In one way we are lucky we got Chump

[DemocratSinceBirth]

If there was a "normal" Republican president like Rubio he wouldn't have a 38% approval rating:

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_trump_job_approval-6179.html

and being at risk of his party losing one or both houses of Congress, despite a seemingly healthy economy which I would argue he inherited.

Chump's low approval ratings in the face of a robust economy are "unpresidented". The economy was in recession when Watergate caused Nixon's approval rating to plummet.

[Pope George Ringo II]

1. We're definitely entering the phase where Trump is going to own the economy

Aside from whatever merits his policies may have on their own, the sheer unpredictability of the buffoon is going to be a variable of its own. But by a year in, he really does pretty much own it.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. Presidents get too much or too little credit about the economy.

It is so large that it's hard to fix or screw up.

[Pope George Ringo II]

4. True as far as it goes

But at some point you have to filter out what impact demographics, energy supplies, tech breakthroughs, foreign developments, and so forth have. We have to make some sort of judgment or else Trump, Obama, Roosevelt, and Hoover are all just guys who sat in the Oval Office and watched the economy happen. We're getting close to the point we can really say something meaningful about Trump and the economy. So far, it's virtually the only area where my fears haven't been fully realized, or worse. Yet.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

5. I would argue Hoover is one of the exceptions.

He balanced the budget in the face of a recession when the situation called for deficit spending. Trump might be another exception by cutting taxes during a recovery when economic theory suggests we should be paying down the deficit. Trump runs the risk of a overheated economy that the Feds will have to cool down by raising interest rates and provoking a recession.


President Obama definitely deserves credit for his stimulus plan and saving the American automobile industry.

[Pope George Ringo II]

8. Excluding William Henry Harrison, I'd say they all have at least some impact on the economy

It's easy to overstate in the face of both previous legacies and foreign and domestic developments, but they do play some role by setting regulatory policies, conducting (or tearing up) trade negotiations, scaring or reassuring markets, scaring or reassuring consumers, and so forth. Even taxes they have to split credit with Congress.

But as one example, take Trump's energy policy (to the extent that we can dignify his actions as "policy&quot . He's green-lighting pipelines and opening up areas for oil exploration/exploitation. Looking at jobs and energy prices, this is clearly good for the economy in the short-term. He's made a deliberate choice to trade the economy during his administration for the environment in the long-haul, because, well, Trump. All Presidents are faced with some variation on this question, though. All are eventually judged by their responses.

[VOX]

3. Low approval number means zip when the missiles are launched...

Afraid that Americans are saddled with a first-class lunatic who is surrounded by some of the most end-times/nihilistic people on the planet.

In his own mind DJT has a personal approval number (120%), and he’s self-ranked as a near-deity.

I don’t see anything lucky about Dump.

[crazycatlady]

6. Another blessing in disguise

We will have the upper hand in the midterms going into a redistricting year.

[NewJeffCT]

7. Job creation is worse this year under Trump

than in any of the last 3 years under Obama...but, Democrats are coordinated enough to point that out when they discuss Trump.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029934566