By Denny Gulino
THE WHITE HOUSE (MaceNews) – A Cabinet meeting is not only a “must-show” for the 17 administration officials at that high level, it also draws another 19 top administration officials. That President Trump was there too Tuesday was more than the usual highlight for the simple reason his performance for the pool reporters and picture people was his first public appearance since that surprise trip to the hospital Saturday.
He appeared in what he might consider top form, accusing the media of being “corrupt” and saying some had speculated he had suffered a heart attack or at least chest pains Saturday. Those reports were of great concern to the First Lady, he said.
“These people are sick. They are sick,” he said. “The press really in this country is dangerous. We don’t have freedom of the press in this country. We have the opposite. We have a very corrupt media. “
Over on Capitol Hill, Rep. Devin Nunes, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, a little earlier in the day began the day’s impeachment inquiry session with a long recitation of media sins, repeating many of the headlines during the Mueller probe that turned out to be wrong, examples that seemed to say you can’t believe everything you read, or hear or sometimes see.
“With their biased misreporting on the Russia hoax, the media lost the confidence of millions of Americans,” Nunes said. “And because they refuse to acknowledge how badly they botched the story, they’ve learned no lessons and simply expect Americans will believe them as they try to stoke yet another partisan frenzy,” he said.
Many in the media have acknowledged errors in reporting of the Mueller probe. They also argue that the vast weight of those years of reporting turned out to be true. They have never acknowledged any systemic bias.
Given the constant accusations of lying by the president and occasionally by his spokespeople, it was no surprise that there has been widespread media skepticism about the reasons given for the hospital trip. Though not on his public schedule, the half-hour travel to Walter Reed drew enough camera shots to show the president was moving under his own power.
Some accounts described Trump as appearing more rumpled that usual. Yet the White House physician issued a statement calling the hospital trip to be routine, part of Trump’s continuing preventive care that will continue in January. The doctor even provided, with Trump’s permission, some improved cholesterol readings.
However it was one more sign of the consequences of the battle behind the battles between the White House and the House of Representative’s Democratic majority, the news media, even the presumption that establishing truth is important – and possible.
The early afternoon statement issued by the president’s chief spokesperson, Stephanie Grisham, was the latest chapter of the attack from the White House:
“We have learned nothing new in today’s illegitimate ‘impeachment’ proceedings,’ she wrote. “However, buried among the witnesses’ personal opinions and conjecture about a call the White House long ago released to the public, both witnesses testified the July 25 transcript was ‘accurate’ and nothing President Trump has done or said amounts to ‘bribery’ or any other crime.”
The nature of truth has been a major preoccupation of mankind through the ages, as is evident through – what else? – a Google search. We are reminded Plato wrote an allegory about the debate between Socrates and Thrasymachus, who equated intelligence with craftiness and who argued it takes a greater intelligence to appear truthful than it does to be an actual truth teller. The outcome is what justifies the means.
Still, policy differences do not necessarily involve the battle for truth. The formation of policy does not necessarily call for consistency. So when Israeli West Bank settlements are declared by the Trump administration consistent with international law this week, although the Obama administration had decided otherwise, the issue is not truth, but a certain world view.
In removing a handful of U.S. troops from the path in Syria of Turkish troops in order to “bring the troops home” the president did not actually say he was bringing about a net reduction despite the implication. In fact he sent more troops to the Mideast. The White House, as required by the War Powers Resolution, formally notified Congress in midafternoon that 3,000 American troops have been stationed indefinitely in Saudi Arabia.
“To assure our partners, deter further Iranian provocative behavior, and bolster regional defensive capabilities, additional United States Armed Forces have been ordered to deploy to the Middle East,” the notification read.
Which brings us to the single biggest question about the future of the U.S. and global economy, something important to know about and yet about which very little is known. Reports from Beijing indicate China is insisting at least some U.S. tariffs be rolled back before “Phase 1” will be signed.
President Trump, asked again for a status report before that Cabinet meeting got underway Tuesday reverted to pre-Phase 1 language, as if no preliminary agreement had been reached.
“China is going to have to make a deal that I like. If they don’t, that’s it,” Trump said. “If we don’t make a deal with China, I’ll just raise the tariffs even higher.”
The president did not say the prospect for an agreement is in doubt. This time he did not characterize the amount of movement toward or away from an agreement at all. He did say he has good relations with China. Truth, non-truth, an implication? Or something in between, a bubble of ambiguity?