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Is Trump playing the right cards?

MaggieD

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I see him signaling he's willing to cooperate with the Democrats. I think we'd all have to agree with at. Is he telling Reoublicans to get their act together? I think the Reps in Congress are in complete disarray. Is he headed towards making them superfluous?
 
I see him signaling he's willing to cooperate with the Democrats. I think we'd all have to agree with at. Is he telling Reoublicans to get their act together? I think the Reps in Congress are in complete disarray. Is he headed towards making them superfluous?

There is a difference between cooperating with and caving to. Where you under the impression that Trump campaigned as favoring amnesty (DACA/DAPA) or for increasing interior immigration law enforcement and better securing the border? While those positions are not mutually exclusive it is highly unlikely that the demorats see it that way and will cooperate (compromise?) in return.

Trump is simply being Trump - seeking praise at all times and flitting from issue position to issue position in hopes of getting a few cheers, hugs and kisses. Getting over 90% negative MSM coverage upsets Trump so he (with advice from his new chief of staff?) has apparently decided to try to turn that around but the easiest way to do that is to support what the MSM supports which just happens to be what the demorats in congress want.
 
I see him signaling he's willing to cooperate with the Democrats. I think we'd all have to agree with at. Is he telling Reoublicans to get their act together? I think the Reps in Congress are in complete disarray. Is he headed towards making them superfluous?

I think he is lighting a bit of a fire under their feet for sure. He is probably wise to work with Dems to some extent.
If we can't negotiate, then society stands still. Nothing gets done, as we have seen.

I disagree with the post about him being after ratings, hugs and kisses. I think part of him needs that, but he didn't get where he is in the private sector seeking praise.
He can kick butt and take names and that's how biz gets done.
Those who think he's just about his personality are missing something important in his nature.
He needs to succeed more than anything, not be liked. Being liked is icing on his cake.
 
I think he is lighting a bit of a fire under their feet for sure. He is probably wise to work with Dems to some extent.
If we can't negotiate, then society stands still. Nothing gets done, as we have seen.

I disagree with the post about him being after ratings, hugs and kisses. I think part of him needs that, but he didn't get where he is in the private sector seeking praise.
He can kick butt and take names and that's how biz gets done.
Those who think he's just about his personality are missing something important in his nature.
He needs to succeed more than anything, not be liked. Being liked is icing on his cake.

Completely agree with you...even what you disagree with. ;) Well said.
 
I see him signaling he's willing to cooperate with the Democrats. I think we'd all have to agree with at. Is he telling Reoublicans to get their act together? I think the Reps in Congress are in complete disarray. Is he headed towards making them superfluous?

trump is doing what any good business man does when faced with very difficult people to work with.
He forces them to work together by creating scenario's that do just that.

Repealed DACA which forces congress to get on the ball to get an immigration plan in place.
Cleared the way for tax reform. This temporary budgeta
he has now given them 3 months to get his tax plan and other things put into place.
He has realized that they are not going to do what he asks so he is going to have to force
them where he can.
 
He probably sees it as punishing them for not giving him what he wanted.
 
I see him signaling he's willing to cooperate with the Democrats. I think we'd all have to agree with at. Is he telling Reoublicans to get their act together? I think the Reps in Congress are in complete disarray. Is he headed towards making them superfluous?

He's had a kind of rocky relationship with the Republican Party all along, hasn't he?
 
I see him signaling he's willing to cooperate with the Democrats. I think we'd all have to agree with at. Is he telling Reoublicans to get their act together? I think the Reps in Congress are in complete disarray. Is he headed towards making them superfluous?

He probably sees it as punishing them for not giving him what he wanted.

I have always believed and still do today that Trump is really the nations "third party". Add in Sanders' moderates, and you have a bit more stuffing in the enchilada. Both groups want social change, both groups want better lives through work.

Look at it from Trump's point of view:

Every month or whatever before Trump was elected, the Republicans voted to repeal Obamacare. So, Trump runs on repealing Obamacare, gets elected, and boom - Cold feet from the Republicans. Can't get 'er done when it mattered. Talk about a bunch of hot air writ large!

Trump can't "fire" congress.

Now fast forward to today. Polls for a long time have shown that the public wants bi partisan government. Trump has a very canny sense of where the public is, and what the public wants. They want bipartisanship, and they are not happy with this eternal stalemate and no one moving the ball. This is what they are elected to do, and that is why their approval is so low.

Trump knows that to do big things on tax reform, he needs both houses because he can now argue that he can't count on his own party to deliver. What is the cost to Trump? Nothing. America wants cooperation between the parties. Where does that leave Ryan and McConnel. Who cares. Most Americans don't know who they are, and many important issues are being ignored.

Remember, Bernie wasn't a democrat, and Trump really wasn't a republican - Trump just squashed to republican field leaving only him standing.
 
I see him signaling he's willing to cooperate with the Democrats. I think we'd all have to agree with at. Is he telling Reoublicans to get their act together? I think the Reps in Congress are in complete disarray. Is he headed towards making them superfluous?

I absolutely think he is heading in the right direction that will be good for the country.
And so do voters.

Most Voters Welcome Trump’s Outreach to Congressional Democrats

Most Voters Welcome Trump?s Outreach to Congressional Democrats - Rasmussen Reports™

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 66% of Likely U.S. Voters say it is good for the country if Trump works with congressional Democrats to advance his agenda. Just 13% think the bipartisan cooperation is bad for the country, while 21% are undecided.
 
I see him signaling he's willing to cooperate with the Democrats. I think we'd all have to agree with at. Is he telling Reoublicans to get their act together? I think the Reps in Congress are in complete disarray. Is he headed towards making them superfluous?
So, here's the thing.

Trump has absolutely no idea how to navigate Washington or deal with the legislature. No clue whatsoever.

Trump is pretty good at tactics, but couldn't strategize his way out of a paper bag.

Trump has no concept of details. None.

Trump is star-struck and, despite the attacks on the media, craves positive media attention.

He also sucks at making deals. Really. He's awful.

Republicans in Congress are fractured beyond belief, and many categorically refuse to work with Democrats, which makes it nearly impossible for Republican legislators to actually get anything done -- including policies they've wanted to enact for years (if not decades).

So, in the short term, the deal with Democrats is pretty good from a tactical point of view. He wants legislative wins, he is sending a message to the Democrats that he is willing to work with them, he is telling Republicans that he is tired of their bickering and inaction, and got good press.

In the long term, it's very difficult to see how it plays out for anyone. A lot of it depends on whether he is more interested in legislative wins than specific policies, or actually willing to compromise. For example, centrist Republicans and/or Democrats might come up with a tax reform/cut policy that is good enough to satisfy him, and gives him a legislative win, and he signs it over the protests of hard-right Republicans. He might sign a legislative fix for the Dreamers. He might even be willing to adjust the ACA in some way.

However, I for one suspect there are limits. Specifically, I don't think he's going to give up on certain aspects like protectionism, anti-immigrant sentiment, the "voter fraud" bull****, tax cuts, or defense spending. It's also not clear how he will react if Democrats continue to push back on these and other items.
 
I have always believed and still do today that Trump is really the nations "third party". Add in Sanders' moderates, and you have a bit more stuffing in the enchilada. Both groups want social change, both groups want better lives through work.

Look at it from Trump's point of view:

Every month or whatever before Trump was elected, the Republicans voted to repeal Obamacare. So, Trump runs on repealing Obamacare, gets elected, and boom - Cold feet from the Republicans. Can't get 'er done when it mattered. Talk about a bunch of hot air writ large!

Trump can't "fire" congress.

Now fast forward to today. Polls for a long time have shown that the public wants bi partisan government. Trump has a very canny sense of where the public is, and what the public wants. They want bipartisanship, and they are not happy with this eternal stalemate and no one moving the ball. This is what they are elected to do, and that is why their approval is so low.

Trump knows that to do big things on tax reform, he needs both houses because he can now argue that he can't count on his own party to deliver. What is the cost to Trump? Nothing. America wants cooperation between the parties. Where does that leave Ryan and McConnel. Who cares. Most Americans don't know who they are, and many important issues are being ignored.

Remember, Bernie wasn't a democrat, and Trump really wasn't a republican - Trump just squashed to republican field leaving only him standing.

Very well said.
 
So, here's the thing.

Trump has absolutely no idea how to navigate Washington or deal with the legislature. No clue whatsoever.

Trump is pretty good at tactics, but couldn't strategize his way out of a paper bag.

Trump has no concept of details. None.

Trump is star-struck and, despite the attacks on the media, craves positive media attention.

He also sucks at making deals. Really. He's awful.

Republicans in Congress are fractured beyond belief, and many categorically refuse to work with Democrats, which makes it nearly impossible for Republican legislators to actually get anything done -- including policies they've wanted to enact for years (if not decades).

So, in the short term, the deal with Democrats is pretty good from a tactical point of view. He wants legislative wins, he is sending a message to the Democrats that he is willing to work with them, he is telling Republicans that he is tired of their bickering and inaction, and got good press.

In the long term, it's very difficult to see how it plays out for anyone. A lot of it depends on whether he is more interested in legislative wins than specific policies, or actually willing to compromise. For example, centrist Republicans and/or Democrats might come up with a tax reform/cut policy that is good enough to satisfy him, and gives him a legislative win, and he signs it over the protests of hard-right Republicans. He might sign a legislative fix for the Dreamers. He might even be willing to adjust the ACA in some way.

However, I for one suspect there are limits. Specifically, I don't think he's going to give up on certain aspects like protectionism, anti-immigrant sentiment, the "voter fraud" bull****, tax cuts, or defense spending. It's also not clear how he will react if Democrats continue to push back on these and other items.

I agree with much of what you said except your opinion on Trump's abilities and that he "craves" anything besides a really good hamburger.
 
I see him signaling he's willing to cooperate with the Democrats. I think we'd all have to agree with at. Is he telling Reoublicans to get their act together? I think the Reps in Congress are in complete disarray. Is he headed towards making them superfluous?

I think he is signaling that he is a deal maker waiting for likeminded folks.

Can't make a deal with those that won't deal, after all.
 
He's had a kind of rocky relationship with the Republican Party all along, hasn't he?

He's not a republican or a democrat. He just wants to win. Winning is what he is all about.
 
I absolutely think he is heading in the right direction that will be good for the country.
And so do voters.

Most Voters Welcome Trump’s Outreach to Congressional Democrats

Most Voters Welcome Trump?s Outreach to Congressional Democrats - Rasmussen Reportsâ„¢

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 66% of Likely U.S. Voters say it is good for the country if Trump works with congressional Democrats to advance his agenda. Just 13% think the bipartisan cooperation is bad for the country, while 21% are undecided.

If some good could actually come from the Trump presidency, it will be ending (or perhaps diminishing) the partisanship in Washington.
 
He probably sees it as punishing them for not giving him what he wanted.

This. I think he's driven more by revenge than the love of adulation. People who think this was to achieve a desirable political outcome are dismissing just how needlessly demeaning it was to Republicans for Trump to bring McConnell and Ryan into the Oval Office just to publicly declare his agreement with Pelosi and Schumer. This was to flat-out to humiliate the Republicans.

ct-donald-trump-secretary-of-state-mitt-romney-20161129.jpg
 
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And you're probably wrong.

He's always been thin-skinned and vindictive.


Why should I always assume the best about him? Why does he deserve that? He's proven he doesn't deserve such accommodations time and again.
 
He's always been thin-skinned and vindictive.
Why should I always assume the best about him? Why does he deserve that? He's proven he doesn't deserve such accommodations time and again.

I can't assume the best about anyone, because I know enough about human nature to understand that would be foolish.
That doesn't mean he can't do some great things in office. :)
 
I can't assume the best about anyone, because I know enough about human nature to understand that would be foolish.
That doesn't mean he can't do some great things in office. :)

Well, look, I don't want there to be a debt ceiling fight. I've had enough of that stupid bull****. So, if some good comes from his being vindictive, then great. I'm just not ready to assume his action came from the glowing goodness of his heart, as it were....
 
I think he has figured out the Republican party is torn and will not pass anything without more Democrat votes. He is playing ball. Frankly, I have no issue with that. Country runs better when both sides work together.
 
I think he has figured out the Republican party is torn and will not pass anything without more Democrat votes. He is playing ball. Frankly, I have no issue with that. Country runs better when both sides work together.

bolded needs to be on every desk of every Congress person.
 
Well, look, I don't want there to be a debt ceiling fight. I've had enough of that stupid bull****. So, if some good comes from his being vindictive, then great. I'm just not ready to assume his action came from the glowing goodness of his heart, as it were....

The debt ceiling is an illusion. Most folks know that. I never worry about a fight over it. They are in a position of constantly having to raise it until the money fails. Not to do so at this point would cause the money to fail instantly.
The day will come, but perhaps a little ways out. Not far, but a little breathing room.
So I hope nobody is under the illusion that we will ever have a balanced budget and reduction in debt with the current dollar. That ain't going to happen.
Any posturing to the contrary is a side show to keep folks distracted from the failing that is coming.
There isn't anyone on this forum that can explain a real scenario where the debt gets paid off short of hyper-inflating the buck. That's a fact.
 
I see him signaling he's willing to cooperate with the Democrats. I think we'd all have to agree with at. Is he telling Reoublicans to get their act together? I think the Reps in Congress are in complete disarray. Is he headed towards making them superfluous?
More like is he playing with a full deck?[emoji12] I couldn't help myself.

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