This week marks our shift from grading lame duck President Obama to incoming President-elect Trump. As before, our graders, pollster John Zogby and Republican analyst Jed Babbin, will size up Trump and give him a grade. We will of course keep an eye on Obama as he makes is final moves toward political retirement.
In our first review, Trump gets good grades for both his move to keep Carrier in Indiana and on some of his Cabinet choices.
John Zogby
As I move on to grade Donald Trump I feel like a teacher trapped in Common Core. In many ways I am using standardized testing that no longer applies. Mr. Trump has broken all the rules and gone to the head of the class
A new poll shows 53 percent of voters expect him to do a good job while 44 percent expect a poor job — just about the same numbers as President Obama’s approval rating. Those are good numbers.
He is not draining the swamp with his Cabinet appointments but he is choosing a combination of experts, diversity, and ideological compatriots consistent with his campaign promises. Does anyone seriously expect him to walk away from all things Trump? Seriously?
Grade B+
Jed Babbin
Grading President-elect Trump is a very busy task that’s going to get even more hectic after he’s inaugurated.
This week Mr. Trump, as usual, made a lot of news. His hyperactive Twitter feed launched the idea that flag burning should be punished, perhaps by loss of citizenship and (or) jail time. It’s an idea that appeals to many Americans, but the Supreme Court long ago decided that the First Amendment protects acts, not just speech, and the flag burners can any flag they own (but not yours or mine).
Later in the week, Trump Tweeted that the Ohio State jihadist – a Somali refugee who came here two years ago and stayed as a permanent legal resident – shouldn’t have been in this country. True enough, given the fact that there’s no way to vet Middle Eastern, African and Afghani refugees to determine if they’re connected with terrorist groups or have beliefs that coincide with those of the terrorists.
PEOTUS chose a few key prospective cabinet members. One, HHS nominee Cong. Tom Price (R-Ga) is an M.D. and has been a very outspoken critic of Obamacare. Look for quick action on Obamacare repeal after January 20.
After Obama’s secretaries of defense – a parade of pusillanimous puppies – Trump’s selection of retired Marine Gen. James “Mad Dog” Mattis to be the next Sec Def must send a cold chill down the backs of our enemies. Partnered with incoming National Security Advisor retired Marine Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn, Mattis will be aiming to win wars, rather than remaining sunk in the continuous wars our troops have fought and died in since 9/11.
We don’t know all the details of the Trump-Pence deal with Carrier to cancel its plans to move to Mexico, saving about 1,000 Indiana jobs, though it apparently involved tax breaks engineered by VPEOTUS (and Indiana Gov.) Mike Pence. There’s no reason for Trump to stop wheeling and dealing from now on. Who’s gonna stop him?
Grade A-
John Zogby is the founder of the Zogby Poll and senior partner at John Zogby Strategies. His latest book is and author of “We Are Many, We Are One.” Follow him at @TheJohnZogby
Jed Babbin is an Examiner contributor and former deputy undersecretary of defense in administration of former President George H.W. Bush. Follow him @jedbabbin
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]
