And the Storm Moves into Washington

Between the Steve Bannon quotes and all the revelations in Michael Wolff's book, including the legal spokesman who quite because he saw obstruction of just and that was enough for him -- and then the New York Times story, confirmed by the AP, that the Special Counsel's office has been able to confirm what Robert Comey testified to and put in his memo -- 2018 is starting off better than 2017.  We'll see how it goes.  But for now, it's fascinating to watch the vortex swirling around the White House, somewhat appropriately akin to the powerful "bomb cyclone" hitting the Northeast.

Speaking of Michael Woolf's book, Fire and Fury, I heard an interesting comment yesterday from Steve Schmidt -- who has seemingly become the Go-To Guy on MSNBC when they want to give others a breather and fill time with a long Shakespearean rant of Olympic poetry on how horrific Trump is, and the Republicans for enabling him and allowing the damage he's causing.  They have him on a lot -- most-especially Nicolle Wallace, who has been friends and co-workers with him for years, and clearly revels having him as a guest as often as possible these days.  And every host seems to know that if the conversation is getting slow, or they just need a personal time-out, they pretty much only have to say, "Steve?  Any thoughts?" and then can go out to get a sandwich while he brings forth his tsunami.  But they all stick around because they don't appear to want to miss a second, wanting to see what heights he'll reach this time, and you can see the awe in their faces.  Again, most especially Ms. Wallace who always looks like the proverbial kid in a candy shop, as her eyes open wide in anticipation and face breaks into expression of wonderment while her fellow-Republican starts spinning his sonnets of his own fire and fury.

I won't even try to paraphrase that whole comment I heard, since it was too long and eloquent.  And it wasn't even remotely one of his angrier or most extended, which can go on for 2-3 minutes. Though mainly what stood out to me was, amid all his anger, how controlled and laser-focused it was on an important point that had a fresh perspective I hadn't heard from anyone else, yet was so obvious once the words were spoken.  But in general (hence the single quotes...), the very short version was basically this --

'I know there's been a question from some people about what is true in Michael Woolf's book and what is just some people merely posturing.  But here's the thing.  If this book was about the Obama Administration...or the Bush Administration...or the Clinton Administration -- we wouldn't believe any of it.  We'd dismiss it all, because we'd know none of it was true.  But with the Trump administration...we know it's all true.  Because we've seen it for the past year.  We've seen the lies, we've seen the incompetence, we've seen the dysfunction.  So, we know it's true.'

-- and that is all just spot on.  And in wonderful perspective.