose intelligence and values I never questioned, posting links to each new reported “discovery”, I have to acknowledge what mass marketing-types (and the behavioral psychologists whose work informed the marketers) have long known: that any claim need only be repeated long enough to effect widespread acceptance.
Given its timeline and the slowly / steadily morphing nature of the narrative, it would certainly seem that any person with any critical thinking ability whatsoever would at least question it. It really began with the (subsequently debunked) claim by HRC that Russia had hacked the DNC server and supplied WikiLeaks with emails to discredit her & the DNC. Soon thereafter, an “anonymous intelligence pro”, in a move reminiscent of the CIA’s infamous Operation Mockingbird disinformation program, planted the story with Washington Post and then the other outlets; followed by the public release of an official “Assessment” - a report concluding, without any accompanying evidence, that Russia was trying to help Trump and hinder Clinton.
When expert independent forensic analysis challenging the hacking claim (and supporting WikiLeaks’ and Br. Ambassador Craig Murray’s statements about the source of the emails) gained enough public visbility, the “hacking” charge stopped circulating at least from official narratives. (Though as recently as a week ago I read a NY Times article that nonetheless repeated the claim that Russia had hacked the servers).
Instead, while the essential message didn’t really change (that Russia is threatening and that Putin controls Trump), the actual narrative morphed. The threat wasn’t the debunked but never apologized-for hacking claim, it now was Russian troll farms and bot factories, sowing discord & influencing elections.
The basis of which assures us that the Evil Empire (oh, forgive me, that was Ronnie Ray-Gun’s term) is (once again) a) our mortal enemy ; b) stepping up its attacks on us because c) they hate our democracy ; and d) oh, by the way, Trump would never have beaten St. Hillary if NOT for the Russian bots, and Russian tools Sanders and Stein.
So here we are: lots of well-intentioned folk, many of whom had learned well back in the 60’s and 70’s that neither the CIA, FBI or NSA were the friends of democracy - here or abroad; and who might’ve themselves once marched against needless foreign wars and nukes - are now gladly repeating what could well be calculated, mass-manipulative stories that can only help escalate tensions. All because Trump got to the White House and must be stopped. For many, then, no price is too high to do that. The spook agencies are now to them (it appears) the saviors of democracy. So what if we renew and ratchet up the Cold War (which is only a term meaning that it hasn’t devolved to a hot one yet).
I won’t join them. And, if you’re inclined to join their parade, I won’t join you, either.
There are plenty of reasons why Trump should go; and probably plenty of avenues through which that can be achieved. (Though I’m also somewhat dismayed with the lack of apparent strategic thought about the consequences of removal of only the President.
Very likely, he’s in violation of the emoluments clause; and it is quite curious that investigations don’t seem to be looking much into that topic (though perhaps Mueller & Co are simply not showing their hands yet).
But that line of inquiry - of a politician monetizing their office - doesn’t hold the same appeal to the establishment - which projected an already-coronated HRC sitting in the White House, and which needs a story, however fabricated, to cover up their own misdeeds and missteps and to explain why she was denied her rightful place in history.
