Next president has daunting to-do list ahead

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

By Eugene Robinson

The Washington Post

I want to hear the Democratic presidential candidates explain, convincingly, how they’re going to beat Donald Trump. Then I want to hear how they propose to repair the devastating damage Trump has done to all three branches of government; and to our trust in our institutions.

First, Trump has to be sent packing. I shudder to think of what four more years of this chaos and decay would do to the nation. Trump is so unpopular, and has so neglected making any attempt to broaden his base, that the agenda of the eventual Democratic nominee is clear: motivate loyal Democratic constituencies to turn out in large numbers; win back at least some of the Rust Belt voters who chose Barack Obama in 2008 and Trump in 2016; and invite independents and anti-Trump Republicans along for the ride.

None of these tasks are mutually exclusive, and none involve rocket science. With just a couple of exceptions, I can see any of the Democrats on stage last Thursday getting the job done. But then would come the hard part.

Perhaps the most straightforward and least complicated undertaking, since it would be entirely within the next president’s purview, is rebuilding the executive branch from the corrupted ruin Trump will leave behind.

One of the most underreported stories about the Trump administration is its basic incompetence. Perhaps Trump’s biggest con of all was convincing his supporters that he was some sort of business wizard with a genius for management. In truth, the Trump Organization was a mom-and-pop family business that he repeatedly micromanaged to the brink of collapse. He is doing exactly the same with the government of the United States.

The White House itself is less like “The West Wing” than like “Game of Thrones.” Courtiers vie for the favor of the Mad King, unable or unwilling to perform normal duties for fear of risking Trump’s ire. Usually, the White House is a place where information from outside sources is synthesized and digested so the president can make the best possible decisions. Under Trump, the flow is reversed; his whims, however ill-informed or contradictory or just plain loopy, are tweeted out and must be made into policy.

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[hlthe2b]

1. "Daunting" is right...

Thus, we need to select wisely. There will be no opportunity for a long learning curve.

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. Next president will have a huge UN-do list.

First order of business - UNDO every EO and declaration has instituted. Period.

[ChicagoRonin]

3. What are we all going to have to do?

Even assuming we get a Democrat in the White House and hopefully take the Senate, society at large will have to confront the fact that a good number of people have revealed exactly how hateful, ignorant, greedy and mean-spirited they are. And I don't think they're going to go away quietly.

[machoneman]

4. My take: our next Democratic President's first order of business.....

must be to solidify real laws that punish the President, Congressional place holders, Cabinet, agency, military and other Federal office holders for their failure to testify under Congressional demands and Federal court-ordered lawsuits. It's way too easy evade said testimony w/o any real chance for Congress or the courts to slam those who disobey into jail. What ever happened to that winger mantra: the rule of law?

Seriously, we have tons of other work to do to reverse Trump's damage to just about every aspect of American society, the courts, Federal agencies and even the military. Yet, until we enact real punishments, jail-related and monetary, we and future generations are lost when, not if, Republiscums ever take power again. Why?

Trump showed them how to get away with murder and they WILL do it again, mark my words.

[Dan]

5. Nobody gives away power...

The Congress will do nothing - because one day they hope that their party will hold the presidency.

Given how powerless the Congress is - I suspect that next "Trump type" president will destroy this nation - and Civil War will result.

[Skittles]

6. same old story

Democrats spend the first half of a presidency cleaning up after repukes, and the unpopular fixes helps them lose seats, which rewards repukes.