As expected, the media has been making much of the first 100 days of the Trump presidency, with the focus primarily on his failures and his less than stellar approval/disapproval ratings. It’s a continuance of their hatred – yes hatred – of the man who stole the election from their candidate, Hillary Clinton.
President Trump closes in on 100-day mythical benchmark. (fox13news.com)
Much of this is of the president’s own doing. He set high expectations, making a slew of first 100-day promises, many of which he has since learned as an outsider are more difficult to accomplish in government than in business. As his first 100 days’ end, he has criticized it as a “ridiculous standard.”
The mythical first 100 days dates back to the days of Franklin D. Roosevelt, who had a House majority of 3 to 1 and 60 seats in the Senate when he launched his “New Deal.” I have often criticized the Democrats, who fall in line, like sheep, when their leaders introduce legislation. Recall that ObamaCare was passed without a single GOP vote in the House or Senate. The Republican party could do the same, but GOP conservatives and moderates cherish their vote as bigger than party.
If ever there was a time to rally the party, it is now. Passing the repeal and replacement of ObamaCare, tax reform and an infrastructure bill without a Dem vote would not only assure success in the 2018 mid-terms, with the excellent possibility of picking up more seats, but assure Republican control of Washington, state governorships and legislators beyond Trumps tenure and the foreseeable future.
Unfortunately, there’s a handful of Republicans in each body who simply don’t care. As if it isn’t bad enough that the president is obstructed at every turn by Sen. Chuck Schumer.
As I look back at the two major Trump failures, the temporary ban on immigration and the repeal and replacement of ObamaCare, I find it difficult to blame the president. After the first hurried attempt at establishing a temporary ban on immigration, the second effort was well thought-out and had a thorough legal review, only to be stymied on “religious discrimination” grounds by a judge in Hawaii.
While Republicans couldn’t agree on repealing ObamaCare and replacing it with a suitable plan, you have to recognize that the president was not silent on his desire that it get to his desk for signature.
His achievements have been many, highlighted by the important confirmation of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, the reversal of a raft of expensive job-killing regulations and choice care for veterans. Getting scant attention is his effort to tackle the bloated bureaucracy as part of his drain the swamp promise.
Domestically, the president has met with leaders of businesses, large and small, including women in business, coal miners and union leaders to push his America First effort, and to discuss in his plan for tax reform and infrastructure improvement.
On the world foreign policy side, he withdrew the U.S. from the TPP, and he has already met with leaders of a number of countries, including Great Britain, Canada, Mexico, China, Japan, Italy, Jordan, Egypt, Israel and Saudi Arabia. And he is soon scheduled to meet with Pope Francis and members of the G-7 in Italy. His attack on the Syrian airfield and the dropping of the bomb in Afghanistan show his resolve in changing the perception of the weakness of America around the world. He has taken the handcuffs off our military leaders and has assured NATO of our unwavering support.
Vice President Mike Pence, Defense Secretary James Mattis, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and National Security Advisor Henry McMaster, and UN Ambassador Nikki Haley have already proven to be the outstanding choices.
As you hear those on the left ridicule the president’s performance in his first 100 days, consider the source. Media Research Center media bias researchers recently reported that liberal coverage of Trump from Jan. 20, to April 9, was “overwhelmingly hostile – 89 per cent negative.”
