BloggeRhythms

Quite often the points been made here that the vast majority of the MSM simply doesn’t understand how the new POTUS strategizes and operates. Primarily because they’re unfamiliar with a sophisticated tactician who isn't at all like any politician they’ve encountered before. 

The result, most often, is that those same self-impressed journalists when critiquing the president’s style are totally unaware of what he was attempting to accomplish in the first place.    

Another example of that kind of journalistic confusion took place yesterday. This one coming from FoxNews’ Chris Stirewalt who’s been mentioned here several times in the past 10 weeks for the same reason. An incapability to grasp Trump’s modus operandi.   

Yesterday Stirewalt made the point that “ahead of a high-stakes summit with his Chinese counterpart next week, Trump took executive action to crack down on unfair trade practices by other nations. It’s a big deal and potentially part of a high-stakes gambit by the new administration to remake the American economy.”

Believing that the event “should have been very popular with Trump supporters, and even some of those who voted against him,” in what Stirewalt calls “Bizarro World” that story, pro and con, is being hotly debated by the public, the press and elected officials.

However, again according to Stirewalt: “Back here on Earth, though, you know exactly what we’re talking about today – and it sure as shootin’ ain’t steel dumping.” As far as the MSM is concerned: “Nearly every day of the Trump Era thus far has featured some kind of Russia story, and often for days at a time it has been the dominant story.” 

Consequently, although Stirewalt hasn’t yet grasped what's occurring, it should be obvious to even him by now that it’s almost a virtual certainty that Trump is not only aware of the attention being paid to the '”Russian story” but wants that focus to continue. And that’s because, while the MSM spends time chasing its tail on gossip, innuendo and false trails, the POTUS is accomplishing goals unencumbered by unwanted hostile coverage on important subjects. All of which results in much is being accomplished on subjects positive for him while negative coverage is diminished.
 
Some examples of both, come from the Stirewalt column itself. 

On the list of issues drawing MSM major coverage is another outburst from former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn who reemerged on Thursday with a request for immunity from prosecution in exchange for his testimony.  

And then there’s the “excruciating explanation of House Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes’ sources” which Stirewalt writes “both to some degree, Trump’s fault. 

However, while the MSM is chasing headlines, Schumer took a another huge blow whereas: “Sens. Joe Manchin and Heidi Heitkamp on Thursday became the first Senate Democrats to announce their support for Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch – breaking with their colleagues who have blasted President Trump’s pick.” 

Then, in a cbsnews.com link from Stirewalt’s own column: “President Trump will meet with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping for the first time on April 6-7 at Mr. Trump’s Florida resort, China’s Foreign Ministry announced Thursday, amid a range of pressing issues including trade, North Korea and territorial disputes in the South China Sea. 

Mr. Trump predicted “a very difficult” meeting in a tweet just hours after both governments announced the summit. He wrote in part: “We can no longer have massive trade deficits and job losses. American companies must be prepared to look at other alternatives.” 

“China’s immediate response to Mr. Trump’s tweet was diplomatic, with Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang telling reporters Friday morning that “both sides look forward to a successful meeting so that a correct direction can be set for the growth of bilateral relations.” 

“China will continue to work with the United States to think creatively and keeping pushing for greater balance in China-U.S. trade,” Zheng said. 

Meaning that the Chinese hold Trump in enough regard to try and work with him, a far cry from Trump's predecessor.  

In the same vein: “Attorney General Jeff Sessions told Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor" Thursday that illegal border crossings "are down 60 percent, just because of President Trump’s strong leadership." 

While at the same time on another matter that those directly involved certainly know about: “Sessions also told host Bill O'Reilly that the administration would look at other possible actions against so-called "sanctuary cities" after he announced this week that federal funds would be cut off to locales that refuse to work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents after detaining illegal immigrants. 

"We’re looking at other possibilities that would be detrimental to people," Sessions said. "Under the Obama administration, they sent out grant notices that required people to assert they’re in compliance with the laws and threaten cutting off of various funds if they didn’t comply. So, we’ll continue to pursue that and go further." 

“However, the attorney general added, "we don’t want to take any measures. We want to see these cities comply ... I think a lot of these leaders need to hear from their constituents."

And then: “The attorney general also vowed to put an end to the bevy of leaks surrounding the Trump administration, saying "it’s almost as if people think they have a right to violate the law." 

"This has got to end and it probably will take some convictions to put an end to it."

After which, one more accomplishment illustrated a very positive reversal of Obama era trends, whereas: “President Trump’s election appears to be negatively affecting gun sales in the U.S. and the bubble appears to be bursting despite a staunch advocate for gun rights in the White House and Republicans ruling Congress. 

"President Obama was the best gun salesman the world has ever seen," Karl Sorken, a production manager at Battle Rifle Co. in Houston. Sorken is an Army veteran and self-described liberal who voted for Obama and notes the change for the industry under Trump is a topic of conversation in the shop.” 

Fears of government limits on guns led to a surge in demand during Obama's tenure where “Over the decade ending in 2015, the number of U.S. companies licensed to make firearms jumped 362 percent.” 

Robert Spitzer, political science department chairman at State University of New York, said: "The trends really almost since Election Day or election night have been that gun sales have slacked off. When you take away Barack Obama and you give the Republicans control of both houses of Congress, which is extremely friendly to the gun lobby, then the political pressure subsides. And that surely is at least a key part of the explanation for the drop-off in sales."
“The Washington Post reported that the FBI conducted about 500,000 fewer background checks in December 2016 then in 2015. Gun sales this year have reportedly dropped about 17 percent. 

“From 2004 to 2013, sales of all handguns -- pistols and revolvers -- increased nearly fivefold, according to industry figures. Sales of rifles tripled in that timeframe.” 

All of which goes to confirm that while those such as Stirewalt and the MSM choose to focus attention on headline-making diversions, Trump and his administration are diligently taking care of business. Something that his constituents are both surely aware of and highly pleased with.

The proof of which can be seen in the results of the last election where according to the same MSM pundits, his rival was predicted to win handily by all of them.    

That’s it for today folks. 

Adios