I have written here in the past about the political pendulum, and how, when our politics swing too far in either direction, at some point the pendulum stops, and swings back the other way. On January 20th, 2017 we as Americans will stand as witnesses to the political pendulum swinging, what at least appears on the surface, to the extreme right, with the swearing-in, as the 45th President of the United States of America, of Donald J. Trump.
I say on the surface, because as of right now, Mr. Trump has no real political record to examine in order to make an informed judgement of how he will govern. Though many who voted for him will tell you he is a conservative, I mean when they aren’t saying, “at least he’s better than Hillary”.
But let us take him at his word for now, innocent until proven guilty and all that you know.
If he attempts to govern as he campaigned, then he may well be the most conservative president in the history of this great nation. That’s right I believe it is already great, has been all along.
But back to the pendulum. I previously wrote a post about the swinging of the political pendulum back to the right in response to the election of President Obama, it gave us the TEA movement. We saw many TEA candidates elected in 2010.
The swing to the right of the TEA movement may have led to the re-election of President Obama.
And now we are clearly witnessing the return trip of the pendulum back to the right in response, and possibly to spite, those who supported President Obama and his policies. We are seeing what can only be described, in my view, as an angry response to the liberal agenda which President Obama ran on, and delivered in some cases. The largest being the Affordable Care Act, or as it is commonly known, “Obama Care”. Mix in a little fear and loathing of immigrants, some overt hatred of Muslims and you have the campaign and election, and quite possibly the first term of the Trump administration.
I know, there are some, right now, as I am writing this post, it is Thursday night, the 19th, the eve of Inauguration Day, who can barely contain their glee at the fact President Obama will no longer be the governing President of the USA. They are as excited as children on Christmas Eve, they may not sleep. These are the people who at the last-minute, of the last hour, of the last day of President Obama’s second term, are still putting up memes on the Internet decrying their happiness he will be gone. And that’s okay.
Now fast forward to tomorrow the 20th, his hand on the Bible, which Abraham Lincoln was sworn in upon, President Donald Trump takes office. Guess what ladies and gentlemen? You own it, it’s your baby, you get to wipe its butt when it soils itself, you get to walk the floor at night when it is colicky. You get to sit up and worry when it goes out on its first date, wondering if it’s alright.
But guess what, the rest of us, who didn’t support the election of President Trump, well we are the next door neighbors. And we have to put up with the constant crying, we have to tolerate when the child runs through our yard, when they throw a ball through our window, and listen to the screaming when they come home after curfew.
Now back to the pendulum. Mr. Trump has promised to undo many of the things President Obama did in his eight years, many of them on the first day if you go back and listen to the speeches, gonna be a busy first day. He has promised a wall on the southern border, repeal and replace of the Affordable Care Act, banning of Muslims, defunding of Planned Parenthood, and so many other things which many people depend on, and covet.
Now I am not saying some, if not all of this shouldn’t be done. I have advocated some of it myself in the past. But here’s the thing. Remember that pendulum? It has already begun to slow on its swing to the right, it’s losing speed right now, it can’t go on swinging to the right forever. So the clock is ticking on how long Mr. Trump and the Republicans in Congress have to accomplish any of their goals. In reality they have two years until midterm elections, which could be when the pendulum begins it’s swing back to the left.
If President Trump and the Republicans look for the battles they can win, doing the least amount of damage to the least amount of people, they could possibly survive the midterms. If on the other hand they attempt to take advantage of the short time they may have to ram through every hard right agenda item they can, then the Republican Party could be decimated in the midterms in response. And what we get in return is an even more progressive minded congress.
Let us not forget, more people voted for Hillary Clinton than did for Mr. Trump. Let me attempt to head off the inane argument right here. I am not arguing that Trump is illegitimate as president, I believe he won the election, I support the electoral college system, it works. What I am saying is, there are more people out there who are already upset with having to live through the Trump years.
This means a President Trump is already behind in public support of what he wants to achieve. He won the election, but cannot claim a mandate when more people voted for his opponent. So if he attempt to force his policies upon this larger number, there is a very real chance he will only grow the number of people who will work against him, and all Republicans, both in the midterms and his re-election.
The Trump campaign had what must have been, as evidence of them winning, one hell of a strategy. They worked the game, the got the number they needed. But again, he did not win the popular vote, this means he is not popular. He is starting out being unpopular, and once any president begin governing, their popularity tends to goes down, following the honeymoon period.
Let me say, and this is likely as close as I will come to giving a President Trump the benefit of the doubt, but I do think he has the skills and ability to manage the fiscal issues facing the USA. He may actually grow the economy, after all, he still owns his companies and will want them to be successful.
However, I still have concerns about his positions on civil liberties, and foreign affairs. The problem is, he is starting out being so unpopular with more people than who blindly support him, that he would have to be flawless to change the minds of those who fear him. And on the other hand, he would have to be a complete disaster for his legions to admit he was a failure.
For all of the Trump supporters out there tonight with visions of walls dancing in your heads, careful what you wish for, you just might get it, and more. If your dreams of immigrants being sent back, and Planned Parenthood being shut down, and the education system raped, the EPA done away with, and all of the things we conservatives have railed against for decades come true, you may get smacked square in the kisser as that pendulum comes swinging back, and you aren’t going to like it.
As I long-time reader I appreciate Mr. Knott’s writing. This piece should have been written in 2008 as a warning to Democrats over reaching in the Obama years. They did and much of our collective glee, is because NOW IS OUR TIME. Quit the whining Mr. Knotts and enjoy the Party,
“Make America Great, Again”, was copyrighted by President Trump in 2010! This has been a longtime in coming, lets all enjoy the ride. Whoot! Whoot!
Well Sue I did point out this election was a reaction to the Obama administration’s agenda, I agree.
It is troubling to hear you say “NOW IS OUR TIME”.
This points out exactly what I warn against. You seem to see this as revenge time. That will only lead to a similar reaction in future elections.
And why is it whining to speak of measured governance? Why is it whinning to speak of holding elected officials accountable at all levels?
Your attempt o minimize what I have said by calling it whining is again an example of your intellectual vacancy.
…at least he’s better than Hillary”.
And if he does little else, defeating her saved America.
….an angry response to the liberal agenda which President Obama ran on, and delivered in some cases.
What should conservatives have done? Cheer?
The nation was lucky that BO and the Congress wasted the two years they had complete power on nationalizing healthcare, or the damage could have been way worse.
The largest being the Affordable Care Act…
Why did the Socialist-Democrats pass Obamacare? Because they “care” about our health? No. Because, at least ostensibly, virtually every human activity can be associated with healthcare, and thus, be subject to federal regulation. That’s why. And why it must be dismantled.
He has promised a wall on the southern border, repeal and replace of the Affordable Care Act, banning of Muslims, defunding of Planned Parenthood, and so many other things which many people depend on, and covet.
Yes, and he won the election.
What I am saying is, there are more people out there who are already upset with having to live through the Trump years…
Hillary’s popular advantage comes from California, the most “liberal” state in the union, led by a lunatic governor. Let them be upset.
However, I still have concerns about his positions on civil liberties, and foreign affairs.
On foreign affairs, he couldn’t possibly do worse than Obama/Hillary/Kerry. Russia took Crimea/Ukraine. Egypt is now home to the Muslim Brotherhood, Libya is now home to ISIS. Syria is a complete disaster, with Russia in complete control. China is building “islands” in international waters. A vicious police state led by a psychopath is now a tourist destination, with no human rights concessions whatsoever. A US Ambassador and several operatives were murdered in Benghazi. Mexican drug lords were sold guns by the DOJ and then used to murder citizens and US government agents, and a “deal” with Iran, in reality a treaty made without US Senate advice and consent, paid lunatic clerics billion$. And just for fun, he decimated the military.
A complete and total disaster.
If your dreams of immigrants being sent back…
You mean illegal criminals?
….and Planned Parenthood being shut down…
You mean Planned Parenthood losing federal funding and having to operate like any other business?
and the education system raped..
The “education system” needs to be “raped.” It is failing our students.
The “pendulum” has a long way to go. During the Obama presidency, the GOP gained over 1000 state and federal legislative seats. The GOP hold 33 governorships. Trump carried 30 of the 50 states (60%). These are not going to disappear in two years.
In ’18, the Socialist-Democrats must defend 23 Senate seats (along with 2 “Independent” seats that caucus with the Democrats). I will make a prediction today; in ’18, the GOP holds the House of Reps and gains US Senate seats.
Yes Frank, the pendulum will eventually swing back to the left. Which means that now is the time to dismantle as much of the big government apparatus as possible.
Barack Obama has left us a 20-trillion-dollar debt. He increased the debt more than all of the debt created by all of the presidents who preceded him, combined. Think of that. It is unbelievable.
The GOP should go big while they have the numbers. Even if it costs them down the road, they will have probably saved the country from bankruptcy, and cut the size of a ridiculously bloated and over-regulatory federal bureaucracy.
My good friend Rick who many may feel is an antagonist here, but who often makes my points for me, has once again not failed me.
Rick says, “And if he does little else, defeating her saved America.” Well Rick I don’t believe the bar could be set any lower, and I’m sure there are many who holds that view, meaning in four years, no matter what President Trump has done, or not done, you will feel justified in once again voting for him. Makes life really easy when you have such low expectations, doesn’t it?
In response to my comment, “….an angry response to the liberal agenda which President Obama ran on, and delivered in some cases.”, Rick asked the question, “What should conservatives have done? Cheer?”
Well Rick that is the whole point of this post now isn’t it? So you clearly expected conservatives to have the reaction to President Obama’s administration which they had. So tell us oh great and wise Rick, what do you expect liberals to do in response to a President Trump administration, if he at the very least attempts to deliver on his promises? Thus the never ending swing of the pendulum, which does nothing to better the nation, but simply keeps us in a perpetual dogfight.
I agree, and have written as much, with your assessment of the ACA and why it was passed. However, to simply take it away, will again surely guarantee in two years a return of Democrat control of congress. Let us not forget the popular vote did not go to Trump.
Rick then goes to the new old standby, “Yes, and he won the election.” Well rick, winning don’t make you right, only history does that. Lest you forget, Obama won twice, did that make him right?
Rick then wants to give us a history lesson, “On foreign affairs, he couldn’t possibly do worse than Obama/Hillary/Kerry.”
Rick I hate to tell you this, but Donald Trump won the election, as you just pointed out, the campaign against Clinton and Obama is over. Id all you have to justify the present, is the past, then you have nothing. President Obama is a page in history, and Hillary Clinton will never be President. And it seems as though you do not care what President Trump does, he gets a free pass simply for following President Obama.
Rick, your comment about the amount of debt Pres. Obama has left us with is based on dollar amounts, and is factually correct. But when we look at the percentage of growth, which many economist say we must, then Pres. Obama grew the debt by 70%, in comparison,
Ronald Reagan grew the debt by a 190%
“Size of national debt when Reagan took office: $1 trillion
Size after six years: $2.3 trillion (130 percent increase)
Size at the end of his presidency: $2.9 trillion (190 percent increase)”
Rick I am not attempting to take sides here, I am only attempting to show that both sides are guilty, and to say one side is less guilty is like saying vote for the lesser of two evils, oh wait?
My good friend Rick who many may feel is an antagonist here, but who often makes my points for me, has once again not failed me.
You sure don’t fail me, ever. In your first sentence, you prove one of my points; that your audience on this blog are generally “liberal,” since only “liberals” are “antagonized” by my posts.
Rick says, “And if he does little else, defeating her saved America.” Well Rick I don’t believe the bar could be set any lower…
Like Reagan, I don’t believe in government “solutions” to virtually every component of American society. Hillary does. Thus, denying Hillary the presidency was the highest achievement possible.
So tell us oh great and wise Rick, what do you expect liberals to do in response to a President Trump administration…
First, I expect them to start fires, break windows, demolish cars, throw rocks and bottles at cops, threaten mass violence….
And they fulfilled my expectations grandly.
Thus the never ending swing of the pendulum, which does nothing to better the nation, but simply keeps us in a perpetual dogfight.
Someday, you might come to understand that you can’t compromise with statist-leftists. Their agenda must be fought, tooth-and-nail. In case you haven’t noticed, “liberal” policies have created a $20-trillion debt, crappy schools and unconstitutional regulations.
If all you have to justify the present, is the past, then you have nothing.
What else can you use to “justify” the present…the future? The present, as it is, exists because of the events of the past.
President Obama is a page in history….
Unfortunately, his policies live on.
And it seems as though you do not care what President Trump does…
Of course I care what he does, especially in regard to shrinking the leviathan government.
Rick, your comment about the amount of debt Pres. Obama has left us with is based on dollar amounts, and is factually correct. But when we look at the percentage of growth, which many economist say we must, then Pres. Obama grew the debt by 70%…
We service the debt- interest- in dollars, not percentages. A conservative economist would emphasize the debt to GDP ratio. Compare that ratio at the end of Reagan’s term to that of BO’s.
Anyway, Trump has been president for a weekend. Let’s see what he does before we panic.
And Rick begins the backwards clock a ticking. First it was , “he hasn’t been sworn in yet, now it is he has only been president for a weekend, then it will be only a year, and only three years and finally we must re-elect him so he can do what he promised to do on day one.
From everything you say Rick you have no real expectations of what he will do except punish people you don’t like and reduce the size of government with no vision of what that means.
It seems as though if government were an airplane you would be okay with cutting the wings off in midfllight to reduce drag to go faster.
His first move is to send out his press secretary to whine about the media reporting crowd size and saying it was the most “crowded inauguration ever period”. It’s verifiable and what he said is obviously false and could be disproved by the most remedial effort to verify for yourself. And why take a stand on such an irrelevant and petty issue and be obviously wrong at the same time? I turned on hate radio today and all the nutcases were calling out Fox News for reporting reality and saying only Breitbart will support Trump demonstrating reality doesn’t matter to these folk. It is truly a frightening time. And these talk radio right wingers are never going to self reflect and say gee I was wrong. They will fight to the death over their fragile egos being right. It’s a sad time for us all.
Small hands ? Small crowds?
Trump just signed an executive order, freezing federal hiring. First day of the week, first step toward reigning-in big government.
Arguing about crowds is a side-show. Failed BO policies on the chopping-block is reality.
Mindless symbolic effort that demonstrates they are too lazy to differentiate between agencies that need help and those that don’t
Frank you don’t offer anything like this woman ^^
A massive group of violent demonstrators spat on, assaulted and screamed obscenities at a Gold Star widow and sister Friday outside an inaugural ball honoring the military, one of the women told “Fox & Friends” on Tuesday.
Amy Looney, who lost her husband Navy SEAL Lt. Brendan Looney in 2010, and Ryan Manion, whose brother Marine First Lt. Travis Manion died in 2007, said they were attacked as they tried to enter the American Legion’s tribute to Medal of Honor recipients at the Veterans Inaugural Ball.
“Unfortunately, as we got there we found ourselves separated from the rest of the group walking to the galas that night and were caught in between the entrance to the event and about 75 protesters that got very angry with us and really converged on us,” Manion said on “Fox & Friends.”
That’s when events quickly escalated.
“We were pushed by a man in a mask hiding his face,” Manion wrote in The Philadelphia Inquirer. “Our clothes were drawn on with permanent marker by other ‘protesters.’ And we were called the most vile names I have ever heard as we entered and exited the venue.”….
These Soros-backed “protesters” embrace the radical ideology of the hard left. The three V’s- vile, vulgar and violent. And if they had the power- which is what they seek- they’d put anyone who disagrees with them in camps. Or worse. Just like their heroes enshrined in the pantheon of leftist ideologues; Lenin, Stalin, Mao and Minh.
And this is why I never- ever- back down from engaging and confronting those who promote leftist propaganda and dogma (usually veiled by peace, love, fairness and social justice rhetoric). And if that “antagonizes” people (Frank’s description), tough.
Now, the typical Pavlovian reaction will be; Oh, these violent “protesters” are an aberration. They don’t represent our “values.”
What values? Partial birth abortion on demand? Anti-Christian hysteria? Flag burning? An obsessive hatred for America, the Founders and common civility?
Or maybe the “values” expressed by Madonna; “blow-up the White House.”
One good thing; the next Socialist-Democrat presidential candidate will be joined at the hip to these maggots. And it will probably work out the same way it did for George McGovern.
Glad I never watched any of these types on Celebrity Apprentice
“Trump just signed an executive order, freezing federal hiring.” – rick
Because hiring is bad for the economy.
You people really obsess on entertainers
Well, since you didn’t address the content of my post- the 3V’s of the left (vile, vulgar & violent)- I have to assume you agree.
The left always lies, about everything. Profess peace, act violently. Profess civility, promote profanity. Profess patriotism, burn the flag. And on and on and on….
OMG, your president embodies those things. Maybe google projecting