Our White House Report Card finds that maybe more than any week yet for President Trump, this was one where there was no middle ground between partisans and, like a coin toss, it depended on which side you were on in deciding if he had a good or bad week.
Our conservative grader, Jed Babbin, decided that despite the Democratic march to impeachment, “President Trump had a pretty good week.” He cited the public’s lackluster support for impeachment, the State Department’s further support for Israel and the poor ratings for the 2020 Democratic presidential candidate debate.
Our Democratic grader, pollster John Zogby countered, “the president had a horrid week.” He cited impeachment but noted that Trump still stands a “decent chance of being reelected in 2020.”
Jed Babbin
Grade B-
President Trump had a pretty good week. It’s almost old news that the economy continues to soar and unemployment remains at historic lows. What seems oddest — at least for the Trump haters — is that the Republican National Committee is reporting a fundraising bonanza due to the impeachment hearings.
Those hearings were a great bore. Their bombshells continue to fizzle despite the media’s eagerness to promote them. Trump is now saying he wants a full Senate trial if he’s impeached. Such a trial should produce a lot of videos useful for campaign ads.
Public polls are matching what we’ve seen in our internals:@realDonaldTrump’s approval is the highest it’s been since this sham began.
Opposition to impeachment is growing.
Most voters want Biden investigated – including over a third of DEMS.
This charade is backfiring!
— Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) November 21, 2019
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo broke some political windows by declaring that the United States would no longer regard the Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria — the West Bank — as illegal. “International law” — which is nothing more than balance of power politics — has supposedly condemned the settlements. Arab and Palestinian authorities quickly condemned Pompeo’s declaration. The effect of Pompeo’s action is more interesting than their reactions. It would, on one hand, strengthen Israeli hands in any deal-making scenario and on the other make the long-awaited Trump-Kushner deal seem mighty unlikely.
Yet another Democratic candidate debate was held and few watched. As a result of the impeachment hearings and the debate, Trump’s popularity ratings are rising.
Historian: @realDonaldTrump ‘one of America’s great presidents,’ impeachment no ‘scar.” @DougWead says Russia collusion ‘inoculated’ prez. ‘Inside Trump’s White House’ quotes @jaredkushner — ‘There will come a day when people will miss him greatly.’ https://t.co/kkRu52tI0M pic.twitter.com/bLQg8yI5Kj
— Paul Bedard (@SecretsBedard) November 22, 2019
Both the House and the Senate passed bills supporting the pro-freedom protesters in Hong Kong. Trump apparently believes it’s more important to get the trade deal he seeks with China. (He won’t get more than a fig-leaf of an agreement because the Chinese won’t agree to stop stealing U.S. technology.)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — one of Trump’s strongest allies — was indicted for corruption, prolonging Israel’s political crisis. (They’ve held two elections in a year, and neither Netanyahu nor his opponents have been able to form a majority government.) This demonstrates why the founders decided on a republic rather than a parliamentary democracy and that a sitting president could only be removed by impeachment.
John Zogby
Grade D-
President Trump had a horrid week.
One credible witness after another linked him to the play-for-pay scheme with the president of Ukraine. Some were directly part of the team, others were present and were stunned, but all came away saying Trump’s behavior was at best a diversion from U.S. policy and a threat to both U.S, and Ukrainian security.
Let’s judge Trump’s conduct by his words and deeds:
Recalls Ambassador Yovanovitch, after she’s falsely smeared.
Praises Ukraine’s corrupt former prosecutor.
Asks Ukraine to investigate his rival.
Holds up aid until it does.
That’s not anti-corruption.
Just corruption. pic.twitter.com/RK6Xa4mJMU
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) November 21, 2019
The president’s supporters are working overtime to debunk and ridicule the witnesses and the whole ‘sham’ process and the needle of public opinion is not moving. A majority favor impeachment in the House and a plurality favor removal of the president — but the 42%-44% who oppose impeachment and approve the president’s job performance have not moved. Some 81% say their minds are made up so there is, to date, no real wiggle room to build a broad national consensus.
Besides, Trump is very competitive with the leading Democrats in national and battleground horse race matchups.
Trump, as of this writing, has little chance to be removed from office and a decent chance of being reelected in 2020. Is this the stuff of which great presidencies — or great weeks — are made?”
Jed Babbin is a Washington Examiner contributor and former deputy undersecretary of defense in the administration of former President George H.W. Bush. Follow him on Twitter @jedbabbin
John Zogby is the founder of the Zogby Poll and senior partner at John Zogby Strategies. His latest book is We Are Many, We Are One: Neo-Tribes and Tribal Analytics in 21st Century America. Follow him on Twitter @TheJohnZogby
