Donald Trump, America’s 45th president began his second trip abroad, with a successful visit to Poland, where he was enthusiastically cheered, and welcomed as a hero, but as many observers have noted, by a government that has increasingly become anti-immigrant, and even anti-European Union, led by President Andrzej Duda; fairly standard stuff with Trump. But, some have said that Polish workers were paid to attend, and even told that they could not go home until they were told to do so. If this is the truth, then it seems that the president may have found his element.
More importantly, he, like his predecessors before him, used a foreign stage to stake out a policy stance, and personal theme. Think Ronald Reagan, and “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” or John F. Kennedy’s famous Berlin Wall Speech, “Ich bein ein Berliner,” and others.
Trump likewise made his stance: western civilization, as we know it, is doomed to failure without enacting policies to protect it from a) immigrants and b) “radical Islamic terrorists”, thereby playing not only to his base back home in the United States, but also as a support to Poland’s increasing nationalism, and its unprecedented crackdown on journalists and judges, and a “refusal to accept more migrants”, noted The New York Times.
In his speech, Trump said, "The fundamental question of our time is whether the West has the will to survive? Do we have the confidence in our values to defend them at any cost? Do we have enough respect for our citizens to protect our borders? Do we have the desire and the courage to protect our civilization in the face of those who would subvert and destroy it?”
It was obvious to those listening that his speechwriters had used the occasion, not only to drive home the message, but also to polish his speaking style, and to give it the cadence of a statesman, and not that of a New York businessman, turned reality TV star, turned president. While there are those who might argue the opposite, it was clear that Trump was taking his message, to the world’s stage, using this time honored framework by U.S. presidents, and not that of a late night tweet.
More importantly, he, like his predecessors before him, used a foreign stage to stake out a policy stance, and personal theme. Think Ronald Reagan, and “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” or John F. Kennedy’s famous Berlin Wall Speech, “Ich bein ein Berliner,” and others.
Trump likewise made his stance: western civilization, as we know it, is doomed to failure without enacting policies to protect it from a) immigrants and b) “radical Islamic terrorists”, thereby playing not only to his base back home in the United States, but also as a support to Poland’s increasing nationalism, and its unprecedented crackdown on journalists and judges, and a “refusal to accept more migrants”, noted The New York Times.
In his speech, Trump said, "The fundamental question of our time is whether the West has the will to survive? Do we have the confidence in our values to defend them at any cost? Do we have enough respect for our citizens to protect our borders? Do we have the desire and the courage to protect our civilization in the face of those who would subvert and destroy it?”
It was obvious to those listening that his speechwriters had used the occasion, not only to drive home the message, but also to polish his speaking style, and to give it the cadence of a statesman, and not that of a New York businessman, turned reality TV star, turned president. While there are those who might argue the opposite, it was clear that Trump was taking his message, to the world’s stage, using this time honored framework by U.S. presidents, and not that of a late night tweet.
Back in the U.S. things are not as neatly framed as the president would have it. He and most of his team have hired lawyers to help defend them against accusations of cronyism, at best, and “Russia’s stooge,” at worst, as Bob Muller assembles a dedicated, and professional team of investigators to help determine what has happened - did Trump and his associates know about allegations of pre-inaugural conversations with the Russians, and when did they occur?
Oddly enough, Trump said,"Well, I think it was Russia, and I think it could have been other people in other countries. Could have been a lot of people interfered," and even this - “nobody really knows for sure” on whether Russia hacked into the American electoral data system, despite evidence that they did exactly that, thus earning him the tag of dereliction of duty by former State Department, and former ambassador to NATO Nicholas Burns.
In no small measure, the president, has now come full circle in alienating the international intelligence community - not just long held allies, such as Britain, but that of his own country; a move sure to make his near six month presidency, a continuing nightmare. Some critics are saying, it is a nightmare, of unintended consequences. With the rejection of the Paris Climate Accord, and a possible tariff on imported steel, with a possible counterattack by European leaders, the label seems to stick.
Add to this a steadily eroding poll rating, currently with a disapproval rate at, or just above 55 percent, some have said, including former White House economic advisor, Robert Reich, that if he falls below 30 percent, he will be abandoned by the GOP. That has yet has to happen, and recent news that Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, instituted a dress code for reporters, especially women, including a ban on sleeveless dresses, (worn to combat the typical sub tropical summer heat of Washington, D.C.), suggests that Ryan is otherwise preoccupied.
With all eyes on the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump, and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, claimed that he pressed Putin on the meddling, yet there was a conflicting report from the Russians, who said, "U.S. President Trump said that he heard firm assertions from Russian President Putin that it is not true and that Russian authorities have not meddled in the elections," Lavrov said. “[Trump] said that he accepts these assertions. That's it.”
“In response, White House officials are pointing to Tillerson’s briefing with reporters, in which he detailed how the U.S. and Russia appear to be at an impasse on the issue because Putin will not acknowledge wrongdoing,” reported the The Hill, a website acknowledged for its general “inside the beltway” reliability.
“The two leaders agreed that this is a substantial hindrance on the ability of us to move Russian-U.S. relationships forward and agreed to exchange further work regarding commitments of noninterference in the affairs of the United States and our democratic process as well as those of other countries,” Tillerson said. “So more work to be done in that regard.”
That meeting lasted over two hours, way beyond their scheduled thirty minutes, and First Lady Melania Trump was sent in to hurry them along, with no success, as the two leaders obviously enjoyed each other’s company, as shown in one Russian media video which had, Putin, pointing to reporters, and saying, to Trump, “Are these the ones that disrespected you?”
There is an old expression that the truth lies in the middle when it comes to conflicting reports, yet, with the continuing “bromance” between the two leaders, doubt remains, despite Tillerson’s assertion, that further contact and discussions will be ongoing. Whether this is restricted to a part-time ceasefire in Syria, fights against terrorism, remains to be seen.
When AIr Force one touches down at Andrews Air Force base, the president will confront a myriad of domestic issues, including growing dissatisfaction with his Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos who continues to chip away at standards set by the Obama administration to protect students from sexual harassment, unfair lending practices and current both staff and civil rights complaints by students.
Despite the failure of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to secure votes for the Senate version of the Affordable Healthcare Act, GOP lawmakers are now pessimistic about support with many backing away from the idea, and some, like Rand Paul, insisting that there should be a repeal, and then a later replacement of the Affordable Care Act, colloquially known as Obamacare; a move that is certain to create a backlash among voters, and a surefire way to erode the GOP in the 2018 mid-term elections.
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