Trump's Circular Firing Squad

Townhall.com ^ | July 27, 2017 | Victor Davis Hanson

[Kaslin]

The American political system has never quite seen anything like the current opposition to President Trump and his unusual reaction to it.

We are no longer in the customary political landscapes. Usually, the out-of-power opposition -- in this case, the Democratic Party -- offers most of the criticism and all of the alternative policies in order to win in the next election. Instead, Trump has an entire circle of diverse critics shooting at him. But they just as often end up hitting each other -- and themselves.

So far, Trump's most furious Democratic opponents have not been able to offer alternative visions to Trump's agenda that might help them win back Congress in the 2018 midterm elections. Higher taxes, more government regulations, less gas and oil production, loose immigration policies and the promotion of identity politics are not really winning issues.

Instead, the aim is either to remove Trump before his first term is up or to so delegitimize him that he is rendered powerless.

Yet obsessions with Trump often lead to boomerang excesses -- mad talk and visuals, from obscene rants to decapitation art -- that hurt the attackers more than Trump.

Republicans should have been delighted with control of both houses of Congress, the Supreme Court, state governorships and the legislatures, and the White House. In principle, they laud Trump's efforts to appoint strict constructionists to the federal courts, to increase oil and gas production, to reform Obamacare and the tax code, and to restore deterrence abroad.

[Kaslin]

Victor Davis Hanson Column

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[henkster]

Republicans should have been delighted with control of both houses of Congress, the Supreme Court, state governorships and the legislatures, and the White House.

They are not delighted to have a President who expects them to actually implement the policies they promised politically on the campaign trail.

[Alberta's Child]

One perfect example of Trump's political brilliance was his Twitter announcement yesterday regarding the banishment of "transgender" (whatever the hell that's supposed to mean) people from the U.S. military.

Just think about it ...

1. It drove most of Washington -- including a lot of Republicans who probably support the move -- completely bananas because they never imagined themselves living in a world where the President of the United States makes policy announcements in 140-character Twitter messages.

2. In terms of the political ramifications ... It came one day after the Democrats trotted out their idiotic new slogan and branding image that was aimed at enhancing their appeal to white working-class people who had voted for Trump in 2016. This announcement forced them to criticize the president for implementing a policy that probably has the support of about 90% of Americans (if not more) ... which immediately reminded all those "Deplorables" why they've grown to hate the Democrats so much after all. LMAO.

[Spiridon]

The GOP does not support Donald Trump, so we are in a mess.

Ryan and McConnell and the “moderates” all obstructing, attacking, taking pot shots.

[Spiridon]

The moment he made the announcement, he distracted the media from making him look bad on other stuff.

[JLAGRAYFOX]

Trump will be on the stump heavily during the 2018 Mid-Term elections. He will effectively destroy what is left of the Democrat “traitor” party and, he will primary the bulk of the GOP Establishment scum & vermin. Americans well know their political system is full of useless, greedy, power hungry politicians of all political stripes, who must be thrown out of office.

We need citizen politicians, who deeply care about the American people & the nation, term limits for Congressmen & Senators...period!!! Washington, DC is corrupt from head to toe!!! Go POTUS, Donald J. Trump...MAGA!!!

[grey_whiskers]

The Donald will not primary them: we need to work hard and fast NOW to get primary challengers past the gatekeepers, to get them publicized, and past the swamp media blackouts and hit jobs, in order that the primary challenges are successful.

The real answer -- since it is illegal to conspire to overthrow the government -- is to overthrow the left-wing media, and K street.

Oh, and Trump ought to consider waterboarding or drone striking Soros.

[ballplayer]

Some of that vermin was just elected and will be around if Trump wins a second term,they are immune for 6 years

[palmer]

Yes, Trump can be off the cuff at times, but his timing of big announcements is very good. It's a great contrast you pointed out. The Dems roll out their plan to save America (Lizzy Warren is going to break up CVS, Walgreens and RiteAid, and at the same time, her cohorts want to retrain everyone to work in pharmacy). Everyone's costs will go down and everyone will be paid more. A day later Trump saves the military from actual enormous expenses, readiness problems, etc.

What's next? The Dems will roll out a five year plan to mainstream transgenderism and Trump announces 10k new jobs in 10 months.

[The Sons of Liberty]

They are not delighted to have a President who expects them to actually implement the policies they promised politically on the campaign trail.

Absolutely correct!

Paul Ryno's and Mitchie McConnell's failures to do anything were good defensive strategies against Hussein 0bama's communist agenda, but now that we have the ball their inability to get ANYTHING done only highlights their total incompetence and opposition to upsetting the status quo. I can't think of a SINGLE positive accomplishment Paul Ryno can legitimately claim.

[Truth29]

There are times I wish for an American General Pinochet. The Uniparty does not fear the American populace at all. They look down on them as lumpen proletariat and of little more use than fertilizer for the growing overlord state.

[joesbucks]

You know, I used to buy what you said.

But then I began to realize that what a Texan wants from their Senator is often different than what an Ohioan or a Maine resident wants from theirs. McConnell has to herd 99 other Senators who sometimes must walk a fine line between party, president and constituents. Ryan has an even harder job with 434 other reps. Even the President seems to have difficulty with aligning a majority of 100 Senators and 435 House members. And remember, he's known for the Art of the Deal. Getting things done. Getting past no. Getting people to do the uncomfortable.

As much as I dislike what Nancy Pelosi and Elizabeth Warren represent, their constituents overall like them and are glad they are doing what they are doing. And the same goes for the moderates from each party.

[Hawthorn]

>> he’s known for the Art of the Deal <<

Yeah but whether or not he actually wrote the book, sometimes he acts as if he has forgotten how actually to close a deal.

For example, can he make a “deal” so that health insurance reform will actually pass? And what about tax cuts? Or the border wall? Or new infrastructure spending? Or the re-invigoration of the coal industry? Or vastly increased manufacturing employment?

Only time will tell.

[jmaroneps37]

Yup that’s it It’s all over. Trump resigns tomorrow and it was all just a pleasant dream right Vic?

Go get bent! Things go wrong in EVERY human endeavor or haven’t you noticed that? Trump’s learning curve is steep so just go away.

[zeestephen]

Re: “Higher taxes, more government regulations, less gas and oil production, loose immigration policies and the promotion of identity politics are not really winning issues.”

Right. That’s why hard line leftist Hillary Clinton got 3 million more votes than Donald Trump.

And the 10 million fake votes Clinton got? Well, almost one year after the election, fewer than a thousand of them are being prosecuted, and that includes all the Red states, too.

Hey, O.J. Simpson is getting out of prison. Let’s put him in charge of searching for the real fake voters!

[Spiridon]

From your lips to the Good Lord’s ears.....