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The GOP’s deadly sins

Republicans have been caught between trying to criticize President Donald Trump to regarding him as some kind of Trojan horse. The motley crew of “right to rise” types, coupled with religious zealots combined with Ayn Rand aficiaonados see “the Donald” as a way to get a wishlist of benefits. Most of these involve whittling down Social Security and Medicare and ending public schools as we know them. Trump, they hope, although they are not sure, will be their vehicle.

Of course, there have been disappointments. Lindsay Graham and John McCain have got to get their war, whenever and wherever it is supposed to break out. Trump still remains flexible in his approach to Russia and is remarkably sophisticated in his analysis of some aspects of foreign policy. When he told Bill O’Reilly that America was not “so innocent” anymore than other coutries he was stating a truth. Just ask Iraq, Syria and Yemen, countries that the United States helped destabilize. Not everything that Trump says is incorrect.

But generally the natural law advocates and Social Darwinists, cleverly disguised as Libertarians, hope that Trump does not get wise to their unpopulist agenda. But it is probably a safe wager that he is fooled by their fawning. Hugh Hewitt, who derided the “Trump brand” during the Billy Bush affair, even saying that the GOP nominee should step down in favor of Mike Pence, is crawling on his knees to please “the Donald.” Red State, the conservative website, had changed the lyrics to their tunes at warp speed. No doubt, Trump must take satisfaction at this groveling — but at the very least must be bemused.

For Democrats their approach is chicken soup feel-good stuff, but not coordinated or particularly successful. For instance, the party line vote in the Foreign Relations Committee against Rex Tillerson defies common sense. Tillerson is one of the bright spots of the Trump cabinet, something to celebrate rather then deride. Perhaps Betsy DeVos, a weak pick, deserves scrutiny but not Tillerson, who is sensible and not a narrow idealogue.

But Trump could alienate the confusions by refocusing his agenda, not on the immigration ban but on jobs. Before the inaugural he received praise for trying to keep work inside the United States. Perhaps he could recalibrate with a public works bill and, to keep his more level-headed tories compliant, with a tax cut. Anything but a never-ending stream of divisive executive orders. It did not work for President Barack Obama, it will not work for Trump. Satisfying his base will not make him distinctive, going between the lines just might.

Rigidity, stubbornness and calcified principle are the three deadly sins of the GOP. Trump’s success in the primaries was that he seemed flexible and open to a new way of approaching public policy. Whipping out blueprints from the Koch brothers will not make Trump a good chief executive. But you cannot hope that he will take this approach until Democrats allow him to tilt left. Throwing gauntlets and hard-necked resistance will only make Trump more rigid and increasingly a prisoner of his “party.”

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