Nikki Haley's Use Of The Word "Undermine"......

[global1]

Definition of the word "Undermine":

- to subvert or weaken insidiously or secretly; to weaken or ruin by degrees.

Thesaurus alternate words:

syn: weaken; attenuate; blunt; cripple; debilitate; disable; enfeeble; sap; unbrace; unstrengthen;

relative terms: wreck; foil; frustrate; thwart.

Thesaurus alternative words for "undermining":

syn: sabotage, subversion, wreckage, wrecking.

I question Haley's choice of the word "undermine" when she talks about how Kelly and Tillerson approached her in relation to Trump. In my opinion she used a very 'negatively charged' word that I don't think was warranted in this situation.

Kelly and Tillerson clearly saw a threat that Trump posed to our country and where reaching out to Haley - not to subvert or weaken Trump - but to prevent Trump (who may not be schooled in government and history) from making bad decisions that could have a very negative impact on our country or democracy.

I don't know if Haley misinterpreted their words or if she now is intentionally trying to make them look bad - like 'subversives' - at the same time making herself look good.

I'm sure Kelly and Tillerson had the best interests of the country in mind and just wanted some consensus in the WH when it came to talking and reasoning with Trump (if he could even be reasoned with). With consensus amongst top advisors in the WH - perhaps they could guide Trump into making more rational decisions and prevent him from making mistakes or making himself look silly.

Maybe for impact and to sell her book - she chose the word 'undermine' on purpose - because it sure generated an impact that maybe she was looking for.

This brings up other questions in my mind.

Who else in the WH did Kelly and Tillerson have this discussion with? Did they approach Pence as well? Are either of these two guys anonymous of book fame?

Bottom line I believe that Haley used the wrong choice of word here and perhaps she could have easily spun this in a more positive way. Unfortunately - she chose loyalty to Trump and her own ambition over loyalty to the country.

[Mike 03]

1. Great post.

As to who else in the WH might have discussed this issue with Kelly and Tillerson, some guesses: Gary Cohn (if he was still there at this time), Rob Porter, and as a longshot, Mattis. HR McMaster, based on his portrayal in Woodward's book, might have been approached but was unlikely to go along with such a plan. I believe Cohn would have gone along 100%--he and Rob Porter were the guys already hiding Trump's memos and letters in burn bags so his worst ideas would never see the light of day.

[global1]

2. An Afterthought To My Original Post.....

I wonder how soon after she was approached by Kelly and Tillerson that she resigned her post and bailed on Trump?

She did get out before the poop hit the fan. Maybe Kelly and Tillerson helped her in a way and look at how she paid them back. She sandbagged them with her book and choice of words.

[kentuck]

3. Why did she wait so long to tell us?

When she was writing a book?

[saidsimplesimon]

4. she chose loyalty to Trump and her own ambition over loyalty to the country.

The Republican Party base will reject her as a "foreigner" and a woman.

[Zambero]

5. Concerned that they were undermining the undermining

Haley clearly attempts to play both sides of the fence, but at the end of the day she refused to be a part of any effort to rein Trump in. Not remotely a fan of Kelly, Tillerson, or Bolton for that manner, although even they were capable of recognizing the danger that an massively unfit president poses to the country. Haley as an enabler is far worse than any of them.

[brush]

6. Tillerson and Kelly were perhaps looking out for the country in...

trying to form a group of hi-level staffers to advise him but unfortunately they weren't successful. It would've been a futile effort anyway as trump takes no advise. He thinks he knows everything.

Both Kelly and Tillerson are both gone and trump, untethered, has gone on to bribe Ukraine, abandon the Kurks and cede their land to Erdowan, Assad and Putin while getting himself impeached.

Good job, stable genius.

And Haley, you should've went with Kelly and Tillerson. If their approach didn't work you could've still resigned.