So far, so good!!

Weekly Opinion Editorial

by Steve Fair

     Buyer’s remorse is defined as the sense of regret after having made a purchase.  It may stem from fear of making the wrong choice, guilt over extravagance, or a suspicion of having been overly influenced by the seller.  Buyer’s remorse often results because of psychological distress called ‘paradox of choice.’  Consumers often question their judgment after a purchase because it is easier to imagine a different choice was better than the one selected. 

     Pew Research Center has released a poll showing that only 7% of Trump supporters have ‘buyer’s remorse’ as compared to 15% of Clinton voters.  A Washington Post/ABC News poll shows that if the election were held today, Trump would win the electoral vote  and would win the popular vote by 3-4%.  Overall Trump voters are pleased with the president’s performance.  According to the poll 80% are more pleased and only 4% said they were disappointed with what he has accomplished.  62% said Trump was doing better than they expected.

     Documentary filmmaker Michael Moore believes eventually Americans who voted for Trump will change their minds.  “Do not give up on your fellow Americans.  Many of them who voted for Trump will end up doing the right thing.  There will be buyer’s remorse,” Moore said.  But it hasn’t happened yet.  Moore predicted a Trump win last summer and that is probably the first time he has been right about any prediction.

     Much is made of the first 100 days of a new administration.  The term was coined in a 1933 radio address by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt.  Roosevelt was referring to the 100-day session of the 73rd United States Congress, rather than the first 100 days of his administration. The press begin to judge the effectiveness of a new president on how he did in the first 100 days.  Not surprisingly, reviews are partisan.   “This is the worst, least successful, first 100 days since it became a concept in 1933,” Jonathan Alter, an MSNBC analyst said.  Sean Hannity on Fox News said Trump has been the most effective president in his first 100 days than any president in the past century. So which is it?  Has Trump been the worst or the best?  Fact is, he has done better than most.

     First, he delivered on his promise to appoint a conservative to the Supreme Court.  Neil Gorsuch was confirmed by the Senate, but not before the Senate Republicans invoked the nuclear option.  Only three Democrats joined the Republicans in a 54-45 vote.  Senate tradition has required a 60 vote margin for confirmation, but occasionally the rules are suspended and a simple majority is needed to confirm.  Getting Gorsuch on the court was no small task.  Many Trump voters pulled the lever because they wanted a conservative on the court to replace Scalia and they knew Clinton would appoint a liberal.  Trump delivered on that promise.

      Second, he delivered on his promise to start construction on a southern border wall.  I realize that Congress is still haggling on whether they will fund it, but President Trump has taken a firm stand on building the wall.  He has repeatedly said that Mexico will eventually pay for it.  The fact is America needs secure borders.  It’s a matter of national security.  The problem with illegal immigration is that it is illegal.  If someone wants to come to America, let them do it the proper and legal way.

     Third, Trump took a stand in Syria.  When he bombed a Syrian airbase after chemical attacks by Syrian dictator Assad on civilians, he sent a message to the world that Obama’s Laissez-faire foreign policy was a thing of the past.  When Trump draws a red line, rest assured there will be consequences if you cross it.  You can disagree with the US involvement in Syria-and there are good people on both sides of this issue- but you can’t disagree that this president has far more intestinal fortitude than the last one.  

     Fourth, he has signed several significant Executive orders that you haven’t heard a lot about(blame Fake News).  He froze all federal hiring (with exception of military), he told agencies they had to cut two regulations for every new one they implemented, he killed the Trans-Pacific trade agreement, and approved the Keystone pipeline.

     Certainly he has experienced setbacks, most notably the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act, but Trump’s accomplishments have been significant.  When you compare what he has done in his first 100 days with President Clintons, Trump comes out far ahead of the game.   Perhaps his biggest accomplishment is the calling out of the media.  His crusade against ‘fake news’ has journalists pulling down their college ethics books to see how they can better do their job.  Trump voters don’t have buyer’s remorse because they knew what they were getting and so far, so good.