BloggeRhythms

On the new president’s 100th day in office, the news continues to be quite good for him while the corner into which Democrats have painted themselves grows smaller still.

Mark DeCambre provides hard evidence @marketwatch.com, that the business world has provided the POTUS with the highest approval rating since WWII. And they’ve done it with one of the most tangible evidences of support possible: real money. 

Mr. DeCambre  writes: “As President Donald Trump hits his 100th day in office Saturday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has booked the best performance in the postwar era under a first-term president when measured from Election Day through the 100th day in office, according to Dow Jones data.” 

The Dow has rallied 14.22% since the election, the S&P 500 index has gained about 11.6% while Nasdaq has climbed 16.5% over the same period. 

“For first-term presidents overall, including those before World War II, Trump ranks fourth, trailing Democrat Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Republican presidents Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover.” 

For comparison's sake, during the same period under Obama (11/6/2012-4/30/2013) the Dow rose 12.04%. 

Another highly supportive analysis of Trump’s performance comes from Doug Schoen @FoxNews.com. Having more than 30 years experience as a Democrat pollster and political consultant, Schoen is certainly one who knows what he’s talking about, adding substance to his article titled: “What Democrats won't admit about Trump's first 100 days"

Schoen begins: “One hundred days into President Trump’s administration, it is becoming evident that when considering his base, the president has been more successful than many would like to give him credit for.” 

Rating presidential performance categorically Schoen grades Trump's Foreign Policy as “A+.” 

“President Trump’s reassertion of U.S. leadership around the world was a foundational component of his campaign, and already his style of leadership has positively changed the way our global allies view the United States.” 

For evidence of deserving the highest grade, Schoen writes: The “U.S. Navy’s Tomahawk missile strike on Syria’s Shayrat Airbase in response to the Assad regime’s horrific use of chemical weapons, made it clear that the president of the United States will not tolerate a red line being crossed or an appalling human rights violation to be committed on his watch.” 

Following next is the use of the “largest non-nuclear bomb in the US’s arsenal in Afghanistan to destroy a critical network of tunnels used by ISIS, as well as large caches of weapons.”   

Shifting U.S. foreign policy goals with China and instead of labeling China as a currency manipulator, working on building a partnership with them in order to address the threat of North Korea is seen as a major success. As is making good on the promise that he would ensure the United States would negotiate better deals with our international partners. 

Next came Domestic Policy Agenda, where the grade was a “C.” 

However, Schoen’s rationale for the grade illustrates that Trump isn’t really at fault. Because although there was an “inability to follow through on a signature promise to immediately “repeal and replace” ObamaCare within the first 100 days,” the delay was caused by members of Trump’s own party who deserted him for their own gain. 

Noting next that Democrats “are not going to consider [Trump’s] tax plan, with the tax cuts too heavily weighted on cuts for the rich. His plan will hurt states disproportionally with high state and local taxes, and putting their social safety net at risk,” Schoen goes on to defuse his own premise as follows:  

“That being said, the Democrats have to take the blame as well. Instead of constantly resisting his every move, Democrats need to article an agenda that could potentially win bipartisan support and help move this country forward.” 

Then, in truly surprising straightforwardness, Schoen not only gives Trump’s Supreme Court selection a “B+,” but a virtual endorsement of his performance.  

“President Trump ran on the promise that if elected, he would appoint federal judges who uphold the constitution and support the Second Amendment. The nomination and appointment of Justice Neil Gorsuch has accomplished just that, and will be one of President Trump’s lasting successes from his first 100 days.”   

Next covered were Regulations, Trade and Jobs where Trump was rewarded with an “A-.”
Presidential accomplishments included this week wherein: “Canada and Mexico have agreed to begin renegotiating NAFTA, which from the outset has largely occurred on President Trump’s terms.” 

Also seen as positive was pulling out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, enacting tougher enforcement of exporters who sell products below the cost of production, and the request for a comprehensive report on “every possible cause of the U.S. trade deficit.” 

On the campaign promise of job creation, Schoen particularly praises the beginning of the process of “cutting federal regulations and expedited the construction of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines. 

“Additionally, President Trump also ran the plan to crack down on companies outsourcing jobs. The president has called out corporate leaders and companies to help ensure jobs do not go to Mexico, all while negotiating with corporations to invest in new facilitates and factories in America as a “vote of confidence” in his administration.” 

Immigration earned a “B+” whereas: “The president has done exactly as he said he would do with regards to immigration,” proactively trying to enact a constitutionally acceptable version of the travel ban. 

“More importantly, however, President Trump has worked toward reforming the H1-B visa program in order to ensure that American workers will be a prioritized over foreign workers.

“Finally, Trump has held steady on his promise for a wall along the U.S. Southern border, and has initiated funding talks, as well the possibility of public-private partnerships to ensure the wall’s completion.” 

Thus, if one such as Schoen awards the POTUS with the highest of marks in all categories of governance, except for one in which it’s party members that are failing him, it’s no wonder he titled his column; “What Democrats won't admit about Trump's first 100 days”    

On another subject, Marisa Guthrie @hollywoodreporter.com writes that the Murdochs may be preparing for a leadership change at Fox News. Sources say “Rupert Murdoch and his sons James and Lachlan, CEO and co-chairman of Fox News parent 21st Century Fox, have quietly put out feelers for a new head of Fox News. And the preference, according to two sources familiar with the Murdochs’ thinking, is that the new leader be female.” 

Changes taking place in Fox’s political leanings may be having a negative effect too, whereas Rachel Stockman reports @mediaite.com: “A well-placed source close to the proposal tells Mediaite that serious discussions are underway to create an alternative conservative cable network on the belief that the Fox News Network is moving too far to the left.” 

Possible “stars” include the ousted Bill O’Reilly and Tomi Lahren, a conservative mega star, recently sidelined at The Blaze. Although those coming on board won’t be clear until the deal is more defined, “the source says the pitch is that the network could immediately reach at least 85 million homes.”   

Adding to the appeal of the opportunity for a new Conservative outlet is that the only primetime personality remaining at Fox is Sean Hannity who was mentioned, as follows:   
 
“I just don’t see Fox News and Sean having a long relationship. If Sean becomes available, you have 100 percent turnover in primetime and a huge opportunity,” a television executive, who didn’t want to be identified, but is involved in some of the talks, told Mediaite.
 
“I’m working on it (the new conservative channel) hot and heavy,” the source said. “It’s live, it’s real.” The new channel could come to fruition within the next 10 to 12 months, the executive said.” 

All of which is certainly possible whereas it’s very much like the opportunity seen by Roger Ailes in 1996 when he became the founding CEO of Fox News 21 years ago.
 
And then, another brilliant suggestion came from Rush yesterday, regarding outrageous speaking fees demanded by Democrat leadership. 

Rush said: “They don’t care about getting rich, they aren’t rich, and they, of course, have negative comments and things to say about everybody who is rich. And yet when they have a chance to money grub, they go out and do it. Now, if Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren were actually honest when articulating their class envy and class warfare rhetoric. For example, if they really mean it when they say they want to tax the rich, you know how they can prove it? Suggest a 90% tax rate on all speech income above $50,000. 

“Wasn’t it people like Obama and Clinton who tried to limit the tax deductibility corporations paid their CEOs above a million dollars a year? It’s very simple. Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, made to order, put your mouth where your policy is. Suggest a 90% tax on all speech income over $50,000. Don’t hold your breath, folks, it will never happen. But if they were honest and if they really meant this class warfare stuff, they’d be just as irritated when liberals get rich as they are when Republicans and conservatives do so.” 

Then, on the other hand, there are Republicans like Trump who’s already rich, is quite proud of it and believes there’s enough to go around for everybody else who wants to do it it as well. 

That's it for today folks. 

Adios