Think about it. Government bureaucrats spend careers building their turf and expanding influence and in the process they lose sight of what their job was created for and, instead, turn it into their own little fiefdom. Politicians do likewise, they initially arrive on Capitol Hill with lofty and worthwhile goals, only to realize that if they want to keep the perks, prestige, and opportunities to amass money, the stated goals just remain verbal while they focus on the source of their power, reelection. And then there are the lobbyists, professionals trained to use money to allow them to buy elected officials to approve their pet projects, projects designed to enhance their pockets while keeping their supporters in office. The will of the people then takes a backseat.
We certainly can't leave out the media, which sells it's soul for the cause they believe in (today that's 93% liberal) by reporting the news with a strong slant. Sometimes they ignore the news totally and try it create it, often through polling. They try and spoon feed the masses with their toxic pablum while they enjoy the limelight on television and in print, detailing what happens just the way they want it to be. The truth is not even a word in their vocabulary.
So, Trump came to town with an ambitious agenda to make Washington work for Americans again; he made it clear in his inaugural address and you could visibly see the disdain of many in the audience, the Establishment types in both parties who have now joined together to try and stop him at any cost. Trump is clearly a change agent and he's also nobody's fool. He knew this would happen and that's why he has used unorthodox approaches to get his message out to his supporters. If you think that he has been neutered by the Establishment with the departure from the White House of men like Steve Bannon and Sebastian Gorka, you would be very, very wrong. Using social media, conducting regular in person town halls and rallies around the country, his supporters are enthused and active. And Steve Bannon, now on the outside, still has regular talks with Trump. He may not be in the official inner circle but he is fully in the loop with Trump. No one can stop Trump from talking to who he wants. And nobody can take him off Twitter either and his comments take the air out of every other story, just as he intends.
Today, we see signs of many of the Establishment types beginning to realize that Trump is not going away and they will be much better off if they work with him instead of against him. The recently announced departures of Senators Corker and Flake are actually positive events and there are good conservatives who have a better than even chance of replacing them. Alabama has already taught the Establishment the lesson that money by itself can't win; it takes ideas that people will accept and Beltway dwellers have no idea what that requires. And now, states like Nevada and Ohio show Trump supporters doing well in the polls. to name just two.
Speaking of Corker and Flake, I believe both men thought their outbursts would give them hero status, showing that they were willing to stand up for the Establishment and counter the Trump bandwagon. But after the early coverage, the Republican Party seems to be showing more and more signs of realizing that if the Trump agenda isn't enacted. they likely will resemble burnt toast. One Senator, Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, even stated that everyone should get on board and support the President's agenda, as did Roger Wicker of Mississippi as well when he publicly rebuked Corker.
Donald Trump has been counted out almost daily ever since he began his seemingly impossible task of winning the Republican nomination in 2016 and the general election. He did it then and he's doing much more than anyone wants to admit now. Don't count him out, you are very likely to lose and lose badly. The Trump Train is riding high and fast on the rails.
This is my last political blog until the weekend is over. Enjoy your weekend and take a break from political thought and have some fun instead. But I'll be back again on Monday.