President Trump "discovers" bipartisanship
ABC News covered Donald Trump's meeting with moderates in an effort to a actually get something done. Something besides rescinding President Obama's executive orders and having his struck down in court. Something like actual legislation.
This is another "Who knew health care could be so hard" moment. Everybody knew.
He made observations like, "'some of the greatest legislation ever passed' was done in a bipartisan manner. . ." and that he is willing to give it a "shot."
Give it a shot? Why? Oh, he wants to pass tax reform. Which, in Republicanese, means tax cuts. Which, in simple accounting, means less revenues and higher deficits. I'm sorry, but the numbers are clear. Since 1980, every Republican President has used the Reganomics model to justify lower taxes, and as a consequence the deficit and debt has grown under them. It was reduced under President Clinton by bipartisan negotiations that raised taxes a mere 3-6%, cut welfare rolls, and reduced defense spending. It was reduced under President Obama by eventually raising taxes and reinstating much needed regulations, and could have been reduced even more if taxes had been raised earlier and the welfare reforms put in place in the 1990s had not been allowed to lapse or rescinded.
Still, Republicans always manage to blame deficits on the Democrats, and Democrats have done a poor job of setting the record straight. They have also done a poor job discrediting Reaganomics. They have failed to admit that cuts are needed in both defense spending and welfare spending. Democrats have failed to put tax increases in perspective. Their campaign rhetoric, like that of Republicans, has been geared toward their political base and not moderates and independents. You know, people interested in bipartisanship and a government that actually works.
So, the partisan divide has widened and bipartisanship cast aside Now, President Trump wants it to happen.
Be careful Democrats and voters. PresidentTrump wants something. He's not getting all warm and fuzzy bipartisany for nothing. He knows if he delivers so called middle class tax cuts he may win some voters back. However, if his tax cuts are like the Reagan and Bush tax cuts, help for the middle class will be minimal. Perhaps the fact that he started talking with Democrats is reason for some hope.
On the other hand, President Trump is no stranger to stiffing people who worked for him, so Democrats and voters beware.