Once again, the Dems find themselves on the wrong side of a critical issue, a so-called 80-20 issue. Those of you who have been following the news (the real news) are cognizant that this is not the first time, and probably it will not be the last. The Dems have exhibited a propensity for this self-destruction, and if they continue to do so I predict dire consequences for them in the 2026 midterm elections. The party in power nearly always loses seats in the midterms, but 2026 may very well prove to be the exception.
As I have said in previous blogs, this is not the first time the Dems have fallen into this trap. Once again, Trump has co-opted the sensible and popular side of an issue, and the Dems have been left with a Hobson’s choice – either admit he is right and agree, or take the unpopular, illogical side. For example, three other fairly recent issues come to mind, (1) the Dems’ open border policy, (2) their openly favoring the rights of illegal immigrants over American citizens, and (3) their support of the rights of transgenders over those of females. Blinded by their insane, irrational hatred of Trump they have allowed themselves to be maneuvered into espousing the unpopular, illogical side of these issues. In my opinion these issues along with the economy played a significant part in their resounding defeat in the 2024 elections.
Crime has been one of the most significant issues for voters. People simply do not feel safe and secure, which are fundamental rights and expectations of everyone. This is the case pretty much everywhere to some extent, but it is particularly prevalent in “blue” cities like NY, Chi, LA and DC, among others. Many have characterized DC as the most crime-ridden capital in the world. At the very least it is highly dangerous and an embarrassment to the US.
All too often, criminals are not arrested, especially for “non-violent” crimes such as carjacking or assault, which are routinely ignored. (Anyone who has been a victim of one of those crimes will tell you they are most definitely NOT non-violent.) If they are arrested, due to “no cash” bail laws, they are soon released to commit more crimes, which they often do. Criminals know how to “work” the system. There have been many instances of criminals being arrested multiple times.
Shoplifting is common in some areas. Criminals simply walk into a business, brazenly take whatever they want, and walk out. Employees and security guards let them go. No one bothers to call the police. It is well known that the police are loath to arrest perpetrators of petty crimes, and if they do the jails are a revolving door. In blue jurisdictions “woke” prosecutors and judges often reduce felonies to misdemeanors, and juries tend to favor the rights of the accused over those of the victim. For instance, recently a grand jury in DC refused to indict a protester who had hit an ICE officer with a sandwich while the officer was in performance of his official duties, which legally is an assault.
Trump has dealt with this problem in a decisive, rational manner. In DC he activated the national guard to supplement and support local police who appeared to be overwhelmed. Their mere presence has had a significant benefit. Crime is way down. Homicide has been virtually eliminated. There were none in the first two weeks and, as I write this blog, only one since then.
Trump’s actions have received wide praise. Many citizens have rejoiced to reporters that, for the first times in years, they feel safe and secure enough to actually go out to restaurants and other venues. Even far left DC Mayor Muriel Bowser told reporters that she believed the boosted law enforcement presence was working.
In spite of the foregoing and the plethora of positive supporting empirical evidence the usual critics and naysayers are still in denial. For example, despite FBI data that has identified Chicago as one of the most violent and crime-ridden cities in the US IL Governor J B Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have criticized Trump’s actions in DC and have refused his repeated offers to provide Federal troops to support local police. In my view, they are willing to place their constituents in jeopardy and permit criminals to operate with impunity rather than accept help from Trump. They feel to do so would constitute recognition that his policy is right and is working. Consequently, in effect, they are siding with criminals over law-abiding citizens. It should be noted that the majority of these crimes are “black on black,” which contradicts the Dems’ claim that they seek to help the poor and disadvantaged.
To be sure, there have been critics. For instance, Politico cited reports from the Rochester Institute of Technology and the DOJ, itself, declaring that the murder rate and all violent crimes in DC had declined from 2023 to 2024. The implication was that DC had matters under control, did not need federal assistance, and Trump had “overstepped” in providing it. However, supporters have denoted that even those rates were still unacceptably high. Additionally, some observers have expressed doubt as to the veracity of those crime numbers. For example, there is evidence that many violent crimes may have been classified as misdemeanors. Moreover, as I said, it is a fact that in the weeks immediately following Trump’s deployment of federal troops there were NO homicides in DC and, as I write this, only one thereafter. Finally, the White House cited several high-profile victims of crimes, including the murders of two embassy staffers, and a congressional intern as well as assaults on various members of Congress, which have drawn much media reportage.
Conclusion
The foregoing is yet another example of the Dems being out of touch with the will of the voters, another example of their blind hatred of Donald Trump maneuvering them onto the wrong side of an 80-20 issue. How could they possibly think that supporting criminals over victims and violence over safety are winning strategies? It is simply amazing. I have never seen anything like it. There is no way to “spin” this. The public will not fooled.
As I have written many times, the Dems have allowed the far-left minority to hijack their party. The moderates, if there are any, have been cowed into silence. For God’s sake, they are about to elect a Marxist as Mayor of NYC, a Marxist!
Normally, there is an ebb and flow to the popularity and power of the two political parties from one election cycle to the next. Based on that, one could expect the Dems, which are down now, to make a comeback. However, I don’t see how they can rebound from this in the foreseeable future.
In my opinion, Jas Crockett has a big, loud mouth and an empty head. In recent months the member of House of Representative from the State of Texas has rocketed from obscurity to prominence. How has she managed that? By diligently and tirelessly working to benefit the lives of the people in her district? No? By sponsoring major legislation? No. By accomplishing anything positive for her district, her Party or her country? No, no, and no. What is has done and what she is really good at is finding a camera and spewing vituperative inanities to get attention.
Jasmine Felicia Crockett was born on March 29, 1981 in St. Louis, MO. She attended Rhodes College in Memphis, TN intending to become a CPA. But, after one of her professors told her that she had “too much personality” to pursue that career she began to reconsider. After witnessing a series of hate crimes and violence on campus toward AAs she decided to become an attorney. She attained a BA in 2002 and her Juris Doctor in 2006.
She entered politics in 2019, after incumbent representative Eric Johnson vacated his seat in the Texas legislature to run for mayor of Dallas. In 2020 she narrowly defeated his appointed replacement, Lorraine Birbal, in the Dem primary in a runoff and then won the election unopposed. She assumed office in January 2021.
In 2022 she ran for the vacated seat in Texas’ 30th congressional district. Again, she beat her Dem opponent in the primary in a runoff. Subsequently, she won the election in November 2022 and won re-election in 2024.
In short order she has raised her profile and gained national attention. She aggressively seeks any kind of attention. She doesn’t care if it is positive or negative. For the most part her public comments lack, decorum, accuracy, civility and class. They have been more suitable for a street corner rabble-rouser than a member of the US Congress.
First, during a 2023 impeachment hearing against President Biden she accused fellow congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and other Republicans of hypocrisy asserting that those launching the impeachment inquiry, and those who brought-forth charges against Biden, were ignoring what she characterized as documented evidence of President Trump’s impeachable offenses. “He keeps national secrets in the ‘shi**er.’ ” Then, she reiterated those accusations at the Dem Presidential convention this time referencing Trump’s “thinking chair—y’all know what I said the other time.”
Next, in March 2025, she referred to Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who is handicapped and uses a wheelchair, “Governor Hot Wheels” and a “Hot Ass Mess” in a speech she gave at the Human Rights Campaign’s annual dinner. (In response, Abbott took the high road replying: “It’s another day and another disaster by the Democrats.” As a result of her behavior Representative Randy Weber filed a censure resolution against her.
In addition to her unprofessional conduct unbefitting a member of Congress according to multiple media reports she has run through staffers at a prolific pace. She is rarely in her office to work on legislative matters “unless the TV cameras are rolling.” Rather than focusing on the needs of her constituents she is more interested in her profile with the public. She has been described as an “influencer” rather then a member of Congress. Another source described her as “all diva, no wow.” Furthermore when she does interact with her staff she is frequently rude, crude, lewd, and abusive. Finally, a former staffer characterized her thusly: “She is never in the office and is very disengaged. She does her bull—t that goes viral and then freaks out over the most random things.”
Conclusion
In a short time due to her relentless publicity-seeking she has become one of the more recognizable members of Congress, albeit in a mostly negative sense. She appeals to the lowest common denominator of the public, the disaffected, far left, anti-American, antisemitic suffers of TDS who are influenced by sound bites rather than facts.
If her goal was to develop name recognition, she certainly has succeeded. However, in my opinion she has failed dismally in the primary role of any representative, which is to serve the needs of her congressional district. I am not aware of her having contributed any substantive achievement such as sponsoring a bill or accomplishing anything positive for her district, her party or her country. Her notoriety has been aided and abetted by the reluctance of the more moderate Dems, such as such as (Up)Chuck Schumer and Hakim Jefferies, to criticize her extreme actions.
A significant portion of the electorate views her as a caricature who spews inane negative garbage just to get attention. All she does is criticize President Trump and his policies. She does not offer any alternative ideas or policies, because she has none. Furthermore, her carping is full of inaccuracies, exaggerations and vituperations.
As a final footnote, CBS News and other media outlets have speculated that Texas’ current redistricting plan for 2026 would eliminate Crockett’s House seat. If that were to occur if she wanted to remain in Congress, she would have to seek election in redrawn district with a different and perhaps less friendly constituency. Crockett has claimed she is being targeted. Perhaps, but I, for one, would not be sorry to see her go.
In my view, her antics, language and attitude have been an embarrassment to the institution of the Congress. If, in fact, she does lose her seat I say, good riddance.
Once again, Dems are exhibiting their propensity for embracing the wrong side of a popular issue. Polls support ICE’s efforts to deport illegal migrants, particularly those who have committed crimes while in the US. Moreover, Trump’s stance on immigration and securing the border was one the key issues that got him elected. And yet, various Dem supporters have not only criticized ICE’s efforts they have also vowed to hinder and interfere with them, violently, if necessary, even though they are simply enforcing the law. As I denoted in my previous blog this is the very definition of sedition, which is a crime that carries heavy criminal penalties.
Furthermore, the Dems have positioned themselves as the Party that is pro drug dealers and pro child traffickers and favors migrants over citizens and criminals over victims. Good strategy, Dems. No wonder most polls show that the Party’s overall approval rating is about 40%.
These loonies have repeatedly attacked ICE personnel physically, throwing bottles and bricks at them and their vehicles, and even going so far as to shoot at them. In addition, they are attempting to ascertain their identity for the purpose of attacking them and their families personally. Even worse, they are being egged on by certain Dem politicians, such as CA Governor Gavin Newsome, LA Mayor Karen Bass and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, as well as the left-leaning mainstream media. These politicians know that ICE is operating within the law. They are just grandstanding for their far-left constituents and attempting to distract voters from the many glaring inadequacies of their administrations
The latest iteration is ICE’s recent raid on two marijuana farms in CA. The Department of Homeland Security executed criminal search warrants at two Glass House Farms facilities in Camarillo and Carpinteria, northwest of Los Angeles. The raids were part of a monthlong campaign across Southern California that was originally centered on Los Angeles. In what Federal authorities characterized as one of their largest operations so far, they reported that they arrested more than 360 people at the farm’s two locations. The farm was suspected of subjecting 14 children to forced labor, exploitation and trafficking.
In my view, child trafficking is one of the most heinous crimes. Typically, a trafficking victim endures physical violence, sexual abuse, forced labor and/or deprivation of basic needs. ICE’s haul included migrants with prior arrests for a variety of crimes such as rape and child trafficking. In view of the foregoing the cannabis farm is being investigated for unspecified child labor violations.
During the raids some 500 protesters showed up with violent intent. Many of them carried Mexican flags; others hurled rocks at ICE vehicles; one person who was arrested has a history of committing violent crimes, including attempted child exploitation; a professor, was arrested for allegedly throwing a tear gas canister at ICE agents; and one protester fired a handgun towards agents. The agents were forced to use tear gas to disperse the mob.
In other related developments regarding the raids: (1) DHS reported that four U.S. citizens were arrested on suspicion of assaulting or resisting officers; (2) the children rescued at the farm are from Mexico and Honduras; (3) many of them were unaccompanied minors, and (4) immigration authorities are investigating the criminal histories of all the detained illegal aliens.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told reporters that rescuing the children from the farms was a key element of the plan from the beginning. Furthermore, she decried what she characterized as the “horrendous” behavior of the protesters. She told reporters: “Those individuals that were attacking those officers were trying to kill them.” She went on: “Let me be clear. You don’t throw rocks at vehicles like that, and you don’t attack them like that, unless you are trying to do harm to them physically and to kill them and to take their life.” U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott disclosed on X that one of the men apprehended in the raid had a criminal record for kidnapping, attempted rape and attempted child molestation.
Conclusion
According to a March 2025 DHS report, thanks to the Biden Administration’s open border policy over 600,000 unaccompanied migrant children have crossed the southern border since 2019. We have no idea of the actual number, but I suspect that figure is low. Essentially, we have lost track of hundreds of thousands of migrant children. Undoubtedly, many of them have become victims of forced labor or sex slavery. Keep that in mind whenever the Dems advocate for the rights of illegal aliens.
Illegal migrants threaten the security of our citizens. They have committed a plethora of crimes, which have been well documented. Moreover, although we are a wealthy country our financial resources are not infinite. Migrants soak up social and economic services at the expense of American citizens. Sanctuary jurisdictions cannot support the social and economic needs of both their own citizens and those of migrants and remain solvent. Typically, sanctuary jurisdictions actually give preference to migrants over their own citizens. CA is likely already bankrupt, and unless changes are implemented other locales such as IL and NY will soon be joining it.
We elected Donald Trump overwhelmingly for a reason. Let him and his people do their jobs without interference. To quote former president Obama, “elections have consequences.” If you don’t agree with Trump’s policies win the next election.
You simply cannot make this up. The Trump Derangement Syndrome seemingly knows no bounds. It has been extant for the better part of seven years, and it has exhibited no signs of dissipating. Rather, the TDS sufferers keep expanding their irrational hatred of all things Trump into new areas. Recently, they have focused their wrath on Elon Musk and all things Musk.
Until recently Musk was one of the Dems’ poster boys. Among other things he had developed the Tesla EV, which promised to significantly alter the auto industry. The “GNDers” had been clamoring for such a vehicle, which they hoped would wean Americans off vehicles that relied on fossil fuels. However, since the November election it has all changed. Now, they view Musk as a “turncoat,” a “traitor,” a fascist, and a Nazi. Why? What has he done? What heinous crime has he committed?
The answer is simple. He became part of the Trump Administration. He is the chief architect of DOGE, which is charged with the responsibility to and authority of identifying and eliminating inefficiency, waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government. For decades most everyone has agreed that spending is out of control and needs to be reduced significantly. Presently, the federal debt is approaching $37 trillion, which is way past crisis levels. Many people believe that that amount represents an existential threat to the viability of the country. Everyone’s been complaining about it, but no one has done anything about it. Until now.
Trump created DOGE and put Musk in charge of it. According to Fortune Magazine DOGE claims to have saved the federal government $115 billion so far by measures such as canceling contracts, terminating leases and encouraging federal agencies to reduce their workforces chiefly by (generous) buyouts. The oft-stated goal is to eliminate $1 trillion in federal spending by the end of the fiscal year in September. In my opinion, that the goal is well within its reach since it has barely scratched the surface. It should be denoted that DOGE’s critics, such as NPR and other left-leaning critics, have claimed those accomplishments have been inaccurate and exaggerated. However, their past news analyses have been shown to be inaccurate and unreliable, so I choose to rely on DOGE’s figures. Regardless, in the eyes of the left Musk has gone from hero to villain in record time.
Never mind that he is volunteering his time and expertise to help the country. Never mind that he has provided much needed aid to hurricane victims. Never mind that he has created an EV for which the left has been clamoring to “save the planet.” Never mind that he oversaw the return of two astronauts that had been stranded in space for months. He is a Trump ally; therefore, he is tarred with the same brush The left’s venom toward Musk has been focused Tesla, which has become the lightning rod for their ire.
For example, according to multiple news reports just in the last few days:
Dealerships and charging stations have been firebombed.
Protestors have drawn signs equating Musk with being a fascist and a Nazi.
According to Fox News in Idaho a man drove his vehicle into a pro-Tesla demonstration running over a man who was exiting his car that had pro-Trump flags.
ABC News reported that Boston police were hunting a man who had been vandalizing parked Teslas.
Daily Mail.com reported that in AZ an elderly female Tesla driver was dragged from her car and assaulted.
And my favorite, in NYC various protestors were seen hammering toy Teslas into smithereens on the sidewalk like petulant five-year-old children.
If these maniacs’ goal is to harm Musk in some way it is not working. He was and is the richest man in America. Apparently, what they don’t realize or don’t care is that they are actually hurting the working-class people who build the cars, service the cars, sell the cars and buy the cars. Many of the foregoing are Dem voters. Like I said their derangement knows no bounds.
When interviewed on tv it becomes readily apparent that these protestors are woefully ignorant of the facts and don’t care to learn them. Many of them are frustrated losers who have nothing worthwhile in their lives. They need to “get a life” (or maybe a job). Others are paid agitators who move from venue to venue and issue to issue just to protest. Ask yourself why is it always “lefties” who protest and foment violence?
Many of them are under the mistaken belief that DOGE plans to eliminate or significantly reduce programs such as social security, Medicare and Medicaid. I suppose they believe the lies being spouted by the fake news media, but in point of fact the opposite is true. DOGE is actually trying to save those programs, which have been hemorrhaging money and are heading for bankruptcy. Presently, they are rife with the kind of inefficiency, waste, fraud and abuse that I am talking about. For instance, there have been reports of 120-year-old persons receiving SS benefits and people receiving bogus and/or multiple Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements.
Even worse, their insistence on labeling Trump and Musk as “Hitler” and “Nazis” illustrates that they have no conception of who the real Hitler and Nazis were and what they did. This constitutes a blatant ignorance of and disregard for the actual Holocaust victims.
While I am on this rant, I would like to denote that as many of us predicted Trump’s much maligned tariff policy is working. Based upon his threat of implementing “reciprocal tariffs” commencing on April 2 several countries, such as Canada, Mexico, India, Vietnam and the EU countries have announced they have or intend to reduce or eliminate their tariffs on American exports. Moreover, a plethora of large companies have announced they will be relocating their businesses to locations in the US to avoid tariffs. According to Fox News the total relocations will amount to $4 Trillion, that’s trillion with a capital T. That means jobs, lots and lots of jobs.
Conclusion
Where are the moderate Dems? Are there any left? I have posed this question many times before. I believe there are some, but they have chosen to remain silent while the far-left wing of the party destroys its brand. From FDR’s victory in 1932 to the last election the Dems were known as the party of the working man, the poor, the blacks and various ethnic groups. Trump’s victory changed all of that. Now they are perceived as the Party of the coastal elites and the privileged. It’s the Republicans who are favored by those groups of voters. Trump has co-opted the 80% side of all the 80-20 issues. Trump has co-opted a commonsense approach to these issues. The Dems have been forced by their TDS to support the likes of terrorists, criminals, illegal aliens, and men in women’s safe spaces, among others. They are perceived as out of touch with the majority of voters.
The spokespersons for the Party are now “lefties” Bernie Sanders, AOC and Jasmine Crockett. So, I repeat, where are the moderates? In my opinion, they are hiding, particularly those who will be running for re-election in 2026. They have been intimidated by their small but vocal left wing. They are afraid of being “primaried.” Like bears, they are hibernating.
I predict they will resurface prior to the 2026 election and do what Dems always do – espouse Republican values and policies in order to win the election. And then they will renege on their promises and return to hibernation. Voters – do not be gaslighted.
There are three special elections today. One is for the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The winning Party will hold the balance of power in the court. The other two are for two vacant House seats in Florida, both of which were held by Republicans. Special elections often fly under the radar. Most voters don’t pay attention to them, but they are important and bear watching closely.
Based on the political news since the November 2024 election I have come to the conclusion that the Dems are heading slowly, but inexorably, toward self-destruction. Figuratively, I feel as if I am watching an out-of-control speeding vehicle careening toward a cliff, and there is nothing I or anyone else can do to stop it. What’s more, the Dem Party professionals and their allies in the media are driving the car. Hyperbole, perhaps, slightly, but after reading this blog, I believe that, unless you are a “Kool-aide drinker,” you will come to the same conclusion.
Consider:
The election was nearly five months ago, long enough for the shock to have worn off. Long enough for the Dems to have regrouped and formulated a strategy to rebound.
And yet, after all this time many if not most of them have still not ascertained why and how they lost. They cannot fathom that they, themselves and their policies, were to blame. Rather than looking internally, they are continuing to blame others.
Most of us know that the first step to resolving a problem is to admit that you have one. This is a hard lesson to learn, but it is a necessary one. Drug addicts learn it; alcohol abusers learn it; why can’t the Dem politicians learn it?
In my opinion it is because they are in complete denial. They live in a figurative bubble and cannot conceive how the vast majority of people live, how they continually have to deal with real life problems, like finding a good-paying job, putting food on the table, and paying the rent or mortgage.
In essence, they believe their own propaganda. We all know the drill. The border is secure; go “Green;” illegals, even criminals, drug dealers and terrorists, have rights even superseding those of citizens; inflation is transitory; and transgenders should be allowed to enter girls’ private spaces and compete with them in sports.
Last November the GOP won an election as decisively as any in a long time. Trump won the presidency in a landslide; he won the popular vote, which is rare for a Republican; he won all seven swing states; he made significant inroads into traditionally Dem voting blocs such as blacks, Hispanics, Jews and young people; and his coattails flipped the Senate and retained the House.
However, the numbers do not tell the entire story. Five months later the Dem Party finds itself in complete disarray. It is firmly in the control of its radical left wing. Its spokespersons are AOC, Bernie Sanders, Hakeem Jeffries, and Jasmine Crockett, all left wing, not a moderate in the bunch. CNN, MSNBC, the NY Times and the Washington Post are spewing their distorted fake news as aggressively as ever.
Meanwhile, the Trump Administration has established itself on the “right side,” the “commonsense side,” of every issue that is important to voters, the so-called “80-20 issues,” such as securing the borders, the rights of citizens over illegal aliens, law and order, energy independence, deporting criminal illegal aliens, eliminating fraud, waste and abuse in government, Israel over Hamas, peace in Ukraine, local control of education, and eliminating transgenders from women’s private spaces and sports. On the other hand, the Dem’s, since they must oppose any Trump policy, have been forced to support the opposing side in all of those issues.
Thus, they have been forced into the ludicrous and untenable position of supporting, or at least tolerating pro-Hamas, anti-Jewish riots and lawlessness on college campuses, blocking the deporting of criminal illegals who have committed the most heinous of crimes, and firebombing Tesla showrooms. The latter is especially inane. It was the Dems who pushed EVs and other “green” policies on the reluctant public for years. Elon Musk was their hero. Now, just because Musk is an ally of Trump’s they are advocating the destruction of his company and returning to gas guzzler cars? Don’t they realize how unhinged that appears? Don’t they care? Furthermore, let’s not overlook the fact that they are endangering innocent people’s lives and damaging thousands of workers’ livelihoods.
Now the radical Dems are attempting to depose Chuck Schumer as Minority Leader in the Senate and replace his with a more left-leaning senator. Regular readers know I am not a Schumer fan. In fact, I despise him politically. I have no respect for him. I consider him to be a political chameleon with no integrity. His support for Israel and Jews, in general, has been tepid at best. He has not spoken out in support of Israel in its war against Hamas nor in opposition of the riots and lawlessness on college campuses against Jewish students. That said, I believe they would be making a mistake if they were to replace him with a more radical senator.
Conclusion
The Dems need to regroup and fast. They need to recognize why and how they lost in 2024 and change their policies. They need to get over their TDS and join the Republicans on the right side of the aforementioned 80-20 issues. They need to control their radical left wing and coalesce behind moderate leaders. Otherwise, there will be more of the same in 2026 and beyond.
On the humorous side, Joe Biden has resurfaced. He has offered to help the Dems with their current predicament. That should be a “hard pass.”
By most accounts, President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress on March 4 was a rousing success. That’s not just my opinion; it’s an opinion shared even by normally anti-Trump sources.
For example, a CBS poll reported that 76% of respondents approved of the speech. The same poll disclosed that 77% are in favor of his program to eliminate government waste, fraud and abuse; 77% support his border/immigration policies; 73% support his efforts to negotiate a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine; and 65% agree with him on tariffs. A CNN poll disclosed that 69% of respondents had a positive reaction to his speech.
Only 20% thought that Congressman Al Greene’s antics were “appropriate.” Political disagreements are fine, even to be expected, but they should be decorous. In general, the Dems’ antics were unprofessional, undignified, and unbefitting members of Congress. Although not unprecedented they were highly unusual and overly extreme. Most viewers were appalled. Even other Dems were loath to defend them. Trump’s reaction was restrained. He denoted that “these people sitting right here will not clap, will not stand and certainly will not cheer [for any of my achievements no matter what].”
Most devastating, according to a Quinnipiac poll only 21% of respondents view the Dem Party favorably at this time. More on this later.
In my opinion, in just a little over six weeks in office President Trump has accomplished more than any other president in that short time period, with the possible exception of FDR in his first term. I would argue that he has already accomplished more than President Joe Biden and his various unofficial and unelected surrogates did in four years. Those of us who have been paying attention know what they are, and there is no need to repeat all of them in detail in this blog. There are too many of them anyway. Trump has been a veritable whirling dervish. He has set such a fast pace that before his critics can react to one decision, he will have enacted three more. They literally have been unable to keep up. But I would like to highlight a few of what I consider to be the more significant ones.
So, as David Letterman might say, below please find my “Top Ten:”
He was ready to go full bore on Day 1.
Eighteen of his cabinet nominees have already been approved, and they, too, have hit the ground running.
He has signed in excess of 100 Executive Orders and has promulgated over 400 Executive Actions.
He has virtually closed the southern border. The Dems had insisted it couldn’t be done without new legislation. It turned out all that was needed was a new president and a new border Czar.
He has commenced the rounding up and deporting of illegal alien gang members, criminals, cartel members, spies and psychos.
He has made significant progress toward peace in the Russia-Ukraine War, which has claimed thousands of lives and cost us billions of dollars. The spat between Zelensky and Trump will be resolved. Apparently, Zelensky’s belligerent attitude in their meeting in the White House was the result of bad advice by certain Dems with whom he had met beforehand. Ukraine needs the US’s support in order to survive, and we need access to their copious supply of raw earth minerals.
He has made significant progress in “convincing” Hamas to release many of the hostages from the October 7 attack with more to come.
He has ordered the commencement oil and gas drilling and the reopening of the Keystone Pipeline.
Through DOGE he has commenced an aggressive program to eliminate government fraud, abuse and waste. The program has already saved billions of dollars, and the goal to save one trillion dollars seems to be within reach.
He has encouraged many companies to relocate to the US or else face tariffs on their products, and he has instituted reciprocal tariffs against countries that have been imposing tariffs on us. These tariffs are scheduled to commence on April 2 if deals have not been finalized by then. If they come to pass certain prices will likely increase. Hopefully, they will not be needed
All that said, his most enduring accomplishment has been to maneuver the Dem Party and its allies in the media into supporting the wrong side of all the so-called 80-20 issues that are most important to voters. These people are poster boys for “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” aka TDS. Over the past several years it has become increasingly apparent that this is a real condition. The primary symptom is that they cannot agree with any Trump policy or action no matter what, even if it is obviously beneficial and makes common sense. For instance they could not bring themselves to stand and applaud the capture of the “top terrorist” who had masterminded the bombing of the Kabul Airport during the bungled withdrawal from Afghanistan, or in acknowledgment of the various Gold Star moms, widows and orphans whose loved ones had been slain by illegal aliens and/or criminals, or the young female volleyball player whose head was smashed in by a transgender during a match, or the 13-year-old boy who had survived brain cancer who was made an honorary member of the Secret Service, or the orphaned high school graduate who it was announced had been admitted to West Point, or the captive who was recently released from a Russian prison to whom Trump paid special tribute.
Thus, they are presently being portrayed as:
being against commonsense,
advocating the rights of illegal aliens over those of American citizens,
defending the rights of criminals rather than law abiding citizens,
being antisemitic and misogynistic
opposing eliminating taxes on tips, overtime and social security payments for seniors,
favoring war over peace,
advocating transgender males competing against biological females in sports and entering female spaces, and
perpetuating fraud, waste and abuse in government.
They have become the Party of “no.” They have not articulated any viable alternative policies to Trump’s. They just reject his and call him hateful names. They stand for nothing. They have been forced out of the mainstream onto the far-left fringe on many issues. Undoubtedly that accounts for their low approval rating. Even though voters’ political opinions can and normally have changed radically in a short time, the current climate does not augur well for those Congressmen and women who will be running for office in 2026, many of whom represent districts that voted overwhelmingly for Trump in 2024.
Conclusion
For the time being Trump has flipped the Dem coalition of working people, middle class, blacks, Hispanics and Jews that was established by FDR in 1932. The Dems are now perceived as the party of elites and out of touch with everyday Americans. Hopefully, that will endure. We’ll see.
What is “commonsense?” We’re all familiar with the expression, but for many of us it is hard to define. It’s reminiscent of former Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart’s response when asked to define pornography: “I know it when I see it.” According to the dictionary commonsense is characterized by “sound and prudent judgment based on a simple perception of the situation or facts.” Sounds good, so let’s go with that.
In his first month in office Donald Trump has accomplished a great deal, arguably more than any other president in history. However, perhaps his greatest achievement has been to cop-opt the common- sense approach to the key issues facing the country, relegating the Dems to the fringes. As I said, we may not be able to define it, but we know it when we see it, and we see it in what Trump is doing.
There have been a plethora of obvious examples, but just a few will suffice to make my point:
Immigration. Open borders with no security and no vetting never made any sense. It’s akin to leaving your home unlocked and the doors and windows open allowing anyone unfettered access. No one in their right mind would do that. Most of the advocates for open borders were those who enjoy the security of walled and gated communities or doormen and/or travel with private security. The obvious results have spoken for themselves. It’s commonsense that people and countries need secure barriers such as walls and other security measures for protection. The Vatican Wall and the Great Wall of China have served this purpose for centuries. The original Vatican Wall dates back to 846, although it has been expanded over the years. The Great Wall of China was constructed over a period of over 2,000 years beginning in the third century BC. Both walls were built to protect citizens from marauders. It is inane to claim they are not needed or don’t work as the Dems have maintained. On the other hand, look at the European Union. The borders between member states generally resemble a sieve. In the past decade some 29 million immigrants, both legal and illegal have entered causing political, social, criminal and economic problems. Trump’s security measures are commonsense, and they are working.
Biological males’ access to females’ bathrooms and locker rooms and competing against them in sports. This is another commonsense issue. Only a sliver of the populace advocates this. I doubt that very many females would be comfortable with this, nor be would any sane parent of a young girl. Similarly, females should not have to compete against biological males in sports. Males are generally physiologically bigger and stronger. It is not fair, but more importantly it is dangerous. Anyone who watched a biological male boxer beat up a biological female boxer in the last Olympics would attest to that. For years the Dems have ignored this issue or even defended it. Trump has vowed to resolve it. Again, it’s commonsense.
Crime. The Dems’ ill-conceived and ill-advised sanctuary jurisdiction policy and lenient attitude toward crime and criminals has rendered “blue” cities unsafe. Criminals operate with impunity. Law-abiding citizens fear for their safety. Many businesses have been unable to survive. Thousands of people have relocated from “blue” to “red” jurisdictions. This is another commonsense issue.
Government waste, fraud and abuse. This is another obvious issue. For decades people have wanted politicians to deal with this issue. Finally, someone, Trump, is doing something about it. Trump, through Homeland Security and ICE, is cracking down, hard. How could any reasonable person object to tackling this issue? Yet, many Dems are objecting, which has led many people to conclude that they have been complicit and have something to hide.
CONCLUSION
In my view, Trump’s policies and actions to date cannot be categorized as either Dem or Republican, liberal or conservative. He is more of a populist. He is working on behalf of all Americans, regardless of political persuasion.
As I have written in previous blogs, he has not only been resolving America’s problems, more significantly he is on the verge of rendering the Dems a minor party. The Dems hate Trump so much that they are blindly and instinctively committed to opposing anything he says or does regardless of the consequences or if they make sense. As a result, they have found themselves on the wrong side of each of the above issues as well as most others. These are not closely contested issues either. Trump has staked out positions favored by 80-90% of the voters, leaving the Dems stuck with positions favored by a very slim minority.
In addition, they are leaderless at the present time. No one has stepped up to try to unite the Party. It is dominated by its far-left wing. The moderates have been cowed into silence.
The Dems have not offered any viable alternative policies or solutions. They have become the party of “no” and name-calling. They still have not come to terms with the reasons why they lost the 2024 election much less corrected them. That does not augur well for them in 2026 or 2028.
In the words of ex-NY Giants football coach Tom Coughlin “talk is cheap; play the game.” For the past several years various politicians have been advocating the need for a “comprehensive” immigration policy, but for various reasons nothing substantive has been accomplished. President Trump also has been staunchly advocating strengthening the southern border. This includes preventing illegal immigrants from entering the country and deporting the undesirable ones that are already here. Only five days into his presidency Trump has been demonstrating that, unlike his predecessors, his talk was not cheap. He intends to “play the game.” We are witnessing yet another example that Trump “says what he means and means what he says.”
The Great Deportation has begun. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt proclaimed that “President Trump is sending a strong and clear message to the world that if you illegally enter the [US] you will face severe consequences.” Officials assert that this is just the beginning of the deportation process. Moreover, the US has already deployed some 4,000 active-duty military personnel to render assistance to inundated CBP personnel. This is an obvious tactic that somehow eluded the prior Administration.
While Trump has vowed a campaign of mass deportations, his White House border czar has repeatedly said that initially they will be targeting the low-hanging fruit, people who have committed crimes. That includes known terrorists, spies, psychos, and criminals, such as rapists, pedophiles, gang members and murderers. (The NY Post has dubbed this phase “pervs and perps,” which is an apt moniker.) Many of these people are relatively easy to find. Law enforcement officials have arrested and released them multiple times. They know where to find them. They are not hiding. Heretofore, they have had no fear of law enforcement. That is about to change.
ICE is now be authorized to seek out illegals in locations that were previously prohibited on the grounds of being “sensitive,” such as schools, churches and hospitals. Some rights groups, such as the ACLU, have launched plans to protect immigrants who are detained at these locations even though border czar Tom Homan has declared repeatedly that ICE operations will be focused initially on specific people who have committed crimes.
According to a survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research there is widespread support in America for beefing up security at the southern border and undertaking some targeted deportations, particularly of people who have committed violent crimes. The same poll reported that most Americans think local police should cooperate with federal immigration authorities on deportations in at least some cases. Support declines when it comes to deporting people in the country illegally who have not been convicted of a crime. Some deportations may be controversial, such as those that split families where some members are citizens and others are not, but for now the public is squarely behind these deportations.
In just five days, Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, has accomplished more than Kackling Kamala did in four years. There have been hundreds of arrests and hundreds more detentions. Fox News reported that this included illegals from dozens of countries. Multiple media outlets have shown the visual of these people boarding C-17s in shackles to be transported to various countries. It’s true what they say: “a picture is worth a thousand words.”
Trump has suspended the entry of all undocumented migrants to the US, and border patrol agents have been instructed to turn people away without granting them asylum hearings. Heretofore, migrants were able to arrive at the US border and had the legal right to seek asylum. He also ended a major Biden-era policy that allowed up to 30,000 migrants per month from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to fly into the US on “humanitarian” grounds.
People, both foreign and domestic, are getting the message. As these deportees return to their home country other wannabees are realizing the futility of even trying to come to the US. On Friday, Guatemala received three flights from the U.S. loaded with Guatemalan nationals who had been sent back to their home country. A spokesperson for the Guatemalan Migration Institute told NBC News that two of Friday’s flights were on military aircraft and the other was on a non-military plane. The total number of Guatemalans who arrived in Guatemala City from the three flights was about 265.
In another interesting development the city of Huntington Beach, CA, located in deep blue Orange County, passed a “non-sanctuary city resolution” that basically requires local law enforcement to cooperate with ICE and other federal agencies in the performance of their duties with respect to locating, detaining and deporting illegal aliens. I view this as a direct “shot” at Governor Newsome and CA’s sanctuary policies. Could it be the first of many? We’ll see.
According to the AP Mexico denied a U.S. military plane access to land Thursday, at least temporarily frustrating the Trump administration’s plans to deport immigrants to that country. In a press release, Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not go into detail as to why the U.S. plane was not allowed to land. However, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s government has said it opposes “unilateral action” by Trump to implement “restrictive immigration standards,” such as the reinstatement of the “remain in Mexico” policy.
The Administration dealt with that issue with alacrity. A White House official said in a text message that “the flights thing was an administrative issue and was quickly rectified.” Indeed, on Friday White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced, that “yesterday, Mexico accepted a record four deportation flights in one day.” President Scheinbaum added, “Mexico has a very good relationship with the United States government, and we cooperate on a wide range of issues, including migration.” She added “when it comes to repatriations, we will always welcome the arrival of Mexicans to our territory with open arms. Mexico embraces you.”
Mexico is anticipating an influx of migrants pursuant to Trump’s deportation orders and has started building giant tent shelters in nine border cities to temporarily house them. For example, according to Reuters as part of the “Mexico Embraces You” program the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juárez has commenced to construct shelters that will be able to house thousands of migrants and should be ready in a few days. The shelters will provide food, medical care and assistance in getting identification documents. Additionally, a fleet of buses will be available to help transport Mexicans back to their hometowns. Other nations, such as Guatemala are planning to launch similar efforts to absorb their returning deportees.
Another significant development was the scrapping of the CBP One smartphone app, which migrants were able to use to schedule appointments with US border patrol agents. The CBP One app was launched by the Biden administration as a way to organize and streamline the entry of migrants who are fleeing persecution. According to CBS News, some 270,000 migrants who had been hoping to utilize the app to obtain appointments have become stranded in Mexico. The American Civil Liberties Union has since filed a legal challenge against the app’s closure.
In other related news the Trump Administration removed Secret Service protection from Anthony Fauci, John Bolton and Mike Pompeo. Trump, somewhat facetiously, offered to “give them some [telephone] numbers of some very good security people” if they wanted to hire their own.
Conclusion
According to Fox News Digital illegal immigrant encounters at the southern border have dropped significantly since Trump’s inauguration compared to the end of the previous administration. It is refreshing to finally have a president who recognizes a problem and proceeds to resolve it quickly and efficiently. Illegal immigration is but one of many problems Trump has inherited, and my hope and expectation is that he will handle the others in a similarly expeditious fashion.
He’s baaaack! The country is ecstatic (most of it anyway, the wokers not so much, but who cares?). Our allies are reassured. Our enemies are wary, or perhaps, even fearful.
Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution states that “The executive Power shall be vested in the President of the United States of America,” and it provided an oath of office for the President-elect’s official swearing-in. This 35-word oath has remained unchanged for more than two centuries, in part because it so clearly and simply describes the responsibilities of the Chief Executive. It says:
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” (Washington added the words “so help me God,” which became a permanent part of the oath.)
There is no constitutional requirement that the oath be administered by the chief justice. It has been administered by 15 chief justices (one of whom—William Howard Taft—was also a former president), but due to various exigent circumstances also by one associate justice, four federal judges, two NYS judges and one notary public.
The word inauguration is derived from the Latin augur, which refers to the rituals of ancient Roman priests seeking to interpret if it was the will of the gods for a public official to be deemed worthy to assume office.
Trump’s inauguration took place on Monday at 12:01, yes, the oath of office commenced one minute late, but who cares. There is no requirement that the Bible or any book for that matter, be used to administer the oath, and none is mentioned in the Constitution. John Roberts, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court administered the oath of office to President Donald Trump whereupon Trump officially became the 47th president of the United States of America. Attendees included Trump’s and J. D. Vance’s families, a plethora of other prominent politicians, business leaders, entertainers and other assorted dignitaries, including former politicians Bush, Clinton and Obama and of course Biden, Harris and their spouses.
Biden and Harris, who undoubtedly loath each other, sat side-by-side and listened stone-faced as Trump ripped their failed Administration to shreds. Perhaps, his criticisms were a bit excessive, but I don’t believe he said anything that wasn’t accurate. At the conclusion of the ceremony, they faded away into history. They still have their supporters, but most Americans will breathe a sigh of relief. They depart with one of the lowest approval ratings ever. Prospectively, historians will assess their tenure, and in my view not in a positive way.
For most of us, the resurrection of America has begun. Trump characterized it as the “golden age of America.” The changes will be radical, virtually 180 degrees. For the past four years the country had lost its way. It had morphed from a 250-year democracy into a morass of wokeism, DEI, and divisiveness. The swamp was overflowing and threatening to drown us all. We were unable or unwilling even to defend our borders. The southern border was more akin to a turnstile than a real border. We were wrecking our economy by paying excessively for foreign oil and gas while ignoring a literal ocean of it under our feet. America was being perceived around the world as weak, indecisive, and fatuous. All that changed in an instant at 12:01 yesterday.
There were some unusual facets to Trump’s Inauguration Day. First of all, although Presidential inaugurations have traditionally been held outside and in public, due to the freezing weather it was held indoors. This was to protect the health of the public who wanted to see the festivities. This year’s was not the first one to be moved indoors due to the weather. For example, in 1909, Taft’s inauguration was moved to the Senate Chamber due to a blizzard, and in 1985, harsh weather forced Reagan’s second inauguration to be moved inside. These were wise decisions. History buffs will recall the tragedy that befell William Henry Harrison following his outdoor inauguration. More on that below.
Secondly, over the course of the day Trump delivered three speeches of roughly 33 minutes each, first at the inauguration, itself, then in a separate room to a group of elected officials who had been unable to gain access to the main room, and finally a third speech to a group of supporters. These were followed by a casual impromptu press conference while he was signing some 100 EOs. Unlike Biden, who basically hid from the media, he answered any and all questions. To me, this illustrated the true genius of Trump. It’s not just what he says, which is important; it’s also his style – relaxed, conversational, and transparent.
In his speeches Trump did not say much that was new. Generally, he reiterated what he has been saying for the last four years on the campaign trail, in the debate, and in press conferences. I didn’t object to the repetition. I realize it served a purpose as it was new to some people. Few people doubt that he will follow through. He has demonstrated that he says what he means and means what he says.
As promised, Trump signed a slew of EOs, including, among others:
Reversing 78 EO’s that Biden had signed.
Halt temporarily the Tik Tok ban pending negotiations.
Withdraw from the ill-advised, ill-conceived Paris climate accords.
Declare a “National emergency” at the southern border. This will facilitate the various reforms to our border policy that Trump has been advocating.
Declare a “National emergency” with respect to energy. This will enable us to resume drilling and reopen the Keystone Pipeline.
Designate drug cartels and migrant gangs as terrorist organizations.
Pardon some 1,500 persons who were convicted of crimes related to the January 6 demonstrations at the capitol.
Authorize the creation of DOGE.
Terminate the practice of men competing against women in sports. Prospectively, there will only be two genders – male and female.
Rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, replace Mt. Denali with the original name, Mt. McKinley, and resume control of the Panama Canal.
Terminate the policy of “birthright citizenship.” The success or failure of this will ultimately be determined by SCOTUS’ interpretation of the 14th Amendment.
Some of these will be enacted immediately; others will take some time; and others will face legal challenges. However, as we have seen, Trump is persistent and persuasive.
What was my favorite part of the inauguration? EVERYTHING! I loved the pageantry. I loved the speeches. I loved it all. Mostly, I loved the fact that it took place at all. It was four years in the making and long overdue. To put it succinctly, the country could not have survived four more years of Biden/Harris.
The initial inauguration (of George Washington) in 1789 in New York City, which was the nation’s first capital, was delayed due to harsh weather, which made travel even more difficult than normally. It was supposed to take place on March 4, the day of the year on which the federal government was to begin operations that year in accordance with the Constitution. But it took until April 6 for a quorum of congressmen to make its way to NYC to even count the electors’ votes and officially declare GW the President (unanimously) and John Adams the Vice President.
Washington wasn’t even there. It took several days for the news to reach him at his home in Mount Vernon. He left for NYC immediately, but he didn’t arrive for several weeks. It was probably an arduous journey by horseback, coach and barge. Inauguration Day was April 30. All subsequent (regular) inaugurations from 1793 until 1933 were held on March 4. Martha did not even join him until later.
One issue was GW’s official title. After much debate finally, a congressional committee settled on the title we still use today: “President of the United States.”
The only ones who heard GW’s Inaugural Address were those members of Congress gathered in Federal Hall in NYC on April 30, 1789. Over the years the Inaugural process has undergone various iterations, but the First Inauguration established many traditions that continue today. For example, President Washington followed his swearing-in with an Inaugural Address, a special speech written for the occasion. In 1793 the oath of office for Washington’s second term was administered by William Cushing, an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court and the first in a long line of Supreme Court Justices to preside over Presidential Inaugurations.
Thomas Jefferson was the first to be sworn in as President in Washington, D.C., the location chosen for the permanent capital and the site of all but a handful of subsequent Inaugural ceremonies. Jefferson showed his taste for simplicity by going on foot to the Capitol for the oath-taking and returning to his boardinghouse afterwards for dinner. Imagine that!
After his second Inauguration, however, Jefferson rode on horseback from the Capitol to the President’s House (the name then used for the White House) amid music and a spontaneous gathering of mechanics from the nearby Navy Yard – a procession that has morphed the Inaugural Parade.
Jefferson’s second Inauguration also began the tradition of the Inaugural Open House, when the executive mansion was opened to all who wished to greet the President after his swearing-in. The popularity of the Open House would later cause our seventh President, Andrew Jackson, to flee through a window after a mob of well-wishers stormed the White House, ruining furniture and breaking china in their eagerness to see him.
James Madison, America’s fourth President, and his wife, Dolley, were the guests of honor at the first official Inaugural Ball, held at Long’s Hotel in Washington, D.C. His inaugural address was the first to be published in the newspapers for all to read. Martin Van Buren’s Inauguration featured two balls.
The most tragic inauguration was that of William Henry Harrison. He was inaugurated as the ninth President of the US on March 4, 1841. The day of the inauguration was overcast with a cold wind, but foolishly, Harrison eschewed an overcoat, hat, and gloves for the ceremony. Furthermore, he delivered the longest inaugural address to date, 8,445 words over nearly two hours. On March 26, Harrison developed a cold, which evolved into pneumonia. In those pre-antibiotic days pneumonia was often fatal. Harrison died on April 4. He was the first president to die in office; his 31-day tenure is the shortest of any President.
James Polk took the oath of office in 1845 while Samuel Morse, inventor of the electric telegraph, sat near him on the platform tapping out the news on his newly invented machine. In 1857 James Buchanan’s Inaugural ceremony became the first to be photographed. Citizens across the country were able to share in the festivities through pictures.
In 1865, despite growing concern about safety, Abraham Lincoln shook some 6,000 hands after his second Inauguration. President Grover Cleveland, realizing that the White House could no longer accommodate such crowds, instead held a review of the troops from a flag-draped grandstand just outside, adding another element to the Inaugural Parade.
In 1897 William McKinley became the answer to a trivia question (Who was the first president to appear in a motion picture?) Most people assume the answer to be Ronald Reagan, but it was McKinley as highlights of his inauguration were recorded by movie cameras.
In 1925 Calvin Coolidge’s oath of office was broadcast on the radio. In 1949, Harry Truman became the first President to whose swearing-in was televised. In 1997 President Bill Clinton’s second Inauguration was the first to feature an official web site and to be seen live on the Internet by people around the world.
Later Inaugurations have featured specially built pavilions for dancing, balls held at several sites throughout the capital, and even Inaugural parties in other cities. Modern Inaugural festivities reflect not only the President they honor, but also the desire to include the many Americans who want to take part in celebrating our nation’s rich history and the transfer of presidential power. Moreover, due to the wonders of modern technology millions of people are now able to view the festivities on television, streaming services or even their phones from the comfort of their own home.
Normally, the content of inaugural addresses is soon forgotten, but there are exceptions. Some examples of enduring moments include:
During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln called on Americans to “…finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds.”
In 1933 Franklin Roosevelt reached out to citizens discouraged by the Great Depression, saying, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
And the one I remember, in 1961 JFK urged, “…ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”
Conclusion
At the present time the country is more united than in several years. Trump has a strong mandate, but the people will expect him to fulfill it. History tells us that the public’s patience will wear thin. Winning the election was an important first step. Now, comes the hard part – governing. The GOP has a very slim majority in the House, and the Dems will likely not be inclined to cooperate. Trump will have only 12 or at most 18 months to demonstrate progress before the 2026 midterm elections where history tells us that the president’s Party can expect to lose Congressional seats. We have a great opportunity. Let’s hope we don’t waste it.
Today is January 14. Donald Trump will be inaugurated as the 47th President of the US on Monday, January 20. For those of you who may be math-challenged, that’s six days from now, or as we used to say in the Navy, “five days and I wake up.” Six days until we cleanse ourselves of the Wokers. Six days until we rid ourselves of all the DEI BS. Six days until we begin to drain the swamp. Six days until, to paraphrase former President Gerald Ford, “the long national nightmare will be over.” Six days until the day of reckoning for America’s enemies. Six days until we have a real country again with real borders. Six days until we begin to expel all the drug dealers, criminals, spies, psychos, and other interlopers that have infested our country. Six days until we begin to “drill, baby, drill.” Six days until we will take back our country. On November 5, 2024 the “deplorables” spoke loudly and clearly. In six days, America will once again be a democracy.
Based on multiple media reports Trump has compiled some 100 executive orders that he plans to sign on Day 1 and implement asap. One hundred may seem like a lot, but other presidents have signed more, many more. For example, FDR signed 3,021 during his tenure.
An executive order (EO) is a written directive from the President of the United States that has the force of law and directs and empowers the members of the Executive Branch of the federal government to take certain actions. EOs are based on the President’s power and authority derived from Article II of the Constitution. EOs have the effect of law and do not require action by Congress.
EOs can be controversial. Some people deride them as a means for the president to govern by bypassing Congress. However, EOs are legal as long as they do not “”make new law.”
Much of the damage Biden perpetrated was via EOs, for instance, summarily halting the use of the Keystone Pipeline, so Trump should be able to undo them just as easily. Indeed, Trump has declared “I can undo almost everything Biden did through EOs, and on Day 1 much of that will be undone.”
That said, voters will have to be patient. It will not be possible to enact all changes on Day 1 or even Week 1. Some may require the consent of Congress. Others, such birthright citizenship and transgender issues will likely face legal challenges. But the voters gave Trump a strong mandate, and he can be very persuasive and persistent. I expect most of them to get done eventually.
Below please find a sample of the pending EOs. Most of these are already well into the planning stage and will be ready to be implemented on Day 1:
Secure the border. This will include finishing the border wall, reinstituting travel bans and the remain in Mexico policy, mass deportations of criminals, drug dealers, suspected terrorists, spies, migrants who commit crimes, and other undesirables. Contrary to what many Dems are saying ICE will not be snatching people off the street or separating families. The focus will be on the low hanging fruit as described above. It is estimated that there are several hundred thousand such persons, plenty enough to keep ICE busy.
Rein in sanctuary jurisdictions. These entities are breaking the law, and the Federal government has the power to stop them. For example, the Feds could suspend funding for these jurisdictions and/or prosecute those who adamantly refuse to cooperate.
Resume oil and gas drilling and reopen the Keystone Pipeline. I have discussed this issue many times in previous blogs. The US has access to massive amounts of oil and gas in the ground and offshore. We have enough to not only supply our needs but also much of the world’s. There is a plethora of positive ramifications of this action, such as restoring energy independence, adding good paying jobs, and reducing the price of oil and the rate of inflation, in general, to name just a few of the obvious ones. Additionally, it would confer upon us the ability to impair the economies of Iran and Russia who currently are making fortunes from oil. An ancillary benefit would be to severely diminish Iran’s ability to fund terrorism and Russia’s ability to continue to prosecute its war with Ukraine. You may recall that by the end of Trump’s first term Iran was virtually bankrupt.
Pardon some January 6 prisoners. There are some 1,500 protesters who were convicted of crimes related to January 6. Most of the convictions were for non-violent crimes (or maybe even bogus crimes). Trump has pledged to direct the DOJ to review these on a case-by-case basis.
End the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas Wars and secure the return of the hostages. Trump will employ his influence, strength, toughness, persistence and powers of persuasion. Don’t bet against him.
Terminate the electric vehicle mandate and curtail excessive Green New Deal policies. Many of these are unworkable, unpopular and of dubious benefit.
Ban transgender individuals from competing against women in sports. These policies constitute wokeism run amok. They are extremely inappropriate and dangerous and only favored by a small sliver of voters.
Conclusion
I expect the Trump Administration to hit the ground running. His designated cabinet members and other members of his Administration have already commenced working on their respective programs and policies. Congressional hearings on his proposed Cabinet members have already begun. Some will sail through; others will face some difficulties. Legitimate questioning is appropriate. Lies, innuendo and besmirchment are not.
Yes, the voters gave Trump a strong mandate, but governing is not always easy. In order to fully implement his program, he will have to deal with Congress. Many senators and congressmen will have their own agendas and can be contentious, and the GOP only has slim majorities, especially in the House. The voters will not be patient. They will expect tangible results quickly.
According to former Speaker-of-the-House Newt Gingrich, some of Trump’s policies, such as the continuation of the so-called Trump Tax Cuts, must be approved by mid-2025 in order to have an impact on the economy by the 2026 midterm elections. If the voters do not perceive improvement by then it could be problematic for the GOP to retain its control. History shows that the ruling party often loses many seats in the midterm elections. All in all, 2025 figures to be a very interesting year.
We Built It Blog by Larry Jacob 