Failure? Trump is beating Democrats left and right – San Francisco Chronicle
Democrats are handing President Trump a big fat F for his six months in office, but in this case the F may stand for frustration.
No matter what you think of Trumps policies or personality, he has beaten Democrats on every angle.
The stock market is up. Unemployment is down.
And Trump has gotten nearly every nominee he wanted, including Neil Gorsuch on the Supreme Court, which was absolutely critical to fulfilling the Republican agenda.
Even his inability to repeal Obamacare has turned into a backhanded win for Trump, if for no other reason than that its freed him from having to come up with a workable alternative, which he clearly does not have.
Like it or not, hes doing what his supporters wanted him to do: make a lot of noise, hit the brakes on the Democratic agenda and keep them entertained.
And you have to admit, for all its embarrassments, Trumps made-for-TV White House is certainly entertaining.
What a cast of characters: the sinister and elusive Steve Bannon, the ditzy Kellyanne Conway, the just-bounced Sean Spicer and now Baby Don Trump Jr.
Add in the stone-faced special prosecutor (Robert Mueller), the hapless attorney general (Jeff Sessions) and a couple of Russian spy types, and you have an Austin Powers movie.
But perhaps Trumps biggest accomplishment is that, after six months, hes still in office. And that may be the Democrats biggest frustration of all.
The Affordable Care Act is safe for the moment, in part because of all the heat coming from voters in Trump country.
Jerry Moran, the Republican senator from Kansas, held a town hall instead of parading on the Fourth of July. He got such an earful that when he returned to Washington, he told the Republican leadership that he wouldnt take a bullet for the team.
Now, just maybe, repeal and replace will turn into repair and with it, re-election.
Gov. Jerry Browns cap-and-trade victory was as narrow as they come, but he did manage to get votes from both sides of the aisle.
Even Republicans such as former Govs. Pete Wilson and Arnold Schwarzenegger and former Secretary of State George Shultz called for extending the program, giving plenty of cover for Republican legislators to objectively appraise the program. Thats really the way a democracy should work.
San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim celebrated her 40th birthday at interior designer Ken Fulks Magic Factory over on Seventh Street. Man, that place is fabulous. The first two floors are his offices, and the third floor is a venue that he rents out for parties.
The guests at Kims bash included young, up-and-coming politicos from all around the country who came down for the evening from the Napa Valley, where they were attending a think tank conference.
Boy, was she working the room. And with good reason: Every one of them was a potential endorser and fundraiser host back home.
Kim hasnt decided what shell do next on the political merry-go-round, but she definitely has her eye on a brass ring.
If youre looking for some down-home fun, stop by Hazels Southern Bar and Kitchen on Market Street, in the heart of the Twitter Zone. It was started by a young guy, Jamie Boatner, who drew on his moms recipes.
The buffalo wings were my pick, and they did not disappoint. But what caught my attention were the two billiard tables in the middle of the dining area, for shooting pool between bites.
Movie time: War for the Planet of the Apes: Believe it or not, this is a must-see. Its timely and relevant. But be warned, there is nothing comical about this movie.
A free safety pin awaits you at the Marsh Cafe on Valencia Street, where my friend Will Durst is presiding Tuesday nights. He is pointed in his hilarious observations about todays political scene and the Trump administration, closing with a new symbol of the resistance movement: a safety pin on your lapel.
Get yours in the Mish. Its free.
Speaking of free, Marcia Lamb of the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival tells me that if you stop by the South of Market park Saturday at 1 p.m., you can hear Paula West for free.
The Internet, however, confirms my prediction of last week that the price to catch her will be going up. In fact, for her next commercial appearance, in April at SFJazz, the price is double what it was Sunday night at the Hotel Nikko.
Im told the next show is almost sold out.
Warning: It looks like the Municipal Transportation Agency will start tearing up Geary Boulevard to make room for new bus lanes, just as its doing along Van Ness Avenue.
The irony here is that some of us can still remember when the center of Geary had streetcar tracks all the way to what was then Playland-at-the-Beach and the roller-skating rink.
You suppose theres any chance the MTA and Rec and Park could team up to bring all that back?
O.J. Simpsons reappearance in the news reminds me of my brother James take on the trial of the century:
The district attorney tried to frame the guilty guy and failed.
Want to sound off? Email: wbrown@sfchronicle.com
See the rest here:
Failure? Trump is beating Democrats left and right - San Francisco Chronicle
- D.C. U.S. attorney probing Democrats over alleged threats, documents show - The Washington Post - February 20th, 2025 [February 20th, 2025]
- Democrats face pressure to fight Trump agenda, but have limited power in the minority - NPR - February 20th, 2025 [February 20th, 2025]
- Democrats need to use spending battle to control Trump, Tammy Baldwin says - POLITICO - February 20th, 2025 [February 20th, 2025]
- Democrats in Congress Lack Trust From Their Own Voters: Poll - Newsweek - February 20th, 2025 [February 20th, 2025]
- Democrats Announce Plan To Increase Special Education Funding By $40M - CT News Junkie - February 20th, 2025 [February 20th, 2025]
- The Interview: Senator Ruben Gallego on the Democrats Problem - The New York Times - February 20th, 2025 [February 20th, 2025]
- Rep. Alma Adams says Democrats are challenging the Trump administration on several fronts - WFAE - February 20th, 2025 [February 20th, 2025]
- Republicans are teeing up the next big immigration test for nervous Democrats. Activist groups are watching. - POLITICO - February 20th, 2025 [February 20th, 2025]
- Democrats Fear They Are Missing the Moment to Remake the Party - The New York Times - February 20th, 2025 [February 20th, 2025]
- Florida Democrats file bill to repeal six-week abortion ban - WCTV - February 20th, 2025 [February 20th, 2025]
- Idaho Democrats criticize GOP over Medicaid and education bills - Idaho News - February 20th, 2025 [February 20th, 2025]
- The more Democrats fight, the more they'll lose: Former Speaker McCarthy - Fox News - February 20th, 2025 [February 20th, 2025]
- Senator Warner: Democrats brand is really bad - POLITICO Europe - February 20th, 2025 [February 20th, 2025]
- Column: Democrats belatedly wake up to start battling Trump and Musk - Los Angeles Times - February 20th, 2025 [February 20th, 2025]
- What to expect as Republicans and Democrats meet in Detroit this weekend to select new party chairs - Michigan Advance - February 20th, 2025 [February 20th, 2025]
- Opinion | Why I still criticize Democrats more than Trump - The Washington Post - February 20th, 2025 [February 20th, 2025]
- Democrats intend to rapidly pass $40 million spending package to fund special education programs - WTNH.com - February 20th, 2025 [February 20th, 2025]
- Michael Cohen warns Democrats that Trump 'already owns the libs' and that attacking him 'doesn't work' - Fox News - February 20th, 2025 [February 20th, 2025]
- What can Democrats do about Trump and Musk's policy blitz? Here's what Washington lawmakers say - The Spokesman Review - February 20th, 2025 [February 20th, 2025]
- Gov. Hochul Meeting With Top Democrats About "The Path Forward" For New York City - Legislative Gazette - February 20th, 2025 [February 20th, 2025]
- Democrats call out Trump actions on Tesla, Musk - The Hill - February 14th, 2025 [February 14th, 2025]
- This Small Rust-Belt City Holds the Secret to Democrats Latino Woes - The New Republic - February 14th, 2025 [February 14th, 2025]
- Democrats Swear Theyll Fight Elon Musk. But What About the Cash They Took From SpaceX? - The Intercept - February 14th, 2025 [February 14th, 2025]
- More Democrats Favor Party Moderation Than in Past - Gallup.com - February 14th, 2025 [February 14th, 2025]
- What is WAs parental bill of rights? And how are Democrats seeking to change it? - Washington State Standard - February 14th, 2025 [February 14th, 2025]
- Will an Allegheny County property tax hike haunt Democrats running for County Council? - 90.5 WESA - February 14th, 2025 [February 14th, 2025]
- RFK Jr. confirmed as Trump's health secretary, over Democrats' loud objections - NPR - February 14th, 2025 [February 14th, 2025]
- As Trump steamrolls Washington, Democrats search for a strategy and a voice - The Christian Science Monitor - February 14th, 2025 [February 14th, 2025]
- Strategic Vision's 2025 Most Loved Vehicle Awards: Republicans and Democrats Choose EVs as their Most Loved Vehicle, and It's Not Tesla - Business... - February 14th, 2025 [February 14th, 2025]
- New to the Senate, Gallego challenges Democrats' views on 'working-class Latinos' - NPR - February 14th, 2025 [February 14th, 2025]
- Republicans think economy will improve over the next year, Democrats expect it to get worse - Pew Research Center - February 14th, 2025 [February 14th, 2025]
- Democrats rage against DOGE but shouldnt everyone be against waste? - The Hill - February 14th, 2025 [February 14th, 2025]
- Democrats unveil state legislative map for the next election cycle, with eyes on opposing Trump's agenda and redistricting - NBC News - February 14th, 2025 [February 14th, 2025]
- FLORIDA DEMOCRATS RESPOND TO PASSAGE OF IMMIGRATION BILLS - Florida Democratic Party - February 14th, 2025 [February 14th, 2025]
- Letter From House Democrats on Justice Department Officials - The New York Times - February 14th, 2025 [February 14th, 2025]
- Democrats call Musk and DOGE 'evil.' But Trump is doing what Americans want. | Opinion - USA TODAY - February 14th, 2025 [February 14th, 2025]
- Opinion | Why Democrats Fail the Immigration Test Every Time - The New York Times - February 14th, 2025 [February 14th, 2025]
- Democrats are divided on government shutdown threats - POLITICO - February 14th, 2025 [February 14th, 2025]
- "People are pissed": Inside Democrats' growing tension with their grassroots allies - Axios - February 14th, 2025 [February 14th, 2025]
- Latinos Bolted to the Right in 2024. Can Democrats Win Them Back? - The New York Times - February 14th, 2025 [February 14th, 2025]
- Aguilar says Democrats would oppose spending bill with Department of Education cuts - NBC News - February 14th, 2025 [February 14th, 2025]
- Democrats Need Judges to Rein In Trump. Theres No Plan B. - TIME - February 14th, 2025 [February 14th, 2025]
- Full List of Republicans, Democrats Who Voted Against RFK Jr.'s Nomination - Newsweek - February 14th, 2025 [February 14th, 2025]
- Democrats target Musk in first DOGE hearing on war on waste - NewsNation Now - February 14th, 2025 [February 14th, 2025]
- Opinion | Democrats Stand Up for the Bureaucrats Against DOGE - The Wall Street Journal - February 14th, 2025 [February 14th, 2025]
- House Democrats warn Energy Department against canceling approved loans - The Hill - February 14th, 2025 [February 14th, 2025]
- Increasing numbers of Democrats want their party to oppose Trump CBS News poll analysis - CBS News - February 14th, 2025 [February 14th, 2025]
- Can Hakeem Jeffries be the leader the Democrats want? - The Independent - February 14th, 2025 [February 14th, 2025]
- Democrats Hint at Government Shutdown to Stop Trumps Axing at Federal Agencies - The New York Times - February 14th, 2025 [February 14th, 2025]
- Adams Asks for Voters Trust as Democrats Argue He Is in Thrall to Trump - The New York Times - February 14th, 2025 [February 14th, 2025]
- Conservatives clinch longtime goal of booting Democrats from leadership ranks in Texas House - The Texas Tribune - January 24th, 2025 [January 24th, 2025]
- Chapo Trap House Isnt Going to Save the Democrats - Vanity Fair - January 24th, 2025 [January 24th, 2025]
- Omar: Democrats attending Trumps inauguration sends the wrong message - The Hill - January 24th, 2025 [January 24th, 2025]
- Texas Democrats haven't been in power for 30 years. They just lost more control at the Capitol. - KUT - January 24th, 2025 [January 24th, 2025]
- House Democrats, Secretary of State are suing House GOP lawmakers. Heres what you need to know. - Minnesota Reformer - January 24th, 2025 [January 24th, 2025]
- GOP Threatens Weekend Work as Democrats Test Resolve on Nominees - Bloomberg Government - January 24th, 2025 [January 24th, 2025]
- Democrats Need a Bigger Tent on Abortion - Bloomberg - January 24th, 2025 [January 24th, 2025]
- Senate Republicans refuse to work with Democrats on immigration bill - MSNBC - January 24th, 2025 [January 24th, 2025]
- Trump axes Democrats on intelligence and privacy oversight board - Nextgov/FCW - January 24th, 2025 [January 24th, 2025]
- GOP leaders mull a big debt-and-funding deal with Democrats - POLITICO - January 24th, 2025 [January 24th, 2025]
- Democrats struggle to pick their message against Trumps shock-and-awe campaign - The Associated Press - January 24th, 2025 [January 24th, 2025]
- Why Democrats are still in charge of the CFPB and OCC - American Banker - January 24th, 2025 [January 24th, 2025]
- Trump to visit battered North Carolina towns still suffering months after Helene: 'Treated badly by Democrats' - Fox News - January 24th, 2025 [January 24th, 2025]
- Trump admin tells all Democrats on intelligence oversight board to resign - The Record from Recorded Future News - January 24th, 2025 [January 24th, 2025]
- Rantz: WA Democrats pulled a fast one on voters as they undo parental rights initiative - MyNorthwest - January 24th, 2025 [January 24th, 2025]
- Diminished Democrats grit their teeth through second Trump inauguration - The Washington Post - January 24th, 2025 [January 24th, 2025]
- Trump: We have to get Democrats to approve tax cuts - The Hill - January 24th, 2025 [January 24th, 2025]
- NEW: Donald Trump Rolls Back Biden-Harris Rule to Lower Drug Costs for Millions of Americans - Democrats.org - January 24th, 2025 [January 24th, 2025]
- DEI is on Trump's chopping block. See how Democrats are fighting back. - USA TODAY - January 24th, 2025 [January 24th, 2025]
- Biden tries to lift Democrats' spirits on last full day in office - Reuters - January 24th, 2025 [January 24th, 2025]
- Trump ejects Democrats from intelligence-and-privacy oversight board - Defense One - January 24th, 2025 [January 24th, 2025]
- Note to Wisconsin Democrats: Cut the gas tax - Isthmus - January 24th, 2025 [January 24th, 2025]
- WA Democrats push for gun permits, safe storage and limit on bulk buys - The Seattle Times - January 24th, 2025 [January 24th, 2025]
- 2028 Watch: Here are the Democrats who may eventually jump into the next White House race - Fox News - January 1st, 2025 [January 1st, 2025]
- Democrats Battleground Leader, Exiting Congress, Reflects on What She Learned - The New York Times - January 1st, 2025 [January 1st, 2025]
- The Democrats and Republicans Best Positioned Right Now for 2028 - POLITICO - January 1st, 2025 [January 1st, 2025]
- Democrats Brace for Mass Deportations in Sanctuary Cities As Trump's Agenda Beckons - Newsweek - January 1st, 2025 [January 1st, 2025]
- Democrats face criticism that their party lost touch with working-class voters - KUOW News and Information - January 1st, 2025 [January 1st, 2025]
- Senate Democrats to focus on economic issues and distributing opioid settlements funds - KGAN TV - January 1st, 2025 [January 1st, 2025]
- Top Beacon Hill Democrats blast local press for persistent negative media narrative - Boston Herald - January 1st, 2025 [January 1st, 2025]