Casualty List. . .

(Casualty List. . .)

There has been blood. Since President Trump assumed Office, the list of his "victims" have accumulating. The Democratic National Committee might have elected a new Chairman, but the Party has yet to settle on a new direction. Of all the federal buildings in Washington D.C. that currently sit empty or idle, the building that houses the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) that has been slated for closure, perhaps making one more building empty. As for the tariff story, it would appear that a threat of a levy is worse than applying the tariff itself. Both Canada and Mexico have complied to a point to Trump's requirements. As a consequence, such penalties have been deferred for 30 days.


What is the definition of a Democrat in 2025 ? In 2021, when then President Trump was forced into exile, when Democrats ran the table in the House Senate and of course, Joe Biden was Elected President. Since then, there has been a steady erosion and reversal of fortune to the point that the political landscape has reversed. Democrats are now what the GOP had been four years ago.


But, as if on cue, conservative House Republicans are forcing a delay on a vote, citing in-sufficient reduction in spending. The figure being offered is only $300 billion whereas the Freedom Caucus preference had been cuts of one to two trillion. This action puts the Freedom Caucus in opposition to the President's Agenda. If Republicans cannot pass a budget that would be palatable to Conference Members, how could the Trump tax cuts be passed ?


All that being said, House Republicans despite all the wrangling would still be the only game in town as Democrats in their chastened state are not likely to offer any alternative in two years. The practice that the Party in power traditionally loses Seats in a Mid-Term cycle might not materialize. That being said, House Republicans need to pass the budget and with dispatch.


The new Secretary of State, Marco Rubio has been conducting some shuttle diplomacy in recent days. He has persuaded Panama to reject Chinese influence, he has arranged to have El Salvador take some illegal migrants to be housed in Salvadoran prisons, for a fee. His colleague, Rick Grennell has convinced Venezuela's Maduro to accept its citizens, including the Tren de Aragua gang, back into the country.


The Trump Administration is less than two weeks old yet within that time. Panama has been secured, there are countries that will absorb the illegal aliens, one whole department is being tasked for elimination and its staff re-tasked, the Democrat Party is yet to find a viable identity and Canada and Mexico have been schooled. All in a days work.

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