A Fight Republicans Want to Have

Tuesday morning brought an announcement by Senator Jeff Flake, from the floor of the Senate, that he would not be seeking re-election in 2018. His retirement announcement follows one from Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee. Both brought shockwaves from the national media. Voters, on the other hand seemed quite clear on the matter, with Senator Flake boasting an 18% approval rating in Arizona. Senator Corker’s numbers in Tennessee weren’t much better, especially in a state where President Trump overwhelmingly won.

Both were facing challengers that were consistently beating them handily in primary polling. Of course the mainstream pundits and incumbent politicians keep trying to tell anyone who will listen that these rogue challengers could never win a general election.

Reminds me more than a little of the beginnings of the Tea Party. This version is a little different though, you could call it the MAGA Edition.

Nothing motivates the Republican Establishment in D.C. more than when the rabble-rouser voters try to be heard. Tax Reform, the RAISE Act and Immigration Reform, Health Insurance Reform – repealing Obamacare? Oh, no – they aren’t working hard on that stuff.

I mean the Senate started working 4 full days a week just two weeks ago, they are nowhere near caught up on even working on President Trump’s appointments to staff the government. I will say Mitch McConnell hasn’t slacked on getting judges approved though. But requiring them to actually get to the people’s business might be impossible at this point. They swear, pinky swear, that they will pass tax reform though.

Fool me once, shame on you… fool me twice… well, I’m not holding my breath this time around. Actions speak louder than most any elected Republican’s words.

Senator Flake got rousing applause from his brethren in the hallowed chambers of the US Senate. His speech, denouncing the state of national politics, but especially Trumpian politics earned bipartisan support – funny that the only thing both parties agree on is how terrible Trump is. Yet President Trump’s approval numbers – definitely not record setting by any measure – are still triple that of Congress. Wonder why that could be.

I find it completely humorous that so many people are still commenting on Trump’s twitter habits and brusque tone. The man has been on the national stage for over 20 years, almost two and a half in presidential politics. It’s normal for Trump. I wouldn’t expect Marco Rubio to act like Trump, but that is also why Marco Rubio isn’t President right now.

You can lament the loss of civil discourse in politics, but I am going to point you back about 20 years when chants of “Chimpy Bush McHilter” made lots of rounds, and Women in Binders were a popular Halloween costume on the left side of the aisle.

This is what Washington refuses to see. They are missing the same point they did in 2010 when the Tea Party sent the first wave of a new breed to Congress. People are tired of being shined on by a bunch of guys (and gals) who pay lip service to voters and then do nothing, or worse, the exact opposite of what they were elected to do.

Voters wanted someone who will fight. Not just the battles over bills, but big clashes of principle and culture. Not some nostalgic Leave it To Beaver fantasy, but maybe a world where we could watch a football game without being drug in to a social justice debate. Senators Flake and Corker were too busy denouncing the President’s demeanor.

The voters in 2016 gave President Trump a mandate. 306 Electoral votes would have been enough for Secretary Clinton had she won, and for the Republican Party to act differently because it’s Trump, well it’s no wonder swamp-dwellers like Flake and Corker would resign rather than lose.

At this point, it would behoove Washington Republicans to listen to their voters, instead of telling us how important it is to keep a majority, especially since they haven’t been able to do much of anything with it.

 

Published October 26, 2017

100 Days of Trump

So, President Trump is coming up on 100 Days in office this Sunday. Usually the first 100 days for a President are an easy time, confirming Cabinet appointments, setting up staff level appointments and lining up legislation in line with the new President’s agenda.

Well, of course that path hasn’t been nearly as smooth for our new President. Nor was it expected, at least by me.

I imagined that President Trump’s first couple of years would be the longest buckin’ bronc ride imaginable. Trump went into office with no backing roster of staffers, no links to backroom dealmakers in D.C and a disdain for politicians of all stripes. That is definitely not the recipe for a smooth transition. Add into the mix how diametrically opposed the Obama Administration was to Trump’s incoming team, well I’m thankful that there hasn’t been more drama.

So, how has Trump done? Well, by the media’s yard stick, not so great. There’s no wall, Obamacare is still the law of the land and still no tax reform – as they keep telling us.

On the flip side, Justice Gorsuch has been seated at the Supreme Court, and the regulatory state has started being dismantled. In fact, what has largely not been covered by the mainstream media is the impact that President Trump is having changing the regulation burdens that Americans, and business owners, face every day.

Not to mention that more than a couple of President Trump’s Cabinet picks were beyond inspired. Scott Pruitt at the EPA, Gov. Perry at Energy and Rick Mulvaney at OMB will be major players in fixing some of the most egregious over-reaching. Sec. Mattis at Defense and Rex Tillerson at State have been at the forefront of major news lately, as foreign powers test the new administration.

As the powers in Syria and North Korea can attest, it didn’t go too well for them. A large group of ISIS fighters in Afghanistan couldn’t be reached for comment. And, as Russian leaders found out, Tillerson is no mouse either.

After disappearing red lines, rules of engagement for our military that made everything difficult and leading from behind on the world stage the incoming Trump Administration had no favors, internationally or domestically, from his predecessor.

The national media continues to think that Trump voters are not intelligent, and don’t realize that we know how government works, as they bleat about failed campaign promises.

None of Trump’s biggest campaign pledges can be done without Congressional support. No wall can be built without Congress approving the funds, Obamacare can’t be repealed in total without a vote in the Senate and House and tax reform (the permanent kind) must pass as legislation. The tax conversation starts this week in earnest when the President highlights his new tax plan.

Every week I see a new crop of “Congress won’t fund the wall” stories pop up on twitter. Most of the media thinks that Trump will get the ultimate blame. He will get a lion’s share, but Congress – especially the republican variety – will have a big heap of trouble if they fight the President on border and immigration issues.

Republicans have run on fixing and enforcing immigration laws for over 20 years. To not build the wall, or rein in some of the worst “sanctuary city” practices will be a huge electoral error, leaving Republicans wandering in the wilderness for the next 40 years. The disaster that has been our dysfunctional Congress must get back to work. This does not mean legislation that falls only to one side’s principles, but negotiations for what will work best for America.

Trump sees the presidency as America’s CEO. He expects results from his department heads – namely his cabinet. I think the biggest changes we will see out of this administration will be in this area. A re-shaping of government agencies, through technology, will be a big part of this.

Bigger changes that didn’t come from legislation… Consumer confidence is up and illegal borders crossings are down – big league.

I think the biggest change in the first 100 days is that there is a new hope for a lot of the middle class. And, no, not the corny “Hope and Change” we were sold eight years ago. But a hope that those that are not part of the “global economy” will not continue to be forgotten in the name of progress.

President Trump is just getting started folks, and there are 3 years and 265 days until the first term is up. That bumpy ride is just getting started. But something to remember as you read and watch all the 100 Day Report Card stories… we’re not talking about Hillary’s first 100 days.

Sometimes karma gives us a little something to make the world seem a little bit brighter.

 

Published April 27, 2017

Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory

Leave it to Congress to thoroughly muck up the swampy waters of Washington, D.C. even worse than they already are.

Republicans in the House, led by Speaker Paul Ryan, managed to seem even more ungovernable than a bunch of anarchists as the rollout of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) stumbled along.

The theatre of “Repeal & Replace” could have been classified as a comedy if so many Americans weren’t being squeezed with the onerous regulations, high deductibles and even higher premiums through Obamacare.

Don’t get me wrong, the AHCA was not a great bill, especially from a conservative perspective. I totally agree with the Freedom Caucus on the merits. Meaningful reforms like law suit abuse, malpractice reform and purchasing insurance across state lines weren’t present until Phase 3.

Instead of working towards a better bill, negotiating, and moving the ball further down the field, the Freedom Caucus said no. After seven years, and countless passed repeals vetoed by Obama, Republicans showed that they have no idea how to lead after being in the minority for most of the last twenty years.

I understand why so many on the right want assurances that our representatives do what the voters sent them to do. Congress and Republicans don’t have the best track record.

The roll out by Ryan and the White House was, well, lacking. Consensus, strategy and messaging should have been decided before the first press conference was scheduled. And it only went downhill from there.

In-fighting ruled the day until the vote for the AHCA was scrapped late last week rather than the GOP suffering a very public loss right out of the gate. Well, optics-wise this was worse than a loss, it was amateur hour.

Instead of looking like adults entering the room and restoring order, Republicans looked like a bunch of wild monkeys at feeding time.

 

Published March 2, 2017

Welcome, President Trump

Only one day left in the countdown to the Inauguration! And it couldn’t get here soon enough.

From deploying soldiers to Russian borders, a UN gambit against Israel and the numerous appointee level leaks from the intelligence community of highly dubious and verifiably false information against the incoming administration… Well let’s just say that there was more than a few strands of crazy running through Washington D.C. these last few weeks.

More than once I seriously wondered what the end game really was, because tomorrow morning Donald Trump will be sworn in as President of the United States. Full stop.

At first, it was the sad stories of the soon to be unemployed political appointees. It was with deep, deep sadness that I read that many of these appointees from the former administration were having a hard time finding work since their influence was limited with the “shocking” wins by Republicans over the last six years. But never fear, Obama said they were helping counsel and facilitate placements for anyone needing assistance!

The reaction of “The Swamp” to delegitimize President Elect Trump over the last month has been swift, merciless and unfortunately, quite predictable.

In a weekend telephone interview with the Washington Post President Elect Trump talked about some of his policy plans regarding replacing Obamacare, how the government deals with drug companies and building the wall at the southern border.

While the interview wasn’t heavy on specifics, Trump is waiting for senate confirmation of department secretaries before announcing specific policies in some cases, on Tuesday we got further word that Trump meant business during the campaign and life may not be so predictable in D.C. come next week.

Landing teams for the transition have signaled to cabinet departments to prepare for budget cuts of up to 10% and staffing cuts of up to 20% – that is in addition to hiring freezes and attrition.

Well, that could get some attention that business as usual is over.

Drain the swamp indeed.

So ask me again if I am concerned whether President Trump uses @realdonaldtrump or @POTUS on Twitter.

I get that Trump is brash and loud. He rubs a lot of people the wrong way. He calls out those he perceives as slighting him. Sometimes the call outs are justified, sometimes they make him look petty. Do I understand why he does it? Oh for sure. I’m sure he knows it isn’t always the right thing to do.

I even get the criticism that some of it is beneath the office of the President.

But where has the years of politically correct managers of the leviathan that is our government gotten us? I’ll tell you – 20 Trillion dollars in debt, $5,000 hammers, almost half the country on some form of federal assistance and spy managers who have gotten so big for their britches that they think Americans will tolerate them leading a disinformation campaign against the democratically elected President of the United States because they were “with her”.

Yeah, I’m not that impressed at where Washington has lead us. Maybe the brashness of Trump will help to actually get some of the leeches off the public dole for good.

President Elect Trump earned his stripes in the real estate world of New York City, not for the faint hearted even when you do well, especially if you don’t come from the old money families. While his dad made lots of money, acceptance by New York Society – and it’s connections – were not that easy to come by.

Trump fights that same battle with Hollywood and the press – much to his base’s enthusiasm. It could turn some voters off, but I think that is already baked into Trump’s numbers. He doesn’t have a lot to lose in that respect, and politically if his policies perform well for America and the middle class voters won’t care if he was mean to a few people on social media.

I am looking forward to seeing how the Trump presidency unfolds, what the first 100 days will be like for an outsider used to results leading the charge against a slow moving bureaucracy. I hope he is up to the task.

Welcome to the White House, Mr. President!

 

Published January 19, 2017

Gun Running, Running the Numbers and Cow Farts?!? Oh my…

So this week has seen my head explode too many times to count. It’s been like an episode of Government Gone Wild, COPS Edition. I swear the news just keeps getting more and more absurd.

What is more absurd than a State Senator who continually campaigned for stricter gun laws in California (for the children, you know) getting arrested for helping import illegal guns with the Chinese Mafia? Supposedly, according to the arrest affidavit, Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) was trying to recoup money for his failed mayoral campaign. Why, I bet those illegal fully automatic guns weren’t even micro-stamped!

Corruption, greed, power, narcissism – evils as old as time itself – are becoming more and more prevalent in our governments, and the crimes perpetrated against its citizens grow exponentially the further removed they are.

Here’s what bothers me the most – how corrupted must the culture be in Sacramento, and how arrogant have the Democrat Super Majority become, that this behavior was allowed to flourish. We in California effectively have one party rule, and they act like it. Jail is the least that more than a few elected officials deserve.

*****

So CMS came out with the WONDERFUL news that 6,000,000 people signed up for the Affordable Care Act as of March 31.

Of course it is estimated that anywhere from 15-20% of those enrolled had yet to pay their 1st installment, thereby actually purchasing the insurance. (so minus anywhere from 900,000-1,2000,000)

Then, we found out that about 76% of those that did sign up already had insurance prior to this year, but their plans were cancelled by the ACA. – 24% were previously uninsured. While I am happy that a million people now have insurance, the rocket scientists in DC have wasted three years implementing a budget busting program that nets us absolutely ZERO net insured. AND, those that were paying their own insurance are now on exchange plans that are being subsidized, so we are actually further behind than we were before this whole cockamamie bill was passed.

Only in Washington D.C. can you waste the economy of a small nation (and some not so small ones too) on a law that has been changed and delayed 30 times since it was passed, still not complete the website that we were supposed to sign up with, hide and conflate sign-up numbers and demographics for political expediency and then go on t.v. to call it a resounding success. I mean really, isn’t it just great news!

*****

And then there’s this… the EPA has decided that harassing property owners over ponds and regulating rural life to endangered levels wasn’t enough. They are now moving on to methane emissions. Methane emissions account for 8% of all greenhouse gas emissions in 2012. Why, our Secretary of State just told us how dangerous climate change is….and then promptly jumped into his taxpayer-funded plane to fly to the next speech.

The EPA just released a study, of course, on methane. The biggest culprit is not the energy sector, but Bessie and Ethyl out in the barn after an alfalfa bender. Yep, cow “emissions” account for most of the methane in our atmosphere.

Can you only imagine how Washington, and Sacramento, will try to regulate that?!

Wake me up when the world turns right side up again.

 

Published April 3, 2014

 

Executive Actions for the Win!

So my column was well underway this week when I spotted a news story about upcoming changes to “the law of the land” that is known as Obamacare. Talk about hot under the collar. I was supremely upset! Well, upset wasn’t the word I would choose, but Dean kind of frowns upon cursing on the opinion page.

The latest decree from Washington D.C. is a remarkably blatant political maneuver disguised as “help” for the American people. When the “you can keep your plan” debacle hurt the election chances of every politician that voted for it (democrats all) the president took it upon himself to fix it…by executive actions. So this time the powers that be in the White House decided that a one-year delay is not enough, they want to give the insurance companies until mid January 2015 to change plans. Conveniently, this will delay cancellation notices until right after the congressional elections in November. Even left leaning news outlets aren’t fooled by this. If last October and November were bad, this November was going to be catastrophic for the President and Democrats come election day. And this change is all about the election. It pushes the deadline back a few weeks, since the geniuses that run our government couldn’t bother to look at a calendar the first time they announced the delay. See, when they named the deadline as Jan. 1, 2015 the cancellation notices would have gone out five weeks before the election, 90 days as mandated by Federal Law, plenty of time for Americans to see, once again, how the President’s signature legislation was going to put the screws to them and their wallets before they head to the ballot box. Will voters fall for it, or will the administration be rebuked come November?

Any other law that needs fixing or changes must pass through Congress again. It is our legislative branch after all.  But wait, apparently in the era of Obama, Congress isn’t necessary if it will not bend to the will of our dear leader.

“But where Congress is unwilling to act, I will take whatever administrative steps that I can in order to do right by the American people. And if Congress thinks that what I’ve done is inappropriate or wrong in some fashion, they’re free to make that case. But there’s not an action that I take that you don’t have some folks in Congress who say that I’m usurping my authority. Some of those folks think I usurp my authority by having the gall to win the presidency. And I don’t think that’s a secret. But ultimately, I’m not concerned about their opinions — very few of them, by the way, are lawyers, much less constitutional lawyers.”

Can’t you just hear the smug tone that the president uses as you read that?

Mr. President, what is right for the people is for you to do your job LEGALLY and CONSTITUTIONALLY. The legality of many of your decisions is being decided by judges in more than a few different courts, and not just on the ACA. This absolute b.s. of opponents being galled that he is president is ridiculous… well, I am galled that he is president, but I am more mad that we as a country are dumb enough to re-elect someone who has done such a poor job of running our country, not because I am offended that a black man is president.

Now, I think everyone within shouting distance knows how I feel about the president and his pen… I won’t go so far as calling him a tyrant, but this kind of overreach is disturbing. Republicans in the House of Representatives can only pass bills that then sit at the door of the Senate, which the Democrats run. They can do nothing more than stop bad legislation when it comes to them. They could pass thousands of bills and Senator Reid, as majority leader of the Senate, will not allow a single one up for debate, let alone a vote. Then both Reid and Obama get in front of any microphone that is turned on and rant about the “obstructionists” on the other side of the aisle. Lather, rinse, repeat. It is political theatre, and let me tell you, the act is getting old.

Just as the President speaks for his constituents, members of Congress do also, and “no” seems like a pretty good answer if someone it trying to strong-arm you to a position or vote that goes against your principles. The only debate in Washington is how quickly everyone should get in line and do what the President says.

I am not a constitutional lawyer, I did take a few courses in it at college, and it probably would have been my field of study had I stayed with a political science degree. The regard I hold of our founding documents, and the men who wrote them, is immense. The lack of respect that those in power at the White House, from the President on down, have for our rule of law is disgusting.

 

Published March 6, 2014

 

When Freedom Became Just Another Buzzword

“It’s not anything but an added choice that they have that allows them more freedom, to use a certain buzzword, more choice,” These are the words of Jay Carney, President Obama’s Press Secretary, last week during one of his regular press briefings. He was talking about the latest CBO report about job losses related to ObamaCare – which they were furiously trying to spin as something positive, rather than the job killer that most on Main Streets around America know it to be.

As soon as I heard the words my blood began to boil, and proverbial steam came pouring out of my ears. Once I calmed down a little, well a lot actually, I had a few thoughts that I would love to share with Mr. Carney…and since I don’t think I will be getting an audience with anyone in DC for awhile I’ll share them with you instead.

First and foremost, we have men and women fighting in Afghanistan and serving overseas – my step-son included – and last time I checked, they were not supporting a buzzword – they are providing security, promoting freedom and living as an example of democracy wherever they are. My husband and I are very proud of Joseph’s service to his country, and woe is the person who denigrates why they serve. Many young people have fought and died for FREEDOM – not a buzzword, and the Press Secretary, to whom words are his job, should have known better.

Secondly, it makes a little more sense to me now why we have the government we do. When those that are in charge think that founding principles are buzzwords, well, that’s when the mischief happens. I understand that many in DC think the Constitution is a guideline, not a set of laws principles that define our nation, but something to get around so they can cement a little more power away from we the people. For many Americans, myself included, these principles mean something. They are not just words on paper. It is no wonder that our economic and personal freedoms continue to be eroded, when principles become buzzwords it makes it so much easier.

DC has become so jaded, so politicized, over the last 20 years that belief in America, freedom, democracy and responsibility are now political narratives that get openly mocked by those in power. We have a president and members of Congress who use their pulpit not to bring American’s together, but to deepen the divide. They ascribe motives seen only through the lens of a 24 hour news cycle and the next election. There is no longer an agreement that both sides want what is best for America, that we may take different paths to get there, but at the end of the day we all end up at the same place. It is not right that Americans who believe differently from those in power are mocked, ridiculed and targeted by the bureaucracy for trying to advance those beliefs.

Now, I am a partisan Republican…shocker, I know. As a partisan, I am not a fan of compromise in politics as a rule. But first and foremost, I am a proud American. I know that in order for our system of government to work there must be compromise from both sides of the aisle. The give and take is what makes our system work, it is how we peacefully turn over power after elections. The side that loses knows they will have another chance to govern in the future. Partisanship only wins elections. I have watched this session in Congress and the Senate, shaking my head and wondering where common sense has gone. I don’t think that I have ever seen a branch of government on completely different pages and looking so dysfunctional.

Until DC realizes that they govern all of America, not just those areas that correspond to their political philosophy, it probably won’t get any better.

Patrick Henry, in a speech two months before he died said,  “Let us trust God, and our better judgment to set us right hereafter. United we stand, divided we fall. Let us not split into factions which must destroy that union upon which our existence hangs.” 

Can Americans come together again for the good of our country? Or are we destined like many great societies throughout history to destroy ourselves with corruption, greed and anger?

 

Published February 13, 2014