Last Wednesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made this intriguing remark: “Yes, I am confident that many countries will do their level best to have an impact on our election. Foreign efforts to interfere in American elections is something we constantly must contend with, and we’ll contend with that here.” (The Hill) Note: bold marking in quote by LO.
For some time, I’ve been amazed by the American barrage of anti-China measures (Bloomberg). It looks like USA is deliberately provoking China to retaliate. Let me be clear: I don’t feel any pity for China. Most American anti-China measures are (well) deserved. My only question was: why now? Mike Pompeo’s remark may explain their timing.
The 2020 US presidential election is on 3 November, less than 4 months away from now. Polls suggest that the Democratic candidate (Joe Biden) has a double digit lead over the Republican candidate, Donald Trump. Many people see this election as a referendum on Trump rather than a choice between Biden and Trump.
Alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election caused widespread disruption, chaos and destruction from 2017 to 2019 (eg, Robert Mueller as Special Counsel for the United States Department of Justice).
The 2019 Mueller Report – a.k.a. Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election – was the basis for Trump’s impeachment by the House of Representatives, which is controlled by Democrats. Trump’s impeachment trial in the Senate failed as nearly all Republicans supported Trump, except for Republican senator Mitt Romney.
Provoking Chinese interference in the 2020 US presidential election would – most likely – aim for hurting the Democratic presidential agenda for 2021-2024. Last Wednesday’s remark might be seen as a first step in delaying or postponing the transfer of presidential powers as of 4 November 2020. The outcome of the election will be labelled as “rigged“, like Trump always does.
The swift appointment of a 2020 Special Counsel for the United States Department of Justice – on the alleged foreign interference in the 2020 US presidential election – will be helpful in delaying and postponing the presidential inauguration on 20 January 2021. A barrage of lawsuits can be expected. The US Supreme Court may intervene sooner rather than later.
My recent blog mentioned a quote from the 2011 film Margin Call: “There are three ways to make a living in this business: be first, be smarter, or cheat.” According to psychologist Dr. Mary Trump, her uncle Donald Trump practiced “cheating as a way of life” (NYT).
I Lie and I Cheat (1987) by Won Ton Ton
artists, lyrics, video, Wiki-1, Wiki-2
Every night I sleep well and I dream
I dream about everything I’m not
Ooh, I’m not a loser
Cause I lie and I cheat
Note: all markings (bold, italic, underlining) by LO unless stated otherwise.
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