What is Putin's Plan for America?

I didn’t feel well this past weekend, so I decided to avoid what was making me sick—the news!  When I finally tuned back in I realized when you miss a day in this Trump world, you miss a lot!  I feel like I’ve missed an entire episode of the television series, 24 starring Keifer Sutherland.  People you thought were dead are reappearing, people you never saw before are now center stage, and our country is drawing closer and closer to the edge of destruction as the clock ticks on.

Remember Paul Manafort, Trump’s campaign manager way back in the first episode?  When the public outcry over Manifort’s ties to the Kremlin became unbearable, Trump fired him and he was not heard from again during the campaign.  But the latest episode reveals he was hiding in Trump Tower and is still one of his closest advisors.  This is a reveal that becomes relevant when coupled with the other news of the latest episode.

After a month of different names being considered for Secretary of State, the tension mounted.  Different day. Different name. Rudy Giuliani, former Mayor of New York who has made his living off of 9/11.  Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee, Chair of Foreign Relations Committee, General David H. Petraeus, who would have to visit his parole officer every week.  Jon Huntsman, former Governor of Utah and former Ambassador to China under Obama.  The biggest teaser was Mitt Romney, the loudest Republican voice against Trump.  Remember when Trump said, “I could tell Mitt to get on his knees and he would.”  Well, Trump did, and Mitt did!  It appears that Mitt Romney failed in his bid to be Secretary of State but he did manage to get his niece, Ronna McDaniel, appointed as chair of the Republican National Committee.  Romney sold his soul and now he will be forever quiet about Trump.

Since October, when 17 national security agencies announced it has been proven that Russian agents hacked into the Democratic National headquarters’ server and that of Hillary Clinton’s Campaign Manager, John Podesta, the smoke has gotten thicker.  I keep waiting for someone to yell, “Fire!” This weekend, it was released that a CIA detailed report exists with intelligence from our intelligence agencies that Russia sought to influence the election of Trump.  Just one day after this revelation, Trump reveals his favorite for Secretary of State.  It is none of the names we have heard for a month.  It is the name of a man whose relationship with Vladimir Putin is unprecedented for an American.  It is Rex Tillerson, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Exxon Mobile. Tillerson brags about his fifteen-year friendship with Putin. He is so close to Putin and the Russian Oligarch, in 2013, Tillerson was presented with the highest award by Putin-- Russia’s Order of Friendship.

Exxon Mobile, with Tillerson’s leadership, received a contract to explore for Russian oil, made possible by the melting sea ice.  In 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea, the U. S. instituted sanctions and froze Exxon’s agreement with Russia.  That leaves little doubt that with Trump as President and Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State, the sanctions will be lifted and the deal will go forward.  Adding insult to our injury, Trump has nominated this billionaire, this climate denier, as the first Secretary of State in U. S. history that has zero experience in the public sector. 

Tillerson joins the ranks with General Mike Flynn, Trump’s National Security Advisor, and Paul Manafort, Trump’s advisor, as Putin’s bff’s.  In light of the CIA report confirming Russia’s involvement to get Trump elected, and in light of Trump’s timing of dropping the Tillerson’s probable appointment as Secretary of State at the 23^rd hour, this would lead any reasonable person to believe that this was the plan all along.  Putin’s plan. This was not Trump deciding on the spur of the moment to appoint Tillerson.  This deal was solidified on election night, if not before.  Wonder what Putin has in store for us next?  The clock is still ticking down.

So much smoke.  FIRE!  FIRE!  Let’s face it folks, we are in a mellava hess!