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The President Is not the Enemy
Townhall.com ^ | August 1, 2017 | Cal Thomas

Posted on 08/01/2017 5:47:54 AM PDT by Kaslin

The Establishment, a construct of Democrats and Republicans that rules in Washington no matter which party controls government, appears to be over its fainting spell following Donald Trump's election. It is now throwing everything at him from a daily -- make that hourly, even minute by minute -- onslaught of investigations to big media's equivalent of Molotov cocktails.

Washington, D.C., recently made assisted suicide legal. The president isn't helping his cause by committing unassisted political suicide. Changing his chief of staff may help, but significant change must come from the president himself.

Name-calling by the president and his critics accomplishes nothing, other than to make the name-caller feel good. In my experience, name-calling changes few minds.

Winning an argument is better than disparaging someone who holds a different view. The way to defeat your opponent is to present a better idea. In the case of the Establishment, the president should not only talk specifically about its many failures -- from health insurance to winning wars, or invading countries where we don't belong, but also present a list of alternatives he believes will work.

How's this for a slogan, borrowed out of context from former president Obama: "If you like your Establishment, you can keep your Establishment"?

The problem today is that we have exchanged what was once common sense for nonsense. Look at what consumes our attention -- transgender soldiers in the military, celebrities, leaks from the administration and gossip. It is junk food for the mind.

Here's a positive suggestion. Let the new White House chief of staff, Gen. John Kelly, meet with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker Paul Ryan. Give them a list of programs and policies the president would like to pass (or repeal) and ask the two leaders to poll their members to see what they could vote for. Then let Gen. Kelly receive from the leaders what congressional Republicans could support and vote for. Somewhere in between is enough common ground to repeal legislation and programs that aren't working and create new ones that will work, based on experience, not ideology. The president can then hit the road and sell an agenda he and his party, and maybe some Democrats, can agree on.

The president deserves credit for eliminating regulations that have been choking the economy. It is a major reason why the economy is growing again and the stock market keeps hitting record highs. He should continue doing things his executive power allows him to do.

Calling President Trump a narcissist and "childish" changes nothing. What is the goal of such language? Do the name-callers think he will become something other than what he is, absent a miraculous conversion?

"Face the Nation" host John Dickerson editorialized on his show last Sunday about a video that purports to show President Trump ignoring an 11-year-old boy in a wheelchair while greeting others who attended his health care speech last week. Trump haters claim the video proves how insensitive he is. Dickerson said the first thing the president did when entering the room was to bend down and speak to the child. About the mischaracterized video, Dickerson said: "We're so ready for evidence to confirm the absolute worst about an opponent it snuffs out our charity."

He's right and, when it suits them, both left and right engage in this shameful practice.

Better build up this president and the good he can do, as he is the only president we have. North Korea and Iraq are becoming imminent threats. Throwing rhetorical "bombs" at our fellow citizens is not helpful. We are not each other's enemy. There are many who wish to destroy us. Why are we helping them?


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: criticism; presidency; presidenttrump

1 posted on 08/01/2017 5:47:54 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

Because those against Trump ARE against making America great again and want America to fail.


2 posted on 08/01/2017 6:11:02 AM PDT by combat_boots (God bless Israel and all who protect and defend her! Merry Christmas! In God We Trust!)
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To: Kaslin
The Swamp thinks that if it gets rid of President Trump, things will go back to "business as usual".

That ain't happening.

I don't know if all 63 million Trump voters are "woke" - but many tens of millions of them certainly are.

It's going to get ugly for the Swamp, whether President Trump finishes his term or not...

3 posted on 08/01/2017 6:17:05 AM PDT by kiryandil (Never pick a fight with an angry beehive)
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To: Kaslin

Droves of mindless minions echoing damaging drivel in an insane attempt to overcome the will of the American citizens.

Treasonous actions deserving only complete eradication of the villainous perpetrators.


4 posted on 08/01/2017 6:17:32 AM PDT by chief lee runamok
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To: Kaslin

Droves of mindless minions echoing damaging drivel in an insane attempt to overcome the will of the American citizens.

Treasonous actions deserving only complete eradication of the villainous perpetrators.


5 posted on 08/01/2017 6:17:32 AM PDT by chief lee runamok
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To: Kaslin

It is all about keeping in place their 30 year bipartisan policy of non-enforcement of laws and borders to permanently change the demographics of the country.


6 posted on 08/01/2017 6:28:20 AM PDT by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizen Means Born Here Of Citizen Parents - Know Islam, No Peace -No Islam, Know Peace)
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To: kiryandil

Business as usual is importing cheap labor and selling out America.


7 posted on 08/01/2017 6:29:44 AM PDT by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizen Means Born Here Of Citizen Parents - Know Islam, No Peace -No Islam, Know Peace)
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To: Kaslin

Strange piece. I suppose he realizes that all democrats and some Republicans don’t want to see Trump succeed, and will respond accordingly.


8 posted on 08/01/2017 7:11:29 AM PDT by odawg
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To: Kaslin
Here's a positive suggestion. Let the new White House chief of staff, Gen. John Kelly, meet with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker Paul Ryan. Give them a list of programs and policies the president would like to pass (or repeal) and ask the two leaders to poll their members to see what they could vote for.

The administration would have to come up with that list of programs and policies to begin with. It's time they stopped talking in broad concepts and come up with real ideas since it's clear that the Republicans in Congress can't.

What's the President's health care plan? He doesn't have one. What's his infrastructure plan? He doesn't have one. What's his tax plan? Other than wanting to cut them he doesn't have one. The President has to get away from telling Congress "Fix health care" or "Fix infrastructure" or "Fix taxes" and begin with "Fix health care and this is how I think you should do it" or "Fix taxes and these are the things I think you should pass". Leave it up to Congress and you're going to continue to get crap results.

9 posted on 08/01/2017 7:22:47 AM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: chief lee runamok

“Droves of mindless minions echoing damaging drivel...”

Very eloquent.

Me likes the cut of thy jib!


10 posted on 08/01/2017 8:09:08 AM PDT by b9
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To: combat_boots
Sadly, I am afraid that you are correct!

What Drives The Trump Haters

11 posted on 08/01/2017 8:50:47 AM PDT by Ohioan
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To: chief lee runamok

“...treasonous actions...”

When, may I ask, has a treasounous scu&bag leftist ever been brought to justice for perfidy, conplicity, illegal doings and general subversion?

(the answer is never)

IMHO


12 posted on 08/02/2017 7:50:07 AM PDT by ripley (ually to)
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