Now McMaster is skewing the facts.

In one fell swoop, Trump revealed his abject unfitness and exposed McMaster, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and deputy national security adviser Dina Powell — all who personally attempted to knock down the story — as dishonest hacks.

 

It is not unreasonable to ask whether McMaster, a lieutenant general who was previously seen as one of the few credible voices in the administration, can now serve the country and protect it from an unfit president only by resigning.

 

McMaster and Tillerson are complicit in Trump’s dishonesty, so must they resign?
Jennifer Rubin, Opinion, The Washington Post

 


Now McMaster is skewing the facts.
His duplicitous hornswoggling smacks
of trumpian gall
and he’s caught in the thrall
as his stellar integrity cracks.

Susan E. Eckenrode, 5/16/17

 

While schmoozing two Russians last week

Last Wednesday, security experts nearly had a conniption when they realized that President Trump had welcomed Russian state media into the Oval Office. It turns out that was the least of the security breaches that day.

 

[…]

 

Trump’s disclosure of the sensitive details, withheld even from American allies, to Russia, an uneasy rival in the Middle East, is yet another jawdropping misstep by a president whose administration thus far is best viewed as a series of errors and gaffes.

 

Trump Revealed Highly Classified Information to Russian Officials
The Atlantic

 


 

While schmoozing two Russians last week,
the POTUS allowed them a peek
at intel on Isis
creating a crisis
of trust among allies we seek.

Susan E. Eckenrode, 5/15/17

 

It’s apparent there’s now no disputin’

“A Russian government-controlled think tank had outlined plans on how to swing the 2016 U.S. election toward Donald Trump, according to a Reuters report Thursday. New documents reveal a strategy of using social media to bolster Mr. Trump and undermine faith in America’s electoral system. ”

 

Russian think tank planned to influence the U.S. election, new documents reveal
PBS News Hour

 


 

It’s apparent there’s now no disputin’
that a think tank enabled by Putin
launched a devious plan
promoting a man
whose primary interest is lootin’.

© 2017 Susan E. Eckenrode

 


Tonight, as the gibbous moon waxes

“The notion that military action salvages a president on the defensive, boldly underscoring his role as commander in chief, is nothing new. But there’s a fresh wrinkle in this case, because those bombs put Trump at particular odds with Russia at a moment when there’s enormous advantage in that.”

 

The Riddle of Trump’s Syria Attack
Frank Bruni, Opinion, The New York Times

 


 

Tonight, as the gibbous moon waxes,
Consider how crisis distracts us:
Eighty million-plus bucks
Spent on Tomahawk strikes—
What portion of that from his taxes?

© 2017 Colleen Anderson

 


As Russiagate mushrooms in scope

“Throughout the confusion of Donald Trump’s campaign and the chaotic events of his early days in the White House, one controversy has clung to the Trump train like glue: Russia.”

 

Russia: The scandal Trump can’t shake
BBC

 


 

As Russiagate mushrooms in scope,
Many good citizens hope
the old adage is true,
what they say he will do
If you’ve given a man enough rope.

© 2017 Colleen Anderson

 


So Flynn has a story to tell

“When you are given immunity, that means you probably committed a crime.” -Michael Flynn, in a 2016 Meet the Press Interview

The congressional official said investigators were unwilling to broker a deal with Mr. Flynn — who resigned last month for misleading White House officials about his contacts with Russia’s ambassador to the United States — until they are further along in their inquiries and they better understand what information Mr. Flynn might offer as part of a deal.

 

Michael Flynn Offers to Testify Before Congress in Exchange for Immunity
The New York Times

 


 

So Flynn has a story to tell,
a blatant, bombastic bombshell
of self-implication,
with one stipulation:
He won’t spend his life in a cell.

© 2017 Mary Boren

 


We want some real prodding and poking

“Frankly, if Republicans in Congress want to demonstrate independence from a failing president and avoid constant questions about the issue they’d be smart to offload the entire matter to an independent commission or select committee. Nunes has made his own position — and Republicans’ support for him — increasingly difficult to maintain.”

Now  we know why Trump panicked about Russia probe
The Washington Post

 

Graphic by Rafael Barker


 


We want some real prodding and poking
To learn what this White House is cloaking.
Nunes, open that door,
We need to know more.
There’s a fire underneath all that smoking.

© 2017 Colleen Anderson

Is their ending about to begin

“Trump has consistently denied business or political ties with Russia but has also been conspicuously reluctant to criticise Putin and raised the prospect of reviewing sanctions against the country. Opponents argue there is circumstantial evidence that Trump colluded with Moscow to help his campaign but definitive proof has remained elusive.”

Will Russia connection become the Trump administration’s Watergate?
The Guardian

 


Is their ending about to begin
with a hugely cacophonous din?
When it’s all said and done
will they just cut and run
or will truth trump their lies for a win?

© Lily Beth Baker, 2017


 

While the Russian connection still looms

The new Wikileaks release of sensitive CIA documents about its cyber capabilities is many things, but perhaps most importantly it is a reminder that the campaign Russia is waging against the West and the United States is an ongoing effort, not something that happened in the past.

Why the Return of WikiLeaks Is a Problem for Trump
U.S. News & World Report


 

While the Russian connection still looms
and the smoke is arising in plumes,
here comes a new load
of news to implode
as the Wikileaks leaking resumes.

© Susan E. Eckenrode, 2017


 

What’s up with his old pals in Russia?


Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell has launched a website to document the personal, social and business connections between the Russian government and members of the Trump administration — and the threats of such links to U.S. interests.

In an interview Thursday, the East Bay congressman called it a “living, breathing guide to what is happening” and noted that the site is evolving along with the story.

Swalwell, ranking member of the CIA Subcommittee of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, also is calling for an independent, bipartisan commission to probe the extent and nature of ties between the Trump administration and Russia.

 -The Mercury News


 

Well, Putin is licking his chops,
delighted with all the fine props
trump’s throwing his way…
a full on display
of ignorant, mendacious sops.

© Susan E. Eckenrode, 2017

Yes, ole Putin is locked on his mark,
and for him our fiasco’s a lark.
He’ll call it a win
by creating a din
that could snuff out democracy’s spark.

© Lily Beth Baker, 2017