# Trump: Will anything good come from his presidency? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 17, 2017, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-will-anything-good-come-from-his-presidency/780038 "2017-02-17T12:55:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-will-anything-good-come-from-his-presidency/780038/41 "2017-02-19T14:22:47Z")
In the last two weeks, in the Dutch election polls our own mini Trum Geert Wilders has gone from 31 projected seats in parliament to 25. Pundits attribute this loss to the Trump effect: populist voters see that voting for a populist might not be such a good idea after all. So, that is one very good thing to come out of the election. Also, in the Netherlands too, politics have become much less jaded. The left is electrified. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-will-anything-good-come-from-his-presidency/780038/42 "2017-02-19T17:31:40Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > No, not really. The best I can come up with is that he will mildly damage the GOP brand for a while, and he will make the opposition to him stronger. Blue states, large cities, liberals, etc. are all organizing in ways we didn’t under Obama. I’d like to think this was true but the evidence is saying otherwise. George W. Bush didn’t stop Trump from getting elected; he apparently just lowered the bar instead. Trump is just lowering it further and presumably the next Republican President will be worse than Trump. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-will-anything-good-come-from-his-presidency/780038/43 "2017-02-20T01:09:07Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > In the last two weeks, in the Dutch election polls our own mini Trum Geert Wilders has gone from 31 projected seats in parliament to 25. Pundits attribute this loss to the Trump effect: populist voters see that voting for a populist might not be such a good idea after all… Marine Le Pen is running into the same problem in France. Granted it always looked like she’s going to make it into the runoff only to loose in a landslide when the rest of France holds it’s nose and votes for whoever her opponent is (just like with her father back in 2002). ---
**Author:** ![Ms\_Boods](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5e9695/32.png) [@Ms\_Boods](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms_Boods)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-will-anything-good-come-from-his-presidency/780038/44 "2017-02-20T10:03:57Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I’m still hoping he gets rid of taxation of foreign-earned income. Deffo agree with this one. Absolute pain in the arse (and an expensive one) this time or so every year. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-will-anything-good-come-from-his-presidency/780038/45 "2017-02-20T16:27:40Z")
I certainly expect some good will come from his presidency. It’s a large complicated topic and surely we will learn a few things and at least some things will be better afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![DrumBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e79b87/32.png) [@DrumBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrumBum)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-will-anything-good-come-from-his-presidency/780038/46 "2017-02-20T16:40:35Z")
I am guardedly optimistic that at the end of his term Pres. Trump will have managed to get something right. Even a blind pig will find an acorn if it wanders long enough. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-will-anything-good-come-from-his-presidency/780038/47 "2017-02-20T16:40:36Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Joking, surely? The left has LONG had a very detailed and exact agenda. Fight pollution via regulation on industry; raise the minimum wage; defend civil rights equality for minorities; protect a woman’s right to choose an abortion; maintain a top-rate public education system, and expand access to colleges; proactively prepare for global climate change, and try to move away from high-carbon energy; and dozens and dozens of other items. I’m not sure ‘The Left’ and ‘The DNC’ can be conflated ever. > [@JKellyMap](#): > > What are you talking about? (Not meant as a snark). No reason for you to have noticed, but a lot of people don’t think the CIA are a force for good in the world. And the FBI has sometimes acted oppressively in the past. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-will-anything-good-come-from-his-presidency/780038/48 "2017-02-20T17:04:23Z")
> [@Evan\_Drake](#): > > No reason for you to have noticed, but a lot of people don’t think the CIA are a force for good in the world. And the FBI has sometimes acted oppressively in the past. Ah, got it. You’re preaching to the choir 🙂 – When I lived in Mexico, one of my colleagues was Guatemalan, but had to leave because of the war that our CIA was instrumental in initiating. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-will-anything-good-come-from-his-presidency/780038/49 "2017-02-20T22:10:32Z")
As cynical as it sounds, if you are invested in the stock market you have seen record numbers in the primary indexes. If you are selective in your investments, certain industries will likely provide over-market gains: banking, energy, infrastructure contractors, etc. I truly believe a Hillary presidency would have seen some similar gains - ISTM there was anxiety in the market waiting to see which direction the election was going to go, once decided the anxiety dissipated. But, for what it’s worth, the gains we are seeing are being attributed somewhat to Trump. I don’t want to give him credit for the gains, but so far my portfolio has been making me happy. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-will-anything-good-come-from-his-presidency/780038/50 "2017-02-20T22:18:04Z")
I’m hopeful Trump will figure out what’s required to get the job done. It’s been extreme amateur hour so far. The press looking for any excuse to jump all over him. I think things will settle down after all Trump’s appointments are approved and he has an administration that supports him. I think he’ll make some progress in curbing illegal immigration. Get a better system in place that screens and welcomes legal immigrants. Certainly he’ll have some success in rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure. I’m not sure about Foreign policy. Depends on the effectiveness of our new Secretary of State. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-will-anything-good-come-from-his-presidency/780038/51 "2017-02-20T22:59:01Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > . . . It’s been extreme amateur hour so far. The press looking for any excuse to jump all over him. The press has been remarkably lenient, given what he’s said about them. CBS news reports what he says, even when he calls them “fake news.” An activist press would have followed that with commentary. > [@](#): > > . . . Certainly he’ll have some success in rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure. . . . Far from certain! Will the Republican Congress allocate meaningful funding for this? Far more likely they’ll spend it on a new aircraft carrier group…which we do not need. > [@](#): > > I’m not sure about Foreign policy. Depends on the effectiveness of our new Secretary of State. The SoS will not be effective in any way; all decisions will be made at the White House. The State Department will be nothing but sock puppets. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-will-anything-good-come-from-his-presidency/780038/52 "2017-02-21T13:28:53Z")
As **John Mace** mentions, he made a good pick for the Supreme Court. Possibly he will get to replace Ginsberg with an equally appropriate pick. Not that I wish ill on Ginsberg, but the long-term tendencies of the Court are likely to be pushed right, which is all to the good. He is also causing liberals to double down on the things they did to lose the election. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-will-anything-good-come-from-his-presidency/780038/53 "2017-02-21T13:59:18Z")
Repeal, or at least radically change, reporting limits for FATCA and FBAR filings. Tax compliance should not be so costly for those who don’t actually owe any taxes but who live abroad. Same for Foreign earned income taxation. Bring the USA in line with almost the entire rest of the world ( I’m looking at YOU, Eritrea.) on this taxation issue. Buried in the immigration reform crap has been some vague wording about improving the legal immigration process for immediate family/spousal visas. Reform is long overdue there. This might be one decent change among a pile of crap. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-will-anything-good-come-from-his-presidency/780038/54 "2017-02-22T16:35:21Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Get a better system in place that screens and welcomes legal immigrants. What’s wrong with the current system that screens and welcomes legal immigrants? Or are we just operating under the false narrative that legal immigrants are not vetted? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-will-anything-good-come-from-his-presidency/780038/55 "2017-02-22T17:08:12Z")
> [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](#): > > What’s wrong with the current system that screens and welcomes legal immigrants? Or are we just operating under the false narrative that legal immigrants are not vetted? Seems to me, any legal immigrant is better vetted than a natural born citizen. (Yes, facetious, but not wrong.) ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-will-anything-good-come-from-his-presidency/780038/56 "2017-02-22T23:29:07Z")
Trump’s done wonders for awareness of Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Verzonden vanaf mijn iPhone met Tapatalk Pro ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-will-anything-good-come-from-his-presidency/780038/57 "2017-02-23T02:31:46Z")
> [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](#): > > What’s wrong with the current system that screens and welcomes legal immigrants? Or are we just operating under the false narrative that legal immigrants are not vetted? Better could be more efficient and/or more timely processing, at least where appropriate supporting documentation is submitted with the application. Currently many documents supporting a family visa application must be presented in person at a relevant embassy. And they cannot necessarily be submitted all at once. This can require multiple trips to the embassy for the applicant. A good example is the case of an American friend of mine who was supporting her British husband’s application for a US immigrant spousal visa. Both were living here in the Cayman Islands. The embassy that serves this area is in Kingston, Jamaica. The application process required six trips to the embassy for her and seven for him. At about $350 per plane ticket this got very costly very fast, roughly $4550 in travel costs in total. Some of the trips were just to drop off a document. No interview, no questions. But it was not acceptable to submit the documentation via FedEx. ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-will-anything-good-come-from-his-presidency/780038/58 "2017-02-23T08:25:32Z")
He’ll serve to set the bar for how bad a President can be, and Dan Quayle will no longer be the title awarded for getting the fewest points on completing Civilization II. He’ll be a cautionary tale for why businessmen are in general thoroughly unsuited for the Presidency. ---
**Author:** ![Fleetwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fleetwood/32/271_2.png) [@Fleetwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fleetwood)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-will-anything-good-come-from-his-presidency/780038/59 "2017-02-23T13:06:54Z")
He kept Hillary Rodham Clinton from the Oval Office. Everything else is gravy. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-will-anything-good-come-from-his-presidency/780038/60 "2017-02-23T15:35:22Z")
> [@Iggy](#): > > Better could be more efficient and/or more timely processing, at least where appropriate supporting documentation is submitted with the application. You mean Trump is going to make it _easier_ for foreigners to immigrate to the US? :dubious: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-will-anything-good-come-from-his-presidency/780038.md?page=2)