This week’s report card on President Trump comes as the nation is remembering the life of achievements of former President George H.W. Bush. “President George H.W. Bush led a long, successful and beautiful life. Whenever I was with him I saw his absolute joy for life and true pride in his family. His accomplishments were great from beginning to end. He was a truly wonderful man and will be missed by all!” tweeted Trump.
I covered Bush’s administration, assigned to the White House beat after covering the 1988 presidential race on his and former Vice President Dan Quayle’s plane. Bush was the last president most people liked on a personal basis, and he was always good to the media even though they helped to keep him a one-term chief executive with books like Time’s “Marching in Place.”
Democratic pollster John Zogby, grading Trump an “F” this week, said Bush’s approach to the presidency was better. “President Bush didn’t lead during simpler times, he just led and helped create better times,” said Zogby.
Statement from President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump on the Passing of Former President George H.W. Bush pic.twitter.com/qxPsp4Ggs7
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 1, 2018
Conservative analyst Jed Babbin, noting that in another book out this week Trump said he was better than former President Reagan, in whose administration Bush was vice president, said that Trump isn’t in the “same league” as the Gipper.
John Zogby
Grade F
As we remember and mourn the passing of former President George H.W. Bush, I can’t help but think of a man who led during the triumph freedom over communism, of global respect for this United States, and who diligently established a true worldwide coalition to defeat a tyrant.
This all sadly stands in contrast to the two years of President Trump. Just this week, we see General Motors announcing the closing of five plants and layoffs of 15,000 workers, a tense signing of a flawed trade deal with Mexico and Canada, evidence of the federal special prosecutor striking a plea deal with the president’s personal lawyer and perhaps ending a plea deal with Trump’s former campaign manager, a wild and crazy stock market and forecasts for slower economic growth; projections for higher steel prices because of higher tariffs, the victory of a Trump supported woman who certainly talks like a racist in Mississippi, and Trump literally standing alone at the G-20 summit in Argentina.
President Bush didn’t lead during simpler times, he just led and helped create better times.
Jed Babbin
Grade C+
President Trump suffered a few political setbacks this week, and one big substantive failure: the continued nation-building mess in Afghanistan.
Four U.S. troops, including three special operators, were killed in Afghanistan within a period of four days this week. President Trump’s policy in Afghanistan continues to follow in the footsteps of presidents Bush 43 and Obama, and thus fail. There’s no indication from Trump that the seventeen-year old Afghanistan policy is being rethought.
On the political front, Trump proclaimed himself “far greater than Ronald Reagan,” which disconcerted most conservatives. He’s done pretty well, but he’s not in the same league as the Gipper.
This week, he threatened to end the subsidization of electric cars after GM announced the end of the execrable Volt and accompanying plant closures. It’s a good idea regardless of GM’s action.
The migrant drama at the Mexico border continued. The press has focused on the use of tear gas against the crowds, but Trump’s actions including temporary border closings, have been effective in keeping most of the economic immigrants— who aren’t qualified for asylum — out.
The big political question this month is whether the Democrats and Trump will reach an impasse on the border wall before Congress recesses and shut the government down over it. In a bizarre move, Trump said he’d consider funding about one-fifth of the wall’s construction sufficient. Why he’s backing down so quickly is puzzling. Why do Republicans fear a government shutdown? The last time they caused one the public was so angry that voters gave Republicans control of the Senate.
Stocks recovered their earlier losses and remain high after the Fed hinted that rate hikes were ending. Retiring Sen. Jeff Flake blocked Republican leaders’ attempt to confirm a bunch of Trump judicial appointments before the Christmas recess. The Senate wants to pass a resolution to stop our aiding the Saudis in the war in Yemen, but the president is opposing punishment of the Saudis for the Khashoggi murder.
Trump, who likes to shake people up, did a good job of that when he hinted that a pardon for one-time campaign manager Paul Manafort was in the offing, saying it was “not off the table.” The media and the Democrats (if you’ll pardon the redundancy) are still banking on special counsel Robert Mueller to take Trump out.
The week ended with the president’s departure for the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires. He canceled a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the Russian aggression against Ukraine in the Azov Sea. Any big trade agreements — primarily one with China — is possible, though unlikely.
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
