On the Trump foreign policy (as it were...). The idea that U.S. reputation was "restored" around the world relies on the GOP's cartoonish view of "strength". They equate bombast, empty threats, and isolationism as strength while nuance, negotiation, and working with partners is weakness. This cartoonish view of the world is not limited only to strength -- the ultra-gaudy Mar-a-Lago and Trump Tower apartments are "wealth" and "classy". People like Steven Miller and Joe Rogan are "intellectuals", and wearing an American Flag string bikini and flying multiple flags from your F150 is "patriotism". It is this binary, nuance-free, view of the world that powers MAGA.
Also, on foreign policy (anecdata to follow). I work as a fed contractor with civilian and military agencies. While many of the people I work with are very conservative and may prefer Trump's policies (again...whatever that means), they were almost all relieved to see a return of normalcy and competency at the agency level under the Biden administration. The Trump administration was utterly incompetent, left important positions unfilled in the name of cost-cutting, and undermined long-standing agency policies and procedures.
We should all remember Trump at the UN and being laughed at. The right spent years on a lie about Obama- that he was basically apologizing to the world. He has his weaknesses (lack of experience and indecisiveness) but Obama was widely admired and was at ease with peer leaders. Trump was awkward around peer leaders. In any case Biden returned the US to normal in some manner and is effective internationally. Not perfect either but who is.
That's the truth. How can anyone be apathetic about the ways he openly grifted government money into his own coffers. And that doesn't count the bribes he and his family received internationally. And all of the Republicans accepted it without a whisper. That's why I can never vote Republican again.
According to Trumpites, he was "reining in the administrative state." What they seem to mean by it is: making the whole machinery of government answerable to nothing but the whims of Trump.
Sure, and if you want to remove some of the bloat from our agencies, sign me up. However, it has to be done in a planned and thoughtful manner. Some of those positions have roles in critical workflows and their absence slows or stops parts of the agency's functionality. There were certain workflows at DoD for which an approver for important projects simply didn't exist because the position was vacant.
It comes from a fear of having anyone in your organization who might be smarter than you or independent. Trump and even Musk, must have "yes men" because they are weak and therefore, fearful of being challenged.
Leaders who are strong and confident welcome differing viewpoints.
Some people start with a reasonable case about administrative bloat and unchecked power within executive agencies -- but when they tie their agenda tightly to Donald Trump, it doesn't make their case especially persuasive.
On the Trump foreign policy (as it were...). The idea that U.S. reputation was "restored" around the world relies on the GOP's cartoonish view of "strength". They equate bombast, empty threats, and isolationism as strength while nuance, negotiation, and working with partners is weakness. This cartoonish view of the world is not limited only to strength -- the ultra-gaudy Mar-a-Lago and Trump Tower apartments are "wealth" and "classy". People like Steven Miller and Joe Rogan are "intellectuals", and wearing an American Flag string bikini and flying multiple flags from your F150 is "patriotism". It is this binary, nuance-free, view of the world that powers MAGA.
Much like Trump’s bombastic, bullying, hysterical performance in the first Biden Presidential debate meant “I won” to Trump.
I wrote this before I heard yesterday’s podcast with Mona. It touches on this very topic.
Also, on foreign policy (anecdata to follow). I work as a fed contractor with civilian and military agencies. While many of the people I work with are very conservative and may prefer Trump's policies (again...whatever that means), they were almost all relieved to see a return of normalcy and competency at the agency level under the Biden administration. The Trump administration was utterly incompetent, left important positions unfilled in the name of cost-cutting, and undermined long-standing agency policies and procedures.
I’m not sure it had anything to do with cost cutting.
We should all remember Trump at the UN and being laughed at. The right spent years on a lie about Obama- that he was basically apologizing to the world. He has his weaknesses (lack of experience and indecisiveness) but Obama was widely admired and was at ease with peer leaders. Trump was awkward around peer leaders. In any case Biden returned the US to normal in some manner and is effective internationally. Not perfect either but who is.
Try to get a sensible answer as to what those "policies" are. Crickets!
That's the truth. How can anyone be apathetic about the ways he openly grifted government money into his own coffers. And that doesn't count the bribes he and his family received internationally. And all of the Republicans accepted it without a whisper. That's why I can never vote Republican again.
According to Trumpites, he was "reining in the administrative state." What they seem to mean by it is: making the whole machinery of government answerable to nothing but the whims of Trump.
Sure, and if you want to remove some of the bloat from our agencies, sign me up. However, it has to be done in a planned and thoughtful manner. Some of those positions have roles in critical workflows and their absence slows or stops parts of the agency's functionality. There were certain workflows at DoD for which an approver for important projects simply didn't exist because the position was vacant.
Only those pretending to be CEOs (Musk) have super carve-outs of personnel without a studied plan.
Taking such actions on a whim proves they are incapable of management.
It comes from a fear of having anyone in your organization who might be smarter than you or independent. Trump and even Musk, must have "yes men" because they are weak and therefore, fearful of being challenged.
Leaders who are strong and confident welcome differing viewpoints.
Some people start with a reasonable case about administrative bloat and unchecked power within executive agencies -- but when they tie their agenda tightly to Donald Trump, it doesn't make their case especially persuasive.
Which is why he had so many acting positions -- without confirmation, it was easier for Trump to fire them and to threaten them with firing.
And pick blithering idiots who wouldn't even get a vote from the ReTrumplican't political hacks.
I think the saying on the MAGAesque hat was:
"Yeah, what he says."