Give President Trump a Chance to Govern!

Written by Frank Li

At this pace, President Trump will be lucky to be able to finish his first year in office. Two main reasons:

1. He has been highly self-destructive.
2. He is being drained by the swamp, rather than draining the swamp.

If President Trump can’t successfully complete this first term, it would be a huge disaster for America. Let me explain …

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1. Who is President Trump?

It’s not hard to figure out who President Trump is, given his openness in daily tweeting. So let me give you my perspective in terms of the good, the bad, and the ugly.

1.1 President Trump: the good

1. He loves America and he has been working tirelessly as the President.
2. He is a RINO (Republican In Name Only), who may be exactly what America needs today.
3. He is hugely pro-business at home.

1.2 President Trump: the bad

1. He does not seem to have adapted to his new job fast enough. As a result, he seems to be running his country like running his company. For more, read: An Open Letter to President Trump.
2. He seems to be increasingly leaning towards the right, without realizing that the neo-cons could actually prove to be his worst enemy. For example, read: Trump rebuffs bipartisanship, banks on base to tame turmoil.
3. He has no self-control and just can’t shut up, often publicly contradicting his staff with his tweets, with negative results (e.g. Ninth Circuit cites Trump tweet in opinion blocking travel ban).

1.3 President Trump: the ugly

1. He seems clueless on foreign policy, which has jeopardized his [original] plan to reform the MIC (Military-Industrial Complex) at home. For more, read: Fixing the Military-Industrial Complex!
2. He seems to have fallen into the trap of getting re-elected ad nauseam. For more, read: President Trump: Getting Re-Elected in 2020, via Tweeting?
3. He is too full of himself, apparently not caring about his own truthfulness. Donald Trump did everything possible to become the President, thanks to democracy, as we practice it today. But as the President, he should have tempered his impulsiveness, while working to maintain more accuracy in his words.

2. American Presidency

Despite all his shortcomings highlighted above, I have, so far, no regret in voting for Donald Trump in the 2016 general election. One main reason: he is still the lesser of two evils!

Furthermore, given the fact that most, if not all, recent American Presidents have perpetuated more damage on America than all of America’s enemies have done, combined (Three Worst American Terrorists: JFK, GWB, and BHO!), he is unlikely to be worse than anybody else (e.g. Hillary Clinton), who comes to the top via the “regular” channel.

Bottom line: America must reform our failing political system, for which President Trump offers the best possibility. Therefore, I continue to wish him well. For more, read: Donald Trump 2.0.

3. President Trump and America

As a RINO, President Trump must govern as a RINO. It is not only most natural for him, but also the best for the country.

3.1 The real danger for President Trump

As a reformer and a non-conventional figure, President Trump has been upsetting many people. But should the Democrats be his enemies by default? No! Why not? Because President Trump is actually a RINO!

The most dangerous enemy for President Trump is actually the neo-cons in Congress. They will jump at their first big opportunity to impeach him, so as to have their man, Mike Pence, installed as the President. In other words, Donald Trump might have hi-jacked the GOP in the 2016 election, but the GOP establishment wants to hi-jack his Presidency in return. All they need is an opportunity, which the President seems more than willing to provide. Two relevant examples:

1. President Clinton: He survived the impeachment trial because he had many friends in Washington D.C. (e.g. all Democrats in Congress). But the same thing cannot be said about President Trump. As a matter of fact, with a dozen neo-cons joining the Democrats in the U.S. Senate, he can be impeached and, perhaps, even convicted.
2. President Kennedy: Although it is still debatable who actually assassinated him, it’s not debatable who benefited most from his death: LBJ and, ultimately, the MIC!

3.2 The real danger for the left

For the left, here is an obvious question: would President Pence be better for you?

3.3 Who is the worst enemy for President Trump?

Donald Trump himself! Specifically, his out-of-control tweeting and his carelessness in words!

Bottom line: Donald Trump did defeat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 general election, but ultimately for the benefit of Mike Pence, very likely.

4. Discussion

Here is the reality about the world: Overall, the world is better today than it was in 2000, with wealth being much more widely spread (vs. concentrated in America). For example, China has lifted some 600 million people out of poverty over the past three decades, with a burgeoning middle class.

Here is the reality about America: As the world settles into a new norm, America must adapt, rather than being nostalgic about the past, which will never return. Specifically for example, America’s extraordinary prosperity from 1945 to 1980 was an exception, not the rule. America did well because its chief competitors either were destroyed through WWII (e.g. Germany and Japan) or adopted a failed system called communism after WWII (e.g. the USSR and China, 1949-1976).

In short, America’s best days are well behind us – Fooled no more by politicians, who keep deceiving you with the exception, not the rule!

Here is a tough reality for America: Russia has Putin and China has Xi. Both are de facto kings, running their respective countries with great success and with incredibly high approval ratings, at home at least. For more, read: President Trump in the Real World of Three New Kingdoms.

Needless to say, America is neither Russia nor China. But our political culture of partisan obstruction and investigating everything is totally self-destructing! Three recent examples:

1. 2016 general election: It’s over and Trump won. Russia has been hacking many countries for years (and so have we)! Therefore, why should we be surprised this time? Oh, had Russia weaponized it this time? Maybe, but so did we (e.g. against Iran)! The real solution? Build our [election] systems better to prevent hacking by anybody, domestic or international.
2. Trump and Russia: President-elect and President Trump might have made some procedural mistakes. But anything traitorous by intention? Impossible! He has neither the motivation, nor the need.
3. James Comey and FBI: I disagreed with the way Trump fired FBI Director Comey. But it was wrong for Mr. Comey to politicize President Trump’s criticism as an attack on the FBI. Like all government agencies, the FBI must be reformed – the day of business as usual is over!

More broadly, the real dangers to America are at home. Most, if not all, dangers from abroad have been gravely exaggerated. Two examples:

1. The Democrats have exaggerated the impact of Russian interference in our 2016 election.
2. The Republicans have exaggerated the terror threats from abroad.

Today, America is obviously in a big mess, without which there would have been no Trump Presidency. Therefore, President Trump carries a mandate to reform our political system.

Unfortunately for America, President Trump is very likely to be destroyed by Congress, before he has a chance to reform it, since Congress consists of a bunch of career politicians who care about nothing but getting re-elected ad nauseam!

To know what a typical Congressman like David Jolly does on daily basis, read: Republican congressman exposes one of Congress’ dirty little secrets on ’60 Minutes’.

Bottom line: President Trump is more likely to be drained by the swamp, rather than draining the swamp!

For a holistic analysis of our political system and the best possible solution, read my book: American Democracy.

5. Closing

My fellow Americans, please give President Trump a chance to govern (Grading President Trump’s First 100 Days: B!)! His challenges are enormous and hopefully will include reforming our political system, as I have suggested (American Democracy)!

Now, please sit back and watch the short video below.