Blast #155

                                                       Smoke and Mirrors
                                                                 Part One
 
             The Lovely Carol Marie and I were in New Haven last night to see the incomparable Lewis Black and he was, as usual, hilarious and prescient.  He used a line we heard in October, when we saw him in NYC: “We’re living at the intersection of satire and reality.  We’re living in fictional times.”  He contended that if some novelist had dreamed up this past election year as a work of fiction, pitting the two most unpopular candidates against each other and proceeded to write about events (Trump, the F.B.I., the email hacking, etc.) fictitiously, it would be a great novel!  Black’s warm-up act, John Bowman, had already referred to the Republican Primary debates as the “You’re Mama’s so fat . . . “ debates, adding a comic edge to the potential novel.  But as we step back and look at this presidency, about 40 days in, I think it’s important to understand that the comedy and satire are there, for sure, but the seriousness of what we’re witnessing should not go unnoticed and un-responded to. There are three topics I want to address as areas of “concern” --- items that need not only our attention but ones that also require our loud and clear protest voices.  Rahm Emmanuel, the mayor of Chicago and President Obama’s first Chief of Staff, says in today’s NY Times that we should not mistake “motion for action” with this President and points out that we have been distracted by the “motion” – Executive Orders, immigration/deportation, and attacks on “fake news” --- leading some (particularly Trump’s base) to believe this is a man of action when, in fact, he is actually more like Lewis Black’s description --- “a big f*&king Baby . . . with as much control over his mouth as a baby has over its colon.”  Today’s BLAST will look at the first of the three areas of concern, Executive Orders and Memoranda.
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1. Executive Orders and Memoranda

         We know the President has been busy showing off his vertically illegible signature on folders for several weeks now so, let’s quickly look at what’s been accomplished by these Executive Orders (which have a certain legal weight) and Memoranda (which are more like “ideas” or “suggestions”).  We should also keep in mind that executive orders and memoranda only apply to the Executive Branch and its jurisdiction and some of what Trump has made statements about, or even signed, will require Congressional follow-through (particularly for funding).  So, what has he “done?”  Here’s a sample of the most prominent Executive Orders (leaving out the immigration & deportation – they are Point #2 in the next  Blast -- and point #3, "Fake News").
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• Reducing Regulation & Controlling Regulatory Costs  - this is the famous “2 for 1” promise, where Trump claims he will eliminate TWO regulations for every ONE his Administration installs ---that’s a PROMISE, not an ACTION (it’s “motion,” not action) -- no specifics were mentioned.

 

• “Core Principles for Regulating the US Financial System”  - This is the review – and potential dismantling of Dodd-Frank.  Again, we have to wait to see what Congress does.  More MOTION, not action.

 

• “Preventing Violence Against Federal, State, Tribal, and Local Law Enforcement Officers” – This is a STATEMENT more than anything else and who isn’t for this?  Pure bluster.

 

• “Task Force on Crime Reduction & Public Safety” – as we know, creating a “task force” is almost as effective as creating a “committee.”  It’s a promise to talk something to death and never get anything done.

 
As far as those Memoranda go:

• Hiring Freeze for Executive Departments – This may well hamstring the Executive Branch from accomplishing some of those Executive Orders.  For example, Trump wants 15,000 more I.C.E. agents when that service is already 2,000 shy because it cannot find qualified applicants!

 

• NGO’s can’t promote abortions – Red meat for the base  fairly meaningless in practice.

 

• Drop the TPP – the TPP was dead in the water so this is just fulfilling an empty promise but it does charge up the base.

 

• Build the Pipeline – this is actually happening and, of course, does prove that Trump is more than willing to be our Andrew Jackson, disregarding the lives and rights of Native Americans.

 

• Reducing Regulatory Burdens for Domestic Manufacturing  -- this will require Legislation (more MOTION) but the idea behind it is to lighten “permitting,” meaning various businesses will be less regulated --- probably at the expense of the consumer and working person.

 

• “Rebuilding US Armed Forces" – his budget certainly sets money aside for this but the question remains: why?  Again, red meat for Republicans, not just the Trump base --- and watch that Deficit soar with this one.

 

• Plan to Defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria – the Joint Chiefs are ordered to develop a plan to defeat ISIS.  I guess that “secret plan” he had that would defeat ISIS in 30 days didn’t quite work out (because there never was a plan!)  The big point in this Memo is that we call "ISIS" the Islamic State, so they know we're coming for them.  I'm sure they're quaking at being "named."

 

• “Organization of the NSC and the Homeland Security Council"  - this was the Trump “Statue of Liberty” play that placed Steve Bannon on the NSC – but may yet require Congressional approval and may have been illegal.

 

• Fiduciary Duty Rule – This reverses an Obama memo so, once again (like the “good old days”) Retirement Advisors DON’T have to work in their client’s best interest (just think about that!).

 
           So, for anyone who thinks Trump has actually accomplished a lot in these first 40 days, think again.  The Executive Orders and Memoranda are part of a distraction strategy (calculated by master manipulator Steve Bannon, no doubt) to make Trump appear a “man of action” when, in fact, it is purely motion.  The next BLAST will examine the immigration/deportation fiasco as well as the continued attack on the free press.

Thanks for reading!