# Conservative Dopers...Trump's accomplishments so far **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 2, 2017, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-trumps-accomplishments-so-far/792653 "2017-08-02T21:42:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-trumps-accomplishments-so-far/792653/41 "2017-08-03T21:01:44Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > I think we’re talking about different things. I don’t mean using the tools provided by existing legislation to get things done (though that’s a perfectly legitimate approach). I thought that my original wording made it sound as if I were referring to creating/showing leadership for _new_ laws. > > The actions explained in your links accurately sum up what I was attempting to describe. Thanks for the additional clarification. After reviewing the relevant posts, I think your earlier characterizations were quite accurate. Apologies if my use of “learn” came across as a slight. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-trumps-accomplishments-so-far/792653/42 "2017-08-03T21:48:55Z")
I’m a liberal but there are some things Trump has done right. [ul] [li]Considering adding more sanctions to Venezuela. Seeing how they are a clusterfuck, the people are starving and the government wants to create a dictatorship this is a good move. They are inches from all out civil war at this point and the government keeps responding with more and more oppression. [/li][li]Bombing Syria after using chemical weapons. Yeah, it was an empty airfield and they were running the next day. I didn’t like that, but Obama said he’d stand up against WMD, then backed down. Trump actually stood his ground on Syria and chemical weapons. [/li][li]The [FDA](https://blogs.fda.gov/fdavoice/index.php/2017/06/fda-working-to-lift-barriers-to-generic-drug-competition/)under Trump is looking into ways to increase competition from generic drug manufacturers, which ideally will decrease costs.[/li][li]Illegal immigration is way down. I don’t know if this is a good thing (Illegal immigrants pay taxes as well as take money out in benefits, and they perform jobs Americans will not do like agricultural work), but some think it is good. [/ul][/li] other major accomplishments that people want to ascribe to Trump (economy doing well, ISIS dying out) was going on before he took office and Trump is just riding a wave of good fortune. So he shouldn’t get credit for that. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-trumps-accomplishments-so-far/792653/43 "2017-08-03T22:20:38Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > … other major accomplishments that people want to ascribe to Trump (economy doing well, ISIS dying out) was going on before he took office and Trump is just riding a wave of good fortune. So he shouldn’t get credit for that. To the broader point, I subscribe to the belief that Presidents get far too much credit when the economy is good, and far too much blame when it is bad. If you were to liken the economy to an airplane, it’s more like they’re sitting back in the main cabin with us, perhaps in first class, but definitely not in the pilot’s seat. With that baseline, I don’t want to oversell Trump’s economic “accomplishments”, but there were plenty on the Left that were worried / believed Trump was going to wreck the economy. I think it’s fair to say that, at least thus far, he has not. Could you agree with that? Assuming we can, shouldn’t that go in the “W” column for Trump? In earlier posts (these are excerpts of your longer posts) you said: > [@I realize it's early, but how should Democrats approach 2020?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-realize-its-early-but-how-should-democrats-approach-2020/781800/7): > > If the US emerges from Trump with our economy and reputation only somewhat damaged, I’d consider that the best case scenario. Do you feel that six months in, we might be looking at your “best case scenario” at least on the economic front, with an economy “only somewhat damaged”? > [@America may become an autocracy frowning](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-may-become-an-autocracy/778644/8): > > This assumes the economy does better for working class people under Trump. I fail to see why that would happen. I cited unemployment, GDP, and stock market (this last one may not have much effect on “working class people”) metrics. Do you think, so far, the economy has been doing better or worse for them under Trump? > [@Trump is the best thing that ever happened to the Democratic Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-is-the-best-thing-that-ever-happened-to-the-democratic-party/775559/19): > > Part of the problem is that Trump’s bar of success is so low that if he doesn’t start nuclear war or cause a depression he will be labeled a success by many. I hope to god Trump is a success. We can agree that he hasn’t “cause[d] a depression”, at least yet, right? And there’s been no nuclear war, so would you agree that Trump has been “a success” so far? > [@Trump will probably be President, now what?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-will-probably-be-president-now-what/771131/6): > > I just hope he doesn’t crash the economy or start a war. Similar to above, the economy doesn’t appear to have crashed, and he hasn’t really started any _new_ wars, at least yet. Has he met your hopes? Exceeded them? Fallen short? ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-trumps-accomplishments-so-far/792653/44 "2017-08-03T23:12:41Z")
Consumer confidence has been high, illegal border crossings are down, the Dakota pipeline has or is scheduled to begin operations. All or some of these things may or may not piss some people off but I do not as a conservative have a tendency to get into pissing matches with liberals as has been suggested here that conservatives have a way of doing. As I said once before, the election was over quite awhile ago. Things are different, of course change has been made. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-trumps-accomplishments-so-far/792653/45 "2017-08-03T23:23:35Z")
For the most part, if the needle moves in the right direction regarding the economy, defeating ISIS, etc, then the longer Trump is in office the more he is responsible for that. I don’t have a problem ascribing some credit to him there, altho Obama teed-up the ball on some of those things. However, I don’t think anyone should get brownie points for maintaining baseline performance. Not starting a nuclear war or not instigating a depression should not be considered an accomplishment (altho in this case such restraint may be). Not fumbling the ball is expected - but getting a touchdown is an accomplishment. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-trumps-accomplishments-so-far/792653/46 "2017-08-03T23:37:27Z")
Can we add [helping the WV Governor into a new party](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/03/us/politics/west-virginia-governor-to-switch-from-democrat-to-republican-trump.html) to his list of accomplishments? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-trumps-accomplishments-so-far/792653/47 "2017-08-03T23:52:42Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Can we add [helping the WV Governor into a new party](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/03/us/politics/west-virginia-governor-to-switch-from-democrat-to-republican-trump.html) to his list of accomplishments? Sounds like the ratfink managed it without Donnie’s help. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-trumps-accomplishments-so-far/792653/48 "2017-08-04T01:44:37Z")
> [@Patx2](#): > > Consumer confidence has been high, illegal border crossings are down, the Dakota pipeline has or is scheduled to begin operations. All or some of these things may or may not piss some people off but I do not as a conservative have a tendency to get into pissing matches with liberals as has been suggested here that conservatives have a way of doing. As I said once before, the election was over quite awhile ago. Things are different, of course change has been made. I’ll support the Dakota Pipeline love that Trump has given. I forgot about that. ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-trumps-accomplishments-so-far/792653/49 "2017-08-04T03:10:50Z")
Just to add to the list of accomplishments thus far: Trump has lowered the bar for transparency in gov’t by not releasing his taxes. Trump has enabled employment of a former FBI director and a bunch of lawyers investigating possible crimes Trump and/or his campaign aides may have committed. Trump has caused uncertainty/anxiety about health insurance resulting in proposed higher rates and withdrawal of health insurance options in some regions of the country. Trump has needlessly alienated important allies and alliances. Trump has pioneered presidential trolling via Twitter. Trump has played lots of golf. If I have missed any, my apologies to conservatives. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-trumps-accomplishments-so-far/792653/50 "2017-08-04T05:03:05Z")
> [@Patx2](#): > > Consumer confidence has been high, illegal border crossings are down, the Dakota pipeline has or is scheduled to begin operations. All or some of these things may or may not piss some people off but I do not as a conservative have a tendency to get into pissing matches with liberals as has been suggested here that conservatives have a way of doing. As I said once before, the election was over quite awhile ago. Things are different, of course change has been made. So change is a black box and you know Trump is responsible for causing it. Cite? You know, actual evidence from authorities? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-trumps-accomplishments-so-far/792653/51 "2017-08-04T05:25:59Z")
Immigration as far as we can tell, although I’d wait for numbers to come out to be sure he’s actually getting the job done there. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-trumps-accomplishments-so-far/792653/52 "2017-08-04T06:28:59Z")
I think the drop in illegal border crossings is just about the only thing that Trump personally can take credit for. If, say, Rubio was President, it’s quite possible we would not have seen the same drop. ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-trumps-accomplishments-so-far/792653/53 "2017-08-04T15:13:29Z")
> [@Johnny\_Ace](#): > > So change is a black box and you know Trump is responsible for causing it. Cite? You know, actual evidence from authorities? Not sure I’m getting what you mean as far as change is a black box. What I meant was there is a new administration so of course, there’s been change. Even if Hilary had been elected, I’m sure there would’ve been some changes because even though she and Obama are the same party, she would have her way of doing things and on some issues have a different way of thinking or her own way of trying to accomplish certain goals. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-trumps-accomplishments-so-far/792653/54 "2017-08-04T17:19:44Z")
Hey, his very first act upon becoming president was to declare Jan 20, 2017 a national day of patriotic devotion, so we could all bask in the glory of Trump. That’s got to be up there on his list of national priorities. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-trumps-accomplishments-so-far/792653/55 "2017-08-04T17:45:57Z")
A lot of people that day \*did \*say things that started with “Oh, dear God …” ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-trumps-accomplishments-so-far/792653/56 "2017-08-04T19:23:39Z")
He always blathering about jobs, but his total job numbers are a little less than the 2016 numbers for the same months. He has managed to piss off everyone that buys ink by the barrel, though. That’s saying something. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-trumps-accomplishments-so-far/792653/57 "2017-08-04T19:54:35Z")
Yeah, but they only reach people who can read. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Smashy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mr\_Smashy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Smashy)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-trumps-accomplishments-so-far/792653/58 "2017-08-04T20:41:35Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > He always blathering about jobs, but his total job numbers are a little less than the 2016 numbers for the same months. > > He has managed to piss off everyone that buys ink by the barrel, though. That’s saying something. When unemployment is already so low, it’s hard to add more jobs. Right now it’s at a 16 year low. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-trumps-accomplishments-so-far/792653/59 "2017-08-05T02:17:54Z")
Still, a million jobs so far is a boon to his political viability. We can argue over whether it’s an accomplishment or not, but Presidents get the credit and the blame from voters for this stuff. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-trumps-accomplishments-so-far/792653/60 "2017-08-05T13:47:46Z")
Did \*you \*give Dubya the blame for his economic crash and all those hundreds of thousands of job losses? Did \*you \*give Obama credit for recovering from it, or did you blame him for not recovering _fast enough_? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-trumps-accomplishments-so-far/792653.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-dopers-trumps-accomplishments-so-far/792653.md?page=4)