First, let me acknowledge the very best result of the November election and the first 100 days of the Trump administration - it isn't the first 100 days of the Hillary Clinton administration. That alone is reason to be optimistic if you are not a leftist.
1. Justice Neil Gorsuch. That's right. For the first time in more than a century, a president nominated and installed a judge to the United States Supreme Court within the first 100 days of his administration. That alone is worth noting as Trump's greatest accomplishment to date. Other decisions and actions can be changed or reformed in later years. This one can not, short of impeachment. This is a lifetime gig.
2. Vice President Mike Pence. Pence is a calming, stabilizing force within Trump's White House. So far, he has provided valuable reassurances to allies overseas and at home. He is calm and steady within a sometimes turbulent West Wing. He knows the legislative process and helps the president on Capitol Hill.
3. Business-friendly de-regulation. Very important to job creation and economy strengthening, the executive orders and memorandums signed by President Trump thus far are roll backs to crippling regulations signed by Barack Obama. I'm no fan of governing by executive order but it is understandable now. Our economy has been stuck in a stagnant or slow moving growth pattern for too long.
4. A solidly conservative cabinet. After eight years of every liberal wish on display and promoted by ivory tower leftists in the Obama administration, the current group is a breath of fresh air.
5. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader McConnell are partners. The Speaker appears to be working closely with the White House on legislation. According to Ryan, 29 bills have been sent to Trump's desk since he took office. That is the most for a president's first 100 days in office since 1949. McConnell uses his skillful expertise in Senate rules and process to shepherd through important legislation - case in point: the Gorsuch nomination process.
6. The National Security team is aces in my book. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is digging out from the mess left in place by Hillary Clinton and John Kerry. He is appears calm and humble in this position, which is quite comforting in today's uncertain world. Who could ask for better than Nikki Haley at the United Nations? The Generals - McMasters and Kelly - are strong choices, too. So far, so good.
7. Illegal border crossings are down. Way down. Speaking of General Kelly, his leadership at the Department of Homeland Security is by the book and no nonsense. Just enforcing the laws already on the books is a major reform. And President Trump's idea of using Mexico's drug cartel monies confiscated is a great idea for funding the wall he wants to build at the border. Sen.Ted Cruz is trying to piggyback on this idea as he introduced legislation in the Senate with press releases claiming it is his idea. Whatever. Anyone paying attention is used to that behavior from the junior senator from Texas. Trump has been considering it since the summer of 2016 and it is worth pursuing.
The Democrats and The Resistance would like you to believe that opposition to Trump has been effective. Wrong. As this article notes, the Democrats are in disarray themselves - bigly - and any setbacks have been caused by our own party divisions and by judicial activists. When Sen. Chuck Schumer tried to stop the nomination process of Justice Gorsuch, he failed. The first 100 days of the Trump administration have been a big old failure for the other side of the aisle.
Most importantly, it remains that these were not the first 100 days of Hillary Clinton. I can't wait to see what happens next.
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