In our weekly White House Report Card, President Trump is set to finally crush the Democratic drive to impeach him, with his Senate acquittal set for Wednesday. He’s then likely to crow a bit, and lay out his reelection policy agenda, at the State of the Union Address where he will stand in front of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who orchestrated his impeachment in December.
Our Democratic grader, pollster John Zogby, gave the president a rare “A,” and said, “This was the week that Donald J. Trump once and for all captured the Republican Party —so much so that leading senators of the GOP were afraid to defy him or the solid base he owns.”
Conservative grader Jed Babbin also gave Trump an “A” and is looking forward to next week’s State of the Union. “Trump will certainly be bashing the House impeachers and gloating about how much fun stuff he’ll be up to this year. The speech will be pure Trump: a little substance mixed into a lot of entertainment,” he said.
John Zogby
Grade A
Trump signed a new trade agreement with Mexico and Canada, which was achieved with bipartisan support. The national economy grew at a rate of 2.3% last year, and Trump wisely called the creeping coronavirus a national emergency.
But that is how this past week will be remembered. This was the week that Trump once and for all captured the Republican Party —so much so that leading senators of the GOP were afraid to defy him or the solid base he owns. Some admitted that his behavior regarding withholding approved military aid to Ukraine was wrong, unbecoming, dangerous or whatever, but not sufficient to vote to remove him from office.
GAME OVER! pic.twitter.com/yvMa6bPqfy
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2020
The vote will take place next Wednesday, but there is no suspense here. There never really was any suspense. Trump won another week of The Apprentice.
Jed Babbin
Grade A
Trump had one helluva week, with a big win at the Supreme Court, a new peace plan for the Middle East that corners the Palestinians, and his senate impeachment trial cut short by the vote to exclude new witnesses.
The Supreme Court handed down a far-reaching decision that said the government enables the denial of green cards to illegal aliens who are on welfare. The green card, given to those who are permanent legal residents, is a major step toward citizenship now denied to illegal immigrants who are burdens on states’ budgets. In a separate action, the president also extended his immigration ban to several more nations from which many immigrants, both legal and illegal, are coming into the U.S.
The decisions made today will reverberate throughout history.
No matter the vote on witnesses, the facts will come out in the end.
We will be asked: Why didn’t we consider the evidence when we had the chance?
What answer shall we give, if we decide not to pursue the truth? pic.twitter.com/aI7Ycf5Psw
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) January 31, 2020
Trump’s Middle East peace plan, announced with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, clearly favors Israel and puts the rejectionist Palestinians on the spot. Several Arab nations had their ambassadors attend the announcement, indicating their support. The Palestinians — and Iran — both reject the deal, isolating them yet again. Support from more than 23 nations in Europe, the Far East, and South America is an unusual result that Trump has cultivated for months. That may mean the end of the Palestinians as a political force.
The Senate voted to reject the Democrat’s demands for witnesses in Trump’s impeachment trial with only the two squishiest, most liberal Republicans — Maine’s Susan Collins and Utah’s Mitt Romney — voting with the Democrats. At the latest, acquittal will take place on Wednesday. Conveniently, Trump will give his annual State of the Union address on Tuesday night. That enables him to boast about the coming acquittal while its principal author, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has to sit there grimacing. It will be very interesting to see how the House Democrats misbehave during the speech. (Will people be throwing Pelosi’s infamous impeachment signing pens back at her?) Trump will certainly be bashing the House impeachers and gloating about how much fun stuff he’ll be up to this year. The speech will be pure Trump: a little substance mixed into a lot of entertainment.
John Zogby is the founder of the Zogby Poll and senior partner at John Zogby Strategies. His weekly podcast with son and partner Jeremy Zogby can be heard here. Follow him on Twitter @TheJohnZogby
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
