SECONDNEXUS
percolately
georgetakei
comicsands
George's Reads
President Donald Trump announced Senior National Security Advisor John Bolton's immediate departure from the Trump administration in a tweet on Tuesday morning. While Trump thanked Bolton for his service, he noted that he "disagreed strongly with many of [Bolton's] suggestions."
Thought by many to be a warmonger, Bolton championed a "maximum pressure" strategy against Iran, meaning he endorsed sanctions and threats against the country to pressure it into submission. The maximum pressure strategy hasn't worked. Like at all.
Nevertheless, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) posted a worried tweet following Bolton's departure and apparently endorsing the far-Right conspiracy theory that the government is filled with "deep state forces" hell-bent on weakening the United States and Donald Trump.
John Bolton is a friend, and he has devoted his life to defending our national security, including providing wise c… https://t.co/geWcfH9tBX— Senator Ted Cruz (@Senator Ted Cruz) 1568139819.0
I sincerely hope his leaving the White House does not mean that the deep-state forces at State and Treasury—who hav… https://t.co/t5sRYAi3B9— Senator Ted Cruz (@Senator Ted Cruz) 1568139819.0
Relaxing the maximum pressure strategy, which is succeeding in dramatically weakening the world’s leading state spo… https://t.co/MEnPDbns7b— Senator Ted Cruz (@Senator Ted Cruz) 1568139820.0
Additionally, enabling Europe to send an economic lifeline to the Ayatollah would return to Obama’s failed foreign… https://t.co/Surb8xz1gR— Senator Ted Cruz (@Senator Ted Cruz) 1568139820.0
The Deep State conspiracy theory is pushed by far-Right fanatics like Alex Jones and QAnon followers.
Last year, the Trump administration pulled out of an Obama-era agreement with Iran that greatly reduced the nation's nuclear capabilities in exchange for sanction relief, which Trump described as weak. Since the United States' withdrawal from the deal, Iran has shown greater aggression.
Ted Cruz's endorsement of this failing approach wasn't exactly surprising, but that he'd invoke the smoke and mirrors of an imaginary deep state specter? That's a tad concerning.
@SenTedCruz If you're going to blame the deep state, you might as well blame the reptile people or Illuminati or un… https://t.co/jF4jYXpsAu— Andrew "Nunes' Thousand Cow Stare" Sherrod (@Andrew "Nunes' Thousand Cow Stare" Sherrod) 1568141050.0
@SenTedCruz Can someone check on Heidi and the girls? Ted's sounding a bit paranoid https://t.co/0jvw5q6BMq— Jr's Unfinished Chair (Herbal Tea Party) (@Jr's Unfinished Chair (Herbal Tea Party)) 1568141098.0
@SenTedCruz https://t.co/KqDd7X20pm— Stephanie So What (@Stephanie So What) 1568142613.0
@SenTedCruz Jesus Christ. Full on conspiracy theories now TED? https://t.co/eAcSqTX5yo— EileenTexasBlue (@EileenTexasBlue) 1568141510.0
@SenTedCruz United States Senators should not be promoting false and unproven conspiracy theories— Austin Corona (@Austin Corona) 1568139908.0
Concerning...but also laughable.
@SenTedCruz "deep state" https://t.co/xrMTifDARL— The Cartel (@The Cartel) 1568140195.0
@SenTedCruz You think the Deep State got to The Chosen One?? Oh no!! Does that mean they are going to start control… https://t.co/jYToZMMWPf— Amber (@Amber) 1568143043.0
@SenTedCruz lol deep state— Roger Mexico (@Roger Mexico) 1568140136.0
Way to go, Ted.
-------
Listen to the first four episodes of George Takei's podcast, 'Oh Myyy Pod!' where we explore the racially charged videos that have taken the internet by storm.
Be sure to subscribe here and never miss an episode.