Trump report card: ‘D’ for gridlock, ‘not necessarily a bad thing’

In his Wednesday presser and on Twitter, President Trump declared the election’s result a “big victory,” which it was but not for him. There was no “blue wave,” but enough defeats of Republican candidates — especially in open seats — resulted in a loss of control of the House.

With 36 Republicans either retiring or seeking other offices, 34 House districts were won by Democrats resulting in another term as House Speaker for Nancy Pelosi. The election was a rejection of Trump but it’s far from clear whether people were voting against his policies, his personality or both (or neither). Whatever their reason, government gridlock results. Which is not necessarily a bad thing.

Democrats aren’t going to be able to legislate because the Senate remains in Republican hands, so the Dems will make the next Congress one long investigation of Trump and his administration. Trump should call Jimmy Buffet to see if he can come up with a good line to follow, “Wasting away again in subpoenaville.”

The election also built upon the Republican majority in the Senate, although races in Florida and Arizona remain in doubt. Three of the Democrats who voted against confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court lost. Trump’s ability to get conservative judges confirmed should remain undisturbed. The Democrats have learned nothing from the travesty they imposed on Kavanaugh in the confirmation hearings. When — not if — Trump gets another chance to nominate someone to the high court, the liberals will again hurt themselves by going totally nuts against the nominee, which they will do regardless of whomever it is.

Late in the week, the president issued another executive order aimed at the flow of illegal immigrants. It purports to limit asylum applicants to those people entering at controlled border crossing points. That seems to directly contradict the Immigration and Nationality Act, so it will — like the president’s other immigration orders — be stopped by the courts and wind its way to the Supreme Court.

John Zogby

Grade D

I love the old joke about the guy who has his face down on the ground with six men standing on his back and his arms and legs tied, then says, “Great, now I got you just where I wanted you.” In some ways that describes President Trump’s week.

He lost a lot of seats in the House and looks like as many as 13 governorships. He got walloped in the suburbs and in key states that are battlegrounds in 2020 — Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada, New Mexico, and still possibly Florida and Georgia. A lot of these races were close, and he did pick up seats in the Senate, which will enable him to get his judicial and administration nominees ratified more smoothly.

He lost this round — but Trump seems to thrive when he is the victim and can rally his base against the establishment. The Democrats appear to want to make good on their promises to investigate him and his family business, and this can add gasoline to his fire.

Maybe the president can still break free. But a pretty bad week.

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

Jed Babbin is an Examiner contributor and former deputy undersecretary of defense in administration of former President George H.W. Bush. Follow him on Twitter @jedbabbin