BloggeRhythms

Regardless of opinions held regarding the new POTUS - pro, con or indifferent- it must be admitted by all that most often his promises and stated claims prove correct in the long run. 

In that regard, a huge boost to his credibility was gained yesterday when disclosures about his being spied upon served to vindicate Trump who was widely criticized for claiming he was surveilled by his predecessor.

James Rosen reported @FoxNews.com that evidence “purportedly seen by committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., and described by him in vague terms at a bombshell Wednesday afternoon news conference, came from multiple sources, Capitol Hill sources told Fox News.”

Most importantly, “the intelligence corroborated information about surveillance of the Trump team that was known to Nunes, sources said, even before President Trump accused his predecessor of having wiretapped him in a series of now-infamous tweets posted on March 4.”

The timing is of significant interest because although the “FBI hasn’t been responsive to the House Intelligence Committee’s request for documents, the National Security Agency is expected to produce documents to the committee by Friday. The NSA document production is expected to produce more intelligence than Nunes has so far seen or described – including what one source described as a potential “smoking gun” establishing the spying.” 

And all of this follows FBI director Comey’s denials of involvement which, according to Bob Unruh @wnd.com yesterday, have now led the lawyer who founded Judicial Watch and later Freedom Watch, Larry Klayman, to send a letter to Representative Nunes asking him to look at a whistleblower’s evidence of “systematic illegal surveillance on prominent Americans, again including the chief justice of the Supreme Court, other justices, 156 judges, prominent businessmen such as Donald Trump, and even yours truly.” 

“That spying was done, Klayman’s letter contends, by the FBI. 

“It’s become a major issue following President Trump’s assertion that he and Trump Tower were spied upon by the federal government, and the subsequent denials by intelligence and law-enforcement officials, including FBI Director James Comey, who famously cleared Hillary Clinton on accusations she mishandled classified information as U.S. secretary of state.”

So, we’ve now come full circle again, to the extent that Director Comey may well be involved in another instance of questionable activities.  

Bill Gertz took the subject further @freebeacon.com, adding that: “Rep. Devin Nunes (R., Calif.), the chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, indicated that the administration used its foreign intelligence gathering authority to spy on the discussions of Trump and his transition team by improperly unmasking the identity of Americans who were swept up in foreign electronic spying. 

"What I've read seems to be some level of surveillance activity, perhaps legal, but I don't know that it's right and I don't know if the American people would be comfortable with what I've read," said Nunes, who uncovered the reports. 

“The full extent of the improper spying—including the improper unmasking of Americans whose identities were to be hidden in reports of foreign communications intercepts—is expected to be disclosed Friday, Nunes said.” 

And here again, the article includes references to possible irregularities whereas: “The explosive reports uncovered by Nunes contradict public testimony Monday by FBI Director James Comey and National Security Agency Director Adm. Mike Rogers. 

“Comey and Rogers stated during an intelligence committee hearing that they had no information to support Trump's claims in a series of tweets that he had been placed under electronic surveillance by President Obama.” 

Yet, despite the frequency and magnitude of denials to date by government officials, as stated above, Trump has most often proven to be correct in his claims and suspicions. Clearly suggesting that it’s only a matter of time until he’s shown to be right about this one too.   

On another subject, Doug Schoen, Democrat political analyst also at FoxNews.com, often offers opinions regarding party leaders performance. While quite supportive of Trump’s handling of his presidential campaign he made sure to state before the election: “I cannot vote for Donald Trump as his world view and mine are very different.” 

Back on November 9th Schoen wrote: “The November 8 election result is the rejection of the left of the Democratic party that calls for the redistribution of wealth, free college, a $15 minimum wage and embraces unions to the exclusion of ordinary people. Americans sent a clear signal that they are looking for our nation to project strength in foreign policy, a marquee issue for Donald Trump.” 

And now, today, he explains that Trump rode a populist wave through November, managing to allay concerns about himself and then win the election “in a remarkable upset victory.” 

Yet, after presenting the background and rationale for Trump’s deserved victory, Schoen writes: “Today, however, the Republican postponement of the American Health Care Act signals not only that Trump is still unable to unite his party, but that his ability to lead and deliver on his many promises is in serious jeopardy.  

“Given this postponement, the Republicans are now forced to delay tax reform, delay any and all plans for infrastructure investment, and, of course, delay repealing and replacing Obamacare with a new healthcare program, which in the President’s words would provide, “insurance for everybody.”  

“As a result of this log-jam, the favorable economic data and stock market rallies Trump has frequently cited as early successes may very well screech to a halt too.” 

So, here we have Schoen, critiquing from the sidelines about Trump, who managed to attain the Oval Office, although the office itself has been held for all of nine weeks. 

Despite the short time elapsed, though, Schoen can still tell us with what surely sounds like a good degree of certainty that Trump not only is “still unable to unite his party, but that his ability to lead and deliver on his many promises is in serious jeopardy.” Which has to be one of the most pompous, presumptuous snipes ever offered by one with no personal competitive track record whatsoever. Making one wonder where the credential comes from regarding critics with zero similar accomplishments of their own.      

In an interesting contradiction to Schoen opining that Trump’s ability to deliver on his promises is in serious jeopardy, Ben Lefebvre writes @politico.com: “The Trump administration will approve the Keystone XL oil pipeline by Monday, reversing one of former President Barack Obama’s most politically charged environmental decisions, according to two sources with knowledge of the plan. 

“The move by the State Department comes 16 months after Obama blocked construction of the 1,200-mile pipeline.”  

While Secretary of State and former Exxon Mobil Chief Executive Rex Tillerson recused himself from the process: “The approval, while long expected, will hand Trump a political victory and follows his promise to quickly approve the $8 billion project that developer TransCanada has sought to build for nearly a decade.” 

Adding this new success to what’s already transpired positively for Trump, leads right into an article by Louis Nelson @politico.com yesterday recapping event s of the new presidency, as follows: 

“In a wide-ranging interview with Time magazine, President Donald Trump defended his controversial statements on wiretapping, voter fraud and an array of other issues, claiming he has ultimately been proven right time and time again. 

“Trump was unapologetic about one of his most outlandish claims, made during the GOP primary, that Sen. Ted Cruz’s father had been involved in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. He was similarly unwilling to back away from claims made by the White House citing Fox News contributor Andrew Napolitano, who has been pulled off the air by the conservative network following his allegation that the British government surveilled Trump Tower at Obama’s behest. 

“Trump told Time he had only been “quoting highly respected people from highly respected television networks.” 

And then, Trump offered a typical conclusion that not only applies to the particular interview, but could be said to Doug Schoen as well: “That’s the story,” Trump said as the interview ended. “Hey look, in the meantime, I guess, I can’t be doing so badly, because I’m president, and you’re not. You know.” 

That's it for today folks. 

Adios