Stew Bolno: Let’s say Trump is wrong… about everything
I’m biased in that I think of myself as a man with an open mind, especially as it relates to situations of complexity. Therefore, in a serious effort to comprehend the “Trump is stupid, misguided, mean, or evil” opponents, I decided to explore 47’s goals, decisions, and actions from the anti-Trump perspective. All Americans have had five years to observe his Presidential work behaviors; no serious person would opine The Donald has been lazy or asleep at the wheel. Indeed, for those who detest his every move, the main problem is that he’s driving the car at all.
It’s not surprising there are mixed reviews about the current president; some people don’t think George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were admirable men and that Lincoln’s concern about the slaves was a mere afterthought. If the examples provided above are surprising to you, simply ask young folks you know from the age of eight through 25 what they’ve learned about each of the three presidents cited. Their opinion is likely to be quite different from yours at a comparable age. Therefore, it follows people have varying opinions about Donald Trump; one of the most significant, revolutionary, and active presidents of our time and all time.
My mission of tromping on Trump, wearing the shoes of his foes, starts with determining his “misguided” priorities. Therefore, I accessed a public document, published by his Administration on ‘47’s inauguration day, January 20, 2025; it’s an official briefing statement listing President Trump’s America First Priorities.
His team listed four categories; all include strategic actions to follow through on their objectives. I’ve summarized each, then provided a logical retort by Anti-Trumpers; those who are certain he is wrong-headed, deranged, mean-spirited, or worse.
1. Make America Safe Again (Trump Position) – a sample of subtopics listed within this category mentioned the President “will take bold action to secure our border, protect American communities, attack drug cartels,” and “ending Biden’s catch-and-release policies…”.
Critics of Trump would likely state:
- “America is safe enough and crime rates are dropping.
- Releasing the National Guard to high crime cities is unnecessary and harmful. Dealing with crime is a State and local issue. Federal involvement in fighting crime smacks of fascism.
- The use of ICE to execute federal law creates fear and uncertainty among decent people, regardless of their immigration status.
- America should have open borders.
- Bombing the Iranian nuclear facility and kidnapping President Maduro in Venezuela are clear examples of American Imperialism.
2. Make America Affordable and Energy Dominant Again (Trump Position – listed months before NYC Mayor Mamdani made “affordability” a campaign statement) – a sample of subtopics listed within this category specified the President “will enable consumer choice in vehicles, showerheads, toilets, washing machines, lightbulbs, and dishwashers.” Additionally, he will declare an energy emergency and use all necessary resources for drilling, mining, and processing efficiencies to increase supply; thereby, dropping the cost of products to American consumers.
Critics of Trump would likely state:
- Greedy capitalists game the system for their own benefit and profitability.
- We must curtail/eliminate the use of fossil fuels; replacing them with natural sources of energy such as wind and solar power, while recognizing this is a world problem and not merely a national concern.
- “Drill baby drill” reminds us Trump and his oil henchmen don’t care about the environment and are short-sighted in their effort to eliminate opportunities for wind and solar energy sources.
3. Drain the Swamp (Trump position) – a sampling of subtopics listed within this category include freezing bureaucrat hiring except in essential areas “to end the onslaught of useless and overpaid DEI activists buried into the federal workforce” and demand them return to offices “as only 6% of employees currently work in person.” We will pause burdensome and radical regulations not yet in effect, that Biden announced.” Additionally, “on the President’s direction, the State Department will have an America-First foreign policy.”
Critics of Trump would likely state:
- The elimination of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies is proof Trump is insensitive and racist demonstrating a white-male superiority mentality.
- The wholesale slashing of loyal government employees is disrespectful and cruel in that it removes people from earned positions, while creating financial hardship within the families of these hard working and underpaid citizens.
- The America First foreign actions conjure up images of “The Ugly American”, create conflict with allies, and threaten the world order; thereby increasing the potential of violence and war.
4. Bring Back American Values (Trump position) – there were two subtopics written within this category; (1) “establish male and female as biological reality and protect women from racial gender ideology” and (2) “that “American landmarks will be named to appropriately honor our Nation’s history”.
Critics of Trump would likely state:
- The founding fathers and those involved in composing the Constitution were hypocritical and insincere about their statement of “all men are created equal”. They omitted women from consideration and did not give them the right to vote. Gender is merely a hypothetical construct. The true test of one’s identification is based upon what that person feels and says it is. Girls and women who have problems with trans-people in bathrooms and sports teams are, simply, insensitive and bigoted.
- American values are steeped in the racist concept of “white supremacy.” The Constitution gave no rights to African Americans and native Americans. Those who believe there is only one “appropriate way to honor our Nation’s history” are merely trying to whitewash uncomfortable issues.
Perhaps those opposed to all things Trump have a point. It is possible “Orangeman” is leading the United States down the road to ruin. Maybe time will reveal deregulation, tax cuts, a quick growing economy, increases in the stock market, enforcing Federal Laws regarding immigration, removing dictators in our hemisphere, and bombing nuclear sites are foolish priorities. Additionally, we may come to learn energy independence, seeking out government waste, and demanding government employees be responsible to the taxpayer are unwise. Perhaps we should elevate immutable distinctions like race and deny the significance of chromosomal composition.
Or……maybe not!
Stew Bolno is a chronological peer of Donald Trump. He’s been a student, college professor, and consultant on leadership during his 50-year career. He’s followed politics longer than that time. His recent book is “Leadership Lessons And You: From A to Z – featuring Donald Trump” and he’s written scores of essays about him since he descended the Trump Tower staircase. Read more at LeadershipLessonsAndYou.com.
You missed a few things.
Simple things, that repulse “normies” (a.k.a. suburban women that read their Democrat friends’ Meta posts while trying to balance work/life and don’t want to do a deep dive on Epstein files, etc. because it upsets them too much): e.g., racist videos of Obamas as apes, giving a union worker at a Ford plant the middle finger and telling him to “F off, insulting world leaders with childish nicknames, threatening members of Congress with execution (shocking political rhetoric from the President), or calling a female reporter “piggy” and accusing another of being insubordinate. Those examples, all low hanging fruit, have completely turned off his RFK, Jr base. And the only reason Trump became 47 was those RFK, Jr voters. And those voters are gone. Toast. Silver lining: RFK, Jr is getting some things done.
Here are many, many other reasons independents (trying not to fall for violent inducing propaganda from CCP and Russia) are not going to vote in 2026, which will lead to several Trump Admin getting indicted, once the Dems get all of Congress: “One Big Beautiful Bill” increased the fiscal gap to insane levels, fake peace summit in Alaska, “accidentally” adding a reporter to a secure Signal chat about military actions, using multiple continuing resolutions (CRs) in late 2025 and early 2026 that have extended Biden-era funding levels (set under the last Pelosi Democratic Congress), delaying promised spending cuts and keeping government operations at levels established before Trump’s second term, and despite the National Guard and ICE theatrics… noticing that the total number of deportations since Trump 47 took office is roughly 570,000 — fewer than in the last two years of the Biden administration, when border crossings were at record highs. There were 590,000 total deportations in 2023 and 650,000 in 2024. Trump is full of baloney, he is ineffective, rude, old, still a con artist, and his ineptitude shows via his mostly corrupt admin officials (his AG is giving DOW updates now? and his FBI director talks about Vahalla?) 47 has utterly exposed the fact the United States is simply a puppet for the GOVERNMENT of Israel. Not Israel itself, nor Jewish people, but the GOVERNMENT of Israel.
Mr. Sweeney:
I appreciate you read my essay. I recognize you care and possess information. Alternative opinions are always appreciated.
However, my article was limited to the formally written and concrete objectives of the President and the perspective of his opposition.
In regard to your final statement regarding the leadership of Israel; the fact is it’s representative of the Israeli consensus of Israel voters (Jews and Arabs alike) and that’s what matters. No leader obtains unanimous support. I’ll avoid going down the path of antisemitism in your statement, but Israel is all about the Jewish homeland as designated in the Bible over 3,000 years ago.
Mr. Bolno,
Using the expression “antisemitism” is a simpleton attack upon the character of a person who has presented numerous points (literally the very least which was about the GOVERNEMENT of Israel.) Sadly, instead of addressing any of the multitude of those other valid arguments: 1) Trump is crude, 2) he has ejected less illegal invaders than Biden, 3) he has treasonously exploded debt, and 4) his Attorney General is giving updates on the DOW when pressed about other legal matters… you decided to get your knickers in a bunch about Israel? There are at least seven other countries that start with the letter “I” (Ireland, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, and Italy) but you only smear me as a racist for calling out the one obvious state that has corrupted most of our Congress?!? Telling. Sadly, and pathetically, telling.
That tired tactic, diverting attention from actual issues and instead attacking one’s character, is beneath you, sir. It also undermines constructive debate. Trump and the RINOs will lose later this year. Then the far Left will go bananas. Good. People like me have plenty of guns and we refuse to be violent. Once the Dems go nuts in 2026 and 2028 then we can get rid of the lot – legally, without civil war or any violence: JD Vance, Vivek Ramaswamy, Larry Ellison, Peter Thiel, David Sacks, Elon Musk, Marc Andreessen, Ben Horowitz, Howard Lutnick, Palmer Luckey, Joe Lonsdale, etc.
Where is the critical thinking and research to dispute your fictional positions of the opposition? Is there any truth from the rebuttals that merits acknowledgment? You posit having a bias towards having an open mind but your essay doesn’t actually delve into the counter arguments to understand the other side’s criticisms in good faith. As an example- you responded to the previous comment to state the commenter is being anti-Semitic because of his anti-Zionist stance and then affirm you are a Zionist yourself. Why should only Zionists get preferential treatment and protection while lacking any sympathy or empathy for the other minorities you’ve mentioned or misrepresented?
Ray:
Thank you for commenting on my essay. Any person who composes opinions about political matters does so to activate thought and contribute to conversation. I’ll choose to take your critique as a compliment, as an ability to present something of substance provocative creating interest for you and Mr. Sweeney. Otherwise, you would not have chosen to read, react and respond. I hope the editors of Broad+Liberty view it through that lens, as well.
As it relates to your comments; the retorts to President Trump’s stated priorities are directly lifted from his own webpage. It communicates his focus, while providing a standard for measuring his ultimate success as President of the United States. As I mentioned in the introduction of the essay, the retorts to his published goals are the charges posed by his antagonists. My listing of them is meant to be offered in an objective fashion. I doubt that any of the anti-Trump political statements would be unknown by anyone who reads the papers daily, observes the protests in the streets, or listens to the “talking head” pundits. knowledgeable person .
Your critique of my effort might have been more impressive and impactful if you would have selected some, or even one, of my anti-Trump inferences; then prove to the reading public my comment was incorrect, out-of-bounds, or a fiction of my imagination.
Respectfully,
Stew Bolno
Finally, please note that I don’t mention the word Israel, Zionist, or Netanyah in the article. I responded in the fashion I did because it was introduced by Mr. Sweeney; it was extraneous to my published effort.
Incorrect. I have no problem whatsoever with Zionism or Israel. Just like I have no problem with India or Pakistan. What I do have a problem with is that ANY other government, like the GOVERNMENT of ISrael, has so openly and obviously taken over most US politicians and hijacked Trump 47 Administration. That’s not antisemitic to point that out, or complain about it. And it isn’t the major complaint with Trump 47. Both as 45 and 47 Administrations exploded spending and debt. The US dollar has been devalued by 25% JUST IN THE PAST 5 years.
Your so-called logical retort by Anti-Trumpers missed the mark. You think voters select by logic. That is incorrect. 47 is posting racist ape videos… that alone will cost any Republican associated with 47 most of the suburban female vote around major cities. And it should.
47’s efforts specifically with regard to the four categories you listed have been mostly sizzle and no steak. Stephen Miller (Jewish btw, and seems to be a great man that actually puts US’ interests first) has been amazing. That’s about all that can be said in favor of 47 Administration.