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Trump Back On The Stump |
By
Stephen Lendman |
| On Saturday, he addressed supporters in Melbourne, FL, his wife Melania
introducing him. He’s most comfortable in this element, saying he wanted to speak “without the filter of fake news - the dishonest media…publishing one false story after another with no sources…” He came to tout his agenda without explaining his disturbing start, his first 30 days in office far from encouraging. He justifiably went on a rampage against media scoundrels. They’re “a big part of the problem,” he said. “They are part of the corrupt system…They have their own agenda…(W)e will continue to expose them for what they are…” He’s right about inheriting an enormous mess. He hasn’t improved things so far, despite claiming otherwise. He’s filling the swamp, not draining it. He made lots of lofty promises earlier and yesterday with little to show for them so far - deserving more justifiable criticism than praise. He bragged about authorizing environmentally destructive Keystone and Dakota Access pipelines, exaggerating the number of jobs they’ll create, failing to explain they’re short-term, most no longer needed once construction is completed. The damage they’ll cause is forever. His touted war on regulations is great for big business, bad for consumer rights and ecosanity. His EPA chief Scott Pruitt has deep ties to America’s energy industry, including billionaires Charles and David Koch. He won’t be “environmentally friendly,” as Trump claimed - nor a “great secretary.” He’ll make “a big difference (moving away from) clogging up the veins of our country with environmental impact statements and all of the rules and regulations,” Trump added. What’s vitally needed, Trump opposes. Letting companies “navigate” freely assures greater environmental destruction than already - polluting land, air, and water, Americans getting unsafe foods to eat. “…I’ve taken decisive action to keep radical Islamic terrorists the hell out of our country,” he roared. Not a word about ending US support for these elements. Nothing about halting America’s imperial wars or wasting trillions of dollars waging them. The best way to keep the nation safe is by no longer harming people worldwide, waging peace, not war, aiding the poor and disadvantaged at home, treating everyone everywhere equitably, serving all Americans, not just its privileged few. So far, Trump is long on lofty promises, short on fulfilling what matters most to ordinary people. Will things improve in the weeks and months ahead? Can he survive attacks intending to weaken and likely remove him from office? Whatever his good intentions, if any, he’s no match against dark forces wanting things run their way. Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III." http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network. |