President Trump, with at least two years of full Republican control of government at the national and state levels, has systematically damaged or destroyed his relationship with — well, almost every group or individual essential to success.
Trump’s undisciplined and incendiary style has left the most powerful man in the world with few friends — not onein the United States Senate, for instance.
- The public: Gallup has his approval at 34%, down from 46% just after the inauguration.
- Republican congressional leaders — Senate Majority Mitch McConnell in particular.
- Every Democrat who could help him do a deal.
- The media.
- CEOs.
- World leaders.
- Europe.
- Muslims.
- Hispanics.
- African Americans.
- Military leaders.
- The intelligence community.
- His own staff.
And who’s happy?
- Steve Bannon.
- Saudi Arabia.
- Breitbart.
- David Duke.
Joe Arpaio learns that he is not above the law
In a trial that began Monday in federal court, Mr. Arpaio stands accused of criminal contempt of court for having thumbed his nose at a federal judge who ordered a halt to Mr. Arpaio’s traffic patrols, which singled out Hispanics on the basis of nothing more than their appearance, for immigration enforcement.
.. Lawyers for Mr. Arpaio, who is 85, have tried out an array of legal strategies in his defense, variously arguing that he did not understand the order , or that the order was ambiguous or invalid.
.. Unfortunately for the sheriff, the most damning evidence against him are the words he himself uttered
.. “I’m still gonna do what I’m doing,” Mr. Arpaio told the media in April 2012 . “I’m still gonna arrest illegal aliens.”
.. The sheriff’s insolence — an open admission that he would persist in conduct the judge had ruled was discriminatory — translated into open defiance.
.. the trial of Mr. Arpaio is the direct result of his own arrogance, and of contempt not just for a single federal judge’s order but also for the standards, norms and values of a civilized society.
Get Ready for the ‘Real’ Donald Trump
All year, Trump has spoken to virtually all-white audiences, but now we are told that will change. The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that Trump would actually set foot in “churches, charter schools and small businesses in black and Latino communities.”
.. And, according to Carson, Trump is now getting ready for his big adventure — “prepping the ground” for talking to minorities by talking to white people about minorities.
.. That’s his deep-felt feeling? African-Americans have it so bad that they might as well vote for Trump, even if they think he’s a racist?
.. after a record of “insulting and ignoring our community,” Trump has decided to “finally reach out.”
.. “he is not talking to us, he is talking at us.”
How Hillary Loses
Donald Trump can actually win if Clinton makes these four mistakes. Spoiler alert: She’s already making all of them.
.. If you drill down enough, it’s clear there are at least four paths to a loss, and any one of them poses a real risk for a candidate likely to follow her usual careful, calculating playbook.
.. Step 1: Take Hispanic enthusiasm for granted
.. Yes, their numbers are growing. But Hispanics simply don’t like Clinton nearly as much as they like Obama
.. Step 2: Alienate the young
.. Step 3: Let establishment Republicans find another place to go
.. Step 4: Fumble on trade
.. Polls show that union households tend to oppose free trade quite strongly. Sanders has made free trade a centerpiece of his primary campaign against Clinton. Trump, hoping to woo Sanders voters, frequently praises his position on that issue.