BloggeRhythms

As the newly elected POTUS rapidly builds his government, his aims, goals, intentions and methodology continue to become apparent. Throughout the process, as mentioned here often, pragmatism plays a very important role. The objective being to get things done correctly, in a timely way, by availing the best and most highly-skilled talent possible, regardless of particular persuasions, be they personal or political.

Nonetheless, despite Trump's evident desire to hire, or otherwise utilize, the best and brightest, most successful individuals possible, it seems that in some cases, past hostilities cannot simply put aside and forgotten.  

On that subject, Michael J. de la Merced writes @nytimes.com: “In President-elect Donald J. Trump’s newly named kitchen cabinet of business advisers, Wall Street is in. Silicon Valley is out.

“Mr. Trump has named 16 business leaders to serve on what’s being called the President’s Strategic and Policy Forum, described as a group meant to guide his administration on economic matters. 

“It is a bipartisan list, nonetheless, with a number of members who traditionally have favored Democratic candidates, including Laurence D. Fink of the asset management colossus BlackRock, Mary T. Barra of General Motors and Robert Iger of Walt Disney. 

Trump said in a statement: “This forum brings together C.E.O.s and business leaders who know what it takes to create jobs and drive economic growth. My administration is committed to drawing on private sector expertise.” 

However, aside from “Virginia M. Rometty of IBM, there is hardly any representation of technology companies, and certainly none from Silicon Valley.” 

“Indeed, many Silicon Valley luminaries have opposed Mr. Trump since the presidential campaign. Eric Schmidt, the executive chairman of Google’s parent company, Alphabet, was an enthusiastic supporter of both Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton.” 

Another tech star who seems to be feeling some pain from his inaction when false political news items were readily posted on Facebook is Mark Zuckerberg.

As reported by Noah Kirsch @forbes.com: “Four days after the presidential election in November, Mark Zuckerberg wrote a lengthy note downplaying the role that fake news on Facebook had in the outcome. More difficult for him to dispute, though, is the recent downward trajectory of his fortune; since November 8, Zuckerberg’s net worth has decreased by nearly $3.7 billion. 

“That figure is based on a 7% decline in Facebook's share price between Election Day and the end of normal trading at 4:00 P.M. EST on Friday.” 

Thus, Zuckerberg's not only lost status as a former compatriot of Trump’s predecessor, he’s also taken a really huge hit to his wallet as well.   

And then, in an article @wsj.com, Holman W. Jenkins, Jr. presents a comparison of the outgoing POTUS’s failed presidency to the nation’s expected significant turnaround under Trump. 

Setting the stage, Mr. Jenkins writes: “Barack Obama will retire as a president personally popular with the American people yet who served them (and himself, and his party) badly.
“He fretted in 2012 that he would lose the election just in time for Mitt Romney to get credit for an Obama recovery. That long-delayed recovery is finally coming in the last months of his administration—the economy finally broke 3% growth in the third quarter—and now Mr. Trump will get the credit. 

“He may even deserve a bit, witness the outbreak of Trumpian optimism in the stock market and small-business hiring plans.” 

From there, Jenkins goes on to present the components comprising the foundation for a massive economic turnaround which includes the taking advantage of the nation’s most valuable natural resources. Primarily, oil and natural gas to be availed by expanded drilling, pipelines and particularly, fracking.     

In explaining the Obama administrations failures, Jenkins points out that the downturn in the economy had not really very much to do with actual issues regarding the nation’s myriad resources. But rather, countless prohibitions, restrictions and bans inflicted for purely political purposes. Much of it outright pandering to major, self-interested financial contributors.      

In that regard, reader Kenneth Gimbel posted one of the best overviews on the subject this author has seen to date. 

“And yet, and yet, The Democrat Party, having finally regained consciousness, seems to be signaling that they are intent on doubling down, pushing their failed agenda and obstructing any and every Trump initiative.  Their consistency, obstinacy,  and single mindedness should be applauded. The Democrat tombstone should be inscribed 'Stupid is as Stupid Does', or merely 'Dumb But Proud'.  The Boy Wonder remains popular despite eight years of un interrupted failure as if he has been an innocent bystander. He was sold to us as the smartest man in the world. So much for truth in advertising. He entered the WH with a pre-emptive Nobel Peace Prize, but leaves us in combat in Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan. One of his first acts was a world tour apologizing for America's first 250 years, and recently concluded another tour apologizing for the next four/eight years and Trump. Obama has been the wrong man in the wrong place  at the wrong time.  

In closing, Republican Congressman Jim Jordan from Ohio made an interesting point on Lou Dobbs show on Fox Business Network last night.  

When questioned about why so little had been accomplished by the Republican majority in both congressional houses during the past two years, Representative Jordan presented a very logical and encouraging response. 

Many bills were drafted, agreed upon by the Republican side and ready for introduction to be voted upon, the congressman said. However, the combination of Senate Leader Harry Reid’s obstructionism and the reality of the POTUS’s “veto pen” made passage practically impossible, despite the Republican Congressional majority's. 

Confirming Representative Jordan’s analysis, back in September 2015, Nancy Pelosi said: "The leverage we have springs from the presidential veto, and the presidential veto is sustainable by the unity of the House Democratic caucus and Senate Democratic caucus," according to Susan Ferrechio @washingtonexaminer.com.
 
Meaning that the good news is that significant amounts of important bills have already been written, concerning key issues addressed during Trump’s campaign. Which makes things look quite encouraging for the first 100 days of his term in office where he can use a different kind of pen to pass all of them. And do it, very quickly.

That's it for today folks. 

Adios