Donald Trump is the first president elected in modern memory who is not beholden to a variety of special interests. He largely spent his own personal fortune to win the presidency and now finds himself facing a hostile audience on both sides of the aisle.
Technically Trump is a Republican, but his allegiance within his own party is thin. His true power lies with the American people and their growing level of anxiety with Washington politics. If Trump can keep this growing and enthusiastic base, he has the power to succeed. It is hard for many Trump-haters to contemplate the will of the people over their usual twisting of the facts.
The Democrats, most of the media, and a large part of the Republican Party want Trump to fail miserably. He represents the power that can literally alter the familiar lifestyle entrenched politicians and media members have enjoyed for decades.
Trump is quickly blamed by those who seek his demise. The repeal of Obamacare is a good example. The reality is Congress, specifically the Republicans, have the power to send Trump a bill he is ready to sign. It is the Republicans who demanded the law be repealed and replaced for seven long years before Trump’s arrival.
The billionaire real estate tycoon’s aggressive behavior toward them have alienated their affections. The difference between many career politicians in Washington and Trump is this: they represent the many special interests that elected them and Trump represents the best interests of the American people.
The president has no choice but to instill fear in a do-nothing Congress. Trump needs to find a fall guy; punish one incumbent that can become the poster child of the American people for getting nothing done. He has no loyalties toward the Republicans. Why should he with many of them jumping ship at the slightest drop in precious polling numbers?
Trump has the street instincts to hit back hard against those whom he believes have wronged him, a list that at present appears to include Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) as well as GOP Sens. John McCain (Ariz.), Jeff Flake (Ariz.) and Bob Corker (Tenn.).
The president should neither forgive nor forget. His base of support will support his fight with RINO Republicans like McCain or Corker. Trump himself seems in no particular mood to declare a truce.
Trump and McConnell have not spoken to each other in weeks. Last Friday, Trump complained about the Senate’s filibuster rule, which has been a longtime vexation to him even as McConnell has indicated he has no interest in getting rid of it. And the president took aim at Corker, who had publicly called his “stability” and “competence” into question.
Naturally, moderate Republicans question Trump’s wisdom. Gutless politicians are more concerned about their political future than joining their president in getting the will of the people done. Trump’s willingness to hit back against those who don’t follow his wishes is an integral part of his personality.
In reality, Trump knows exactly what he is doing. The Congress is very unpopular, particularly with the Republican base, so there’s nothing unhinged about it. It is a very thought-out strategy. There’s nothing crazy about it.
Public Policy Polling, a Democratic-leaning firm, last month found only 30 percent of Republicans approving of McConnell’s job performance, while 46 percent disapproved. For Trump, 81 percent of Republicans approved and only 16 percent disapproved.
Furthermore, the Harvard-Harris poll published this week found McConnell to be the most unpopular politician in the country with a national profile. Trump is far more popular and more influential with Republican primary voters than any members of Congress and any member of the United States Senate.
The Republican leadership in the House and the Senate needs to get behind President Trump and his agenda. The president is attempting to follow through with his campaign promises. The base voted for Donald Trump to be a sledgehammer and a wrecking ball to Washington, D.C.
It’s time for the so-called Republican Party to stand up to the reckless media and the far left. There are a lot of concerned Americans who are more than willing to sacrifice them before the man they elected to drain the swamp.
