Trump’s Potemkin Policies
Reinhold Niebuhr (June 21, 1892 – June 1, 1971) was an American ethicist, commentator on politics and public affairs for more than 30 years. He was one of America’s leading public intellectuals for several decades of the 20th century and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964.
He wrote and spoke about the intersection of religion, politics and public policy with his most influential books including Moral Man and Immoral Society and The Nature and Destiny of Man.
The Guy Upstairs is growing increasingly impatient with Trump and sent Niehbur back through the veil in another effort to instill a moral compass and a substantial increase of intelligence in Trump before “the Don” messes up His timetable even further.
Niebuhr: “Hello, Donald.”
Trump: “Who are you?”
Niebuhr: “I’m Reinhold Niebuhr. I’m here at the direction of the Guy Upstairs to help set your administration on a less abrasive, less chaotic and more sanity-oriented course.”
Trump: “Why do you guys keep coming back from the dead to give Me advice? I’m doing great on My own!” (see: Dialogues with the Dead page this site)
Niehbur: “The Guy Upstairs says you’re making a fool of yourself and the country, endangering the Constitution – and pissing off most of the Free World at the same time (Not His exact words).
At this rate you are going to either stumble America into another World War – or, more likely, concede much of the Free World to communist Russia and China as a result of your gargantuan greed and pusillanimous** politics.
Your agnostic geo-political ignorance is exacerbated by your myopic greed.
For example, your incestuous business relationship with your “GREAT” friend Putin (allowing him to murder tens of thousands of the Guy Upstairs’ children so he doesn’t cancel your Trump Tower: Moscow).
Or hosting Chinese communist leader Xi at Mar a Lago so your daughter could get a sweetheart China monopoly on her designer products.
Or pardoning CEO Changpeng Zhao, who pleaded guilty to failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program at Binance – because you believe he was prosecuted by agenda-driven Justice Department attorneys conducting a “war on cryptocurrency“?
Really?
This couldn’t be because your sons are making hundreds of millions of dollars for you – the “Crypto President” – much of it through Binance?
Your rationale for excusing criminals from drug dealers and scam artists to international criminals like Putin is Orwellian. If it weren’t for the emotionally susceptible average American voter and the politically compromised MAGA Media, your flimsy excuses for not doing the right thing would be laughed out of the court of public opinion.
Do you really think the American public believes you when you said “I don’t know him” when you signed Zhao’s pardon? (Norah O’Donnell interview on 60 Minutes)
That’s pretty much the same answer you gave about Epstein.
The Trump Crime Family – is starting to rival the Biden Crime Family in ethical bankruptcy.
Are you really that naive believing Putin and Xi are your “friends” because they feed your ego and your pocketbook? Or are you just that greedy knowingly letting them use you like all the other Useful Idiots who believe communism is just another innocuous economic strategy?”
Trump: “Wait a minute! I don’t need a lecture from you on making deals with other countries’ leaders – and who is this ‘Guy Upstairs‘? I’ve never heard of Him!”
Niehbur: “We’re not surprised you don’t know the Guy Upstairs – having been raised in the Capital of Mammon and all.
Just because you don’t know Him doesn’t mean He doesn’t exist.
The Guy Upstairs sent me to educate you on the Nature of Man – something more politicians should know if they presume to run a country.
Trump: “But! I know how men think! It’s all about the dollar! That’s what makes Me the greatest Deal maker of all time! I’m the only person in the world who could bring peace to the world through My superior negotiating skills! Just ask any of My cabinet appointees! They’ll tell you and that Guy Upstairs what a genius I Am!
I’m so great they’re going to put My face on Mt. Rushmore and give Me a Nobel Prize (even if I have to pay for them Myself)!
Niehbur: “Donald, you are so misguided I hardly know where to begin. First of all, your moral compass is skewed 180 degrees. Your moral compass determines your character – or lack of it. Character determines choices. Good character results in good choices and good consequences such as peace and happiness. Bad character results in bad choices and war and misery.
Your fetish for finances has obviously enriched your life materially. But Greed is only one of the vices responsible for the moral decay of Man. Pride is the other vice that has done more to bring misery to so many of the Guy Upstairs’ children.
You have a corrosive abundance of both and it’s creating chaos among His children in The Promised Land. (see: Mary Antin)
Your psychotic preoccupation with wealth has prevented you from developing good character – including really knowing human nature – thereby failing to understand how to preside over a free nation as a Statesman.
You’re not the only Wealthy Politician to have this deficit of character but, as Time draws near, it is becoming more critical that you correct course. (see: How Democracies Perish by Jean-Francois Revel)
Here’s what the Guy Upstairs wants you to know:
“The moral demands on a person increase proportionately to his position in society. If the State’s political, administrative and military elite have no moral education – if [you] believe [you] can do whatever [you] wish – we will truly become the most miserable of men because anarchy and tyranny will inevitably ensue.
Rulers of men need to have an intimate knowledge of Man and his ways – and there is no better source of this knowledge than Great Literature [see: Mortimer J. Adler’s Great Books].
Great Literature provides the student with the best examples of both Virtues and Vice – to respectively emulate and eschew thus helping him to become a good and virtuous man.
The Study of Man does not penetrate the soul except through many years of practice and reflection. It addresses what is closest to Man and thus it is the most difficult to understand.” – – Andreas Kinnegeng, The Geography of Good and Evil: Philosophical Investigations, p. 232 – 237)
On a more practical note, your personal “Deal” making approach to diplomatic negotiations are doomed to failure.
Your “one-trick-pony” monetary approach to resolving conflict and trade inequalities are like Potemkin* who built fake villages to impress Catherine the Great.
This isn’t just a difference of personal approaches between you and former presidents.
There’s a tried and true procedure for conducting effective international affairs and you are throwing a wrench in all of them – creating chaos abroad and domestically.
By unilaterally imposing yourself into face-to-face discussions you are violating internationally recognized diplomatic rules and procedures.
Let me introduce you to a few terms you are obviously ignorant of:
- “Diplomatic“: being tactful and careful not to upset people when dealing with a sensitive situation. It is the ability to handle a delicate matter without causing offense, or the skill of international relations; relating to people – a person who is good at handling people and sensitive situations without causing bad feelings or conflict. For example, a diplomatic person is good at giving critical feedback in a way that is polite and well-received.You are grossly lacking in diplomacy.
- “Protocol“: 1. the official procedure or system of rules governing affairs of state or diplomatic occasions; 2. the original draft of a diplomatic document, especially of the terms of a treaty agreed to in conference and signed by the parties.You are totally ignoring protocol to satisfy your addiction for self-aggrandizement.
- “Framework“: In international diplomacy, a framework refers to a system of general rules, principles, and structures that guides a specific issue or relationship, often providing a flexible structure for more detailed agreements later.
It establishes broad commitments and institutions but leaves specific details to be addressed in subsequent protocols or national legislation. - “Diplomatic Treaty“: a formal, written agreement between sovereign states governed by international law. These agreements codify shared commitments, define rules of conduct, and establish cooperative actions on specific issues.”Watch for the word “framework” versus Treaty!” – Treasury Secretary Bessent.
At best, the only thing you are accomplishing by thrusting yourself into the negotiation stage of diplomacy is simply supervising the setting of frameworks – something your ambassadors and State Department staff are paid to do. You are undermining their responsibilities and authorities by cutting them out of the process.
Your ego-driven ignorance of these protocols is embarrassing the United States government and making Americans look like diplomatic morons on the international stage.
By making negotiations personal, you are “pushing the string” to make things happen before a foundation can be built. By initiating face-to-face “negotiations” between you and foreign leaders you are bypassing creation of frameworks upon which permanent treaties are built.
Your premature boasts of accomplishing “Great” Treaties are mirage castles built on sand.
“Pushing the diplomatic string” from the rear may look good from the back but the front end of the string (foreign governments) hasn’t really moved at all. This just creates chaos in the middle of the string.
If your Cabinet would share with you what foreign leaders are saying about your feckless negotiations for their public consumption, you would see how ineffective your “Art of the Deal” is on the international stage.
By totally disregarding diplomatic protocols, you are short-circuiting credible and substantive diplomacy – and undercutting your cabinet members’ responsibility, authority and credibility.
No wonder such an experienced and knowledgeable diplomat as John Bolton resigned! (see: The Room Where It Happened by John Bolton)
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is trying his best to maintain his integrity while appeasing your ego. He reminds me of John Bolton in that regard.
Despite MAGA Media and Cabinet Sycophants proclaiming “Great Deals“, there is no solid ground upon which to claim such victories:
– “Glowing optimism with no follow through” – Sherry Ahn, Bloomberg Asia Trade
– “China has proven to be an unreliable trade partner” – Treasury Secretary Bessent. – – “Russian leaders consider negotiations simply a sign of weakness and use them to bide time to maneuver from a stronger position. – Ion Pacepa, DisInformation).
Putin has proven this every time you’ve had a “GREAT!” phone call or “Summit” meeting by increasing his criminal activity in your face.
Xi is more subtle about his subterfuge. He simply just ignores your “GREAT!” deals and violates every term.
Both are publicly playing to your ego while undermining American – and the world’s – security behind your grandstanding.
Your “Art of the Deal” is actually providing diplomatic cover for Putin and Xi to continue their “Art of War.” – (see: Unrestricted Warfare by Colonel Qiao Liang and Colonel Xiangsui, 1999.
“No group [Russia] will ever be dislodged from power solely by persuasion or arguments however elegant these arguments may be.
Only power – political, economic, or military – will dislodge them and create a more just system.” – Niebuhr, Moral Man and Immoral Society, A Study in Ethics and Politics, 2005; xvii
“Where coerced unity is achieved, future conflicts are guaranteed.” – Niebuhr, Moral Man; p. 20
*Potemkin: a showy or impressive facade intended to hide an embarrassing or shabby reality. The expression is now used for any deceptive display, from literal facades to figurative ones in areas like politics and social media. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
** Pusillanimous: lacking courage or strength of purpose, or timid and fearful. It is used to describe a person, action, or quality that stems from a lack of bravery. For example, a person who is afraid to stand up to a bully is pusillanimous.
[See: Trump v. Putin]
Synonyms include: cowardly, timid, fearful, and faint-hearted.
