This post is a further development of the previous Trump post.
Trump is a jerk and a genius. Can this be?
Last year, months before the national election I posted my personal evaluation of Donald Trump. It was, to say the least, disapproving. It never even occurred to me that there was any real chance he would be the Republican nominee, let alone that he would be elected. I have never been more wrong about anything.
In the event, I voted for him. I could not vote for Hillary Clinton, an unindicted felon—a miserable, mean-spirited, mendacious miscreant. Nevertheless, I knew my vote was wasted because I live in California, which is overwhelmingly Democratic, for reasons mysterious to me. Of the 2,900,000 votes by which Clinton’s total popular votes exceeded Trump’s, 4,200,000 came from California. In other words, Trump won the popular vote by 2,300,000 votes in 49 states.
What now? Trump has begun his term by selecting a superior band of nominees for his cabinet—despite the fact that the Democratic party is determined to make his administration a disaster. General Flynn, a rather strange figure, is gone, and the reasons are not yet fully courts available. Puzder’s nomination as labor secretary was derailed, not because he was dishonest or incompetent, but because he was (is) both honest and competent.
The Democratic party is working assiduously to delay and if possible destroy Trump’s nominations. This dishonest program will assuredly delay implementation of many of Trump’s goals, and in so doing will damage his administration and the well-being of the country. It will limit his overall achievements in an as yet undefinable degree.
Trump has issued a number of executive orders. His order about immigration from 7 middle-eastern countries was beaten down by courts carefully selected by liberal/progressive Trump enemies. As an attorney for over 60 years, it is my opinion that the order was constitutional and legal—there is a specific law on the federal books that authorizes his actions, which are, in any case, fully within his authority as president. The judges who voted otherwise are left-wing ideologues and they are 100% wrong, but this is only part of the decline of the U.S. judiciary, which is now virtually an arm of the Democratic party.
It is far from clear what the result will be of Trump’s efforts to repeal and replace Obamacare. This was always a wretched and disastrous piece of legislation which nevertheless provided access to INSURANCE for millions of uninsured Americans. Most of these Americans were (are) enrolled in Medicaid, a very poor, profoundly flawed program wherever it exists. Overall, Obamacare is a disaster, with shrinking coverage, increasing premiums, and lower quality care. But now the healthcare system is “owned” by the president and the Republican party. The Ryan plan, whatever its merits, is under attack in both House and Senate. Some opponents, like Senator Rand Paul, are merely egomaniacs, and their sole purpose is to gain publicity and perhaps authority.
Others may be sincere, but Ryan and Trump and their supporters are going to have to wield their magic to accomplish meaningful reform.
Thus far, Trump has been energetic, inventive and open-minded. We’ll soon learn if the Republican party (despite its qualms) is willing to help him improve the American econpomy, our healthcare, our defenses and our foreign status. I hope he does far better than I ever expected.
Trump is a jerk and a genius. Can this be?
Last year, months before the national election I posted my personal evaluation of Donald Trump. It was, to say the least, disapproving. It never even occurred to me that there was any real chance he would be the Republican nominee, let alone that he would be elected. I have never been more wrong about anything.
In the event, I voted for him. I could not vote for Hillary Clinton, an unindicted felon—a miserable, mean-spirited, mendacious miscreant. Nevertheless, I knew my vote was wasted because I live in California, which is overwhelmingly Democratic, for reasons mysterious to me. Of the 2,900,000 votes by which Clinton’s total popular votes exceeded Trump’s, 4,200,000 came from California. In other words, Trump won the popular vote by 2,300,000 votes in 49 states.
What now? Trump has begun his term by selecting a superior band of nominees for his cabinet—despite the fact that the Democratic party is determined to make his administration a disaster. General Flynn, a rather strange figure, is gone, and the reasons are not yet fully courts available. Puzder’s nomination as labor secretary was derailed, not because he was dishonest or incompetent, but because he was (is) both honest and competent.
The Democratic party is working assiduously to delay and if possible destroy Trump’s nominations. This dishonest program will assuredly delay implementation of many of Trump’s goals, and in so doing will damage his administration and the well-being of the country. It will limit his overall achievements in an as yet undefinable degree.
Trump has issued a number of executive orders. His order about immigration from 7 middle-eastern countries was beaten down by courts carefully selected by liberal/progressive Trump enemies. As an attorney for over 60 years, it is my opinion that the order was constitutional and legal—there is a specific law on the federal books that authorizes his actions, which are, in any case, fully within his authority as president. The judges who voted otherwise are left-wing ideologues and they are 100% wrong, but this is only part of the decline of the U.S. judiciary, which is now virtually an arm of the Democratic party.
It is far from clear what the result will be of Trump’s efforts to repeal and replace Obamacare. This was always a wretched and disastrous piece of legislation which nevertheless provided access to INSURANCE for millions of uninsured Americans. Most of these Americans were (are) enrolled in Medicaid, a very poor, profoundly flawed program wherever it exists. Overall, Obamacare is a disaster, with shrinking coverage, increasing premiums, and lower quality care. But now the healthcare system is “owned” by the president and the Republican party. The Ryan plan, whatever its merits, is under attack in both House and Senate. Some opponents, like Senator Rand Paul, are merely egomaniacs, and their sole purpose is to gain publicity and perhaps authority.
Others may be sincere, but Ryan and Trump and their supporters are going to have to wield their magic to accomplish meaningful reform.
Thus far, Trump has been energetic, inventive and open-minded. We’ll soon learn if the Republican party (despite its qualms) is willing to help him improve the American econpomy, our healthcare, our defenses and our foreign status. I hope he does far better than I ever expected.
