Is John Bolton Finally Getting His Due?

The matter of Bolton's selection reflects poorly on Trump. It seems that he picked Bolton after one or two "trusted advisers" told him Bolton would be a natural for the job of National Security Adviser. Trump discussed this and the following tidbits during the Joe Rogan episode that he was on right before the Nov 2024 election.

Immediately after Bolton was in that position, Trump learned of numerous other details that had Trump thinking that Bolton should not have his new job. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been to realize his mistake after the fact.

I also cannot imagine how you would as president push Bolton out of the position that he'd just been selected for. Talk about embarrassing! But at least he had the information to take anything that Bolton told him with a grain of salt.

A lot of conspirators are busy shredding documents today. Democrats created a precedent and they will regret it.

CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill (View Comment):

I also cannot imagine how you would as president push Bolton out of the position that he’d just been selected for. Talk about embarrassing! But at least he had the information to take anything that Bolton told him with a grain of salt.

True. But let's remember that Trump made the mistake of taking the advice of others for his administration many times and regretted it. I don't know what else he could have done, given that it was a whole new ballgame for him. But he has clearly learned his lessons.

CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill (View Comment):
I also cannot imagine how you would as president push Bolton out of the position that he’d just been selected for. Talk about embarrassing! But at least he had the information to take anything that Bolton told him with a grain of salt.

Susan Quinn (View Comment):

True. But let’s remember that Trump made the mistake of taking the advice of others for his administration many times and regretted it. I don’t know what else he could have done, given that it was a whole new ballgame for him. But he has clearly learned his lessons.

He has learned in some ways. In others, not so much.

I can't imagine being in a situation like Trump is in where you have no idea of whom you should trust and whose advice you should ignore. It would be nice if a president can rely on friends and their advice, but are our friends up to speed on national security issues, etc?

As far as people Trump could benefit from: I wish Scott Ritter could prevail on someone in the current administration to get him a "sit down" meeting with Trump. Ritter is not, of course, right on everything. But his assessment of why we have been doing so badly in the proxy war fought against Russia in the Ukraine is spot on.

Ritter's knowledge of how when Russia loses its weapons on the battlefield, they are replaced in 8 weeks, while when ours are blown up it takes eight months is vital information our Commander in Chief needs to know. A lot of Trump's new found friends like Liz Cheney etc are highly connected to the defense contracting firms. They most certainly do not want an entity like DOGE picking apart at their corruption. Inside his "big beautiful bill" Trump just boosted the revenue which these corrupt firms will be leaching from our annual budget. They deserved an audit, not a pay increase.

I am saddened by this. There have been times when I thought Bolton would bring a needed familiarity with the extent and uses of military force and the national security legacy Trump inherited from past administrations to a strong willed president determined to cut his own path forward. I was disappointed with Bolton's post-Trump book, braying about his damaged dignity and unrecognized brilliance. The Bolton Trump knew was, at best, a caricature of his past self who would have been best served to be left to his speaking tours and academic distractions. Sharing valuable knowledge and insights with a new generation rather than beclowning himself in a bid for influence and power.

Trump was very straightforward about how he used Bolton, as a hawk scarecrow of sorts, an incarnate threat of military action with a bushy mustache. The lack of influence will drive an ambitious man mad. There are honorable ways to serve a quiet role for a respectable period and then move on when you discover yourself unable to serve the president to your mutual satisfaction, or to submit a principled resignation and move gracefully on. I like to think a younger Bolton would have conducted himself more gracefully.

There is a plague in DC of public figures clinging to power long past their prime. I do not exclude the president entirely from this category, but in spite of any infirmities he serves the republic admirably in balance while our grifter corps, we all know the names, are as picturesque as pigs in slop. Normally, an ambitious and energetic young generation forces out their elders one way or another. We need more of that, not less.