John Kelly
There to impose order on the White House?
We normally don’t engage in conspiracy theories, but here’s one for you:
According to a recent article in the Wall St. Journal, the hard-nosed former four star general and new Chief of Staff John Kelly, is “bring(ing) new order and discipline to a West Wing” of the White House. He’s “taking the reins” and controlling not only what paper work goes to the President, but who gets in to see him. This includes Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump. They, too, only get in to see the president if Kelly says so.
The article quotes close associate and supporter of Trump, Rudy Giuliani, as saying “It wouldn’t work to try to isolate President Trump…” Giuliani went on to deny that Kelly in any way will be “isolat(ing) the president.” The Wall St. Journal also reported, “A White House official said Mr. Kelly has been ‘very clear that he’s here to manage the staff, not to manage the president.” ‘ In other words, that’s exactly what they hope for: That Kelly can get Trump under control, even if this means isolating him.
Can that work?
Well, here’s the other part of the conspiracy theory: The impanelling of a federal Grand Jury to investigate Republican/Trump campaign collusion with Putin & co. One thing this will do is put a stop to the steady drip, drip, drip of leaks, because revealing any information from a Grand Jury is a crime. So, they’ll keep everything under wraps for six months or so and let the story fade from the news. Meanwhile, the message to Trump is this:
“Shut up. Stop the ‘chaos theory of government’ (as the Wall St. Journal put it). Let Kelly run things, including relations with Russia. If you go along with that, we might indict one or two of your underlings, including possibly son-in-law Kushner as well as Flynn, but we’ll leave your immediate family along and we’ll say that your involvement has not been proven. You can use that to say you’ve been completely exonerated, that it was all fake news, and we will continue to use that as a threat hanging over your head.
“Or else…
“Meanwhile, run on off to your private golf course in New Jersey while Kelly gets things straightened out.”
The question is whether Trump will be able to contain himself. Maybe the threat of humiliation will impose the necessary discipline. But if, in fact, as some have theorized, Trump is already suffering from Alzheimers, then all bets are off.
How’s that for a conspiracy theory?