Volume 6, Issue 29
Literally, the world responded with outrage.
Raw emotions evoked a political firestorm. Virtually every Republican U.S. Senator condemned Trump’s comments. It is one thing to give moral support to a proven authoritarian ruler. It is quite another to refute the investigative integrity of official agencies of the United States government. The question now becomes, what is the President of the United States’ reasoning in executing American foreign policy?
Detractors claim that there are only four possible scenarios. One, the Russian government has compromising information on President Trump rendering him hapless. Two, he is totally incapable of directing a cogent foreign policy. Three, his ego cannot stand any challenge to the legitimacy of his election. Or four, that he is unhinged.
There is a possible fifth answer.
Donald Trump is conducting business as President of the United States just as he has conducted business all his life. Partners in a project are at times complacent. To extract more favorable cooperation, blunt rhetoric is necessary to establish a new sense of reality. President Trump may sense that this is the case with our European and NATO alliance partners.
When dealing with a rogue competitor in a real estate deal in New York, sometimes deference to histrionics may be required. When one’s adversary has independent control of resources that are critical to a deal, acquiescence to ego may produce positive participation. In President Putin’s case, resolving the Syrian civil war and, therefore ending further civilian bloodshed, is incumbent upon Russian cooperation. Isolation of Russia in the past has not cured the Syrian or Iranian conflicts.
This in no way justifies President Trump’s paean act of extolment.
However, there are other winds of politics pressuring the sails of ships of state.
The Political Estates
Historically, there have been four political entities that affect the course of governments, commonly referred to as estates. They are by definition an entity or a group of people of like-minded intellect, intent or circumstances that have as part of their purpose and mission statement the directing of a ship of state in a certain philosophical direction. These forces included the First Estate: the king; the Second Estate: the nobles; and the Third Estate: the commoners. Since the advent of the United States and constitutionally protected free speech, the press is now recognized as the Fourth Estate.
In modern times, the government has replaced the king as the First Estate. Corporations, bureaucrats, influential individuals, and intellectual elites have replaced the nobles as the Second Estate. The middle-class has replaced the commoner as the Third State. And, the press has gained strength as the Fourth Estate.
Within the past decade, a Fifth Estate has emerged, the judicial and investigative process. This is to be distinguished from the judicial branch of government. It does include the Justice Department, judicial activists who legislate from the bench, the FBI which is part of the Justice Department, and Special Counselors as represented by Robert Mueller. Again, the definition of a political estate is an entity or group of individuals that executes its core purpose at times driven by political determinations. Robert Mueller may be conducting a proper investigation. But, releasing the indictment of the Russian officials just days before the meeting between President Trump and President Putin was a political decision. There is no other reasonable explanation for the timing. And no plausible explanation has been proffered. Former FBI Director James Comey committed the same error in his investigation of Hillary Clinton’s emails.
Since the beginning of Trump’s presidency, four of the five political estates have declared war on the President personally. Progressives refuse to recognize the legitimacy of that for which he stands. Therefore, he, along with his Administration, must be destroyed. President Barak Obama certainly received opposition from the right, but nowhere near the level of intensity or ferociousness of an all-out assault from political estates of power.
Donald Trump was elected by those in society who felt as though they had fallen “between the cracks” and were abandoned as prey to the economic wolves of society. Much like the citizens of Lexington who fired the first shot heard ‘round the world, they had had enough of the First and Second Estates.
Over the centuries, political estates have partnered with each other, built alliances for their own purposes, and basically manipulated dialog and discussion for their own self-interest. At times throughout history, the clergy have qualified as a First Estate. Whether a king or the clergy, the abstract concept of an all-powerful government existed in a mythical reality. Today, the intertwining of the First, Second, Fourth and Fifth Estates is the composite of the Establishment.
In the rough and tumble business world of New York City, there is an old adage: keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
This afternoon, President Trump recanted on his remarks at Helsinki. He now claims that he does believe American intelligence sources that Russia meddled in American elections. It is only the 2nd time in his presidency that he has admitted he made a mistake. Already, the combined forces of the political estates in opposition to the President have said, “Twenty-four hours later is too late.” The truth is that the attacks on President Trump have never abated, not even one hour before the summit. One could question the patriotism of any American who does not support the President when on foreign soil prior to a major meeting. Constant opposition weakens the President’s position when negotiating with enemies or allies.
President Trump made a mistake. Russia is not our ally. President Putin does not reflect nor respect individual constitutional rights of liberty and pursuit of happiness. Russian actions in Ukraine, Crimea, and Syria demand accountability. The evidence presented indicates that agents, operating at the behest of the Russian government, criminally interfered in the U.S. elections of 2016. Our elections must be protected at all costs.
What is important and critical to the future of America is that citizens first determine and commit to values, purpose, and ideals that uniquely define the core of our culture. Without a modicum of universal cultural vision, the binding cords of the United States will unwind. The political estates of Europe operated pursuant to the normal course of business for a millennium. Holding to business as usual, in the objective of keeping the order of the Establishment intact, ended with World War I and World War II, resulting in over 72 million deaths. This then, in history, the world has experienced the epic strivings of the political estates. This part of history we need not repeat.
The elections of 2016 rendered an unexpected result. Yet that result was the hope of the Third Estate. Democracy often does not yield to the desires of intellectual elites. The Third Estate’s wisdom has proven infinitely superior in times of crisis. One may find President Trump detestable. If so, oppose him in the next election. But, remember the moral obligation to support democracy and common values.
We live in times of great unraveling in the world. We as Americans must stand on principle first. The political agenda of all estates should be secondary to the Great Agenda of liberty as codified by the establishment of the United States of America.
My name is Marc Nuttle and this is what I believe.
What do you believe?