This week’s report card finds President-elect Trump still winning, and showing no signs of backing down to media he just can’t stand.
Jed Babbin
What should have been a bad week for Trump with the release of the intelligence report on the Russian interference in the election and the leak of the salacious “dossier” on Trump’s financial and sexual proclivities, turned into a big positive for the president-elect.
Trump’s press conference showed that Hillary Clinton wasn’t the only big loser in November: the media was. When CNN’s Jim Acosta tried to shout his way into asking Trump a question, Trump body-slammed him with a quip, “you’re fake news.”
On Capitol Hill, all of Trump’s cabinet picks cleared multiple Democratic hurdles on their way to winning official confirmation next weekend. And along the way, many showed that have different views than their boss, especially on Russia. All this adds up to a bunch of strong, intelligent leaders who aren’t going to be yes men and that’s a very good thing.
The most important fact shown over and over this week is that Hillary Clinton has adjusted better to her loss than the media has. They’re still spluttering and stuttering, trying to figure out how they can destroy Trump. He’s smiling at their troubles and helping them dig their own metaphorical graves.
Grade A-
John Zogby
Our 44th president exits with low unemployment and inflation and high poll numbers. He also ends on a note of grace and dignity.
Our 45th president inherits a foul public mood and a number of global flashpoints. Mr. Trump continues to break all the rules and protocols and appears to be ready to provide his own stamp on the presidency — just as he has already redefined how one gets there.
His showdown with CNN correspondent Jim Acosta was straight out of Paddy Chayefsky’s Network, only this time it is the president who is “mad as hell and not going to take it anymore.”
Whether he can continue this fever pitch remains to be seen, but this guy is not looking for a honeymoon, just one big fight. I am bumping him up one whole letter grade because of the irresponsibility of BuzzFeed releasing an unverified intelligence report. That is not the sort of thing you want to do when your polling numbers are almost as low as those of Congress.
Grade B+
Jed Babbin is an Examiner contributor and former deputy undersecretary of defense in administration of former President George H.W. Bush. Follow him @jedbabbin
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
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]
