Trump Economy, Durability
As I have stated on many occasions, I am not a big fan of
Donald Trump, the man and his peccadillos.
However, I’m positively stunned by his personality based brand of
American populism and nationalism because it has resulted in such direct, “in
your face” changes to the progressive nanny state model based on identity
politics promulgated by the previous administration and by his democrat “resistance”
opposition.
The main reasons that I sometimes come across as an
apologist for Trump is primarily because of the absolutely biased and distorted
media coverage against him, and secondarily, it’s the economy, stupid. The MSM fuels the antagonistic feelings and
hatred against Trump and his administration and feeds the unhealthy divisions
in the country. All you need to do is
turn on CNN or MSNBC for a few segments, or read the front pages and opinion
pages of the New York Times and Washington Post to experience this bias
directly. ABC, CBS and NBC are equally
leftist oriented. Magazines like “Time”, “Newsweek” and the “New Yorker” add
fuel to the fire with long dissertations on how Trump should be removed.
Trump is certainly nowhere near an ideal leader, but common
sense dictates that he is not the unmitigated pariah that much of the MSM
paints him. Trump could hold the cure
for cancer in one hand and lasting world peace in the other hand, and he still
would be reviled by the hate driven “never Trumpers” and their MSM minions.
Notwithstanding the bantering and sometimes inane tweets and
occasional “mal mots” emanating from Trump, one cannot fault what has happened
to the economy since his election. The
stock markets are at record highs. The
Dow Jones index has risen by over 18%.
Unemployment hovers just above 4%, the lowest in 10 years. GDP growth has been over 3% for two quarters,
even with three major hurricanes hitting the country in the third quarter of
2017.
The democrat opposition and the “never Trumpers” best keep
these numbers in mind when they talk about impeachment or even about swiftly
voting Trump out. “It’s the economy,
stupid” was coined by James Carville during the 1992 Bill Clinton campaign. The
phrase pertains equally well in 2017 or 2020 or 2024. So called “social justice” issues like removing
confederate statues and gender bathroom rules pale by comparison to a vibrant
and burgeoning economy. This is
particularly true in those 85% of American counties that voted for Trump in the
last election, low approval ratings from the east and west coast
notwithstanding
And the democrat “resistance” and “never Trumpers” seem to have
run the course in their efforts to remove Trump, who is a duly elected
president, from office. In summary:
11.) As
soon as Trump was sworn in, the
plaintiffs in Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington instituted a
law suit against Trump alleging that he has violated the Foreign Emoluments
Clause. But the evidence is that the
Foreign Emoluments Clause was never meant to apply to the president, and the
consequence is that the plaintiffs’ case is basically a non-starter, notwithstanding
the Trump organization’s hotel a block from the capitol.
22.) The democrats equally quickly
made allegations that Trump broke the law by colluding with the Russians during
his campaign. In nearly a year of accusations and six months of investigations
by special prosecutor Mueller, there has been no proof of any direct Trump
collusion with the Russians. In fact
Mueller’s investigation has now turned toward the Clinton’s collusion with
Russia in a pay-for-play scheme involving sale of uranium to Russia’s Putin,
and the Hillary Clinton campaign’s collusion with the Russians concerning a
discredited anti-Trump dossier.
33.) Volumes have been written in
the left wing press about accusing Trump of an inability to govern because of
his implied volatility and other character traits and applying the 25th
amendment against him. Various scenarios
have been presented on the mechanics of such a move. From what I’ve read, this would require
initial action by a loyal vice president and cabinet, followed by a 2/3 vote in
both houses. Obviously, this is not a
very likely possibility, particularly since Trump seems to be a picture of
physical and mental health, even though he has that massive personality.
44.) Other volumes have been
written in the MSM about impeachment and leftist wishful thinking with this aim. It behooves his detractors to remember that a
sitting U.S. president has never been removed from office by being
impeached. Chances for Trump’s removal
by legal or congressional action seem pretty distant as long as there are
republican majorities in both houses, even though there have been spats within
the republican party. Remember that although both Andrew Johnson and Bill
Clinton were impeached by the house, they were later acquitted by the senate.
Richard Nixon might have been impeached and removed from office, but he quit
first. It is obvious that impeachment is not an easy road.
55.) Another
dream of the left is voting him out. Of course the democrats’ goal
in 2018 is to gain hegemony in both houses of congress, making moves against
Trump easier. The democrats have little chance of accomplishing this so long
they lack a cohesive platform, proper leadership and insist on the shop worn
identity politics like political correctness and gender issues that caused
their 2016 defeats in the first place. Also measured predictions for 2018 and
2020 do not really give the democrats very much of a chance of prevailing in
either house of congress. Trump’s unexpected
campaign performance and win in 2016 belies chances of defeating him in 2020,
particularly if the economy continues to perform well under his brand of pro-business
with fewer restrictions
So
we’re stuck with Trump for the balance of four years, and most likely for a
total of eight years. No level of rhetoric or gnashing of teeth will change
that. This is sort of like the Clinton years and the Obama years were for
republicans.
It
would be productive and conducive to better government if the democrats
developed a rational platform, elected opposition members of congress who
participate in government rather than obstruct, and provide a valid counter to
Trump and his minions and his sometimes destructive populism. To an admittedly
mild conservative/libertarian, increasingly strident, and nearly seditious
rhetoric, curtailing speech at our colleges and hooded, black-shirted rioting
in the streets are not going to do the democrats, or the country very much
good. A return to some modicum of more polite and rational discourse is
necessary to do that.
Ray
Gruszecki
October
31, 2017
