Common Knowledge

Storm view from my porch

The scandal of Michael Wolff’s new book isn’t its salacious details—it’s that everyone in Washington has known its key themes, and refused to act. (source)

But...but... it’s being said, on the Left and the Right, that Wolff’s not a 100% reliably well sourced journo.

Steve M. over at No More Mister Nice Blog notes that:

New York magazine's excerpt from Michael Wolff's new book is an astounding and highly satisfying piece of entertainment. But there are enough doubts about its veracity that The Washington Post has already published two columns warning us to read the book skeptically, one by media critic Paul Farhi and the other by political reporter Aaron Blake.

from the kitchen window

Mebbe but what Wolff's described has been an open secret. Trump and his team’s bullshit behavior has been reported on – known. His crimes and misdemeanors have existed plainly without our public servants acting. Yeah, I'm lookin' at YOU, Republican Party. Why haven't they done the right thing? The Tax Scam for one. I imagine they view 45 as a useful showboating idiot. Someone to spark up the rubes and distract the rest of us, so's they can continue their dismantling of our democracy.

Back at the open secret thing – in the very funny Wonkette write up, Evan Hurst sez:

Golly, nothing Michael Wolff is saying is any different from EVERY OTHER GODDAMN THING WE HAVE HEARD SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

from my bed

Yup. Truth.

Even if Wolff dabbled in stray bits of embroidery or a speck of lily gilding, nothing in the pages of this book (which I SO want!) is big fresh news. It was all a fat open Republican-facilitated secret. Only not so much a secret if you get your honest-to-Bast facts from real news outlets versus Fox, Breitbart, Trump TV and other Right-Wing propagandists.

Trump’s crew of crack legal beagles (AKA The Gang That Couldn't Sue Straight) are trying to stop the book’s publication. Good luck buddies! We still, relievedly, have that beautiful First Amendment going for us here in the battered ol’ U.S. of A.

from Coco's cot

Politico notes:

If the government couldn’t stop publication of the Pentagon Papers, the president certainly won’t be stopping the release of Michael Wolff’s explosive new book, Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House.

Yup. Dudes you’re toast and if the flood waters have receded here in Valhalla, I’ma go out and buy a LOT of popcorn today.

Also, I only mention it but, with all the snippets already published nearly everywhere, the weasel’s outta the bag. All the Orange Psycho Puff (thanks Michelle!) has done is ensure skyrocket sales. By the by, publication date’s been moved up from next Tuesday to TODAY! Amazon has a Kindle version for a nicely affordable $14.99. Just in case you’re interested.

So, the Poison Pill Prez is doing for Wolff what he couldn’t for Luther Strange or Child Molester Moore. He’s making him a big, BIG success.

In particular, I just LOVE this reaction line from the Scamster in Chief:

Steve Bannon has nothing to do with me or my presidency,” Trump said. “When he was fired, he not only lost his job, he lost his mind.” (source)

Ya know pal, no one who’s been awake for any part of the last year could possibly believe you. He was your Chief Strategist and Counselor after all. Also too, it’s a known thing that you still talked with yur best bud even after mean old Kelly made you fire him.

Funny, the stars look very different today.