What does a successful Trump presidency look like?

[Northwestie]

I listened to Obama's press conference today.  He was thrown some pointed questions about Trump's picks (Steve Bannon of Breitbart), Trumps qualifications, and some of Trump's harsh policy announcements (deport 2 million immigrants).  Obama was nothing but a class act and emphasized that he and his staff will make sure there is an easy transition for Trump's team - he continually side-stepped the pointed questions and said it was not for him to assess the incoming talent and that democracy spoke. 

He did point out that Trump will have an easier transition than he did as the economy was shedding 750k jobs a month, financial system was in lockdown, the auto industry was on the brink, and housing was at rock bottom.

Now - there has been continual job growth for two years, the auto loans were paid back, housing is ticking upwards, the unemployment rate is hovering around 4.9% (down from 10%), and 23 million folks now have health insurance that did not before the ACA.

Needless to say - Trump will have an easier time of it.  But I doubt he'll show the intelligence of Obama and the class.

[sol]

Trump will have an easier time of it.  But I doubt he'll show the intelligence of Obama and the class.

Even Trump's most ardent supporters recognize that "class" has never been his strong suit.  That's part of the attraction, I think.  They're tired of well-spoken and well-educated leaders who think deeply about important issues and try to promote equality.  They want somebody who will burp on TV and "grab 'em by the pussy" and tell Angela Merkel she's fat, because that's who we are as a country and we apparently want those qualities reflected in our leaders.

The rest of the world has had this "ugly American" stereotype for 20 years now.  We're just finally living up to the hype.

[Taran Wanderer]

Nice analysis of the first 100 days, Sol. I am enjoying the responses to this thread. I for one will be surprised if we can make it through with no invasions, no nuclear detonations, no global recession, no re-segregation, no environmental devastation, and a peaceful transition out.

[Cannot Wait!]

+1 and no more pussy grabbing.

[LennStar]

3.  Withdraw from NAFTA and the TPP.  I don't understand this plan at all.  I have yet to find a single economist, foreign or domestic, who thinks this is a good idea.  Free trade in support of economic growth is the bedrock principal of the GOP, and he's gutting it.

Then you need to avert your eyes away from the neolibs and to those who make their models after the real world and not those who get angry when teh real world does not work according to their models. ;)

I mostly know the european side, so here it is:
The best study the EU could bring on predicted 0.3% growth, in 10 years, so 0,03% per year for a decade. And that study was heavily flawd.
But the main point is that TPP is not about trade. Everything that is about trade could be done by existing gremiums. TPP is about destroying peoples rights and protections. In German its "nicht-tarifäre Handelshemmnisse" - something that hinders trade that has nothing to to with customs tariffs or taxes.
Instead its about things like "towns cannot prevent their water getting privatised". Something you should know what that means if you look to Detroit. Or GMO. The treaty would outlaw laws forbidding them. (Especially now that all the bad results of the GMO model start to show is insane if you ask me, not to mention the undermining of the demiocracy)
Countries could (and would) be ordered to pay huge sums by private courts payed by the industry if they pass laws to protect people just because that prevents (no, COULD prevent) some sales.

Regarding NAFTA, lots of piliticians in Canada have said that NAFTA (which is not even as bad as TTP) was an error, including the current prime minister if I am right. Not to mention the results of those and similar treaties to Mexico and african countries.

[DutchGirl]

As an outsider, I would say a successful Trump presidency would be one where he keeps things going as they are going, and kind of babysits the US until early 2021 to release it into more capable hands again.

[Metric Mouse]

As an outsider, I would say a successful Trump presidency would be one where he keeps things going as they are going, and kind of babysits the US until early 2021 to release it into more capable hands again.

That is a long time to wait for any improvements or changes in the way things are going.

[LennStar]

A sucessful Trump presidency would be what Michael Moore wrote here:
http://boingboing.net/2016/11/14/michael-moores-to-do-list-f.html

[boarder42]

A sucessful Trump presidency would be what Michael Moore wrote here:
http://boingboing.net/2016/11/14/michael-moores-to-do-list-f.html

is this a joke.  cmon.

[Metric Mouse]

A sucessful Trump presidency would be what Michael Moore wrote here:
http://boingboing.net/2016/11/14/michael-moores-to-do-list-f.html

is this a joke.  cmon.

I don't know, I thought this line was pretty funny:

Liberals feel aimless and powerless, falling all over each other trying to figure out what happened. Like teenagers at a party that went off the rails, some are locked in the bathroom crying, some are fighting amongst themselves, others are telling everyone it's going to be fine, and some are standing on the kitchen table yelling, trying to restore order in futility

[bacchi]

He did point out that Trump will have an easier transition than he did as the economy was shedding 750k jobs a month, financial system was in lockdown, the auto industry was on the brink, and housing was at rock bottom.

Now - there has been continual job growth for two years, the auto loans were paid back, housing is ticking upwards, the unemployment rate is hovering around 4.9% (down from 10%), and 23 million folks now have health insurance that did not before the ACA.

Needless to say - Trump will have an easier time of it.  But I doubt he'll show the intelligence of Obama and the class.

Realistically, the economy is at the end of a long recovery. It'll go south in the first 2 years of Trump's Presidency. Trump and team will bring out their tired policies in order to fix it, and that won't work.

[Metric Mouse]

He did point out that Trump will have an easier transition than he did as the economy was shedding 750k jobs a month, financial system was in lockdown, the auto industry was on the brink, and housing was at rock bottom.

Now - there has been continual job growth for two years, the auto loans were paid back, housing is ticking upwards, the unemployment rate is hovering around 4.9% (down from 10%), and 23 million folks now have health insurance that did not before the ACA.

Needless to say - Trump will have an easier time of it.  But I doubt he'll show the intelligence of Obama and the class.

Realistically, the economy is at the end of a long recovery. It'll go south in the first 2 years of Trump's Presidency. Trump and team will bring out their tired policies in order to fix it, and that won't work.

I think market timing is at least as bad as Trump supporting. :D

[little_brown_dog]

I don't know, I thought this line was pretty funny:

Liberals feel aimless and powerless, falling all over each other trying to figure out what happened. Like teenagers at a party that went off the rails, some are locked in the bathroom crying, some are fighting amongst themselves, others are telling everyone it's going to be fine, and some are standing on the kitchen table yelling, trying to restore order in futility

Seriously that is exactly what is happening. And so far, no one seems to be listening to those trying to restore order or those who are attempting to think strategically. Worse, people are attacking, blaming, and generally trying to derail the more strategic and pragmatic ones.

It really reminds me of a real life sociopolitical version of that fire drill scene in The Office...

[Mississippi Mudstache]

I don't know, I thought this line was pretty funny:

Liberals feel aimless and powerless, falling all over each other trying to figure out what happened. Like teenagers at a party that went off the rails, some are locked in the bathroom crying, some are fighting amongst themselves, others are telling everyone it's going to be fine, and some are standing on the kitchen table yelling, trying to restore order in futility

Seriously that is exactly what is happening. And so far, no one seems to be listening to those trying to restore order or those who are attempting to think strategically. Worse, people are attacking, blaming, and generally trying to derail the more strategic and pragmatic ones.

It really reminds me of a real life sociopolitical version of that fire drill scene in The Office...

I don't disagree.

[A mom]

Looking at the newest appointments it's hard not to believe that everything is circling the drain pretty quickly now.

[onlykelsey]

I don't know, I thought this line was pretty funny:

Liberals feel aimless and powerless, falling all over each other trying to figure out what happened. Like teenagers at a party that went off the rails, some are locked in the bathroom crying, some are fighting amongst themselves, others are telling everyone it's going to be fine, and some are standing on the kitchen table yelling, trying to restore order in futility

Seriously that is exactly what is happening. And so far, no one seems to be listening to those trying to restore order or those who are attempting to think strategically. Worse, people are attacking, blaming, and generally trying to derail the more strategic and pragmatic ones.

It really reminds me of a real life sociopolitical version of that fire drill scene in The Office...

I don't disagree.

That is hilarious.  I'm at work and have to know, what happened to the actual fire he set?

[JGS1980]

Successful = no nuclear detonations in the next four years; no global economic collapse in the next four years.

Sorry to re-awaken this thread, but...... I couldn't help it!!!

[bacchi]

Successful = no nuclear detonations in the next four years; no global economic collapse in the next four years.

Sorry to re-awaken this thread, but...... I couldn't help it!!!

So, success? Yay?

[OtherJen]

Successful = no nuclear detonations in the next four years; no global economic collapse in the next four years.

Sorry to re-awaken this thread, but...... I couldn't help it!!!

We still have 7 months left in this term.

[talltexan]

I'll go on the record: Trump has been exposed by every crisis as unprepared and corrupt. He delivered the tax cut and the judges that the conservative movement hoped for, but his loyalty test has substituted for any measure of competence among those who are allowed to advance within the Republican party.

The twin health and economic crisis we are enduring right now is particularly ill-suited to a man who seems incapable of establishing credibility outside of conservative media.

He's probabably still got even odds of winning re-election, because that's who we are right now.

[Buffaloski Boris]

Interesting necropost. 

You all aren't going to like this, but I'll put it out there: from the perspective of someone who is profoundly apolitical the President has been the gift that keeps on giving. Given my rock bottom expectations for performance, I'm OK when a President hands me a tax cut on the one hand and doesn't get the country into WWIII on the other. 

But it gets better.  The president has been exhibit "A" through "Z" of the  failures of partisan politics in this country.  In a country of 320 million people and after spending billions of dollars and millions of man-hours on an election, this is who floated to the top. He is living validation of my apolitical views. 

[Kris]

Interesting necropost. 

You all aren't going to like this, but I'll put it out there: from the perspective of someone who is profoundly apolitical the President has been the gift that keeps on giving. Given my rock bottom expectations for performance, I'm OK when a President hands me a tax cut on the one hand and doesn't get the country into WWIII on the other. 

But it gets better.  The president has been exhibit "A" through "Z" of the  failures of partisan politics in this country.  In a country of 320 million people and after spending billions of dollars and millions of man-hours on an election, this is who floated to the top. He is living validation of my apolitical views.

I mean, I think straight white dudes can enjoy this spectacle from a distance in a way that others can’t...

[kei te pai]

Trouble is, what happens in the US doesnt stay in the US. It has repercussions for the whole world. What bothers me the most is the sanctioning of depravity and corruption, the utter lack of moral integrity, faith, and humanity of the Trump regime.

[OtherJen]

Interesting necropost. 

You all aren't going to like this, but I'll put it out there: from the perspective of someone who is profoundly apolitical the President has been the gift that keeps on giving. Given my rock bottom expectations for performance, I'm OK when a President hands me a tax cut on the one hand and doesn't get the country into WWIII on the other. 

But it gets better.  The president has been exhibit "A" through "Z" of the  failures of partisan politics in this country.  In a country of 320 million people and after spending billions of dollars and millions of man-hours on an election, this is who floated to the top. He is living validation of my apolitical views.

I mean, I think straight white dudes can enjoy this spectacle from a distance in a way that others can’t...

This.

[Buffaloski Boris]

Interesting necropost. 

You all aren't going to like this, but I'll put it out there: from the perspective of someone who is profoundly apolitical the President has been the gift that keeps on giving. Given my rock bottom expectations for performance, I'm OK when a President hands me a tax cut on the one hand and doesn't get the country into WWIII on the other. 

But it gets better.  The president has been exhibit "A" through "Z" of the  failures of partisan politics in this country.  In a country of 320 million people and after spending billions of dollars and millions of man-hours on an election, this is who floated to the top. He is living validation of my apolitical views.

I mean, I think straight white dudes can enjoy this spectacle from a distance in a way that others can’t...

"Enjoy" is too strong of a term.  "Accept" is more accurate. I accept that there are rulers and there are the ruled, and that I'm in the second group.  I accept that there is a partisan political duopoly in the US that provides ever worse results over time.  I accept that there are millions who believe that time spent in support of one or the other political faction will somehow provide better results in the future, with little historical evidence over the past several decades that it does.  I accept that there are also millions who also believe that race, gender, sexual preference, and a sort of amorphous idea of privilege are primary driving forces in society rather than class and economics. I accept that politics for many is a sort of secular substitute for religion.   

I accept a lot of not-so-happy things, but I can't say I particularly enjoy them.   

[OtherJen]

Interesting necropost. 

You all aren't going to like this, but I'll put it out there: from the perspective of someone who is profoundly apolitical the President has been the gift that keeps on giving. Given my rock bottom expectations for performance, I'm OK when a President hands me a tax cut on the one hand and doesn't get the country into WWIII on the other. 

But it gets better.  The president has been exhibit "A" through "Z" of the  failures of partisan politics in this country.  In a country of 320 million people and after spending billions of dollars and millions of man-hours on an election, this is who floated to the top. He is living validation of my apolitical views.

I mean, I think straight white dudes can enjoy this spectacle from a distance in a way that others can’t...

"Enjoy" is too strong of a term.  "Accept" is more accurate. I accept that there are rulers and there are the ruled, and that I'm in the second group.  I accept that there is a partisan political duopoly in the US that provides ever worse results over time.  I accept that there are millions who believe that time spent in support of one or the other political faction will somehow provide better results in the future, with little historical evidence over the past several decades that it does.  I accept that there are also millions who also believe that race, gender, sexual preference, and a sort of amorphous idea of privilege are primary driving forces in society rather than class and economics. I accept that politics for many is a sort of secular substitute for religion.   

I accept a lot of not-so-happy things, but I can't say I particularly enjoy them.

People of my minority ethnic group have been forcibly deported by the US government, regardless of citizenship status, during two separate periods in the last century (under Hoover and Eisenhower, both Republicans). Our ethnic group is one of the most maligned by the Trump administration. But sure, go ahead and dismiss such concerns and discomfort as “amorphous” partisan politics and enjoy the temporary tax cut.

[talltexan]

Interesting necropost. 

You all aren't going to like this, but I'll put it out there: from the perspective of someone who is profoundly apolitical the President has been the gift that keeps on giving. Given my rock bottom expectations for performance, I'm OK when a President hands me a tax cut on the one hand and doesn't get the country into WWIII on the other. 

But it gets better.  The president has been exhibit "A" through "Z" of the  failures of partisan politics in this country.  In a country of 320 million people and after spending billions of dollars and millions of man-hours on an election, this is who floated to the top. He is living validation of my apolitical views.

I mean, I think straight white dudes can enjoy this spectacle from a distance in a way that others can’t...

"Enjoy" is too strong of a term.  "Accept" is more accurate. I accept that there are rulers and there are the ruled, and that I'm in the second group.  I accept that there is a partisan political duopoly in the US that provides ever worse results over time.  I accept that there are millions who believe that time spent in support of one or the other political faction will somehow provide better results in the future, with little historical evidence over the past several decades that it does.  I accept that there are also millions who also believe that race, gender, sexual preference, and a sort of amorphous idea of privilege are primary driving forces in society rather than class and economics. I accept that politics for many is a sort of secular substitute for religion.   

I accept a lot of not-so-happy things, but I can't say I particularly enjoy them.

People of my minority ethnic group have been forcibly deported by the US government, regardless of citizenship status, during two separate periods in the last century (under Hoover and Eisenhower, both Republicans). Our ethnic group is one of the most maligned by the Trump administration. But sure, go ahead and dismiss such concerns and discomfort as “amorphous” partisan politics and enjoy the temporary tax cut.

Part of what is so striking about this post from @OtherJen is that I have like 3+ candidates of ethnic groups that could be described by this.

[OtherJen]

Interesting necropost. 

You all aren't going to like this, but I'll put it out there: from the perspective of someone who is profoundly apolitical the President has been the gift that keeps on giving. Given my rock bottom expectations for performance, I'm OK when a President hands me a tax cut on the one hand and doesn't get the country into WWIII on the other. 

But it gets better.  The president has been exhibit "A" through "Z" of the  failures of partisan politics in this country.  In a country of 320 million people and after spending billions of dollars and millions of man-hours on an election, this is who floated to the top. He is living validation of my apolitical views.

I mean, I think straight white dudes can enjoy this spectacle from a distance in a way that others can’t...

"Enjoy" is too strong of a term.  "Accept" is more accurate. I accept that there are rulers and there are the ruled, and that I'm in the second group.  I accept that there is a partisan political duopoly in the US that provides ever worse results over time.  I accept that there are millions who believe that time spent in support of one or the other political faction will somehow provide better results in the future, with little historical evidence over the past several decades that it does.  I accept that there are also millions who also believe that race, gender, sexual preference, and a sort of amorphous idea of privilege are primary driving forces in society rather than class and economics. I accept that politics for many is a sort of secular substitute for religion.   

I accept a lot of not-so-happy things, but I can't say I particularly enjoy them.

People of my minority ethnic group have been forcibly deported by the US government, regardless of citizenship status, during two separate periods in the last century (under Hoover and Eisenhower, both Republicans). Our ethnic group is one of the most maligned by the Trump administration. But sure, go ahead and dismiss such concerns and discomfort as “amorphous” partisan politics and enjoy the temporary tax cut.

Part of what is so striking about this post from @OtherJen is that I have like 3+ candidates of ethnic groups that could be described by this.

In my case, I was referring to Mexican Repatriation and Operation Wetback.

[talltexan]

Strangely, I am connected via facebook with many people of Hispanic origin who are supporters of Trump. He did better among Latinx voters than Mitt Romney.

[OtherJen]

Strangely, I am connected via facebook with many people of Hispanic origin who are supporters of Trump. He did better among Latinx voters than Mitt Romney.

Yeah, many of my relatives voted for Trump because republican pro-life tough-talker blah blah. They've all stopped praising him on social media recently, and they've completely ignored his dismissal of COVID-19 as a hoax. The July family reunion was canceled back in March.

Many of us are ignorant about our own history because this wasn't taught in schools or by our families. Apparently the Mexican/Mexican-American population in Detroit decreased by 90% in the 1930s due to deportation. My grandparents lived in Detroit as newlyweds and new parents during that period. I'm not actually sure how our family made it through that round, especially as my grandmother wasn't a US citizen. It does, however, explain why my grandparents only taught English to their children and tried to assimilate them into white culture as much as possible.

[DoubleDown]

Yeah, many of my relatives voted for Trump because republican pro-life tough-talker blah blah.

I have a close (white) relative who is pro-Trump, even though she's married to an illegal resident (or "undocumented", if you prefer) from Mexico. I just don't get it. I ask, "Don't you realize Trump is doing everything he can to have your husband deported?" She essentially answers, "Yeah, but Trump is Making America Great Again" (I'm paraphrasing, she doesn't literally say that, but it's the basic idea). It's all part of the disconnect we witness where Trump voters support him even though he is absolutely working against their interests (see: farmers, manufacturers, Red-state voters who are the primary beneficiaries of welfare, etc.).

[2Cent]

Yeah, many of my relatives voted for Trump because republican pro-life tough-talker blah blah.

I have a close (white) relative who is pro-Trump, even though she's married to an illegal resident (or "undocumented", if you prefer) from Mexico. I just don't get it. I ask, "Don't you realize Trump is doing everything he can to have your husband deported?" She essentially answers, "Yeah, but Trump is Making America Great Again" (I'm paraphrasing, she doesn't literally say that, but it's the basic idea). It's all part of the disconnect we witness where Trump voters support him even though he is absolutely working against their interests (see: farmers, manufacturers, Red-state voters who are the primary beneficiaries of welfare, etc.).

There are also a lot of wealthy people who vote democrat even though the republican tax breaks give them a lot of money. I actually appreciate people who vote for what is in their eyes best for the country even though it is not best for them personally.

[LennStar]

Yeah, many of my relatives voted for Trump because republican pro-life tough-talker blah blah.

I have a close (white) relative who is pro-Trump, even though she's married to an illegal resident (or "undocumented", if you prefer) from Mexico. I just don't get it. I ask, "Don't you realize Trump is doing everything he can to have your husband deported?" She essentially answers, "Yeah, but Trump is Making America Great Again" (I'm paraphrasing, she doesn't literally say that, but it's the basic idea). It's all part of the disconnect we witness where Trump voters support him even though he is absolutely working against their interests (see: farmers, manufacturers, Red-state voters who are the primary beneficiaries of welfare, etc.).

There are also a lot of wealthy people who vote democrat even though the republican tax breaks give them a lot of money. I actually appreciate people who vote for what is in their eyes best for the country even though it is not best for them personally.

I think it is a very different level if you think "I vote for part of the money I don't need going to help people who need help" and "He will screw over my life completely, but at least the economy will be better of" or whatever it is when they talk about a Great America.
Disclaimer: For historical reason, this German is always wary when "Great" is connected with a contry name.

[talltexan]

Last night Peter Navarro made the statement that the China deal had been scuttled, and stock futures dropped like a rock. Within an hour both Larry Kudlow and the President himself had indicated that the trade deal was still on, so now they're back up. Question is, who was buying during that dip?

[bacchi]

There are also a lot of wealthy people who vote democrat even though the republican tax breaks give them a lot of money. I actually appreciate people who vote for what is in their eyes best for the country even though it is not best for them personally.

I think it is a very different level if you think "I vote for part of the money I don't need going to help people who need help" and "He will screw over my life completely, but at least the economy will be better of" or whatever it is when they talk about a Great America.
Disclaimer: For historical reason, this German is always wary when "Great" is connected with a contry name.

No kidding. Giving up another 10% of our income above $100k is nothing compared to, say, seeing your spouse deported or losing your health insurance when you're on kidney dialysis.

[bacchi]

Last night Peter Navarro made the statement that the China deal had been scuttled, and stock futures dropped like a rock. Within an hour both Larry Kudlow and the President himself had indicated that the trade deal was still on, so now they're back up. Question is, who was buying during that dip?

Maybe, after the futures tanked, Trump realized the mistake and altered course. He is particularly sensitive to the market right now.