Trump Report Card: Georgia peach of a week

Jed Babbin

President Trump had a pretty good week that got better as it went along.

A Navy F/A-18 shot down a Syrian fighter after it dropped a bomb close to U.S.-supported forces. The Trump-Mattis rules of engagement enabled a quick decision to be made so that the U.S. pilot could act before the Syrian could drop more weapons.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced economic sanctions against 38 individuals and organizations supporting the Russian surrogate “rebels” in Ukraine. Mnuchin said that the sanctions would remain until Russia met its obligations under the “Minsk Agreement,” a detailed 2015 agreement calling for, among other things, a ceasefire and withdrawal of forces. Russian-backed forces continue to fight against Ukrainian government forces.

Republican Karen Handel’s win over Democrat John Ossoff in Georgia’s 6th congressional district was pulled off despite Democrats making it the most expensive House race in history. This appears to boost Trump’s stock nationwide, but the effect is very hard to measure (except by the depth of Democrats’ hair-ripping anguish at the loss.)

Senate Republicans unveiled their Obamacare reform bill. Its “reforms” are delayed for years, safely ensuring that they’ll never happen. Three conservatives and one libertarian condemned the bill, which prevents passage in its current form. The president thinks they’ll “come around” after further bargaining. The window for passing the bill is closing quickly.

Grade B

John Zogby

Bad as it may get for the president, often by his own doing, he is right when he says he is winning. He has won four special elections for the House and one for the Senate. At a time when his polling numbers are still low, the Democrats are the ones talking about changing their leadership.

While Democrats try to cover for each loss by saying they have made stronger showings in GOP dominated districts, the fact is that they have to show they can win somewhere. They clearly are not and the president gets to gloat.

Mr. Trump called the GOP health care legislation “mean” so the Senate comes up with a bill that is even meaner. Try this for size: more taxes for middle class, less coverage for the uninsured, higher premiums for most, a substantial tax cut for the wealthy, less protection for those with preexisting conditions, slashing of Medicaid, and opposition by organizations representing seniors, physicians, hospitals, nurses, as well as the American Heart Association, American Lung Association, and on and on. Beside that, so far six GOP senators have serious reservations about the legislation — and from different directions. Mr. Trump can still rally a crowd and still win elections, but not a good week.”

Grade D

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: Neo-Tribes and Tribal Analytics in 21st Century America. 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]