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Donald Trump faces his greatest crisis of his short and contentious presidency. He managed a tax cut but little else except executive orders on regulation -- that in time can quickly be altered. Because of his lack of political imagination, he remains a captive of the narrow-minded cabal known as the Republican leadership. It is in their hands that his presidency is ultimately preserved or crushed. Given Robert Mueller's effective and undaunting investigation, Trump's options are getting narrow and narrower.
For Paul Ryan, these are heady times where he takes what he wants, without yielding any control. Trump is his prisoner who exists through his sufferance. The reactionary aspects of the GOP -- rigid foreign policy, stern anti-gun control and right-wing judges -- remain in place, Trump's ideas, not so much. He now scuttles DACA at the pleasure of Republican representatives who are eager to get the 1965 immigration act. Same with voting rights and protections for the poor. Ryan, that horror of a man, cannot wait to deal a blow to the least fortunate. Ayn Rand, his harsh mentor, would have been pleased. So too would have been Ludwig von Mises and the other Austrian economist, F.A. Hayek.
As well that other dreary officer of despair, Mitch McConnell, also grins at the rout of a caring government. They should make their money as he did, glad-handing and saying no -- doesn't everyone have friends on "K" Street? But he should be ecstatic Trump has proven every bit as feckless as he suspected, and now Trump is compliant as a result. No telling what he would be able to do with Mike Pence.
But Trump must begin to compromise with the Democrats. To be fair, they did not have a lot to give when it came to DACA. Their base was hardline about the wall, perhaps suspecting that old Mitch and Paul had no intention of keeping a deal. Perhaps in the wake of the Parkland massacre, a way for some restriction on assault weapons may be possible. When Rupert Murdoch's press, Newsmax and other enterprises advocate some regulation -- Trump, a big fan, might listen.
However, every time he tries to break from the trap, the ever-watchful General John Kelly is on the watch. As with foreign policy, Trump is hamstrung by his praetorian guard. If it's not Kelly, it is those favorites of the Council of Foreign Relations ,James "Bulldog," oh, "Mad Dog" Mattis and H.R. "Bombs Away" McMasters, who have placed him into an interventionist straight-jacket. As with other matters, old Donald is stuck.
When president's get into trouble, they pivot. Franklin Roosevelt, after the Supreme Court struck down much of his National Recovery Act, proposed the National Labor Relations Act, a minimum wage and Social Security.
Trump must go to his left and take his chances there. As he once suggested to African American voters, "What do you have to lose." In the present case, Trump ought to follow his own advice.