Strong Obama, Weak Trump

How one weathers criticism is a gauge of self confidence and strength of character.  For Obama it is blue skies all the way.  He had the strength to choose his primary opponent, Hillary Clinton, as Secretary of State.

Trump becomes dark and stormy, with irrational outbursts of thunder and lightening.  His Secretary of State. Rex Tillerson, has international experience as an oilman, but not in government.  In a hopeful sign, he selected Elliot Abrams, a fixture in past GOP administrations, to fill the gap.  All looked well after a dinner with Trump.

But then Trump's den of Steves, alerted Trump to an anti-Trump editorial by Abrams.  The editorial was not one of the harsher articles, nor did Abrams join the "Never Trump" gang.  But the editorial was enough to quash Abrams ascension.

If Trump's skin were any  thinner we would see his internal organs.

1 is the Loneliest Number

Under the influence of his son-in-law, Steve Bannon and Sheldon Adelson, Trump has abandoned the cornerstone of US policy in the MiddleEast.  Letting the parties decide whether they want a one, or two state, solution has superficial appeal.  But if the parties could reach resolution on their own, this would not be an intractable problem.

Absent a destabilizing military solution, Palestinians and their allies will never accept a one state answer.  Only a muscular mediator can bring the parties together, forcing Israel to accept a Palestinian State, and getting and guaranteeing Palestinian concessions.  But Trump has turned us into the 98 pound weakling getting MiddleEast sand kicked in his face.

Trump's stand isolates us from our allies in the region and in Europe.  The administration's shallow thinking, and bumpersticker mentality, undermine geopolitical stability.

Crazy GOP

In response to the mass murder of children at Sandy Hook and the loss of life in Orlando, Republicans desperately hunted for a rationale to ward off gun control legislation.  They hit upon mental illness.  Even progressives, while denying that Republicans had scored a bulls eye, had to acknowledge they hit the target.

But, Republicans seldom shoot straight. Even rank amateurs can draw a bead from GOP health care think tank proposals, through the platform of presidential candidate Bob Dole and the plan implemented by Romney in Massachusetts, directly to Obamacare.  Their proposal, when adopted by a Democratic president, was a weapon of mass destruction, threatening the economy and our way of life.

So it can come as no surprise that Republicans have voted that mental illness has no bearing on the right to bear arms.

Fast and Furious

Trump's angry core supporters are cheering, as he autocratically races through his campaign promises, without the niceties of cabinet agency review, consultation with our allies, or even with the leaders of his own party.

With an inexperienced team going at excessive speeds, the rest of us shudder in horror at the bloody carnage.  Low paid TSA agents without proper guidelines, created havoc at airports, and generated ill will among the very Muslims that can help us fight terrorism.

Relations with key allies, Mexico and Australia are in shambles.  Navy Seals and civilians died in a poorly reviewed raid in Yemen.  A self proclaimed alt-right Leninist, has the pole in the national security grand prix.  Our "master negotiator" lifted a sanction against the Russian intelligence service, getting nothing in return.  Sad!

Incompetence transcends party and policy.  Democrats and responsible Republicans must slam on the brakes, before this country goes careening into the wall.