The Maduro Episode

Well that didn’t take very long.

On December 30th I wrote “ One can only hope he doesn’t drag America into a war with Venezuela, a plotline twist for his flailing show.”

The US has attacked Venezuela and kidnapped its president and his wife. 

This morning I’m hearing all kinds of commentary to explain why trump did it. They say, it’s to bring a narco-terrorist to justice. That would be plausible if he hadn’t just pardoned the narco-terrorist of Honduras. 

It’s his pursuit of the Monroe Doctrine, as if trump even knows what the Monroe Doctrine is.

It’s about oil. If that was true the Americans would have to control the Venezuelan government and that’s a risky and at this point doubtful result.

No, he just wanted Maduro. 

I haven’t heard the only explanation that I believe is correct. The simplest one. The only explanation that actual describes how trump thinks. The one that I tried to describe in my December 30th post. It’s a plot line twist of his failing TV show. It’s about ratings.

The only thing trump truly understands is media, and the only thing he is actually competent at is manipulating the attention economy.

The last few months have been disastrous for the trump show. Epstein. His poll numbers (ratings) are tanking. Republicans are turning on him. And every distraction he’s tried has fallen flat. 

A trial in New York worked for him during the election. Now he figures another high profile trial in New York will provide the plot line twist he needs to keep the media and the public engaged.

That’s it. Not more complicated.

Unfortunately, when you have a simpleminded leader interested only in how things affect his standing, and doesn’t considered the wider consequences of his actions, things tend to spin out of control. 

Watch for China to make a move on Taiwan.

Watch Greenland.