Pam Bondi’s swift dismissal on Thursday underscores a reality that has met Trump loyalists from Jeff Sessions to Kristi Noem – no amount of loyalty is enough to save oneself from being dumped by Donald Trump.
Since the president assumed office last year, there have been few people more important to his effort to remake government than Bondi, his longtime friend.
Trump pledged that retribution would be the hallmark of his second term, and Bondi was the chief enforcer from her first day in office. As attorney general, she obliterated the longstanding norm that the justice department be apolitical and keep the White House at arm’s length. She oversaw purges of career employees who had been assigned to work on the criminal cases against Trump as well as scores of career lawyers with irreplaceable expertise. She also oversaw politically motivated prosecutions against Trump’s political enemies, including the former FBI director James Comey and New York attorney general, Letitia James.
They must know that their primary role is to take the fall for Trump, right? Their job is to absorb the blows and bad press (and sometimes literal bullets), and once they get too much baggage they get dumped. It’s mafia style governance.
Honestly they can’t know that and that’s what makes it so embarrassing. They think they were chosen to be on some winning team of some zero sum game, and they’re sold.
It’s also what makes it delicious.
But make no mistake, she will be replaced by a white man who makes less waves and does more damage.
You must be tongue in cheek about them knowing. I don’t find anyone foolish enough to work for the Donvict to be bright enough to connect that not only is your position disposable but likely career ruining. Any attorney looking at Giuliani and Trumpepstein ought to take pause as to where this leads. Those that do not, like Bondi, are just another mark to be conned.
I’m not so sure, the entire modern GOP culture prioritizes loyalty to the leader above all else (even the stock market!) I think it’s possible these lieutenants understand that taking the fall for the leader will be viewed by the party to be an act that demonstrates the depth of their loyalty (and therefore helps their future career).
EDIT: Giuliani I think is probably an exception along with some other characters like Mike Lindell that actually are too dumb to understand what’s going on.
You may be right but I’m reluctant to give them that much credit. That seems so risky with the Donvict’s track record. Do people beam at Bill Barr’s resume for being Trumpepstein’s AG? Maybe amongst the MAGA base strongholds, where it’s easy to mark new rubes. You may be right.
Yes exactly. Within the MAGA universe loyalty is paramount. What the do looks strange and contradictory to us, but in the universe where one man decides reality, the more you can make that reality a well, reality, the more valuable you are. Even in defeat.