John Robert Bolton, National (In)Security Advisor - Show Started 4/9/18 - Ended in Disgrace 9/10/19

[Mr Brolin]

With apologies to Lewis Caroll

“The time has come," the walrus said, "to lie of many things: Of spin and WMD's - and yellow cake - of waterboarding and Trumpy God-King's.
And why the GOP betrays HIS base — And whether Fox News flying pigs have wings.'”

[Sunrise]

Mr. Brolin, will you be my Fogbow pretend boyfriend? I so enjoy reading your clever posts.

[Tiredretiredlawyer]

Mr. Brolin, will you be my Fogbow pretend boyfriend? I so enjoy reading your clever posts.

No! No! You need to be MY pretend boyfriend!! Wait! Sunrise, we can share!!!!!!!!!

[Volkonski]

Does anyone know what was Bolton's security clearance when he worked in the GWB administration? And whether he maintained it since?

In my experience having had a security clearance in the defense industry for 4 years, the clearance goes with the job. When you stop working at a job where you needed and had a clearance it ends the moment your employer knows you are leaving.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

This is from Wikipedia:

During the 1969 Vietnam War draft lottery, Bolton drew number 185. (Draft numbers corresponded to birth dates.) As a result of the Johnson and Nixon administrations' decisions to rely largely on the draft rather than on the reserve forces, joining a Guard or Reserve unit became a way to avoid service in the Vietnam War. Bolton enlisted in the Maryland Army National Guard in 1970 rather than wait to find out if his draft number would be called. (The highest number called to military service was 195.) After serving in the National Guard for four years, he served in the United States Army Reserve until the end of his enlistment two years later.[1] He wrote in his Yale 25th reunion book "I confess I had no desire to die in a Southeast Asian rice paddy. I considered the war in Vietnam already lost." In an interview, Bolton discussed his comment in the reunion book, explaining that he decided to avoid service in Vietnam because "by the time I was about to graduate in 1970, it was clear to me that opponents of the Vietnam War had made it certain we could not prevail, and that I had no great interest in going there to have Teddy Kennedy give it back to the people I might die to take it away from."[

This is the guy who wants to ensure the deaths of many Americans, Koreans, Iranians etc.

[RVInit]

This has been true of many political "leaders" who incessantly promote war - they never served. Cowards.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

This has been true of many political "leaders" who incessantly promote war - they never served. Cowards.

I looked him up because of that. He joins Cheney, Bush junior and Trump.

[tek]

"by the time I was about to graduate in 1970, it was clear to me that opponents of the Vietnam War had made it certain we could not prevail"

Bolton was rationalizing, or re-writing history.

By 1970 it wasn't "opponents of the Vietnam War had made it certain we could not prevail" but rather it was clear to almost any sane person that there was no such thing as "prevail" ..

Gov't/military without a dog in the fight¹ probably got there by about '67, and some very smart people were there by '60.

...tom

¹ sorry about the period-correct terminology..

[Mr Brolin]

After the kind comments from Sunrise and TiredRetiredLawyer

Still a work in progress..... poetry is not my prime metier it must be stated...

Again the most profound of apologies to Lewis Caroll

The Trump was lying to the peeps,
Lying with all his might:
He did his very best to make
The lying smooth and bright--
And this was usual, because it was
The midst of the tweeting night.

The Trump was tweeting sulkily,
Because he thought the press's spun
Had got no business to be there
After the day was done--
"It's very rude of them," he thumbed,
"To come and spoil my fun!"

The cabinet was wet as wet could be,
Their souls were dry as dry.
You could not see a thought, because
No thoughts but Trumpy lies:
No warrants were flying overhead--
But soon indictments may fly.

The Walrus and the SandWorm
Were walking hand in glove;
They wept like anything to see
Such mounds of porn-ish love :
"If this were only hidden away,"
My problems I'd be free of!"

"If nine SC justices with nine rulings
Thought for half a year.
Do you suppose," the SandWorm said,
"That they could get ME clear?"
"I doubt it," said the Walrus beast,
And shed a crocodile tear.

"O base, come and walk with us!"
The SandWorm did beseech.
"A waddle walk, an hysteric talk,
Along the primaries beach:
We cannot do with more than four,
To grab a p**y of each."

The Jared Oyster looked at him,
So scared no word dared said:
The Jared Oyster shivered..scared,
And shook his empty head--
Meaning to say he did not choose
To leave his feather-bed.

But four young Lawyers hurried up,
All eager for the bill:
Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,
Their pads full ready and with quill--
And this was odd, because, you know,
They'd have no damn freewill.

Four other GOP'ers followed them,
And yet another fours;
And thick and fast they came at last,
And more, and more, and mores--
All hopping in soulless frothy waves,
All scrambling, all whores.

The Walrus and the SandWorm
Polled on a mile or so,
And then settled on vile stance
Set conveniently low:
And all the lawyers and GOP'ers stood
And waited in a row.

The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To lie of many things:
Of spin and WMD's - and yellow cake -
Of waterboarding and Trumpy God-King's.
And why the GOP betrays HIS base —
And if Fox News flying pigs have wings.'”

"But wait a bit," the lawyers cried,
"Before we have our chat;
For some of us are out of lies ,
And all of us are fat!"
"No hurry!" said the SandWorm.
The "LOSERS" thanked him for that.

"A lie and lie and lie again," the Walrus said,
"Is what we chiefly need:
Venom and Bile besides
Are very good indeed--
Now if you're ready, GOP'ers dear,
HE can begin to feed."

"But not on us!" the GOP'ers cried,
Turning a little blue.
"After such cowardice by us, that would be
A dismal thing to do!"
"Mar A Lago is so fine," the Walrus said.
"Do you admire the view?

"It was so kind of you to come!
And you are all a stooge!"
The SandWorm tweeeted nonsense like
"DARK STATE subterfuge:
I wish you were not quite so SAD--
You make me look like Scrooge"

"It seems a shame," the Walrus said,
"To play them such a trick,
After we've conned them out so far,
And made them beg so quick!"
The SandWorm said nothing but
"The Lies need spread more thick!"

"I weep for you," the Walrus said:
"I feign I sympathize."
With giggles and laughs he sorted out
Those of the gullible size,
Holding his mustache, Snidely like
Before his streaming eyes.

"O GOP'ers," said the SandWorm,
"I've had a pleasant run!
Shall we be voting my base again?'
But answer came there none--
And this was scarcely odd, because
He'd eaten souls every one.

[fierceredpanda]

[Foggy]

Mr Brolin wins the Internet.

[Volkonski]

This is from Wikipedia:

During the 1969 Vietnam War draft lottery, Bolton drew number 185. (Draft numbers corresponded to birth dates.) As a result of the Johnson and Nixon administrations' decisions to rely largely on the draft rather than on the reserve forces, joining a Guard or Reserve unit became a way to avoid service in the Vietnam War. Bolton enlisted in the Maryland Army National Guard in 1970 rather than wait to find out if his draft number would be called. (The highest number called to military service was 195.) After serving in the National Guard for four years, he served in the United States Army Reserve until the end of his enlistment two years later.[1] He wrote in his Yale 25th reunion book "I confess I had no desire to die in a Southeast Asian rice paddy. I considered the war in Vietnam already lost." In an interview, Bolton discussed his comment in the reunion book, explaining that he decided to avoid service in Vietnam because "by the time I was about to graduate in 1970, it was clear to me that opponents of the Vietnam War had made it certain we could not prevail, and that I had no great interest in going there to have Teddy Kennedy give it back to the people I might die to take it away from."[

This is the guy who wants to ensure the deaths of many Americans, Koreans, Iranians etc.

1970? He graduated during the big antiwar student strike that ended my freshman year a few weeks early.

I rememeber watching the faculty vote on ending the semester because of the strike. I was surprised that they voted to shut down. Guess I assumed that they would be more conservative in their political leanings.

I didn't get to just go home like most of my fellow freshmen. The band had a recording session scheduled and I had to stick around for that. (I was one of only 3 tubas.) I still have copies of that recording, the Suite for Band and the Symphony for Band by John Bavicchi. Those works were relatively new then and had not been recorded before.

[Sunrise]

Mr Brolin wins the Internet.

Never mind winning the Internet. Mr. Brolin, will you marry me?

P.S. No, I'm not sharing!

[RTH10260]

Mr Brolin somehow triggered my childhood rhyme, something along the line of:

Humpty Trumpty sat on a wall,. Humpty Trmpty had a great fall;. All the king's horses and all the king's men. Couldn't put Trumpty together again.

► Show Spoiler

[RTH10260]

John Bolton considering cutting top White House cybersecurity job: Report

By Andrew Blake - The Washington Times - Thursday, May 10, 2018

President Trump’s national security team is reportedly considering eliminating the White House’s top cybersecurity position following its current holder’s final day on the job Friday.

John Bolton, Mr, Trump’s recently appointed national security adviser, is leading a push to do away with the job of White House cybersecurity coordinator, Politico reported Wednesday, citing one current and two former U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Current cybersecurity coordinator Rob Joyce plans to leave the White House at the end of the week to resume his previous job running the National Security Agency’s Tailored Access Operations office, the NSA’s elite hacking team, and both Mr. Bolton and his deputy, Mira Ricardel, support potentially eliminating the coordinator position once he’s gone, two of the sources told Politico.

The White House did not deny the possibility of eliminating the role when reached for comment, Politico reported.

“Cyber is a key priority for the Trump Administration,” said Robert Palladino, a spokesman for the president’s National Security Council. The NSC, he added, was “committed to assembling an effective team to advance the President’s agenda of protecting Americans and American interests,” Politico reported.

The role of White House cybersecurity coordinator was created near the start of the Obama administration to help harmonize cybersecurity activities and policies across the federal government, and a report released in 2016 by the Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity recommended elevating the position to be on par with the president’s assistant for homeland security and counterterrorism.

Multiple former Obama officials raised concerns about potentially eliminating the cybersecurity coordinator position, especially given current threats faced by the U.S. and its allies by increasingly capable nation-states.


https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/20 ... -house-cy/

[Notorial Dissent]

I don't know why they need a cyber-security officer, they already have more leaks at the WH than a colander. As it is, Moscow, and everyone else for that matter, know what of is going on in the WH.

[Volkonski]

This is from Wikipedia:

."[

This is the guy who wants to ensure the deaths of many Americans, Koreans, Iranians etc.

1970? He graduated during the big antiwar student strike that ended my freshman year a few weeks early.

I rememeber watching the faculty vote on ending the semester because of the strike. I was surprised that they voted to shut down. Guess I assumed that they would be more conservative in their political leanings.

I didn't get to just go home like most of my fellow freshmen. The band had a recording session scheduled and I had to stick around for that. (I was one of only 3 tubas.) I still have copies of that recording, the Suite for Band and the Symphony for Band by John Bavicchi. Those works were relatively new then and had not been recorded before.

Whilst unpacking some boxes today guess what I found. Sobering to realize that those recording sessions happened 48 years ago! Could I be getting old?



http://www.worldcat.org/title/festival- ... c/35336501

[RTH10260]

Singapore Was John Bolton’s Worst Nightmare
U.S. President Donald Trump’s national security advisor was marginalized at the summit, but his hard-nosed approach will be essential to dismantling North Korea’s nukes.

BY JOHN HANNAH | JUNE 21, 2018, 4:38 PM

If someone had deliberately designed an international event with the sole objective of giving John Bolton, America’s hawkish White House national security advisor, maximum heartburn, they couldn’t have done much better than the June 12 summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and the North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.

The Singapore summit represented everything that Bolton has spent years railing against when it comes to U.S. policy toward North Korea. In countless articles, speeches, and television appearances, he’s expended tens of thousands of words excoriating U.S. policymakers for repeatedly botching the effort to prevent the Kim dynasty from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Last week, in one of those delicious ironies that history occasionally serves up, Bolton himself was made party to precisely the kind of diplomatic spectacle that he’d spent much of his career denouncing. One wonders what was worse for Bolton: being pointedly excluded from Trump’s high-profile Oval Office meeting with Kim’s right-hand man, Kim Yong Chol, on June 1? Or being included in the Singapore proceedings as a silent bystander while his boss, the leader of the world’s greatest liberal democracy, repeatedly heaped patently false, morally repugnant praise on a North Korean tyrant who oversees one of the planet’s most extensive system of gulags?



http://foreignpolicy.com/2018/06/21/sin ... trump-kim/

[Kendra]

House Oversight Democrats want to know if John Bolton reported his alleged work with Mariia Butina at the NRA on his security clearance application and other vetting forms. https://bit.ly/2nZrs3z

[Notorial Dissent]

House Oversight Democrats want to know if John Bolton reported his alleged work with Mariia Butina at the NRA on his security clearance application and other vetting forms. https://bit.ly/2nZrs3z

That could get ugly, and just about anything with Bolton starts out ugly.

[RTH10260]

USA-John-Bolton-War-Crazy.jpg

[Orlylicious]

Well folks, as we all predicted... took Bolton just over a year to push us closer to a new trillion dollar war.

Since this is so absurd, why not read about it from Gateway Pundit:

Iranian Presidential Adviser Threatens War If Trump Listens To ‘The Mustache’
by Joseph Curl May 14, 2019 177 Comments

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s top adviser on Tuesday warned President Trump that he will get a “war” if he listens to National Security Adviser John Bolton, who he called “the mustache.”

“You wanted a better deal with Iran. Looks like you are going to get a war instead. That’s what happens when you listen to the mustache. Good luck in 2020!” Hesamoddin Ashena wrote on Twitter.

Belligerent rhetoric swirled after U.S. military experts suggested that “Iran or its proxies” were responsible for damaging four commercial ships off the coast of the United Arab Emirates on Sunday. Iran’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Hamid Baeidinejad, also warned the U.S. “Don’t test us,” he said in an interview with Sky News on Tuesday, adding that the Iranian military is “fully ready” for conflict.

“While we have renounced any escalation in the region, I would assure you that Iranian armed forces are fully ready for any eventuality in the region, so they should not try to test the determination of Iran to confront any escalation in the region,” he said. The comments from the Iranian leaders came after Trump officials said they detected signs that Iranian or Iranian-backed proxies were getting ready to attack U.S. interests in the Middle East. In response, the U.S. deployed an aircraft carrier strike group to the area.

Bolton has repeated ripped Iran. Bolton earlier this month announced that the U.S. is sending the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group to the Persian Gulf “to send a clear and unmistakable message to the Iranian regime.” Meanwhile, Trump on Tuesday denied a New York Times report that U.S. officials have prepared a plan to deploy up to 120,000 troops to the Middle East to thwart any attack. Bolton reportedly pushed the idea.

“I think it’s fake news, OK? Now, would I do that? Absolutely. But we have not planned for that. Hopefully we’re not going to have to plan for that. And if we did that, we’d send a hell of a lot more troops than that,” Trump told reporters at the White House.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2019/0 ... -mustache/

They are so crazy they think they can "Wag The Dog" with Iran to juice the base for 2020. Iran! Sigh.

[Orlylicious]

As much as I dislike Tucker Carlson, check out the first few minutes of tonight's show... he absolutely lets John Bolton have it. Pretty amazing. All he's saying is the truth, Bolton hasn't been shy about regime change in Iran. From Tucker's view, they've planned this Iran strike all along (to find an excuse) and if Donald had done it last night, he'd never be re-elected. Trumpers must be getting whiplash and counting the minutes until the security blanket of Hannity comes on.

[Addie]

New York Times - Michelle Goldberg

The Welcome Humiliation of John Bolton

A warmonger is the latest to lose his dignity to Donald Trump.


Say this for Donald Trump. He may be transforming American politics into a kleptocratic fascist reality show and turning our once-great country into a global laughingstock, but at least he’s humiliating John Bolton in the process.

Many people who get involved with this president end up diminished, embarrassed or, in quite a few cases, indicted. Rex Tillerson, once known as a corporate titan, will now be remembered for his brief, ineffectual record as secretary of state. Michael Cohen, Trump’s former attorney, and Paul Manafort, his former campaign manager, are in prison.

Bolton’s comeuppance is of a different kind. By taking to Fox News to kiss up to Trump, he became national security adviser, a job that no other president would have ever given to a discredited warmonger. His reward is that, after devoting his life to the expansion of American power globally, he’s a hapless party to its contraction. For a person to sell out his putative ideals for such a hollow victory would be like a Greek drama, if the Greeks had written dramas about such small men. ...

It’s nightmarish to live in a country where our foreign policy has been reduced to an intramural battle between Fox News reactionaries. And there’s still a danger that Bolton could outmaneuver the isolationists. But right now there is a thin, bitter consolation in knowing that he, like so many others who’ve worked for Trump, sacrificed his principles for power and will likely end up with neither.

[Reality Check]

That was a good article. Bolton is getting what he deserves. Like Jeff Sessions he has no shame and will continue to be humiliated until he is fired.