Why Trump Keeps Bolton

Axios ^ | July 21, 2019 | Jonathan Swan

[be-baw]

“Trump doesn’t defer to their titles and positions. He’s in charge - so he ribs them all.”

That’s consistent with everything I’ve heard about and seen of Trump. He often says how he likes having people with differing viewpoints advising him. He can do this because God has blessed him with many things, including a strong moral compass.

[bigbob]

The dog analogy occurred to me too. You may wish you could have some nice cuddly little mutt who follows you everywhere and can’t lick you enough, but when the bad guys show up, you want the meanest most aggressive SOB by your side.

[Bogey78O]

The elites get their jobs because they know the right people. They think themselves more clever than others through sheer accident of their success.

Bolton is staying because he knows what Trump likes and he gives it to him. Mattis left because he knew what Trump likes and couldn’t give it to him. Trump wants a strong independent US foreign policy, which Bolton favors while Mattis wanted a multilateral US foreign policy.

As long as Bolton doesn’t go against Trump, he’ll stay.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Yep

[Simon Foxx]

Bolton is just another very useful TOOL in POTUS-VSG* arsenal.

Scott Adams predicted before Bolton came on board that he would be useful to POTUS as the 'bad cop'. Yet another prediction of Adams' that was spot-on.

POTUS is indeed a VSG*. All the people working for him are mere tools that he uses, with surgical skill, at the appropriate juncture.

He is the greatest president of my lifetime. (And, as an old Reaganaut, for me that is saying something. I still love The Gipper as if he had been my own Grand-Uncle, and that will never change....but... THIS MAN FIGHTS!!!!!!!!)

[McGruff]

Trump occasionally flips the good cop, bad cop script with his national security adviser.

Maybe that's what's going on here. I can't see anyone controlling Donald Trump.

[nathanbedford]

Ronald Reagan, pulling the teeth of critics as he alone could do:

"Our right hand does not know what our extreme right hand is doing" John Bolton is necessary as part of a team of advisors to prevent the president from trying to fly with only one wing. When the president kids Bolton, he is in effect echoing Ronald Reagan's brilliant reply to the leftist media. He is telling the world that he understands where Bolton is coming from and he discounts that to the extent necessary.

It is dangerous to exaggerate the lessons of the last war into fixed policies that become obsolete as soon as they are uttered. Evolving technology, shifting alliances and historical changes all make devotion to rigid rules dangerous. The old shibboleth, generals are always prepared to fight the last war should not be entirely discounted. The fact that Iraq was a major blunder, at least in its consequences, does not mean that there will never be another war that should be waged. The fact that the liberation of Kuwait was a brilliant success, does not mean that the invasion of Iraq was a good idea. The idea that Vietnam was a tragic experience does not mean that the liberation of Kuwait should not have been undertaken.

Rather than playing the shallow game of destroying personalities or indulging in the Supreme Court's favorite method of decision-making, working backward from a conclusion, perhaps we ought to approach the problem of Iran by trying to answer the question, what price are we willing to pay to prevent Iran getting the bomb? Or put another way, what cost will we pay as a result of permitting Iran to get the bomb? Finally, what options besides war are available to prevent Iran getting the bomb?

[Oscar in Batangas]

In any decision making process good CEO is: •√ wise enough to keep varied opinionated people on staff •√ strong enough to keep them under control •√ discerning enough to pick the best option from their offerings

[Oscar in Batangas]

And, by the way, Donald Trump is a GREAT CEO

[TChad]

"John," Trump asked, "Is Ireland one of those countries you want to invade?"

It must be fun to work for Trump.

[be-baw]

“It must be fun to work for Trump.”

It sure is fun watching him. Far and away, the most entertaining leader in world history.

[Cobra64]

Most importantly, Trump recognizes Bolton’s tremendous deep and wide experience in international affairs. His resume is impressive.

[jazminerose]

Exactly.

Only an imbecile demRINO believes that Bolton has the ability to “drag” the President into a war.

President Trump has been remarkably restrained about foreign entanglements; in sharp contrast to the peacenik who came before him.

[jazminerose]

I think we’re seeing a combination of a phenomenal intuition and gift for sizing people up, honed by decades of unique real world experience.

It often occurs to me that President Trump spent decades not only running multiple businesses; but, also negotiating multimillion dollar international deals. That meant working with all kinds of characters, from all over the globe. A lot of those characters were pretty sketch, I’m sure.

This is what President Trump brings to the table.

[nathanbedford]

President Reagan actually said, "Sometimes our right hand does not know what our far right hand is doing"

[Richard Axtell]

Obama kept Valerie Jarrett around, Trump keeps John Bolton around. Which would YOU prefer?

[pangaea6]

I like that Bolton stood up to Mattis. He saw through his hidden Democrat superior hide and called him on it. I really believe it was Mattis that wrote that cabinet resistance op ed in NYT. Glad Bolton’s voice is in the room.

[snoringbear]

“If Trump is using Bolton as his ‘pit bull on a leash’ to show troublesome countries they need to fear causing trouble that’s not such a bad thing.
As long as Trump can keep Bolton on a leash.

If Bolton (via his neo-con handlers) wormed his way into the administration to provoke conflicts then Trump has made a huge mistake. ”

*
Yeh, my problem with Bolton is he forgets that he isn’t setting foreign policy. And, he often strays off the reservation shooting off his fat mouth. I don’t like him, never have, never will.

[piasa]

Most communists don’t.

[Chickensoup]

“John,” Trump asked, “Is Ireland one of those countries you want to invade?”

It must be fun to work for Trump.

___________________

I wonder if his answer was “Not yet, Mr. President.”