A summary look at hot news issues surrounding Trump during the past week.
Where Trump’s initiatives should succeed:
Secretary of Education | The much-hated DeVos has been confirmed as Secretary of Education. It boils down to this: If the teacher’s unions should dictate education via Washington, DeVos is a tragedy. Citing her wealth, her gaffs, or her never having taught in public education is all calculated to distract from the core objective of the teacher’s unions. I agree with two ideas highlighted by DeVos in the confirmation hearings: 1) education belongs to the states 2) competition will improve education.
Where we should take a wait and see approach to Trump’s initiatives before we get the pitchforks:
Iran | Obama totally sold out Israel and with it, US interests in the Middle East. Now, standing up to Iran is paramount. Is Trump and company able to do this in a competent manner? I don’t know. I’m keeping my fingers crossed and hoping that wiser heads in the administration guide the process.
Immigration | A temporary ban on travel from specific nations is not unreasonable in order to enact a comprehensive immigration policy; after all, Obama originally proposed it. Looking forward though, the enactment of mass deportations would be tragic. Selective deportations for prior failed vetting and criminal activity would certainly be in order. As I’ve noted in other articles, I’m really tired of the opposition lumping all of this together in one ignorant, emotional attack. Somewhere, somehow, someday, we as a people need to stop flinging ourselves toward either extreme regarding immigration.
Executive Orders | How many wars on foreign nations did Obama start without authorization from Congress as clearly mandated in the Constitution? The whining opposition that thinks every executive order is unlawful should sit down and shut up. On the other hand, Trump has acted with ill-considered haste on numerous issues. If he doesn’t get it under control, he will quickly torpedo his own administration.
Where Trump’s initiatives should fail:
Court fights regarding immigration | While I suspect that Trump may actually win the travel ban issue in the Supreme Court, Trump has denigrated the court system leading up to this point. I’ve noted frequently that there should be checks and balances on Trump, and by God here it is working now. (Where were they when Obama was in office?)
Confirmation of Sessions | I have a bad feeling about the guy. He’s a dinosaur with a mean interpretation of law and order. In the long run, I believe he’ll damage a lot of domestic initiatives.
Civil Forfeiture | This week Trump signaled his support for civil forfeiture. A million times NO! I should also point out that Obama was delighted to oversee the huge expansion of civil forfeiture. This is one area where Trump could score big with the little guy with no skin off his chin if he’d reverse his stand. He’d be a civil rights hero. Alas.
