General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHas Trump mostly wasted the first 2 1/2 years of his term?
Trump made a lot of promises before he took office, including:
-- New (better) trade agreements with other countries
-- Massive infrastructure repair project
-- Wipe out (and then replace) Obamacare
-- Build a wall on southern border
-- Revive coal, steel, and other industries
-- Eliminate the budget deficit
After 2 1/2 years, Trump still has a long way to go to achieve any of these goals. Perhaps his biggest "accomplishment" -- getting a lot of new judges confirmed - has mostly been the work of other people. His attempts at immigration reform have been chaotic. He doesn't deserve credit for the strong economy. In recent weeks has been attacking anti-pollution and clean-energy standards, but he could have done this two years ago.
At the beginning of his term Trump started a bogus voter fraud investigation which came to nothing. Later he tried to get a citizenship question added to the census but failed. He started a trade war in which he is badly out-matched by the leaders of other countries. He has spent a lot of time watching television and feuding with other people.
No doubt the Mueller investigation distracted Trump for much of his first two years. On the other hand, he did have both houses of Congress on his side during that time, and he clearly should have accomplished a lot more than he did.
In my opinion much of his ineffectiveness stems from his ignorance and incompetence.
toddwv
(2,830 posts)The court appointees, environmental destruction, and global approval are going to take much much longer.
Here's hoping the healing starts in 2021!
real Cannabis calm
(1,124 posts)The Criminal-In-Chief has set Fascism in motion and given mega-corporations all the power necessary to destroy the old-fashioned American dream and systematically destroy the middle-class.
For example, when I attended college, it was affordable for most upper middle class students. Now, students at major universities must mortgage their economic future for an opportunity to obtain a good career.
TruckFump
(5,812 posts)So, it follows that he has wasted any time he has been in the WH.
Raven
(13,891 posts)unblock
(52,220 posts)He's a horrible leader for many reason, among them, he doesn't actually care about America or any particular issue, or taking america in any particular direction.
All he cares about is himself and his image and his celebrity and his wallet.
As a result, he hasn't really put forth any effort to even *try* to accomplish anything.
J_William_Ryan
(1,753 posts)Trumps arrogance has also contributed to the failure that is his presidency.
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(107,972 posts)He's behaving exactly as expected. He's all talk and very little action.
spanone
(135,831 posts)When you're a fucking liar, I guess it doesn't matter.
raccoon
(31,110 posts)a good thing for the country. and he's done all he could to harm the US image in the eyes of other countries.
kentuck
(111,094 posts)Repealing all those regulations that protect our air, our land, our waters, our national parks, etc was not really a great victory for the people.
Neither was the trillion dollar tax cut, where most went to the wealthiest, got the lion's share of the Trump taxcut. It's not hard to see who that was a victory for.
Other than that, he hasn't done a lot of noteworthy stuff, except maybe the trade tariffs on China?
And he has already crossed the threshhold of a trillion dollar deficit.
There simply are too many screw-ups and lies to keep up with.
A waste?
Retrograde
(10,136 posts)in trade deals for their brands and money spent at their properties. So, yeah, not completely wasted
enough
(13,259 posts)for years. The tax cuts for the rich will do damage for years. The suffering for immigrant families will be felt for lifetimes. The decimation of USDA and other Agencies will be difficult to undo. And remedial legislation doesnt happen with the stroke of a pen.
Actually his regime has been very effective. He has granted the ultimate wish list the Republican Party has been dreaming of for decades.
dugog55
(296 posts)for the wealthy and the corporations with the help of all the spineless, greedy Republicans in Congress. That one move is going to hurt the vast majority of the country for years to come if the Dems do not get the Presidency and the Senate and overhaul the tax process again. Say good-bye to medicare and Social Security because there will not be enough money coming in to support them.
Speaking of Social Security, is there any way to find out how much SS taxes have been collected since 1985, and how much has been paid out in actual SS benefits? That would let us know how much has been skimmed off the top for the Star Wars project of Reagan, and balance budgeting of Clinton and BushII. I am willing to bet there has been some major draining of the SS coffers over the years. Congress should have to show proof that it is actually going broke or empty before even starting any legislation to curtail payouts.
procon
(15,805 posts)bring back the 18th century reliance on King Coal with new mines, power plants and thousands of new jobs.
That idea was on life support long before Trump tried to resurrect it.
keithbvadu2
(36,796 posts)msongs
(67,405 posts)for repubs he is extremely successful
DFW
(54,377 posts)Look at all the serious golfing time he got in! I'm sure he doesn't consider that time wasted. Just ask him.
bluestarone
(16,939 posts)PROMISES from two years ago!! I'm sure we could come up with some GREAT ONES!! Using His OWN words!!
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,439 posts)by John Gage | September 12, 2019 05:48 PM
Edited: I see someone has already pointed this out:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212462260#post11
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)He is the most useless, incompetent, vulgar, stupid person on the planet. The world would be a better place without him in it.
Hekate
(90,680 posts)It's only other fools who have been disappointed, either the ones who thought they could control this monster and get richer, or because they were devotees who thought he'd hurt all the people they hate.