Accusations of incompetency can undermine even the most talented of politicians. Just ask George W. Bush (Iraq war, Hurricane Katrina) or Barack Obama (HealthCare.Gov).
But while the events and news over the last 24 hours seem like just another day for the Trump White House, they expose a level of dysfunction and chaos that could leave a lasting mark for a president who said back in February that he was running a “fine-tuned machine.” Consider:
- The White House couldn’t say what happens to the transgender Americans who are currently serving in the U.S. military after Trump announced that they couldn’t serve in any capacity. (“That’s something that the Department of Defense and the White House will have to work together,” Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said.)
- The Defense Department was so caught off guard by the announcement that the previous policy — allowing transgender military members to serve openly — is STILL on its website.
- For a week, top administration officials have tried to talk President Trump down from his public criticism of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the New York Times reports. And the Washington Post adds that the president has discussed the possibility of installing a new attorney general through a recess appointment.
- The Alaska Dispatch News says that Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke called Alaska’s two senators to warn them that Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s “no” votes on health care had put the state’s future with the administration in jeopardy. ("I'm not going to go into the details, but I fear that the strong economic growth, pro-energy, pro-mining, pro-jobs and personnel from Alaska who are part of those policies are going to stop," Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, said regarding Zinke’s call.
- And new White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci took to Twitter last night to say he was contacting the FBI because his financial-disclosure form was leaked — and he strikingly tagged White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus in the tweet. But the Politico reporter who wrote about Scaramucci’s form said it was publicly available from the Export-Import Bank, where Scaramucci previously worked. (On CNN this morning, Scaramucci again suggested Priebus is leaking, saying: “I don't know if the relationship with Reince is reparable.”
The whole point of electing a businessman to become president was expecting someone to EFFECTIVELY run the government. But what happens when that businessman can’t run the government? That’s the significant long-term danger for Trump and his administration.
Don’t be surprised if Interior Secretary Zinke’s calls launch an inspector general investigation
As for that news from Alaska — that Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke reportedly threatened that Sen. Murkowski’s “no” votes could have consequences for the state — it likely will launch, at a minimum, an inspector general investigation. It’s not insignificant that the state’s other senator, Dan Sullivan, talked to Alaska media about the threat. Sullivan has been a reliable “yes” vote for Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
'No majority for replace, no majority for repeal. On to the Mystery Plan'
Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday once again voted down a measure to repeal Obamacare. NBC's Leigh Ann Caldwell: “Senate Republicans delivered another blow in their effort to dismantle the Affordable Care Act when they failed to pass a repeal of the Obama-era law on Wednesday afternoon. The vote, which is one of many expected during the ongoing health care debate, only garnered the support of 45 Republicans, short of the 50-votes necessary. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., Susan Collins, R-Maine, Dean Heller, R-Nev., and John McCain, R-Ariz., and Rob Portman, R-Ohio, Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and surprisingly Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., the chair of the Senate Health Committee, joined all Democrats in voting against it. The defeat eliminates the chances of Congress sending a nearly-full repeal of the law to President Donald Trump to sign.”
As NBC’s Benjy Sarlin tweeted, “No majority for replace, no majority for repeal. On to the Mystery Plan” — that is, the “Skinny Repeal.” But here’s the thing: No on still knows, publicly at least, what that legislation actually entails. And the expectation is that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will offer up this “Skinny Repeal” as one of the last votes.
Health care opponents have spent $15 million on ads opposing the Senate GOP legislation, while supporters haven’t spent a dime
As for the ad spending in the health-care fight, here’s what one of us has written: “The Republican senators whose votes are crucial to the fate of health care in America have faced a $15 million barrage of TV advertising from outside groups opposing the GOP legislation — and no air cover from any group backing the bills.
According to ad-buying tracker Advertising Analytics, groups opposing the GOP health care push have spent $14.8 million since May on TV ads targeting 13 key senators, with even more ad buys rolling in daily as the debate in the Senate reaches fever pitch. No groups have run ads in those states in support of the ever-evolving Republican legislation to repeal and replace parts or all of Obamacare.”
When Orrin Hatch is blasting the administration’s transgender-military announcement, you know the politics have shifted on this issue
Finally, it is striking how much blowback the Trump White House received on its transgender-military policy — from conservative Republicans. “I don’t think we should be discriminating against anyone,” Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said in a statement. “Transgender people are people, and deserve the best we can do for them.” When the Orrin Hatches are saying this, you REALLY know the political earth has moved on this topic.
#1: misterwhite To: Willie Green (#0)
Could be that Trump asked the military what they're going to do about them and the military was dragging their feet in responding. This should light a fire.
misterwhite posted on 2017-07-27 10:30:10 Reply Private Reply
#2: misterwhite To: Willie Green (#0)
Then we're no worse off. But the MSM is worried that Trump CAN run the government and they're doing everything they can to stop him, including an attempt to de-legitimize his Presidency with this phony Russia investigation.
misterwhite posted on 2017-07-27 10:34:24 Reply Private Reply
#3: Willie Green To: misterwhite (#2)
Willie Green posted on 2017-07-27 10:51:48 Reply Private Reply
#4: misterwhite To: Willie Green (#3)
Which would have been waaaay before Trump was even thinking about running for President. So how does that tie into the "Russia hacking the election" investigation?
Answer: It doesn't. Your comment is proof that you and the MSM and the Democrats are really after any dirt you can find on Trump, even if it had nothing to do with the election. In other words, a witch hunt.
misterwhite posted on 2017-07-27 11:05:31 Reply Private Reply
#5: Liberator To: Willie Green (#3)
"Russia"?? Ha-HA-ha!!
You know Willie, the medical profession can do wonders these days. HOWEVER, there's not much that can be done for insanity AND lobotomies.
How many times do you suppose you can leap off the cliff with the other Pavlov's Lemmings and actually believe you are taken seriously? OR remotely some kind of consensus?
You're among a smaller nest of kooks whose sanity, logic, and common sense no longer exists. I feel bad for you...
Liberator posted on 2017-07-27 11:20:22 Reply Private Reply
#6: Willie Green To: misterwhite (#4)
Wrong answer... It provides evidence of background history with the Russian & why he was so eager to accept their "assistance" with the hacking dirt...
Trump is a fraud and an illegitimate POTUS...
Willie Green posted on 2017-07-27 11:35:47 Reply Private Reply
#7: BorisY To: wankerWillie gangGreen, fredbot, hondope, zulu, mau mau, hutus, lice, druids, morloks, 666ers (#6)
changed The elecTion
geTTing aids
going on disabiliTy
would be a good career choice
for you willie
ffffuuuugggh
boris
ps
species change
Try
caT
bird
dog
BorisY posted on 2017-07-27 12:33:56 Reply Private Reply
#8: rlk To: RLK (#1)
rlk posted on 2017-07-27 21:46:39 Reply Private Reply
#9: rlk To: Willie Green (#0)
There never was a fine tuned machine. All there was is a spoiled rich kid under the self delusion that he could be president by parading his magnetic loud personality. He's a huckster without depth or ideological substance.
rlk posted on 2017-07-27 22:25:40 Reply Private Reply
#10: Liberator To: rlk (#9)
Right, it was never a "finely-tuned machine." THAT is the lying media's BS characterization. I'm surprised you took that bait.
Look -- I'll take Trump's "spoiled rich kid" persona -- he is what he is -- a plain-speaking guy who doesn't memorize a script or read from a teleprompter. He is unique in that he DOES attempt to do the right thing -- unlike the polished do-nothing whoring politicians-for-hire that oddly seem to impress you so much.
Robert, come on -- 0bama? Dubya? Clinton? Poppy Bush? Gerard Ford?? "Depth or ideological substance"?
Tell me -- seriously -- NAME those pols who supposedly have or had MORE "depth or ideological substance" than Trump. (You forgot "principle," btw.) Go ahead and include those who merely ran for President. I'd be extremely interested in our list.
Liberator posted on 2017-07-29 13:03:10 Reply Private Reply
#11: Liberator To: Willie Green (#6)
Your brainwashing and bizarre delusions are so utterly beyond the pale that I doubt that you even know what year this is.
Liberator posted on 2017-07-29 13:05:27 Reply Private Reply
#12: rlk To: Liberator (#10)
You can add JFK to your list. He was sending 250 thousand dollars in bags of cash to mafioso Sam Giancanna via courior Judith Exetor who he and Giancana were both humping. Giananna controled labor unions and paid them to vote for Kennedy during the primaries. Kennedy is credited with writing two best selling books that were ghost written by other authors.
This "unlike the polished do-nothing whoring politicians-for-hire that oddly seem to impress you so much" shit would get you shitting teeth for a month if you were to tell me that in person. I wasn't taking the bait from anybody.
In case you don't know it, most politicians are vaudeville actors. They spruce themselves up to look good, then go out on the road beating the hustings for votes while doing a George M. Cohen dance step. Trump is one of them.
I's been months and he still doesn't have a stable adminstation. The are duds who last for a few weeks, then leave or are kicked out.
rlk posted on 2017-07-29 20:27:05 Reply Private Reply