Deflecting Attention Again

Just in the nick of time for an Administration devoted to diversion

President Donald Trump doubled down Monday on the most divisive action of his young presidency, signing a new executive order temporarily blocking travel to the United States from countries he says pose a high terrorism risk.

The new measure contains some key differences from the one signed in January that prompted nationwide confusion and was suspended in federal court. It bars travel to the U.S. for 90 days from six predominantly Muslim countries — Sudan, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia and Yemen, according to a Department of Homeland Security fact sheet. It excludes Iraq, which was on the original list.

The order, which takes effect March 16, does not restrict legal permanent residents, or green card holders, from re-entering the U.S., the DHS said. The first measure initially did, on a case-by-case basis. The order will allow people who had visas by Jan. 27, the date the first order was signed, or earlier to enter the U.S. It also revokes the earlier order.

Now excluding Iraq, the travel ban is out of character for Trump, for he seems to have no business interest in that nation (map preceding recent announcement).

Still, both issuance of the travel ban and Trump's tweet accusing President Obama of wiretapping him will draw further attention away from the very real damage the Administration is doing to the country.  Even before the new order, The New York Times on Sunday reported 

Congress, with Mr. Trump’s approval, has erased three Obama-era rules in the last month, lifting regulations related to coal mining and oil and gas exploration, as well as the sale of guns to the mentally ill. More than 25 more rules could also be erased in the coming weeks; the House has already voted to eliminate nearly half.

Mr. Trump has separately signed executive orders directing agencies to pursue the reversal of other rules, including a requirement that financial advisers act in the interest of their clients, and a rule aimed at protecting drinking water from pollution.

President Trump has demonstrated his concern for- or apathy toward- veterans with another of his executive orderd, the federal hiring freeze.







Political appointees have joined the assault on consumers and the middle class as

New White House appointees at agencies including the Federal Communications Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Interior Department and the Environmental Protection Agency have also personally intervened in recent weeks to block, delay or start the process to nullify other rules, such as a requirement that corporations publish tallies comparing chief executive pay with average employee wages.

The budget President Trump is expected to submit would gut spending by the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency, and the damage from kneecapping those agencies alone would be devastating.

The GOP-controlled Congress will have its opportunity to review and decide upon President Trump's proposed budget. However, beyond the lies, race-baiting, and immigrant-bashing, there is a far-right extremist in the White House pursuing the agenda Republicans have dreamt of since the time of Ronald (6) Wilson (6) Reagan (6).






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