Credit where credit is due

In the three weeks since President Donald (Donnie John) Trump was inaugurated it seems his administration has been plagued with the "Ready, Fire, Aim" syndrome.  His Executive Orders have almost become comical in how half-baked they come out.  Not surprisingly, all Democrats, many Independents, and even a growing number of Republicans are shaking in their boots, wondering what's going to hit the fan next.  

The good news in all this is that Saturday Night Live has no shortage of material to run with.  There's no such thing as "bad" publicity, right?  Right?

But to be fair, I can think of one thing that Prez Donnie John has done that he should be commended for.  On a regular basis (so far) he has held meetings with business leaders as diverse as Intel, Ford, GM, and all the airlines, small business groups, labor groups, and even special interest groups, supposedly to find out what's on their minds and what he can do to get them to ramp up hiring.  

Some of it has been for show no doubt, as when the CEO of Intel announced that they were spending $7Billion on a new facility in Arizona that will all total add 10,000 new jobs.  Donnie John of course took credit, even though it later turned out that Intel had been planning this for several years.  Still, momentum being what it is, expect others to jump on the bandwagon, too. From his perspective it might be an "ugly win", but it's still a win.  Kudos.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yesterday all the stock markets shot through the roof on the news from the Oval Office that we could expect a major announcement in a couple of weeks on tax reform.  "It's tremendous, just incredible.  You'll love it!  Really, you will."

This could be trickier to get through than you might think.  A big tax cut sounds great, until you realize that it will swell the Federal deficit even more, something the hard-core GOP deficit hawks are going to balk at.  The sales pitch will be that the deficit will be offset by more tax revenue due to increased business activity / lower unemployment.  

The Democrats will throw right back Kansas Governor Sam Brownback's failed attempt to do this very thing, leaving his state with a terrible budget mess.   

What do I think?  I think it will be interesting.  *wink*

S

Just because you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD

President Donald Trump signing an Executive Order

President Trump has been giving his Montblanc pen quite the workout this week signing Executive Orders.  More than a few people have had their feathers ruffled by this and have taken to the streets to VERY LOUDLY vent.  IMO many of the loudest protesters are mistaken when they insist "He [Trump] can't do that!"  From what I've read (in most cases at least) he DOES have the power to do what he's doing.

Today the big stink is his Executive Order regarding Muslim immigrants.  From the statute I read it appears he IS within his rights.  But just because he CAN doesn't mean he SHOULD.  With over three million Muslims living in the US right now, how many of them will become so incensed by this that they become some of those almost-impossible-to-detect "home-grown" jihadists we've been warned about?  Stop 3 foreign terrorists, create 10 domestic ones?

And while little publicized, the US has close working relationships with numerous Muslim countries involving intelligence gathering and matters pertaining to our national security.  Are they going to still want to work with us as closely after this?  Questionable.  If I were them I'd have some serious soul searching to do. 

Earlier in the week it was all about "The Wall".  It seems that years ago Congress voted the funds to build 700 miles (?) of border fence, but then didn't spend it all, so there's already money in the kitty.  I'm thinking Prez Trump CAN start up construction again if he wants, but SHOULD he?  If we build his border wall, 2017 might just become known as the start of the Golden Age of Mexican Tunnel Digging!  Where there's a will, there's a way.

And just as with the Muslim countries, US/Mexican cooperation on many sensitive national security issues might well be jeopardized.  You just can't kick someone in the 'nads and then expect them to act like nothing ever happened.  Secure the border, sure, but how about by another less expensive, less static, more flexible, more tactful means?

And Mexico is going to reimburse us for The Wall, or we'll put a 20% (?) tariff on their imports to the US?  Ummm....many of those products they sell to us are made with US components we sold to them!  *I think that's called shooting yourself in the foot* 

The President has historically been able to seat anyone he wants on his National Security Council.  Can Prez Trump choose to NOT give full-time NSC seats to the Chairman of of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Director of National Intelligence?  Yes he CAN, but SHOULD he?

I believe many thinking people are beginning to wonder if President Trump's decisions to date have been wise ones.  I understand he wants to honor his campaign promises to his supporters, but maybe he should slow down a bit and think of the unintentional consequences he might be creating.

S