That’s hardly “war.” Let’s drop the exaggerations. Trump’s just trying to send them a message that they better not make a habit of standing in the way of his agenda. Tax reform and infrastructure are up next on the agenda. If they oppose him on those things (because of the border adjustment tax and more federal spending) and stop his bills from passing, then he’s going to come out of that looking not only serially incompetent, but also impotent to get anything done. This could be disastrous to brand Trump like that so early in his presidency. And, of course, he still wants to get something accomplished with Obamacare, knowing that he has very little leeway for dissenters if he wants something to actually pass both houses (which should be the goal).
Trump is certainly smart enough to realize he needs the Freedom Caucus members on immigration and other important conservative issues. I don’t think he’s trying to go to war with them. I think he is putting pressure on them to be willing to compromise with him so he can really make some major changes in this country, while he still has the opportunity to do so. Trump knows negotiation. He’s playing the carrot and stick game. He first tried dangling the carrot, by buttering them up and giving in to a lot of their demands. But that didn’t work, so now he’s attempting the “stick” strategy. He’s a smart tactician. I wouldn’t make too much of that.
He first tried dangling the carrot, by buttering them up and giving in to a lot of their demands. But that didn’t work, so now he’s attempting the “stick” strategy. He’s a smart tactician. I wouldn’t make too much of that.
Good read on “ negotiation tactics”.... If you have ever been involved in one this is how it goes....
Tax reform and infrastructure are up next on the agenda. If they oppose him on those things (because of the border adjustment tax and more federal spending) and stop his bills from passing, then he’s going to come out of that looking not only serially incompetent, but also impotent to get anything done. This could be disastrous to brand Trump like that so early in his presidency.
Interestingly, Meadows has already signaled his willingness to abandon his “principles” on offset spending on the upcoming bills. So “standing on his principles” lasted all of the weekend. LOL.
Sad to see these self interested beltway swamper in the kamikaze caucus dupe so many folks into believing they are immaculate conservatives. We’ve seen that movie before. It has a bad ending.