What does a successful Trump presidency look like?

[I'm a red panda]

Ugh the Government should not be involved in "creating jobs." :(

The government is involved in creating jobs by writing policies that support job growth. Most people don't mean this in an alphabet soup depression-era program sort of job.

[Northwestie]

His helicopter crashes into Trump tower on day 10

[I'm a red panda]

His helicopter crashes into Trump tower on day 10

Pence as President seems even scarier to me.

I've decided if no nuclear weapons are launched in the next 4 years he will have exceeded my expectations.  I've given up on the thought of human rights.

[Tyson]

Trump seems to really hate that other countries have better airports than we do.  So maybe he'll bring back construction and manufacturing jobs by building palatial airports? 

[Lagom]

His helicopter crashes into Trump tower on day 10

Pence as President seems even scarier to me.

I've decided if no nuclear weapons are launched in the next 4 years he will have exceeded my expectations.  I've given up on the thought of human rights.

Yes this is what scares me as well and what the more "rational" Trump supporters seem to forget. Trump very well may be more liberal than he seems, but because of his inexperience and well documented laziness, it is hard not to suspect he will defer even more than usual to advisers on issues he doesn't particularly care about. He's already positioned a prominent climate change denier to oversee the EPA during his transition, and other potential cabinet appointees that have been mentioned are largely in that same vein. Police state supporting, anti-science, anti-civil rights wingnuts. Pence will also likely have unusual power for a VP in his own way, maybe not like Cheney, but definitely in pushing through horribly oppressive and anti-freedom initiatives.

Trump supporters need to understand that people like me would have been absolutely thrilled if Romney had run again and beaten Clinton, compared to this shit show. Hell, I would rather get 4 more years of GWB. Frankly, the only way I see this ending well is if Trump ends up actually taking the job seriously and pushing back when his wacko advisers (or even appointing sane ones, I dare to dream) try to demolish the rights and well-being of anyone not upper/middle class and white. That said, I choose to be optimistic for now, but it's not easy. Will happily admit Im wrong if somehow none of the above occurs.

[oldtoyota]

Having been exposed to Trump since the eighties, I can say that he goes much more to the left than people think he does.  New York Republicans are generally like that, and Trump's really only a Republican in name.  The true GOP is just as horrified that he got in as the Democrats are.  He's always been good at sound bites and saying things that people want to hear.  Not so much the Mexican wall and banning Muslims, but the whole "make America great again" thing.  It doesn't matter that Trump has about as much in common with the average person who voted for him as I do with the Queen of England.  He told them what they wanted to hear and promised he'd make things better.  The media on both sides basically thumbed their noses at "average Americans" ... and the average American just told them to go fuck themselves.

Things are about to get REALLY interesting.

Even if he wants to be a figurehead, who is going to be running the country?  Pence (super religious...think the handmaiden's tale as his ideal country)...Chris Christie....Rudy Guiliani (crazy guiliani of the last few years, not semi-sane one of 2000)...the entire editorial wing of breitbart?

I think this is the most interesting question as well.  He doesn't actually want to run the country, so it will be interesting to see who he chooses to be behind the scenes.

I'm not super worried about him leading a unified Republican Congress in economic or healthcare policy changes.  I'm mostly worried about:

• him getting us nuked/nuking someone
• the Supreme Court
• him appointing alt right folks to anything

Why do we say "Alt right" instead of white supremacists these days?

[oldtoyota]

Having been exposed to Trump since the eighties, I can say that he goes much more to the left than people think he does.  New York Republicans are generally like that, and Trump's really only a Republican in name.  The true GOP is just as horrified that he got in as the Democrats are.  He's always been good at sound bites and saying things that people want to hear.  Not so much the Mexican wall and banning Muslims, but the whole "make America great again" thing.  It doesn't matter that Trump has about as much in common with the average person who voted for him as I do with the Queen of England.  He told them what they wanted to hear and promised he'd make things better.  The media on both sides basically thumbed their noses at "average Americans" ... and the average American just told them to go fuck themselves.

Things are about to get REALLY interesting.

Great point about him being more left. I always thought of him as a liberal and was surprised to see him come out as a Republican. However, I think he may have changed parties more than once. I imagine he changed because that's the only path he could envision to the presidency. Dems would never have him or take him seriously. Two of his kids only registered as Republicans in the past year (they could not vote for him in the primaries because they forgot to change from Democrat to Republican).

By not providing any policy details, he was able to attract the uneducated by saying he'd make things better. No details. Nothing for them to read. He made it easy for them.

Yes, this is definitely true.  He'll make things magically better, and it's someone else's fault and they don't look or act like you.  I'm not sure how you build on this now that you're in power, or what big policies you try to enact.

History has a few examples of what this looks like in practice, and none of them are particularly appealing.

I think Trump is too stupid and narcissistic to be a straight up con man (i.e, a secret democrat). I think he really is as hateful and awful person as he has been showing and he might try to enact some of this. After all I can't imagine he doesn't want to win again. This is the problem all BS-peddling populists face when in power. Heck, the Brexit idiots have the same issue. "We promised you cake and eating it too! Hey, turns out we'll get neither.."

I'm not saying that he is a secret Democrat now but pointing out that he was previously a Democrat.

[onlykelsey]

Having been exposed to Trump since the eighties, I can say that he goes much more to the left than people think he does.  New York Republicans are generally like that, and Trump's really only a Republican in name.  The true GOP is just as horrified that he got in as the Democrats are.  He's always been good at sound bites and saying things that people want to hear.  Not so much the Mexican wall and banning Muslims, but the whole "make America great again" thing.  It doesn't matter that Trump has about as much in common with the average person who voted for him as I do with the Queen of England.  He told them what they wanted to hear and promised he'd make things better.  The media on both sides basically thumbed their noses at "average Americans" ... and the average American just told them to go fuck themselves.

Things are about to get REALLY interesting.

Even if he wants to be a figurehead, who is going to be running the country?  Pence (super religious...think the handmaiden's tale as his ideal country)...Chris Christie....Rudy Guiliani (crazy guiliani of the last few years, not semi-sane one of 2000)...the entire editorial wing of breitbart?

I think this is the most interesting question as well.  He doesn't actually want to run the country, so it will be interesting to see who he chooses to be behind the scenes.

I'm not super worried about him leading a unified Republican Congress in economic or healthcare policy changes.  I'm mostly worried about:

• him getting us nuked/nuking someone
• the Supreme Court
• him appointing alt right folks to anything

Why do we say "Alt right" instead of white supremacists these days?

Fair enough.  I guess I think of them as overlapping but not identical.  I'm no expert, but..

I think of the alt right as cultural conservatives who are particularly misogynistic and pretty united in their approach to social and economic policy (heavily anti-immigrant but also anti-woman and economically conservative).  I think of them as operating mostly online. They seem very obsessed with everything being too PC and them being the vanguard out to stop the PC movement.

I think of white supremacists as less unified in economic policy, and more narrowly interested in racial politics.  I think of them as generally older and operating in person with an organization.

[Watchmaker]

For my vantage point, a successful Trump presidency would include:

-No wars.
-Trump abandoning the racist, misogynistic, and xenophobic rhetoric of the campaign to focus on non-social domestic issues such as infrastructure.
-Not just repealing the ACA without a plan, but trying something else to control healthcare costs.


Alternatively, a breakdown in the relationship between Trump and the Republican Congress such that they could get nothing done would suit me fine.

[Abe]

Having been exposed to Trump since the eighties, I can say that he goes much more to the left than people think he does.  New York Republicans are generally like that, and Trump's really only a Republican in name.  The true GOP is just as horrified that he got in as the Democrats are.  He's always been good at sound bites and saying things that people want to hear.  Not so much the Mexican wall and banning Muslims, but the whole "make America great again" thing.  It doesn't matter that Trump has about as much in common with the average person who voted for him as I do with the Queen of England.  He told them what they wanted to hear and promised he'd make things better.  The media on both sides basically thumbed their noses at "average Americans" ... and the average American just told them to go fuck themselves.

Things are about to get REALLY interesting.

Even if he wants to be a figurehead, who is going to be running the country?  Pence (super religious...think the handmaiden's tale as his ideal country)...Chris Christie....Rudy Guiliani (crazy guiliani of the last few years, not semi-sane one of 2000)...the entire editorial wing of breitbart?

I think this is the most interesting question as well.  He doesn't actually want to run the country, so it will be interesting to see who he chooses to be behind the scenes.

I'm not super worried about him leading a unified Republican Congress in economic or healthcare policy changes.  I'm mostly worried about:

• him getting us nuked/nuking someone
• the Supreme Court
• him appointing alt right folks to anything

Why do we say "Alt right" instead of white supremacists these days?

Those are the ones who know where the alt key is.

[dividendman]

His helicopter crashes into Trump tower on day 10

Pence as President seems even scarier to me.

I agree. As crazy as it sounds... I think I prefer Trump to most of the other Republican candidates that ran this time... except maybe Kasich and Paul.

[Sliced]

1) Reduction in the USA military presence abroad. No more US intervention in foreign affairs unless it directly threatens us.
2) Reduction in foreign aid- bring that money back home
3) Pass laws lowering taxes on money abroad so that corporations are more likely to repatriate it
4) Establish terms limits in Congress
5) Reduce/end the welfare state
6) Introduce legislation to reduce special interests and lobbying influence in elections in Washington

[dividendman]

1) Reduction in the USA military presence abroad. No more US intervention in foreign affairs unless it directly threatens us.
2) Reduction in foreign aid- bring that money back home
3) Pass laws lowering taxes on money abroad so that corporations are more likely to repatriate it
4) Establish terms limits in Congress
5) Reduce/end the welfare state
6) Introduce legislation to reduce special interests and lobbying influence in elections in Washington

If he got any of those things done he'd be the best President in United States history. Unfortunately McConnell has already ruled out 1, 4 and 6. I hope Trump has the balls to keep fighting the Republican establishment now that he's at the head of it and actively tries to primary out people who don't go for things he wants that are decent (like infrastructure spending and term limits).

[gimp]

1) Don't start any wars
2) Don't let Russia and China gobble up territory
3) Don't forego our alliances
4) Don't leave people unable to gay-marry, have abortions, and publish what they want
5) Don't force american companies to backdoor their products and crash their values

In other words, basic shit. That's all I can hope for. Basic shit.

[sol]

I'm trying to put the best possible spin on a dangerous situation...

1.  Replace Obamacare with something better.  If you can't just fix it, go ahead and repeal it and call the new plan TrumpCare if that helps.  Fix the problems with the ACA (inability to regulate private insurance companies that jack up rates, inability to negotiate drug prices, subsidy cliffs) without ruining the parts people like (preexisting conditions, age 26, no lifetime caps).  I don't think the individual mandate matters, it was just included as a gift to the insurance companies to get preexisting conditions in there, so I'm fine with chucking it as long as we keep that.  Do what the ACA was designed to do but then implemented rather poorly, which is offer more people affordable insurance.  I think democrats could get on board with that, because basically everyone hates health insurance companies and their fucking lobbyist money.  I'm not wed to Obama's plan even though I'm a bleeding liberal, I just want Americans to have access to viable healthcare.  Right now it looks like Republicans don't want that at all, and I would hope Trump could fix that.

2.  Spend money on infrastructure projects that support future economic growth.  Trump and Clinton agreed on this point, and it's always been Congressional Republicans who stymied the effort because they wanted a payfor.  I think that misses the point.  You wouldn't refuse to drive to work just to save gas money, you willingly buy gas up front so that you can drive to your job where you make gobs of money.  Power grids, roads, schools, these things pay dividends for generations.  It's okay to borrow money from people who buy savings bonds to finance things that make America stronger.  Someone please notify Paul Ryan.

3.  Make only minor adjustments to foreign policy, without starting any wars or abandoning any allies.  I think this one is pretty likely.  Once he starts getting the regular intelligence briefings, he'll come to understand the careful balance the US strikes on the world stage.  We spend money on foreign military operations because we think it is in America's best interest to have peace, to have oil, to have trade, to have stable regimes, to offer foreign aid and medicine to struggling countries.  These are not issues that you can solve with a chantable slogan and you can't just stop interacting with the world.  I'm hopeful he's smart enough to listen to the advisors who try to tell him not to just nuke anyone who insults him on twitter.

4.  Offer something of substance to his ardent supporters from decimated rural areas.  Bernie Sanders tapped into the same segment of the population, people from small towns where the factory or the mill closed and left everyone poverty stricken.  He needs to tell those people that the global economy is always on the move, and those jobs aren't coming back.  Offer them job training in new industries.  Offer them financial incentives to relocate to places where there are jobs.  Reframe the current welfare state, which basically pays people to look for work right now, as a student aid program that pays people to acquire new skills and then puts them into job placement programs.  I don't care, go ahead and pay them to become subsistence farmers if that's what they want to do.  But offer them some economic opportunity that comes with self-determination and dignity.

5.  Make a scene about draining the swamp.  He'll never get term limits or lobbyist money out of politics, but he could at least make it really fucking obvious that virtually every politician in DC is complicit in corporatist control of government.  I'd love to see campaign ads in 2018 that show Trump calling out Mitch McConnell for being a shill.

6.  Give up Twitter.  Maybe lay off Rosie O'Donnell, try not to publicly call any women fat or ugly or stupid for the next four years.  Everyone knows you're privately a huge dickhead, but could you at least pretend to have some manners when attending the funerals of fallen soldiers?

I couldn't think of any positive spin to put on a border wall or a muslim ban, sorry.  Those are just stupid ideas that need to be quickly forgotten.

[pdxmonkey]

Trump seems to really hate that other countries have better airports than we do.  So maybe he'll bring back construction and manufacturing jobs by building palatial airports?

+1

La Guardia and JFK should be rebuilt out of solid gold-- http://www.dolcemag.com/wp-content/gallery/donald-trump/donaldtrump.jpg
and we can have a gold plated wall on the mexico border..

why not solid gold? Gold is a great conductor. If we electrify it it should keep the cattle in Texas from doing any damage to our side.

[KCM5]

I'm trying to put the best possible spin on a dangerous situation...

1.  Replace Obamacare with something better.  If you can't just fix it, go ahead and repeal it and call the new plan TrumpCare if that helps.  Fix the problems with the ACA (inability to regulate private insurance companies that jack up rates, inability to negotiate drug prices, subsidy cliffs) without ruining the parts people like (preexisting conditions, age 26, no lifetime caps).  I don't think the individual mandate matters, it was just included as a gift to the insurance companies to get preexisting conditions in there, so I'm fine with chucking it as long as we keep that.  Do what the ACA was designed to do but then implemented rather poorly, which is offer more people affordable insurance.  I think democrats could get on board with that, because basically everyone hates health insurance companies and their fucking lobbyist money.  I'm not wed to Obama's plan even though I'm a bleeding liberal, I just want Americans to have access to viable healthcare.  Right now it looks like Republicans don't want that at all, and I would hope Trump could fix that.

2.  Spend money on infrastructure projects that support future economic growth.  Trump and Clinton agreed on this point, and it's always been Congressional Republicans who stymied the effort because they wanted a payfor.  I think that misses the point.  You wouldn't refuse to drive to work just to save gas money, you willingly buy gas up front so that you can drive to your job where you make gobs of money.  Power grids, roads, schools, these things pay dividends for generations.  It's okay to borrow money from people who buy savings bonds to finance things that make America stronger.  Someone please notify Paul Ryan.

3.  Make only minor adjustments to foreign policy, without starting any wars or abandoning any allies.  I think this one is pretty likely.  Once he starts getting the regular intelligence briefings, he'll come to understand the careful balance the US strikes on the world stage.  We spend money on foreign military operations because we think it is in America's best interest to have peace, to have oil, to have trade, to have stable regimes, to offer foreign aid and medicine to struggling countries.  These are not issues that you can solve with a chantable slogan and you can't just stop interacting with the world.  I'm hopeful he's smart enough to listen to the advisors who try to tell him not to just nuke anyone who insults him on twitter.

4.  Offer something of substance to his ardent supporters from decimated rural areas.  Bernie Sanders tapped into the same segment of the population, people from small towns where the factory or the mill closed and left everyone poverty stricken.  He needs to tell those people that the global economy is always on the move, and those jobs aren't coming back.  Offer them job training in new industries.  Offer them financial incentives to relocate to places where there are jobs.  Reframe the current welfare state, which basically pays people to look for work right now, as a student aid program that pays people to acquire new skills and then puts them into job placement programs.  I don't care, go ahead and pay them to become subsistence farmers if that's what they want to do.  But offer them some economic opportunity that comes with self-determination and dignity.

5.  Make a scene about draining the swamp.  He'll never get term limits or lobbyist money out of politics, but he could at least make it really fucking obvious that virtually every politician in DC is complicit in corporatist control of government.  I'd love to see campaign ads in 2018 that show Trump calling out Mitch McConnell for being a shill.

6.  Give up Twitter.  Maybe lay off Rosie O'Donnell, try not to publicly call any women fat or ugly or stupid for the next four years.  Everyone knows you're privately a huge dickhead, but could you at least pretend to have some manners when attending the funerals of fallen soldiers?

I couldn't think of any positive spin to put on a border wall or a muslim ban, sorry.  Those are just stupid ideas that need to be quickly forgotten.

Beautiful!

The more time I spend thinking about this, it COULD be okay. I'm now just resigned to waiting and seeing what kind of president the misogynist egotist will be. Maybe he'll be fine. The ban on Muslims entering the country has already been removed from his website. Still talking about that damn wall, though.

[mm1970]

I'm trying to put the best possible spin on a dangerous situation...

1.  Replace Obamacare with something better.  If you can't just fix it, go ahead and repeal it and call the new plan TrumpCare if that helps.  Fix the problems with the ACA (inability to regulate private insurance companies that jack up rates, inability to negotiate drug prices, subsidy cliffs) without ruining the parts people like (preexisting conditions, age 26, no lifetime caps).  I don't think the individual mandate matters, it was just included as a gift to the insurance companies to get preexisting conditions in there, so I'm fine with chucking it as long as we keep that.  Do what the ACA was designed to do but then implemented rather poorly, which is offer more people affordable insurance.  I think democrats could get on board with that, because basically everyone hates health insurance companies and their fucking lobbyist money.  I'm not wed to Obama's plan even though I'm a bleeding liberal, I just want Americans to have access to viable healthcare.  Right now it looks like Republicans don't want that at all, and I would hope Trump could fix that.

2.  Spend money on infrastructure projects that support future economic growth.  Trump and Clinton agreed on this point, and it's always been Congressional Republicans who stymied the effort because they wanted a payfor.  I think that misses the point.  You wouldn't refuse to drive to work just to save gas money, you willingly buy gas up front so that you can drive to your job where you make gobs of money.  Power grids, roads, schools, these things pay dividends for generations.  It's okay to borrow money from people who buy savings bonds to finance things that make America stronger.  Someone please notify Paul Ryan.

3.  Make only minor adjustments to foreign policy, without starting any wars or abandoning any allies.  I think this one is pretty likely.  Once he starts getting the regular intelligence briefings, he'll come to understand the careful balance the US strikes on the world stage.  We spend money on foreign military operations because we think it is in America's best interest to have peace, to have oil, to have trade, to have stable regimes, to offer foreign aid and medicine to struggling countries.  These are not issues that you can solve with a chantable slogan and you can't just stop interacting with the world.  I'm hopeful he's smart enough to listen to the advisors who try to tell him not to just nuke anyone who insults him on twitter.

4.  Offer something of substance to his ardent supporters from decimated rural areas.  Bernie Sanders tapped into the same segment of the population, people from small towns where the factory or the mill closed and left everyone poverty stricken.  He needs to tell those people that the global economy is always on the move, and those jobs aren't coming back.  Offer them job training in new industries.  Offer them financial incentives to relocate to places where there are jobs.  Reframe the current welfare state, which basically pays people to look for work right now, as a student aid program that pays people to acquire new skills and then puts them into job placement programs.  I don't care, go ahead and pay them to become subsistence farmers if that's what they want to do.  But offer them some economic opportunity that comes with self-determination and dignity.

5.  Make a scene about draining the swamp.  He'll never get term limits or lobbyist money out of politics, but he could at least make it really fucking obvious that virtually every politician in DC is complicit in corporatist control of government.  I'd love to see campaign ads in 2018 that show Trump calling out Mitch McConnell for being a shill.

6.  Give up Twitter.  Maybe lay off Rosie O'Donnell, try not to publicly call any women fat or ugly or stupid for the next four years.  Everyone knows you're privately a huge dickhead, but could you at least pretend to have some manners when attending the funerals of fallen soldiers?

I couldn't think of any positive spin to put on a border wall or a muslim ban, sorry.  Those are just stupid ideas that need to be quickly forgotten.

This whole thing was great, but I wanted to emphasize a few things.

I worry about jobs.  I worry that Trump with his failed businesses and all of the jobs that have gone overseas - that he, like many others, are looking backwards, not forwards.

The "good old days" of massive manufacturing here are gone.  They aren't coming back.  How do we replace them?

Well, I worry because one way to replace them is with innovation.  You have to be EARLY FIRST and BEST.

So here we are with a Climate Change denier and Oil & Gas lover as future president.  Besides "there goes the environment" we could be losing a HUGE opportunity to create jobs with alternative renewable energy.  Thing is, other large countries like China and India are becoming energy hogs just like Americans.  The O&G isn't going to last forever.  If we can be the FIRST and get a five year head start, there's serious money to be made to sell our energy savers to other countries before they reverse-engineer it all.

Then there's infrastructure work, which Obama tried to work on, but was blocked.  Yes yes, that's "government creating jobs" but I consider it a win/win if our roads and bridges are safe AND people get to work and eat and have a roof.

[Kris]

I'm trying to put the best possible spin on a dangerous situation...

1.  Replace Obamacare with something better.  If you can't just fix it, go ahead and repeal it and call the new plan TrumpCare if that helps.  Fix the problems with the ACA (inability to regulate private insurance companies that jack up rates, inability to negotiate drug prices, subsidy cliffs) without ruining the parts people like (preexisting conditions, age 26, no lifetime caps).  I don't think the individual mandate matters, it was just included as a gift to the insurance companies to get preexisting conditions in there, so I'm fine with chucking it as long as we keep that.  Do what the ACA was designed to do but then implemented rather poorly, which is offer more people affordable insurance.  I think democrats could get on board with that, because basically everyone hates health insurance companies and their fucking lobbyist money.  I'm not wed to Obama's plan even though I'm a bleeding liberal, I just want Americans to have access to viable healthcare.  Right now it looks like Republicans don't want that at all, and I would hope Trump could fix that.

2.  Spend money on infrastructure projects that support future economic growth.  Trump and Clinton agreed on this point, and it's always been Congressional Republicans who stymied the effort because they wanted a payfor.  I think that misses the point.  You wouldn't refuse to drive to work just to save gas money, you willingly buy gas up front so that you can drive to your job where you make gobs of money.  Power grids, roads, schools, these things pay dividends for generations.  It's okay to borrow money from people who buy savings bonds to finance things that make America stronger.  Someone please notify Paul Ryan.

3.  Make only minor adjustments to foreign policy, without starting any wars or abandoning any allies.  I think this one is pretty likely.  Once he starts getting the regular intelligence briefings, he'll come to understand the careful balance the US strikes on the world stage.  We spend money on foreign military operations because we think it is in America's best interest to have peace, to have oil, to have trade, to have stable regimes, to offer foreign aid and medicine to struggling countries.  These are not issues that you can solve with a chantable slogan and you can't just stop interacting with the world.  I'm hopeful he's smart enough to listen to the advisors who try to tell him not to just nuke anyone who insults him on twitter.

4.  Offer something of substance to his ardent supporters from decimated rural areas.  Bernie Sanders tapped into the same segment of the population, people from small towns where the factory or the mill closed and left everyone poverty stricken.  He needs to tell those people that the global economy is always on the move, and those jobs aren't coming back.  Offer them job training in new industries.  Offer them financial incentives to relocate to places where there are jobs.  Reframe the current welfare state, which basically pays people to look for work right now, as a student aid program that pays people to acquire new skills and then puts them into job placement programs.  I don't care, go ahead and pay them to become subsistence farmers if that's what they want to do.  But offer them some economic opportunity that comes with self-determination and dignity.

5.  Make a scene about draining the swamp.  He'll never get term limits or lobbyist money out of politics, but he could at least make it really fucking obvious that virtually every politician in DC is complicit in corporatist control of government.  I'd love to see campaign ads in 2018 that show Trump calling out Mitch McConnell for being a shill.

6.  Give up Twitter.  Maybe lay off Rosie O'Donnell, try not to publicly call any women fat or ugly or stupid for the next four years.  Everyone knows you're privately a huge dickhead, but could you at least pretend to have some manners when attending the funerals of fallen soldiers?

I couldn't think of any positive spin to put on a border wall or a muslim ban, sorry.  Those are just stupid ideas that need to be quickly forgotten.

This whole thing was great, but I wanted to emphasize a few things.

I worry about jobs.  I worry that Trump with his failed businesses and all of the jobs that have gone overseas - that he, like many others, are looking backwards, not forwards.

The "good old days" of massive manufacturing here are gone.  They aren't coming back.  How do we replace them?

Well, I worry because one way to replace them is with innovation.  You have to be EARLY FIRST and BEST.

So here we are with a Climate Change denier and Oil & Gas lover as future president.  Besides "there goes the environment" we could be losing a HUGE opportunity to create jobs with alternative renewable energy.  Thing is, other large countries like China and India are becoming energy hogs just like Americans.  The O&G isn't going to last forever.  If we can be the FIRST and get a five year head start, there's serious money to be made to sell our energy savers to other countries before they reverse-engineer it all.

Then there's infrastructure work, which Obama tried to work on, but was blocked.  Yes yes, that's "government creating jobs" but I consider it a win/win if our roads and bridges are safe AND people get to work and eat and have a roof.

Exactly. This is one of the biggest reasons I'm sad he's been elected. Because the people who voted for him because they need better jobs and better opportunities are not going to see them. Far from it.

I'll be fine. His working class supporters won't. But they will keep supporting him because he tells them pretty little lies. And makes them feel listened to. Which is the biggest irony of all.

[onlykelsey]

Then there's infrastructure work, which Obama tried to work on, but was blocked.  Yes yes, that's "government creating jobs" but I consider it a win/win if our roads and bridges are safe AND people get to work and eat and have a roof.

Exactly. This is one of the biggest reasons I'm sad he's been elected. Because the people who voted for him because they need better jobs and better opportunities are not going to see them. Far from it.

I'll be fine. His working class supporters won't. But they will keep supporting him because he tells them pretty little lies. And makes them feel listened to. Which is the biggest irony of all.

Yeah, Mitch McConnell has already made clear that he does not think Trump's plan to invest in infrastructure is one that Congress will be supporting.

As shitty as I feel about the results of this election, I'll still have my work's healthcare plan, my private 4-month maternity leave, my tolerant and diverse workplace, my 401(k) and my job at the end of this.  My family that supported him is not going to have well-paying jobs for high school grads, or an end to terrorism, or term limits on politicians, or functioning social security, or anything else they want. 

[Watchmaker]

The "good old days" of massive manufacturing here are gone.  They aren't coming back.  How do we replace them?

Well, I worry because one way to replace them is with innovation.  You have to be EARLY FIRST and BEST.

So here we are with a Climate Change denier and Oil & Gas lover as future president.  Besides "there goes the environment" we could be losing a HUGE opportunity to create jobs with alternative renewable energy.  Thing is, other large countries like China and India are becoming energy hogs just like Americans.  The O&G isn't going to last forever.  If we can be the FIRST and get a five year head start, there's serious money to be made to sell our energy savers to other countries before they reverse-engineer it all.

I agree, but we were not doing a good job of this before Trump was elected either.  So maybe we need to find solutions to this outside of the political process.

[Kris]

The "good old days" of massive manufacturing here are gone.  They aren't coming back.  How do we replace them?

Well, I worry because one way to replace them is with innovation.  You have to be EARLY FIRST and BEST.

So here we are with a Climate Change denier and Oil & Gas lover as future president.  Besides "there goes the environment" we could be losing a HUGE opportunity to create jobs with alternative renewable energy.  Thing is, other large countries like China and India are becoming energy hogs just like Americans.  The O&G isn't going to last forever.  If we can be the FIRST and get a five year head start, there's serious money to be made to sell our energy savers to other countries before they reverse-engineer it all.

I agree, but we were not doing a good job of this before Trump was elected either.  So maybe we need to find solutions to this outside of the political process.

Right. Because of the Republican side. And we just gave them control of everything. So, yeah...

[Tyson]

I hope Trump goes nuclear on f'cking McConnell.  I'd love to see Trump bring the full force of his assholeness down on that little shit.

[dividendman]

I hope Trump goes nuclear on f'cking McConnell.  I'd love to see Trump bring the full force of his assholeness down on that little shit.

Although it is early days yet, I think if Trump actually shakes the system up and pushes for some populist things (like infrastructure/jobs program) it will end up being decent.

I think what will happen, as we're seeing with his Cabinet lists, is that he is just going to be a George W Bush but with even less of a say in what actually happens. I think he'll just rubber stamp all of the normal republican proposals. He wanted to win, he won, I don't think he's that interested in actually governing.

[LennStar]

The "good old days" of massive manufacturing here are gone.  They aren't coming back.  How do we replace them?

Well, I worry because one way to replace them is with innovation.  You have to be EARLY FIRST and BEST.

So here we are with a Climate Change denier and Oil & Gas lover as future president.  Besides "there goes the environment" we could be losing a HUGE opportunity to create jobs with alternative renewable energy.  Thing is, other large countries like China and India are becoming energy hogs just like Americans.  The O&G isn't going to last forever.  If we can be the FIRST and get a five year head start, there's serious money to be made to sell our energy savers to other countries before they reverse-engineer it all.

Unfortunately for you I think that time is already past.
China is number 1 in both solar and wind energy.
Sometimes a strongly centralized government has it upsides, if the members have to come together in one of the thickest smogs of the world :D

[golden1]

I'd say his impeachment, but then Pence would be in charge which is likely worse.

I suppose he could surprise us all and go truly anti-establishment.  Smack the shit out of the Republican congress and make them actually do something to help people.  He could make his infrastructure initiatives green jobs and maybe in some intended way do something to help the climate. 

Then he could actually apologize to all those women and other groups he alienated during the campaign and then work to help them.  He could actually prove that he cares about someone except himself. I have seen zero evidence that this is the case.

Honestly, I hate his guts and every time I see him I want kick him in the nuts.  I don't accept him as my president, but for the sake of the good people in this country, I hope that he is successful. 

[sol]

Honestly, I hate his guts and every time I see him I want kick him in the nuts.  I don't accept him as my president, but for the sake of the good people in this country, I hope that he is successful.

You kind of have to accept him as your President, because that's what America's (slightly fucked up system that rewards rural minorities) decided.

Think of Trump like your racist uncle who comes to Thanksgiving every year.  You may hate his guts and everything he says, but he's still family.  America is a family, even the ugly parts.  Your obligation is to support the family's success, regardless of who the current senior member is. 

You don't have to support the stupid shit he says, but you should still do what you think is best for the family.  Be nice to people.  Lend a hand.  Try to steer the ship in the right direction in whatever way you can.  Be respectful even when he is not.

[Metric Mouse]

Then there's infrastructure work, which Obama tried to work on, but was blocked.  Yes yes, that's "government creating jobs" but I consider it a win/win if our roads and bridges are safe AND people get to work and eat and have a roof.

Exactly. This is one of the biggest reasons I'm sad he's been elected. Because the people who voted for him because they need better jobs and better opportunities are not going to see them. Far from it.

I'll be fine. His working class supporters won't. But they will keep supporting him because he tells them pretty little lies. And makes them feel listened to. Which is the biggest irony of all.

Yeah, Mitch McConnell has already made clear that he does not think Trump's plan to invest in infrastructure is one that Congress will be supporting.

As shitty as I feel about the results of this election, I'll still have my work's healthcare plan, my private 4-month maternity leave, my tolerant and diverse workplace, my 401(k) and my job at the end of this.  My family that supported him is not going to have well-paying jobs for high school grads, or an end to terrorism, or term limits on politicians, or functioning social security, or anything else they want.

To be fair, neither major political party has a very good track record of helping that particular section of the population with job prospects.

[Metric Mouse]

Honestly, I hate his guts and every time I see him I want kick him in the nuts.  I don't accept him as my president, but for the sake of the good people in this country, I hope that he is successful.

You kind of have to accept him as your President, because that's what America's (slightly fucked up system that rewards rural minorities) decided.

Think of Trump like your racist uncle who comes to Thanksgiving every year.  You may hate his guts and everything he says, but he's still family.  America is a family, even the ugly parts.  Your obligation is to support the family's success, regardless of who the current senior member is. 

You don't have to support the stupid shit he says, but you should still do what you think is best for the family.  Be nice to people.  Lend a hand.  Try to steer the ship in the right direction in whatever way you can.  Be respectful even when he is not.

Sounds like this could be what many Trump voters used as justification to vote for him.

[sol]

\
Sounds like this could be what many Trump voters used as justification to vote for him.

No one wants their racist uncle to plan Thanksgiving at the KKK clubhouse.  Except 48% of Americans, apparently.

He's still family, but he absolutely should not have any power.  While he does hold power, our obligation is to try to keep him from doing too much damage.

I'm trying really hard to remain optimistic about this whole thing.  So far, I don't see much to be hopeful about.

[Metric Mouse]

\
Sounds like this could be what many Trump voters used as justification to vote for him.

No one wants their racist uncle to plan Thanksgiving at the KKK clubhouse.  Except 48% of Americans, apparently.

He's still family, but he absolutely should not have any power.  While he does hold power, our obligation is to try to keep him from doing too much damage.

I'm trying really hard to remain optimistic about this whole thing.  So far, I don't see much to be hopeful about.

Perhaps the racist uncle is still the best mechanic or cook or the moat successful leader of the family business, so while he sputs terribly offensive shit, when it cimes to getting things done and taking care of the family, he's still better than the cousin who is super nice but completely inept.  (To continue the metaphor) 

I mean, mqybe not, but its what weve got. No one wants another four years of obstruction, so i hope the losing aide gets over it and works with the winners. Its not perfect, but we've seen the other way, and it wasn't great.

[sol]

Perhaps the racist uncle is still the best mechanic or cook or the moat successful leader of the family business, so while he sputs terribly offensive shit, when it cimes to getting things done and taking care of the family, he's still better than the cousin who is super nice but completely inept.

In this case, the racist uncle is also a dishonest double-dealer who doesn't pay taxes and has gone bankrupt four times while somehow managing to grow richer and richer every time.  He's a classic New York fast-talking con man, and he's only looking to enrich himself and his closest allies at the expense of everyone else he supposedly represents.

He'll screw you, too.  Just wait.

[Taran Wanderer]

It's so nice to read all of these replies and know that I am not alone in my pessimism...

[Metric Mouse]

Perhaps the racist uncle is still the best mechanic or cook or the moat successful leader of the family business, so while he sputs terribly offensive shit, when it cimes to getting things done and taking care of the family, he's still better than the cousin who is super nice but completely inept.

In this case, the racist uncle is also a dishonest double-dealer who doesn't pay taxes and has gone bankrupt four times while somehow managing to grow richer and richer every time.  He's a classic New York fast-talking con man, and he's only looking to enrich himself and his closest allies at the expense of everyone else he supposedly represents.

He'll screw you, too.  Just wait.

Of course he will try. But that was any politician that has run in the past decade or so (possibly with the exception of Bernie Sanders). So I  could hardly hold that against Trump specifically.

[LennStar]

To be fair, neither major political party has a very good track record of helping that particular section of the population with job prospects.

Hah! I always find it hilarous if that is said by people who say that the government should get fucking out of the way, and if not I have my guns!
Creating jobs is not even government responsibility, even if most try to do that because of the stupid voters.

[sol]

Creating jobs is not even government responsibility, even if most try to do that because of the stupid voters.

I think that creating jobs absolutely is a government responsibility.  It's arguably the only government responsibility.

Specifically, the government exists to create taxable income, so that it can pay for the things required to keep the nation generating more taxable income.  This is why governments want population growth and economic prosperity and free trade and happy citizens.  If the economy falls apart, the nation will be unable to defend itself or provide basic services like water and power and roads that make the economy possible in the first place.

[oldtoyota]

For my vantage point, a successful Trump presidency would include:

-No wars.
-Trump abandoning the racist, misogynistic, and xenophobic rhetoric of the campaign to focus on non-social domestic issues such as infrastructure.
-Not just repealing the ACA without a plan, but trying something else to control healthcare costs.


Alternatively, a breakdown in the relationship between Trump and the Republican Congress such that they could get nothing done would suit me fine.

Not just abandoning that rhetoric but speaking out against those taking photos of themselves with Confederate flags, etc, etc.

[oldtoyota]

I'd say his impeachment, but then Pence would be in charge which is likely worse.

I think Pence will be in charge anyway.

[mtnrider]

Creating jobs is not even government responsibility, even if most try to do that because of the stupid voters.

I think that creating jobs absolutely is a government responsibility.  It's arguably the only government responsibility.

Specifically, the government exists to create taxable income, so that it can pay for the things required to keep the nation generating more taxable income.  This is why governments want population growth and economic prosperity and free trade and happy citizens.  If the economy falls apart, the nation will be unable to defend itself or provide basic services like water and power and roads that make the economy possible in the first place.

This was also quite a debate among the founding fathers.  (See also the economics of Jackson vs Hamilton).

This is explicitly written into the FOMC (aka "The Fed", a pseudo-governmental agency) - their charter is to moderation inflation consistent with full employment.

https://www.federalreserve.gov/faqs/money_12848.htm

Arguably, it's also part of the responsibility of congress, but their policies are optimized for their own states.

[LennStar]

Creating jobs is not even government responsibility, even if most try to do that because of the stupid voters.

I think that creating jobs absolutely is a government responsibility.  It's arguably the only government responsibility.

Specifically, the government exists to create taxable income, so that it can pay for the things required to keep the nation generating more taxable income.  This is why governments want population growth and economic prosperity and free trade and happy citizens.  If the economy falls apart, the nation will be unable to defend itself or provide basic services like water and power and roads that make the economy possible in the first place.

All you mention is not creating jobs, it is making the country prosper and protecting its citizens. Which can happen without creating jobs.

@mtnrider:
The same principle here: The target is a growing economy, not creating jobs. Historically, when there were less people then empty land, that meant growing population from which the biggest possible part should work. Unfortunately, what works for a 1 billion low-tech population not necessarily works for a 7-billion consumption population in the long run.
And btw: Full employment just means that those who want a job get one. Not that jobs have to be created.

[OurTown]

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

[little_brown_dog]

\
Sounds like this could be what many Trump voters used as justification to vote for him.

No one wants their racist uncle to plan Thanksgiving at the KKK clubhouse.  Except 48% of Americans, apparently.

He's still family, but he absolutely should not have any power.  While he does hold power, our obligation is to try to keep him from doing too much damage.

I'm trying really hard to remain optimistic about this whole thing.  So far, I don't see much to be hopeful about.

Thanks Sol for your level headed posts on this subject. I too agree that we need to switch into damage control mode instead of wallowing around refusing to come to terms with what has happened. If we move quickly and strategically we can identify opportunities to mitigate damage. If we shut down, retreat into our corners, and refuse to adopt a survivor mentality it will certainly make things worse off. Standing on principle may feel nice, but it can be a terrible idea if it costs us opportunities to help others or protect human rights. I suspect that too many of us are still so overwhelmed with fear or anger that we are not thinking clearly.

I am finding that my anxiety level is increasing and not decreasing over time despite my natural pragmatism and optimistic-realistic personality. The appointment of Bannon has me extremely concerned, but other than do my own small part (donated to planned parenthood, continue to foster strong relationships with my Trump voting family/friends, etc) I really feel impotent and helpless.

[Cwadda]

Has anyone read Trump's 100 day action plan?

http://www.npr.org/2016/11/09/501451368/here-is-what-donald-trump-wants-to-do-in-his-first-100-days

I don't care for Trump but I admit I was impressed with most of this.

[jim555]

Successful = The Republic is not destroyed and he leaves power voluntarily.

Despots usually come to power, do illegal things, then decide they can never leave due to all the illegal acts done in office.

[oldtoyota]

I'd say his impeachment, but then Pence would be in charge which is likely worse.

I think Pence will be in charge anyway.

I take it back. I think Bannon and Pence will be in charge anyway. Didn't take long to get to the rise of the white supremacists.

[oldtoyota]

Successful = The Republic is not destroyed and he leaves power voluntarily.

Despots usually come to power, do illegal things, then decide they can never leave due to all the illegal acts done in office.

Successful in THEIR eyes? Enact a white supremacist agenda that aligns with Putin and Le Pen and other global leaders.

"Bannon’s support for European far-right parties runs far deeper than his interest in Marion Maréchal-Le Pen or the National Front. He brags about his international Breitbart operation as “the platform” for the American alt-right, and has for years been thinking globally, with an affinity for the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP), Alternative for Germany (AfD), and the Party for Freedom Party (PVV) in the Netherlands, all of which have earned glowing coverage on the pages of Breitbart."

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/11/13/trump-s-man-stephen-bannon-flirts-with-a-le-pen.html

[sol]

Has anyone read Trump's 100 day action plan?

http://www.npr.org/2016/11/09/501451368/here-is-what-donald-trump-wants-to-do-in-his-first-100-days

I don't care for Trump but I admit I was impressed with most of this.

Why were you impressed?  That's an honest questions, I'm seeking some feedback on what about this list excites you.

Because my reading of that list is pretty depressing.  Some highlights:

1.  Congressional term limits.  This is tantamount to asking the entire Republican leadership to resign from Congress.  Everyone knows this proposal is DOA.

2.  Federal hiring freeze.  I'm a federal employee, and we're constantly getting slammed for failing to complete assigned tasks on time, despite the fact that we're already operating with a 25% vacancy rate.  If you want your government to provide the services you pay for, you need to let them hire people to do the work.  We're externally funded so it's not a budget issue, it's purely an arbitrary cap on headcount that is keeping us from getting stuff done.

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.

4.  Open national parks and wildlife preserves to exploratory oil drilling.  WTF, man, who supports oil rigs at Yellowstone?

5.  Withdraw from all UN Climate Change panels, and withhold all funding.  Riiight, because global climate change is a Chinese hoax. 

6.  Pass the End Offshoring Act.  You mean the one Democrats tried to pass and that Republicans have been filibustering since 2010?  Why does he think Congress is suddenly going to support things they've been fighting against for years?  I'm not sure he understands how our government works.

7.  Divert federal education funding to charter and religious schools.  So much for the separation of church and state, amirite?

8.  Repeal the ACA and move everyone to HSA plans, and convert medicare to block grants.  We have several active threads discussing the problems and pitfalls with this plan.

9.  Build a wall and make Mexico pay for it.  I still can't believe anyone actually takes this seriously.  How, exactly, does this happen?

10.  Institute a variety of ethics reforms to stop the revolving door between politics and lobbying (aka "drain the swamp").  I would normally be happy about this, except his entire transition team is drawn from the very swamp he supposedly wants to drain, so I think he's already violated this one and he's only been POTUS-elect for 6 days.  I fear that this is just the first of many examples of "Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength" style public pronouncements that are directly contradicted by everything he actually does.  Like he says he'll reduce the deficit, but he's cutting taxes and raising expenditures.  Everyone is thrilled because they can't connect the dots, they just see lower tax rates (yay!) and more spending (yay!) and they believe him when he says these have balanced the budget (yay again!  he's magic!).

[dividendman]

1.  Congressional term limits.  This is tantamount to asking the entire Republican leadership to resign from Congress.  Everyone knows this proposal is DOA.

While I agree with much of what you've said, I think one way to make the above happen is by providing an exception for current members of congress until they resign or are defeated. This would allow the people in power to keep it (for a while) and make the newer generation of politicians term-limited (I believe the suggestion is 2 terms for Senators and 6 terms for Representatives - for a total of 12 years for any member of Congress).

This obviously causes it's own problems because some current members can simply "out last" a couple of iterations of the new crop and would therefore be super-politicians with even more clout, but in the long run I think it's a way to get it passed that will eventually be beneficial to the country.

[Northwestie]

Has anyone read Trump's 100 day action plan?

http://www.npr.org/2016/11/09/501451368/here-is-what-donald-trump-wants-to-do-in-his-first-100-days

I don't care for Trump but I admit I was impressed with most of this.

Why were you impressed?  That's an honest questions, I'm seeking some feedback on what about this list excites you.

Because my reading of that list is pretty depressing.  Some highlights:

1.  Congressional term limits.  This is tantamount to asking the entire Republican leadership to resign from Congress.  Everyone knows this proposal is DOA.

2.  Federal hiring freeze.  I'm a federal employee, and we're constantly getting slammed for failing to complete assigned tasks on time, despite the fact that we're already operating with a 25% vacancy rate.  If you want your government to provide the services you pay for, you need to let them hire people to do the work.  We're externally funded so it's not a budget issue, it's purely an arbitrary cap on headcount that is keeping us from getting stuff done.

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.

4.  Open national parks and wildlife preserves to exploratory oil drilling.  WTF, man, who supports oil rigs at Yellowstone?

5.  Withdraw from all UN Climate Change panels, and withhold all funding.  Riiight, because global climate change is a Chinese hoax. 

6.  Pass the End Offshoring Act.  You mean the one Democrats tried to pass and that Republicans have been filibustering since 2010?  Why does he think Congress is suddenly going to support things they've been fighting against for years?  I'm not sure he understands how our government works.

7.  Divert federal education funding to charter and religious schools.  So much for the separation of church and state, amirite?

8.  Repeal the ACA and move everyone to HSA plans, and convert medicare to block grants.  We have several active threads discussing the problems and pitfalls with this plan.

9.  Build a wall and make Mexico pay for it.  I still can't believe anyone actually takes this seriously.  How, exactly, does this happen?

10.  Institute a variety of ethics reforms to stop the revolving door between politics and lobbying (aka "drain the swamp").  I would normally be happy about this, except his entire transition team is drawn from the very swamp he supposedly wants to drain, so I think he's already violated this one and he's only been POTUS-elect for 6 days.  I fear that this is just the first of many examples of "Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength" style public pronouncements that are directly contradicted by everything he actually does.  Like he says he'll reduce the deficit, but he's cutting taxes and raising expenditures.  Everyone is thrilled because they can't connect the dots, they just see lower tax rates (yay!) and more spending (yay!) and they believe him when he says these have balanced the budget (yay again!  he's magic!).

Agreed.  Nothing presented here would help us move into the 21st century.  It's going backwards.

And wow, listening to him on 60 Minutes last night.  He is not a very bright bulb.

[Mel70]

Has anyone read Trump's 100 day action plan?

http://www.npr.org/2016/11/09/501451368/here-is-what-donald-trump-wants-to-do-in-his-first-100-days

I don't care for Trump but I admit I was impressed with most of this.

Why were you impressed?  That's an honest questions, I'm seeking some feedback on what about this list excites you.

Because my reading of that list is pretty depressing.  Some highlights:

1.  Congressional term limits.  This is tantamount to asking the entire Republican leadership to resign from Congress.  Everyone knows this proposal is DOA.

2.  Federal hiring freeze.  I'm a federal employee, and we're constantly getting slammed for failing to complete assigned tasks on time, despite the fact that we're already operating with a 25% vacancy rate.  If you want your government to provide the services you pay for, you need to let them hire people to do the work.  We're externally funded so it's not a budget issue, it's purely an arbitrary cap on headcount that is keeping us from getting stuff done.

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.

4.  Open national parks and wildlife preserves to exploratory oil drilling.  WTF, man, who supports oil rigs at Yellowstone?

5.  Withdraw from all UN Climate Change panels, and withhold all funding.  Riiight, because global climate change is a Chinese hoax. 

6.  Pass the End Offshoring Act.  You mean the one Democrats tried to pass and that Republicans have been filibustering since 2010?  Why does he think Congress is suddenly going to support things they've been fighting against for years?  I'm not sure he understands how our government works.

7.  Divert federal education funding to charter and religious schools.  So much for the separation of church and state, amirite?

8.  Repeal the ACA and move everyone to HSA plans, and convert medicare to block grants.  We have several active threads discussing the problems and pitfalls with this plan.

9.  Build a wall and make Mexico pay for it.  I still can't believe anyone actually takes this seriously.  How, exactly, does this happen?

10.  Institute a variety of ethics reforms to stop the revolving door between politics and lobbying (aka "drain the swamp").  I would normally be happy about this, except his entire transition team is drawn from the very swamp he supposedly wants to drain, so I think he's already violated this one and he's only been POTUS-elect for 6 days.  I fear that this is just the first of many examples of "Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength" style public pronouncements that are directly contradicted by everything he actually does.  Like he says he'll reduce the deficit, but he's cutting taxes and raising expenditures.  Everyone is thrilled because they can't connect the dots, they just see lower tax rates (yay!) and more spending (yay!) and they believe him when he says these have balanced the budget (yay again!  he's magic!).

The swamp is overflowing. I'm most concerned about the Supreme Court, climate change, separation of church and state and women reproductive rights.

It took eight years for Pres. Obama to recover from Bush's depression. Now this. That's why we can't have nice things.