"Here is the problem when you do as Obama did with extra-Constitutional actions. When you tell people all you need to govern is a "pen and a phone". It was easy come and now it is easy go."
This has been some week for our 45th President. Any olive branch that might have existed between the President, Chuckles, and Ms. Nancy, was swept away in a firestorm of Presidential actions. I have addressed this before - little by little, the non-statutory actions which Obama took are being undone by this White House. However this week, Trump got to some very large chunks.
The first thing this week which fell was the illegal ObamaCare subsidy to insurance companies. Now before some get their undies in a wad about this, one thing needs to be crystal clear. We can still do it, if that is what the American people want. However, it needs to be done in accordance with Article One of our Constitution. In other words, Congress needs to appropriate the money. President Obama had no legal standing to appropriate this money without the consent and authority of Congress. All President Trump did was to get rid of an illegality.
The next issue is a bit different, but along the same lines. President Trump will not certify the Iran JCPOA (or should the last three initials be POS instead). Now Trump did not cancel the agreement, he would just not certify Iran was in compliance. The Democrats, still smarting from the ObamaCare issue, are hopping mad about this one. "Of course Iran is in compliance! That has been proven!" Trump's position - Iran may be in compliance with a bad deal, and all that does is let it remain a bad deal. Trump wants to make this a better deal.
Guess what Trump did with this issue? That is correct - dumped it over in Congress. Why? This is where it should have been from the get-go. It may be an "agreement", but anything which even smells like a treaty, needs reside in the Congressional in-basket.
Just like Obama tried to undo many of the Bush (43) era items, Trump is now doing the same to Obama. Should anyone be surprised? Only if they were living under a rock during the campaign. What happened this week came directly out of Donald Trump's platform.
I know, I know. It would have been better if Ryan and the House had fixed the ObamaCare issue instead. Why didn't they? Courage. Donald Trump is not a swamp dweller. He is a former CEO who knows how to get things done. How to challenge people to do their jobs. He gave Ryan first crack at ObamaCare. Ryan fumbled the ball (twice), so Trump scored the touchdown instead.
Here is the problem when you do as Obama did with extra-Constitutional actions. When you tell people all you need to govern is a "pen and a phone". It was easy come and now it is easy go. Hopefully, the American people will have learned a lesson from this the next time someone who wants to be dictator comes into the White House. So long as our Constitution stands, so stands our rule of law.
I think the president’s actions on healthcare and Iran are the latest examples of his standing political strategy, which is to throw red meat to his base in order to maintain his base, as evidence of his unfitness and inability to govern mounts.
ReplyDeleteIf anything, his use of this tactic seems to be accelerating as it becomes increasingly clear, even to some of his closest friends and political allies, that he is failing.
Executive Orders are not governing, as clearly shown by Obama and now 45.
dave
These provisions could destabilize the individual and small group markets, leaving millions of Americans who need comprehensive coverage to manage chronic and other pre-existing conditions, as well as protection against unforeseen illness and injury, without affordable options.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that was what 45 campaigned on. As I recall, he was going to make healthcare affordable for all.
Maybe I mis-heard.
dave
Eliminating the unconstitutional payments to insurance companies is a way to get people's attention that the ACA was designed to fail and President Obama's unilateral payments to insurance companies was simply a prop to make sure it did not fully implode during his 2nd term. Hopefully, President Trump's action this week will get the Senate to act on a replacement in 2018.
ReplyDeleteThis action certainly got the peoples attention, but since the people have no say, other than the periodic voting opportunity, I don't think that matters.
DeleteThe Senate, unable to enact any legislation, will not act on a replacement of substance.
Many people will be hurt by this action, but not until 2019. Many will be MAGA folks, and enough may change their voting preferences to end this danger to America.
Here's a good read for Dave: "ON OBAMACARE, TRUMP RESTORES THE RULE OF LAW".
ReplyDeletehttp://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2017/10/on-obamacare-trump-restores-the-rule-of-law.php
Tough read (too many big conservative words) for one of the unwashed , but thank you. Their was never any question about the constitutionality of the action. The question is, how is 45 going to give his supporters what he promised. Cheaper, better, more inclusive healthcare for all Americans. Or is that all forgotten.
DeleteThis whole deal seems like it is just another one of 45's counter-punches to those that offend him. Nothing more for him to do. He got his way, until someone punches back. The states will do that, but 45's Justice Dept. and Supreme Court will make it unlikely that his tweet (executive order) will be overturned.
ReplyDeleteFrom the Values Voter Summit, just held......
ReplyDeleteHis communications in general are tactically [emulating Christ]. I don’t want to be misinterpreted to say that everything he says is equivalent to gospel. I mean, he’s on the right side, and his tactics are more reminiscent of Christ, of the tactics that Christ used when he walked the earth and which he admonished his followers to use also.
Made me throw up in my mouth, dave