Tuesday, March 28, 2017

You go to war with the army you got......


There is a timely and astute analysis of where we are by Professor William Jacobson the proprietor of Legal Insurrection. He discuss the fact that the Freedom Caucus might have blown their opportunity to govern with President Trump. He posits the notion that Trump is not a conservative. Which is very true. But he is willing to govern with conservative ideas. That he does not automatically dismiss them and is open to operating from a conservative perspective. As he did with his Supreme Court nomination. As he did with his cabinet selections. As he did with deregulation.

In the article he quotes a Bush era cuckmeister who none the less says something interesting. Marc Thiessen Bush Cuck speech writer said:"For weeks, as President Trump courted the group, members of the caucus used their leverage to make the bill better. They asked for language capping the maximum income to receive the tax credit — and got it. They asked to allow states to choose between a traditional block grant and a per capita block grant — and got it. They asked to allow states to impose work requirements on able-bodied Medicaid recipients — and got it. They asked for language preventing non-Medicaid-expansion states from becoming expansion states — and got it. They asked for flexibility for states to change “essential health benefits” — and got it.
But each time they got a concession, and were asked to support the bill, they instead came up with new sets of demands that made the legislation increasingly unpassable. Eventually it became clear to Trump that the Freedom Caucus would never take yes for an answer. So he cut them off ….
Freedom Caucus members had a chance to repeal the individual mandate and the employer mandate, transform Medicaid, end $1 trillion in Obamacare taxes, expand health savings accounts and defund Planned Parenthood. Instead, they chose to keep Obamacare intact."

Now Jacobson says you can just as easily say that the Freedom Caucus stood up for principle and would not bow to keeping the government in healthcare. That it should be a total free market and if people can't afford it well that's just tough titty.


Jacobson hits a key point when he says this:
"We don’t have a conservative president, but we do have a president open to doing conservative things. Keeping that president doing conservative things as much as possible should be the goal. Insisting that Trump do only conservative things is not going to work, because conservatives didn't elect Trump. Trump’s going to do some non-conservative things, but he’s the only opportunity we currently have or are likely to have in the near future to promote conservatism. We shouldn't waste it by insisting on all or nothing."

I think that is the exact point. When NeverTrumpers carp and bitch about the fact that Trump is not a conservative I have to laugh. He was never a conservative. I said that time and again. He is a nationalist. He wants to do for the American People. Regular Americans. Coal miners. Factory workers. Clerks and waitresses and IT cubicle slaves. He is basically a Conservative Democrat in the mold of Scoop Jackson or Hugh Carey.

96 comments:

edutcher said...

I have to disagree on the "he's not a Conservative". How can one be a nationalist without being a Conservative? Point being, you don't see any Lefties waxing nationalistic.

I also think what's he's done the last 2 months says his Conservative vibes are pretty good. If anyone swings to the Left, it's Ivanka.

As to the Freedom Caucus, we see it here in Sixty, Meth, or April. They love to bitch about what's wrong with something, but, given a chance to move the Overton Window significantly in the right direction, it's never good enough (not starting a fight, just making a point).

I said and will continue to say nobody will get 100% of what they want. Too bad the Freedom Caucus couldn't see it that way.

Trooper York said...

Freedoom means having nothing left to lose.

Is that what the Freedom Caucus represents.

Do they have nothing to lose?

The Dude said...

Right, we like to bitch, but the reality is, Trump has accomplished nothing, and now he can't even get funding for the wall.

He is truly pathetic and I am starting to think he is not all that bright. He isn't playing n-dimensional chess, he is losing after being allowed the first move in tic-tac-toe.

But keep inflating him if that helps you make it through the night.

Get back to me when Obamacare is repealed, the wall is built, sanctuary cities are defunded and any other bullshit he promised is actually delivered. Trump might be the biggest disappointment I have ever seen wandering around the White House, and I have been alive since the Truman administration.

Trooper York said...

They are not being cut off. They are the ones doing it to themselves.

As the article states they have a chance to get a lot of their agenda enacted. Just not everything. Did Reagan get everything on the first shot? Did he have to compromise?

Will do the same thing with the tax bill? Will they refuse to get some or even most of what they want because perfect rigid ideology is the only thing that matters?

Trooper York said...

Nothing Sixty?

The pipeline approval and unleashing energy by executive orders?

Deregulation including what he signed today?

The travel order that he is fighting in the courts?

The Supreme Court nomination of a conservative poster child?

The gutting of the EPA and the defunding of most of the departments of Labor, HUD and State?

The deep cuts into foreign aid?

These are the things he has done so far. Without the help of the Freedom Caucus and the conservatives who are great talkers but not so great doers.

They have a chance to step up as this article outlines. If they don't then they will be marginalized.

The Dude said...

Ooo - he is fighting in the courts - too bad he can't even get his candidate onto the supreme court.

He is a bug on the windshield - unless and until he learns how things work in DC he will be less effective than that other liberal president, Jimmy Carter.

Pathetic, inept, weak and stupid. Too bad he's not a drunk - at least he could fall back on that excuse.

Trooper York said...

The Freedom Caucus is opposing the Wall because they don't want to pay for it.

The are opposing the Obamacare repeal bill because even when it was tailored to their objections they still would not support it

I don't know if they will vote to defund Sanctuary Cities. I don't know what activist liberal judges will have to say about that as they have a lot to say about his travel ban. The law is on the President's side and still the activist liberal judiciary has stopped him. If President Trump decides to ignore the Courts and moves forward will the Freedom Caucus support him? Or will they be the first in line to throw him out the way Howard Baked did to Nixon?

President Trump has been doing most of his work through executive orders. Now he has to put things through the Congress. The conservative had a chance to work with him. To get a lot of what they wanted. They want it all. That is not how it works.

So we are back to failure theater.

Trooper York said...

He can't get his guy on the court?

Is he a king? Or does he have to rely on the Senate? On Mitch the Bitch. On Lady Lindsey Graham. Grumpy Old McCain. Susan Cunty Collins. And all the rest who live to oppose him on everything he does.

They are the ones who have to do it. They said they wanted to replace Scalia with a true conservative. Donald Trump did what he could. He nominated that guy. It is up to them to confirm him. To pull the trigger on the nuclear option.

It they do not it is not on Trump. It is on them.

The Dude said...

Like I said - he cannot accomplish jack squat. Yuge disappointment. Go home, Donny, you are out of your league.

Trooper York said...

As far as fighting in the courts it is clear that the liberal judges will issue political decisions. The travel ban was completely within his Constitutional rights as President. A single unelected liberal judge usurped that power. Backed up by an ultra liberal appeals court.

"John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it."

If President Trump refuses to abide by this illegitimate court decision will he be impeached?

Would the Freedom Caucus sign on to an impeachment. I think they will. They don't want change. They want things to stay the same as it always was.

Trooper York said...

I don't think he is going to quit. I think he is going to try to accomplish things for his voters. He is going to make deals.

The question is who is he going to make the deal with? The conservatives who will get a lot but not all of what they want. Or the liberals who will get what they want and not throw a bone to the sensibilities of the true believers in the Freedom Caucus.

That was the thrust of Professor Jacobson's treatise. I think it is an open question.

The Dude said...

He will caucus with his natural allies, Schumer and Pelosi. They are triplets.

Trooper York said...

That could happen.

If your wife doesn't put out then some guys will seek out the strange. I wouldn't. Maybe you wouldn't. But that is Trump's MO. When Ivana was busy shopping he started banging Marla Maples. History always repeatss itself.

It was a shot gun wedding with the Republicans. Trump brought voters that the rigid Republicans could not. That is how he won those swing states. They are his voters. The union guys. The factory workers. The coal miners. Truckers. Regular people. Not bow tie wearing nerds jerking off at CPAC.

That has always been the case. Everybody knew that was how it was going to go. Why do you think you are telling us something we didn't know?

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Sixty - I'm glad it's you saying it and not me.

Trooper York said...

What this article was about is the fact that the window is closing for the conservatives. They can get a lot of what they want. If they are ready to deal. If not they will be shut out.

But with people like Mark Meadows and April you can't make a deal.

So you will find someone who will.

Trooper York said...

Sixty is an articulate defender of his position. That Donald Trump is a failure after less then 100 days in office. That the President can magically make things happen in Congress like confirming a Supreme Court Justice or repealing Obamacare. That he can't make a deal because he couldn't make a deal with the conservatives in Congress. That he might turn to other people who might make a deal and give him the votes he wants.

I differ.

I think he has done some solid things. He will do more sold things. How conservative he governs is up to the hard heads in Congress. If they don't put out he will find someone who will. Politicians are whores. They can be bought.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

I'm totally on board with Trump squishing out with his best buds Ryan and McConnell and the fuck-freedom caucus.

The Dude said...

Whoa, dude, are you channeling rcommal? I have never presumed to think that I am telling you something you don't know. All I am saying is that Trump is way out of his depth. He is failing on every front that matters to me, and at this point, I am tired of even hearing about how badly he sucks at leadership.

Maybe he will learn, maybe he won't. But for now, he has proven that he is incompetent, a liar and a clown in every way save the red nose. And, it is now becoming clear, stupid. Oh well.

Trooper York said...

You might get that result. You make the deal with the people who want to make a deal. If the conservatives refuse to deal then they are cut out. They have their chance. It is up to them. They can get most of what they want. But the window is not open forever. It can be closed.

Then they will be on the outside looking in.

Trooper York said...

Hey take that back!

I would never channel rcommel.

I take my meds.

Trooper York said...

I know that you and April are very disappointed in Trump. I expected that. I expect that you be disappointed in him for his entire term.

I too am very disappointed in him. I wanted him to cut off Ryan's head. To flout the court decision on immigration. To arrest the mayors who flout immigration laws and cut off all funding to sanctuary cities including the one I live in. To cut off Planned Parenthood, PBS, all foreign aide and get us out of NATO. He didn't do any of those things.

But I am willing to take things I don't like to get things that I do. Because that is how it works in a Democracy. Until it doesn't.

Then we are in for a whole new kettle of fish.

Trooper York said...

And so it goes.

Trooper York said...

Oh shit!

What if Sixty is right?

Trooper York said...

All things I agree with. Trump is not as aggressive a crazy person as you or me. We would have done all of those things. And more.

In this Easter season I would have crucified illegal alien criminals on the roads leading outside of Washington like in Spartacus. But hey that's me.

We could not get elected. Trump is unusually willing to let bygones by bygones. Even though he is touted as holding grudges and being vindictive it is not supported by the facts. He needs to make an example of someone. Soon. I hope it is Ryan. Or Comey. Or both.

edutcher said...

Trooper York said...

What if Sixty is right?

He's not, but it's no surprise the NeverTrumpers have outed themselves after a few months of quiet. because nothing anyone can do will please them.

Sixty Grit said...

Right, we like to bitch, but the reality is, Trump has accomplished nothing

Wrongaroonies. He's rolled back any number of Pissy's pen and a phone regs. He's bringing coal back. And, if you want to blame somebody for RyanCare going down, look in the mirror. As Troop noted in the post, he gave the Freedom Caucus plenty.

Ooo - he is fighting in the courts - too bad he can't even get his candidate onto the supreme court.

Last I looked, Gorsuch ate the Demo's lunch in the hearings. SCUS Justices are confirmed by the Senate, ya know, not installed by the President. I'd say things are proceeding apace, but those who want a little cheese with all their whine, open a window first.

Why does that pituitary case Comey still have a job? Why is Ryan not fish food? Why is Hillary still walking around without leg irons?

My God, I would never have guessed Sixty's that ignorant of the government in this country. The House votes on the Speaker, the President doesn't install him, either. And the Beast is walking around because you first have to build a case you can take into court - unless you're a Night of the Long Knives fan.

As for Comey, it could be Trump is picking his fights, and he's got several right now. He'll get around to Comey.

The Dude said...

And his wedding guest Hillary. I'll bring the nails.

If I had a hammer - oh, right, I do.

For now, and I expect years into the future, Trump will just be an orange Obama with better hair.

Trooper York said...

I hope not Sixty. I know Trump supports the cops like he did in his press conference today. I know he honors and supports the military as he did in his Medal of Honor speech. I know he wants to cut taxes. That he wants to build up the Military. That he wants to bring jobs. That he wants to build the wall.

I don't know if he can do all of these things. I don't know if he can do any of those things.

I just know that the Freedom Caucus is just as much an impediment as Maxine Waters James Brown Wig. Just sayn'

The Dude said...

Ed, what I know or don't know is not what matters - what matters is that your Beloved Trump is ignorant. And a buffoon. Too bad, so sad, he held such promise, but for now, he is just another clueless mook proving that the Peter Principle is true.

Trooper York said...

Some of our best Presidents have been ignorant buffoons. Just sayn'

Methadras said...

This goes right to my point that Paul Ryan is not a leader and cannot lead. He cannot lead his own party. Given that the FC got what they wanted, but still made demands says a lot about Paul Ryan not reigning in his members. I didn't see anywhere where he basically told them that they got everything they wanted and still wanted more. That's what fat fucks at buffets do. They eat until they clean the place out. These guys let their political gluttony kick in and Paul Ryan stood there nodding his head in approval thinking that if he gave in to them, they would give him the votes needed to pass. I hate this inside baseball sausage making bullshit, but this is the political reality.

Oddly it was Trump who told them to stop and they shit on him and the rest of us in the process. Now we'll see if Trump has the balls to right this ship in congress. Congress is the problem here people, not the president. They are the ones putting victory into the mouth of defeat.

Trooper York said...

Trump has the balls to make a deal. It is just a deal that the Freedom Caucus will not like.

Say he jettisons the end of Planned Parenthood funding. He opens up the exchanges to enable you to buy in other states. Kills the mandates. Lets insurance companies tailor policies to make money. Offers a government sponsered plan for catastrophic or pre-existing conditions. Beats up Big Pharma as we know he wants to do.

I think he can get a lot of Congressmen to sign on. Both Democratic and squishy Republican. He can govern from the middle. Which is more natural for him as he is basically a Conservative Democrat like Scoop Jackson or Hugh Carey.

Trooper York said...

That would serve to really lower premiums and over alternatives to states that are locked into one insurance company.

That bill writes itself. It could be two pages long. He could sell the shit out of it.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

I agree with Glenn Reynolds' question -

"Why aren't bills on infrastructure, tax reform and free speech lined up like planes on a runway?"

Make a huge stink about how the "Citizens Cannot be United to Criticize Hillary Before An Election - or ever" would be cool. Stick a knife in the left's anti-free speech crusade.

Trump is a democrat in rino clothing. Perhaps he will figure it out, but I doubt it.

Trooper York said...

"Why aren't bills on infrastructure, tax reform and free speech lined up like planes on a runway?"

Maybe because the White House doesn't write laws. The Congress does. Did you ever study the Constitution April? Or do you just claim to be devoted to it when it sets you up for failure?

Doncha think if the House Freedom Caucus presented bills on those matters (except infrastructure) that President Trump would jump on them and try to push them through? Even if Ryan was against it? Especially if Ryan was against it?

They had eight years to prepare those bills. Does Trump have to write them too? Does Congress ever do any work? How many days have they taken off? Why aren't there non-stop sessions to confirm his appointments for example?

I guess you really want a God Emperor if you think he has to do it all and the Congress bears no responsibility.

Trooper York said...

Should Trump just arrest the Congress and the judges that rule against him and the mayors who defy Federal law? Is that what we need to do to get things done.

Or should he make deals to get as much as he can as fast as he can.

You make the call.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Troop says - "Maybe because the White House doesn't write laws. The Congress does."
Don't be silly. Glenn is talking about congress. Did you actually read his op-ed? You do realize I'm quoting Glenn - so your beef should be directed at him (which is ridiculous) not me.

I'll help out:

"The plan to replace Obamacare with a new bill crafted by House Speaker Paul Ryan has failed, and embarrassingly so. And that failure is part and parcel of a larger failure of the Republican-led Congress to push an agenda in the new administration.

Talking to a friend at lunch not long ago, he expressed his amazement that the House and Senate leadership didn’t have bills “lined up like airplanes on a runway” ready to take off in the new year. I was surprised, too."





Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Troop - I'm not letting congress off the hook. But if you want to deny that Trump-Ryan-Bannon nexus of stupid, regarding their O-Care 2.0 debacle, you go right ahead.

edutcher said...

To answer Insta's question, Trump has been doing as much as he can without Congress. Every bill that goes through the process is going to be fought by both the Demos and the Whigs, so it's probably going to be slow going.

While he's at it, why hasn't Trump's cabinet been confirmed yet?

There was a piece a couple of weeks ago that Trump, in his first 2 months, cut the debt by $100B. Now I know Sixty and April will make light of the fact the debt went down .5%, but name any other President who cut the debt.

PS Let's not forget Insta's a NeverTrumper.

Trooper York said...

Who is denying anything April?

I think Trump and Bannon were fools to help Ryan. I know that Bannon hates Ryan. He was only being a good soldier going to bat for something his Don wanted.

You are letting Congress off the hook. Specifically you are letting the Freedom Caucus off the hook. They needed too have their own alternative ready to sell to President Trump. Don't you think he would have signed on. Then he would have been pressuring Ryan and the Rhinos. Instead they went for concession after concession and then refused to make a deal at the end. In doing so they may have marginalized themselves for the rest of his Presidency. They are fools.

edutcher said...

I thin k the issue is Trump knew he couldn't get anything done in the House without Ryan.

Now Ryan's disgraced. As they say, give him enough rope...

And that just what Trump did.

I agree a lot of the onus lays on the Freedom Caucus, as well, and it's interesting to note there have been 4 or 5 resignations in the last years or so. So maybe not only Ryan's days are numbered, but also Mark Meadows'.

Evi L. Bloggerlady said...

The TRUTH is #NeverTrumpers are way less conservative than Trump.

Because the lot of them would have elected Hillary Clinton if they had their way.

Trump is not a conservative. He is still, however, to the right of most of the GOPe. I want to see Gorsuch confirmed next Friday. When that happens we already won. With the regulations Trump is rolling back we already won.

As for Obamacare RyanCare fail, it is only a real fail if they do nothing between now and 2020. As Troop said, Ryan got his chance. Now it is up to Rand Paul to show he has a plan that can get through the House and Senate.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

If Rand can do it - will Trump let him?

Oh no - Rand is a #NeverTrumper!

Evi L. Bloggerlady said...

The Freedom Caucus was not Never Trumpers. They just said the RyanCare plan was no good. And they were right to do so. Sorry President Trump, try to cobble together a better plan next time. Rand Paul should help you do that.

Evi L. Bloggerlady said...

April:
Rand Paul backed Trump.

The Dude said...

Just so we are clear, I am not now, nor have I ever been a neverTrumper.

But I do recognize that he is an intellectually limited putz who is in way over his head.

And he is an abject failure on all of the key points he ran on.

Will that change? We shall see. Until then the Trump humpers will have a field day making ad hominem comments. Too bad you put your faith in a clueless NYC liberal who has zero understanding of how laws are made.

ndspinelli said...

Sixty needs to learn how to express what he really thinks. This is starting to look like a clusterfuck..but we'll see. Sixty can spot a carpetbagger from miles away.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Evi - Rand didn't grovel at Trumps feet. I think that qualifies him for #NeverTrumper status. Plus- read all the way down on your link:

"Rand Paul also said he would not endorse anyone in the Republican primary, though on Thursday he did tease out a "YUGE" endorsement announcement for the next day on Twitter.

As it turned out, Paul was not endorsing Trump or any other candidate, but rather "entropy."

The Trump droolers insist Trump be worshiped at every turn.
Anyone who ever cast doubt is labeled in the same way Chuck Schumer yells at people who voted FOR Trump in a New York restaurant. It's pathetic at this point.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

The political will to burn the ACA to the ground is gone.

You all know why, too. As soon as the R's repeal the ACA, the media(D) will run endless boo-hoo stories on the poor masses of people who had their O-Care taken away by the heartless GOP. Millions lost their insurance! People are dying in the streets.

I still want them to do it. They did it 60 times before. Courage.


Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Meantime the New Democrats chairman asked for everybody's resignation letter.

Evi L. Bloggerlady said...

April, BS. Sorry, but your definition of NeverTrumpers is nuts. NeverTrumpers were those fools who voted for Hillary as a protest or stayed home in swing states, while claiming they were true conservatives.

Is Trump over his head? I think he learned how much he didn't know in dealing with Congress. I also saw Trump win when I thought he wouldn't. That was not just luck. Sixty may be a bit too pessimistic. I have low expectations overall, so to me we are way ahead compared with "what if" had Cankels won. Assuming Gorsuch goes through, we won already.

edutcher said...

Evi L. Bloggerlady said...

The TRUTH is #NeverTrumpers are way less conservative than Trump.

Because the lot of them would have elected Hillary Clinton if they had their way.

Trump is not a conservative.


Agree with your first statement, but, if they are way less Conservative than Trump, and Trump is not a Conservative, who are we saying is a Conservative?

As the mighty Troop would say, just askin'.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Nah - #NeverTrumpers are people who said a single bad word about him.

Certainly some stayed home. I doubt any significant number voted for Hillary.
I voted for the liberal orange dipsh*t myself. But because I doubted him and refuse to worship his every move, I'm a #NeverTrumper, too.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Evi - I agree the Supreme Court is key. I hope Gorsuch is the mold of Scalia like everyone says.

Evi L. Bloggerlady said...

April, your definition is a tad broad. That would make everyone in the world a NeverTrumper...except for ed.

ed, Trump is not a conservative like Ted Cruz is. Trump is more right than most GOPe members of congress. But that is not saying much.

Evi L. Bloggerlady said...

April, I assume Gorsuch will disappoint us too. Clarence Thomas he is not. But hopefully not too much. Lower expectations are the key to a happy life.

Leland said...

Step away from the various news sources. They are rotting your brain. Things aren't that bad in the real world.

chickelit said...

Who are the leaders of this so-called Freedom Caucus?

chickelit said...

AprilApple said...
Evi - I agree the Supreme Court is key. I hope Gorsuch is the mold of Scalia like everyone says.

Just a short while back, you were down on Gorsuch because of the church he belonged to in Boulder. I think you were discounting that most men -- if they aren't born into it like Catholicism or Mormonism -- belong to their wife's church.

Trooper York said...

You can be anti-Trump without being a NeverTrumper. Many people are over invested in their narrative that Trump couldn't win. Now they are pushing the narrative that Trump can't govern.
It is not even the end of the first inning and you already want to forfeit the game.

Many of the same mooks said if Trump gave them a conservative Supreme Court Justice they would be satisfied. Well they got that. And they are still bitching.

Like the Freedom Caucus it will never be enough for some people.

I hope President Trump does what he thinks best for the American People. Let the chips fall where they may. Not be stopped by labels or ideology. Just do what he sees as the right thing. I think he has pretty good instincts. He has been pretty much on the ball. He has been stopped by activist judges. By craven Republican Congressman. He should not take counsel of their fears and instead do what is right for America.

If that means bombing NYC and San Fransisco and Chicago then go for it.

Just me a heads up so I can move to Florida. Thank you.

The Dude said...

There are only 8 justices on the SC. Get back to me when he is able to twist arms and get McCain and the other traitors to fall in line.

I am not convinced he can do it. LBJ could, but Lyndon had big hands.

ndspinelli said...

LOL!

Evi L. Bloggerlady said...

Troop, that is where you are wrong. The Freedom Caucus saved Trump from a fucked up bill that would have been as bad, maybe worse than Obamacare. And when it failed, Trump would be blamed.

Don't be the same as April Apple.

Trump just need to keep moving forward. Using a baseball analogy, he will occasional strike out, sometimes get a hit, sometimes a run. Just keep fighting. I do not expect him to be perfect. I just expect him to be better than the alternative we were facing.

So far he has been.

edutcher said...

April always was a NeverTrumper. Remember her screeching about Trumpist thugs?

Evi L. Bloggerlady said...

ed, Trump is not a conservative like Ted Cruz is

That's because the One True Ted is no Conservative. He just plays one on TV.

Sixty Grit said...

There are only 8 justices on the SC. Get back to me when he is able to twist arms and get McCain and the other traitors to fall in line.

Nucular option. He may not need Junior. A lot of Demos will be up for re-election next year.

I am not convinced he can do it. LBJ could, but Lyndon had big hands.

Lynnon Bird also had a Democrat Congress on the order of Franklin Roosevelt.

The Dude said...

As my neighbor always says, if I run out of excuses I can borrow one of his.

Truth be told, Trump doesn't have much longer to learn how to run the government. He is rapidly becoming another Arnold or Jesse Ventura - a celebrity elected to lead who has no allies on either side of the aisle.

You heard it here first - Trump will not accomplish any major goals - and by major I mean repeal of the ACA, a border wall, the cessation of our state sponsored muslim invasion, or the deportation of the 30 million illegals currently destroying our nation.

But his fanbois will always have a pocket full of excuses - Mercury was in retrograde, someone said something mean about him, the republican majorities were not large enough, the sun got in his eyes, he has hairspray poisoning, whatever. But never will the failures be laid at the feet of the man ostensibly at the wheel.

And there's the rub - the man cannot lead. Hell, he can't even fire Comey. Putz.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

8:22 You nailed it Sixty.

chickel
Just a short while back, you were down on Gorsuch because of the church he belonged to in Boulder.

Yes -I'm still uncomfortable knowing he belonged or attended that church. I have personal experience with that church. Gorsuch might be great or he might be another David Souter.
Do you know? All we can do is look for clues.

I think you were discounting that most men -- if they aren't born into it like Catholicism or Mormonism -- belong to their wife's church.

Incorrect. I have no idea where you got that idea.

Leland said...

Comey and Koskinen are still in place. Comey should have been an easy fire for both sides of the aisle. Everyday Koskinen remains a commissioner fractures the GOP that much more. Koskinen should have been impeached, and not in the last quarter of 2016, but back in 2013, when all the revelations came to light. The only reasons for me not to accept Koskinen's resignation is to impeach or fire him and take away his pension.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Evi - Look to the Trump Humper for the definition of #NeverTrumper. It is anyone who ever spoke a single bad word about their false god.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

If Trump wanted to put a stake in Hillary's heart, he could have refrained from issuing a statement that "all was forgiven." She should be further investigated and indicted for her crimes.

Geez - she's still desperate to get into the White House. Read the link at Drudge. You think the Clintons are finished?

Trump should say something about this.
Planned Parenthood sells body parts, and lies about it.Planned Parenthood is Clintonian.

The Dude said...

Why would Trump attack someone who attended his wedding?

Evi L. Bloggerlady said...

I have to say if this comment section reflects the nation, then the Obama-Schumer-Hillary mission is accomplished. Sixty pronounces Trump about finished. AA is back to her silly NeverTrumper announcements, which are now so broad as to include every person on the planet as NeverTrumpers (other than ed). And ed is parcing about my comments about Ted Cruz not realizing I am defending Trump.

Jeeze Louise. Chill out supposed people on the right. Trump is far from perfect, but he is doing some things that are positive.

Evi L. Bloggerlady said...

Why would Trump attack someone who attended his wedding?

They came but didn't bring a gift?

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Evi - #NeverTrumper is not mine. It is a construct of #TrumpHumper.

I laugh at the silly narrow constraints One True Trumpers place on anyone who dare point out that Trump might be... flawed.

The Dude said...

He has become a lame duck in record time. He can and will be ignored by the people who actually run things.

The swamp is draining him, so it goes. Too bad you don't have any core values, Donny - you could have been a contender.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Why would Trump attack someone who attended his wedding?

right. I'll sound like a paranoid whackadoodle but I might as well start now. (or/why stop?) Trump is setting it all up for Hillary again. Though, I doubt he's smart enough to realize it.

I have a small amount of hope that Trump will right the titanic. REally.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

From the link at Drudge -

Cracking jokes about her November defeat and her months out of the limelight since, Clinton spoke to thousands of businesswomen in San Francisco, joking there was no place she'd rather be, "other than the White House."

I keep telling everyone the desperation didn't go away after the election.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

#NT Alert: I have something positive to say about Trump.

MORE PLEASE

ndspinelli said...

I have many of the same thoughts of Sixty and April. But, I am a patient man and will give Trump a bit more time. However, if you don't think it looks bad, then you be blind and a retard.

Leland said...

I keep telling everyone the desperation didn't go away after the election.

Yep, and the Communist didn't disappear after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Soviet Union.

Trooper York said...

To say that ed and I don't recognize Trumps flaws is just a lie. We constantly point out where he is wrong and is doing the wrong thing. What we don't do is only see his flaws. We also recognize that in the short time he has been in office he has done several very important things that the media covers up and the NeverTrumpers like April ignore or minimize.

Today President Trump signed an order to start to reverse the crippling climate change rules that stopped coal production and handicapped the energy industry. He is doing what he can through executive orders even though extreme liberals in the judiciary are throwing up road blocks. To do more he needs a partnership with the Congress. He is not a King. If the Congress does not step up in a unified fashion then nothing will be accomplished.

That was the whole point of this post which everyone ignored. The conservatives have a great chance to get most of their agenda passed. They could have defunded Planned Parenthood. They choose not to do so. It is up to them. President Trump can only go to the well so many times. I think they need to rethink their fecklessness.

Trooper York said...

You should also note that this construct comes from Professor Jacobson who is no partisan of President Trump. He was against him throughout the process. But he is a realist and a very smart guy.

Methadras said...

It really doesn't take long for people to kind of snap back from reality as it were. Who do you think would have steered this country into an iceberg? Cacklefaintypants or Trump? So far, one defeat doesn't not a presidency make. He isn't a participation trophy guy. You win some, you lose some. He can come back and attack the ACA again. Let him get some wins under his belt like tax reform, the wall, etc. Let's see if there is political will to do these things and if the cocksucker pussy republican in the house and senate can bolt on their cock n' balls for a change and do it right.

Hearing Mitch 'the turtle' McConnell trying to fucking sabotage Trump's ability to get things done is really frustrating. These fuckers are just being spiteful assholes who want him to play by their rules instead of being a disrupter of the process and are willing to fuck the American public to do it. That's the real crime and shame here and they should be held to account for it.

Amartel said...

This comment thread is indicative of why Republicans can't get shit done even when they've got all three branches of the government pretty well secured and the winds of public approval blowing (gently) at their backs. So the AHCA failed - so fucking what. Two months in and everyone's in tears and it's all a disaster. Bullshit. We can probably do better and it's only a big deal if you agree with the media that it's a big deal. Try again, and again, and again. The Dems are never going to cooperate; they can wait this out because their supporters either aren't paying the bills or they're so rich and/or delusional that they don't care.

Trooper York said...

I think you are exactly right Amartel. The Republicans can't get it right. They are not united. Trump set the table. They turned it over. They have to get on board with a shared agenda. They will get their tax cuts. They will have to go along with infrastructure spending. Trump wants to put people back to work. If the penny pinchers refuse because of ideology they will blow up the whole thing.

The Dude said...

Trump is a man without a party, adrift in a sea of seething hatred, too cowardly to fly the black flag. It is going to be a long four years unless he takes command, and so far, he is at the mercy of the currents and about as effective King Canute at having his commands obeyed.

Amartel said...

Trump IS a Republican. BTW.
I decided to take him at his word and so far I'm reasonably happy with the results.
So he and Ryan thought they could push thru a bill without the support of "penny pinchers" and the freedom morons.
Those darn penny pinchers. Always whining about spending. And liberty. Wah wah wah.
So much for that.
Lesson learned.
No harm, no foul.
Now try again.
Do better.

Amartel said...

And why can't these people do more than one thing at a time? Do the health care act and the tax plan simultaneously. Everyone else multi-tasks.

The Dude said...

Getting anything through congress, where Rs have a majority in both houses, will prove that he is in charge. Until then, he is rudderless and his sails are shredded.

ndspinelli said...

Lots of sailing metaphors. Sixty is channeling Dennis Conner..or Popeye?

The Dude said...

Titanic, captain going down with his ship, stormy seas, stove boat, ketch as ketch can, broken masts, who knows where such ideas come from, other than the Ship of State is foundering on the shoals of greed and mediocrity, which are the twin pillars of our governing class.

As for the rest, I am what I am.

Amartel said...

Penny Pinching Freedom Morons Did Not Tank AHCA

Trooper York said...

Sixty you are talking to the wrong guy if you think I don't want to hoist the black flag and start cutting throats.

Trump is unbelievably too nice. He is too accommodating. He is making a mistake playing nice.

It is of course amusing to hear that the Freedom Caucus is saving us from accomplishing anything. They don't want to build the wall. They don't want to repeal Obamacare. They don't want to defund Planned Parenthood. They just want to fundraise and get re-elected as conservative true believers.

Trump needs to cut all of their throats. Go to the people. Elect nationalists. Not conservatives.

Trooper York said...

I assume you read the post you linked to...the Congressman said:
"So, I guess what I say to Republican voters is, you knew what we were getting [in Donald Trump]. I knew what we were getting. But this is our chance... he's telling you that, if you don't start working with him to get the things that we want, then he's got no choice because he's made these promises and he's going to keep them, even if he doesn't honor it the way you or I would want it done."

That was precisely Professor Jacobson's point. That is my point. The so called conservatives need to get in front of this if they want to matter. President Trump is going to try his best to fulfill his campaign promises. It that is done in a conservative way that would be great. But he is going to repeal Obamacare and get premiums down one way or another. Fish or cut bait. It is that simple.

Evi L. Bloggerlady said...

Hey Troop, when Jerry Rivers is on your side, you should question which side you are on...

Evi L. Bloggerlady said...

Now Soopermexican is a NeverTrumper, but Geraldo Rivera is not exactly Team Trump either. There are a lot of people who want to stir the pot on this one and point blame at others while they are sticking the shiv in Trump's back.

Evi L. Bloggerlady said...

Rush defends the Freedom Caucus

Trooper York said...

I am against the Freedom Caucus because they put ideology over results in the same way the ultra liberals do. They are like Ted Cruz in that respect.

They have to give a little to get a lot.