I haven’t finished this, but I’ve read enough to recommend it.
But Priebus was the conduit. By firing him, Trump has severed a critical connection to his own party—not simply to major donors and GOP congressional leaders, but to the unruly, broader constellation of conservative-affiliated organizations and individuals that Priebus had spent five years corralling. He was effortlessly tagged as an “establishment” figure—inevitably, given his title atop the party—but Priebus was a specialist at coalition-building. He convened regular meetings as RNC chairman with influential players in the conservative movement, picking their brains and taking their temperatures on various issues. That continued as chief of staff: Priebus spoke by phone with prominent activists, such as the Family Research Council’s Tony Perkins, at least once a week. There is a meeting scheduled at the White House this Wednesday of the Conservative Action Project—an umbrella group that brings together leaders from across the right—and Priebus was planning to attend. It was this kind of systematic outreach that made Priebus, whatever his flaws as a West Wing manager, an essential lieutenant for Trump.
It will be fun when Trump turns on Mooch. Not if, when.
Scaramooch is out, per the New York Times. Kelly’s call.
“Not if, when”. You got that right. Pity that the Mooch will never get to attend Steve Bannon’s White House yoga sessions.
An indication of how low we are setting the bar on Trump. All the military guys near the top at the White House should be a major concern. Instead it seems like a relief.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1QcIqeZWjc
I actually agree with Jonathan Chait that we have more to fear from a Trump liberated from the Ryan-McConnell GOP who’s policy agenda is unpopular with a majority of voters. It’s important to remember their bill is less popular than the President and likely drove his numbers down this month among his own base.
If Trump pivots back to populism, that is a bad sign for the Democrats. If Trump continues to govern as a Paul Ryan Republican it enables us to triangulate around a unified economic agenda that wins back heartland voters. Chuck Schumer to his credit, understands this and is pushing such a strategy.
Trump does not know what populism is. He was never for it, but his shtick resembled populism. Pivoting back is therefor not possible. His shtick was to attack the status quo, those in power, and promise that “he alone” can fix it. He can’t. He knows that now that he’s seen that “healthcare is complicated”. He’s the Mr. Thurston Howell III at the White House seeking his Gilligan.