Traveling abroad ... new experience hearing ridicule not respect of our leader and our government.
15
Trump continues to remind me so much of Italy's Silvio Berlusconi in that by the time he was finally drummed out of office, his only legacy was leaving the Italian economy in total shambles.
11
We can only hope that Trump's continued incompetence will make the executive branch less and less relevant to the governing of the United States. We can only hope.
2
Seth Meyers has excellent commentary on his late-night show, quoting Trump on his 180-degree turns during the campaign speeches versus his current policies.
For example, he bashed Obama for signing executive orders, and now his administration is going to tout his signed (and sometimes failed, enormously) numerous executive orders as an example of how well Trump has performed.
For example, he bashed Obama for signing executive orders, and now his administration is going to tout his signed (and sometimes failed, enormously) numerous executive orders as an example of how well Trump has performed.
3
Francis Bacon wrote this in 1625 about Donald Trump:
"...Boldness is a child of ignorance and baseness, far inferior to other parts... It hath done wonders, in popular states; but with senates, and princes less; and more ever upon the first entrance of bold persons into action, than soon after; for boldness is an ill keeper of promise. Surely, as there are mountebanks for the natural body, so are there mountebanks for the politic body; men that undertake great cures, and perhaps have been lucky, in two or three experiments, but want the grounds of science, and therefore cannot hold out...These men, when they have promised great matters, and failed most shamefully, yet (if they have the perfection of boldness) they will but slight it over, and make a turn, and no more ado. Certainly to men of great judgment, bold persons are a sport to behold; nay, and to the vulgar also, boldness has somewhat of the ridiculous...Great boldness is seldom without some absurdity. Especially it is a sport to see, when a bold fellow is out of countenance; for that puts his face into a most shrunken, and wooden posture; as needs it must...This is well to be weighed; that boldness is ever blind; for it seeth not danger, and inconveniences... The right use of bold persons is, that they never command in chief, but be seconds, and under the direction of others. For in counsel, it is good to see dangers; and in execution, not to see them, except they be very great."
"...Boldness is a child of ignorance and baseness, far inferior to other parts... It hath done wonders, in popular states; but with senates, and princes less; and more ever upon the first entrance of bold persons into action, than soon after; for boldness is an ill keeper of promise. Surely, as there are mountebanks for the natural body, so are there mountebanks for the politic body; men that undertake great cures, and perhaps have been lucky, in two or three experiments, but want the grounds of science, and therefore cannot hold out...These men, when they have promised great matters, and failed most shamefully, yet (if they have the perfection of boldness) they will but slight it over, and make a turn, and no more ado. Certainly to men of great judgment, bold persons are a sport to behold; nay, and to the vulgar also, boldness has somewhat of the ridiculous...Great boldness is seldom without some absurdity. Especially it is a sport to see, when a bold fellow is out of countenance; for that puts his face into a most shrunken, and wooden posture; as needs it must...This is well to be weighed; that boldness is ever blind; for it seeth not danger, and inconveniences... The right use of bold persons is, that they never command in chief, but be seconds, and under the direction of others. For in counsel, it is good to see dangers; and in execution, not to see them, except they be very great."
7
Welcome to the presidency as a reality show that is all about ratings and heavy on show but light on governing. Their motto is just sign proclamations and look presidential during photo ops. Make tough sounding statements about everything and then acknowledge reality by changing your mind after things are explained to you. It's form over substance and bluster over brains.
7
If this continues, the immigration dilemma will be resolved: Nobody will want to live here. Mexico and Canada will have to build a great big wall to prevent hordes of US migrants fleeing Trump's wars and bankrupt economies. Problem solved.
8
If the FBI is investigating any collusion between Trump and the Russians during the election, we can assume they have his tax returns. Right?
8
So the question is, what is Trump good at? Well, we know he is skilled at avoiding the truth. He knows how to blame others for his wrongs. He seems to have mastered the use Twitter to tweet out nonsense. He is clearly good at manipulating the uninformed to believe his malarkey. His ability to say one thing and then reverse himself within days is nearly unsurpassed. Perhaps his strongest asset is convincing a somewhat large percentage of voters that an inexperienced charlatan should be president. As for actual achievements in office, let's hope he continues with the record Gail describes here, minimizing the damage he might otherwise do.
25
The problem with Trump's way of looking at development on public lands can be seen if we substitute the Statue of Liberty for the various public lands in the west. Even though the people of New York City live very close to this national park, they don't have more rights to develop it for profit than those of us who live further away. In the same way, the people of Utah may live close to other parks, but they shouldn't have the right to cause damage by overgrazing them or mining coal on them. The public lands really do belong to all of us!
17
DJT it appears that he did not take Government 101 in college, or in accounting principles, or evidently the explanation of the Nitrogen Cycle in Biology. DJT is as unprepared for the job and responsibilities of the job he holds, as the neophyte starting a job he knows nothing about. In accordance to releasing his taxes, which other Presidents has complied with, its evident that he is hiding something. The behavior of others to cover up for him, is unethical. He is Realtor and developer. That is his expertise!
9
His last-minute scramble to bamboozle with faux results gives us an insight into how this phony made it through Wharton ... as a rich kid barely passing but always boasting.
12
DULL?
HARDLY. The Russian and Syria weapons of mass destruction lie (Iraq on repeat), narrative continues as defense contractors, psychopathic war mongers and the bankster, Zionist elite prepare to take us into WW3.
That's an AUTOMATIC.death sentence.
For the American people.
Oh! And we are now surrounding N.Korea too!!
Boring?...
Not for the military industrial complex and all of those who perpetuate the LIES, when now they are OBVIOUS.
HARDLY. The Russian and Syria weapons of mass destruction lie (Iraq on repeat), narrative continues as defense contractors, psychopathic war mongers and the bankster, Zionist elite prepare to take us into WW3.
That's an AUTOMATIC.death sentence.
For the American people.
Oh! And we are now surrounding N.Korea too!!
Boring?...
Not for the military industrial complex and all of those who perpetuate the LIES, when now they are OBVIOUS.
4
There seem to be a lot of these "people" who tell Trump "things". In the rare instances that the stories can be tied to an actual person, what Trump heard seems to bear a minimal relationship to what he might actually have been told (like the one about German golfer who was somehow turned away from a polling place he never went to).
I think we need an investigation to determine if these are real people he's talking to, or just voices in his head.
I think we need an investigation to determine if these are real people he's talking to, or just voices in his head.
13
I guess that the only way Trump supporters and Republicans will come to their senses is when Trump's policies drive the US into a Depression. They may also look forward to more smog, unsafe water and lack of health care for the middle class and the poor.
13
You won't have to worry about that because we are being lied right into WW3.
Iraq, weapons of mass destruction. SYRIA weapons of mass destruction.
And they're demonizing Putin too.
This Administration has been anything but boring when it comes to the military industrial complex.
Iraq, weapons of mass destruction. SYRIA weapons of mass destruction.
And they're demonizing Putin too.
This Administration has been anything but boring when it comes to the military industrial complex.
1
People are ignoring his signature accomplishments.
He has singlehandedly made serious progress towards destroying our hospitable planet.
He has singlehandedly put the most dishonest and unskilled in positions of power.
He has singlehandedly ensured that his Mar a Lago will flood not long after his death.
Ozymandias, king of kings
He has singlehandedly made serious progress towards destroying our hospitable planet.
He has singlehandedly put the most dishonest and unskilled in positions of power.
He has singlehandedly ensured that his Mar a Lago will flood not long after his death.
Ozymandias, king of kings
30
look on my works, ye mighty, and despair
2
Will the lies go on for the whole term? Today at the veterans' event, our dear fearless leader went on about all the bills he has passed, totally confusing executive orders with legislation. Ignorance is ignorance, stupidity is stupidity and our dear fearless leader is guilty of both.
30
Keep dreaming. He has already accomplished a tremendous amount...this is why the left is going crazy. Most importantly, he got his SJ through and will get another through. He has started installing constitutionalist judges. This and this alone is incredibly significant. He is cutting a tremendous amount of red tape and regulation. He is laying off through attrition and other measures a tremendous number of unproductive federal workers. He has started to reform the VA. He is killing the green cronyism of globalist elites. The military loves him. Keep your head in the sand and keep whining. It is music to my ears. The next 7.5 years are going to safeguard my childrens future.
1
Well, if you're happy I'mhappy: that the ACA is still the law, that there's no Muslim ban, that there will be no wall, that he caved to the Democrats this week, that he decided not destroy NAFTA, that he can't defund sanctuary cities- a lot has happened that's great. We in the resistance are delighted!
16
Gorsuch is a Justice because the GOP had to resort to the nuclear option!!! That is not a credit to #45! Other than this all he has done is dismantle many safeguards keeping our environment and water safe!
9
Really? Nuclear war will actually put an end to their future.
9
I can't read Trump's mind. But, it seems like every time a poll shows his approval ratings lower than any other new President (especially at the 100 day mark), he seems to go out of his way to find new ways to "punish" all of us--even the people who voted for him.
7
Mnuchin's assertion that "the president has released plenty of information" is just laughable. The president has not released anything close to what previous presidents have provided as standard procedure. And the more Trump and those who are acting as his mouthpieces tie themselves into knots trying to evade the issue the more the rest of us looking on become convinced that there MUST be something serious that Trump is desperate to hide.
17
From CNN's latest poll on trumps approval rate: "The political and demographic divisions that drove the 2016 presidential campaign have hardened into chasms in perceptions of Trump: Among Republicans, 85% approve, while just 8% of Democrats agree."
How in the world can 85% of republicans approve of trump's
handling of the presidency? 85%! That tells me that only 15% of republicans have a functioning brain, an ethical and moral compass, know right from wrong and truth from fiction, care about the future of our country and our world...
How in the world can 85% of republicans approve of trump's
handling of the presidency? 85%! That tells me that only 15% of republicans have a functioning brain, an ethical and moral compass, know right from wrong and truth from fiction, care about the future of our country and our world...
32
they see things differently than we do. see the comments on this board that support him. they weight different things more than we do, like the endless eo's, the bombing of syria. to them, this is strength. they can understand this. they see a straight line between the hammer and the nail.
1
Where's Jared?
3
busy promoting his business interests while being senior wh advisor the pres trump
and of course not violating any conflict of interest rules
he would never do that
hes such a good boy
9
oh, and in case youre interested , ivanka is promoting her chinese made shoes and fashion accessories while also being a top advisor to president daddy, and at the same time presenting no appearance shes using her fathers office to turn a buck
9
I must say that I am surprised by how many Americans betrayed their own country so willingly.
20
Many of the so-called "reluctant Trump supporters," a media-coined term that I will use here, voted for Trump to keep Hillary out of the White House.
Anything Trump did positive beyond that was a bonus.
I bet a bunch of them didn't expect any better than the eight years of disaster Obama wrought.
And, they were ok with that because despite how bad that eight years was, America is still here.
Anything Trump did positive beyond that was a bonus.
I bet a bunch of them didn't expect any better than the eight years of disaster Obama wrought.
And, they were ok with that because despite how bad that eight years was, America is still here.
1
I always love reading Gail Collins' columns as even in times of dread (Trump's 100 days) they usually provide a smile, but I couldn't finish this column as Trump and the people who elected him leave me nothing to smile about. It's one distressing day after another. Please someone out there, buy my house in Maine so I can go live somewhere else, anywhere else. Please!
12
Watch "the Handmaids Tale", on Hulu. Then you'll know what is coming, a Theocracy, dominated by misogyny and lack of rights for women.
I am telling my wife to renew her Canadian passport..
I am telling my wife to renew her Canadian passport..
4
So how come people can't bring their guns into the hall when Trump address the NRA? Isn't that a bit of a slippery slope for the Second Amendment crowd? Y'know, Trump rallies today, schools tomorrow.
27
So right!
How come folks can't carry guns into the halls of Congress?
The politicians pass laws for guns to be rampant everywhere except where they are.
How come folks can't carry guns into the halls of Congress?
The politicians pass laws for guns to be rampant everywhere except where they are.
1
You can't bring any guns into NRA headquarters (a big building in northern Virginia suburbs of D.C.) either.
1
At least while Trump appoints people to study issues, he can't get us into worse trouble than he's already caused. Or can he?
3
Apparently the only criteria Trump had for his hires was their ability to lie to people's faces.
23
Remember, there are no Blue States, only states with enough pockets of Dems to turn blue. For example, NY and CA are largely rural red, except for a few, but enough, big blue cities. There's no way hurt your blue nose, without trampling your big red head. Or orange head, as the case may be.
5
This guy is barking mad, and the GOP is indulging him for their own (oh so very short-sighted) reasons. They could get rid of him!
19
In answer to "when will this nightmare end?" Now that we have as a nation allowed the out-of-date electoral college to choose our POTUS (twice in 16 years now), there are only two ways to get rid of this narcissistic, unpresidential character - impeachment or wait out his four years. Impeachment won't happen. Let's pray he hasn't incited Kim Jong Un to send missiles to Hawaii.
9
As usual, Gail Collins (and her fanboy and fangirl commentators) to ridicule the president for some pretty normal actions. It's not crazy to suggest that presidents Clinton and Obama overstepped the authority Congress granted them in Antiquities Act when they took over millions of acres of land.
You can hate Donald Trump, but it's hard to argue that he is any worse than any other president. After 100 days in office, he's done more with less than any I can remember.
You can hate Donald Trump, but it's hard to argue that he is any worse than any other president. After 100 days in office, he's done more with less than any I can remember.
a very unwise reference to puppies- maybe an unconscious symbol
of a gutless president
of a gutless president
4
I have only one word, sad.
15
I would welcome separating our United States into at least two regions. I would choose to live in the region without evangelicals, a group that elected and continue to support Trump. I wouldn't even have to move since I live in the State of Washington near Seattle.
16
Couldn't SNL bring back the Norm McDonald character who read the news and injected short truthful comments as though he had a tic? An example: President Trump promised - short for fabricated - that he would bring back jobs for coal miners - delusional sooty folk - and cut taxes for all Americans - upper 1% - while using fracking products - poisonous earth spit - to create additional public lands - pre-sewers - wherever there is new development - pollution - in national parks - endangered land masses.
Or how about a secret hand signal that members of the real press corp who don't believe in alternate facts could slyly pass along and demonstrate when listening to Sean Spicer - perhaps an index finger tapping the upper side of the head twice.
if only.
Or how about a secret hand signal that members of the real press corp who don't believe in alternate facts could slyly pass along and demonstrate when listening to Sean Spicer - perhaps an index finger tapping the upper side of the head twice.
if only.
9
Many of the positions Trump has failed to fill are not necessary due to the presence of Jared Kushner. Mr. Kushner is able to fill any and all roles of government because of his many years of governmental studies at university and his many years of services in governments around the world. Mr. Kushner is a wonder and much older than his appearance would lead you to believe.
Actually, I think Trump has accomplished way too much so far. He should just stop now, take a deep breath, and go develop some real estate. Let the country rest in peace for the next 3.75 years.
9
Clearly, Trump has just consistently confirmed his incompetence at the highest levels, yet, despite all of the clown show that is eminating from the WH, a recent ABC Poll divulged some things even more disturbing. If a presidential election happened today, Donald Trump would defeat Hillary Clinton, the democratic party has a lower approval rating than the Republicans and are categorized as being more "establishment" and "out of touch" and while Hillary Clinton's approval ratings are now actually lower than Trumps, the politician with the highest approval ratings, by a country mile, is Bernie Sanders.
Judge these poll numbers as you wish, but, if they are even close, what does it tell you about the current attitudes in America, the assessment of the democratic party and ultimately, the voters?
Judge these poll numbers as you wish, but, if they are even close, what does it tell you about the current attitudes in America, the assessment of the democratic party and ultimately, the voters?
Insofar as appointing ambassadors is concerned I hear that Trumps asking price is widely considered way too high.
15
I taught sailing to middle school age children in my youth. There were a few who were naturals, they immediately understood tacking, relative and true wind and that the fastest route between two points isn't always a straight line on a sailboat.
The vast majority ,once they learned the basics, always ended up in the small cove at windward side of the lake. They got there very quickly and with great fanfare to be sure, but didn't grasp the fundementals well enough to extricate themselves or keep from getting stranded in the first place.
The Trump administration is much like those students, rapidly and very loudly sailing into a position with no maneuvering room.
Sad.
The vast majority ,once they learned the basics, always ended up in the small cove at windward side of the lake. They got there very quickly and with great fanfare to be sure, but didn't grasp the fundementals well enough to extricate themselves or keep from getting stranded in the first place.
The Trump administration is much like those students, rapidly and very loudly sailing into a position with no maneuvering room.
Sad.
21
Thanks for mentioning the Escalante. It is dear to us. Giving control of these properties to the states is sure to encourage governors to enhance their political careers by balancing their budgets and lowering taxes by selling off our irreplaceable national assets.
As a Coloradan, I suggest we open Arlington Cemetery to oil & gas drilling. Perhaps we could generate money by selling corporate sponsorship and advertising in the National Mall, Capitol and White House?
As a Coloradan, I suggest we open Arlington Cemetery to oil & gas drilling. Perhaps we could generate money by selling corporate sponsorship and advertising in the National Mall, Capitol and White House?
Can China's president come back and take 10 minutes to explain national economies to trump?
Seriously, I wonder how much suffering red state voters will have to endure before they realize the catastrophic mistake they inflicted on this nation. It will take a long time to recover from this.
Seriously, I wonder how much suffering red state voters will have to endure before they realize the catastrophic mistake they inflicted on this nation. It will take a long time to recover from this.
9
One thing Trump can do is promote his own name. He is the master of that. This does not help anyone of us who is not Trump, however. How this person could have been elected is beyond me. Obviously the media did not take him seriously. Now the rest of the world does not take him seriously. He is an insult to the office of President. Sad!
One hundred days with Trump feels like 100 years of putrefaction. By time he is gone he will have destroyed all traces of democracy and the USA like the town of Macondo in Gabriel García Márquez' novel
"One Hundred Years of Solitude" will vanish as we know it.
"One Hundred Years of Solitude" will vanish as we know it.
There is this spurious appeal to return the federal land to the states. The states never owned this land. For instance the territory including Utah, Nevada, new Mexico, Arizona and California were bought with the public's money, in the Treaty of Gudalupe Hildago.
In order to become a state, Utah agreed it had no claim on those lands, and was given land for schools and government.
Mormons who are a majority of the residents of Utah consider themselves honest, but they can certainly be dishonest when something like this is at stake. Claiming federal land is Utah's land is dishonest, it belongs to the people of the U.S.
In order to become a state, Utah agreed it had no claim on those lands, and was given land for schools and government.
Mormons who are a majority of the residents of Utah consider themselves honest, but they can certainly be dishonest when something like this is at stake. Claiming federal land is Utah's land is dishonest, it belongs to the people of the U.S.
35
"GOP Wants to Save Coverage for Pre-Existing Conditions -- But Only for Themselves" was the headline in Time Magazine yesterday.
Yes, my fellow Americans, our Congressmen, and women, want to exempt themselves and their families from not being covered for pre-existing conditions. After all, the average age of a Senator is 61 so it would be pretty terrible, for them and their families, if they weren't covered for a pre-existing condition.
By the way, they want to include the exemption for their staffs as well, which is considerate, no?
That just says it all about Trump and the Republicans and their "Can't-Do_Record."
Except that from tax cuts to deregulation to not draining the swamp and filling the cabinet with Goldman Sachs alum, Trump does in fact have a Can-Do-Record, for himself, his children and his fellow 1%ers.
Yes, my fellow Americans, our Congressmen, and women, want to exempt themselves and their families from not being covered for pre-existing conditions. After all, the average age of a Senator is 61 so it would be pretty terrible, for them and their families, if they weren't covered for a pre-existing condition.
By the way, they want to include the exemption for their staffs as well, which is considerate, no?
That just says it all about Trump and the Republicans and their "Can't-Do_Record."
Except that from tax cuts to deregulation to not draining the swamp and filling the cabinet with Goldman Sachs alum, Trump does in fact have a Can-Do-Record, for himself, his children and his fellow 1%ers.
22
The French, in 1789, sent a clear message to the ruling class of elites. I'm not totally convinced anymore that our problems are going to be solved via the ballot box. I truly hope that I am wrong, but the alternatives, at a minimum, bare careful thought and consideration. Absolutely never say never, not even here.
8
I'm not totally convinced anymore that our problems are going to be solved via the ballot box
ive been totally convinced for years that they wont
2
Couldn't agree more. People hate to hear this kind of talk, but if the middle class keeps shrinking and the 1% keeps taking more of the pie, do you really think that impoverished Americans with no hope for their kids' future will not go into the streets. It is the middle class that anchors a civil society. Once the middle class is gone and replaced by a wide swath of Have Nots all bets are off. Americans, having known middle class prosperity, will not take lightly two generations from now to being poor and powerless. They will go into the street much faster than societies who have not known middle class prosperity. Oh yes, it can most certainly happen here.
1
Today (4/27/27) the NY Times front page headline is:
"TAX OVERHAUL WOULD AID WEALTHIEST"
This headline says it ALL and is ALL that needs to be said.
This headline is succinct, accurate, and descriptive in every sense of the meaning of these 3 words.
This headline should be on the Front Page of every responsible newspaper in this country.
The only persons Trump is concerned about and interested in, including himself, are the wealthiest persons in this country.
So listen up ....... All you dim bulbs who voted this despicable, contemptible person into office.
You have reaped exactly what you deserve - for it is you that will pay for it in the last analysis and in the long run.
"TAX OVERHAUL WOULD AID WEALTHIEST"
This headline says it ALL and is ALL that needs to be said.
This headline is succinct, accurate, and descriptive in every sense of the meaning of these 3 words.
This headline should be on the Front Page of every responsible newspaper in this country.
The only persons Trump is concerned about and interested in, including himself, are the wealthiest persons in this country.
So listen up ....... All you dim bulbs who voted this despicable, contemptible person into office.
You have reaped exactly what you deserve - for it is you that will pay for it in the last analysis and in the long run.
34
Well said.
4
To Brian Flynn.
Thank you !
We in New England must stick together.
I think we should secede from the Union and petition Canada for annexation .
We supply more monies to the national coffers than we receive in return.
Red states receive more monies than they supply.
The final message would be:
"The check is no longer in the mail."
Thank you !
We in New England must stick together.
I think we should secede from the Union and petition Canada for annexation .
We supply more monies to the national coffers than we receive in return.
Red states receive more monies than they supply.
The final message would be:
"The check is no longer in the mail."
8
Gail,
I love all your columns, but I'm greatly disappointed you didn't point out that the man who yesterday stated federal lands "belong to all of us" is the same man who once said "I love eminent domain" and is currently using it to take land for his border wall.
I love all your columns, but I'm greatly disappointed you didn't point out that the man who yesterday stated federal lands "belong to all of us" is the same man who once said "I love eminent domain" and is currently using it to take land for his border wall.
14
It's like watching a toddler in the throes of the terrible 2s. Oh, what has he done now? Oh dear, the cat is in the toilet, again. Get it out, dry it off and hope for a better day tomorrow. It would be funnier if it weren't so tragic.
13
I am shocked, shocked that Gail has nothing positive to say about Trump, she is so objective and honest. I read the NYT's and watch MSNBC as comedy. It is so fun to watch the left with their hair on fire. The next three years should be fun. Even with the democrats scorched earth policy, Trump is going to get a lot done, but it may take some time, but he's got four years. I can be patient.
Why are you so happy? Trump already flip-flopped on China and NATO (2 of his biggest issues) and is constantly surprised that things like NAFTA and health care are complicated.
3
Get back to us on this, Gail, after Trump has added two more conservative justices to the Supreme Court.
6
Trump has done one thing already and it is irrevocable. By his rear guard refusal to act on climate change, Trump has committed us to further global warming in the future that cannot be undone.
Bill McKibben:
"No president will be able to claw back this time — crucial time, since we’re right now breaking the back of the climate system. We can hope other world leaders will pick up some of the slack. And we can protest. But even when we vote him out of office, Trumpism will persist, a dark stratum in the planet’s geological history. In some awful sense, his term could last forever."
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/21/opinion/the-planet-cant-stand-this-pr...
Bill McKibben:
"No president will be able to claw back this time — crucial time, since we’re right now breaking the back of the climate system. We can hope other world leaders will pick up some of the slack. And we can protest. But even when we vote him out of office, Trumpism will persist, a dark stratum in the planet’s geological history. In some awful sense, his term could last forever."
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/21/opinion/the-planet-cant-stand-this-pr...
21
Hillary Clinton has released all her tax returns since 1977, and Trump called her a crook.
So, what are you, Donald?
So, what are you, Donald?
37
A sad fact of today's Home of the Brave "It is easier to fool folks than it is to convince them they have been fooled" Mark Twain. We are allowing a narcissistic kleptocrat and his cabal to wag the dog because his 38% supporters are fierce in their loyalty to his lies. I was truly relieved when our great nation was being restored after the eight years of the Dunce Dubya and now we have taken a one hundred eighty degree turn toward worse.
21
Geez! Did his handlers lock him in the Oval Office to keep him quiet for a few days? They forgot to take away his smartphone, maybe they substituted one of those 'senior' phones with big buttons and no texting. I hope they left him enough Cheetos to avoid starving. Just sit him down in front of his TV tuned to Fox News with a few Tonka trucks to play with and he'll be happy.
16
Failure-A-Day Trump! Sometimes two failures daily.
This week alone:
1) The Flynn debacle
2) The court decision preventing him from blocking general Federal funding to sanctuary cities as he threatened.
3) Caving to the Democrats on the ACA subsidies and funding for The Great Wall.
4) Saying yesterday that he'd destroy NAFTA, and today he'll let it be.
5) The "New" Trumpcare is still DOA
6) His tax reform bill has been quickly exposed as simply a gift to the 1 percent.
As disturbing as the delusions of his followers are, I am very glad things are still OK, the resistance is proving successful and I will not crash when he finally does.
But I wish I got credit for only saying I'd do things and wouldn't really have to achieve them!
This week alone:
1) The Flynn debacle
2) The court decision preventing him from blocking general Federal funding to sanctuary cities as he threatened.
3) Caving to the Democrats on the ACA subsidies and funding for The Great Wall.
4) Saying yesterday that he'd destroy NAFTA, and today he'll let it be.
5) The "New" Trumpcare is still DOA
6) His tax reform bill has been quickly exposed as simply a gift to the 1 percent.
As disturbing as the delusions of his followers are, I am very glad things are still OK, the resistance is proving successful and I will not crash when he finally does.
But I wish I got credit for only saying I'd do things and wouldn't really have to achieve them!
15
"Transfer of Power”
From class to crass;
From thoughtful to vengeful;
From a model of cool to a model of cruel;
From careful humility to misplaced virility;
From real-politick to reality-show politics;
From an occasional smoker to a self-avowed groper;
From a constitutional professor to a constitutional aggressor; From an eternal optimist to a tone-deaf narcissist;
From a cabinet of advisors to a corral of yes-men;
From global inspiration to global perspiration;
From a man of character to a mere character;
From a great dude to 'il duce.’
From class to crass;
From thoughtful to vengeful;
From a model of cool to a model of cruel;
From careful humility to misplaced virility;
From real-politick to reality-show politics;
From an occasional smoker to a self-avowed groper;
From a constitutional professor to a constitutional aggressor; From an eternal optimist to a tone-deaf narcissist;
From a cabinet of advisors to a corral of yes-men;
From global inspiration to global perspiration;
From a man of character to a mere character;
From a great dude to 'il duce.’
36
Remember: Trump wants to dominate the headlines every day with his version of "news", and to change the story from his failures to his "news" (not successes, but to crowd out the negative news)
3
A better finish to the paragraph ending "Congress arrived with matching cuts in spending", if you added (social security, Medicare, school lunch programs, veterans benefits, etc., etc., etc.).
JD
JD
9
Regarding the front page video "100 Days in Two Minutes". If only.
5
That picture of Teddy Roosevelt over Trump's head looks like Teddy is scowling and none too pleased with our new (sans clothes) emperor.
11
Just remeber the bison and elk heads on the wall are Democrats.
The voters have never been so divided as they are today, and what does Trump do? He divides us even more! He doesn't even talk about national unity. He doesn't explain what he's doing by holding press conferences. He doesn't indicate any willingness to recognize honest dissent. That's why those who are resisting King Donald must do whatever it takes to remove him from office as soon as we can. He is uninformed, he is unaware of what he does not know, and he is a man without principles He is evil.
14
Glad the generals have taken away the nuclear button and given a phony button for Trump to play with. Geographically challenged, he doesn't know which way the ship. ie the Government ship or the one in the China sea, is moving. Mexico has decided that he is all bluster at the poker table. The alternative facts fixers have a big headache trying to make sense of a loopy guy.
11
Just how long can this empty charade go on? He's basically accomplished one thing - getting his supreme court justice in. Everything else he has delegated and nothing is happening (which in most cases we don't want anything to happen or change). The man is a freaking narcissist with no book learning, no knowledge of government and he's running this government like a family business with his whole family in our business. Impeach the bastard and let's move on
18
when I hear that he got his Supreme court justice, I don't hear mentioned that the Senate had to change the rules to accomplish that. So, that don't count either.
8
During the campaign season, I heard a number of commentators express the thought that Vladimir Putin considered Trump to be "a useful idiot." It seems apparent to me that at least some of his staff and cabinet secretaries, as well as a fair number of Congresspersons and Senators hold exactly that same opinion.
President Trump's record of accomplishment with the able assistance of Ryan and McConnell, is just as broad and deep as that single page tax reform plan. 81/2" x 11" -- Not even a legal size sheet!
President Trump's record of accomplishment with the able assistance of Ryan and McConnell, is just as broad and deep as that single page tax reform plan. 81/2" x 11" -- Not even a legal size sheet!
11
I find great irony in Trump speaking below a photo of Teddy Roosevelt, given the contrast between Trump's idea to undo twenty years of protecting lands for the public and slashing the EPA budget, and TR's wonderful record in environmentalism.
11
But, didn't Trump donate his (public) Presidential salary to this group? Well, that should offset all those billions he will cut, shouldn't it?
The upside of Trump's governance style cannot be ignored. He will sign an executive order on almost anything for anyone who has given (or promised to give) more than $100 (or comparable foreign currency) to any Trump campaign, past or future. Also, he spends so little time in the White House that the Oval Office is available for bar mitzvahs and (non-Muslim) weddings. The downside of the Trumpster's work schedule is that it's impossible to book games at any of his golf courses at any time he's visiting them (which is most of the time).
8
There's that famous quote (I paraphrase) 'Once the masses discover that they can vote themselves anything they want, the Republic is doomed'. Golly, what would happen if, instead of 'masses', mean spirited Plutocrats discovered that they had that power?
1
I fear that Trump's ignorance and blatant arrogance is going to destroy this country. And I will never call him "President."
14
Oh Gail, despite the horror you manage to elicit laughs from me. Thanks for that and the truth of the situation we are in.
The last minute scurry for face time and photo ops does not make a list of accomplishments for the first 100 days but does reinforce the ineptitude of trying to accomplish anything. Backing in from behind is not yet working but on camera it looks really good!
Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Trump and so he goes at everything with the idea of destroying it, weakening it, exploiting it or taking something away from someone and giving it to someone else. Repeatedly this is the pattern.
How rewarding it must be to someone as laughable as Trump to look tough and macho while backing down from any real confrontations.
I suppose not yet being impeached or 'fired' counts for something in the Trump fantasy. I give him that.
The last minute scurry for face time and photo ops does not make a list of accomplishments for the first 100 days but does reinforce the ineptitude of trying to accomplish anything. Backing in from behind is not yet working but on camera it looks really good!
Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Trump and so he goes at everything with the idea of destroying it, weakening it, exploiting it or taking something away from someone and giving it to someone else. Repeatedly this is the pattern.
How rewarding it must be to someone as laughable as Trump to look tough and macho while backing down from any real confrontations.
I suppose not yet being impeached or 'fired' counts for something in the Trump fantasy. I give him that.
6
We know now that it is a safe bet than Mnuchin is a liar and we can't believe anything he says, It is really frightening how greedy and self centered Trump and his henchmen are.
21
His tax plan is MOAT (Mother of All Taxcuts) so that the superrich can protect much more of their assets from the tentacles of the federal government and pass them to their heirs in their entirety.
11
I wonder if we are not seeing the start of a pattern. High visibility agenda items like health care and taxes and the Mexican wall are floundering but the Republicans got their conservative Supreme Court justice in a fairly low key manner, Neil Gorsuch instead of Merrick Garland. Long term Trump may have scored a more important
victory with the Court Keep throwing out the high visibility but low probability proposals while smoothly executing other lower visibility but also important proposals
victory with the Court Keep throwing out the high visibility but low probability proposals while smoothly executing other lower visibility but also important proposals
3
Trump's performance as president is like that of a 14 year old school boy goof off. During the semester he does no reading, no homework, does not participate in class discussions, attends no group study sessions, but has plenty of time to play (golf perhaps?). Then, the week before the big test there's a chaotic flurry of superficial activity while trying to make up for all the wasted time. He fails the test, learns nothing, and process starts afresh next semester.
11
It's all very funny, except here in s. florida the ocean is rising flooding streets and yards and lapping at the front doors, the bays and the reefs are dying, the crystal clear water has turned murky and green. Local governments have serious people planning and doing mitigation programs with no interest, money or involvement from the feds because trump is in charge, and Scott doesn't allow state employees to utter the phrase, "global warming.". The Bush coup d'etat in 2000 preventing Gore from becoming president was a catastrophe, Obama was mostly marking time, and now we have Trump. Are we really such self-destructive idiots to allow this?
8
I see no cause to snore. We should all be extra-vigilant. Trump is a menace to and enemy of this country and everything it stands for. ZDude got it right: frightening is what Trump is!!
I don't believe a word Trump says. I had every intention of giving him the opportunity to show me that he could make America Great (Again? who said it wasn't but him?). His response to the news that his inauguration crowd wasn't the biggest, bestest in the world told me everything I needed to know about his intentions.
Only big business wants Trump to declassify national monuments—no need for a show of hands there.
However, I do believe that there are people holding Congressional seats who are brown-nosing and puckering-up to him; one of the senators from my state (not because I voted for him, mind you), Mitch McConnell leads the admiring-toady section. The majority hypocrite sold us out l-o-n-g before Trump came on the scene, obstructing every move Obama tried to make and championing the right for Congress to be a do-nothing organization for far too long.
We've been snoring far too long. Trump is not working for us. I firmly believe he is intentionally working against us. There is an awful lot of evidence that indicates his intentions are not in this nation's best interest. I'd like to see the intelligence efforts step-up the pace before he takes us past the point of no return.
Be afraid.
I don't believe a word Trump says. I had every intention of giving him the opportunity to show me that he could make America Great (Again? who said it wasn't but him?). His response to the news that his inauguration crowd wasn't the biggest, bestest in the world told me everything I needed to know about his intentions.
Only big business wants Trump to declassify national monuments—no need for a show of hands there.
However, I do believe that there are people holding Congressional seats who are brown-nosing and puckering-up to him; one of the senators from my state (not because I voted for him, mind you), Mitch McConnell leads the admiring-toady section. The majority hypocrite sold us out l-o-n-g before Trump came on the scene, obstructing every move Obama tried to make and championing the right for Congress to be a do-nothing organization for far too long.
We've been snoring far too long. Trump is not working for us. I firmly believe he is intentionally working against us. There is an awful lot of evidence that indicates his intentions are not in this nation's best interest. I'd like to see the intelligence efforts step-up the pace before he takes us past the point of no return.
Be afraid.
6
Gail,
This is a very funny piece, thank you. I can't get over how the commentators do not reference your piece at all. They are so busy continuing their own personal public blog, that they do not even reference that they are enjoying your readership, and your fount of wit.
One of the better belly laughs: "Everybody knows that Trump wants a can-do record when he hits Day 100 on Saturday. To get there, he appeared to be adopting the garb of Somewhat Normal Republican (SNORE)."
This is a very funny piece, thank you. I can't get over how the commentators do not reference your piece at all. They are so busy continuing their own personal public blog, that they do not even reference that they are enjoying your readership, and your fount of wit.
One of the better belly laughs: "Everybody knows that Trump wants a can-do record when he hits Day 100 on Saturday. To get there, he appeared to be adopting the garb of Somewhat Normal Republican (SNORE)."
30
It is time to have a "Dump Trump" March on Washington; in fact, it is past time. We can dump Ryan and McConnell while we're at it. Have you ever seen such energy poured into anything quite like this pursuit of Greed? And these Toads have the nerve to call themselves Christian?????
36
"Dumping" = voting them out of office. A march won't do it.
The root of the Republican domination of the House is the widespread gerrymandering of Congressional districts. Changing that requires electing Democratic state legislatures. That's where the work should start.
The root of the Republican domination of the House is the widespread gerrymandering of Congressional districts. Changing that requires electing Democratic state legislatures. That's where the work should start.
6
With Inspector Clousou running the government we just have to put it into the proper perspective. It's a joke and is to be ignored.
15
Turning the government into a third world kleptocracy for the benefit of his family and cronies. His supporters are too dense to understand how badly they have been scammed but unfortunately all of will suffer because a few dimwits decided they would vote for change and were unable to see the obvious - that Trump was grossly unqualified for the position. The Republican party does not have the integrity to do the investigations that would likely lead to immediate impeachment.
29
Someone should start polling former colleagues/partners of guys like Mnuchin to get a sense of who they really are: "smart but crooked/lacking integrity," would be among the unsurprising answers.
23
And he looks like Milton Berle- to add to the humor
2
america took a giant step backward electing trump
ordinarily that wouldnt be too much of a problem, except that step was over a cliff
but no worries, yanks, it wont hurt until you hit the ground
21
Much as I enjoy Gail's little barbs, this is no laughing matter. We have a maniac in the White House bent upon destroying America as we always knew it.
How much more of this must we endure before putting an end to this madness? How much more damage to the economy, to the states? To the very people who voted for him? Must we wait for another madman, Kim Jong Un to send over a nuclear bomb before we take action?
How much more of this must we endure before putting an end to this madness? How much more damage to the economy, to the states? To the very people who voted for him? Must we wait for another madman, Kim Jong Un to send over a nuclear bomb before we take action?
26
“The tax plan will pay for itself with economic growth,” said Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin....been the same refrain since Ronny was in charge...not a shred of real world evidence to back this up...ever.
I love the idea of paying less in taxes...very happy not to pay. But the realist in me says we actually need things and need to pay for those things in our own time.
I love the idea of paying less in taxes...very happy not to pay. But the realist in me says we actually need things and need to pay for those things in our own time.
17
A right wing coup has placed an ignorant, vulgar and mentally disturbed narcissist in the White House. The United States has become a Banana Republic - that is quite an accomplishment.
36
This, too, shall pass. But the bleeding will continue for quite some time.
10
He has signed more executive orders and undone more things then any other President in this short time. He loves to hold his order with his very large and bold signature up and have his picture taken while a crowd of admirers clap. However he did say, many times, that Obama was lazy and unable to pass any laws so he had to use presidential orders to get things done. "Unacceptable "the Donald said. He even said that Obama did this so he could go play golf. Now it has become his one and only claim to success.
13
It's simple,as most Americans know: the reason why Donald Trump hides his tax returns is that he's a blatant crook.
38
Trumps only accomplishments will be destructive to any subject one cares to mention. These past 98 days foretell our very damaged future under this presidency.
However, while the country crumbles under the immense stupidity and incompetence of Trump and his administration, the Trump family will do quite well as their wealth increase many-fold.
However, while the country crumbles under the immense stupidity and incompetence of Trump and his administration, the Trump family will do quite well as their wealth increase many-fold.
22
I remember the Bush tax cuts and the recession that followed.
19
I still can't get over the Senate agreeing to respond to Trump's beckoning to the White House. What a ridiculous power play in and of itself
25
I know right?
Senators do not work for the President.
Senators work for the people who voted them into offce.
I sometimes wonder if draft dodger trump ever took 8th grade civics?
Senators do not work for the President.
Senators work for the people who voted them into offce.
I sometimes wonder if draft dodger trump ever took 8th grade civics?
4
SNORE and YIKES, yes. How about STIFF (stupid tax information from fools)?
When will this national nightmare end??
When will this national nightmare end??
11
I've seen this movie too many times in the past and I'm not eagerly awaiting Bottomed Out 401Ks anymore than any other residents of the middle class.
OK class, the definition of insanity is ...?
OK class, the definition of insanity is ...?
14
Oh Gayle, although Trump may not disembowel puppies, he signed 'House Joint Resolution 69' to allow wolf puppies to be gassed in their dens in Alaska. HJR 69 was signed in April 2017 after Trump / USDA removed information regarding abusive puppy mills in February 2017. I see a trend here, and it's not good.
16
Dear Gail~Have you noticed that Old Yeller is aging more quickly than most recent presidents? Compare his photos from the inauguration to today and you will notice he appears more portly, increased puffy, hooded eyes and doughy skin, if that's possible.
Could it be all of the Mar-A-Loco (thanks, Bruni) golfing with heads of state? Or the stress of so many micro-length news conferences? Or possibly the weight of destroying the lives of 300 million US citizens?
Could it be all of the Mar-A-Loco (thanks, Bruni) golfing with heads of state? Or the stress of so many micro-length news conferences? Or possibly the weight of destroying the lives of 300 million US citizens?
15
It's really very simple, as most Americans know: the reason Trump won't release and hides his tax returns is that he's a crook.
21
1st 100 days
Obama golf outings : 1
trump golf outings : 13
"I'm going to be working for you; I'm not going to have time to go play golf." - @realDonaldTrump in 2016
31
My wife and I work full-time in healthcare. We’re huge supporters of President Obama and loathe this new president’s character and qualifications. That said, we support cutting the corporate tax rate of small “Mom & Pop” businesses, but not big corporations with 50+ employees. There’s an important distinction being missed here in most articles critical of the proposed corporate tax cuts as a whole.
We are the first in our families to go to college. We started our husband and wife partnership LLC in 2013 and work long hours after work and on the weekends in order to chase our dream of financial independence and leaving a lasting legacy for our kids. We are profitable and make a little side income, but not enough to replace one of our incomes yet. We have great growth potential when we are ready to make that leap and already plan to hire 1-2 employees when we do. Right now, the 35% tax rate for a business like ours is suffocating and greatly limits our potential and choices to grow. A drop to 15% lowers the threshold for us to pursue our dream and eventually create some jobs ourselves.
It’s important to distinguish between tax reform to promote innovation and growth of small businesses like ours, versus big business who have many loop holes and creative accounting methods to pay far less in taxes, even as they take in exponentially more revenue. Let’s not group all “corporations” in one bucket. Some of us are really trying to pull ourselves up from our bootstraps!
We are the first in our families to go to college. We started our husband and wife partnership LLC in 2013 and work long hours after work and on the weekends in order to chase our dream of financial independence and leaving a lasting legacy for our kids. We are profitable and make a little side income, but not enough to replace one of our incomes yet. We have great growth potential when we are ready to make that leap and already plan to hire 1-2 employees when we do. Right now, the 35% tax rate for a business like ours is suffocating and greatly limits our potential and choices to grow. A drop to 15% lowers the threshold for us to pursue our dream and eventually create some jobs ourselves.
It’s important to distinguish between tax reform to promote innovation and growth of small businesses like ours, versus big business who have many loop holes and creative accounting methods to pay far less in taxes, even as they take in exponentially more revenue. Let’s not group all “corporations” in one bucket. Some of us are really trying to pull ourselves up from our bootstraps!
17
The main thing that Trump can't do is be a capable president.
14
Whatever happened to the Republican deficit hawks? I guess when a Democrat is president then the Republicans want to starve the beast, but now its OK to give big tax breaks to corporation and wealthy individuals. By the way the Republicans have to get over Teddy Roosevelt since if he were alive today he would be a Democrat. Teddy broke up monopolies, believed in environmental protection and wanted health insurance for all. Teddy Roosevelt's Republican Party was different from today's party. It was a progress party, not a regressive party. Finally, the new tax plan would hurt those in the Northeast and in higher taxed blue states since the deduction for state income and real estate taxes would be eliminated. The new tax plan makes it advantageous for everyone to become an independent contractor so that they can get the new 15% business rate. This will really help the Trump family.
18
The other day I happened to look at some transcripts of interviews that Trump has given to various media outlets since he was inaugurated. Aside from what is an obvious case of ADHD, quite clearly, the mans sentence structure and language is that of a ten year old child, rather startling considering that he is President. There is no doubt whatsoever he is being manipulated by others and his constant pronouncements and daily reversals of those pronouncements just further confirm it and making outrageous statements such as the 3 million illegal voter fiction and other ridiculous comments that have now mysteriously disappeared from the agenda.
Make no mistake about, the outside world just no longer takes this President seriously anymore, assuming they ever did and practically speaking, that is really dangerous.
Make no mistake about, the outside world just no longer takes this President seriously anymore, assuming they ever did and practically speaking, that is really dangerous.
13
As a linguist I can assure you that a 10 year old is an absolutely proficient speaker of his or her language. Trump's inability to speak coherently is due to some crazy syntax, leaving out nouns, verbs, not referring back to the subject of the sentence, run-on sentences, as well as jumping all over the place in terms of context, making it impossible for the listener to follow. What I suspect is that he is on the spectrum, in combination with narcissistic personality disorder, and that his nonsensical speech is a manifestation of a deeply sick psychology. There have a been a few public figures with this problem, including Sarah Palin.
6
My apologies for referencing 10 year olds speaking/language proficiency. Clearly, my comparison of Trump should have been directed towards newborn babies.
The thing is that many of what Trump counts as "achievements"--such as the executive orders he has signed--are hurtful to the American people and our nation. How can this man claim glory from lessening protections for citizens, consumers, economy, climate, and more? A president's responsibility is to put the interests and welfare of the American people first, not that of the claimed great god of "bidness."
9
vaca travel expenses
trump, first month : $ 11.3 mln
obama, first year (ave): $ 12.1 mln
In an interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes,” Trump said, “There’s just so much to be done. So I don’t think we’ll be very big on vacations, no.”
14
Perhaps Education Secretary DeVos and President Trump will learn something about the federal Education Department (ED) when they start looking into it. Like the fact that the states have control over how much money is allotted to schools and how the curricula is set. The ED accounts for only about 10% of spending on schools nation-wide and that is when they step in, for example, to save certain schools that are going under because of underfunding. The USDA oversees lunch programs and, yes, there are regulations about school lunches and I, for one, do not want to see those regulations taken away. Health and Human Services oversees equality issues such as seeing to it that children with physical or mental issues get a fair public education and there are regulations about that, which is a good thing, otherwise millions of children would be overlooked. The ED serves as a guide and helpmate to public schools, sharing research into education issues. It is not the overweening power many people see it as. No, I don't work for the ED. I'm just a grandparent who wants to see all of our kids get an equal opportunity education.
7
Trump is trying to enact the basic Republican playbook--gut healthcare, cut taxes for the rich, ramp up the military. Thus far, he's proposed a lot, but hasn't gotten very far.
As far as I'm concerned...his record could be far, far worse. Are there really liberals complaining because he hasn't accomplished much?
As far as I'm concerned...his record could be far, far worse. Are there really liberals complaining because he hasn't accomplished much?
3
Gail,
SNORE? More like YIKES (Yes I Know Excels at Stupidity)! If anything Trump has proven that he is truly the Potemkin President (Thanks Putin!) just imagine in less than 100 days he's already started trade wars on both of our borders, reversed on China (pronounced by Trump "CHYyyna"), failed gloriously on legislation because he didn't win a majority of the popular vote, and he's semi-kinda-sorta wants war with North Korea. Just imagine what another 100 days will yield. Frightening indeed.
SNORE? More like YIKES (Yes I Know Excels at Stupidity)! If anything Trump has proven that he is truly the Potemkin President (Thanks Putin!) just imagine in less than 100 days he's already started trade wars on both of our borders, reversed on China (pronounced by Trump "CHYyyna"), failed gloriously on legislation because he didn't win a majority of the popular vote, and he's semi-kinda-sorta wants war with North Korea. Just imagine what another 100 days will yield. Frightening indeed.
21
Trump is a destructionist. He is determined to destroy everything in his path.
Mnuchin is one of the most unpleasant men in the cabinet to appear and
speak on TV.
Mnuchin is one of the most unpleasant men in the cabinet to appear and
speak on TV.
26
Mnuchin and Cohn demonstrate that all those stereotypes about Goldman Sachs alumni being greedy, self-serving and did I mention greedy? are not stereotypes at all. These people are parasites. How I long for the good old Obama days when Citigroup ran the country.
25
"“The tax plan will pay for itself with economic growth,” said Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin."
That's what David Stockman said. Then later he unsaid it!
Everyone with a grain of sense, and a perspective on US political history, knows that approach does not work.
That's what David Stockman said. Then later he unsaid it!
Everyone with a grain of sense, and a perspective on US political history, knows that approach does not work.
27
Agree with you 100%! It's a shame that the proposal and the people makings these outrageous claims aren't laughed off the stage.
In fact, it's deplorable (double entendre intended), that they would even have the temerity to propose such a ridiculous plan! They should be embarrassed by it and the fact they're not tells us lots!
In fact, it's deplorable (double entendre intended), that they would even have the temerity to propose such a ridiculous plan! They should be embarrassed by it and the fact they're not tells us lots!
7
Finding humor in the Trump presidency is like finding humor in a cancerous tumor. It's a heavy lift. A heavy lift indeed...
29
not if your gilbert gottfried or norm MacDonald it isnt
the best humor comes from misery
america is gonna be a barrel of laughs for a long time
2
Let's face it. Donald Trump is an incompetent president. He should be removed from office. These 100 days have felt more like 100 years. Why is this man still president? Do we have to endure four years of this madness?
27
Quite simply, this is Bannons plan to deconstruct the government.
13
This is so exhausting.
25
America fought a war to get rid of George the third. Now we have our own crazy despot. Is it not wonderful the miracles that time delivers.
18
If King George III had Twitter he probably would have won the American Revolution.
1
I don't watch TV and frankly never heard of "The Apprentice' till the campaign began those many long months ago, so when people or columnists (I know, columnists are people, too) reference it, I just assume DJT's malign personality was all over it. DJT is the emptiest of empty suits. His whole persona knows only stunts, lies, and misdirections. That those who voted for him still support him after 97 days of stunts, lies and misdirections is both stunning and not very surprising considering the low level of objectivity, the lack of discrimination, and the ornery nature of middle america and so-called christians who bend their flickering light in his direction.
27
The Trump administration will go down as the most corrupt in American history.
One has to appreciate the columnist's impeccable intentions and valiant inclination toward humor. But this government presents such an extreme emergency, by calculation and upon as many fronts of policy as it can strip of humanity, that it isn't that one doesn't feel like laughing. It's that we're past that.
12
The Trump tax plan comes with allowing his pre-existing condition. That is, pay few taxes.
16
Let's substitute our bumper-sticker health plan, "replace-and-repeal," for a bumper-sticker judgment on Trump's broken-promises presidency: "resign and prosecute." Gerald Ford ended the "long national nightmare" of Watergate by pardoning Nixon for all crimes committed. I was only 12 or 13, but I resented that Americans would not see justice done.
Consider what a hammer blow that decision was to the already pummeled and bleeding reputation of US institutions. And how that reputation has declined, with good reason, ever since. Bush v. Gore, anyone? The stolen Supreme Court seat awarded to His Honor the incomparably dishonorable Neil Gorsuch?
It appears that we can't seriously investigate Trumpgate until we have a committee or agency controlled by Democrats, who would only then have the power to subpoena documents and testimony over Republican intransigence. So realistically we're hoping for a Democratic rout in 2018 against the party that stole the presidency, the senate, and the supreme court. (Absent Comey's interference, the Democrats were widely expected to win control of the senate.)
In an off-year election, the party out of power usually gains seats in Congress, especially if the president is unpopular. But sadly we don't know what "tricks" Giuliani will have up his sleeve in 2018, or whether Russian interference will keep the Trumpublicans in power.
Eventually, the evidence of crimes is going to start piling up, and this time Americans should get justice.
Consider what a hammer blow that decision was to the already pummeled and bleeding reputation of US institutions. And how that reputation has declined, with good reason, ever since. Bush v. Gore, anyone? The stolen Supreme Court seat awarded to His Honor the incomparably dishonorable Neil Gorsuch?
It appears that we can't seriously investigate Trumpgate until we have a committee or agency controlled by Democrats, who would only then have the power to subpoena documents and testimony over Republican intransigence. So realistically we're hoping for a Democratic rout in 2018 against the party that stole the presidency, the senate, and the supreme court. (Absent Comey's interference, the Democrats were widely expected to win control of the senate.)
In an off-year election, the party out of power usually gains seats in Congress, especially if the president is unpopular. But sadly we don't know what "tricks" Giuliani will have up his sleeve in 2018, or whether Russian interference will keep the Trumpublicans in power.
Eventually, the evidence of crimes is going to start piling up, and this time Americans should get justice.
13
SNORE, indeed. In one-party controlled states and the current federal government, the worst actions are done quickly and quietly while media, voters and the submissive opposition party sleeps. If we who oppose the idiotic campaign promises we know Trump and his Republican partners want to turn into actual laws, we better not let the confusion they create lull us into sleeping through what cannot be undone or allow ourselves to be distracted by the shiny toys of crazy, incoherent speech or behaviour by Trump, his appointees or his paid media.
Focus, resisters, focus. The Democratic Party knows how to govern; let's show we know how to successfully oppose Trump/Republican campaign promises that are unconstitutional as well as destructive to the health, safety and prosperity of the US.
Focus, resisters, focus. The Democratic Party knows how to govern; let's show we know how to successfully oppose Trump/Republican campaign promises that are unconstitutional as well as destructive to the health, safety and prosperity of the US.
11
Knocking wood is admittedly superstition, but:
These jokes are fun, up to a point, which one prays to all gods ( infinite myths ) that the point forgets what it could actually mean.
Today's excellent grave yard humorous comments are to real life what overdoses of opioids are to tragically resolving pain & misery.
"Thanks for something" is whenever freaky POTUS disrupts dystopian rhetoric.
These jokes are fun, up to a point, which one prays to all gods ( infinite myths ) that the point forgets what it could actually mean.
Today's excellent grave yard humorous comments are to real life what overdoses of opioids are to tragically resolving pain & misery.
"Thanks for something" is whenever freaky POTUS disrupts dystopian rhetoric.
2
We've got a James Bond villain as president. Drilling public lands, pushing self-enriching tax policies, deregulating industry protections to ensure a polluted future — he's our own impulsive Goldfinger (minus the grey matter) with the nuclear codes. So many interesting Russian connections too, but that's another plot. "This heart is cold, he loves only gold, only gold..."
9
Now that we don't have to be politically correct anymore, I'll just say, "It's official,,,the inmates have taken over the looney bin."
15
It occurs to me as we reach the 100 day mark, that Trump is the guy who cries wolf. "I'll build a wall and Mexico will pay for it! I'll repeal Obamacare! I'll pull out of NAFTA! I'll declare China a currency manipulator! Obama wiretapped me! I sent missiles to Iraq-oh I meant Syria! I'm sending an armada to North Korea- I meant Australia! Mike Flynn is a great guy! Putin is the man!"
Now it's "I'll cut taxes and balance the budget!" I'm just wondering when people will stop running up the hill. It's only a matter of time. We have 1363 days of lies and more lies ahead of us. And I'm worried that we just might be too exhausted to notice when the real wolf does appear.
Now it's "I'll cut taxes and balance the budget!" I'm just wondering when people will stop running up the hill. It's only a matter of time. We have 1363 days of lies and more lies ahead of us. And I'm worried that we just might be too exhausted to notice when the real wolf does appear.
21
Swati:
If you have not done so already, I might suggest you read a response to my comment above from someone with the handle of IHT who described himself as a linguistic whom when I made reference to the fact that in interviews Trump had the mindset of a child, he quite accurately explained why and in detail.
Trump makes no sense whatsoever, is totally incoherent, is ignorant of syntax and language and, in reality, never completes a single thought and gets off on a tangent very easily. This could explain the constant contradictions, the inability to form any sort of coherent policy, the regular lying and, as you stated, constantly "running uphill".
As the linguistic stated Trump and (help us all) Sarah Palin are very similar personalities in that the running will never stop, I would surmise, until people start going over a cliff.
If you have not done so already, I might suggest you read a response to my comment above from someone with the handle of IHT who described himself as a linguistic whom when I made reference to the fact that in interviews Trump had the mindset of a child, he quite accurately explained why and in detail.
Trump makes no sense whatsoever, is totally incoherent, is ignorant of syntax and language and, in reality, never completes a single thought and gets off on a tangent very easily. This could explain the constant contradictions, the inability to form any sort of coherent policy, the regular lying and, as you stated, constantly "running uphill".
As the linguistic stated Trump and (help us all) Sarah Palin are very similar personalities in that the running will never stop, I would surmise, until people start going over a cliff.
We have discovered a new way for our presidents to address Congress.
Instead of one man, the President, trekking to the capitol for his speech, the members of Congress have to travel to the White House. Very efficient indeed.
It makes for crowded audiences and slight speeches, if any, by the emperor "Du Jour" who may be busy handing out cookies. It is like flying economy class these days, not much room, and not much else to think about but avoiding your fellow traveler, a metaphor for the bipartisan environment going on in the cabin.
All we have to do is watch how many presidential new regulations are handed out by the Regulator in Chief erasing the old and creating the new. No decisions made by the sages in the House or the Senate needed. After all, we have a man who can do everything solo. Long live the king.
Instead of one man, the President, trekking to the capitol for his speech, the members of Congress have to travel to the White House. Very efficient indeed.
It makes for crowded audiences and slight speeches, if any, by the emperor "Du Jour" who may be busy handing out cookies. It is like flying economy class these days, not much room, and not much else to think about but avoiding your fellow traveler, a metaphor for the bipartisan environment going on in the cabin.
All we have to do is watch how many presidential new regulations are handed out by the Regulator in Chief erasing the old and creating the new. No decisions made by the sages in the House or the Senate needed. After all, we have a man who can do everything solo. Long live the king.
10
So now he wants to deregulate the public school system. Does that mean that lower income kids won't get lunch? Creationism will be mandated? School vouchers are now the gold standard and "underperforming" schools will be shuttered in low income areas? This country may not be able to handle much more winning and freedom.
13
It seems that Donald J. Trump learned that his businesses don't have to pay for their expenses and he has decided to apply that to his new toy: The US Government doesn't have to pay for its expenses either.
11
Democrats: 100 days of sitting on their hands unwilling to show any initiative or compromise or concern for their constituents. Endless, pointless, protests with hooded thugs attacking free speech at universities. Multiple "investigations" to prove conspiracy theories about how Hillary lost the election. Constantly insulting the President and denigrating his supporters.
Trump: Polls showing that Trump supporters still strongly support him. Decisive military action in Syria. Stock market in record territory. Improved jobs report. Conservative Supreme Court judge added to the bench. Over 20 executive orders directed at removing regulations that have hurt the coal industries and other core industries. Begun initiatives to reduce the federal government. Outline a proposal to lower taxes and reform the tax code. Personally pressured industry leaders to keep jobs in the US.
The Press: Spin, spin, spin...
Trump: Polls showing that Trump supporters still strongly support him. Decisive military action in Syria. Stock market in record territory. Improved jobs report. Conservative Supreme Court judge added to the bench. Over 20 executive orders directed at removing regulations that have hurt the coal industries and other core industries. Begun initiatives to reduce the federal government. Outline a proposal to lower taxes and reform the tax code. Personally pressured industry leaders to keep jobs in the US.
The Press: Spin, spin, spin...
1
The above is beyond spin, but delusional.
21
All facts... no spin. I know that liberals are living in an alternative reality right now but in my world these are the facts (prove I'm wrong, rather than resort to name calling.
1
Please repeat after me: coal is no longer a core industry. Coal is no longer a core industry. Coal is no longer a core industry.
6
The Senate's field trip to the White House executive building was hysterical. Trump was at the meeting for 5 minutes. Reminded me of taking field trips in elementary school to the dairy farm, fire station and water treatment plant.
Trump treats the U.S. Senate just like 18th century kings treated their fake legislatures. Mike McConnell and Paul Ryan permit such treatment and further erode the public's view of their institutions. Congressional oversight has left the building with Elvis under the GOP.
Is there not one Republican House member that will offer a bill of impeachment? Surely with so many narcissists afoot one of them wants to make history. Or maybe it could be an act of courage, like being a "log driver" working on a treacherous log jam in the middle of a river, breaking up the jam, and then the jam releases carrying you with it.
I want to know, did the Senators receive free cookies and milk at their visit?
Trump treats the U.S. Senate just like 18th century kings treated their fake legislatures. Mike McConnell and Paul Ryan permit such treatment and further erode the public's view of their institutions. Congressional oversight has left the building with Elvis under the GOP.
Is there not one Republican House member that will offer a bill of impeachment? Surely with so many narcissists afoot one of them wants to make history. Or maybe it could be an act of courage, like being a "log driver" working on a treacherous log jam in the middle of a river, breaking up the jam, and then the jam releases carrying you with it.
I want to know, did the Senators receive free cookies and milk at their visit?
24
Well, considering the fact this is the first time in decades the Republicans are in full control of all THREE levels of the government, beyond a total mental meltdown by Trump, we have seen very clearly that in order to get their draconian rich persons agenda passed without opposition, they are willing to ignore much.
7
Trump is trying to fleece the American people and the US Treasury.
Trump and the super rich will cut their taxes by millions and we will pay for it by borrowing money in the form of Treasury bonds from the Chinese. Our children and grandchildren will have to pay for Trump's tax cuts because of his greed. Trump and his rich friends get huge tax cuts while his supporters get crumbs of chocolate cake.
Let the man who lives in the Tower come down off his golden chair throne and see how the real America lives. Let him create jobs for his supporters and not tax havens and tax loopholes for himself and his rich buddies.
Trump and the super rich will cut their taxes by millions and we will pay for it by borrowing money in the form of Treasury bonds from the Chinese. Our children and grandchildren will have to pay for Trump's tax cuts because of his greed. Trump and his rich friends get huge tax cuts while his supporters get crumbs of chocolate cake.
Let the man who lives in the Tower come down off his golden chair throne and see how the real America lives. Let him create jobs for his supporters and not tax havens and tax loopholes for himself and his rich buddies.
158
RealityCheck, you are confused, that is what Obama did, even as he said that it would be "unpatriotic and irresponsible". But that was OK when Obama did it for the last 8 years, right?
Oh, and everyone would be getting tax cuts, and the standard deduction (which helps mostly low income people) would be doubled.
Oh, and everyone would be getting tax cuts, and the standard deduction (which helps mostly low income people) would be doubled.
Trump's First 100 Days seems like a bad comedy script for an SNL-produced movie, starring Alec Baldwin as the man himself. The ineptitude is laughable.
Until the reality of it hits...
These 100 days have been fatiguing and frightening. It's difficult to keep up with the changeable ADHD mind of this President, and his wacko tweets. The Wall has disappeared, as has the war on NAFTA (doubtless owing to the Canadian/U.S. oil pipeline).
The ACA dilemma is temporarily on hold, but if the new tax plan passes, there will be no money for any social services. The guy wants to privatize education and revert to the old health insurance system (known as pay-or- die).
Giving States control of Federal lands is abominable. If States follow the well-trodden road to the bottom to acheive wealth, they will sell mining and drilling rights on former Federal lands. Trump will have destroyed perhaps our greatest asset, our beautiful open spaces.
That is, after the oil pipeline ruptures have destroyed our fresh water supplies.
Trump has accomplished much in the name of destruction. He has overturned hard-won civil and social rights laws. He has thumbed his nose at government law, and the American people. He has enriched himself. His disdain for women, people of color and the environment has been made abundantly clear.
By provoking North Korea, and maintaining a close ties to Putin, he is threatening global stability. And he doesn't care.
Yes, he's done much in his first 100 days.
Until the reality of it hits...
These 100 days have been fatiguing and frightening. It's difficult to keep up with the changeable ADHD mind of this President, and his wacko tweets. The Wall has disappeared, as has the war on NAFTA (doubtless owing to the Canadian/U.S. oil pipeline).
The ACA dilemma is temporarily on hold, but if the new tax plan passes, there will be no money for any social services. The guy wants to privatize education and revert to the old health insurance system (known as pay-or- die).
Giving States control of Federal lands is abominable. If States follow the well-trodden road to the bottom to acheive wealth, they will sell mining and drilling rights on former Federal lands. Trump will have destroyed perhaps our greatest asset, our beautiful open spaces.
That is, after the oil pipeline ruptures have destroyed our fresh water supplies.
Trump has accomplished much in the name of destruction. He has overturned hard-won civil and social rights laws. He has thumbed his nose at government law, and the American people. He has enriched himself. His disdain for women, people of color and the environment has been made abundantly clear.
By provoking North Korea, and maintaining a close ties to Putin, he is threatening global stability. And he doesn't care.
Yes, he's done much in his first 100 days.
268
He and his cronies are traitors. No group of people could unintentionally cause so much destruction, so many disasters, and so many unnecessary deaths in only 100 days.
3
I would courteously like to refer everyone's attention to The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Find a one-page version and refer it to POTUS.
8
If this 100 days were a corporate performance review, Trump would be identified as a phony braggart who accomplished little and is a risk because he is destroying the U.S. brand.
Of course, since the Republican eschew evidence, facts, and data to back up their decisions and are sitting in the catbird seat, there will no organized performance review of Trump.
Alas for us, the likelihood of Trump's retreaded Reagan and G.W. Bush economic fairy-tale policies doing in the middle class and country again are of little concern to Team GOP--especially since Republican politicians right-wing media keep proving on a daily basis you can fool a fairly large percentage of the U.S. population much of the time.
So there will be no problem for the Trumpster remaining POTUS, as long as the rich can keep getting richer and the corporate sector get away with exploiting labor and destroying the environment in the name of profit and pleasing investors.
After all, what and who is government for?
Of course, since the Republican eschew evidence, facts, and data to back up their decisions and are sitting in the catbird seat, there will no organized performance review of Trump.
Alas for us, the likelihood of Trump's retreaded Reagan and G.W. Bush economic fairy-tale policies doing in the middle class and country again are of little concern to Team GOP--especially since Republican politicians right-wing media keep proving on a daily basis you can fool a fairly large percentage of the U.S. population much of the time.
So there will be no problem for the Trumpster remaining POTUS, as long as the rich can keep getting richer and the corporate sector get away with exploiting labor and destroying the environment in the name of profit and pleasing investors.
After all, what and who is government for?
159
I agree. GOP=Greed Over People
5
Have you ever worked at a company staffed by incompetent leaders? Have you ever watched them give themselves certificates of appreciation for a job well done? Did you then walk back to your jail cell/cubicle and laugh so hard you were crying? That's what this is but I don't know whether I can laugh. We still have many more sets of 100 days to survive with Trump occupying the White House, Mitch McConnell as the Senate Majority Leader, and Paul Ryan as Speaker of the House.
19
During the little bush years, we did have such a political appointee who put himself up for an award in the federal department where I worked. The giggling in the audience when he accepted it was louder than the applause.
3
Donald Trump has had a very successful one hundred days in office. He has managed to convince the entire world, in this short amount of time, that he is by far, the biggest dolt to ever be elected president, bar none. Give the man credit where credit is due, please.
20
I can assure you beyond any shadow of a doubt whatsoever, in a very short time into his Presidency, it didn't take much convincing.
Here we go again...Zorro has ridden into town again brandishing his double edged sword. Who, pray tell,is going to knock him off his gold encrusted saddle
or at the very least lock the barn door? Won't someone please step forward
or at the very least lock the barn door? Won't someone please step forward
7
Michele, I'm still waiting for some "patriot" at the IRS to *liberate* DJT's tax return.
Hey, it could happen.
Hey, it could happen.
6
The entire bottom dwelling Republican Party hacks are a disgrace to our proud nation. From the obese clown who is now president to the fat demented toad of a senate majority leader to the warlock who is speaker of the house, the whole lot is disgraceful.
We have to put up with 18 more months of this disaster until the next election. Pummel this criminal lot of them with the lies they tell and the greed they ooze so the sleeping electorate will wake up and do their civic duty.
We have to put up with 18 more months of this disaster until the next election. Pummel this criminal lot of them with the lies they tell and the greed they ooze so the sleeping electorate will wake up and do their civic duty.
13
On thing we do not see Kellyanne Conway which is a plus.
Trump could not even accomplish giving the boots to Steve Bannon sending him back to his underground alternate truth website with Conway.
Trump could not even accomplish giving the boots to Steve Bannon sending him back to his underground alternate truth website with Conway.
10
Honestly, Gail, how outraged can we be at this point that Trump thinks he's a reality star, doesn't have a clue what he's doing, likes to push people around and will contradict himself within the span of sixty seconds? He's appalling, of course, and his supporters are hypocrites. But my bigger concern is that he's going to get Japan and South Korea blown up by Kim Jong Un, and then we'll be in World War III.
9
Trump unlike any President in my lifetime has tried to implement all his promises. You may not like him but his ideas are no surprise. Now, so far, he has had little success. That is not a shock. There has been an unrelenting attack by every element in the media except Fox and some radio shows. Almost a coup d'etat. And, the usual suspects in the federal judiciary have mounted their own attack. While I didn't vote for him, I think his pro growth and anti unfair trade policies deserve a chance. I believe that the gleeful condescension exhibited by Ms. Collins will go the way of all the Hollywood idiots who made fun of Trump the candidate. Best to be cautious, Gail.
1
The fact Trump's actions are deemed illegal has nothing to do with a "coup d'etat" it has everything to do with the rule of law. Trump's illegal actions are exactly that---prohibited. Rhetoric and reality are two different things, Trump has no clue what the law is, don't blame the judges they're only enforcing the law.
4
Absurd. He's all show and no go. Hot air on steroids. Promises? He changes his message every five minutes. The only promise he's kept are the promise to be unpredictable, and why? Incompetence.
Obama promised health care reform and we got in the form of the Affordable Care Act, several thousand pages long because, gee, health care, and insurance, are complicated. Trump's promises on the other hand aren't worth the cocktail napkin they could be printed on. A man devoid of understanding makes promises devoid of content. Are we to be surprised when they fall hundreds of miles short of reaching their destination?
3
We all know the child who blames someone else for his bad grades or arriving late to school. Or the one who says, The dog ate my homework. We all know grownups who refuse to say something is their fault. They always find a way to blame their mistake or bad behavior on someone else.
Welll.... our president is both that child and that adult. My question is, when will his Republican cohorts stop being those blamers too. When will they become mature adults and point out all the spinning and lies that are going on in the Whitehouse?
Welll.... our president is both that child and that adult. My question is, when will his Republican cohorts stop being those blamers too. When will they become mature adults and point out all the spinning and lies that are going on in the Whitehouse?
10
President 45--The buck stops there.
Congratulations! By coining a new acronym - SNORE - you have likely accomplished more, with substantive, constructive and lasting value, than has Trump during his first 100 days.
13
Donald Trump First Semester (or 100 days) Report Card
1. Mathematics – F, Donald cannot count very well.
2. English – F, Donald cannot read or speak very well.
3. Science – F, Donald refuses to understand any concepts or do any homework assignments.
4. History – F, Donald refuses to read about, understand or put historical events in context; he also makes things up that never happened.
5. Gym – F, Donald is overweight, out-of-shape, and refuses to participate in any gym classes except golf (in which he cheats)
6. Behavior – F, Donald does not play well with others, is insensitive, aggressive, untruthful, immature, self-absorbed, and mean. Suggest counseling for possible sociopathic personality disorder.
1. Mathematics – F, Donald cannot count very well.
2. English – F, Donald cannot read or speak very well.
3. Science – F, Donald refuses to understand any concepts or do any homework assignments.
4. History – F, Donald refuses to read about, understand or put historical events in context; he also makes things up that never happened.
5. Gym – F, Donald is overweight, out-of-shape, and refuses to participate in any gym classes except golf (in which he cheats)
6. Behavior – F, Donald does not play well with others, is insensitive, aggressive, untruthful, immature, self-absorbed, and mean. Suggest counseling for possible sociopathic personality disorder.
43
Spot-on. He can be described in one word: FOOL.
7
National Monuments can be improved in all sorts of ways. Gettysburg battle field, where so many died, would make a beautiful, beautiful golf course.
The Grand Canyon would be the greatest landfill in the world! You could dump all Ivanka's shoes into it and still have room for all the toxic waste in the US! That Grand Staircase in Utah could be gilded and Trump could ride down it as he announces his run for a third term as President!
You've got to have a vision.
The Grand Canyon would be the greatest landfill in the world! You could dump all Ivanka's shoes into it and still have room for all the toxic waste in the US! That Grand Staircase in Utah could be gilded and Trump could ride down it as he announces his run for a third term as President!
You've got to have a vision.
14
Well. If by "dull", you mean acts of repetitive stupidty -- I expected it. And so far, I haven't been disappointed.
Whether it's by appointing the arch-enemy of the E.P.A. to head the agency, issuing "Executive Orders" to discriminate against people from select countries, building a Wall at the expense of granting coal-miners dying of Black Lung disease healthcare -- Oh, let's not forget the laughable replacement for the ACA! -- giving the Russians access to top secret information, alienating our closest neighbours to the North & South, provoking nuclear-mad Kim Jong-un to finally use one of his new toys, and most recently, unveiling a new tax plan that will ensure Mr. Trump and his gold-plated cronies get even more wealth...
Nope. Nothing "dull" around here.
And that's only the first 100 days.
Whether it's by appointing the arch-enemy of the E.P.A. to head the agency, issuing "Executive Orders" to discriminate against people from select countries, building a Wall at the expense of granting coal-miners dying of Black Lung disease healthcare -- Oh, let's not forget the laughable replacement for the ACA! -- giving the Russians access to top secret information, alienating our closest neighbours to the North & South, provoking nuclear-mad Kim Jong-un to finally use one of his new toys, and most recently, unveiling a new tax plan that will ensure Mr. Trump and his gold-plated cronies get even more wealth...
Nope. Nothing "dull" around here.
And that's only the first 100 days.
11
Stevie Mnuchin, exhibit # 1, you don't have to be intelligent to work for Goldman Sachs. You have to be shrewd, manipulative and be willing to exist in a state of cognitive dissonance. Exhibit #2, Gary Cohn, nothing more than a vacuous pitchman . Older exhibits, #3, Hank Paulson, boobous extremous. I have come to the conclusion, it isn't how intelligent one is, it is the school one attends and how big your dads rolodex is. (A couple of exceptions here and there) Gail writes great satire, but honestly, this is starting to make me sick.
7
I count the heads of five mammals in the lead photo. Which one is the President? Which one *should be* president? One thing's for sure. We're all being buffaloed.
9
Deep inaccuracy. Sort of a nice term for out-and-out outrageous lies. But then this man and his "team" are nothing if not outrageous and nothing if not liars. That rough beast is no longer crouching toward Bethlehem. It's squatting in the middle of the town square!
4
A biting but, alas, all too true picture of predator Trump as he tromps awkwardly through his first 100 days. Fittingly, this photograph shows him standing proudly between 2 large, dead prey - which have been decimated across the lands he wishes to further destroy - mounted as tokens of not only our killing, but also our bragging instincts.
7
He had to find something to brag about, since he can no longer abuse women, brag about it and get away with it.
But we have Neil Gorsuch!!! The Supreme Court Justice stolen from the Obama administration who needed a rule change to get approved. Now that is what I call getting the job done. At least we have Jared.
7
Trump's tax proposal was a double-spaced single page. That is not a policy. No one who wrote something so skimpy deserves an "A," as Trump believes he does. He might as well have called it "gift to self," and saved the ink.
"Who would have ever thought that tax reform could be so complicated?" will follow in the confoundment of reforming healthcare and paying for a border wall. One can only hope that someone in the Senate can explain to the White House the complications of interfering with North Korea. Trump is more worried about doing something big to shore up domestic support than about its consequences. His record of sparring with the judiciary and with the media inspire no confidence in his self-described ability to win. And fighting North Korea is not quite like fighting with tweets.
At least we heard from a real president, Barack Obama, a few days ago. He was everything Trump isn't: smart, funny, gracious, sharp, decent...And he spoke of something foreign to Trump, leadership. The young people President Obama were shown that leadership requires knowledge, concern and responsibility. All of which elude the so-called president of today.
"Who would have ever thought that tax reform could be so complicated?" will follow in the confoundment of reforming healthcare and paying for a border wall. One can only hope that someone in the Senate can explain to the White House the complications of interfering with North Korea. Trump is more worried about doing something big to shore up domestic support than about its consequences. His record of sparring with the judiciary and with the media inspire no confidence in his self-described ability to win. And fighting North Korea is not quite like fighting with tweets.
At least we heard from a real president, Barack Obama, a few days ago. He was everything Trump isn't: smart, funny, gracious, sharp, decent...And he spoke of something foreign to Trump, leadership. The young people President Obama were shown that leadership requires knowledge, concern and responsibility. All of which elude the so-called president of today.
7
If 45 and his corrupt beyond belief synchophants in congress want to run the country like a "business" they need to go back to economics 101, the point is to increase, not decrease, revenue!! How stupid do they think people are? 2018 will be here sooner than you think. Show up. Resist.
14
Be grateful that he is so incompetent?! He stole the election with Russian aid. He's undermining our constitution! NYT, GET SOME GUTS! This isn't a normal situation. DO YOUR JOB! This, ( like 43's election ) is a coup. Everything that follows from his illegal presence in the White House (like Gorsuch)) is part of that coup. I read complaints and whines here. The situation requires OUTRAGE!
Where are McCain, Graham, Romney etc. now? The Earth is being destroyed, people. This is all very, very, very, serious. Stop laughing at him and deal with the grim reality here. I could go on, but I won't, at least not today.
Where are McCain, Graham, Romney etc. now? The Earth is being destroyed, people. This is all very, very, very, serious. Stop laughing at him and deal with the grim reality here. I could go on, but I won't, at least not today.
7
"Failing NYT lying about my accomplishments in 100 days. Read this paper and repeat it to america. See I am accomplished. Job done. Thank you for the support, NYT."
Propaganda wins every time with people as stupid as americans.
Propaganda wins every time with people as stupid as americans.
1
mnuchin certainly exhibits the primary job skill required by the current adminstration: the ability to lie non-stop about everything.
3
Judging Trump's record based upon him being the President of the United States is unreasonable and unfair.
The relevant comparison is to a reality TV show. On that basis the Kardashian/Jenner clan have more than met their match.
Don Trump Jr. is a tinier chip off of a tiny chip. Eric Trump has the brains and charm of an ice cube. Ivanka Trump is Elly May Clampett. Jared Kushner is Alfred E. Neuman. Tiffany Trump is Princess Elizabeth I. Melania Trump is Jane Seymour. Donald, Sr. is King Henry VIII.
The relevant comparison is to a reality TV show. On that basis the Kardashian/Jenner clan have more than met their match.
Don Trump Jr. is a tinier chip off of a tiny chip. Eric Trump has the brains and charm of an ice cube. Ivanka Trump is Elly May Clampett. Jared Kushner is Alfred E. Neuman. Tiffany Trump is Princess Elizabeth I. Melania Trump is Jane Seymour. Donald, Sr. is King Henry VIII.
4
Ms. Collins my deepest empathy. What do you do in the face of constant lying, dissembling and audacity. You continue to rip them apart and their minions with humour and common sense. Thank you.
5
In the first 100 days of this administration, Trump appears to be in a manic phase of a personality disorder.
The White House history and tradition turned into a TV set for the apparently required daily show which alternates between Executive Order signings or Presidential Pronouncements - "I am the greatest supporter of Truckers! Toot! Toot!".
The manic rush to "DO" stuff has resulted in poorly drafted orders and policy that receives the then necessary push back from the judiciary or Congress.
Clearly, the office of POTUS has not had an impression of any kind on Trump.
He is still in celebrity grifter mode X 1000. He remains obstinate in his avoidance of learning about anything, doing the work of preparation for anything, of being able to take advice from anyone other than his chocolate cake filled gut.
He remains greedy, hateful, mean and ignorant.
But hey, the soundstage of the Oval Office awaits him every morning with his coiffed hair sprayed in place for the greatest role of his life. Lights, camera, action!
The White House history and tradition turned into a TV set for the apparently required daily show which alternates between Executive Order signings or Presidential Pronouncements - "I am the greatest supporter of Truckers! Toot! Toot!".
The manic rush to "DO" stuff has resulted in poorly drafted orders and policy that receives the then necessary push back from the judiciary or Congress.
Clearly, the office of POTUS has not had an impression of any kind on Trump.
He is still in celebrity grifter mode X 1000. He remains obstinate in his avoidance of learning about anything, doing the work of preparation for anything, of being able to take advice from anyone other than his chocolate cake filled gut.
He remains greedy, hateful, mean and ignorant.
But hey, the soundstage of the Oval Office awaits him every morning with his coiffed hair sprayed in place for the greatest role of his life. Lights, camera, action!
6
Trump has lost his marbles as he can't put together a coherent sentence and leaves it to his cabinet to do all the speaking. Maybe I should be kinder as he could have dementia or mini-strokes (not the golfing type).
1
I think Mnuchin had to type it up himself, hence only one page. I don't think they have gotten around to hiring a secretary let alone a Deputy.
3
What I don't get is how an accomplished and self-respecting man like Secretary Mnuchin can, with a straight face, proclaim that Trump has give "...more financial disclosure than anybody else." How can that not destroy credibility on anything else he says?
Hey Treasury Secretary Mnuchin. You brought us "Sully" and other great movies. Make us a movie that explains this new tax plan, and just a short feature that rationalizes, or tells the poignant story of why the President cannot release his own taxes.
3
A corrupt ignorant moronic bully who has not revealed his tax returns or relations with the Russians has no right to anything, let alone proposing "tax reform" for his bankster cronies.
3
Most people don't believe that tax cuts pay for themselves, but they ignore that and go for the headline "Tax Cut!" every time. When it turns out they are not much better off as an individual, they just shut up and take it. People are fools.
4
"What shall you sow, Thus shall you reap." Maybe it will be a good thing to throw twenty million of his cheer leaders off the buss. Bring on TRUMP CARE.
Whew - only @ 13 more 100 days to go.
Your SNORES seem to be in deep slumber mode.
Thanks for your needed humor in this humorless era.
jsf
Your SNORES seem to be in deep slumber mode.
Thanks for your needed humor in this humorless era.
jsf
3
Relax rust belt and confederate trumpets.
Your draft dodging oresudent had to take care of the billionaires first.
After all they have been suffering the longest.
As soon as he and his pampered friends are all set trump promises he'll get to you unbelievably gullible tools.
I meant voters.
You unbelievably gullible voters.
Your draft dodging oresudent had to take care of the billionaires first.
After all they have been suffering the longest.
As soon as he and his pampered friends are all set trump promises he'll get to you unbelievably gullible tools.
I meant voters.
You unbelievably gullible voters.
4
The president's list of accomplishments is short. Nothing. EO's don't count and putting Gorsuch on the Supreme Court doesn't either, McConnell won that one by breaking senate rules. Rolling back existing laws with that idiot Reins act is poor sport by the republicans.
3
How seriously should America take this president and can the Nation move forward sans him and his bigly wad of bubble gum? Where is Bannon these days and how are relations with Russia today in the times we live? Trump is not planning to release his tax statements. Should we care about this? Will his replacement follow suit where the President of the United States is exempt from taxation? To his credit, Trump did show up for Jury Duty before he was elected, drawing quite a crowd of law-abiding citizens.
The word 'Tax' does appear not belong in his vocabulary, nor does the word 'Pax' promise to surface in the near future, and if ever it does, the grass will be growing green over our graves, and only the Rich among us will not be reduced to ashes.
This American is not interested in the net worth of Trump. Have a heart, and remind us again when we can bid him farewell with a call for help on our brightest leaders and fine minds in the Land of the Free.
The word 'Tax' does appear not belong in his vocabulary, nor does the word 'Pax' promise to surface in the near future, and if ever it does, the grass will be growing green over our graves, and only the Rich among us will not be reduced to ashes.
This American is not interested in the net worth of Trump. Have a heart, and remind us again when we can bid him farewell with a call for help on our brightest leaders and fine minds in the Land of the Free.
2
“The tax plan will pay for itself with economic growth,” said Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin. Perhaps its just me, but the first thought that struck me after reading this sentence was this sounds just like the Paul Wolfowitz neo-con hubristic assertions that the post Iraq invasion reconstruction costs would pay for itself through Iraq's own vast resources. Pauly and his boys put about as much consequential/critical thought into their post Saddam plan as Donald and his band of crummy little toadies put into this one page so called "tax policy".
Both plans were/are only "Power Point" deep; a few bullet size talking points that brief well to an audience who hears what it wants to hear.
Both plans were/are only "Power Point" deep; a few bullet size talking points that brief well to an audience who hears what it wants to hear.
4
I just want this week to be over. Yes. Trump's first 100 days will likely go down as one of the most unproductive, unpopular, and embarrassing moments in our nation's history. However, that's not really a bad thing. Once we're over the hump, let Trump soothe his vanity with alternative facts and go back to getting very little accomplished. That's the way America likes the Trump administration: Ineffective.
4
Perhaps Trump's blood transfusion machine or his source for his nasal inhalants for energy were unavailable. Don't worry, Gail..he'll be back to his insane, manic self next week. We're all soooo lucky!
Every time a meet a trump supporter who is not stupid and/or crazy and they are explaining why, I keep hearing the lyrics from that old song by Johnny Rivers "Oh shut up, silly woman," said the reptile with a grin
"You knew damn well I was a snake before you took me in"
Trump has a long history of cheating and leaving others with the mess and yet these people think that some how this time it will be different. A con man will always be employed because people always want to believe.
"You knew damn well I was a snake before you took me in"
Trump has a long history of cheating and leaving others with the mess and yet these people think that some how this time it will be different. A con man will always be employed because people always want to believe.
It's dawning on me... I've never seen the idiot in chief in his previous, realty show emcee role, but wasn't his schtick to go around destroying people? "You're fired!"
That's his one trick, people. He's taking his hammer to the country, destroying every bit of our heritage and society. Tearing up agreements, grinding our national treasures under his heels, and "firing" our laws and regulations. What a lot of bull in our china shop.
That's his one trick, people. He's taking his hammer to the country, destroying every bit of our heritage and society. Tearing up agreements, grinding our national treasures under his heels, and "firing" our laws and regulations. What a lot of bull in our china shop.
7
Sean Spicer will, no doubt, proclaim that Donald Trump has assisted the DC-based Happy Trails Busways in increasing job demand, something that he will send Transportation Secretary Elizabeth Chao over to look into.
Also, I understand that the White House Players, a theatrical group, is on the verge of rolling-out their updated re-make of "Much Ado About Zilch".
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
Also, I understand that the White House Players, a theatrical group, is on the verge of rolling-out their updated re-make of "Much Ado About Zilch".
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
We're forgetting about his most important accomplishments -- the ratings! Viewership of news about his run-in-circles presidency is still strong. Oh, and now that he's president, vacancies in his overdecorated hotels are down, too!
Who could ask for anything more?
Who could ask for anything more?
4
I wish I could SNORE through this administration, but what I'm getting is a waking nightmare, with no end in sight.
8
Tweet's Senators will be thrown under self-same bus come midterms if they buy-in to his page of malarkey about reforming taxes so more rich guys can pay even fewer taxes, or if they fall for his scam to hand over said federal lands to lumber and mining companies and developers, maybe some casinos. If there were any magnificent herds of buffalo left he'd surely issue an edict to shoot 'em all.
Tweet's Congress must understand that the federal lands he wishes to tweet into some awesome tourist/industrial mecca do indeed belong to all of us not just rich guys needing to get richer.
Tweet's 100-Day Infestation has been a slimy descent down a crooked slippery slope into a dark Dantesque nether world.
Tweet's Congress must understand that the federal lands he wishes to tweet into some awesome tourist/industrial mecca do indeed belong to all of us not just rich guys needing to get richer.
Tweet's 100-Day Infestation has been a slimy descent down a crooked slippery slope into a dark Dantesque nether world.
That guy Mnunchin saying tax cuts for rich folks pays for itself is like the GOP lie that the Iraq War would pay for itself minus the flowers and greeted as liberators myth of Dick Cheney. That he looks like Howdy Doody is par for the Trump surreal show.
4
No quicker way to make me lose my breakfast than to have to see a photo of Trump on NYT webpage each day -- always with his ugly mouth twisted in some manner and his beady eyes with the white eye bag concealer very obvious. Then contemplating whatever nonsense he is spewing just completes the picture.
Each thing he proposes is garbage -- pollute the water, allow mountains to be gutted for coal, frack the earth, cut taxes on the rich and drive the deficit up, don't fund for infrastructure repair, rattle the saber for war, on and on and on with this incompetent dangerous nincompoop.
We have to find a way to get rid of him.
Each thing he proposes is garbage -- pollute the water, allow mountains to be gutted for coal, frack the earth, cut taxes on the rich and drive the deficit up, don't fund for infrastructure repair, rattle the saber for war, on and on and on with this incompetent dangerous nincompoop.
We have to find a way to get rid of him.
10
Everyone knows that Trump lies. But listening to Mnuchin and Cohn and Mulvaney and the rest of Trump's inner circle, I have just realized what their job interview must have comprised. They were each given a lie detector test. If they failed, they were hired. I would not buy a used care from any of these guys.
3
"My first 100 days is the most successful 100 days in the history of the country. In the history of the world. Probably the most successful in the history of the UNIVERSE!!!
Look at all the stuff I've been signing. BIG stuff, YUGE stuff!!! Lots of super-important stuff.
I've signed, um, well, um . . . (Psst! Hey! What am I signing? What did I just sign?)
LOOK AT MY PEN!!! MY YUGE PEN!!!"
Ugh. My junior high school student council was more thoughtful, nuanced, and effective than this administration.
Look at all the stuff I've been signing. BIG stuff, YUGE stuff!!! Lots of super-important stuff.
I've signed, um, well, um . . . (Psst! Hey! What am I signing? What did I just sign?)
LOOK AT MY PEN!!! MY YUGE PEN!!!"
Ugh. My junior high school student council was more thoughtful, nuanced, and effective than this administration.
6
"Do you think Mnuchin would have had a longer tax description to hand out if he had an assistant secretary for tax policy?"
Actually, no, he just found out about it too when Trump blurted it out last week. Well that and the fact that Republican ideas about taxes won't even fill a whole page.
Actually, no, he just found out about it too when Trump blurted it out last week. Well that and the fact that Republican ideas about taxes won't even fill a whole page.
3
Trump never wanted to do the job he narrowly cheated his way into. (Pardon the dangling participle.) If only he had it in him to admit to any of his untruths and misbehaviors, perhaps he could have saved the country and the rest of the world from the fraudulent conduct he continues while holding the power of his office.
2
Dick Cheney: "Reagan proved deficits don't matter.*"
*Unless a Democrat is president.
Trump will make the Reagan and Junior Bush tax cut inflicted dficits look like, as Ralph Kramden and Ed Norton might say, "a mere bag of shells."
*Unless a Democrat is president.
Trump will make the Reagan and Junior Bush tax cut inflicted dficits look like, as Ralph Kramden and Ed Norton might say, "a mere bag of shells."
4
Trump is revealing himself as just another trickle down Republican, more corrupt than most with accents on all of their worst qualities, but still a republican hack. Is this seriously what you wanted all you who voted for him for only change sake? The record is that Republicans always jack up the debt and take away any benefits of clean government. Gail is clearly bored with this as so many of us are, but orut rage is what is needed if we are to survive in one piece.
2
A couple things remind me I am older....gray hair, and having been through a Voodoo Economics push by well off millionaires & billionaires multiple times now. History should tell me then, that some type of colossal deregulation mistake is just around the corner....
6
He got the Chinese Premier to eat chocolate cake at Mar-a-Lago. American made chocolate cake. That's reducing trade deficit.
Mission accomplished
Mission accomplished
2
actually, no
food served at maraloco is charged to the taxpayer, since its a 'business' meeting
he never misses a chance to grab a nickel
1
It's going to be interestingto see how long the Republican fascists and the military tolerate this fool...
6
Another day, another sudden reversal on a half-baked idea. Our vacillator-in-chief has made an art of the about-face.
As long as the media pours adulation and speculation upon him, he's happy. As long as the base crows his praises, he's happy. The great circus show in the rings around Donald Trump doesn't matter so long as he gets the applause of the small crowd shouting his name.
Apparently the rest of America and its allies can go hang.
As long as the media pours adulation and speculation upon him, he's happy. As long as the base crows his praises, he's happy. The great circus show in the rings around Donald Trump doesn't matter so long as he gets the applause of the small crowd shouting his name.
Apparently the rest of America and its allies can go hang.
3
Trump is just playing at being President. His real job, the one he really works at, and excels at, is schmoozing people who can help enrich his family. The rest of this disaster of an administration is nothing more than distraction after distraction. The organ-grinder plays martial music to distract the rubes while his Goldman-Sachs monkey-buddies pick the taxpayer's pocket.
Trump is working on cementing his riches into an eternal family dynasty and cannot be bothered with actually doing the job the deplorables hired him to do.
Trump is working on cementing his riches into an eternal family dynasty and cannot be bothered with actually doing the job the deplorables hired him to do.
8
And, how much did that bus tour cost the US taxpayers? Do we fancy celebrity-watching so much that we forget we're the ones paying for this so-called president's PR stunts?
What were the boys talking about on their bus tour? Maybe that "pre-existing medical conditions" clause they're trying to sneak by? Were there cigars involved?
Show me a tax plan that pays for itself and I'll show you my uvula! Better yet, show US your taxes, big guy!!!
What were the boys talking about on their bus tour? Maybe that "pre-existing medical conditions" clause they're trying to sneak by? Were there cigars involved?
Show me a tax plan that pays for itself and I'll show you my uvula! Better yet, show US your taxes, big guy!!!
3
Trump and his cabinet are showing not only incompetence in their function, serving the people, but incompetence in hiding the unconscionable cuts in taxes for themselves, plutocrats as they are, and paying lip service to even the appearance of justice and ethics. They are shameless. And for the time being, as long as lying Trump won't release his tax returns, he must be considered a crook. We live in trying times, having elected so many despicable clowns in spite of the evidence. Were we deluded by these charlatans, did we really believe their bull, or did we find their stupidity close to ours, hence, acceptable?
1
Oh, Gail, go light on tRump and his toadies, they're just high on the smell of their own perfume, Eau de Larcenie.
3
I like this article. The theme is disdain, just what Mnuchin and Trump deserve.
The one-page tax reform bill presented by two former Goldman-Sachs men shows the nerve, lack of planning and inability to conceptualise all running rampant in this administration. Reminds me of the time Goldman Sachs told the Greek government of the time, "Take this cash for debt swap. Don't worry! We'll sell short before you know it."
"Salesman talkin' to me, tryin' to run me up a creek
Says buy it, go ahead try it, you can pay me next week, ahh!
Too much monkey business, too much monkey business
Too much monkey business for me to be involved in!"
--Chuck Berry, Too Much Monkey Business
I guess those Representatives did say the ACA bill was just too darned long for any virile and manly good ol' boy to understand. And it was certainly something they didn't want womens worryin' they purty little heads about.
This is easier: lower taxes; everybody's richer! "Where do I sign?"
Yeee-hah!
"Salesman talkin' to me, tryin' to run me up a creek
Says buy it, go ahead try it, you can pay me next week, ahh!
Too much monkey business, too much monkey business
Too much monkey business for me to be involved in!"
--Chuck Berry, Too Much Monkey Business
I guess those Representatives did say the ACA bill was just too darned long for any virile and manly good ol' boy to understand. And it was certainly something they didn't want womens worryin' they purty little heads about.
This is easier: lower taxes; everybody's richer! "Where do I sign?"
Yeee-hah!
3
That whole bus ride charade was to put Congress in its place: On its knees.
2
DJT is no amiable dunce, merely a RWR poseur.
DJT is more the serious acting Slim Pickens type than the hilarious Edward Teller's doppelganger aka "Father of the H Bomb."
DJT is Chance The Gardner, though this time there's no kidding.
SEVEN DAYS ... in April, the sequel soon in ... IN MAY, 2017.
Anthony Perkins' WALTZING MATILDA: That's probably not how this dimension of reality ends either, hopefully.
DJT is more the serious acting Slim Pickens type than the hilarious Edward Teller's doppelganger aka "Father of the H Bomb."
DJT is Chance The Gardner, though this time there's no kidding.
SEVEN DAYS ... in April, the sequel soon in ... IN MAY, 2017.
Anthony Perkins' WALTZING MATILDA: That's probably not how this dimension of reality ends either, hopefully.
Trump is a corrupt, crooked con man and a moron to boot. The republicans are a joke and are destroying this country. You get what you deserve america.
3
The master of smoke and mirrors, deflection and deception again has presented his supporters with a shiny object that will make them bow down in reverence. Will this "plan" bear fruit in the future? Depends if the GOP critters in Congress are willing to be flip-floppers given the story telling they did concerning Obama's addition to the deficit. However, these GOP lawmakers know their supporters many times exhibit short memories, so, they may jump on the Trump Reality Show and Carnival act and throw a tiny little bone to the masses as Trump, Inc laughs all the way to the bank at the expense of rubes he conned and grifted, again. The deficit be damned as long as the corporate sponsors of our Representatives and Senators, and Trump, Inc. are kept happy.
1
I Just Love To Solve Problems
I don't know why no one thought of this before; but here are ten reasons Donald J. Trump, that remarkably inept President of the "United" States, should hire Kim Jong Un to be his Chief of Staff.
1. For starters, the guy knows how to put on a parade. It's impossible to imagine Mr. Kim staging an inauguration as paltry as was Mr. Trump's ... I mean 160,000 in attendance! Whew!
2. Mr. Trump wants to beef up the military (pun intended). Who better than Mr. Kim to refocus attention on the military. He has even convinced his subjects that going with a meal now and then is no big deal compared to putting nuclear warheads on intercontinental ballistic missiles ... just what Mr. Trump would like to do.
3. Mr. Kim would have Steve Bannon and Jared Kushner out of the West Wing in a heartbeat. With him in charge, who needs those trouble-making know-nothings?
4. It would solve the "North Korea" Problem. We could even build a big military base at Wonsan. That would secure the peace in all of those seas "over there." We'd have no senators riding in busses over to the Trump summer residence.
5. They could build Trump golf courses all over North Korea, a country with great land resources and a dire need of the income that would engender. It works for Viet Nam; why not North Korea?
6. Both men have beautiful wives who have complete disdain for the processes of government. They could hang out together.
7. Most important (damn, I've used up my characters).
I don't know why no one thought of this before; but here are ten reasons Donald J. Trump, that remarkably inept President of the "United" States, should hire Kim Jong Un to be his Chief of Staff.
1. For starters, the guy knows how to put on a parade. It's impossible to imagine Mr. Kim staging an inauguration as paltry as was Mr. Trump's ... I mean 160,000 in attendance! Whew!
2. Mr. Trump wants to beef up the military (pun intended). Who better than Mr. Kim to refocus attention on the military. He has even convinced his subjects that going with a meal now and then is no big deal compared to putting nuclear warheads on intercontinental ballistic missiles ... just what Mr. Trump would like to do.
3. Mr. Kim would have Steve Bannon and Jared Kushner out of the West Wing in a heartbeat. With him in charge, who needs those trouble-making know-nothings?
4. It would solve the "North Korea" Problem. We could even build a big military base at Wonsan. That would secure the peace in all of those seas "over there." We'd have no senators riding in busses over to the Trump summer residence.
5. They could build Trump golf courses all over North Korea, a country with great land resources and a dire need of the income that would engender. It works for Viet Nam; why not North Korea?
6. Both men have beautiful wives who have complete disdain for the processes of government. They could hang out together.
7. Most important (damn, I've used up my characters).
4
This is sweeps week for Trump. He is pulling out all the stops to gin up the audience.
What is to follow the 100 days is anyone's guess. Trump seems to be quickly reaching his limited capacity to keep this show running. He has just about introduced all the characters in his administration and doesn't seem to have much left for the next season. Can he get a war started, cause a food shortage, screw the economy...
The cliffhangers are many: what will Congress do, are they going to take back their power, are they going to stick up for the Judiciary, will Judge Kennedy retire, will North Korea challenge Trump to a missile contest, will coal miners get their jobs and their health care, will a natural disaster attributable to climate warming occur, will farmers get their vegetables to market this year?
So many plot twists. Can Trump keep up the pace because he seems to be losing what interest and focus he had.
What is to follow the 100 days is anyone's guess. Trump seems to be quickly reaching his limited capacity to keep this show running. He has just about introduced all the characters in his administration and doesn't seem to have much left for the next season. Can he get a war started, cause a food shortage, screw the economy...
The cliffhangers are many: what will Congress do, are they going to take back their power, are they going to stick up for the Judiciary, will Judge Kennedy retire, will North Korea challenge Trump to a missile contest, will coal miners get their jobs and their health care, will a natural disaster attributable to climate warming occur, will farmers get their vegetables to market this year?
So many plot twists. Can Trump keep up the pace because he seems to be losing what interest and focus he had.
2
I don't get it. People seem to think that Trump will suddenly have some sort of awakening, an epiphany or something and then he will start to show signs of thinking rationally. Not going to happen if it hasn't happened in 70 plus years.
You actually think Trump meant any of the garbage he was peddling during the campaign, if he can even remember any of it?
And what good will it do him personally if any of what he promised comes into fruition? He doesn't care about anything or anyone but himself, and right there you can see what awful taste he has.
And is it really only 100 days? We must be living dogs' years.
You actually think Trump meant any of the garbage he was peddling during the campaign, if he can even remember any of it?
And what good will it do him personally if any of what he promised comes into fruition? He doesn't care about anything or anyone but himself, and right there you can see what awful taste he has.
And is it really only 100 days? We must be living dogs' years.
26
Has the pressure on the NY legislature to release Trump's NY income tax returns just fallen to zero?
7
The one thing I've noticed is that all Trump's "accomplishments" have to do with tearing down his predecessors actual accomplishments. No bold projects, other then "The wall" which is just a waste of money that could be better spent elsewhere, like our crumbling infrastructure.
It seems that both he and the republicans are bereft of any ideas, other then trying to think of new ways to enrich themselves at the expense of the average working citizen.
It seems that both he and the republicans are bereft of any ideas, other then trying to think of new ways to enrich themselves at the expense of the average working citizen.
22
Thank you for mentioning Trump's executive order on national monuments. I fear it could get lost in all his other outrages. Hopefully, like so much else he's tried so far, it won't get far. But there's no guarantee. These are some of the most wild and beautiful places in our country. There's already plenty of land available for development. National monuments and other protected natural beauty are an important part of what makes America great.
14
I wonder who thought up the idea of using the entire Senate in a kind of photo-op, even though it did not produce, to my knowledge any photos. And, since it was top-secret, we can't know what was said, although three members of Trump's cabinet appeared after the fact to tell us what was said.
I'd like to see Democrats cut through all this PR and, for every executive order and ever pandering proposal, come up with their own legislation that could be vetted and would actually help address the problems. We all know that there is little to no chance that any Democratic bills will be passed, but it would give me some assurance that Democrats aren't going to waste their time and political capital arguing about the views of Democrat who says he's pro-life.
The only one who seems to be enjoying the show at this point is President Trump himself. His minions are trying very hard to shape opinion for policies that many must know in their hearts will cause Republicans real problems if they are ever implemented.
2018, ads run that remind people Trump wouldn't release his taxes and this is how he stands to benefit from the legislation his party put up in Congress. And drum away that trickle-down is still voodoo economics.
Like healthcare, it's likely that bills won't pass because some Republicans want them to be more drastic and others are afraid of their constituents negative reactions. Just keep looking at Kansas and how well that experiment has worked out.
I'd like to see Democrats cut through all this PR and, for every executive order and ever pandering proposal, come up with their own legislation that could be vetted and would actually help address the problems. We all know that there is little to no chance that any Democratic bills will be passed, but it would give me some assurance that Democrats aren't going to waste their time and political capital arguing about the views of Democrat who says he's pro-life.
The only one who seems to be enjoying the show at this point is President Trump himself. His minions are trying very hard to shape opinion for policies that many must know in their hearts will cause Republicans real problems if they are ever implemented.
2018, ads run that remind people Trump wouldn't release his taxes and this is how he stands to benefit from the legislation his party put up in Congress. And drum away that trickle-down is still voodoo economics.
Like healthcare, it's likely that bills won't pass because some Republicans want them to be more drastic and others are afraid of their constituents negative reactions. Just keep looking at Kansas and how well that experiment has worked out.
12
I check the headlines daily to see if Trump has started world war three.
9
Oh, you need to be on Twitter, then he'd write you a tweet that said something like "Just had the most marvelous chocolate cake here at Mar a Lago. Also launched missiles at the Bad Guys. Biggest Inaugural Crowd ever."
1
If this tax cut happens, maybe the biggest accomplishment of Trump's presidency will be turning billionaires into trillionaires.
11
RELEASE YOUR TAXES, MR. TRUMP! How else can we, the American people, know that your policies are not simply aimed at enriching yourself? That would be a start...
Gail is on FIRE this morning!
8
Next time President Greyhound schedules a bus trip to the White House the Senators should take a page from the Nancy Reagan playbook...Just Say No.
8
Grumpy Trumpy insists on a wall
Grumpy Trumpy has a big fall
All the Treasury’s voodoo and magic
Makes 100-day mark even more tragic
And the fake media is having a ball!
Grumpy Trumpy has a big fall
All the Treasury’s voodoo and magic
Makes 100-day mark even more tragic
And the fake media is having a ball!
11
And the band played on.....or did it? Whatever did or didn't happen in the first 100 days, it's not Trump's fault. The world outside his mind won't cooperate (except Ivanka and Jared) and act like the props we all should be. Trump cares about the manipulations of power not the people he governs. Without human compassion or wisdom Trump can't get anything done that requires cooperation or mutual respect. The stupid Machiavellian has no clothes.
11
“The president has released plenty of information and I think has given more financial disclosure than anybody else,” he (SecTreas Mnuchin) said quickly and with deep inaccuracy.
And the next question posed to him was how the tax plan would affect Trump's taxes. His response: He don't know because he hasn't seen Trump's tax returns.
Seriously?!?
And the next question posed to him was how the tax plan would affect Trump's taxes. His response: He don't know because he hasn't seen Trump's tax returns.
Seriously?!?
If we make it to 200 days in office, Trump can take the family and retire to full-time golfing!
By then, Trump will have insulted all our allies, lost all our trade partners, destroyed our tourism industry, and our national parks will be a hub of oil fields and fracking operations, plus maybe one major airline will have gone belly-up.
Plus, no healthcare, with Emergency Rooms overflowing, and an Executive Order to fill up all vacant jobs with more affable guys like Rex Tillerson.
On the bright side, the States can cancel K-thru-3rd grade so the kids can work the fields since our immigrants will have fled to Mexico or Canada in search of jobs.
So much winning!!!
By then, Trump will have insulted all our allies, lost all our trade partners, destroyed our tourism industry, and our national parks will be a hub of oil fields and fracking operations, plus maybe one major airline will have gone belly-up.
Plus, no healthcare, with Emergency Rooms overflowing, and an Executive Order to fill up all vacant jobs with more affable guys like Rex Tillerson.
On the bright side, the States can cancel K-thru-3rd grade so the kids can work the fields since our immigrants will have fled to Mexico or Canada in search of jobs.
So much winning!!!
19
It is difficult to assess or react to a so called president, his cabinet and a congress that has adopted lying and obfuscation as its accepted practice. I wake up every morning in the hopes they have all mysteriously vanished.
13
The tax "reform" plan was a short 200 word one pager. Kushner hasn't finished working out the details. He's been understandably busy.
Well, we really do need to see those tax returns now, don't we? Trump is always so proud of his success. Gee, I wonder why he won't show them to us? Who knew being President could be so lucrative?
“We will make sure that there are rules in place so that wealthy people can’t create pass-throughs and use that as a mechanism to avoid paying the tax rate that they should” pay on personal income, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Wednesday. That and Mexico will pay for the wall.
Well, we really do need to see those tax returns now, don't we? Trump is always so proud of his success. Gee, I wonder why he won't show them to us? Who knew being President could be so lucrative?
“We will make sure that there are rules in place so that wealthy people can’t create pass-throughs and use that as a mechanism to avoid paying the tax rate that they should” pay on personal income, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Wednesday. That and Mexico will pay for the wall.
8
Leave the guy alone. Don't y'all realize that the Donald has come out of retirement from running casinos to take on a part time job that allows him time for golf and playing with his grandson the Barron
I just hope that he doesn't run the country into the ground as he did with those fabulous world class premier casinos.
I just hope that he doesn't run the country into the ground as he did with those fabulous world class premier casinos.
9
Even though Donald Trump won the presidency by the electoral college count while--yes, Don--losing the popular vote by three million (which somehow will never actually count), there is no longer any reason to continue to endure a Donald Trump presidency. If there's no moving company willing to do the job, perhaps a few million people could get together and just move him, his family, and all their stuff (it's probably not a lot, since he doesn't seem to like the White House anyway) out of Washington and back to New York or Florida or anyplace he'd like to be. Then let's have another election for an actual president--Democrat, Republican, Socialist, Independent, Rotarian, Kiwanin, Lions' Clubian--I don't care at this point. Just someone who understands what the responsibilities of the job are, can actually perform them, and doesn't use the word "very" or "horrible" more than four times in any one sentence.
16
If, as they say, the first 100 days is a preview of the remainder of a president's term, one fact is inescapable: Trump has to go. The only alternative is to leave him in office for four years so that he can completely destroy whatever faith people still have in our government. Odds are, whenever Trump opens his mouth, something other than the truth gushes awkwardly forth. Thus man is a clear and present danger to our country. Impeach him now!
12
Talk about fake news: DJT (AKA The Germ), has pronounced again. Apparently, he thinks PRONOUNCING is the equivalent of DOING. So what has he DONE in his first 100 days in office? Just PRONOUNCED, IMHO.
9
22.5, he's not a full 45, is the only moniker I can bring myself to use. As to being a leader of people, a standard for ethics, and a model for a man/husband/father for a modern America male, I'd have to divide that by 2222.5. So let's use the term one tenth(er) when referring to the current most senior occupant of the White House.
Al Frankenstein ! .....please resume your comedic relief.
And forget America! Like most of the DNC leadership has.
And forget America! Like most of the DNC leadership has.
1
“The tax plan will pay for itself with economic growth,” said Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin.
Mnuchin, you look great. Put your money where your mouth is.
Pledge 95% of your wealth (5% is for your living more than enough) if you are wrong.
If you are right, you have nothing to lose. Do we have a deal?
Mnuchin, you look great. Put your money where your mouth is.
Pledge 95% of your wealth (5% is for your living more than enough) if you are wrong.
If you are right, you have nothing to lose. Do we have a deal?
Secretary MUNCHKIN, like his craven boss appears to be a bold faced liar interested in feathering his own nest. Another example of the best and brightest that Trump has dumped on this sorry country.
Boring? Snore? You may want to wake up and understand what is going on in North Korea. While the last three Presidents are off making speeches and writing books for millions we are stuck with the second coming of Hitler in North Korea who just happens to be armed to the teeth with nuclear weapons. Guess who allowed that to happen? Correct...the last three Presidents. Meanwhile we don't have enough nuclear defense missiles to protect Hawaii because Obama thought that we didn't need them.
You want excitement? The conversation is about to quickly turn from bathrooms to nuclear threats.
You want excitement? The conversation is about to quickly turn from bathrooms to nuclear threats.
1
Things just get scarier and scarier. Congress must force trump to release his tax returns. maybe if they're bad enough we can rid ourselves of this monster before he can totally destroy our beautiful country.
3
In a desperate bid to bring in more organization and sanity to the executive branch, Trump appoints the Three Stooges to his inner circle. Moe will handle defense issues, Curly and Larry will handle domestic issues.
2
Day after day after day, Trump, Trump, Trump. Why can't this odious man just go away?
5
It would be an interesting exercise to compare Trump's accomplishments during the first 100-days against the accomplishments of the GOP controlled Congress during the same period. Talk about SNORE....
3
Every state needs at least one Donald J. Trump Post Office building.
There you go: 50 bills congress could pass to make Trump and his Trumpsters happy!
There you go: 50 bills congress could pass to make Trump and his Trumpsters happy!
2
If you really want to see what a madman-dictator has taken over the country, read this White House press release (https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/04/25/president-trumps-... on the first 100 days. It is a Trump rant on paper to assert how he is "winning" compared to other Presidents all the way back to Roosevelt.
I read this release and can imagine Trump pounding his fist on the desk as Spicer dutifully takes notes.
This is sick stuff, folks . . . and we are letting it happen.
I read this release and can imagine Trump pounding his fist on the desk as Spicer dutifully takes notes.
This is sick stuff, folks . . . and we are letting it happen.
3
Everyday in every way I witness the realization of my worst fears during the Presidential Campaign. I'm exhausted.
On the bright side, Trump is so ignorant of our government structure and processes that he is lame - loud, boorish, and lame.
On the bright side, Trump is so ignorant of our government structure and processes that he is lame - loud, boorish, and lame.
5
These GOPs 100 days are a disgrace and a danger as well as a SNORE. It's amazing to watch spiteful, vindictive, untalented white men like the 236-pound gorilla make a mockery of democracy. Collins sounds as weary as we all feel. Even wit is made witless by this dispiriting GOP debacle.
2
I was certain, Gail, as I started reading today's piece that there would be nothing you could say that could bring a bit of levity to the ongoing effort by Donald Trump to make the Holocaust look like a Disney/PIXAR comedy spectacular. But, with your concise and precise explanation of political succession in Alabama, pulled it off. I couldn't suppress the chuckle.
But that was the only thing.
But that was the only thing.
1
As a retired professor, I have given Donald Trump the 100-day report card he so desires and clearly has earned.
Civics A "A"trocious in mass deportation including DACA children
Ecology A "A"wful in the rollback of climate change regulations
Geography A "A"larming in speaking "'bigly' but carrying no stick" by
& History threatening North Korea with an "armada" headed to
Australia
Health A "A"bomination in persisting in taking away health insurance
from 24 million citizens
Math A "A"ppalling income tax cuts that don't add up unless you're
a billionaire
Religion A "A"bysmal in multiple failed attempts to ban Muslims
Civics A "A"trocious in mass deportation including DACA children
Ecology A "A"wful in the rollback of climate change regulations
Geography A "A"larming in speaking "'bigly' but carrying no stick" by
& History threatening North Korea with an "armada" headed to
Australia
Health A "A"bomination in persisting in taking away health insurance
from 24 million citizens
Math A "A"ppalling income tax cuts that don't add up unless you're
a billionaire
Religion A "A"bysmal in multiple failed attempts to ban Muslims
2
In the accompanying photo there is a stuffed buffalo head and elk head representing the needless slaying of these noble creatures at the small hands of small-minded whitemen of the past who continue in their destructive pursuits in electing Donald Trump. The Department of the Interior is supposed to protect vulnerable species of wildlife and our wilderness. However, in the inept hands of Donald Trump the beautiful Grand Staircase Escalante will be open to mining. Just as Trump sexually assaulted women because he could get away with it, he continues to want to destroy all that is beautiful, just, and fair because the Republican Party will support him in his seizure of power to destroy.
I disagree with your heading, Gail. Trump can do one thing well and that is to destroy what it took hundreds of years in this country to create: our liberty, freedom, and pursuit of happiness. He should be made obsolete for the good of the planet.
I disagree with your heading, Gail. Trump can do one thing well and that is to destroy what it took hundreds of years in this country to create: our liberty, freedom, and pursuit of happiness. He should be made obsolete for the good of the planet.
4
It's too bad carnival shows are no longer prevalent across the country. Trump would have been remarkable as a huckster of bearded ladies, snake charmers, and sword swallowers: great hype putting it over the gawkers with nothing behind it but creatures of dubious character, rather like his administration don't ya think?
3
Teddy Roosevelt gave a speech after being shot, with a gun, in an attempted assassination. He refused to go to the hospital and insisted on giving his speech first. Donald Trump has a button on his desk that he presses to have someone bring him a Coke, whenever he wants it. Trump has no right to appear in the same room with even a portrait of Roosevelt.
4
Donald, your base of poorly educated 'Dukes of Hazard' base need jobs.
President Obama tried to help them help themselves but they just whined..."don't make us read stuff, just bring back our pathetic piece working factory jobs."
Now's your chance to be the hero of the menial poorly educated working class losers who got you appointed president by the elitist electoral college Donald.
Hire these poor, plain spoken, lazy uneducated heartland losers to your cabinet.
Sure they couldn't spell CABINET of you spotted them the CAB but who cares?
These are the salt of the Earth Bible thumping Americans what got y'all elected so reward the trash with cushy cabinet positions.
Or do you also prefer they stay at arm's length like the rest of us clean folk?
President Obama tried to help them help themselves but they just whined..."don't make us read stuff, just bring back our pathetic piece working factory jobs."
Now's your chance to be the hero of the menial poorly educated working class losers who got you appointed president by the elitist electoral college Donald.
Hire these poor, plain spoken, lazy uneducated heartland losers to your cabinet.
Sure they couldn't spell CABINET of you spotted them the CAB but who cares?
These are the salt of the Earth Bible thumping Americans what got y'all elected so reward the trash with cushy cabinet positions.
Or do you also prefer they stay at arm's length like the rest of us clean folk?
2
All of this is secondary to MSM's refusal to dedicate its considerable resources to an explanation of their own complicity in the rise of a malignant, narcissistic predator to the most powerful office on earth.
2
Always the leftist spinner. Get rid of Gail and her column. We got rid of the Clintons--now her.
Day 97 Trump`s accomplishment comes down to whom you believe !
Liar in chief says his best 100 days he accomplished so much.
Fact checkers says nothing, nada , nothing in his first 97 days, another 3 days left which includes the weekend.
Ryan goes home so does most of the congress and 45 needs to read NYT, all the magazines, listen to FOX in his robe so there is no time left for him
Then comes Monday 101 day!
Liar in chief says his best 100 days he accomplished so much.
Fact checkers says nothing, nada , nothing in his first 97 days, another 3 days left which includes the weekend.
Ryan goes home so does most of the congress and 45 needs to read NYT, all the magazines, listen to FOX in his robe so there is no time left for him
Then comes Monday 101 day!
2
Trump diverts attention from his bumbling attempt at domestic policy with his BLANKS doctrine of foreign engagement:
Bluff transparently
Lash out when embarrassed
Attempt to bully
Never apologize or admit to missteps
Knee-jerk, emotional reactions
Spin everything
Bluff transparently
Lash out when embarrassed
Attempt to bully
Never apologize or admit to missteps
Knee-jerk, emotional reactions
Spin everything
2
This tax stuff is really important! I seriously need tax relief. This administration has been so taxing on my sense of right and wrong, I'm having weird thoughts.
The other day, I had an intuitive thought about Kim Jong-Un dyeing his hair yellow, applying for an H -1B visa, joining the Republican party and running for president in 2020!
Help! Please pass Tax Relief!
The other day, I had an intuitive thought about Kim Jong-Un dyeing his hair yellow, applying for an H -1B visa, joining the Republican party and running for president in 2020!
Help! Please pass Tax Relief!
3
Loved the gathering of three of the four celebrity Trump supporters - Kid Rock, Ted Nugent and Sarah Palin - at the White House. Couldn't help but notice the fourth, Scott Baio, was missing. Turns out he was brutishly and erroneously blaming Erin Moran for her own death on Twitter and was probably too busy for the DC do.
2
We are being governed by liars and thieves.
Wait. That's not quite exact.
We, the citizens of the most powerful nation in the world, are being governed by careless and ignorant liars and thieves.
Wait.
We are being governed by careless and ignorant and racist liars, thieves, and Greedy Grabbers, along with a crew of rigid, dictatorial Christians.
This is dangerous.
Slight revision?
The US is now really really really really dangerous to the world and to those of us who live here.
Conclusion?
It's bad.
Wait. That's not quite exact.
We, the citizens of the most powerful nation in the world, are being governed by careless and ignorant liars and thieves.
Wait.
We are being governed by careless and ignorant and racist liars, thieves, and Greedy Grabbers, along with a crew of rigid, dictatorial Christians.
This is dangerous.
Slight revision?
The US is now really really really really dangerous to the world and to those of us who live here.
Conclusion?
It's bad.
“The tax plan will pay for itself with economic growth,” said Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin.
It's been a long time since I've seen a member of any administration that came across as badly as Nixon on a bad day. Would you buy a used car from Steve Mnuchin? The guy looks like he ought to be running a three-card monte game in Times Square.
It's been a long time since I've seen a member of any administration that came across as badly as Nixon on a bad day. Would you buy a used car from Steve Mnuchin? The guy looks like he ought to be running a three-card monte game in Times Square.
3
By definition heavy hitters don't do empathy, Gail, so no big surprise the sour faced bunch Trump coaxed out into the open to serve the American people see absolutely zero value in anything that doesn't inflate their own personal bottom lines.
2
Gail's description of how Secretary Mnuchin spoke - "quickly and with deep inaccuracy" - describes how the men and women of this sloppy, greedy white house talk about all subjects of actual importance.
Trump & Co.'s objective is too rabble rouse and then loot funding for services their Red base desperately needs while they're distracted by the sideshow. Red states will suffer the most and they need to wake up (and in the meantime, Red, stay away from the streams and rivers that Trump is now allowing toxic coal waste to be dumped into - you thought Flint, Michigan was bad, wait until you see what Trump has done to your water.)
Trump & Co.'s objective is too rabble rouse and then loot funding for services their Red base desperately needs while they're distracted by the sideshow. Red states will suffer the most and they need to wake up (and in the meantime, Red, stay away from the streams and rivers that Trump is now allowing toxic coal waste to be dumped into - you thought Flint, Michigan was bad, wait until you see what Trump has done to your water.)
3
I always feel energized by the very thought of a huge windfall to my bank account. Not that it has ever happened. I just know how I would feel if I won the lottery. Trump is dreaming of the billions he will reap, at the expense of the bottom half of income earners. All that tax free money. Beeeoootiful! I know what I'M going to do with MY $17.38 windfall. Send it to the local food pantry.
2
The hacker-in-chief, Donald Trump, first 100 days is an unplayable lie. Voters should take a mulligan.
1
And here you thought Donald Trump was a different kind of Republican. Let's see. Tax cuts for the rich. Check. Bulldozing wilderness. Check. Showy displays of military power. Check. Repealing "burdensome" regulations that protect consumers, workers, and the environment from giant corporations. Check. "Somewhat Normal Republican?" Except for the hair and the strange syntax, he's a dead ringer for the guy Republicans regard as their archetype, Reagan himself.
1
"Maybe the president believes that when you can make an entire chamber of Congress ride around like so many tour groups, the world will understand that you’re a can-do kind of guy."
so, at last you've figured it out, too bad it's way too late...some beacon!
so, at last you've figured it out, too bad it's way too late...some beacon!
1
The photograph is stunning. The Department of the Interior has heads of the animals they supposedly protect on the walls. These animals are not trophies. The look in the President's eyes look like a deer in the headlights. The Republicans think he is their trophy. Sad
3
Tax cuts tried by many Presidents including Reagan and Bush II, state governments in Kansas and Louisiana with disastrous results and huge deficits. Reminds me of the definition of crazy, trying the same thing and expecting different results. Not a winner.
30
Enough with the 'what makes Trump tick' coverage. It won't help. Our media is now a mile wide and an inch deep and our political system is in desperate need of real leadership across the board.
We all know that it is past time for an independent special prosecutor to focus on Russian involvement in our elections and their contributions to the corruption of our government. The special prosecutor needs Trump's tax returns.
Our political leadership triangulates for personal power and wealth. Neither party is working for the shrinking consumer class, so our economy WILL fail if fair pay remains unaddressed, while
The US needs a better class of politicians, better education, a living wage and a ‘moon shot’ environmental plan to, literally, save humanity.
The NYTimes readership is waiting for this paper to bring attention to what really matters, most.
Love, love, love your writing, Gail, but we need you to do more. Hopefully, you will bring your sense of humor.
We all know that it is past time for an independent special prosecutor to focus on Russian involvement in our elections and their contributions to the corruption of our government. The special prosecutor needs Trump's tax returns.
Our political leadership triangulates for personal power and wealth. Neither party is working for the shrinking consumer class, so our economy WILL fail if fair pay remains unaddressed, while
The US needs a better class of politicians, better education, a living wage and a ‘moon shot’ environmental plan to, literally, save humanity.
The NYTimes readership is waiting for this paper to bring attention to what really matters, most.
Love, love, love your writing, Gail, but we need you to do more. Hopefully, you will bring your sense of humor.
30
Right on all points, Bob. I would add one big one to the list: getting money out of politics. Sure, you laugh ("How could that ever happen?"), but the influence of money has done more to corrupt and shape American politics than any other single factor. It is the $800-gorilla in the corner of the room.
So long as wealthy contributors (individuals and corporations) can purchase politicians and thereby dictate the course of legislation and regulations, we're going to be stuck with the status quo. And, the nation and our culture will continue to decline.
So long as wealthy contributors (individuals and corporations) can purchase politicians and thereby dictate the course of legislation and regulations, we're going to be stuck with the status quo. And, the nation and our culture will continue to decline.
1
Trump has done something in his first 100 days. He has been a raging bull of destruction in a china shop. He has issued executive orders to start dismantling regulations on everything he can think of. We can now look forward to air and water pollution. We can also look forward to a repeat of 2008 with the watering down of Dodd-Frank. Thousand's of women's health will now be negatively affected, due to withholding funding from Planned Parenthood. The list of odious achievements goes on. If the Republicans manage to pull off their revised non-healthcare plan, people with pre-existing conditions will be "thrown under the bus" as you stated Gail. There have been some bright spots with federal judges defying Trump's attempts to stop certain people from entering the country, and just very recently we had a judge in San Francisco block part of Trump's executive order that would have banned federal funding for sanctuary cities. However, the bright spots have been fleeting.
Now we have yet another proposal for further tax cutting proposed by Trump, and the specter of federal lands being turned over to states to use as they please. If this much damage can be wreaked in less than 100 days, I can only shudder at the thought of what will happen in the years to come, that is if we are still around.
Now we have yet another proposal for further tax cutting proposed by Trump, and the specter of federal lands being turned over to states to use as they please. If this much damage can be wreaked in less than 100 days, I can only shudder at the thought of what will happen in the years to come, that is if we are still around.
21
There are two major achievements by President Trump. The first is his family businesses are really prospering. Two, the President is creating a golden age of investigative journalism.
23
In the GOP land of alternative facts, turns out there's reality-based evidence proving those facts wrong.
It's not true that lowering taxes on the wealthy spurs more investment.
Investment growth during both 1980's and 2000's supply-side time spans lagged way behind that of the 1990s---- when taxes were higher.
Another fact is overall economic growth during the supply-side eras lagged behind the higher-tax era.
Our nation's fiscal wellness took a dive ---and literally deteriorated--- under polices of supply-side. It's an anti-government strategy, depriving it of revenues.
It's not true that lowering taxes on the wealthy spurs more investment.
Investment growth during both 1980's and 2000's supply-side time spans lagged way behind that of the 1990s---- when taxes were higher.
Another fact is overall economic growth during the supply-side eras lagged behind the higher-tax era.
Our nation's fiscal wellness took a dive ---and literally deteriorated--- under polices of supply-side. It's an anti-government strategy, depriving it of revenues.
14
And, as others have commented, it is time for NYT to step up and do the reporting to make these points clear and substantiable.
1
All I can say is thank God for the judiciary. Even with a confederate memorial attorney general the judiciary branch may be able to block the crazy for 4 years. And maybe, just maybe, the SCOTUS conservative block cares more for country than party.....you know little Jimmy, you can always dream.
7
So much mendacity is thrown out by representatives of this administration that people no longer listen. I have never heard such self-serving nonsense from a White House. Is there anyone "at home" there who can be trusted to tell the truth? We are the laughingstock of the world today...and just imagine...he did it in less than 100 days. That's an accomplishment of sorts, I suppose. I have given up expecting any kind of responsible leadership from the Republicans in Congress on the many issues of conflict evidenced by Trump et al. Their lack of oversight is both disturbing and suspicious. We have truly reached a low point in our country's history when these actions can go unchallenged. "Something is rotten in Denmark" doesn't cover it.
18
Totally agree with your analysis. It is possible, however, that Congressional Republicans ultimately might temper this insanity. We won't know until something gets to the Senate, if anything ever does. Members of the House seem a lost cause. The Senate might step up to the plate. Fingers crossed.
Trump is a failure and a fraud, as anyone with the sense of a reasonably intelligent 7-year old predicted when he was elected. One hopes that the public (save the folks who still believe in Trump - that is, people without the sense of the reasonably intelligent 7-year old) and the Democrats mount a solid wall of opposition to the nonsense presently being trotted out. 100 days, 1000 days - no difference; still an abject failure and unjustified injury to the most vulnerable among us.
20
"Tax plan will pay for itself", reminds of Lucy a Charlie Brown and the football. When will we ever learn.
14
Sometimes it's hard to believe that this unfit, unstable, ignorant, narcissist man is our president and that he has surrounded himself with a gang of incompetent, unqualified, mostly rich people. The richest, most powerful nation in the world - one that attracts the most intelligent and ambitious people from every other country - is saddled with a second rate, reality TV "personality" with the vocabulary of an eight year old.
We can poke fun at him and his minions from now until January 2021 but it's not going to change the fact that he is the president. We can point out that Hillary Clinton received more of the popular vote in the election but that doesn't change anything. We can protest in the streets for every issue under the sun but that's not going to have much of an impact.
But the last thing we need to do is to accept this situation as normal. It is anything but normal. Trump is a minority president who did not receive the most popular votes, he is unfit and too unstable to be president, his Cabinet consists of unqualified people, and his daughter and her husband are in positions of power only because of him and not for any other reason. The Republicans in Congress cannot govern, they cannot even reach consensus among themselves and they stole a Supreme Court nomination and installed a radical conservative.
This is not normal, it is more of a bad dream. I look forward to 2018 and a return to some kind of sanity. Hopefully!
We can poke fun at him and his minions from now until January 2021 but it's not going to change the fact that he is the president. We can point out that Hillary Clinton received more of the popular vote in the election but that doesn't change anything. We can protest in the streets for every issue under the sun but that's not going to have much of an impact.
But the last thing we need to do is to accept this situation as normal. It is anything but normal. Trump is a minority president who did not receive the most popular votes, he is unfit and too unstable to be president, his Cabinet consists of unqualified people, and his daughter and her husband are in positions of power only because of him and not for any other reason. The Republicans in Congress cannot govern, they cannot even reach consensus among themselves and they stole a Supreme Court nomination and installed a radical conservative.
This is not normal, it is more of a bad dream. I look forward to 2018 and a return to some kind of sanity. Hopefully!
26
Don the Con was correct. We would get tired of all the "winning." So he didn't ever start trying to become s real president.
Oh, and the majority of Americans still want to see his tax returns.
Oh, and the majority of Americans still want to see his tax returns.
13
(The description of how the administration wants to help families with child care costs was, in total, “providing tax relief.”)
---------------------
Sounds fair to me.
(Single people with no children have plenty of bills too. Elderly people often need daycare as well, while their caregivers work. Why are working parents special? Especially WEALTHY working parents. Tax relief would put money in ALL our pockets, and we could each spend on our own "necessities". We really do not need to encourage more parents to put their children in daycare and work outside the home too by effectively subsidizing their childcare costs.)
Think on these things?
---------------------
Sounds fair to me.
(Single people with no children have plenty of bills too. Elderly people often need daycare as well, while their caregivers work. Why are working parents special? Especially WEALTHY working parents. Tax relief would put money in ALL our pockets, and we could each spend on our own "necessities". We really do not need to encourage more parents to put their children in daycare and work outside the home too by effectively subsidizing their childcare costs.)
Think on these things?
1
“The tax plan will pay for itself with economic growth,” said Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin.
Oh yes, just as Iraqi oil paid for America's invasion and occupation of Iraq.
Oh yes, just as Iraqi oil paid for America's invasion and occupation of Iraq.
19
Have we ever seen this level of spin, propaganda and incompetence?
On the best Podcast ever, Pod Save America, Jon Lovett said that die-hard Trump supporters get their news from outlets that make recent events emanating from the White House appear to be great and good for the nation and its citizens. So they have no reason not to approve of his performance. Lovett said that they would only reevaluate their opinion when policies begin to affect them.
Tax "reform" and Obamacare "repeal and replace" are going to bring the roosters home to roost sooner rather than later.
No Schadenfreude here. But why do we always have to be slapped upside the head to see what is right smack in front of us?
Tax "reform" and Obamacare "repeal and replace" are going to bring the roosters home to roost sooner rather than later.
No Schadenfreude here. But why do we always have to be slapped upside the head to see what is right smack in front of us?
Senators were bused to. the WH so it would be easier to have them thrown under the bus there rather than the capital.
5
In fact, Trump did in a few weeks more than Obama did in 8 years.
He's decisive and he acts. The fact that he has met a few snags here and there is nothing to sweat. When you dare, you fail. It's normal. Trump he replaced the inept dithering of Obama in the world with decisive action that made world leaders pay rapt attention. With a single salvo of missiles he has made clear to N. Korea, Assad, Putin, and Tehran that there ARE red lines and they had better pay attention to that.
He has also re-established old alliances in the Middle East and put America in a new position in the world. He has just started.
Trump may yet prove to be a bad president or a great one - or anything in between - only time and history will tell. But one thing is for sure: he has made the pathetically ineffective, though historically important, presidency of Obama a forgotten thing of the past.
Your desperate obsession with labeling Trump as a failure no matter what is laughable.
He's decisive and he acts. The fact that he has met a few snags here and there is nothing to sweat. When you dare, you fail. It's normal. Trump he replaced the inept dithering of Obama in the world with decisive action that made world leaders pay rapt attention. With a single salvo of missiles he has made clear to N. Korea, Assad, Putin, and Tehran that there ARE red lines and they had better pay attention to that.
He has also re-established old alliances in the Middle East and put America in a new position in the world. He has just started.
Trump may yet prove to be a bad president or a great one - or anything in between - only time and history will tell. But one thing is for sure: he has made the pathetically ineffective, though historically important, presidency of Obama a forgotten thing of the past.
Your desperate obsession with labeling Trump as a failure no matter what is laughable.
Boy, he sure fooled you!
1
Nope. We don't forget Obama: we long for him.
2
His decisive action in drawing a red line for North Korea by sending a carrier group to Indonesia got the attention of world leaders, alright. Then they fell out of their chairs laughing.
Mnuchin when asked about Trump's taxes: “The president has released plenty of information and I think has given more financial disclosure than anybody else."
When asked about how the tax cuts will be paid for: "The tax plan will pay for itself with economic growth."
The first claim reminds me of a 7 year old caught with half a cookie in his mouth and the second is contradicted by 50 years of evidence.
Mnuchin is a liar.
When asked about how the tax cuts will be paid for: "The tax plan will pay for itself with economic growth."
The first claim reminds me of a 7 year old caught with half a cookie in his mouth and the second is contradicted by 50 years of evidence.
Mnuchin is a liar.
23
We all need to understand something: to Trump, the vast majority of us simply do not exist. When he or his spokespeople talk, they are talking only to his FoxNews-devoted base. They are being given a combination of lies and things they can repeat to critics to feel like they win. We are not part of the Presidential audience, period.
And no one, not even his base, matter to Trump at all when it comes to policy. If it weren't for the 2018 elections, the Congressional Republicans wouldn't care either, but thanks to gerrymandering, the House GOP doesn't have to care much.
What are we to do under these circumstances?
And no one, not even his base, matter to Trump at all when it comes to policy. If it weren't for the 2018 elections, the Congressional Republicans wouldn't care either, but thanks to gerrymandering, the House GOP doesn't have to care much.
What are we to do under these circumstances?
11
An exemption for Trump is a capital idea. Of course, a non-public disclosure of Trump's interests would be needed to implement their exclusion. A committee headed by Nunes would be ideal.
7
The reason that Republicans have such a difficult time producing a positive record is that they don't believe in government and expend their energy on destroying whatever they can. In this DT has been extremely "effective" since he has not replaced many of the federal workers in all our government agencies who left with the Obama administration; the people he put into his Cabinet are either unprepared or directly hostile to the workings of their agencies and have been tasked with elimininating two rules for every three that have been created in their agency; the administration was gifted a right wing judge by the seditious action of a Senator and the elimination of a Senate rule; the new vicious going after non- criminal aliens has put pressure on agriculture and other businesses that actually depend upon their labor and slowed but not stopped border crossings. The introduction of yet another trickle down tax cut is the newest way Republicans plan to fleece the middle class. But here's the question: when this and their new health care bill create chaos and failure will their supporters' anger continue to allow them to blame anyone and everyone else for the economic and environmental losses and possibly war losses?
31
Anyone notice that the bullet points Mnuchin released as a "tax plan" is simply the minimal amount of detail that Trump should have proposed during his campaign?
Like everything else, it was all promises of great plans but never any details.
Hopefully this serves as a lesson for future voters to notice when a naked emperor-to-be is wearing no clothes.
At least for a couple of elections, until America's short-term memory completely forgets.
Like everything else, it was all promises of great plans but never any details.
Hopefully this serves as a lesson for future voters to notice when a naked emperor-to-be is wearing no clothes.
At least for a couple of elections, until America's short-term memory completely forgets.
11
I think the one-page "plan" is as complex an idea Trump's brain can handle. His idea is to simplify, i.e. cut, his own taxes. I think 3 things will remain deductible: mortgage interest, charitable donations and Kool Aid.
4
Trump is the absolute epitome of the expression, "let's not confuse motion with progress". Unfortunately many of his supporters don't understand that concept.
64
What is saving this nation right now is a President with no attention span, advisors and cabinet officials with no expertise, and Congress with no agenda.
72
And that's why I wouldn't favor Trump getting impeached. Pence does have an attention span.
4
Congress has an agenda. It's, "Let's keep the gravy train running as long as we can, even if it means we suck up to the Madman in the White House. The 25 Amendment exists - and they refuse to use it.
Refusing to act is action - loud and clear!
Refusing to act is action - loud and clear!
2
ACJ--Reminds me of the picture of an armed truck dumping money on the street, and all the onlookers throwing themselves down on their knees, crawling around, trying to grab as much as their hands will hold.
1
I'm starting to feel there is something wrong with the fundamentals of our democracy when we can be ping ponged so radically on policy from George W., to Obama and now Trump. Something is very wrong. I thought the 3 branches of government were supposed to ensure moderation and a slowing of decision making. Moderates like the middle class have been shoved out in the cold.
38
Isnt that true... he can sell all the public land to the states and ... thats that??? 100 years of Teddy Roosevelt and he can just decree? I dont get it...
The lawmakers have frozen themselves out and left an executive presidency and underfunded court system.
The lawmakers have frozen themselves out and left an executive presidency and underfunded court system.
We no longer have a working democracy, if you haven't noticed. The GOP controls all three branches of government. How did this happen? Ask Vladamir Putin, and his cronies in Washington. And, blame the failure of the American educational system that produced a bunch of know-nothing, "hom skooled", medieval thinking right-wingers.
The Electoral College really is beneath contempt. It literally discards a majority of the votes cast to arrive at its travesty results.
But you are forgetting... he is a success in his own mind. And that is all that counts.
72
I think we should simplify the tax system.
However, if they do that, there will be a lot of accountants and lobbyists looking for work.
I wonder if that got factored in anyone's equations.
However, if they do that, there will be a lot of accountants and lobbyists looking for work.
I wonder if that got factored in anyone's equations.
4
I am a middle income retiree. From what I can glean, Trump's plan would take my effective tax rate from about 12% to 25%. I'm probably like a lot of Americans. The middle class will get shafted, again, if this is passed. As a young divorced mother, my taxes went up under Ronald Reagan, too. The affluent and rich had a field day. I didn't.
2
Trump mostly runs around not actually doing anything, because doing anything as President requires more knowledge, political skill, and perseverance than he available. This is good because the things that he would do almost all bad.
Unfortunately there are some things that he can do with the push of a button that are catastrophic. We can only pray.
Unfortunately there are some things that he can do with the push of a button that are catastrophic. We can only pray.
30
We don't need to see President Trump's tax returns. Just put a line in the Tax Reform Act of 2017 that states President Trump and his companies are exempt from the benefits of the act. After all, if Speaker Ryan can exempt members of Congress from his health care act, Congress can exempt the President from tax benefits. Then again at 65 I still believe in Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny.
40
Let me get a few things straight – First, corporations are people according to republicans even though that concept has never been proven in court. Why then don't they pay the same tax rate on their income as people? Also, if American corporations want to be "more competitive" maybe they should quit paying their CEOs and shareholders so much. And as for the US having the highest corporate tax rate, how come there are enough loop holes for them to avoid paying any taxes at all? That was a rhetorical question.
Finally, this tax reform plan smells exactly the same as the voodoo economics of Reagan and W. The money does not trickle down – the rich just keep it. No "economic boom" is stimulated by gold plated yachts or million dollar birthday parties for the family pet. That Trump can even trot this "plan" out is further proof that he and his entire swamp need to go. And pronto before he does something that can't be reversed by a real president.
Finally, this tax reform plan smells exactly the same as the voodoo economics of Reagan and W. The money does not trickle down – the rich just keep it. No "economic boom" is stimulated by gold plated yachts or million dollar birthday parties for the family pet. That Trump can even trot this "plan" out is further proof that he and his entire swamp need to go. And pronto before he does something that can't be reversed by a real president.
99
Corporations are people according to the SCOTUS itself. For purposes of spending money for voting and apparently for the purpose of denying birth control to employees, corporations can act as people according to the Court. So far that is the extent of the definition even if it is patently absurd to ordinary common sense individuals. Also evident to anyone with common sense is the sycophantic following of Republican MOC to their corporate donors and their lack of worry about re-election (thanks to gerrymandering) so long as they tow the Republican line.
1
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." Einstein.
Actually, the Republicans have never given up on voodoo economics since Reagan's first tax plan. Just look at what Ryan (the Republican "intellectual") has been pushing for years.
Actually, the Republicans have never given up on voodoo economics since Reagan's first tax plan. Just look at what Ryan (the Republican "intellectual") has been pushing for years.
If you can't jail 'em, they really do just thumb their noses at you, and shareholders pay their fines.
Trump promises great changes but he has done nothing and he it is very likely he will do nothing. For many Republicans, a federal government that does nothing is a great success.
47
A Federal Government headed by someone like Trump who does nothing is a great success.
1
Trump has done a few things and most of those are bad for the majority of Americans. The bomb squad that is his cabinet will work hard to cut science funding, environmental protections and taxes on the rich. They may succeed. I am hoping the damage will not be too great. Gridlock never looked so good. Of course, if Trump drops an atomic bomb on North Korea, Afghanistan or Syria we will be into an atomic WWIII. At that point, the EPA will be toast anyway.
3
GBC1, this Prez has done a great deal that is at this very moment destroying the US from the inside out the way a termite infestation destroys a house. You don't see it from the outside but the timbers that support the building are weakened by thousands of holes and tunnels that destroy its integrity. It only looks solid. The illusion is already setting up shop.
While many seem to be focused on how a new tax policy will benefit Trump, I'd like to see what benefits accrue to each of his cabinet zillionaires.
Mr. "I want to deconstruct the administrative state" is still in the picture, and what better way than to slash revenue to bring down the government?
Mr. "I want to deconstruct the administrative state" is still in the picture, and what better way than to slash revenue to bring down the government?
21
I can't help but wonder that if tax cuts really paid for themselves through increased economic activity, wouldn't there be some record of Caesar extolling their virtues from about the same time Jesus was supposed to be turning over the money changers tables in the temple? Just saying. Taxes have been around a lot longer than "voodoo economics" (George H.W. Bush's words).
14
Reagan activated Trump's kind of trickle-down economics -- cut taxes on corporations and rich people, and it can help build up the economy. This might have made some sense in the 1980s, when growing companies offered growing jobs. However, this won't help a lick in the 21st century economy. Now growing companies use robots for assembly lines, minimize white-collar office staffs and push a lot of jobs overseas. Ways to create more middle-class and working jobs are now a major challenge for our government and well-meaning business people. Tax cuts for the rich won't help a thing but their country clubs.
21
Reagan's tax cuts made it lucrative to loot US corporations. That's when the great exodus of manufacturing jobs from the US took off.
"The tax plan will pay (for) itself with economic growth." Remember when George W. Bush told us that. Why is the NYT and all media outlets not reviewing or taxpayers how that went. Perhaps a year-by-year show of dropping revenues and increased spending, particularly on unfunded wars, will remind taxpayers of the results from that last GOP fairy tale that expanded income inequality more than any time in history would be a good starting point.
42
Tax planning is merely a better and quicker way to increase the economic divide that was always the ultimate aim of this charlatan White House and its fake populist agenda disguised as looking out for everyman's interests until the gilded man leading the charge is finally unmasked as a Russian-propped huckster who promotes incompetence as forceful leadership.
Let's review, he helped install a new justice who changed the very fabric of election spending in this country forever, he plugged in campaign aides through congressional support to head the suspect oversight panels that now determine his remaining time in office, and he has failed on every other level in 100 days of leadership to manage anything more than paper direction to the world he moves daily with his Fox-led fiat tweets.
The failing Donald is merely enriching himself, boosting ever expanding family business entanglements and his worldwide personal brand even as he trumpets himself as the nation's No. 1 fix-it guy. Improving his own lot is Trump's only motive. Sooner or later, everyone will catch on. But how much damage will have have been wrought in the process? We can only guess.
Let's review, he helped install a new justice who changed the very fabric of election spending in this country forever, he plugged in campaign aides through congressional support to head the suspect oversight panels that now determine his remaining time in office, and he has failed on every other level in 100 days of leadership to manage anything more than paper direction to the world he moves daily with his Fox-led fiat tweets.
The failing Donald is merely enriching himself, boosting ever expanding family business entanglements and his worldwide personal brand even as he trumpets himself as the nation's No. 1 fix-it guy. Improving his own lot is Trump's only motive. Sooner or later, everyone will catch on. But how much damage will have have been wrought in the process? We can only guess.
@ Babel new jersey
Bernie Sanders, for one, did not ride the bus or attend the briefing. He stated that he refused to be part of a Trump photo op.
Bernie Sanders, for one, did not ride the bus or attend the briefing. He stated that he refused to be part of a Trump photo op.
51
For Trump's supporters the first 100 days are like heaven on earth. Their man is in power and has a Republican Congress and Supreme Court. All is 'right' in the world.
14
I am thrilled with Trumps accomplishments the first 100 days. We still have health care, executive orders on immigration are so bad they are immediately blocked by the courts, no Michael Flynn, no Chris Christie, no Rudi Giuliani, no wall, and lots of really good late night entertainment. Let's hope for another 3 1/2 years of the same !!
24
Gail, your column is a fun read as always, It will look foolish on the 1 year anniversary of the Trump Administration when he has in fact got it all done, but a fun read none the less.
3
mkm: What is "it?" Perhaps another financial meltdown? WWIII? Filthy water? No more national parks? Twenty million or so fewer people with health insurance? What is "it?" There must be a pony in there somewhere.
2
"when he has in fact got it all done" - heaven help us. Destroy the American government? Bankrupt the country? Get us killed?
Got all what exactly done, mkm?
Or did you mean by "done" that we'll be cooked?
Or did you mean by "done" that we'll be cooked?
We've entered a time warp. This seems like 100 YEARS. Seriously.
30
His behavior gives new meaning to the "THEATER OF THE ABSURD." He's all pomp and no circumstance. His new tax plan liberates money so the rich can get richer and interest rates will rise so the rest of us can't afford to buy things like houses and cars. He's opposed to a minimum wage, yet if enacted his tax plan would have given him 23 million more in take home pay in 2005. His desire to repeal the estate tax will make those super rich families, super rich without having to earn anything themselves. The Treasury is being run by Goldman, Sachs. You remember those are the guys that gave us the last fiscal fiasco.
29
Did the one-page tax plan include a pony for everyone?
25
So far, the Trump administration appears to be competent at only two things 1) making policies that enrich the Trump family and 2) employing individuals with some of the deepest and most complex conflicts of interest of any recent presidency.
26
The Trump bashing continues. I understand. He's a pinata that's easily walloped.
But the truth is that Trump is merely the symptom, not the cause of what ails the country.
Unbridled income inequality for almost two generations has brought us to this point. How can we tell? The political powers that be are once again proposing tax cuts for the donor class and telling the general population that it will all be paid for by phantom growth. (There can't be growth if there's no middle class to buy stuff.)
Unless and until some charismatic politician picks up the mantle and starts talking sense, nothing will change.
Yelling about Trump doesn't win mid-terms, unless I'm totally off the mark.
Offering a vision for the future in which living wage job growth abounds, does.
But the truth is that Trump is merely the symptom, not the cause of what ails the country.
Unbridled income inequality for almost two generations has brought us to this point. How can we tell? The political powers that be are once again proposing tax cuts for the donor class and telling the general population that it will all be paid for by phantom growth. (There can't be growth if there's no middle class to buy stuff.)
Unless and until some charismatic politician picks up the mantle and starts talking sense, nothing will change.
Yelling about Trump doesn't win mid-terms, unless I'm totally off the mark.
Offering a vision for the future in which living wage job growth abounds, does.
8
I thought Bernie did this.
1
Republican economic policy:
1) Cut taxes, mostly for the rich.
2) Increase military spending.
3) Increase the deficit to be paid by our children and grandchildren.
4) Tell us that we know how to spend our money better than the government while they are still in office.
5) Complain about the deficit when the Democrats get back in office.
1) Cut taxes, mostly for the rich.
2) Increase military spending.
3) Increase the deficit to be paid by our children and grandchildren.
4) Tell us that we know how to spend our money better than the government while they are still in office.
5) Complain about the deficit when the Democrats get back in office.
30
The Democrats are the problem - where is the outrage? They are normalizing Trump just as they previously normalized Republicans.
6
Ever think this is how Trump got through school? Clearly he's never been a diligent homework student and blusters when caught. (Wonder how many dogs he must have had that they had a steady diet of paper?)
Now we see a student madly trying to get the term paper in--doing 3 months of work in one week and hoping the shoddy product can pass.
Now we see a student madly trying to get the term paper in--doing 3 months of work in one week and hoping the shoddy product can pass.
18
Brownback has tried this in Kansas. Check on how all that is going. A totally bogus idea which has never worked.
14
The more you cut taxes, the more revenue the government brings. Can we talk about Kansas???
15
A recent poll revealed that only 2% of those who voted to elect Trump in 2016 feel any "buyer's remorse." By those standards, Trump has accomplished plenty during his first 100 days in office. The number of people who have experienced hysteria and disbelief at the level of willful incompetence, ignorance, and general arrogance of this administration may actually be outweighed by those who have slipped into a protective state of collective amnesia and unconsciousness.
In the current climate, being "woke" and present to the hourly failings of the Trump regime - lies, misdeeds, misdirection, and the like - is to feel more responsibility for the government than those who were actually elected to govern. The entire Republican Party has turned a blind eye as Trump tramples over women, immigrants, healthcare, the environment, etc. while promoting the interests of big business, blatant polluters, and his own family. The Democrats are attempting to make their voices heard on every outrage and scrambling to get to the bottom of Russian interference and collusion. It turns out that this President has managed to do plenty in his short tenure. While our democracy is unraveling and unwinding, 98% of Trump's core voters are happy to help him pull on the strings. That is no small accomplishment.
In the current climate, being "woke" and present to the hourly failings of the Trump regime - lies, misdeeds, misdirection, and the like - is to feel more responsibility for the government than those who were actually elected to govern. The entire Republican Party has turned a blind eye as Trump tramples over women, immigrants, healthcare, the environment, etc. while promoting the interests of big business, blatant polluters, and his own family. The Democrats are attempting to make their voices heard on every outrage and scrambling to get to the bottom of Russian interference and collusion. It turns out that this President has managed to do plenty in his short tenure. While our democracy is unraveling and unwinding, 98% of Trump's core voters are happy to help him pull on the strings. That is no small accomplishment.
13
The bright side would be that another 2-3% slide per year would mathematically translate into electoral college losses in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and North Carolina...the downside unfortunately Bannon at least knows how to use the political calculus of hate.
Trump is slashing departments right, left and center. Everyone realises, right, that he is slashing the jobs in those departments? I'd love to have a head count of those dumped into the unemployed.
8
If candidate Trump evaluated president Trump, the review would be withering. "In 100 days the U.S. has gone from world leader to laughingstock. Who would have ever thought the great United States of America would be compared to North Korea? The two leaders are interchangeable. They both have crazy hair and no one knows if either of them will bring us to World Nuclear Destruction. One hundred days and this man has brought upheaval, distrust, outright lies and personal greed to the office that previously shined like a beacon to the world."
7
As nearly as I can tell, Trump's only achievements have been to give me an upset stomach and sleep deprivation. To the red state voters who think this is fun, just wait, your turn is coming.
7
Who knew Mnuchcin would be a puppet to Trump?
And more importantly, a Souter of nonsense about
Of how tax cuts will spur economic growth
What jobs will materialize from this bogus plan?
It is blatantly clear that this tax plan will put money
In the pockets of Trump's cronies
The only time employers look to hire is when they need them, not because of a reduction in taxsy
Then there is the problem of debt reduction
Maybe we can start a crowdfunding to reduce the
Debt reduction Oh wait a minute, we already have crowd funding. It is the middle class tax payer
And more importantly, a Souter of nonsense about
Of how tax cuts will spur economic growth
What jobs will materialize from this bogus plan?
It is blatantly clear that this tax plan will put money
In the pockets of Trump's cronies
The only time employers look to hire is when they need them, not because of a reduction in taxsy
Then there is the problem of debt reduction
Maybe we can start a crowdfunding to reduce the
Debt reduction Oh wait a minute, we already have crowd funding. It is the middle class tax payer
6
We are in for four years of "reality" TV with the Donald who wants prime coverage each day.
6
You know what? His base is still 110% behind him - they love his bombast, bullying and authoritarian stance against Democrats, civil rights, science, immigration, climate change and global affairs. They see the wealth and they believe he's good for business and won't rob THEM blind. Plus, they got what they really wanted - a Supreme Court right winger who could last 40 years and a bunch of regulations they think will open up energy and manufacturing jobs. Those two things (SCOTUS and executive orders) bring in plenty of other Republicans who might be embarrassed or turned off by the bombast and lies. Too bad Democrats didn't think a little harder and make a priority of the next couple of generations on the Supreme Court. You get what you chose when you didn't bother to vote or voted 3rd party.
14
“The president has released plenty of information and I think has given more financial disclosure than anybody else,”
Why is it that people within the administration make blatantly false statements? Do they believe the public to be stupid beyond words? Do they honestly believe that these statements have no effect on their credibility?
Why is it that people within the administration make blatantly false statements? Do they believe the public to be stupid beyond words? Do they honestly believe that these statements have no effect on their credibility?
16
Plenty of people DO believe the incredibly unbelievable "alternate facts" coming out of the White House.
2
What is it called again? When rich people run the country? Because they are the Masters of the Universe.
4
I look forward to playing at Trump Nationalized Golf Club during the 3rd year of his incarceration.
2
People, VOTE in 2018!
12
When will Trump's base realize that this savior of theirs is nothing more than a selfish, pathological liar and thief who has routinely cheated honest, hardworking people out of their hard-earned money?
As an example, he would routinely underpay his smaller subcontractors by a significant amount, in violation of their original contract.. And when they would strongly object, he would blithely say, "Sue me". This served to bring their confrontation to an abrupt end as they didn't have the time or money to fight his thievery. This approach was a standard practice with Trump.
Next, we have "Trump University", another glaring example of Trump's callous disregard for those who made the mistake of believing that he would deliver on his promises. These people invested their life savings in the promise of becoming independently wealthy through learning Trump's "secrets of the real-estate business". Instead, they were given a cheap power-point slide presentation by people hired off the street who weren't the so-called experts that they were led to believe would guide them to the "promise land". They ended up filing a suit against Trump who settled for a $25,000,000 payout to bring their suit to a dead-end. Once again, these people were forced to walk away disillusioned and disappointed.
Now we have his "tax reform" plan that is designed to benefit the rich at the expense of everyone else, including his so-called "base". They're next in line to walk away feeling cheated...Fox News?
As an example, he would routinely underpay his smaller subcontractors by a significant amount, in violation of their original contract.. And when they would strongly object, he would blithely say, "Sue me". This served to bring their confrontation to an abrupt end as they didn't have the time or money to fight his thievery. This approach was a standard practice with Trump.
Next, we have "Trump University", another glaring example of Trump's callous disregard for those who made the mistake of believing that he would deliver on his promises. These people invested their life savings in the promise of becoming independently wealthy through learning Trump's "secrets of the real-estate business". Instead, they were given a cheap power-point slide presentation by people hired off the street who weren't the so-called experts that they were led to believe would guide them to the "promise land". They ended up filing a suit against Trump who settled for a $25,000,000 payout to bring their suit to a dead-end. Once again, these people were forced to walk away disillusioned and disappointed.
Now we have his "tax reform" plan that is designed to benefit the rich at the expense of everyone else, including his so-called "base". They're next in line to walk away feeling cheated...Fox News?
10
On a tangential note, I have to wonder aloud how Trump's appointees live with the dishonesty he's presenting them with. And how they will live into the future.
Surely their wealth -acquired in the past and yet to be acquired by dint of their office- will soften the pain of corruption of their souls. But how will they explain to their children the compromises they've made to hurt this country and all of its citizens? It's truly baffling.
Surely their wealth -acquired in the past and yet to be acquired by dint of their office- will soften the pain of corruption of their souls. But how will they explain to their children the compromises they've made to hurt this country and all of its citizens? It's truly baffling.
8
With Trump, it should be referred to as "The First 100 Daze."
8
Three months ago you were whining about how Trump would rapidly bring the world to an end.
Now you're complaining that he hasn't done anything.
Get your story straight.
He's steering the country to a confrontation with N. Korea as fast as Captain Wrong-Way Corrigan can turn around an aircraft carrier.
2
Unfortunately, I skimmed the headline articles before indulging myself in reading this column. I would never have believed that Gail's wry approach to the news would make me cry. There is no joy in Mudville — which is where the real news is taking us,
9
The premise of many reality shows is to provide a group of unprofessional contestants situations so they can interact, confess, and attempt to solve issues. Basically, that is all Trump knows. We are now in the realm of "How to make Trump a Zillionaire". The ratings are going down, but the shock value of scripted "reality" for his base is still keeping him in the show. They love the simple "John Wayneish" jargon, the pageantry of dragging the Senate all over town, the catering to the Bundy theory of using National Monuments for personal gain, or the bragging using words like Armada, massive, very bad, weak, win and words like smart, tough used to describe himself. Trump better watch it, a lot of those reality shows are tanking pretty quick. Two last words for Trump...out of control. Wish I could vote him off the show.
6
100 Day Accomplishment:
How often do you see the Kardashian clan now?
How often do you see the Kardashian clan now?
3
Juvenal said that Roman rule was accomplished by giving the plebs bread and circuses. Little has changed. We're witnessing the circus, now where's the bread? Trump supporters would love steak, but will settle for chicken. They'll get crumbs.
6
Is it fare to ridicule a senior citizen with some sort of dementia who needs to be accompanied everywhere by a family member? Just wondering
8
If the senior is the captain of a vessel and there is no removal possible, people resort to cruel ironies because humor is a way of dealing with tragedy.
If the demented is a private citizen then it is not ordinary fare.
Trump is ordinary fare for those who would "poke fun" at the disconnected plutocrats in power by wielding the powerful pen of outrageous irony.
Consider "A Modest Proposal." Swift's satire is painfully relevant now. That's why Trump's actions (which are hostile to the interests of so many) and the man himself - are considered fare for people to ridicule.
If the demented is a private citizen then it is not ordinary fare.
Trump is ordinary fare for those who would "poke fun" at the disconnected plutocrats in power by wielding the powerful pen of outrageous irony.
Consider "A Modest Proposal." Swift's satire is painfully relevant now. That's why Trump's actions (which are hostile to the interests of so many) and the man himself - are considered fare for people to ridicule.
Trump reminds me of a supervisor I had: he used to ignore warnings that something was wrong and then, when it turned out that we were correct he'd go into overdrive, make a lot of calls, have meetings, tell us what to do (which was usually wrong), and claim all the credit. This same supervisor lied over and over again about minor issues to cover his incompetence. The worst part of it was he made us, his subordinates, look incompetent and, as I always told people, a supervisor like that is dangerous to your job. Trump is dangerous as is Pence, Sessions, Kushner, Price, De Vos, and the rest of the GOP.
Greedy Overrated Pirates who masquerade as patriots should be forced to live with what they are doing to the public they claim to support and care about. It's becoming quite clear that Trump and the GOP gave no thought to how to fulfill any of their promises. Hot air balloons, all of them. What will we see when the first real wind blows them down to the ground?
Greedy Overrated Pirates who masquerade as patriots should be forced to live with what they are doing to the public they claim to support and care about. It's becoming quite clear that Trump and the GOP gave no thought to how to fulfill any of their promises. Hot air balloons, all of them. What will we see when the first real wind blows them down to the ground?
44
It's increasingly difficult to laugh at Trump, or be shocked at the horrific policy ideas coming out of this buffoon, Ms. Collins.
But, when you write: "The House leaders were working out an agreement with conservatives on health care, tossing people with pre-existing ailments over the rail," the most remarkable report came out shortly after that announcement regarding members of Congress and pre-existing conditions.
"GOP Wants to Save Coverage for Pre-Existing Conditions -- But Only for Themselves" was the headline in Time Magazine yesterday. Yes, people of the USA. Your Congressmen, and women, want to exempt themselves and their families from not being covered for pre-existing conditions. After all, the average age of a Senator is 61 so it would be pretty terrible, but just for them and their families, if they weren't covered for a pre-existing condition. By the way, they want to include the exemption for their staffs as well, which is considerate, no?
What a middle finger to all of us. What is wrong with Republicans and why do they hate their constituents so much.
And why do Republican constituents continue to support these jerks?
Drilling on public lands, no health insurance except for the wealthy, huge tax cuts for Trump, Ivanka and Jared, getting rid of the estate tax for Ivanka, Jared, Don Jr., Eric, Barron, burying the Russian investigation, hiding your tax returns, what big, beautiful plans you have accomplished for all of us, Trump, and in only 100 days.
But, when you write: "The House leaders were working out an agreement with conservatives on health care, tossing people with pre-existing ailments over the rail," the most remarkable report came out shortly after that announcement regarding members of Congress and pre-existing conditions.
"GOP Wants to Save Coverage for Pre-Existing Conditions -- But Only for Themselves" was the headline in Time Magazine yesterday. Yes, people of the USA. Your Congressmen, and women, want to exempt themselves and their families from not being covered for pre-existing conditions. After all, the average age of a Senator is 61 so it would be pretty terrible, but just for them and their families, if they weren't covered for a pre-existing condition. By the way, they want to include the exemption for their staffs as well, which is considerate, no?
What a middle finger to all of us. What is wrong with Republicans and why do they hate their constituents so much.
And why do Republican constituents continue to support these jerks?
Drilling on public lands, no health insurance except for the wealthy, huge tax cuts for Trump, Ivanka and Jared, getting rid of the estate tax for Ivanka, Jared, Don Jr., Eric, Barron, burying the Russian investigation, hiding your tax returns, what big, beautiful plans you have accomplished for all of us, Trump, and in only 100 days.
90
The real question is why do most Republican congressmen still have constituents? How stupid are those Republican voters?
2
Trump may be a do-nothing, know-nothing, selfish, greedy lout, surrounded by sycophants and spies.
But the chocolate cake at Mar a Lago is so delicious (according to Trump).
But the chocolate cake at Mar a Lago is so delicious (according to Trump).
46
It is terrific! Beautiful! Fantastic! Better than anyone else ever made!
4
Trump was just too lazy to walk over to the Senate, and Jared wasn't not available.
I have a relative like that. She is hyperactive, noisily so. There's a lot of left side hand pushing, then a lot of right side air hand pushing, nothing here, nothing there, poof. Gone! My daughter learned that magic trick in kindergarten when her classmate did it for talent show on the stage. She came home and demonstrated to us. How to look busy and do nothing, just push air.
67
Two things about the last few days are worth noting as they are reflections of Mr. Trump's character.
First, as a reality TV star, Mr. Trump is obsessed with appearances. Thus, to him, the illusion of accomplishments, rather than actual accomplishments, are what he cares about. This may have worked on The Apprentice. It has not worked even for 100 days in the Oval Office, let alone a full term.
The second is Mr. Trump's well-known need to dominate others. One of the way he does this is to bring people to his residence in ways that confer that they are subordinate. (One example is Mitt Romney visiting Mr. Trump at his New Jersey club and at a restaurant in Manhattan after the election.) Having senators come by bus to the White House for an uninformative meeting, as Republican Bob Corker described it, may be a subtle way for Mr. Trump to show dominance over members of the senate.
First, as a reality TV star, Mr. Trump is obsessed with appearances. Thus, to him, the illusion of accomplishments, rather than actual accomplishments, are what he cares about. This may have worked on The Apprentice. It has not worked even for 100 days in the Oval Office, let alone a full term.
The second is Mr. Trump's well-known need to dominate others. One of the way he does this is to bring people to his residence in ways that confer that they are subordinate. (One example is Mitt Romney visiting Mr. Trump at his New Jersey club and at a restaurant in Manhattan after the election.) Having senators come by bus to the White House for an uninformative meeting, as Republican Bob Corker described it, may be a subtle way for Mr. Trump to show dominance over members of the senate.
134
And please note that Bernie did not get on that bus !!
5
"Reflections of Mr. Trump's character" Implies that he has character. That is a long stretch.
4
It’s sort of like the time he lured the media to his new DC hotel so he could tell them the President of the United States was born in the United States.
Except it had nothing to do with the President, and a lot to do with his new hotel.
Except it had nothing to do with the President, and a lot to do with his new hotel.
My outrage at all of this is settling into a deep, slow rumble. Every day, almost every hour is another astonishment until the well of screaming rage runs dry. Is that the plan? Put up so much flak that we all surrender from exhaustion?
The joke way back in the Reagan years was that he would want only one page in a position paper and only one option from which to "choose". Turned out, the jokes reflected the actual working reality of the Reagan White House. Now, we see Reagan was a virtual Rhodes Scholar in comparison to the current bunch. A one page tax plan to overhaul the American system of federal taxation? How about planning a trip to Mars in three paragraphs?
There is only one thing about this that makes any sense and that is the idea of simplifying the whole system so that billions of dollars are not spent trying to comply and so that corporations don't escape paying for the services, like highways, air transport and federally sponsored research, that they use to the hilt. Both of those simplification objectives will likely be lost in the process. Remember them now because soon they will be gone.
The joke way back in the Reagan years was that he would want only one page in a position paper and only one option from which to "choose". Turned out, the jokes reflected the actual working reality of the Reagan White House. Now, we see Reagan was a virtual Rhodes Scholar in comparison to the current bunch. A one page tax plan to overhaul the American system of federal taxation? How about planning a trip to Mars in three paragraphs?
There is only one thing about this that makes any sense and that is the idea of simplifying the whole system so that billions of dollars are not spent trying to comply and so that corporations don't escape paying for the services, like highways, air transport and federally sponsored research, that they use to the hilt. Both of those simplification objectives will likely be lost in the process. Remember them now because soon they will be gone.
80
I'm right there with you Doug. I have been politically invested since the mysterious re-election of W in 2004 and was definitely lulled into a false sense of liberal security during the 8 Obama years. I didn't agree with everything he did but I certainly felt that Obama had the national interest, as well as the people's interests, at heart. He was a thoughtful, analytical thinker and I know how frustrating that is for people who don't have that aptitude. The thing is, presidents deal with the hardest problems. Obama knew that and spoke of it. This so-called president is arrogant and without the skills necessary to negotiate in the true sense of the word. He previously bullied his real estate competitors and the NY press. Now he has to deal with Congress, who are the best practiced negotiators around. He has no leverage because he's incompetent! He has no interest in understanding the nuances of legislation nor any exhibited capacity to learn anything new. At what point do the republicans stand up and say no to the obvious corruption, kleptocracy and ineptitude before this country is in ruins?
10
Reminds me of the Monty Python sketch "How to Win a Nobel Prize" where the first and pretty much only step was "Find a cure for cancer"....
2
So much of what has been "done" is merely churning the publicity output. Lots of actions that have no effect; lots of words that have no meaning; lots of twitters that produce reactions.
30
Sam Walton started Walmart 70 years ago.
His children and grandchildren now have an estimated net worth in excess of $120 billion.
They have been wonderful job creators for lawyers and hedge fund speculators.
The new tax proposals will ensure,with the elimination of estate taxes,that the next $120 billion in gains won't take so long.
His children and grandchildren now have an estimated net worth in excess of $120 billion.
They have been wonderful job creators for lawyers and hedge fund speculators.
The new tax proposals will ensure,with the elimination of estate taxes,that the next $120 billion in gains won't take so long.
71
As a nation, we have voted (well, the electoral college has voted) to transform our form of government from a republican democracy to a Republican kleptocracy. Who should be surprised now at Trump's tax scheme? It's an essential part of what we "voted" for.
You know, with decreases in disclosures, the "family business" being combined with federal governing, corruption, lies, increased burdens to reduce voting turnout, propaganda, rank incompetence, and diversions. Welcome to Republican America, the newest member of the Third World.
You know, with decreases in disclosures, the "family business" being combined with federal governing, corruption, lies, increased burdens to reduce voting turnout, propaganda, rank incompetence, and diversions. Welcome to Republican America, the newest member of the Third World.
“The tax plan will pay for itself with economic growth,” said Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin.
Sound familiar? How many Republican politicians and pundits have pulled their collective heads out of the sand long enough to state that Donald's wall will pay for itself? Even Donald hasn't tried that one. He's still peddling the idea that it will be a parting gift from Mexico.
We can't just print extra money, no matter how much the greedy elite want more of it. It has to come from somewhere. And whether it's before or after the national debt gets ratcheted up, that 'somewhere' will be you and me.
Sound familiar? How many Republican politicians and pundits have pulled their collective heads out of the sand long enough to state that Donald's wall will pay for itself? Even Donald hasn't tried that one. He's still peddling the idea that it will be a parting gift from Mexico.
We can't just print extra money, no matter how much the greedy elite want more of it. It has to come from somewhere. And whether it's before or after the national debt gets ratcheted up, that 'somewhere' will be you and me.
40
Politico reported yesterday that a clause hidden away in the latest repeal Obamacare proposal allows members of Congress to benefit from the pre-existing conditions ban under the Affordable Care Act -- even as the overall proposal would allow states to opt out of that provision by setting up high costs high risk pools.
As Gail so often writes, is anyone surprised? Show of hands, please.
As Gail so often writes, is anyone surprised? Show of hands, please.
71
I appreciate listening to former mayor Bloomberg speak on a variety of subjects. So, I know there are wealthy people who are thoughtful and honest in their discussion of today's issues. That said, the crop of millionaires and billionaires Trump has working for him speak greed only. The tax cuts will provide additional money for these wealthy people to invest on some tax-free island and do absolutely nothing to improve the job market in America. They are all crude, unkind, con artists who would take the last penny from Americans to increase their craven greed.
73
The president's initiative to turn protected federal lands over to the states for commercial exploitation benefits from the term used by economists to describe this process. They employ the word "development" to designate the conversion of the natural environment into farmlands, mines, or suburban residential areas. Lands left in their natural state, although sometimes used as tourist attractions or for hunting and fishing, in the lexicon of economics earn the unflattering classification, "undeveloped."
The latter term tends to make us feel uneasy. No one would advocate leaving an individual's intellect or skills undeveloped. Economists, whose field of study focuses their attention on the problem of "scarcity," the inadequacy of resources to satisfy human needs and wants, often define progress in terms of a higher material standard of living, a goal which requires the exploitation of available natural resources.
They do caution that the cost of growth frequently entails pollution and a degraded quality of life, but the orientation of their discipline still tends to bias many economists in favor of converting the natural environment into resources for GDP expansion. So, in the discussion over how to balance our hunger for more material goods against the need to preserve biodiversity and to limit pollution, the champions of using nature as an economic resource enjoy an advantage because of the language used to frame the debate.
Words matter.
The latter term tends to make us feel uneasy. No one would advocate leaving an individual's intellect or skills undeveloped. Economists, whose field of study focuses their attention on the problem of "scarcity," the inadequacy of resources to satisfy human needs and wants, often define progress in terms of a higher material standard of living, a goal which requires the exploitation of available natural resources.
They do caution that the cost of growth frequently entails pollution and a degraded quality of life, but the orientation of their discipline still tends to bias many economists in favor of converting the natural environment into resources for GDP expansion. So, in the discussion over how to balance our hunger for more material goods against the need to preserve biodiversity and to limit pollution, the champions of using nature as an economic resource enjoy an advantage because of the language used to frame the debate.
Words matter.
25
Since most of the states are in dire financial straits, the easy fix is to turn over the newly acquired national monuments to private enterprise via long term leases or outright sale to shore up their ailing state budgets, much as Indiana did with their toll roads and Chicago with their streets and parking garages, increasing gate fees for citizens to use what rightfully belongs to them via their tax dollars.
A dissection of in which states these monuments are located would be enlightening as well. There will be winners and losers with the American taxpayer as the biggest loser
A dissection of in which states these monuments are located would be enlightening as well. There will be winners and losers with the American taxpayer as the biggest loser
3
Agreed. In fact, the environmental views of Trump and his "experts" are the most important and dangerous thing of all this trumpism. There's no use for world peace, gender equality, raised minimum wages, free university, better infrastructure, or anything we've been hoping for, if there is no planet.
5
And don't forget the realtor favorite "bare land".
Words do indeed matter.
Words do indeed matter.
2
Where is out populist savior "Bernie Sanders" now that we really need him? Sorry, he allocated all of his ammunition on Goldman Sachs and Wall Street to destroy Hillary. So sad, Bernie is missing in action again as he was most of his political career.
25
I notice Bernie Sanders is in mocking quotes rather than populist savior. very cryptic.
2
I see him on the news shows a lot. I hear from him--still working--in my email in-box. He's still in the Senate working. Where are you?
1
"Hillary" destroyed herself. We all need to keep the focus on the real malefactors.
We and our families are all just one diagnosis away from a pre-existing condition. Are we going to let the insurance companies and the politicians (who have better health coverage) get away with this one without a fight?
52
America -- it was nice while it lasted. I disagree with Ms. Collins . Trump has accomplished more than any president in my lifetime in the destruction of this country.
65
The tax plan was only one page because that is all Trump can read in an hour. The Healthcare bill was short for the same reason. I'm seeing a trend developing.
38
Sounds like the tax plan is the same one the republicans trot out every time they are in power. Lavish money on the rich, take away regulations that save the poor, increase the deficit. Gee I wonder if it will work this time? I am middle class so I will get absolutely nothing unless we jump to a higher bracket.
37
“The president has released plenty of information and I think has given more financial disclosure than anybody else,” Just how much Mnuchin will gain from the Trump tax plan is indicated by his willingness to sacrifice his self respect in lying for Trump.
Finally a business man who has singed over 20 bills since January (more than any other president before him. Someone who knows that strangulation with regulation is unnecessary. After immigration and sanctuary cities go to the Supreme Court all will be set as the present obstructions will be rightfully overturned.
2
They're NOT bills! What Trump has signed are Executive Orders. Bills are submitted to the Legislative Branch of our government (remember them?) for debate, compromise, approval, and are then returned to the Executive Branch to be signed into law. We are a government of LAWS - not narcissists and their uneducated supporters. Most school systems cover this process in 9th Grade Civics, if not before. Ask Betsy DeVos. Wait! Maybe you ought not.
8
He hasn't signed 20 "bills". They're Executive Orders and amount to Trump grafitti unless followed-through by Congress. And guess what?
5
Most regulations and laws are put in place after egregious violations in the areas they are intended to regulate such as the Dodd-Frank Act. If human endeavors weren't so darn greedy and people so self-serving, there would be no need,
4
What's sad is that the hard core conservative base that elected Trump will fall for this, hook, line, and sinker. It doesn't matter how transparently advantageous something is to Trump and his cronies, the ignorant masses will unquestioningly support him.
21
I do not believe "ignorant" is an adequate descriptor. Mostly, if it is "ignorant" is of a willful sort. Cut off nose to spite face, I would suggest is more to the point.
2
Trump is always telling us how other people tell him he's so great, wonderful, fabulous, magnificent and now, courageous. Which of course means that no one at all is telling him any of that stuff.
Just once, can a reporter ask the question: "Who? Which politicians?"
Just once, can a reporter ask the question: "Who? Which politicians?"
30
If any reporter ever asked Trump which politician he's better than or who among our great politicians he's outperforming that reporter would be subjected to such a Twitterstorm that an entire SNL sketch or three could be built around it.
The only way we're going to get answers is if Mitch McConnell develops a conscience and starts to act like a responsible politician who cares about the average American. Since we know he won't Trump will continue to praise himself, preen himself, and strut on the stage his minions have elected him to. Sad.
The only way we're going to get answers is if Mitch McConnell develops a conscience and starts to act like a responsible politician who cares about the average American. Since we know he won't Trump will continue to praise himself, preen himself, and strut on the stage his minions have elected him to. Sad.
10
Mitch McConnell will never re-develop a conscience. He sold what conscience he had long ago. He is a fine example of how we should use a pre-existing condition (greed) to keep certain folks from entering public service.
5
All sizzle & no steak--that was Trump's big waste of money busing 100 senators to a ginned-up auditorium when he could have put 4 guys in a car to the Capitol. For what? Clearly, all show. Even Bob Corker, a long-time practiced GOP pol, couldn't hide his disgust at this costly waste of Senators' time when time's pressing.
All sizzle & no steak (Trump Steaks were known for being fatty, full of gristle-ugh, & tasteless--just like their namesake).
Meanwhile, Trump wants to take apart the 9th Circuit because he doesn't like their decisions. It's important to note that when Dubya ordered the Justice Dept to "monitor" court decisions, Old Bill Rehnquist was so clearly enraged that the seismic shift of his opinions AWAY from Bush was downright audible! The SCOTUS would do very well to take this President to the woodshed for trying to do far worse! It's not the decisions per se, it's the attack on the foundation of checks& balances they need to defend. One of FDR's biggest flops was trying to "pack" the Court. Even Dems resisted!
Finally, Laffer postulated the obvious: That if the tax rate is 0% or 100% tax revenues will be 0. So SOMEWHERE the tax rate turns and starts decreasing revenue. When it was over 90% and JFK lowered it, revenue increased. But since Reagan, lowering the top tax rate DECREASED revenue. Because we are clearly BELOW the turning point.
That's why Mnuchin's claim that we'll "grow" our way to making up the revenue loss is absurd. Dang that math again!
All sizzle & no steak (Trump Steaks were known for being fatty, full of gristle-ugh, & tasteless--just like their namesake).
Meanwhile, Trump wants to take apart the 9th Circuit because he doesn't like their decisions. It's important to note that when Dubya ordered the Justice Dept to "monitor" court decisions, Old Bill Rehnquist was so clearly enraged that the seismic shift of his opinions AWAY from Bush was downright audible! The SCOTUS would do very well to take this President to the woodshed for trying to do far worse! It's not the decisions per se, it's the attack on the foundation of checks& balances they need to defend. One of FDR's biggest flops was trying to "pack" the Court. Even Dems resisted!
Finally, Laffer postulated the obvious: That if the tax rate is 0% or 100% tax revenues will be 0. So SOMEWHERE the tax rate turns and starts decreasing revenue. When it was over 90% and JFK lowered it, revenue increased. But since Reagan, lowering the top tax rate DECREASED revenue. Because we are clearly BELOW the turning point.
That's why Mnuchin's claim that we'll "grow" our way to making up the revenue loss is absurd. Dang that math again!
33
It looks like our country has become a large university. We give benefits to our citizens (diplomas) and plan to "reform" our system by massively increasing support to one group on campus (the Athletic Department) in the belief the rise in adulation by another group (the boosters) will spread out to support all at university rather than leave the least of these struggling to pay for it (massive college debt).
USA! USA!...we have lost our way!
USA! USA!...we have lost our way!
9
Meanwhile, his daughter said yesterday that her Father has helped thousands of women who worked for her father’s businesses “are a testament to his belief and solid conviction in the potential of women and their ability to do the job as well as any man.”
Thousands of female employees in his licensing empire? I'd like to see that list. Is it under audit too?
Thousands of female employees in his licensing empire? I'd like to see that list. Is it under audit too?
24
The maids, the kitchen help, the hotel clerk - those women - I doubt he has done more for them than pay them the bare minimum required. maybe those women parading for him in bathing suits can be included. Perhaps scholarships to his Trump U were handed out as Christmas bonuses. The women working in clothing factories making ties in Bangladesh probably didn't know who Trump was but I am sure they were grateful for any work at all.
3
I think she meant the hard working maids and service staff in the hotels.
Ah! As Ivanka herself wrote: "Perception is more important than reality.... but don’t go out of your way to correct a false assumption if it plays to your advantage.”
Nicer exterior, more crafted modulated voice--but just like dear old Dad. Keep 'em stupid and fleece 'em.
Nicer exterior, more crafted modulated voice--but just like dear old Dad. Keep 'em stupid and fleece 'em.
1
Are we sure that the Secretary of the Treasury isn't from the Land of OZ?
“This will pay for itself with growth and with reduction of different deductions and closing loopholes,” Mr. Mnuchin said.
Any deficits arising from Tweeter's tax plan will surely be blamed on Obama and the Dems as the Laughter Curve rises from the grave once again.
Tweets and one-page of bullet points -- for a guy with the attention span of a newt I suppose it makes sense.
“This will pay for itself with growth and with reduction of different deductions and closing loopholes,” Mr. Mnuchin said.
Any deficits arising from Tweeter's tax plan will surely be blamed on Obama and the Dems as the Laughter Curve rises from the grave once again.
Tweets and one-page of bullet points -- for a guy with the attention span of a newt I suppose it makes sense.
6
Trump reminds me of Chauncey Gardener in "Being There" fame. Chauncey received his education by watching TV. Many assume he is an intelligent, successful businessman. For Chauncey the assumption was aided by his quiet demeanor. Don't open your mouth and people will assume what they will.
Trump is the 21st century version of Chancey, loud, obnoxious, uninformed - right out of a 'Reality Show', wrestling match bonanza. Happening right here in River City folks.
Trump is the 21st century version of Chancey, loud, obnoxious, uninformed - right out of a 'Reality Show', wrestling match bonanza. Happening right here in River City folks.
4
Dear Ms. Collins,
President Trump is behaving just like Candidate Trump in that he;
a. Lies/Misspeaks approximately 85% of the time (From Politico fact checking during the debates)
b. Has surrounded himself with "yes men/women" to hammer home whatever "tweet" is of importance that minute
c. Has a helium tank nearby to always keep his ego inflated (Must be true as I read it on the internet)
d. Still can't really believe he won the position much less what to do once he won.
So his first "100 Days" are a test of his ability to either ignore the 100 day mark or to "make up stuff" about what he's done for all of us. Let's list all that he HAS done for all of us;
a. Kept us out of Venezuela
b. Taught us all where Mar-A-Lago is (I understand many who voted for him are naming their newborns after the place...really)
c. Spared us another 4 years of government gridlock as his fellow Republicans are falling all over themselves to help him...really.
In retrospect, perhaps it's better he ignore the "100 Day" thing altogether and announce what he may call the "Reverse White House", that is, instead of spending weekends at Mar-A-Lago, he spends weekends in D.C. while golfing the other 5 days in Florida. Since Congress is generally not around on weekends, its a perfect plan allowing him to spend more time preening and feathering his nest while "tweeting' his concerns.
As for seeing his tax returns, well there's the SECOND 100 days coming up!
President Trump is behaving just like Candidate Trump in that he;
a. Lies/Misspeaks approximately 85% of the time (From Politico fact checking during the debates)
b. Has surrounded himself with "yes men/women" to hammer home whatever "tweet" is of importance that minute
c. Has a helium tank nearby to always keep his ego inflated (Must be true as I read it on the internet)
d. Still can't really believe he won the position much less what to do once he won.
So his first "100 Days" are a test of his ability to either ignore the 100 day mark or to "make up stuff" about what he's done for all of us. Let's list all that he HAS done for all of us;
a. Kept us out of Venezuela
b. Taught us all where Mar-A-Lago is (I understand many who voted for him are naming their newborns after the place...really)
c. Spared us another 4 years of government gridlock as his fellow Republicans are falling all over themselves to help him...really.
In retrospect, perhaps it's better he ignore the "100 Day" thing altogether and announce what he may call the "Reverse White House", that is, instead of spending weekends at Mar-A-Lago, he spends weekends in D.C. while golfing the other 5 days in Florida. Since Congress is generally not around on weekends, its a perfect plan allowing him to spend more time preening and feathering his nest while "tweeting' his concerns.
As for seeing his tax returns, well there's the SECOND 100 days coming up!
10
Trump's accomplishments: dropped 56 M on Syria then disappeared, spent approximately 30 M on trips to FL to play golf, alienated Mexico and Canada, Britain, and Europe, proved his ignorance of basic world affairs, friended China, re- routed a fleet of ships (fleet not armada - that lost to the British) from the Indian Ocean to Korea, did not go to NY, wrote a tax bill that favors fellow billionaires and Wall Street, proposed depriving average Americans of healthcare, ordered pollution of rivers in coal country, failed at a plan to limit Muslims entry to the US, deflected an investigation in to Russian interference in the election - no he was a busy man - just not a busy President working for the average American and American integrity.
25
It was not even a Fleet! it was a Carrier Strike Group (4 or so ships). A Fleet, in this case, the 7th Fleet is based in Japan in any case. An Armada, a word way out of use since, what?, the 16th Century?, is probably multiple fleets.
2
MY question is: Why in the world did Congress get on those buses? Headlines said they were "summoned" by the president. Since when does the president get to "summon" a co-equal branch of government to do ANYthing? If you ask me, congress has forgotten its constitutional role. I was embarrassed for them, trotting onto the buses like sheep, and all for nothing as there was no new info presented. Just another notch in Trump's oversized belt.
54
After watching Mitt Romney get publicly humiliated you would think these other millionaires would not trod the same path. But, it turns out, they are all as weak and and weak-minded as we have suspected for a long time.
2
Theodore Roosevelt was the "Anti" of Donald Trump. For starters, he wrote 38 books. I doubt if the combined total of books actually read by the Donald Trumps, equals the square root of 38. Doug Brinkley's "Wilderness Warrior" chronicles the struggle by Republican Theodore Roosevelt to preserve America's National Parks, forests, monuments, and bird sanctuaries, and is in sharp contrast with today's Trump dominated Republican Party. TR created 150 national forests, 51 national bird sanctuaries, 4 national game preserves, 5 national parks, and pronouncing "I so declare it"18 national monuments.
5
The unbelievable interview that the so called President gave with the AP last weekend was it. It is shocking and horrifying that this man is the "Leader of the Free World." The most craven, self absorbed, non-curious human being I have ever seen.
Keep up the resistance!
Keep up the resistance!
17
Kudos though to the photographer for this great picture showing teddy, pence, a bison, a stag and the other guy poised, posed to give gravitas to the president. Ah, pence, the ever-present spare change, the president's backdrop, the penumbral threat of the alternative.
9
Nomination and confirmation of Neil Gorsuch as a justice on the Supreme Court.
A requirement that for every new regulation, two be eliminated.
Place a lifetime ban on White House officials lobbying for foreign governments. The ban is for executive branch appointees but includes a provision that would allow the president or a designee to waive the restriction.
An executive order, Trump pushed forward one of his signature immigration promises: a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Expanded deportation priorities, giving immigration officials a longer list of categories of people who can be removed from the country.
Hiring of an additional 15,000 employees to carry out immigration laws. Trump’s order authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to hire 10,000 more U.S. Customs and Immigration officers and 5,000 more border patrol agents.
Budget proposal for the Defense Department asks for an additional $54 billionabove the budget cap, pushing forward his promise to end the defense sequester.
In contrast to the Obama administration that opposed the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, Trump favors the pipeline, saying it would create 28,000 jobs. Trump signed a memorandum to allow the operator, TransCanada to re-submit a permit application for the pipeline to cross from Western Canada to the United States and transport more than 800,000 barrels of oil a day. The State Department issued that permit March 24.
Snowflakes like Gail Collins just don't get it.
A requirement that for every new regulation, two be eliminated.
Place a lifetime ban on White House officials lobbying for foreign governments. The ban is for executive branch appointees but includes a provision that would allow the president or a designee to waive the restriction.
An executive order, Trump pushed forward one of his signature immigration promises: a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Expanded deportation priorities, giving immigration officials a longer list of categories of people who can be removed from the country.
Hiring of an additional 15,000 employees to carry out immigration laws. Trump’s order authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to hire 10,000 more U.S. Customs and Immigration officers and 5,000 more border patrol agents.
Budget proposal for the Defense Department asks for an additional $54 billionabove the budget cap, pushing forward his promise to end the defense sequester.
In contrast to the Obama administration that opposed the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, Trump favors the pipeline, saying it would create 28,000 jobs. Trump signed a memorandum to allow the operator, TransCanada to re-submit a permit application for the pipeline to cross from Western Canada to the United States and transport more than 800,000 barrels of oil a day. The State Department issued that permit March 24.
Snowflakes like Gail Collins just don't get it.
I understand Trump is having difficulty hiring enough new border agents quickly enough.
I suggest he expand the H1B visa program so that he can fully staff the openings in a timely manner.
I suggest he expand the H1B visa program so that he can fully staff the openings in a timely manner.
2
Trump is all hot air. All the achievements you named are a mirage of empty words or not achievable like hiring more border patrol which has 1800 vacancies that can't be filled much less 10 thousand more. There is talk of lowering the qualifications of new hires (more crazy men with guns).
The pipeline may have been approved but it is a bridge to no where because the cost of crude is so low and the oil sands production dropping because of cost that there won't be anything in the pipes. Obama took the correct stand on this project knowing that any tar sands oil in the US was slated to go to China, too dirty for US industry.
Not sure what snowflakes have to do with Collins, she seems like a tough, strong lady to me.
The pipeline may have been approved but it is a bridge to no where because the cost of crude is so low and the oil sands production dropping because of cost that there won't be anything in the pipes. Obama took the correct stand on this project knowing that any tar sands oil in the US was slated to go to China, too dirty for US industry.
Not sure what snowflakes have to do with Collins, she seems like a tough, strong lady to me.
You are a prime example of the fools that voted for Trump, to start with Keystone will employ 28 people . Period
3
"A can-do kinda guy?" Yeah, right, Gail. Coal mining in a national monument? And bragging about climate-warming denial - favoring the obsolete fossil fuel energy industry over EPA programs? Big League bumfwad. Day 100 hits Trump and the American people this Saturday. Your exegesis about huge tax cuts goosing up the economy - the beloved fairy tale - has the same ending its had for Republicans since the Year Dot. And the bare fact (like our president wearing the emperor's new clothing) that Trump's administration has not nominated or filled all the available jobs in the government by now is scary. As scary as a president who has not shown the American people his taxes. Financial disclosure by our 45th President is a canard and likely as raining pennies from heaven. Dear Gail, 100 days of can't and won't do may teach us how to rid ourselves of this plague of a President and his cabal of alternative facts advisers and strategists and whisperers of what he should do next. We have been shown promises, lies, misogyny, bigotry, cons, scams, and plenty of wool pulled over the eyes of Trump's loyalists. It's time now for patriots - read "Les Miz" - to impeach, oust, remove him from office. We the people are as sick of this administration as were the French against the Bourbons in the 1780s. The laundry list of what Trump has been unable to accomplish is staggering to contemplate. May he not be granted another 100 days to further damage our democracy, and how!
6
This just more of the magician's smoke and mirrors distraction, to keep us realizing that Trump's top hat is empty.
Distraction rules for the Donald. Bus in the Senators for a briefing, order another review of federal regulations, issue one-page summaries of undrafted legislative proposals. Meanwhile Russia lurks offstage, as the puppet it created performs magic tricks.
6
Didn't GW Bush give a great tax cut, claiming that the surplus we had belonged to the American people and should not be kept in case of govt. need.
And didn't we go to war just after that and the cost of the war was going to be paid for by the oil we would get after entering Iraq and they would, like the Mexicans will pay for the wall, pay for the war.
Someone somewhere wrote a line that every comic strip reader knows too well "I'm pay you tomorrow for a hamburger today".
So far, the only thing that really seems to be never trickling down are jobs that pay a good living wage and a very good health insurance that will keep us all from penury when we have to pay for the care we need.
And didn't we go to war just after that and the cost of the war was going to be paid for by the oil we would get after entering Iraq and they would, like the Mexicans will pay for the wall, pay for the war.
Someone somewhere wrote a line that every comic strip reader knows too well "I'm pay you tomorrow for a hamburger today".
So far, the only thing that really seems to be never trickling down are jobs that pay a good living wage and a very good health insurance that will keep us all from penury when we have to pay for the care we need.
5
A top ten in 100 must include the 5150 "summer of lead" initiative. Anyone with severe mental problems has free reign in buying guns of any stripe, capacity or caliber. This coupled with open carry, hide e'm and hold e'm in one state means any state provides coast to coast lock and load. Road rage and gun violence is a state of mind over muzzle. NRA public service announcement.
5
Although these dog an pony shows stage managed by director Trump are so devoid of any substance that they may create derision and predictable boredom among us, a large segment of the public sees high drama with their guy as the center of attention, whether behind the scene or not. It kind of reminds me of episodes of "The Apprentice" where groups of people are assigned some idiotic task and the great Trump dressed in blue suit and red power tie briefly drops by to check out how things are going or to recite simplistic phrases, which are meant to imply great wisdom. It is reassuring to millions of Americans that Trump can snap his fingers and the entire Senate will hop into buses like trained monkeys destined to the White House. Now that is a combination of power and entertainment. Props in Trump's never-ending circus.
383
Right. The next ime he tries that (making Congress take a bus to him), I suggest they find other things to do, like visit a soup kitchen or refugee camp, or do some reading on the history of the two Koreas.
We are watching the apprentice every day with President Trump at the helm. It's a reality show with plots, sub plots, evil people, beautiful people, lies, money- lots of money for the wealthy, dictators, minions ( Congress) and on. Its been rated very unhealthy for viewers with heart conditions, high blood pressure, IBS conditions and stress levels. I would recommend watching grass grow..
1
Everyone hopped onto the bus but Senator Bernie. Such a breath of fresh air. No substitute for honor and intelligence.
Backs off on Mexico, backs off on China. Find me an easier target said Trump. Canada, why didn't I think of that. Those connivers, slap some really big tariffs on their exports. But Mr. President, they always take their grievances to the World Trade Organization and they always win. I don't care, I need a win right now. Is it day 100 yet?
384
Ronald Reagan needed a quick cheap victory after losing all our marines in Beruit, and ignominious retreat. Grenada was his Grand Duchy of Fenwick.
What little harmless country will Trump defeat?
What little harmless country will Trump defeat?
Find me a country that won't fight back when I bomb them so I can get a win. Syria, a good start. Afghanistan, MOABing great. Canada, I can slap them around a bit and they won't mind. But China, maybe not. North Korea, get me the Senate. They will need to take the blame on that one.
2
Also backed of on North Korea.
As to the Tax Plan, Trump just passed along the one-pager that he got from his tax accountant.
No tax reform until Trump reveals his tax returns!
No tax reform until Trump reveals his tax returns!
13
Increase taxes on the rich? Nope
Stay out of foreign wars? Nope
Release his tax returns? Nope
Declare China a currency manipulator on day 1? Nope
Better health care benefits at lower cost? Nope
The most ethical presidency in history? Nope
Success? Nope
Stay out of foreign wars? Nope
Release his tax returns? Nope
Declare China a currency manipulator on day 1? Nope
Better health care benefits at lower cost? Nope
The most ethical presidency in history? Nope
Success? Nope
951
MB:
I am always one to appreciate brevity, especially when it hits the proverbial nail on the head. I applaud your "Nope" list.
I am always one to appreciate brevity, especially when it hits the proverbial nail on the head. I applaud your "Nope" list.
I think some of us are looking at the accomplishments of Trump's first 100 days through the left prism. Lets view it from the right prism.
Trump banned all Muslims. See Fox News for article.
Border Wall now under construction. See Breitbart news for article.
Most all illegal immigrants all gone, just mop up operation now. Refer to Rush Limbaugh for updates.
Jobs aplenty for coal miners and other poor souls. According to Sean Hannity jobs have tripled.
Repealing Obamacare is virtually complete per The Heritage Foundation.
Trump has been a YUGE success for 100 days in office. Just imagine what the next 100 days will bring. Heavens to Betsy, my prism just shifted left. Dark days ahead.
Trump banned all Muslims. See Fox News for article.
Border Wall now under construction. See Breitbart news for article.
Most all illegal immigrants all gone, just mop up operation now. Refer to Rush Limbaugh for updates.
Jobs aplenty for coal miners and other poor souls. According to Sean Hannity jobs have tripled.
Repealing Obamacare is virtually complete per The Heritage Foundation.
Trump has been a YUGE success for 100 days in office. Just imagine what the next 100 days will bring. Heavens to Betsy, my prism just shifted left. Dark days ahead.
695
What a great post. 40% still believe him. I've been thinking about the best way to sum up the problem but, I can stop thinking now, because you did it perfectly.
1
You are sooo correct. My 94-year old mother, who is actually highly intelligent, gets news exclusively from Fox News. So she believes Sweden is now under sharia law, for example. She knows nothing about all the Trump insanity, the blunders, the scandals, the worldwide laughter and scorn etc. She thinks Gorsuch is swell and Trump is doing what he promised.
1
What legislative achievement has Trump's signature on it?
What has he signed into law that he advocated? His Wall? His Ban? His Lock Her Up? His people wanted a wall to keep Mexicans out; a ban on Muslims, and Secretary Clinton locked up. Has he delivered anything for therm?
What about his health care plan: cover everyone, cheaper, and better? He's a so-called president with the lowest approval ratings in ratings history. A flake, a fake, an obnoxious braggart. He hugely criticized President Obama's executive orders; but his only "achievements" have been executive orders. The electoral system is the only election whereby the loser can be declared the winner.
What has he signed into law that he advocated? His Wall? His Ban? His Lock Her Up? His people wanted a wall to keep Mexicans out; a ban on Muslims, and Secretary Clinton locked up. Has he delivered anything for therm?
What about his health care plan: cover everyone, cheaper, and better? He's a so-called president with the lowest approval ratings in ratings history. A flake, a fake, an obnoxious braggart. He hugely criticized President Obama's executive orders; but his only "achievements" have been executive orders. The electoral system is the only election whereby the loser can be declared the winner.
603
More precisely, his only "achievements" have been executive orders gutting President Obama's executive orders. Trump can't even claim originality. He is derivative in that and his many slogans (Silent Majority, America First) Trump's temperament may be sui generis, but his ideas certainly aren't.
2
He did sign a House Bill to allow the certified mentally ill to obtain firearms.
What a relief! My crazy uncle can finally 'defend' himself in the State Hospital.
What a relief! My crazy uncle can finally 'defend' himself in the State Hospital.
2
And he did this without any fanfare, media, cameras, or tweets.
1
A can't-do trump presidency is bad enough, and you can't afford to snore through it.
But a can-do trump will undoubtedly be worse.
But a can-do trump will undoubtedly be worse.
31
Let's give the new administration another six months and then assess. With Republicans in control Liberals are of course nervous. But dreams of impeachment or wholesale stopping of legislative agenda are not going to happen. Gridlock in D.C. must cease.
1
There won't be anything left in six months for us to assess.
It's hard to know which is more appalling - djt's administration continuously lying with straight faces, or the lies themselves !
61
Let's give discredit where discredit is due.
Coal pollution of streams and lakes are back in Appalachia and the American heartland, and if you've ever tasted mercury-crusted river trout in a nitrous oxide sauce with just a hint of sulfur dioxide, then you can appreciate why someone would support Donald Trump as the greatest President this country has ever had.
If you've ever been barefoot and pregnant and never left your hometown, this President is doing everything possible to maintain that 18th century clock on women as dedicated birthing and fondling vessels, both at home and across the poverty-stricken world.
If you've ever been fleeced out of your last dollar or life savings by an entertaining, incoherent, traveling grifter, but would inexplicably repeat that catastrophe because you still 'believe' deep down that that codswallop salesman was a true friend, then Donald Trump is your kind of so-called President.
If you believe the universally bankrupt and discredited idea that tax cuts will 'pay for themselves' and a Treasury Secretary who had a part-time gig as a Cayman Islands tax-dodger and who said his overlooked $100 million in personal assets was an 'oversight', then your brain may be firing on a single coal-filled cylinder.
If you suffer from Pachyderm Spongiform Encephalopathy, then this Idiot-In-Chief is the kind of moron you've been praying for your whole life.
As one Trump supporter said:
“We know his goal is to Make America Great Again; it’s on his hat.”
Coal pollution of streams and lakes are back in Appalachia and the American heartland, and if you've ever tasted mercury-crusted river trout in a nitrous oxide sauce with just a hint of sulfur dioxide, then you can appreciate why someone would support Donald Trump as the greatest President this country has ever had.
If you've ever been barefoot and pregnant and never left your hometown, this President is doing everything possible to maintain that 18th century clock on women as dedicated birthing and fondling vessels, both at home and across the poverty-stricken world.
If you've ever been fleeced out of your last dollar or life savings by an entertaining, incoherent, traveling grifter, but would inexplicably repeat that catastrophe because you still 'believe' deep down that that codswallop salesman was a true friend, then Donald Trump is your kind of so-called President.
If you believe the universally bankrupt and discredited idea that tax cuts will 'pay for themselves' and a Treasury Secretary who had a part-time gig as a Cayman Islands tax-dodger and who said his overlooked $100 million in personal assets was an 'oversight', then your brain may be firing on a single coal-filled cylinder.
If you suffer from Pachyderm Spongiform Encephalopathy, then this Idiot-In-Chief is the kind of moron you've been praying for your whole life.
As one Trump supporter said:
“We know his goal is to Make America Great Again; it’s on his hat.”
838
You win the day for using codswallop. I always look forward to seeing your comments, one bright spot in a sea of despair and ennui.
4
Brilliant! The only thing you forgot to mention is the AP "talk". Just simply scary in its utter incoherence.
2
Codswallop. Nice. Thank you.
3
I disagree with you, Gail. In a way, Trump's record is a can-do according to his core constituents, namely, the mutant swamp creatures. But to those who sent him to the Big House? Not so much!
19
"The Democrats, meanwhile, are gearing up for battle on the tax cuts — once they figure out exactly what they are."
Oh, Gail, I think they know. Donald Trump is punishing residents of blue states, because he can and he wants to. Of course eliminating state and local tax deductions decimates those in states like mine, and of course in California. What a way to get at liberals. Particular older liberals who, from the sound of things, can't deduct health care costs either.
So, Trump does things in logical fashion: he guts healthcare, throwing many if not most people (except for you, lazy Congressmen, who have of course exempted themselves) onto the mercy of states and their new waivers where you can buy a plan for peanuts that only covers hangnails.
But if you do have the dollars to pay for the plan that actually covers a visit to the ER, it might not cover cancer. So, denizen of blue state A, already penalized for being liberal, now gets penalized for getting sick.
Good going Mr. Trump! You've figured out not only how to make "Beauty Starve the Beast," you've figured out how to make liberals die more quickly.
I also love your newfound push for allowing drilling on national parklands. Hey, we don't need to fear ISIS destroying American monuments--the president is doing that for them.
Trump's new American Wonderland: cruel, crazy, canny, and woefully challenged.
Oh, Gail, I think they know. Donald Trump is punishing residents of blue states, because he can and he wants to. Of course eliminating state and local tax deductions decimates those in states like mine, and of course in California. What a way to get at liberals. Particular older liberals who, from the sound of things, can't deduct health care costs either.
So, Trump does things in logical fashion: he guts healthcare, throwing many if not most people (except for you, lazy Congressmen, who have of course exempted themselves) onto the mercy of states and their new waivers where you can buy a plan for peanuts that only covers hangnails.
But if you do have the dollars to pay for the plan that actually covers a visit to the ER, it might not cover cancer. So, denizen of blue state A, already penalized for being liberal, now gets penalized for getting sick.
Good going Mr. Trump! You've figured out not only how to make "Beauty Starve the Beast," you've figured out how to make liberals die more quickly.
I also love your newfound push for allowing drilling on national parklands. Hey, we don't need to fear ISIS destroying American monuments--the president is doing that for them.
Trump's new American Wonderland: cruel, crazy, canny, and woefully challenged.
677
I'd like to see an analysis of this. If I remember correctly, blue states pay disproportionately more into the federal treasury than red, which draw the majority of federal funds. So would this benefit blue states at the expense of red?
No one wants the national parks turned over to the states. Jesus wept.
No one wants the national parks turned over to the states. Jesus wept.
4
Every time there is a new "initiative" from DJT, the Republicans are out in droves being interviewed and spreading lies. Where are the Democrats? Why are they not being interviewed to counter the obvious untruths that are being disseminated by the Republicans?
1
And it will cover hangnails only if it is not a preexisting condition.
A picture does indeed say a thousand words. Just look at Trump behind a picture of T.R. and his two henchmen standing below an elk and a buffalo mounted on a wall.
71
And TR ani't smiling.
31
If you lie enough, it is taken up by the media and on the web - your lie becomes fact or "alternative facts" become "the truth." One of our local network stations reported last night that Trump's tax plan was the biggest tax cut in American history (an administration claim, but much disputed by economists and historians). Say it often enough...
141
Ah yes, tax cuts will pay for themselves. The more you cut, the more the cuts will pay. The more the cuts pay, the more the government will have to spend. That's Republican Economics 101.
'The Donald's 100-Day Record' is the story of the huffing-and-puffing president that couldn't. He huffs and he puffs, and he gets more and more orange; but when the steam parts, there is no border wall to see. He huffs and he puffs but he couldn't blow Obamacare down. He huffs and he puffs, but when the hot air rises there is no Muslim ban. He huffs and he puffs, but....the story goes on and on.
"The Donald's 100-Day Record' is a big hit with his voters. The Donald's presidency is a big success because FOX and friends says so. Limbaugh says so. But most important, the Donald says so. So, it must be so. And so, the Donald's voters love hearing this bedtime story.
For the rest of us, it is a never-ending nightmare.
'The Donald's 100-Day Record' is the story of the huffing-and-puffing president that couldn't. He huffs and he puffs, and he gets more and more orange; but when the steam parts, there is no border wall to see. He huffs and he puffs but he couldn't blow Obamacare down. He huffs and he puffs, but when the hot air rises there is no Muslim ban. He huffs and he puffs, but....the story goes on and on.
"The Donald's 100-Day Record' is a big hit with his voters. The Donald's presidency is a big success because FOX and friends says so. Limbaugh says so. But most important, the Donald says so. So, it must be so. And so, the Donald's voters love hearing this bedtime story.
For the rest of us, it is a never-ending nightmare.
664
Republican Economics 101 = Voodoo II.
George Bush the Elder (and Wiser) had it diagnosed right before he became a halfhearted practitioner, and then was punished by his party for his half-heartedness.
George Bush the Elder (and Wiser) had it diagnosed right before he became a halfhearted practitioner, and then was punished by his party for his half-heartedness.
1
Why would Mnunchin say Trump has disclosed more than anyone else?
These representatives of Trump, like Sean Spicer, too, love to hear themselves lie. It's part of the loyalty oath they take to work for Trump.
These representatives of Trump, like Sean Spicer, too, love to hear themselves lie. It's part of the loyalty oath they take to work for Trump.
552
And Mnuchin said it with such sneering condescension. He showed the real side of what he and the administration think and how they'll play this game of hardball.
16
Let's not forget, Mnuchin was the guy who "forgot" about $95 million he'd parked in the Cayman Islands. Democrats also pressed him during his confirmation headings to ensure that Trump’s foreign investments didn’t compromise U.S. national security. Mnuchin said he would look into Trump’s foreign debt.
Well Steve, what did you find since Trump is STILL not releasing his returns?
Well Steve, what did you find since Trump is STILL not releasing his returns?
3
MDP - My Disgusting President
62
ADP -- A Disgusting President. I want no ownership of this train wreck!
2
@Patl: "MDP - My Disgusting President. No, that should be "Most Disgusting President". Ever.
3
In the name of the 25th, we are at the point where we need to ascertain whether all of these politicians and other 'people' congratulating and encouraging him are simply voices in his head.
112
They may be invisible, but they're his friends.
5
Well, better nothing than something (NOTS).
21
Whatever happened to the drum beat of collusion with Russia?
It remains the best hope for a denouement moment and the end of our national nightmare.
It remains the best hope for a denouement moment and the end of our national nightmare.
199
Democrats are so fickle. They resented that a crude, nasty man with no experience and totally ignorant of how government works had the audacity to run for president. They complained because the candidate was a compulsive liar and insulted everyone.
Then, after the candidate won, the Democrats whined about the fact that all American intelligence agencies agreed that the Russians had rigged the election to help the candidate.
As evidence mounted that the candidate's associates conspired with the Russians, what do the Democrats do? Of course, they have no patience and call for an investigation.
The president works at his private club in Florida, but the Democrats have the bad manners to note that he is setting a record for the cost of protecting, housing and transporting him and his family.
The Democrats also protest that the president is cutting sweet deals for his family with foreign leaders. The Democrats point to a new tax bill rumored to be designed to save the president and his family tens of millions.
Through all of this, the president has found time between rounds of business golf to appoint a handful of men to remove environmental protections, to water down voting rights and to keep Muslims out of the country.
Now, the Democrats are saying this president has accomplished nothing and is boring.
Do these Democrats realize how much time this president devoted to alienating 60% of Americans and probably 90% of people around the world? That’s not exactly nothing.
Then, after the candidate won, the Democrats whined about the fact that all American intelligence agencies agreed that the Russians had rigged the election to help the candidate.
As evidence mounted that the candidate's associates conspired with the Russians, what do the Democrats do? Of course, they have no patience and call for an investigation.
The president works at his private club in Florida, but the Democrats have the bad manners to note that he is setting a record for the cost of protecting, housing and transporting him and his family.
The Democrats also protest that the president is cutting sweet deals for his family with foreign leaders. The Democrats point to a new tax bill rumored to be designed to save the president and his family tens of millions.
Through all of this, the president has found time between rounds of business golf to appoint a handful of men to remove environmental protections, to water down voting rights and to keep Muslims out of the country.
Now, the Democrats are saying this president has accomplished nothing and is boring.
Do these Democrats realize how much time this president devoted to alienating 60% of Americans and probably 90% of people around the world? That’s not exactly nothing.
343
Sdw the democrats in mid western states and rust belts wanted Bernie. But intellectuals like Paul krugman said his fight for inequality and justice is too expensive for the country, how will we pay for Bernie's vision.
So now we have Trump's fabulous vision for the wealthiest of the wealthy. The Clintons who have made it into the Davos crowd and the Obamas soon to follow, will find enormous relief with trump's tax bill. Which democrats are you talking about? Did you know our democratic senators are amongst the wealthiest in Capitol Hill! https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_members_of_the_United_St...
Even our beloved former senator John Kerry of Ma, his latest house is at least $11 million property in Martha's Vineyard!
So now we have Trump's fabulous vision for the wealthiest of the wealthy. The Clintons who have made it into the Davos crowd and the Obamas soon to follow, will find enormous relief with trump's tax bill. Which democrats are you talking about? Did you know our democratic senators are amongst the wealthiest in Capitol Hill! https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_members_of_the_United_St...
Even our beloved former senator John Kerry of Ma, his latest house is at least $11 million property in Martha's Vineyard!
1
You seem convinced, petey tonei, that if a politician is wealthy, he or she is incapable of caring about and helping the poor, near-poor, working-class and middle-class citizens. Your assumption ignores the policies of someone like F.D.R. While greed and a cold heart are nothing new, neither is the example of a Democratic pol voting against his or her own financial interest to do economic justice. That impulse is far rarer among Republicans these days.
Frankly, petey tonei, you appear to be more upset with your perception of an elitism of “the Davos crowd.” That same anti-egghead bias drove many of Donald Trump’s supporters, and some of them may now be disappointed in their choice. Trump is dumb enough in his bluster, but he certainly isn’t loyal to the working people who cheered at his rallies.
Frankly, petey tonei, you appear to be more upset with your perception of an elitism of “the Davos crowd.” That same anti-egghead bias drove many of Donald Trump’s supporters, and some of them may now be disappointed in their choice. Trump is dumb enough in his bluster, but he certainly isn’t loyal to the working people who cheered at his rallies.
3
Ms. Collins is too kind. Simply put the snake oil salesman is still trying to con the gullible. Like his real estate developments, he is providing a lot of glitz to cover some tawdry construction. Unfortunately, he knows his market: his base is still solidly behind him. His real friends, like his cabinets of plutocrats, are getting his assistance and attention while he is feathering his own and his family's nest.
375
Considering what Trump wants to accomplish, shouldn't we be grateful that his successes have been as limited as they are?
175
Indeed, "malevolence tempered by incompetence", as one legal scholar recently put it.
272
Good point, kjb. Maybe we should be grateful that he plays golf all the time. The trips to Florida are expensive, but cheaper than ruining the country.
21
Great response to Gail's column. If anyone is paying attention to what Trump and company are doing, they would be shaking from nerves. I wake up in the morning to online news and pray Trump hasn't started a war in North Korea or somewhere else. This whole Trump Administration is a real nightmare.
17
The reaction of Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Corker (a SNORE) about the Korea briefing at the White House was priceless. Somewhere between indifference and mild annoyance.
The best Corker could come up with was "It was an OK briefing."
As for other politicians telling Trump, "You're doing the right thing," take that with an entire salt shaker full of salt.
Remember, this is the man who said about Obama's birthplace, "I have people that have been studying it and they cannot believe what they're finding."
Trump is always finding "people" who are telling him one thing or the other.
Trump's people are as imaginary as Elwood's (character played by Jimmy Stewart) rabbit in the movie, "Harvey." Elwood says in the movie that "Harvey can look at your clock and stop it."
Well, I wish Harvey was real and could stop the clock just before the election results came in last November. A lot of "people" agree with me.
The best Corker could come up with was "It was an OK briefing."
As for other politicians telling Trump, "You're doing the right thing," take that with an entire salt shaker full of salt.
Remember, this is the man who said about Obama's birthplace, "I have people that have been studying it and they cannot believe what they're finding."
Trump is always finding "people" who are telling him one thing or the other.
Trump's people are as imaginary as Elwood's (character played by Jimmy Stewart) rabbit in the movie, "Harvey." Elwood says in the movie that "Harvey can look at your clock and stop it."
Well, I wish Harvey was real and could stop the clock just before the election results came in last November. A lot of "people" agree with me.
250
Harvey, 1944 play by Mary Chase. Ran for over four years on Broadway, revived and toured many times. 1950 movie starring Harvey (you can almost see him), Jimmy Steward and Josephine Hull directed by Henry Koster. Great invisible friend. Trump's are not recommendable.
3
Amazing. A guy with no policy ideas suddenly realizes he wants achievements and has no way to make them happen. Bliss! Just reverse everything your predecessor did. Don't worry about petty details like what will result. Just achieve!
At some point, will anyone notice the trail of destruction? To sick people, to streams, to national parks, to small businesses who were already at a disadvantage on their placement on google, and now can won't be able to pony up the vig to move their data over ISPs efficiently?
Oh to be an aristocrat in America.
At some point, will anyone notice the trail of destruction? To sick people, to streams, to national parks, to small businesses who were already at a disadvantage on their placement on google, and now can won't be able to pony up the vig to move their data over ISPs efficiently?
Oh to be an aristocrat in America.
128
Unfortunately most of the bad things he's doing will take years or even decades to make themselves felt, at which time his supporters will have forgotten who was responsible.
2
And the rest of us low lifes will have died a premature death because our healthcare suddenly disappeared...
Apparently, Donald mistakes activity for achievement.
330
Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence, thank you The Simpsons
19
As in most cases where hot air fuels the engine, motion is progress!
Why does the republican obsession with the deficit disappear ENTIRELY when they have one of their voodoo specialists in the White House? Never mind the absolutely laughable canard about tax-cuts paying for themselves through alleged growth (the 3 biggest booms of the last 50 years followed loophole closing or tax INCREASES), where is the fear of a wildly un-balanced budget? Our only defense from becoming Venezuela is an outraged and scornful press.
402
One slight correction: it's not a "laughable canard". It's a Laffer-able canard.
5
The Republican Party has, since at least Reagan, been mostly populated with greedy lying hypocrites. The very small percentage who do not deserve this designation are mostly greedy lying sociopaths.
The remaining handful were, perhaps, at one time, reasonable people with souls -- which sadly they have now sold.
The remaining handful were, perhaps, at one time, reasonable people with souls -- which sadly they have now sold.
7
For all those who think Trump voters will suddenly see the light, that's about as likely as Trump himself getting a clue.
167
Who would have thought that we'd be glad to have an incompetent President?
53
I applaud the Trump administration's lack of "accomplishments" in its first 100 days and sincerely hope the remainder of its term is equally devoid of any substantial movement on policy of any kind.
When accomplishment means driving in reverse over a cliff, I'll take a stalled car, thank you.
When accomplishment means driving in reverse over a cliff, I'll take a stalled car, thank you.
601
“The president has released plenty of information and I think has given more financial disclosure than anybody else,”
Of course, this comes from a guy who forgot to disclose $100 million or so in real-estate assets, so his standards for financial disclosure obviously differ somewhat from what might be a more traditional interpretation of full financial disclosure.
Of course, this comes from a guy who forgot to disclose $100 million or so in real-estate assets, so his standards for financial disclosure obviously differ somewhat from what might be a more traditional interpretation of full financial disclosure.
417
The ridiculous dog and pony shows being orchestrated by Trump are such feeble attempts to make us believe he is actually working at being the president. He only"stopped by" the very top secret briefing on nuclear war because he has the attention span and intelligence of a fruit fly. When will we impeach him for dereliction of duty ?
99
You insult fruit flies.
82
Oh John, my belly laugh for the day!
4
How stupid do they need us to be? Haw blatantly larcenous and blithely incompetent we we let them be? Are we going to step up and sign onto economic suicide in order to enrich Trump and his friends to the point that they just won't care because they will be insulated by their obscene fortunes? When most of the Earth is inhabitable, their grandchildren will still have their multi-million dollar climate bubbles while the rest of the world faces famine and water wars.
64
@slimjim: The rich folk are very interested in Mars - they need a Planet B!
3
They are all in it together. There are no white hats democrats or republicans. America is a "go get what you can for yourself others be damned" country.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_members_of_the_United_St...
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_members_of_the_United_St...
2
If the Federal government has to be shuttered tomorrow for lack of funding, Trump's supporters can say that he has run the government just like he has run his businesses - into insolvency.
And that is no mean achievement for a shade under 100 days.
And that is no mean achievement for a shade under 100 days.
107
It's funny that the President should be so concerned about his grade for his first 100 days in office, since he has shown so little concern in degrading the office he holds. It's unfair to judge a person new to the office, new to politics and new to having to work with others on how much he can accomplish in the first three months. However, we have had two years of this man as political thinker and I still can't figure out what the American people were thinking. There is nothing, and I mean nothing, that is presidential in this man's background, his bearing, his temperament, his worldview, his vocabulary or his psychological makeup. Nothing about him showed he was prepared for this job. I swear the average Republican voter would vote for a gunny sack filled with horsefeathers if it had an "R" stamped on it.
113
Grades? If he could fake, buy and cheat his way through Wharton, how hard could the presidency be?
11
He actually started at Fordham and later transferred to UPenn. He never got an MBA from Wharton. He settled for a bachelor's degree, a large inheritance and an intuitive gift for scamming people.
8
Gail Collins: "Republicans love to brag about Theodore Roosevelt, except when he was protecting the wilderness. ..."
... Or enacting and enforcing anti-trust laws. Or advocating for inheritance and estate taxes. Or advocating for the income tax. Or enacting and enforcing regulations on meat packing safety and pharmaceuticals. Or ... or ... or ...
In other words, Republicans like to brag about Theodore Roosevelt only when they can get away with ignoring most of his legacy.
... Or enacting and enforcing anti-trust laws. Or advocating for inheritance and estate taxes. Or advocating for the income tax. Or enacting and enforcing regulations on meat packing safety and pharmaceuticals. Or ... or ... or ...
In other words, Republicans like to brag about Theodore Roosevelt only when they can get away with ignoring most of his legacy.
347
Teddy's disrespect for our Native Americans has been hushed up by high school history texts, but dig a little deeper. He was a racist.
Teddy wasn't perfect but compared to Trump he was a man of keen intelligence and wit, a leader who understood how to compromise when he had to and fight when he needed to. With the exception of Dwight Eisenhower and Gerry Ford, the Republican presidents of the last century have been terrible.
2
“We’re trying to do something that’s never been done. We think at the end of the day this leads to a government that is dramatically more accountable, dramatically more efficient, and dramatically more effective." --Budget Director Mick Mulvaney, 4/12/2017
As illustrated by the administration's decision to bus 100 senators to the White House for a briefing instead of having the president make the short journey to Capitol Hill.
It's that kind of thinking that will make America great again, alright.
As illustrated by the administration's decision to bus 100 senators to the White House for a briefing instead of having the president make the short journey to Capitol Hill.
It's that kind of thinking that will make America great again, alright.
90
I guess Gail wrote this before the Congress "away"game trip or she would have another bit, almost as good as a dog on the roof, to float.
What Trump managed to do was actually impressive: he got all 100 senators to act like sheep. I wouldn't be surprised if next time around, they're blindfolded and bused to Mar a Loco. And the general reports were that the super-secret briefing had little substance . . . but for a President were every policy issue is a new surprise (complicated health plans! Koreans with arms! Dreadful war crimes! ), which must be described on a single page, Senators shouldn't have been surprised.
What Trump managed to do was actually impressive: he got all 100 senators to act like sheep. I wouldn't be surprised if next time around, they're blindfolded and bused to Mar a Loco. And the general reports were that the super-secret briefing had little substance . . . but for a President were every policy issue is a new surprise (complicated health plans! Koreans with arms! Dreadful war crimes! ), which must be described on a single page, Senators shouldn't have been surprised.
11
During the campaign, one of Trump's main themes was that his accomplishments as a businessman made him qualified to be president. So let's judge him by that standard. He laid out some big "strategic objectives" to his "shareholders" (read: us). So let's give him his performance evaluation:
1. Muslim Ban--not achieved
2. Repeal Obamacare--not achieved
3. Build a wall and get Mexico to pay for it--not going to be funded by the Congress, Mexico will never pay for it. Not achieved.
4. Hire the best, smartest people--Michael Flynn? Nepotism hire of relatives? Betsy DeVos? Sean Spicer? Ben Carson? Jeff Sessions? Scott Pruitt to run EPA? But in fairness, some of his recent appointments of retired military generals (Mattis, McMaster etc.) were OK. All in all, though, at best he gets a "partially achieved", but barely. One could argue that, on balance, this has not been achieved.
5. Bring jobs back to the US--no real plan, just the occasional phone call and meeting. Photo ops at coal mines, which are not coming back, don't count. Not achieved.
6. Withdraw from NAFTA--changed his mind, now wants some unspecified changes through renegotiation--not achieved
7. Tax Reform--One page of bullet points, breaks promise to reduce deficit--not achieved
Under any business standard, an evaluation of his first 100 days would be "Unacceptable." Unfortunately, we can't fire him for poor performance. So like in business, can we offer him a big severance package to get him to resign?
1. Muslim Ban--not achieved
2. Repeal Obamacare--not achieved
3. Build a wall and get Mexico to pay for it--not going to be funded by the Congress, Mexico will never pay for it. Not achieved.
4. Hire the best, smartest people--Michael Flynn? Nepotism hire of relatives? Betsy DeVos? Sean Spicer? Ben Carson? Jeff Sessions? Scott Pruitt to run EPA? But in fairness, some of his recent appointments of retired military generals (Mattis, McMaster etc.) were OK. All in all, though, at best he gets a "partially achieved", but barely. One could argue that, on balance, this has not been achieved.
5. Bring jobs back to the US--no real plan, just the occasional phone call and meeting. Photo ops at coal mines, which are not coming back, don't count. Not achieved.
6. Withdraw from NAFTA--changed his mind, now wants some unspecified changes through renegotiation--not achieved
7. Tax Reform--One page of bullet points, breaks promise to reduce deficit--not achieved
Under any business standard, an evaluation of his first 100 days would be "Unacceptable." Unfortunately, we can't fire him for poor performance. So like in business, can we offer him a big severance package to get him to resign?
1107
Severance package? He won't need that, nor a Golden Parachute when he bombs out of this presidency. He's taking a Golden Sleight of Hand right under our noses. we're paying him for the food he sells to himself at Mar-a-Lago and the offices he rents to the Secret Service at his branded properties and the golf carts they have to rent to follow him around and in a figurative sense, America will be paying for those sudden trademarks China gave him and his daughter, and other backhanded emoluments he's receiving in plain sight when avid foreign grifters flock to the PO hotel in WDC. Imagine how big the severance package will be when he shuffles off the mortal coil and his kids don't pay any inheritance tax. How does that famous quote go? That makes him smart . . . .
30
This pres is already a self-severing packaged kinda guy, having severed himself from reality, paying taxes, awesomeness, amazingness, and a cerebral cortex.
40
If his ridiculous tax cuts go through, he might resign--he'll have gotten what he wanted out of being the President, which is a way to make himself richer without having to rely on his business of "branding" the Trump name (because eventually everyone will have figured out that there's essentially no value to it).
32
The level of "appalling" seems to increase daily under a Trump presidency and the prurient politics of the Republican Party. Squalid, sordid, fetid,rancid, foul, despicable, base, and abominable are adjectives that most accurately characterize the political ethics of the Trump administration and the formerly grand old party. The idea of opening up National Monuments to extractive industries is an environmental obscenity. Preventing people with pre existing conditions from getting insurance,or creating unaffordable high risk pools, is a moral abomination The elimination of the alternative minimum tax, and the gigantic loophole created by "pass through"entities, which will be exploited by the educated and affluent are political perversions. It's pure intellectual debauchery for Republicans to assert falsely once again, that tax cuts for the wealthy will stimulate the economy increase tax revenues, and cover the resulting deficit.
234
Ms. Collins should return to her vocation as a humorist, and stop playing the role of a propagandist for anti Trump forces.Russell Baker, whom she was groomed to succeed, did not win that Nobel Prize which he was so proud of, by humorlessly, dogmatically attacking RR. Not part of his nature.In fact, TRUMP has accomplished a great deal in first 100 days:confirmation of a SP Justice, tightening of border controls and expulsion of dangerous felons here illegally,freeing of the young aid worker after 3 years of detention in Egypt,and a bill to reduce corporate taxes which will bring entrepreneurs back to the US, which proposal benefits everyone. When did a poor man ever offer us jobs?Pres. is a work in progress, and contrary to what Janet Malcolm has written, folks do change, sometimes for the better. Try to be gracious in defeat, Ms. Collins: Your side lost the election, one which HRC was expected to win overwhelmingly.She lost to a neophyte in politics. Mockery of Trump by liberal media, including those in entertainment field, becomes stale after a while, because folks know where you, second person plural, r coming from. In comedy and comedic writing, important to keep one's edge, not to carry water for either side, Could you imagine Dangerfield, Shandling,Carson among other comics of a bygone era carrying water for either side in politics? Rank partisanship and humor are incompatible.
2
Gail, ignore this gentlemen's rant, as many of us thoroughly enjoy your humour. I love coming home from a long workday and reading one of your columns. It lightens my mood after reading the rest of the articles that astound anyone who believed in our system.
56
Seen Stephen Colbert's ratings lately, or Seth Myers'? Their humor is not even close to stale--except to a Trump supporter. Thank God for freedom of speech.
67
You mistakenly identify satire as comedy. It is a satirist's job to "carry water" for the truth. The only trouble is that Trump's words are so far from the truth already that hyperbole seems straight reportage. Though I do agree with you that Trump is "a piece of work" as well as other pieces.
66
Trump is nothing more than a mouthpiece. His ideas may be outrageous but they aren't his own. He's that idiot capable of signing things that the Republicans have always dreamed of having as president.
Thankfully we have checks and balances built into our government. Our press continues to do it's job by informing us of the latest white house nonsense. But it's ultimately our job as citizens to push back against government policies that we don't agree with.
The Republican party is now in a position where they own whatever happens next if any of these policies go into effect. Trump is their mouthpiece and they own whatever happens next. So are they going to be the party who tripled the deficit, took healthcare away from the most vulnerable, and allowed our natural treasures to be exploited by the energy companies.
Thankfully we have checks and balances built into our government. Our press continues to do it's job by informing us of the latest white house nonsense. But it's ultimately our job as citizens to push back against government policies that we don't agree with.
The Republican party is now in a position where they own whatever happens next if any of these policies go into effect. Trump is their mouthpiece and they own whatever happens next. So are they going to be the party who tripled the deficit, took healthcare away from the most vulnerable, and allowed our natural treasures to be exploited by the energy companies.
262
They'll explain it to their ignorant base with alternative facts who will then cheer wildly even as they're getting the shaft.
3
Yes
Once again, "A Day in the Life of Donald" is comically absurd. Collins chose yesterday because her column is topical, but if you've been paying attention, you know that most days are peppered with news items revealing another unintentionally-ridiculous Trump tweet or remark or "executive" action.
If you're an American who is upset that Trump's absurdities are making your country the laughingstock of the world, take heart. The Trump doings that aren't funny are downright terrifying. You read about them and wonder when -- not if -- Trump will ruin your life. Or worse.
So the funny stuff is a reprieve. Because of the terrifying reports & the general horror of Living in the Land of Trump, I try -- at least once a day -- to find the humor in our Humorless Leader. If you look upon Trump not as someone who is apt to ruin you, but as merely a miserable, confused, grumpy old codger living in the White House & yelling at the teevee, it helps.
The Constant Weader at http://www.RealityChex.com
If you're an American who is upset that Trump's absurdities are making your country the laughingstock of the world, take heart. The Trump doings that aren't funny are downright terrifying. You read about them and wonder when -- not if -- Trump will ruin your life. Or worse.
So the funny stuff is a reprieve. Because of the terrifying reports & the general horror of Living in the Land of Trump, I try -- at least once a day -- to find the humor in our Humorless Leader. If you look upon Trump not as someone who is apt to ruin you, but as merely a miserable, confused, grumpy old codger living in the White House & yelling at the teevee, it helps.
The Constant Weader at http://www.RealityChex.com
152
If you get into political action, it helps.
19
To be fair, the president has tried to do a lot of stuff in his first 100 days, although I think he's as surprised as any of us that he's still in office. Heck, most of us are surprised that the country is still standing. He could list that as one of his accomplishments, under the heading of "exceeded expectations."
He does like to stage phony press events to tout his grand vision for America, but we should be thankful that so far that it's been all pomp and very little circumstance.
His plans sound like a pitch for a bad reality TV show, something like Survivor, but where the country tries to survive without health care, tax revenue or bridges that don't collapse.
He's tried hard to destroy the place, but sometimes incompetence can be a blessing. Here we are, sitting on an enormous powder keg, and it turns out that he's too dumb to light the fuse. Judges have blown out the match by squashing some of his executive orders, and SNL has gotten rid of Kellyanne Conway and calmed Sean Spicer down a bit.
Lots of important staff positions are waiting to be filled, but frankly some of his loopier appointees may have not found their way to their desks yet. Other may never get there, if their Russian connections are confirmed.
The 1950s are currently looking for the Attorney General, and when they find him they're sure to drag him back to a time of segregated lunch counters and screenings of Reefer Madness.
He does like to stage phony press events to tout his grand vision for America, but we should be thankful that so far that it's been all pomp and very little circumstance.
His plans sound like a pitch for a bad reality TV show, something like Survivor, but where the country tries to survive without health care, tax revenue or bridges that don't collapse.
He's tried hard to destroy the place, but sometimes incompetence can be a blessing. Here we are, sitting on an enormous powder keg, and it turns out that he's too dumb to light the fuse. Judges have blown out the match by squashing some of his executive orders, and SNL has gotten rid of Kellyanne Conway and calmed Sean Spicer down a bit.
Lots of important staff positions are waiting to be filled, but frankly some of his loopier appointees may have not found their way to their desks yet. Other may never get there, if their Russian connections are confirmed.
The 1950s are currently looking for the Attorney General, and when they find him they're sure to drag him back to a time of segregated lunch counters and screenings of Reefer Madness.
1599
Reply to Gemli, Really enjoyed your comment. Thank you
5
Ha! Surprised he's still in office--I'm sure he is!
4
Are you still stuck on that foolish"Russian connection" myth? THe Russians gave more money to the Clintons than to Trump. And then when Hillary lost the election, all the donations dried up! See any connection there?
Sooner or later the Times or someone else is going to discover more Trump tax records recycled as bathroom tissue, or Arianna is going to awaken and remember HER “SNORE” days and decide to confide, privately of course, entre nous, with the millions of readers of what is now Lydia Polgreen’s (former NYT hot shot, currently HuffPo editor-in-chief) toy to mangle. When that happens, Dems will have Trump, you betcha. His remaining days in office will be consumed with a minute inspection by the left of every line on his 1040 forms going back to birth. Before, if possible.
And what will they discover? It won’t be crimes, you can be sure, or the IRS would have been all over him years ago like a cheap Brioni. After all, when they couldn’t get him on anything else, even Al Capone was convicted of tax evasion. But Trump has wandered free for years. Which means that any avoidance of paying taxes was secured the old fashioned way: by exploiting tax loopholes reserved for construction moguls.
The result will be that every American taxpayer with more than a nickel left after paying taxes and for daily allotments of gruel will declare himself or herself a construction mogul. Joe Biden with his conviction that it’s only “patriotic” to pay taxes will writhe in retirement.
But the revelations won’t deny Trump a single re-election vote among his base. Democrats can use recycled bathroom tissue for the usual purposes.
And what will they discover? It won’t be crimes, you can be sure, or the IRS would have been all over him years ago like a cheap Brioni. After all, when they couldn’t get him on anything else, even Al Capone was convicted of tax evasion. But Trump has wandered free for years. Which means that any avoidance of paying taxes was secured the old fashioned way: by exploiting tax loopholes reserved for construction moguls.
The result will be that every American taxpayer with more than a nickel left after paying taxes and for daily allotments of gruel will declare himself or herself a construction mogul. Joe Biden with his conviction that it’s only “patriotic” to pay taxes will writhe in retirement.
But the revelations won’t deny Trump a single re-election vote among his base. Democrats can use recycled bathroom tissue for the usual purposes.
8
Trump is hardly the “can’t-do” president. In his first 100 days he’s had an impact on regulation, “immigration”, national security, redeeming a broken promise made in all our names to punish a creep who murders his own people with chemical weapons another president naively believed had been destroyed, put Iran on notice that the gravy days are over, finally told the world that North Korean blackmail days are numbered, and brought respect to that yugely undervalued skillset, the colorist.
He’s done fine for 100 days. If he does much better, there may not be enough Democrats left after 2018 to make appropriate use of all that bathroom tissue.
He’s done fine for 100 days. If he does much better, there may not be enough Democrats left after 2018 to make appropriate use of all that bathroom tissue.
1
You are entirely correct, except for the facts
70
Ah, yes, Ramsey Rick, there is nothing to see here. Not a single voter in Trump's base is repulsed by the man, not a one.
Although your math is as challenged as your relationship with the facts, the reality that you have drunk in totality the Trump liquid of choice is as revealing as the recycled toilet tissue you suggest we in the real world use.
For to defeat Trump and his lying, thieving, cabal of plutocrats and double-dealing traitors, we just have to increase the turnout; Trump will provide the rest, as the outrages continue unabated.
Although your math is as challenged as your relationship with the facts, the reality that you have drunk in totality the Trump liquid of choice is as revealing as the recycled toilet tissue you suggest we in the real world use.
For to defeat Trump and his lying, thieving, cabal of plutocrats and double-dealing traitors, we just have to increase the turnout; Trump will provide the rest, as the outrages continue unabated.
63
Is there any doubt Don's done the most
To make sure this Nation is toast?
Chaos, confusion,
A lie fed illusion
That Don's our Reality Host,
Wherever you look looms Disaster,
And no President's done it faster,
Exec orders pour
And there will be lots more,
As long as Dumb Don plays Our Master!
To make sure this Nation is toast?
Chaos, confusion,
A lie fed illusion
That Don's our Reality Host,
Wherever you look looms Disaster,
And no President's done it faster,
Exec orders pour
And there will be lots more,
As long as Dumb Don plays Our Master!
458
The best you've written, sir!
3
That's great Larry! Love it.
7
Dear Larry,
One good limerick deserves another! Here's my contribution--
There once was an old man named Donald;
Who led us all down a dark tunnel
We'd soon come to regret;
But lest we forget,
This whole sorry mess started
With Ronald!
One good limerick deserves another! Here's my contribution--
There once was an old man named Donald;
Who led us all down a dark tunnel
We'd soon come to regret;
But lest we forget,
This whole sorry mess started
With Ronald!
8
Virtually everything Trump has said or acted on since January 20th has been in direct contradiction to something he promised during his campaign.
- Working to benefit "regular Americans"?
- Replacing Obamacare with something that "covers more, costs less and will be really terrific"?
- "Draining the swamp"?
- Shutting down lobbyists?
- Refraining from reckless foreign entanglements?
- Getting Mexico to "pay for the wall"?
- "Protecting Social Security and Medicare from any cuts"?
- Reigning in the egregious excesses of Wall Street?
- Withdrawing from "awful", "stupid" and "dumb" NAFTA on Day One?
- Revealing and implementing his plan to "wipe out ISIS forever" as one of his first magic tricks?
And so many more. Does anyone even remember a single word Trump said prior to November 8?
Someone needs to compile a "Greatest Hits" video montage of all the things Trump promised last year, then juxtapose each one against the reality of what he's actually done (or failed to do) during his first 100 days. It would be a very long montage indeed.
Once a con man, always a con man.