Political Illustration: Branco, LegalInsurrection.com
This article was written by Charles Hugh Smith and originally published at his Of Two Minds blog.
Editor’s Comment: There is no question that Hillary is a completely-aligned elitist candidate; her donor list, made up virtually only of billionaires and Wall Street types, makes this clear enough. Everything has been fixed, and there’s little need to even pretend that she hasn’t just been designated as the next in line, regardless of elections.
Elections: that’s one thing. Numbers, results, votes. Those are easily manipulated.
But the deeper sense of revolt among people, the larger backlash against what the establishment government has been doing for decades, this is a beast that must either be tamed or fed. Thus, Trump is looking more and more likely every day, even from an elitist point of view.
Even if everyone in the room and even behind the curtain holds their nose at Trump when he walks in the room or says something bombastic, Trump has something that Hillary could never buy: the sense of being a truly outside option, a chance at resetting and trying again. What has been done in America up to this point has, very clearly, not worked for the average American, the dying middle class families and the increasing number of desperate and poor populations.
In that climate and that context, it would seem that even a completely rigged election could hardly favor Hillary – she’s the new face of the system’s dirty diaper. Time to go. I think that is what Charles Hugh Smith is suggesting here.
Why the Deep State Is Dumping Hillary
by Charles Hugh Smith
The governed are ready for a period of retrenchment, consolidation and diplomatic solutions to unwinnable conflicts, as imperfect as the peace might be to hawks.
Are you open to a somewhat unconventional perspective on this election? If so, read on. If you’re absolutely confident you know all there is know about this election (good vs evil, Democrat vs. Republican, etc.), well then let’s compare notes in five years and see which context provided more insight into the future.
In the context presented here, the personalities of the two candidates matter less than their perceived role in the changing of the Imperial Order. Let’s start with a quick overview of the relationships between each political party and the Deep State–the unelected power centers of the central government that continue on regardless of which person or party is in elected office.
Liberal Democrats have always been uneasy bedfellows with the Deep State. Republican President Eisenhower had the political and military gravitas to put limits on the Military-Industrial wing of the Deep State, so much so that Democratic candidate John F. Kennedy claimed the U.S. had fallen behind the U.S.S.R. militarily in the 1960 presidential election (the infamous “missile gap”).
Eisenhower was a cautious Cold War leader, wary of hot wars, wars of conquest, and the inevitable burden of conquest, nation-building. The military was best left sheathed in his view, and careful diplomacy was sufficient to pursue America’s interests.
Kennedy entered office as a foreign policy hawk who was going to out-hawk the cautious Republicans. A brush with C.I.A. cowboys (the failed Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba) and a taste of Imperial meddling in distant, poorly understood lands (Vietnam) increased his interest in peace and reduced his enthusiasm for foreign adventurism.
Lyndon Johnson, perhaps the most activist liberal Democrat of the era, was not about to be out-hawked by the Republicans, and so he followed an expansive Imperial agenda into the 10-year quagmire of Vietnam.
Since the immense global enterprise known as World War II had taken less than four years to win, Americans had little patience for low-intensity wars that dragged on inconclusively for years while combat deaths mounted into the tens of thousands.
Liberal Democrats could find no easy political ground between the pressure to out-hawk the Republicans and the demands of an expansive Cold War Deep State. Both liberal Democratic presidents between 1965 and 1980, Johnson and Jimmy Carter, were one-term presidents, undermined by military/foreign entanglements.
The Republicans were given a freer hand; Nixon unleashed the B-52s on Hanoi in late 1972 until the North Vietnamese ran out of Soviet-supplied SAMs (surface to air missiles). Given a choice between a brokered peace or a flattened capital, they chose peace, and Nixon was free to declare victory and pull the majority of remaining American forces out of Southeast Asia.
The disastrous defeat in Vietnam of expansive Imperial ambitions (nation-building, etc.) led to an era of retrenchment and consolidation. Other than “splendid little wars” in Grenada and Panama and supporting proxies such as the Contras, the 1980s were years not of Imperial expansion but of Cold war diplomacy.
Republican President Reagan was also given a free hand to be a peacemaker, overseeing the fatal erosion of the U.S.S.R. and the end of the long, costly Cold War. President Bush Senior was a cautious Cold War leader, careful not to alienate the post-U.S.S.R. Russians and wary of over-reach and quagmires even in the new Unipolar world of unrivaled U.S. power.
The era’s one hot war, Desert Storm, restored the sovereignty of Kuwait but left Saddam Hussein in control of Iraq. Bush and his inner circle (and the Deep State they represented) were mindful of the lessons of Vietnam: Imperial over-reach led to costly, drawn-out failures of nation-building in the name of exporting democracy.
Though it was poorly understood by the public, Desert Storm played to American military strengths: a high-intensity conflict with concentrated forces, maneuver warfare with heavy armor protected by absolute air superiority, aided by proximity to allied bases and aircraft carrier groups. If you designed a war optimized to American military strengths, it would look much like Desert Storm. No wonder it was one of the most lopsided victories in history, with most American casualties resulting from random Scud missile strikes and accidents
The end of the Cold War and victory in Iraq left the Republicans without their hawkish agenda and political raison d’etre, and Ross Perot’s third-party movement in 1992 effectively delivered the presidency to Democrat Bill Clinton.
Clinton was blessed with a booming domestic economy and a peace dividend from the end of the Cold war. Though Clinton reportedly hankered for a great crisis he could exploit to burnish his place in the history books, alas none arose, and the 20th century ended with a decided absence of existential threats to the U.S. or even U.S. interests.
The incredible success of Desert Storm and the temptations of Unipolar Power birthed an expansionist, activist Imperial doctrine (neoconservatism) and a Deep State enthusiasm for flexing America’s unrivaled power. What better place to put these doctrines into practice than Iraq, a thorn in the Imperial side since Desert Storm in 1991.
Alas, Bush Junior and his clique of doctrinaire neoconservatives had little grasp of the limits and trade-offs of military tactics and strategies, and they confused the optimization of Desert Storm with universal superiority in any and all conflicts.
But as veterans of Vietnam knew, low-intensity war with diffused, irregular combatants is quite a different situation. Add in the shifting politics of Sunni and Shia, tribal allegiances, failed states and a post-colonial pot of simmering resentments and rivalries, and you get Iraq and Afghanistan, two quagmires that have already exceeded the cost and duration of the Vietnam quagmire.
A decade after the collapse of the U.S.S.R. and 25 years after Vietnam, the Deep State was once again enamored of expansion, hot wars, conquest and nation-building. Fifteen years on, despite endless neocon PR and saber-rattling, the smarter and more adept elements of the Deep State have given up on expansion, hot wars, conquest and nation-building.
Even empires eventually taste the ashes of defeat when expansion and hubris-soaked ambitions lead to over-reach, over-extended military forces, and enemies who are not just undeterred but much stronger than when the over-confident expansion began.
In my view, the current era of U.S. history shares parallels with the Roman era of A.D. 9 and beyond, when a planned expansionist invasion of the Danube region in central Europe led to military defeats and insurgencies that took years of patient warfighting and diplomacy to quell.
Which brings us to Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. President Obama, nominally a liberal Democrat, has pursued an extension of the neocon Bush expansionism, with the key difference being Obama has relied more on proxies and drone strikes than on “boots on the ground.” But the quagmires in Iraq and Afghanistan have not only persisted, they have expanded under Obama’s watch into Syria and Libya.
War by drone and proxy is even more tempting than outright invasion, as American casualties are modest and the responsibilities for failure are (it is fervently hoped) easily sidestepped. Alas, fulfilling Imperial ambitions via proxies has its own set of limits and trade-offs; proxy wars only get the desired results in very specific circumstances.
The Democrats have out-hawked the Republicans for eight years, and the Deep State is in disarray. I have been writing about this for several years now:
Is the Deep State Fracturing into Disunity? (March 14, 2014)
When we speak of the Deep State, this ruling Elite is generally assumed to be monolithic: of one mind, so to speak, unified in worldview, strategy and goals.
In my view, this is an over-simplification of a constantly shifting battleground of paradigms and political power between a number of factions and alliances within the Deep State. Disagreements are not publicized, of course, but they become apparent years after the conflict was resolved, usually by one faction winning the hearts and minds of decision-makers or consolidating the Deep State’s group-think around their worldview and strategy.
Even the Deep State only rules with the consent of the governed. The wiser elements of the Deep State recall how the Vietnam War split the nation in two and exacerbated social upheaval. These elements recognize America is tired of Imperial expansion, quagmires, proxy wars and doomed nation-building.
This exhaustion with over-reach shares many parallels with 1968 America.
In this long view of Imperial expansion, defeat and retrenchment, Hillary is holding down the status quo fort of failed expansionism and proxy wars. Her ability to out-hawk the Republicans is unquestioned, and that is one of her problems:
Could the Deep State Be Sabotaging Hillary? (August 8, 2016)
When the governed get tired of Imperial over-reach and expansion, they are willing to take chances just to get rid of the expansionist status quo. In this point in history, Hillary Clinton embodies the status quo. The differences in policy between her and the Obama administration are paper-thin: she is the status quo.
The governed are ready for a period of retrenchment, consolidation and diplomatic solutions to unwinnable conflicts, as imperfect as the peace might be to hawks.
For these reasons, the more adept elements of the Deep State have no choice but to dump Hillary. Empires fall not just from defeat in war with external enemies, but from the abandonment of expansionist Imperial burdens by the domestic populace.
Put another way: drones and proxies don’t pay taxes.
My interview with Rethinking The Dollar:
The FED Is Walking A Tightrope (32:18)
This article was written by Charles Hugh Smith and originally published at his Of Two Minds blog.
My new book is #6 on Kindle short reads -> politics and social science: Why Our Status Quo Failed and Is Beyond Reform ($3.95 Kindle ebook, $8.95 print edition)For more, please visit the book’s website. Join me in offering solutions by becoming a $1/month patron of this wild and crazy site via patreon.com.
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So what?. Or, rather, then what?
???
Exactly. Who cares? I see many dead elites.
Do any of these explanations really matter? IMHO, I do not know when but I do know there’ll be a grand reckoning regardless of who takes the seat. It’s only speculation but I can see the route to destruction with either Trump or Clinton, Clinton will continue to emasculate this country and the Fed will raise interest rates on Trump to undermine him. I really believe Trump wants to do what he says, I really believe he’s genuine but he’ll be swimming upstream against a raging current.
Stay quiet Be smart.
“”Kennedy entered office as a foreign policy hawk who was going to out-hawk the cautious Republicans.”
RUBBISH !!!
When JFK entered the Oval Office he found the CIA had already (poorly) planned the Bay of Pigs disaster and refused to give the rebels American military assistance: which is why the coup attempt failed.
Nixon would have committed American naval forces and eliminated Castro and the Commies in one fell swoop. In hindsight that may have been the better outcome.
Let’s not re-write history. 🙁
Hillary was dumped by the Elitists 8 years ago, when they found a better Puppet named Obama. Now Hillary is just too old and worn out, but still thinks its her turn, like she is in line for the job that is owed to her. She could care less, and needs to crawl home and be a Grandma, living off her and Bills fortune based on Bribes, pay for play.
Or handcuff her in the stage tonight, throw her in Prison and set her trial date for middle of next year.
Love to see that witch hobble in her jail cell for a year, mumbling to herself preparing for her trial of being a sell out and traitor to America.
~WWTI…
God I hope he’s right but the fact is that people vote with their pocketbook. Trump needs an economic catastrophe in the next month to cinch the deal. Hang on.
Neither Trump or Hillary will be inaugurated as the next President.
-Dad
The story of the USA still ends with it’s patriots fucked over.
There is no coming back from the brink.
It’s all burned to ashes and already we don’t even realize it fully.
That’s what the British thought in 1775, too, Menzo.
Didn’t work out that way, tho, did it…
Menzo…. We can’t effort to let the USA to end because of the SOB’s in control of the money supply and our Government. If these SOB’s win that would be end of all patriots since these savages are good at killing.
Hilary, the face of the corrupt system’s dirty diaper. Of course, Obungler IS the dirty diaper…. depending on what the meaning of “is” is.
Couldn’t have put this more perspicaciously than that myself!
However, if she does start to lose, I expect her to unleash her flying monkeys to kidnap Donald and take him off to join Dorothy in the castle….
Quick poll among the free.
Best survival seed packs / company.
From experience or from word on the street.
thanks – I have some, just want more.
There are some good heirloom sellers on ebay. I have used the seeds that I have bought and saved the seeds from what was grownfor the next season and everything is fine. Ask the seller questions.
Boyo:
I bought seeds. Good ones but expensive.
Free seeds come with organicNonGMO fruits and vegtables from farmers markets, and good supermarkets. Save. They come for free. You will find things that will not grow in your zone, so research and do exchanges or sell on E-Bay.
__ get creative when you’re broke
__ I had things I thru out like pine cones only to find them on sale in a specialty store
—
Sorry, but if your Deep State actually existed – a Chicago Southside street conman wouldn’t EVER be elected prez ….
I like the way you think.
The Clintons, Kaine, and Obama are pure evil!
Menzo, we’ll still have civil war 2/revolution regardless. It’s possible the globalists will dump the hildebeast because she’s too toxic for them.
My preppin ain’t gonna stop Brave
Menzo, mine ain’t stoppin’ either. Even after I bugout, I’ll still prep for as long as possible.
However this shit show turns out. I really do feel something big is coming down the pipes.
Hillary wins: the trump crowd will scream “rigged election” trump dies nothing to curb the decent and within weeks cities could very well burn.
If trump wins the Hillary crowd will take to the streets by the hundreds of thousands demonstration after demonstration. Not no mention it will be taken for granted that it’s open season in anything with brown skin.
Lastly Obama seizes power for himself and all hell breaks loose instantly.
The election is a big topic here were all routing for King Trump. He wants to do business with Alberta. Won’t be until our wretched NDP government is long gone.
If they do get in again I’m leaving for the territories still free homestead land to be had on the northern edge of the boreal forest.c currently I’m in the southern edge.
Going to scout some land in the edge of the reservation where I went Buffalo hunting.
All I gotta do is clear it and build something
Beaver,understand a lot of hard work/commitment but for the final goal get on that homesteading now,do not wait till things go so wrong tis too late you crazy canuck!
Oh the homestead is where it’s at. My cousin asked me if I ever considered moving up there and come spring I very well may be chopping trees down and hunting fishing trapping berry picking and gsrdening.
Oh that little colt is just so so awesome I’ve been running 2/3 loads AAA+ goes off like a pop gun. Just love that thing .
1- The brilliant late economist Ruth Leger Sivard (www.ruthsivard.com) put out annual reports that measured the costs of world militarism. For example, in 1983, our government spent $8,502. per second on defense! Much less was needed to keep our country strong. But Reagan attacked programs whose fraud rate was less than 2% in order to enrich cronies in the defense complex. I shudder to think what our spending is now per second now in 2016.
Moreover, President Eisenhower himself in his parting speech warned America about the military industrial complex. The most destructive of the elites in our country and around the world stage wars and get richer selling weapons to both sides. War is also their way for reducing the population, or those among whom HRC calls “the deplorables”. The most educated of economists know that when the quality of life in a country is IMPROVED, the birth rates goes DOWN!
2- Mac, are you planning an article about the U.N. takeover of our Internet beginning on October 1st? What if your site becomes “prohibited”?
3- I suggest everyone go to http://www.thecommonsenseshow.com to read the article about all in higher places who warned Trump that in order to stop the election an EMP will be set off.
Yes, keep prepping, but without praying, nothing makes sense.
– the Lone Ranger
“Mental health is an ongoing process of dedication to reality at all costs.”
– Dr. M. Scott Peck, M.D.
“Truth needs to be repeated as long as there are men who disbelieve it.”
– Mohandas Gandhi
what does the Lord say about the proud and their plans?
Heaven is our end destination. Keep your eyes on that prize.
psy warfare against Patriots would have us assume the evil elite’s powers direct and through state would be broad and universal. Elite still require mindless idiots to fulfill their request and are greatly limited and powers not as broad and powerful as press would have you believe.
Men still get hungry, have families to go back to, have to poop/pee and will always seek out the easy way when it presents itself.
It’s a great time to be alive! Hold the line!
the sense of being a truly outside option
Trump is the sElected candidate by the Elites.
It takes a totally undiscerning person (or hack) to not see this.