That isn’t by itself meant to be a criticism. But politically, he couldn’t even fight the rhetoric from the right.
And I didn’t know the transparency rule ever made it through.
But, he didn’t get a law passed. It was administrative meaning it would be easier to fight in court (which is happening) and another administration could overturn it.
Again, with his political clout over his base, he could have brow beat enough Republicans and the Democrats wouldn’t dare oppose it. He didn’t focus his energy on getting laws passed in support of the parts of his agenda that’s traditionally not conservative.
Everything with Trump is a transaction, literally everything - so in that process some good things happen, because most of the people in the process - everyone but Trump are at least by some amount of measure, rational actors.
He didnt spend time getting laws passed because he couldn't figure out how to wrap his transactional thinking into a larger program designed to accomplish things - in his mind every deal is a one off, and it cant really merge deals into a larger direction.
I always thought that Trump is not a good builder, I just couldn't put my finger on it. I think this is it, the thinking of everything as transactions with immediate effects.
Let's be honest, all politicians think at transactions, but he might be lacking a strong internal belief, to help him tie some not so great transactions for "the greater good".
I dont think most politicians are all transactional, but I do think that willing to think about certain issues in a transactional way or willing to use transactions in certain deals helps you achieve your agenda. But you need to be willing to call that favor chit back in later, and able to think about the issues in a longer term way.
I worry about politicians who think about things in an excessively ideological eye, because the ideologues are immune compromising.
Also, he did free a lot of federal inmates https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/589600-thousands...