Dancing Up to the Line, But Not Stepping Over.

After watching the President at the Pennsylvania rally and the FRC event this week, one thought came forth in mind….He is getting pretty good at this politics thing.  In fact, if the Donald can somehow, someway get some semblance of control over his manic tweeting; he could very well become a popular President and a formidable politician. 

These developments serve to simply push the Democrat’s “Resist Movement” further to the radical left.  One has to wonder to what extent they will allow this idiotic effort to marginalize their party.  However, the bigger question might prove to be exactly how Trump’s increased political acumen impacts his opponents within the Republican Party.  And make no mistake about it; the President has a wealth of enemies within the Republican Party and Congress.  Without diminishing the huge challenge that Speaker Ryan and Majority Leader McConnell face in trying to herd the Republican cats in the House and Senate, they did not comport themselves favorably in the Obamacare legislative debacle.  Some members in particular (looking at YOU, Mr. McCain) behaved in an openly hostile fashion towards not only President Trump, but also towards their own party.  If the President can continue to improve his political skills and gain control of his considerable presidential powers, he may become a huge factor in the upcoming national elections if he decides to settle some scores with those who have treated him so rudely.

I am more ambivalent about this President than any in my lifetime.  I do not like him personally.  His arrogance, bluster, crude language, and lack of civility are not endearing traits for my vision of what a President should be.  On the other hand, I find myself agreeing enthusiastically with the overwhelming percentage of his policy initiatives and I am very encouraged by the quality, character, and professionalism of his appointments.  Like him or not, one cannot dispute that Donald Trump is doing as President what he said he would do in his campaign for President. 

But I must admit that it troubles me greatly that much of the policy achievements that President Trump has realized have been accomplished through Executive Action.  This type of executive fiat is exactly what I railed so loudly about when Obama was president.  There is no greater example of this dilemma than Trump’s executive order eliminating the illegal Obamacare subsidies to insurers.  The correct and permanent way to deal with the morass that is Obamacare is for Congress to repeal and replace it.  That did not happen.  That did not happen in a spectacular fashion.  Is it acceptable to right a wrong by committing an equal and opposite wrong?  Think that one over carefully.  Our American society, especially the mainstream media, has developed an unsavory habit of condemning certain behavior in those with whom they disagree or dislike, while they celebrate the same certain behavior when executed by those who promote their agenda and beliefs.  Both parties, Republican and Democrat, and both political philosophies, Right and Left, practice this disturbing form of hypocrisy and the public, aided by the technologies of videos and recordings, are beginning to catch on to this Machiavellian deceit.

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So…I am stuck with the dilemma of either supporting Trump for doing the right thing in the wrong way… or… leaving things in a colossal mess because his hands are tied by a dysfunctional bureaucracy (U.S. Senate) that is paralyzed by its own ineptitude.   Perhaps I am trying to rationalize my way out of my ambivalence, but it is possible that there is a method to Trump’s actions that will hopefully set a pattern for future initiatives.  In the case of both his Obamacare and Iran Nuclear Deal executive actions, President Trump not so much announced new policies as he unwound existing policies.  He not only un-did the prior executive actions, but he did so in a way that sent these issues back to Congress for final edicts.  Several respected journalists have noted this reality and have dubbed it a “return to law’ or a “return to order”.  If, in fact, President Trump continues to exercise his Presidential authority by eliminating and/or negating improper executive impositions by prior presidents, I can see some reason and acceptance in his actions.  If, on the other hand, his forays into executive fiat begin to go beyond correcting past executive transgressions and meanders into the realm of creating new regulation and procedure, well…that will be a different kettle of fish. 

Obama played fast and loose with his presidential powers and the law in his effort to form this nation’s government in his perverse, personal vision.  He abused his authority, he broke faith with his office and the citizenry, and he allowed his arrogance and narcissistic inclinations to override common sense and responsible behavior.   If President Trump allows his frustration with Congress, his dedication to his personal beliefs, his arrogance and ego, and his own sense of what is best for this nation to cloud his judgment and push him towards an imperial presidency in the mode of Obama, then he is no better than Obama.  At some point…and that point is yet to be determined…the value of the action cannot validate the methods used to accomplish the action.