Another tough week for the President ...

It has been another tough week for the President. The travel been blocked in the courts, the health care act pulled from Congress at the last moment. "We just don't have the votes", explained Paul Ryan, speaker of the house. Trump will blame the Democrats but his own party couldn't find consensus. The Bill was hastily and badly drafted. Even Trump wouldn't put his name to it. Just as well, he appeared to have little or no idea what was in it. Abolishing the Obama legacy the primary focus, all was on the table to secure assent. There is no art to this deal. Broken campaign promises on Medicaid and coverage were implicit in the GOP draft. For the moment Obamacare remains in place. What fun will be head on the Trump budget in the months ahead! Dead on arrival the view of many in the house.

Trump's approval ratings have dropped into the 30's according to the latest fake news from Gallup. "I can't be doing so badly" explained the leader of the free world in an interview for Time magazine, "I am President and you're not". Yep we all know that. The good news - "Repeal and Replace" for healthcare, was never part of the plan anyway according to Trump. Now who knew that!

As Ryan struggled to garner votes, the President pretended to drive a truck on the White House lawn, honking the horn and clenching his fists. Jared Kushner, senior advisor was in Aspen, taking the powder. As Sean Spicer explained the President was "all in" on this one. Stuck in a truck, honking the horn, going nowhere.

Trump's credibility is becoming a real problem, The Wall Street Journal asserted, "Trump's falsehoods are eroding trust at home and abroad." The claim "Just found out Obama had my wires tapped" was blown away by FBI and NSA testimony before Congress this week. "No evidence, Trump clings to the claim like a drunk to an empty gin bottle" claimed the WSJ. "If President Trump doesn't show more respect for the truth, most Americans may conclude he is a fake President".

Time magazine's Nancy Gibbs was equally critical. During the 2016 campaign, 70% of Trump statements were untrue, according to a review by Politifact, just 4% were true. Check out the interview with Trump in Time on truth and falsehoods. The President is rambling and incoherent.

Rex Tillerson explained this week, he didn't really want the job at state. Looking forward to retirement at the ranch, his wife told him he had to do it! God hasn't finished with you yet and neither has Donald J Trump. A flair for diplomacy, Tillerson bumped a NATO meeting in favor of a flight to Moscow. Excellent. What is it about this administration and the Russians. The smoking gun is about to burst into flames ... watch this space Paul Manafort is to give evidence. Once the Trump campaign manager, Sean Spicer explained "he was just a man who worked for somebody for five months ..." Ouch!

That's all for this week from the West Wing Whisky Tango Foxtrot ...

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