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The Devil Made Him Do It 666Reader comment on item: [Symposium] What Conservative Historians Are Saying about Trump's First 100 Days Submitted by Michael S, May 3, 2017 at 10:41 Hello, Dhimminomore You mentioned the "Deep State", without noting its affiliation. What is their agenda? "The concept of a deep state is that there exists a coordinated effort by career government employees to influence state policy without regard for democratically elected leadership.[1][2][3][4][5] The term, which was originally used to refer to sophisticated shadow governments in countries like Turkey and post-Soviet Russia, has also been used in U.S. political science to refer to entrenched government institutions wielding power, without necessarily implying a conspiracy.[6][7] Detractors claim that this idea is a "conspiracy theory" "Some Trump allies and right-wing media outlets have claimed, without evidence, that former president Barack Obama is coordinating a deep state resistance to Trump.[20][22] [20] Julie Hirschfeld Davis (March 6, 2017). "Rumblings of a 'Deep State' Undermining Trump? It Was Once a Foreign Concept". The New York Times. [23] David Weigel (March 7, 2017). "Trump and Republicans see a 'deep state' foe: Barack Obama". The Washington Post. -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_state_in_the_United_States I am VERY skeptical about there being a Deep Statre "conspiracy", orchestrated by Barack Obama. What I entirely believe, is that there is indeed a "deep state", consisting of perennial mid-to-upper-level functionaries in the labyrinthine federal bureaucracy -- people who have held their positions under the administrations of many presidents, whose agenda is little more than self-aggrandizement. Concerning the "gas attack" episode, I believe what I have read, that Ivanka Kushner was largely responsible for swaying her daddy, the President, to taking action against the supposed perpetrator (Bashar al-Assad). I think it's unlikely that Ivanka acted without the connivance of her husband, who has himself been accused of being part of a "political insider" conspiracy. I believe Mr. Kushner IS part of a conspiracy; but his AGENDA is, like his "Deep state" counterparts, simply self-aggrandizement, howbeit on a far grander scale. The "conspiracy" end of the matter simply flows out of the fact that Kushner (as well as his father-in-law) is a well-connected, high-rolling businessman; and chief among his "co-conspirators" are Ivanka and the other Trumps, as well as the Kushner clan. Beyond extending their own personal empires, I don't think there's an ideological bone in their bodies. Are you with me so far? With what I just said, how does this "conspiracy" affect Israel? How about Jared Kushner's Orthodox Jewish religion? Is that a factor? American Orthodox Jews are known for their strong support of Israel and of the settlement of the territories. If this is the case, though, why are so many on Israel's Right uneasy about the Trump presidency? Probably because Orthodox Judaism isn't Kushner's main religion: his main religion is himself; and, in a "trickle-down" fashion, those in his inner circle. How am I doing so far. Notice that I am NOT invoking any classical "conspiracy" theory; just good, old-fashioned self-interest. Now, I will say something that will induce shocked disbelief in nearly anyone: Kushner is probably the "antichrist". Why would I say something so outlandish? It focuses largely on his affection for the property he bought, paying a record-breaking price, at 666 Fifth Avenue in New York. The name of the place, and the fact that the building used to sport that number Ee-yuge! letters. Chalk that up to coincidence. Also assume that Kushner knows absolutely nothing about the Bible, and has been oblivious to all the "666" and "antichrist" chatter in TV evangelist circles. Still, we are left with the following: "666 Fifth Ave. was supposed to be the crown jewel of the Kushner empire. Instead it's a 41-story metaphor for the international real estate conflicts that have trailed Jared Kushner, and President Trump, to Washington. It's a reminder that no matter how much Trump and Kushner make a show out of separating themselves from their real estate empires, the business and the fortunes of their families in New York are closely entwined with the highly scrutinized interactions of global diplomacy. ""I love New Yorkâit's the greatest city in the world," Kushner told the Real Deal after he closed the deal in 2007. "In this particular transaction, we bought really the CENTER OF THE WORLD, Fifth Avenue and 52nd Street. It doesn't get any better than that."" -- http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2017/04/07/kushner_s_666_5th_avenue_is_a_perfect_metaphor_of_the_trump_administration.html Kushner may be the second most powerful person at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC; but his heart is at 666 Fifth Avenue, New York City. Conspiracy theory? Self-aggrandizement? "The Devil made me do it?" In this case, is there any difference?
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