I want you to picture Trump and the GOP as a ship sailing in stormy seas. Now picture the campaign promises they made to get elected as the rudder of the ship. As long as those in command maintain the rudder, the ship can navigate the troubled seas. But neglect the rudder and the ship will list aimlessly as it drifts in whatever direction the storm may take it.
Alas, the lying liars commanding the ship have neglected the rudder. In fact, they’ve destroyed it completely under the mistaken belief that they can steer the ship without a rudder. As a result, the ship known as the SS GOP (Gang of Phonies), loaded with the hopes and dreams of the American people, is about to capsize.
This analogy is a perfect picture of the state of affairs with Trump and the GOP establishment since the 2016 election, and it continues to get worse with every new attempt they make to hide their long list of lies and broken promises. One of the GOP’s favorites ways to hide a lie can be seen in their many ‘in-name-only” legislative efforts.
- Republicans replaced the Affordable Care Act with the American Health Care Act. However, this Ryancare/Trumpcare bill kept most of Obamacare in effect. It was a Repeal-In-Name-Only.
- Trump issued an executive order rescinding DACA, but then he teamed up with Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer to work on an amnesty program for DREAMers along with a threat to reinstate DACA after six months. Trump’s executive order was Rescind-In-Name-Only.
- When Trump announced in June that the US was withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement, he also stated that he would begin negotiations to re-enter it—a promise that could be closer than we realize following a release of a new report by the administration stating that global warming is real and manmade. Trump’s announcement was Withdrawal-In-Name-Only.
The Republican House members are working hard (and late) toward the Massive Tax Cuts that they know you deserve. These will be biggest ever!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017
The latest in-name-only scheme is in the area of tax reform. While the details continue to trickle in, the bill that Trump claims will provide the biggest tax cuts ever is proving to be nothing of the sort.
- The group progressives like to call “the rich” already pay most of the nation’s income tax and will continue to do so, thanks to a new 46 percent tax bracket on the “very wealthy.” Additionally, earners of $416,000 per year and above will continue to pay taxes at the 39.6 percent rate.
- The middle class—the folks Trump claims will be helped the most—will see reduced tax rates, but lose the benefit of those rates because they are losing most of their deductions, such as state and local income taxes (SALT), resulting in double taxation on their income.
- Another hit to the middle class is against homeowners. The interest deduction for mortgages over $500,000 is eliminated, and when added to other changes, home ownership incentives disappear for all but 5 percent of the country.
- The tax plan scraps the adoption tax credit, a sad situation for a party that calls itself pro-life. To make matters worse we need to remember that Trump’s recently negotiated budget continues to fund Planned Parenthood.
Apparently not content with their bucket-list of broken tax reform promises, the GOP worked over the weekend—no really, they did—taking the bad bill and making it worse. Under the “leadership” of Rep. Kevin Brady—the guy who tried to get rid of the tax benefits of participating in a 401(k) plan—changes were made to how inflation adjustments will be calculated in the future. If passed, future income will be taxed at rates higher than they were in the original bill.
The White House is occupied by a President-In-Name-Only (PINO), and he is partners with a GOP filled with Republicans-In-Name-Only (RINO) who pretend to keep their promises in-name-only. So, it’s only fitting that they are now pushing Tax-Reform-In-Name-Only (TRINO).
To continue with our nautical metaphor, the SS GOP continues its aimless journey through the dark and stormy seas of America’s future, and like any ship in this condition, it will likely end in disaster. And that disaster lies on the horizon as it approaches the rocky shores of the 2018 elections.
David Leach is the owner of The Strident Conservative, your source for opinion that’s politically-incorrect and always “right.” His articles can also be found on RedState.com.
His daily radio commentary is nationally syndicated with Salem Radio Network and can be heard on stations across America.
Follow the Strident Conservative on Twitter and Facebook.
Subscribe to receive podcasts of radio commentaries: iTunes | Stitcher | Tune In | RSS
6 comments for “PINO and RINOs promote TRINO: Tax reform in-name-only”