A regular Wednesday feature that takes a summary look at hot news issues surrounding Trump during the past week
The regular three-part synopsis format of the Trump Scorecard is on vacation for the summer or until the political news cycle favors a hasty return . In it’s place is a single stream of consciousness regarding Trump news.
I have several loosely connected impressions this week:
After the high profile debacle proffered by CNN, the press toke maybe one day to lick their wounds. They’re all remarkably still searching for that Holy Russian Grail after being burned over and over again. It’s not unlike the Harrison Ford Raiders franchise where the bad guys never quit, only to meet their doom. No lessons learned here.
Donald Jr. and his meeting a Russian of questionable relevance during the campaign is the focus de-jour. From all accounts that I’ve read, this is at best, a mixture of gray areas. Gray facts, gray illegality, gray law – yes, entirely subjective, and gray outcomes, and yet we hear, ‘this is it!!!!’ Donald Jr. is probably most guilty of being stupid in this one instance, but certainly don’t reach for your Pence card! In all of this Russia-destroy Trump frenzy, I have just one word: Soros.
It’s ironic that by losing, Hillary/Obama/Soros – and yes Russia figures into their meddling too; appears to be exempt from far more egregious meddling in the election processes of this country. Yes, this is getting some play by special council Mueller, but I suspect this will remain back page stuff.
So now, looking way, way, way ahead, I see a trajectory leading out to the next two elections. The left is not a learning organism. They do not appear capable of learning from their mistakes. I’m starting to conclude that they will thoroughly waste their precious time, political capital, and influence over inconsequential pursuits to bring down Trump with a proverbial ‘pill’ rather than doing the hard work of building a legitimate and relevant cause.
We’re 8-9 months after the election, nearly halfway to the mid-cycle election and I see no significant reordering of priorities on the left. Trump, far from meeting the promises to his constituency, is none the less meeting enough expectations of enough of his base to assure a mid term continuance of this government. This, as the left bolts even further left, but without a clear platform. I saw one piece claiming the political ‘center’ will emerge. The center will not emerge. They will stay home in 2018.
Trump’s base still includes a huge number of people secretly masquerading as centrist or mild-left. They care not to be blasted and belittled by their true-blue friends. They’re scared as hell of what will happen to this country under another Obama-like administration. (Think Bill de Blasio flying off to the G-20 while the NYC subways crumble.) Sure there will be some re-shuffling, but no major change. By 2020, Trump will have enough accomplishment on his plate to go for another 4 or, I suspect, do an unusual step-aside for Pence. Such a move is unthinkable by modern political standards, but what has Trump done that’s standard? I’m way out on a limb here but hey, just putting it out for thought.
Commentary by Lee Jones