By Ronald A. Klain Ronald A. Klain Contributing columnist focused on public policy, legal issues and political affairs Bio Follow Contributing columnist May 5 at 6:58 PM President Trump may be simple-minded about policy, but he is sharp when it comes to survival. If Democrats aren’t careful, they are going to step into a trap in the infrastructure negotiations that the president is hoping will bolster his reelection prospects.
But even worse, Democrats may be wrong in their assumption that Trump will not ultimately agree to the $2 trillion infrastructure package that was promised in last week’s White House meeting. Would it be good policy? A huge investment in infrastructure is desperately needed, and virtually every Democratic candidate for president is calling for one. But in Trump’s hands, such a program would be dangerous in three respects.
Second, Trump will likely use any infrastructure package to fracture the delicate Democratic labor-environmental coalition. He will insist on “project accelerating” provisions that vitiate critical environmental reviews. He will boost road funding and slash funding for mass transit. And he will make Democratic leaders choose between provisions backed by labor and safeguards demanded by environmentalists. As always with Trump, his real goal will be sowing chaos among his opponents.
A policy simpleton but a shrewd survivor? You could be describing a cockroach
Trump is insane and he is doing what Putin tells him to
...and has a very naive and gullible following
Maybe not, since the Republicans in Congress have already signaled this is not going to happen. He's more bully than survivor. That's why creditors kept loaning him money despite the fact that he wasn't paying them back. They don't hold him accountable. Sound familiar?
He's not shrewd when those who are supposed to hold him accountable don't do a fuckin thing about him.
Up until this week, you were ALL anti-Trump and pro the RussianCollusionHoax. What happened? Are you a) softening the blow for your readers re: Dems' indictments or b) trying to get ahead of your unmasking? seanhannity TuckerCarlson HowardKurtz IngrahamAngle ShannonBream
It’s amazing what you can do when you don’t have a single scruple.
The mere fact that someone would call PresTrump a “simpleton” reveals how incredibly stupid the person making that comment is. The leftwing still doesn’t get it; they’re still trying to figure out how to put their checkers on the board while President Trump is winning at chess.
Policy is truly vacuous without the ability to lead!
Opinion: The Washington Post is the propaganda wing of the Democratic Party. It is no longer a news outlet.
Speaking of 'Zero Policies' the New Socialist Democratic party.
He's a sociopath. It's the only skill they have.
You both are not going to survive for too long!
This is how Trump hating media slips in a complement...by calling him a simpleton! Haha! So biased & in the tank for Dems it’s freaking hilarious!
Survives by lying 🤥 he’s ass every time he talks 👎🏿👎🏿👎🏿
If he is so (simpleton) then how come the unemployment rate in US is 3.6 %, the lowest in 49 years ? Was it a magic ?
He survives through corruption.
He is a con man.
You guys don't still charge people $ for this crap, right?
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He is a businessman.
After Trump wins the 2020 election I will tweet you 2 words: thank you (but I will use all caps)
If you call 5 time bankruptcy, and reneging on payments for services provided, 'surviving', more like criminal.
Trump is a rabid possum with really creepy things in his pouch
He’s gotten away with everything his whole life and is continuing to do so.
Shrewd survivor? The Republicans refuse to stand up for the Constitution & Rule of Law.
It's the economy, stupid.
Considering how well things are going right now both on the foreign and domestic fronts, could it be that a simplistic approach is actually what was needed?
Trump is a simpleton. There, I fixed the headline for you.
Trump speaks from the heart, which is why we elected him. He's not a common politician like Shumer or Pelosi who's only skill is delivering spit shined turds at whoever will listen.
He’s like a superbug
You’ve underestimated The Orange Man for 3 years now and he’s kicked your teeth in every step of the way. Maybe you should step out of the realm of wishful thinking and hire opinion writers with a firm footing in reality.
This is a simpleton. He got elected twice by Ignorants. Has any of the Ignorants named our new 8 states?
Shut up
He is a winner. He is not a DC swamp politician. He is a Patriot . He is a CEO prez. And the DIMMs and lefty media hav no clue how to take him down! Especially after the Muellerdud blew up ! TDS
Just because you fail to understand is no excuse to put someone down.
Right? What a dummy...
He's also been proven to be an economic genius
Hence the Constitution.
So the take away is that Schumer and Pelosi are not simpletons ? Hmmm.
All those brilliant legal, left leaning minds can’t outsmart this crazy loon? Shame.
Nah, he’s only still in there because of a hypocritical and greedy GOP otherwise he’d be looooooooong gone. MoronsAreGreatAgain
Opinion wapo is biased no that’s not an opinion that’s a fact
It was so shrewd of him being born to wealthy parents who were able to protect him from every dumbass mistake he made in his youth and providing networking with business people who protected him from the consequences of his dumbass mistakes in his adulthood.
cool
He's an all-around simpleton.
Here are your simpletons:
Trump is a simpleton
You mean to tell me the guy who never goes into detail about anything, just says believe me over and over, might not actually know what he’s talking about?
This President doesn't know the human race from a horse race. Oh, pardon me. Apparently he's commented that he does - know a horse race. Isn't that special.
just as bush was dumb trump is an idiot. anyone dems can offer will be great right? being a billionaire or a governor of texas is something dumb people can achieve yet they all seem to hold signs and scream at the sky while looking up to AOC and the house Taliban instead... lol
We need an intelligent president. He claims he has a high IQ, but he's out to lunch on how to use it wisdom-wise.
Come now... POLICY SIMPLETON? Like policy is the only thing simple about this clown.
Opinion: Democrats in 2015, build the wall, fund Iran, be flexible with Russia. - 90,000 illegal immigrants are walking into the US unimpeded, the Democrats say no need for a wall. - Iran want's to 'squeeze the neck of America'. - Russia annexed Crimea, Support Assad. So?
Lofty policy academics are for advisory roles, leadership requires a fighting spirit.
President Trump has often said that Ronald McDonald is his favorite business tycoon even going so far to say in 2009, “ Ronald is shrewd ! We’re like brothers! He likes me the best “ well McDonald was arrested today for having a breakdown on this kid pictured. A sad day indeed .
Thing is, the ACTUAL thing, is, where it matters in the lives (and deaths) of others...the man's a dangerous, at times oblivious, halfwit.
He survives by help of his enablers and by burning others that do his bidding. Wether it be 2020 or 2024 charges are awaiting him on the outside of the Presidency protection Expect Lock The Trumps Up as a new chant
Give us a 'policy simpleton' that has given us the World's strongest economy and has not involved the US in any *new* wars! WP and the crazy Platform Free Democrats are the EnemyOfThePeople !
Shrewd? You spelt CRIMINAL wrong.
I'd put more stock in this, instead of LOL'ing at it, if the president previously hadn't blurted out what the media reported as 'positions,' only to either disown them, forget about them, or have his handlers in the WH and Congress dismiss them out of hand, causing them to fade.
Glad you finally figured this out. At the rate the Dems are screwing up he’ll be re-elected easily.
Way to go WAPO!!!
He surely is, he survived over 2 years after being accused by the Democrats and Liberal media of Russian Collusion by his 2016 campaign.
No, you just let him get away with his bullshit.
A shrewd survivor by virtue of cheating!!!
The path to Trump2020 will be made all the more joyous by LiberalTears.
IF that policy simpleton realDonaldTrump gave us the best economy in over 60 years how is he a shrewd survivor?
Yes beware of the cunning mind of the man who can't spell 'stolen.'
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