My Trump Scorecard so far...not that anyone cares, probably

[CowboyJD]

1. Providing “relief” from the Affordable Care Act (January 20)

In conjunction with Rand Paul's repair and replace plan, thumbs up. Will be interesting to see when legislation actually goes forward.

2. Freezing all regulations (January 20)

Largely symbolic, but like the intent.

3. Reinstating the “Mexico City” abortion policy (January 23)

Rescinded and reinstated along Presidential party lines. Good with taxpayer dollars not going to any foreign NGOs at all.

4. Scrapping the Trans-Pacific Partnership (January 23)

The success of this one depends upon the nature of the bilateral agreements eventually reached.

5. Freezing the federal workforce (January 23)

Sweet

6 & 7. Advancing the Dakota Access and Keystone XL Pipelines(January 24)

Approve

8. Expediting Environmental Reviews on Infrastructure Projects(January 24)

Like the concept. Ultimate success will be evaluated on the actual recommendations actually made.

9. Promoting “Made-in-the-USA” pipelines (January 24)

Mixed bag. Like buy American, but it will increase costs in all likelihood.

10. Reviewing domestic manufacturing regulation (January 24)

Like the order to review. Ultimate success will be based upon the recommendations that come from that review..

11. Increasing border security measures (January 25)

Don't think a full wall across the entirety of the southern border is necessary or even economically advisable.

Good with detention facilities along border to adjudicate asylum claims....it's subject to funding which I'm not sure will be forthcoming.

Love more border agents. Like end of catch and release. Don't like empowering local LE to act as immigration officers. Immigration is a federal issue.

Don't think Mexico will end up paying for this.

12. Pursuit of undocumented immigrants
If they are here illegally, I'm okay with them being removed. I do think it should be focused on high cost/benefit deportations of criminals, particularly violent criminals. Good with seeking sanctions on countries that refuse to take back its citizens. Also good with dropping them off at the border of the country of origination with or without permission.

13. Reevaluating visa and refugee programs (January 27) 

Half and half. IMO, application to green card holders and present visa holders without due process is unlawful. With regards to non-citizens not presently in the US or holding a green card or visa, President has near unilateral authority to issue visas or not. Spokespeople have said it is not being applied to green card and visa holders, but the lawyers defended the authority to do so in the hearing.
Not convinced the present vetting procedures are inadequate, not convinced they aren't.

14. Strengthening the military (January 27) 

Thumbs up

15. Reorganizing the National Security Council (January 28)

Not a fan. Thumbs down

16. Implementing a lobbying ban (January 28) 

Thumbs up.

17. Defeating ISIS (January 28) 

This calls for Mattis to come up with a plan. I'm a big fan of Mattis. If Trump accepts and follows the plan, will be a successful order.

18. Reducing regulations (January 30) 

Like the concept of reducing burdensome regulations. Not sure this is a coherent plan likely to be successful in accomplishing that.

19. Regulating the financial system (February 3) 

Ultimate success will depend upon what recommendations come from it.

20. Rethinking Obama’s fiduciary standard (February 3)

Not a fan.

21. Preventing violence against the police (February 9) 

Thumbs up to the concept. Ultimate success will be determined by the recommendations and legislation that come out of it.

22. Creating a task force to reduce crime (February 9) 

Same as #21

23. Combatting transnational criminal organizations (February 9)

Same as #21

Appointees: A wildly mixed bag for me. Some I like immensely. Some are giving me a WTF moments.

Presentation/Roll out/demeanor: @HighStickHarry is absolutely correct. I dislike his attitude, boorishness, narcissism, tweets, his looseness with language and "facts", his style in general. It makes me suspiscious. Sue me.

TL;DR: Somewhere between C- to C+ so far. Legislative battles are going to be interesting.

 

[CBradSmith]

Since you listed this all out, thank you btw, I'd award a B. But in all honestly, as you alluded to, it's currently an Incomplete.

What was your final evaluation for President Obama? Any big positives or negatives that stick out?

 

[CowboyUp]

This has got to change--conducting National Security meetings with foreign leaders in public at the club.
Not a good look:

 

[GL97]

This has got to change too...



lol, gotta love the eye roll at the end.

 

[MegaPoke]

1. Providing “relief” from the Affordable Care Act (January 20)

In conjunction with Rand Paul's repair and replace plan, thumbs up. Will be interesting to see when legislation actually goes forward.

2. Freezing all regulations (January 20)

Largely symbolic, but like the intent.

3. Reinstating the “Mexico City” abortion policy (January 23)

Rescinded and reinstated along Presidential party lines. Good with taxpayer dollars not going to any foreign NGOs at all.

4. Scrapping the Trans-Pacific Partnership (January 23)

The success of this one depends upon the nature of the bilateral agreements eventually reached.

5. Freezing the federal workforce (January 23)

Sweet

6 & 7. Advancing the Dakota Access and Keystone XL Pipelines(January 24)

Approve

8. Expediting Environmental Reviews on Infrastructure Projects(January 24)

Like the concept. Ultimate success will be evaluated on the actual recommendations actually made.

9. Promoting “Made-in-the-USA” pipelines (January 24)

Mixed bag. Like buy American, but it will increase costs in all likelihood.

10. Reviewing domestic manufacturing regulation (January 24)

Like the order to review. Ultimate success will be based upon the recommendations that come from that review..

11. Increasing border security measures (January 25)

Don't think a full wall across the entirety of the southern border is necessary or even economically advisable.

Good with detention facilities along border to adjudicate asylum claims....it's subject to funding which I'm not sure will be forthcoming.

Love more border agents. Like end of catch and release. Don't like empowering local LE to act as immigration officers. Immigration is a federal issue.

Don't think Mexico will end up paying for this.

12. Pursuit of undocumented immigrants
If they are here illegally, I'm okay with them being removed. I do think it should be focused on high cost/benefit deportations of criminals, particularly violent criminals. Good with seeking sanctions on countries that refuse to take back its citizens. Also good with dropping them off at the border of the country of origination with or without permission.

13. Reevaluating visa and refugee programs (January 27) 

Half and half. IMO, application to green card holders and present visa holders without due process is unlawful. With regards to non-citizens not presently in the US or holding a green card or visa, President has near unilateral authority to issue visas or not. Spokespeople have said it is not being applied to green card and visa holders, but the lawyers defended the authority to do so in the hearing.
Not convinced the present vetting procedures are inadequate, not convinced they aren't.

14. Strengthening the military (January 27) 

Thumbs up

15. Reorganizing the National Security Council (January 28)

Not a fan. Thumbs down

16. Implementing a lobbying ban (January 28) 

Thumbs up.

17. Defeating ISIS (January 28) 

This calls for Mattis to come up with a plan. I'm a big fan of Mattis. If Trump accepts and follows the plan, will be a successful order.

18. Reducing regulations (January 30) 

Like the concept of reducing burdensome regulations. Not sure this is a coherent plan likely to be successful in accomplishing that.

19. Regulating the financial system (February 3) 

Ultimate success will depend upon what recommendations come from it.

20. Rethinking Obama’s fiduciary standard (February 3)

Not a fan.

21. Preventing violence against the police (February 9) 

Thumbs up to the concept. Ultimate success will be determined by the recommendations and legislation that come out of it.

22. Creating a task force to reduce crime (February 9) 

Same as #21

23. Combatting transnational criminal organizations (February 9)

Same as #21

Appointees: A wildly mixed bag for me. Some I like immensely. Some are giving me a WTF moments.

Presentation/Roll out/demeanor: @HighStickHarry is absolutely correct. I dislike his attitude, boorishness, narcissism, tweets, his looseness with language and "facts", his style in general. It makes me suspiscious. Sue me.

TL;DR: Somewhere between C- to C+ so far. Legislative battles are going to be interesting.

Actually agree with most everything but the last paragraph.

I genuinely love the lack of decorum and FU establishment attitude of everything he does.

Pragmatically I acknowledge the cringeworthy nature of his tweets but love the fact that it's unfiltered, unanalyzed direct messages from power to the source of power. I pray they do not change and hope they cause existential pain to anyone who supports globalist ideals.

 

[CBradSmith]

This has got to change too...

View embedded media

lol, gotta love the eye roll at the end.

Do you gotta? Do you really gotta?

 

[GL97]

Do you gotta? Do you really gotta?

Good caption to the Prime Minister's thoughts!

 

[CowboyJD]

Since you listed this all out, thank you btw, I'd award a B. But in all honestly, as you alluded to, it's currently an Incomplete.

What was your final evaluation for President Obama? Any big positives or negatives that stick out?

Provisions of ACA I liked....and are some that Rand's plan claims to keep.

TARP and bailouts were hard, but in the end probably a good idea.

Foreign policy...not a big fan....really not a big fan.

His legislative battles weren't very successful. He wasn't going to get much of anything passed through that Congress.

Ultimately the voters rejected those that attempted to tie themselves closely to him. He's gone. Not gonna spend a whole lot of time comparing and contrasting,

 

[shortbus]

I pretty much completely agree with @CowboyJD as I have the last several weeks with his interactions on this board.

I can't say our opinions won't diverge as time goes on but to this point he's been pretty spot on.

 

[anon_xl72qcu5isp39]

Foreign policy...not a big fan....really not a big fan.

What was his foreign policy that you didn't like?

BTW, I want to give you a kudos. Your objective, government lawyer, just-the-facts-Maam, ethos on here is refreshing. We haven't always agreed, probably still won't, but I appreciate the objectivity.

 

[windriverrange]

Great list JD, pretty much agree but would probably bump to a C+ so far. If for no other reason then his unforced errors pale in comparison to the general obstruction and backstabbing from both parties. What I do love is he has 50ish approval;l rating and can throw the whole congressional lot under the bus since their approval ratings suck!

My WTF part, is how can all those dipshit republicans run on repealing obysmal care, then get the chance and HAVE NO IDEA WHAT OR HOW TO DO IT, and even if they do have a plan, not understand the implications of removing the TAX etc? Its like the whole deal was a great sound bite but they never expected it to happen. Now it has and they are like the 3 blind mice. Really pathetic!

 

[Medic007]

Your objective, government lawyer, just-the-facts-Maam, ethos on here is refreshing.

Very true. He sounds like an actual lawyer when he posts.

 

[imprimis]

My WTF part, is how can all those dipshit republicans run on repealing obysmal care, then get the chance and HAVE NO IDEA WHAT OR HOW TO DO IT, and even if they do have a plan, not understand the implications of removing the TAX etc? Its like the whole deal was a great sound bite but they never expected it to happen. Now it has and they are like the 3 blind mice. Really pathetic!

I'm here on this. Of course, the cynic in me says they never intended to do much about Obamacare except use its repeal/replace as a campaign slogan. They probably thought they would get one of the 16 other candidates who would play the DC "shell game" like Congress does.

Seems like the way to move forward on repealing Obamacare would be pass legislation which repeals the entire act. Include in the legislation a provision that says Obamacare will be funded until such time (a year) that a new replacement is rolled out making the transition to the new InsertNameCare less disruptive.

 

[Rdcldad]

trump will take on obamacare with a vengeance

he's got lots of other stuff going on right now
and i'm sure will turn the bully pulpit to obamacare once congress has done nothing for six months

 

[anon_xl72qcu5isp39]

My WTF part, is how can all those dipshit republicans run on repealing obysmal care, then get the chance and HAVE NO IDEA WHAT OR HOW TO DO IT, and even if they do have a plan, not understand the implications of removing the TAX etc? Its like the whole deal was a great sound bite but they never expected it to happen. Now it has and they are like the 3 blind mice. Really pathetic!

 

[07pilt]

Provisions of ACA I liked....and are some that Rand's plan claims to keep.

TARP and bailouts were hard, but in the end probably a good idea.

Foreign policy...not a big fan....really not a big fan.

His legislative battles weren't very successful. He wasn't going to get much of anything passed through that Congress.

Ultimately the voters rejected those that attempted to tie themselves closely to him. He's gone. Not gonna spend a whole lot of time comparing and contrasting,

TARP was GWB.

 

[PDT816]

TARP was GWB.

TARP was authorized when W was rolling up his presidency. How the money was spent was shared with Obama given the overlap in terms. And Obama changed the program a ton the first month or so in charge with a decision to buy toxic assets from Banks which was a giant shit sandwich.

 

[Cowpoke]

This has got to change too...

View embedded media

lol, gotta love the eye roll at the end.

He does that weird jerk their hand towards him handshake every time. Not sure if its a dominance thing or involuntary. Did it to Gorsuch and about pulled him off balance. You could tell Gorsuch was sort of uncomfortable with it.

 

[aix_xpert]

Nice post JD. Couple notes that aren't included. I always have had issues with legislation passed that has major provisions that won't take effect until after the guys passing it are out of office. ACA has several "Cadillac" provisions that don't take effect until 2018. Those are likely to make the need to repel/replace ACA even more of a burden than it already is. I'd note that whole law was written in the method of a crack dealer. Give the 'best parts' immediately (Kids on till 27, pre-existing condition coverage, etc...) then once embedded, the penalties, mandates, etc...kick in.

The other is the fudiciary rule. In principle, it sounds like an appropriate regulation. But Dodd-Frank has been around for years and I'm not sure why this rule (if its as simple as clean as its advertised) needed such a long runway for implementation. That concerns me that their is potentially more nuance to the rule that may make its elimination the appropriate action.

 

[CowboyJD]

What was his foreign policy that you didn't like?

BTW, I want to give you a kudos. Your objective, government lawyer, just-the-facts-Maam, ethos on here is refreshing. We haven't always agreed, probably still won't, but I appreciate the objectivity.

Primarily his actions during the Arab spring.

I prefer stabilization in the region over chaos....even if the stabilization in that region comes at the cost of dictatorships.

You could characterize it as I didn't agree with his continuation of interventionist policies begun during the Bush administration if you'd like.

 

[HighStickHarry]

I prefer stabilization in the region over chaos....even if the stabilization in that region comes at the cost of dictatorships.



This to me is a complete indictment of the middle east. They need to be controlled and possibly brutally controlled. I agree which makes your statement suspect. It's a harsh truth that Hussein and khadaffi are better than Islamic democracy.

 

[PDT816]

JD,

This is my favorite type of post, so major kudos to you for taking the time to create and publish your own thoughts rather than someone else's talking points.

I'm really struggling with how I feel about Trump's results so far. What I really wanted him to be was a guy that came into DC and changed the way we talk about issues. Someone that would push the discussion towards the merits of the argument rather than what amasses the biggest voting blocks. He hasn't been that guy so far, but I never really expected him to be either. It's a little sad that he has every capability from how he came to be in office, but his personality is getting in the way.

He's more conservative/libertarian than I thougt he was going to be, so he gets bumped up a little on the score card on that front. But he's pretty low on the common sense quotient in how he's moving forward which costs him.

Probably a C- from me.

 

[anon_xl72qcu5isp39]

They need to be controlled and possibly brutally controlled. I agree which makes your statement suspect.

It's the cost of doing it, Harry. Americans die and billions get pissed away. And for what?

 

[HighStickHarry]

Spot on syskatine. There is one political faction that wants open borders so more of them can come here though. Who might that be...

 

[anon_xl72qcu5isp39]

Spot on syskatine. There is one political faction that wants open borders so more of them can come here though. Who might that be...

Nobody has advocated "open borders." Have you re-entered the US in the last few years? They're not open and haven't been that I can remember.

 

[PDT816]

Nobody has advocated "open borders." Have you re-entered the US in the last few years? They're not open and haven't been that I can remember.

Depends on how you infer "open borders". If you think the free-for-all stance that once you get here, you're OK as long as you behavior yourself is an open border policy (and I do personally). It's a pretty long list of people.

 

[GL97]

He does that weird jerk their hand towards him handshake every time. Not sure if its a dominance thing or involuntary.

It is his attempt at a sign of dominance and to gauge the other person's response. He does it on purpose. Similar to some of the tactics LBJ used.

It was interesting though how Trudeau was prepared for it yesterday and quickly responded to it.

The Johnson treatment...

 

[CowboyJD]

JD,

This is my favorite type of post, so major kudos to you for taking the time to create and publish your own thoughts rather than someone else's talking points.

I'm really struggling with how I feel about Trump's results so far. What I really wanted him to be was a guy that came into DC and changed the way we talk about issues. Someone that would push the discussion towards the merits of the argument rather than what amasses the biggest voting blocks. He hasn't been that guy so far, but I never really expected him to be either. It's a little sad that he has every capability from how he came to be in office, but his personality is getting in the way.

He's more conservative/libertarian than I thougt he was going to be, so he gets bumped up a little on the score card on that front. But he's pretty low on the common sense quotient in how he's moving forward which costs him.

Probably a C- from me.

Thanks.

I did it to encourage others to do the same. I left another politics board because it had become nothing but a links posting dumping grounds which they then expected others to debunk. I hate that crap. Especially in an era of everybody just yelling fake news and moving on as if it doesn't exist. It gets old, boring, and trite.

So far, everyone that has chimed in mostly agrees with my evaluation. I'm interested in hearing point by point from those that disagree vehemently.