Why Not Bribe If You Can Afford To?

On February 9, the NYTimes published an article called: “Bridge Owner Lobbied Administration Before Trump Blasted Competing Span to Canada.” Essentially, this article is about opening a new bridge between Detroit and Windsor (the US and Canada) to help streamline trade between the countries. Currently, there is a monopoly in which one family (The Morouns) owns the only other bridge between these two cities. However, powerful people in the US (not interested in representing all Americans) got involved to prevent the new bridge (Gordie Howe Bridge) from opening later this year. To avoid people from having to read the entire article, I've attached the Cliff Notes on essentially what this is all about.

Cliff Notes:

The Detroit-Windsor corridor is the busiest trade corridor between the US and Canada. There currently exists only one bridge, the Ambassador, between the cities (and countries). More than several years ago, Canada decided to build another bridge (Gordie Howe), paid entirely by Canadians. Just to be clear, the Ambassador Bridge owner is billionaire Matthew Moroun, a Detroit trucking magnate with a vested interest in the new Gordie Howe Bridge cutting into his profits. On Monday, Moroun traveled to Washington DC where he met with Howard Lutnick (Commerce Secretary and mentioned in the Epstein files). Shortly thereafter, Lutnick called Trump about what was discussed in the meeting. A few hours later, Trump took to social media to threaten Canada again. Indeed, Canada's largest business lobbying group (Canadian Chamber of Commerce) claims this threat is a self-defeating move. After the social media post, one of two things is correct. Either Trump owes him a favor, or he owes Trump a favor. Simply a transaction. With that wealth and power, he has access to the White House, where millions of average Americans can only dream of having that exposure. And those wealthy individuals can “bribe,” I mean “invest” in the Trump administration. It must be working, because many wealthy people appear to be investing in the Trump administration to curry favor. Those MAGA supporters wanted to drain the swamp; well, this is the exact opposite! If MAGA realizes what is occurring, will that affect their commitment to POTUS?

A few additional comments:

I can’t understand why Trump is overly aggressive towards the Canadians. A little perspective, the Canadian and US border stretches roughly 5,525 miles (8,891 kilometers) and is the longest border shared by two friendly countries. Is it possible for Trump to eventually destroy this fact by his rhetoric?

Was this another attempt by Trump to divert Americans' attention away from the Epstein files?

What does Trump have to do in order to have the Republican House and Senate say, "Enough is enough?"

Howard Lutnick claimed his last contact with Epstein was in 2005, after he realized the kind of person Epstein was. Unfortunately, that was a lie. In 2011, Lutnick and Epstein met. In 2012, during a family vacation, Lutnick had lunch with Epstein on Little Saint James. Three years later, Lutnick invites Epstein to a Hillary Clinton fundraiser. In 2017, these two met again to discuss construction plans near their homes. One year later, Lutnick and Epstein continue to correspond via email. A lying and deceitful person should not be the Secretary of Commerce.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the nation’s largest business lobbying group, denounced this threat. BTW, when the COC, a very conservative and business-oriented group, objects to the threat by a Republican President, you know someone is off their rocker!

Canada, it's been one year of you guys dealing with Trump. You can settle this issue very quickly, just name the new bridge the Donald Trump Bridge. That will get him off your back.

Oligarchy: Is where a government is run by a small group of people.

Was this another attempt by Trump to divert Americans' attention away from the Epstein files?

Why Not Bribe If You Can Afford to?