BloggeRhythms

Today’s one where a conglomeration of items combine to suggest the new POTUS has already ceded to a combination of the RINO establishment and Democrat obstructionists, or conversely is a brilliant strategist biding his time early on in the learning curve.   
   
Although the answer is, obviously, yet to be known, the highest probability is that Trump is assessing his new position in the same way that any top rung marketing professional would approach a new employer, position or marketplace.

Step one would involve considerable homework, gaining familiarity with what he now has to offer, how and where to sell it, and of critical importance, learning everything possible about the competition, within and without his own organization. And most importantly, while mistakes both large and small are undoubtedly to be expected, being certain not to make the same one twice.

Therefore, if the learning assumption is true, the Republican acquiescence on the budget deal takes shape if viewed as what a business might offer as a “loss leader,” selling items at cost or below cost to attract customers. 

Chris Stirewalt provided his perspective @FoxNews.com yesterday, writing: “Republicans realized that even a brief partial government shutdown would have been a calamity for a party with total control of Washington. Being eager to move on to more enjoyable things than stopgap spending, President Trump and Republican leaders on Capitol Hill threw in the towel.

“And that may prove to be either a strategic retreat to mount a more impressive advance. Or, it could be the beginning of a rout.” 

Rush refrained from presenting any upside whatsoever, his disappointment clear and terse: “So Obamacare gets funded. Sanctuary cities get funded. The EPA gets funded through September. Planned Parenthood gets funded. The wall does not. So if you're asking yourself, "Why am I voting Republican?" you have a good question. Why is anybody voting Republican, if this is what happens when we win?” 

However, a very astute listener, Carol Darling, provided an answer Rush ought to think about whereas the odds are she’s most likely correct. 

“Rush I've never written or called you before but I just had to today after listening to your radio show.

“My reasoning is I feel the Prez knew exactly what he was doing on the budget Bill that was just passed on Bi Partisan basis. Immediately Prez supporters are having melt downs all over Social Media..

“Give him some credit! Have some faith! He's not beholden to any money. He not in awe of Washington insiders. He knows exactly what he's doing. He's eating a small slice of humble pie to get a room full of desserts! 

“He's not going to war over 5 months of budget! 

“He wants to get his Healthcare Bill over the finish line! He wants to give our Economy & Middle Class a huge monetary boost with Tax Cuts!

“When he gets these items you'll see a fierce fighter come to the forefront! 

“Please encourage others to keep the Faith & not give up on this man who can save America while making her Great Again!”

Which is quite similar to reader commentary across the Web, where it can be seen that significant numbers of voters know full well the magnitude of the job that needs to done. And that’s why most of the pressure on the POTUS to perform quickly, comes far more from media types on both sides of the aisle than from those that voted him into office.    

On another subject, Lucas Nolan writes @breitbart.com about an indirect Trump endorsement from a most unexpected source.

“In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald to discuss his latest documentary — about Russian President Vladimir Putin — [Oliver] Stone discussed his experience interacting with the Russian leader and what his documentary aims to convey to a Western audience.” 

Describing the project as more of a “question and answer session” than documentary, Stone said: “Mr. Putin is one of the most important leaders in the world and in so far as the United States has declared him an enemy – a great enemy – I think it’s very important we hear what he has to say.” 

Focusing on events since Putin became president of Russia in 2000, Stone said: “It opens up a whole viewpoint that we as Americans haven’t heard. We went to see him four different times over two years.” 

With topics including the case of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, Stone noted that the Russian president “talks pretty straight,” and hopes his documentary can help explain Putin’s points of view to a Western audience. 

And then, when “questioned about allegations made by Democrats and the political left that President Trump has direct connections to Russia, Stone replied “That’s a path that leads nowhere to my mind.” 

“That’s an internal war of politics in the US in which the Democratic party has taken a suicide pact or something to blow him up; in other words, to completely de-legitimise him and in so doing blow up the US essentially,” he said. “What they’re doing is destroying the trust that exists between people and government. It’s a very dangerous position to make accusations you cannot prove.”

What gave the commentary even more impact as to the probability of Stone’s assessment that the implications are a “a path that leads nowhere” being correct was pointed out by quite a few readers. Their contention was that if there were even an iota of truth to the matter of Trump’s guilt, Stone himself would have already produced a documentary on the issue.  

Which brings us to a closing note from Rush once more, who provided his take on politicians in general: “The Republican Party is not a party that writes legislation. The Democrats don't write legislation anymore. You know where legislation is written? Legislation is written by the quote-unquote, "special interests." You know where they're located? They're located on K Street. They're lobbyists; they are donors.”

And once more, Rush is absolutely correct.

That’s it for today folks.

Adios