NBC News' anchor David Muir conducted an interview of President Trump which aired on January 25th. When the subject of torture came up, Trump raised some questions: "Does it work? Does torture work? and the answer was, 'Yes, absolutely.' " Trump told Muir that as recently as twenty-four hours ago, he spoke with people at the highest levels of intelligence and they told him that torture absolutely works. One person President Trump did not consult was the new CIA Director, Mike Pompeo, who was "blindsided," because he promised senators he would "absolutely not" resume waterboarding.
Asked by David Muir why he was reconsidering the use of waterboarding, Trump replied: "We're not playing on an open field. ... As far as I'm concerned, we have to fight fire with fire." Trump also alluded to the terrible things terrorists were doing, such as cutting off the heads of people. During the presidential campaign, Trump promised to go well beyond waterboarding -- or " a hell of a lot worse." When, however, Trump talked to his defense secretary-designee, retired General Jim Mattis (now secretary of defense), he had a change of mind after Mattis said he could do better with "a pack of cigarettes and a couple of beers." than by using torture. This sequence of events seems to be a classic case of Trump agreeing with the last person he talked to on an issue.
There is a caveat to what Trump has said on torture: he will not institute a regime of torture if his defense secretary and the CIA director will not support it. Thus, President Trump can tell his supporters that he tried his best to employ torture, but his high officials would not go along.
Trump employed a similar ploy when in a fiery speech in Arizona, billed as his signature speech on immigration actions, he promised to send all 11 million undocumented immigrants back to Mexico and only the "good ones" can come back. Within two days, he had changed his plan to build the Wall first and then make a decision on deportations. It is not difficult to discern the motivation behind announcing a new plan: he was trying to raise a hope to those opposed to mass deportations that maybe he might decide not to massively deport undocumented immigrants.
Regarding paying for the Wall to be built between the United States and Mexico, the U.S. taxpayer will need to pony up the money in front and then Mexico will be forced to cover the cost, or some significant portion of it. The idea being floated is to impose a 20% tariff on Mexican goods. The tariff was initially proposed as being imposed on exports but then changed to imports from Mexico. Therefore, those who like Mexican products will pay more to purchase them.
Mexican President Rena Nieto had a scheduled trip to the White House but when President Trump reignited the Wall issue, he cancelled his trip. Trump, with his thin-skinned inability to tolerate anyone who disagrees with him, or challenges him, then announced that he and President Nieto had "mutually" agreed to cancel the trip.
[Not So] Grand Old Party lawmakers decamped to Philadelphia for a three-day effort to hammer out legislative priorities. President Trump was invited and was expected to provide some specifics as to how the Affordable Care Act could be repealed and replaced. Trump has come and not conquered, as he almost completely ignored the subject. Trump recently pledged that everybody will be insured and the replacement plan is almost completely done.
Republican lawmakers, when interviewed, give widely varying answers on how replacement will taker place and on the timeline for replacement. The idea of simultaneously repealing and replacing, as President Trump wants, is a nonstarter, and insuring everyone is a pipe dream, since Republican lawmakers are strongly opposed to Single Payer. The Republican health care ACA replacement plans have largely been to: 1.) allow buying across state lines; 2.) set up Health Savings Accounts (HSAs); and 3.) provide income tax credits to cover medical costs. Trump has proposed offsetting health insurance premiums against taxable income. He may have dropped the idea; however, if implemented, it would cause a sizable loss of revenue.
Buying across state lines is not entirely prohibited today; however, the Congressional Budget Office has calculated that eliminating all present restrictions would insure only another 400,000 presently uninsured people. Most people don't have the excess income needed to set up a HSA, and even many of those who do, couldn't cover a six- or seven-digit medical care expense. Income tax credits, sufficient to cover most medical expenses, would result in substantial reductions in governmental revenue.
The mainstream media must do a much better job of exposing how bereft of ideas on health insurance are Republicans in high positions of power.
ADDENDUMS:
*Press Secretary Sean Spicer contends that "A lot of the people were there [at women's rallies] to protest an issue or concern to them and not against anything. Much as Kellyanne Conway stirred up a social media storm when she endorsed "alternative facts," Spicer opened up a social media assault against himself. I attended the Albuquerque rally, and virtually every of one of the many signs there expressed a grievance against Trump.
*The very same Mr. Spicer, who says he will be "honest" with the press, has told the press to "just shut up."
* A recent poll has found that 56% of the respondents are "very" concerned about losing health care coverage under the ACA; also, 45% of Republicans are "somewhat" concerned about insurance loss.
*Republicans were all up in arms about a black Democrat issuing executive orders, but nary a pip has been heard about a white Republican doing the same.
*A Washington Post/ABC News poll published last week, found 74% of Americans and 53% of Republicans saying that President Trump should make his tax returns public.
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