campaign promises

Last week the internet was awash in articles claiming that former Secretary of the Navy and Democratic Senator James Webb was under consideration to be the next Secretary of Defense. This turned out to be fake news, which is the best fake news we’ve heard in a long time, because Webb would have made a terrible Secretary of Defense.

Sen. Lindsey Graham said Sunday, “We’ll have offers on the table when we find somebody that’s not crazy to deal with…” judging by what the Democrats’ leaders are saying it looks like it is going to be a long shutdown, if it can’t end until someone who is not crazy represents them at the negotiating table.

Much as we dislike the substance of the Democrats’ promises, as Republican Rep. Tom Reed’s flirtation with voting for the Democratic rules package demonstrates, it is hard to argue with the appeal of politicians who actually do what they say they will do, even if what they promise is a disaster waiting to happen.

For years, it has been standard accepted protocol in the United States for all politicians to promise moving the U.S. Embassy to Israel’s capital during the campaign. Standard accepted protocol then dictates that, once elected, politicians renege on that promise. When Mr. Trump revealed that he, in fact, intended to keep his campaign promise, U.S. politicians and reporters covering them were shocked and dismayed and issued statements denouncing Mr. Trump for believing that stupid American voters and taxpaying suckers should have any say in government affairs, particularly overseas.

Trump, who has never been house-trained as a politician, is more immune to pressure from the establishment. He might crave the approval of respectable opinion, but he’s also perfectly content to outrage it. When Trump was elected, it seemed he might be endlessly flexible and up for grabs. He certainly is willing to say anything at any time. But he hasn’t shifted or shrunk from the core commitments that defined his candidacy. So far, “he said he would do this,” has been a remarkably reliable guide to the Trump agenda.

While previous presidents have made moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem a major campaign promise, they failed to deliver. Yesterday, Donald Trump delivered on his promise to Christians and Jews and announced the historic move.

Ann Coulter isn't exactly alone in thinking that Trump has not delivered on his populist and nationalist mandate. The faction of the administration committed to those policies is somewhat beleaguered. Steve Bannon is out as top White House strategist. Sebastian Gorka is no longer working as a national security aide. Attorney General Jeff Sessions remains, but has been publicly humiliated by the president several times.

More than 97% of self-identified conservatives said that McConnell needs to be replaced by “someone who will fulfill Republican campaign promises.” Only about 2% agreed with McConnell that President Trump is demonstrating “excessive expectations.”

Today’s Republican establishment is one of those online retailers whose slick website accepts your credit card for merchandise that is perpetually on back order – voters have paid in good faith, but their order never ships.

Neal Rackleff is the former Director of Public Housing for Houston, Texas.  In that job he led and advocated Obama's Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing programs that President Trump promised to eliminate.

CHQ Chairman Richard A. Viguerie said in reaction to President Trump's nomination to the Supreme Court of Judge Neil M. Gorsuch, "The liberal special interest groups will demand and insist that the Democratic Senators go all out to keep Judge Gorsuch off the Supreme Court. This battle will be unlike any court battle in modern times. And when the battle is done conservatives will win and liberals will be exhausted and weakened for the next battle."

A majority of voters are not buying that Donald Trump will follow through with any of his pledges, nor do they think Hillary Clinton will attempt to rein in Wall Street, limit the influence of secret money in politics or make in-state and community college tuition debt-free, according to the results of a Quinnipiac University national poll.