Put that mirror down or I'll sue!

"Toppers," by Jan Pieter van Baurschelt (Rijksmuseum)

     When the Trump Era finally comes to an end, with its corruption, cruelty and incompetence, that last quality will be seen almost as a godsend; we will be grateful for how the damage, though extensive, was also constrained by the unfathomable laziness and stupidity of the toadies selected for their blind obedience and nothing else. 
      A vigorous, disciplined and skilled FBI director, determined to do the bidding of his master, could have cut a swath of damage across the country. And Kash Patel, the FBI director, is trying to do just that. But he keeps tripping over his limitations, at least according to a story, "The FBI Director is MIA," published in The Atlantic. Rather than manage his 38,000 agents, Patel, the magazine said, spends his time "with episodes of excessive drinking and unexplained absences." 
     But that isn't why I'm writing this. Patel, trained at the Trump knee, is now suing the magazine for $250 million — these lawsuits reflect the heavy-handed tactics the Trump administration is increasingly turning to trying to stifle valid media criticism. ICE will be tossing reporters into white vans next. For now, though suing is Trump's go-to move, or, rather, threatening to sue. Though I can't help but notice he has never, to my knowledge, sued anyone accusing him of molesting girls under the aegis of Jeffrey Epstein, I wonder why that is? 
     Could it be that he didn't want to end up in a court of law where the defendant would of course present evidence that the accusations are true? A thought that clearly did not occur to Patel. 
    Needless to say, I've never met the man. He could be sober as a church mouse, and dedicated to his craft, and I hope he is. 

      But I am familiar with The Atlantic, and my hunch is they would not publish such a story if it weren't true. The story is almost comically well documented — the initial humiliating vignette of Patel being unable to log onto this computer, then panicking and announcing he had been fired is "according to nine people familiar with his outreach." Nine people? I haven't read a story backing up a fact with nine sources in my entire life. The article names the bars he's drinking at — Ned's in DC, the Poodle Room in Vegas. Nor does the news shock.
     "Patel's drinking is no secret," the magazine reports, pointing out that he was filmed chugging beer with the U.S. Men's Olympic hockey in their locker room after their gold medal game.
     Suing is both bluster and blunder. Rather than repairing the damage to Patel's good reputation — not that such a thing exists — he is merely broadcasting the accusations and ensuring they remain in the public eye for the foreseeable future, or until he's summarily canned by Trump for being pathetic. 
     "Some at the FBI are concerned that Patel's behavior has left the country more vulnerable," the magazine wrote. I dispute that. Better Patel doing shots in Vegas than at his desk in DC, pursuing what FBI agents retain their sense of justice and patriotism. 
     Or as one official told The Atlantic: "Part of me is glad he's wasting his time on bullshit, because it's less dangerous for the rule of law."
    Make that two of us.

    Now Patel's genius idea is to force that official to repeat his statement in open court.  If the suit ever comes to trial. My bet is, it won't — the only question is, which is shitcanned first, the lawsuit or Patel.