Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi are having dinner in The White House with Donald Trump on Wednesday. We have noticed the three; Donald Trump, Pelosi, and Schumer getting close to one another. But who is playing whom?
Is Donald playing American politics or The Art of War?
Ever since the sixth of this month when they made a deal to raise the debt ceiling and get relief funding for Hurricane Harvey I have had questions about what’s really going on in the White House. It is all subterfuge and confusion. One hand seems oblivious to the activities of the other.
I’m left wondering though, who played who in that particular deal. But then, the obfuscation that American politics has become of late should make every single American wary of the intentions and motivations of every politician.
Sun Tzu’s The Art of War tells us to appear weak when we are strong, strong when we are weak, to never let our opponent rest, and to create division among the enemy. It extolls the virtue of defeating an enemy without the need to fight, the “Supreme excellence” of breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.
Up to now, it would seem that Donald Trump has been following Sun Tzu. And since appearing bumbling, buffoonish, and inept he might actually be sly, cunning, and crafty, we may not know for certain until whatever agenda he has is fulfilled.
Whether POTUS is a sociopath or versed in the Art of War, Chuck and Nancy have work cut out
One thing is certain to me, and that is that Chuck and Nancy, not to be confused with Sid and Nancy, will need to bring a higher level of politicking than any politician has likely ever had to use with them to dinner Wednesday. What they might have to use could be more aptly described as smoke and mirrors.
If, after all, they are dealing with a petulant sociopath.
A sociopath that is simple minded enough might be easily manipulated should one endeavor to understand what is it that motivates them. On the other hand, if we are dealing with a fan of The Art of War then we’re not dealing with as simple minded of a person as we might think.
The illusion in the White House
If that is the case then we are dealing with an illusion. After all, we have had to fact check every single statement that Donald has made since he first began running for POTUS. The lies are into the hundreds. Also right in line with The Art of War verse “All warfare is based on deception.”
I imagine that for a liberal minded Democrat going to dinner in this particular White House with this particular POTUS must feel like going to eat dinner in the lion’s den. Personally, I would find it difficult to eat. Being around such despicable depravity would turn my stomach. Garçon! Drinks! Keep em comin!
If this is indeed what Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi are doing then I commend them. I am both in complete awe at their political savoir faire, and more than a bit wary of their powers of deception. Time will tell if either sentiment is warranted.
