For any pessimist who was paying attention, the early days of the second Trump Administration have been a real-life version of one of those horror movies in which the villain outlines exactly what he plans to do -- and then proceeds to do so, despite the valiant efforts of the hero(s) and victim(s).
The Project 2025 playbook (the one Mr. Trump and campaign members distanced themselves from prior to the election) is being put into effect with dizzying speed. It doesn't make any difference at all if you think Mr. Trump has plotted it all out in intricate detail or if it is a natural consequence of hiring senior officials from the pool of committed Trump partisans who developed Project 2025: either way, it's happening. And, fueled by Elon Musk's money and daunting reputation, it is happening hard. It is remaking the Federal government we're used to into something more partisan, less predictable, stingier and less helpful.
The problem with "move fast and break things" when applied to government is that a lot of the "things" that get broken are people, and the damage lingers. So does the resentment, boiling over at events for Congresspeople and government officials all across the political spectrum. Republicans have cancelled town meetings and public Q&A sessions; some Democrats have stepped up to rally opposition -- and others, like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, are dodging withering scorn for failing to oppose the GOP's efforts.
Depending on where you get your news, you'll hear a variety of takes on all this, but what they have in common is that they are all reactive: Mr. Trump, Mr. Musk, "DOGE" or some Trump appointee takes controversial steps, and everyone else reacts to it; injured parties and concerned activists sue, supporters gloat, NPR does weepy interviews, Fox (etc.) and MSNBC (etc.) do pro and con man-in-the-street pieces: it's all in reaction to what's being done.
There's very little action so far. The first politician, philosopher or rabble-rouser who comes up with a plan of action in opposition that can attract wide support is going to have a considerable advantage. With every change, more people suffer adverse effects, from plunging stock prices to lost benefits.
"FA" is running full steam ahead. "FO" has scarcely begun.
Update
3 months ago
1 comment:
First things first- the Democrats need to get their own house in order, to put down the cope and take a good, hard, honest look in the mirror at why a lot of their traditional base voted for the guy. They knew who and what he was, and still chose him.
And no, it's not sexism- that's the sort of "our appeal has become more... selective" thinking that will keep them in loserville.
They got to have something more than Orange Man Bad + a weak mix of increasingly unpopular public policies.
They failed big in 2024. Time to acknowledge that, dump the excuses of why it acktshually worked, and come up with solutions to why they aren't appealing to the voters.
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