logo
Weather page
GET THE APP
ePaper
google_play
app_store
  • Login
  • E-Edition
  • News
  • Sports
  • Obituaries
  • Opinion
  • Classifieds
    • Place an Ad
    • All Listings
    • Jobs
  • Special Sections
  • Photo Gallery
  • Contests
  • Lifestyle/Entertainment
  • Games
    • News
      • Local News
      • PA State News
      • Nation/World
    • Sports
      • Local
      • College Sports
      • State
      • National
    • Obituaries
    • Opinion
      • News
        • Local News
        • PA State News
        • Nation/World
      • Sports
        • Local
        • College Sports
        • State
        • National
      • Obituaries
      • Opinion
    logo
    • Classifieds
      • Place an Ad
      • All Listings
      • Jobs
    • E-Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Login
      • Classifieds
        • Place an Ad
        • All Listings
        • Jobs
      • E-Edition
      • Subscribe
      • Login
    Home Opinion Easy doesn't do it
    Easy doesn’t do it
    Opinion, Сolumns
    March 7, 2018

    Easy doesn’t do it

    WASHINGTON — Dear world: Please pay no attention to the man behind the golden drapes.

    He doesn’t mean it.

    “What?” you say. “Doesn’t mean what?”

    Anything. Donald Trump doesn’t mean anything he says. At least not for long, so try not to react. Relax. Breathe. Wait.

    Contra Trump, nothing worth doing is easy, including ignoring the president of the United States. But ignore him, you must, lest he interpret your reaction as a challenge, which he’d of course aim to win at all costs — even if winning is losing. Give leveler heads and reality checkers time to change his mind, which, in fact, is easy.

    Consider what’s happened recently on the domestic front. In the wake of another school shooting, Trump said it was time to take action on gun reform, including raising the age of purchase to 21. He may truly have believed that reforming or strengthening gun laws was the right thing to do … until he didn’t.

    Don’t worry, he’s not embarrassed. We all know why he seems to have changed his mind — politics, the disarming charms of the National Rifle Association, short attention span and so on. But the “why” doesn’t really matter. It’s always something, as we like to say in America.

    Ditto DACA, the Deferred Action (I’ll say) for Childhood Arrivals program, as well as countless campaign promises. He clearly has had an influence on the economy, at least for market watchers, until along came the promised Tariff War.

    The president himself spoke of a “war” as he defended plans to raise tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. Never mind that the top four steel exporters to the U.S. are our neighbors (Canada at No. 1; and Mexico, No. 4) and allies Brazil and South Korea. Russia is fifth, with China 11th.

    The top aluminum exporters to the U.S. are, again, Canada in first place, followed by Russia, the United Arab Emirates and China. Given the double hit against Canada, perhaps things between Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau aren’t so swell after all? Or, just maybe, there’s no reasoning whatsoever to any of this.

    Soon after Trump announced his plan, now adjusted to he’ll let us know next week, the Dow Jones plummeted more than 400 points, which it seems to do every time Trump opens his mouth lately. Friend and foe must be unamused and/or confused by this sudden punitive move, but they shouldn’t be.

    A tip to the worried: Think of Trump as weather — which, by the way, became nearly biblical in the nation’s capital toward the end of a chaotic week. The U.S. government and surrounding schools shut down Friday because of hurricane-strength winds that, coincidentally, kicked up the same day that Billy Graham’s casket departed the U.S. Capitol. This strange phenomenon may not have been the wrath of God, specifically, but you can’t prove it wasn’t. Personally, I’m leaning toward the wrath of Melania.

    As weather changes, so will Trump’s mind. Something will come along to capture his imagination, perhaps the insistent buzz of a wind-swept fly, whereupon the president will seize upon a new course of action, perhaps, say, a retreat on tariffs.

    In the meantime, keep an eye on the first family.

    Trump is nearly alone now. The White House has been hemorrhaging staff the past few months, with last week’s departures, perhaps, the toughest. Trump’s “other daughter” and confidante Hope Hicks turned in her resignation as White House communications director just one day after testifying before the House Intelligence Committee regarding possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Vladimir Putin’s operatives. Officially, the timing was purely coincidental — and Oz will be your second turn on the far right.

    In another blow, son-in-law Jared Kushner lost his temporary classified status in the White House, thanks to business deals and loans he procured while acting in an official capacity. This effectively renders the erstwhile Middle East peace negotiator no more powerful than a reasonably reliable gossip. Shamed and embarrassed, how much longer will he and, more important, his wife and first daughter Ivanka stick around?

    Plainly, tariffs had to be raised. At least until these dizzying winds subside, or someone reminds Trump that though 140,000 Americans hold jobs in the steel industry, largely in midterm-ripe Pennsylvania, another 6.5 million are employed by steel-using industries.

    Relax. Breathe. Wait.

    Yours truly,

    An American observer.

    Kathleen Parker’s email address is kathleenparker@washpost.com.

    Tags:

    donald trump exporter institutes jared kushner politics russia tariff u.s. white house
    By KATHLEEN PARKER

    The Bradford Era

    Local & Social
    Latest news for you
    BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Sweet’s Saltwater makes a splash
    Business, Local News
    BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Sweet’s Saltwater makes a splash
    By SAVANNAH BARR s.barr@bradfordera.com 
    July 8, 2025
    Whether you are a longtime aquarium enthusiast or you just learned about planted tanks and want to find out more, there is something for everyone at S...
    Read More...
    {"newsletter-daily-headlines":"Daily Headlines", "newsletters":"Newsletters", "to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    Don’t let strawberries spoil
    Lifestyles
    Don’t let strawberries spoil
    July 8, 2025
    Dear Heloise: We love fresh strawberries at our house, but frequently a few of them spoil in the container before we can use them all. We discovered a...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    Sibling is making elderly mom’s life a living hell
    Lifestyles
    Sibling is making elderly mom’s life a living hell
    July 8, 2025
    DEAR ABBY: I live five hours away from my hometown. My mom is 98 and in assisted living there. In recent years, my younger sister has become cruel to ...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    2025 NY/PA Corporate Cup Soccer Showcase slated for July 27
    Local Sports
    2025 NY/PA Corporate Cup Soccer Showcase slated for July 27
    Jo Wankel 
    July 7, 2025
    Four soccer matches showcasing 175 of the best high school soccer players from Northwestern PA and Southwestern NY will take place on July 27 at Pitt-...
    Read More...
    Harrison Brunicke wants to be in Pittsburgh, but the Penguins say he must earn his place first
    National Sports
    Harrison Brunicke wants to be in Pittsburgh, but the Penguins say he must earn his place first
    Matt Vensel Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 
    July 7, 2025
    (TNS) —This time last summer, Harrison Brunicke was a lesser-known Penguins prospect who arrived at his first development camp eager to learn and get ...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    Brief storm downs tree limb
    Brief storm downs tree limb
    July 7, 2025
    A brief storm Monday afternoon took down a large tree limb, blocking Thompson Avenue at Congress Street. Bradford City Fire Department responded at ab...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    This Week's Ads
    Current e-Edition
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Already a subscriber? Click the image to view the latest e-edition.
    Don't have a subscription? Click here to see our subscription options.
    Mobile App

    Download Now

    The Bradford Era mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the Bradford Era on your mobile device just as it appears in print.

    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store

    Help Our Community

    Please help local businesses by taking an online survey to help us navigate through these unprecedented times. None of the responses will be shared or used for any other purpose except to better serve our community. The survey is at: www.pulsepoll.com $1,000 is being awarded. Everyone completing the survey will be able to enter a contest to Win as our way of saying, "Thank You" for your time. Thank You!

    Get in touch with The Bradford Era
    Submit Content
    • Submit News
    • Letter to the Editor
    • Place Wedding Announcement
      • Submit News
      • Letter to the Editor
      • Place Wedding Announcement
    Advertise
    • Place Birth Announcement
    • Place Anniversary Announcement
    • Place Obituary Call (814) 368-3173
      • Place Birth Announcement
      • Place Anniversary Announcement
      • Place Obituary Call (814) 368-3173
    Subscribe
    • Start a Subscription
    • e-Edition
    • Contact Us
      • Start a Subscription
      • e-Edition
      • Contact Us
    CMG | Community Media Group
    Illinois
    • Hancock Journal-Pilot
    • Iroquois Times-Republic
    • Journal-Republican
    • The News-Gazette
      • Hancock Journal-Pilot
      • Iroquois Times-Republic
      • Journal-Republican
      • The News-Gazette
    Indiana
    • Fountain Co. Neighbor
    • Herald Journal
    • KV Post News
    • Newton Co. Enterprise
    • Rensselaer Republican
    • Review-Republican
      • Fountain Co. Neighbor
      • Herald Journal
      • KV Post News
      • Newton Co. Enterprise
      • Rensselaer Republican
      • Review-Republican
    Iowa
    • Atlantic News Telegraph
    • Audubon Advocate-Journal
    • Barr’s Post Card News
    • Burlington Hawk Eye
    • Collector’s Journal
    • Fayette County Union
    • Ft. Madison Daily Democrat
    • Independence Bulletin-Journal
    • Keokuk Daily Gate City
    • Oelwein Daily Register
    • Vinton Newspapers
    • Waverly Newspapers
      • Atlantic News Telegraph
      • Audubon Advocate-Journal
      • Barr’s Post Card News
      • Burlington Hawk Eye
      • Collector’s Journal
      • Fayette County Union
      • Ft. Madison Daily Democrat
      • Independence Bulletin-Journal
      • Keokuk Daily Gate City
      • Oelwein Daily Register
      • Vinton Newspapers
      • Waverly Newspapers
    Michigan
    • Iosco County News-Herald
    • Ludington Daily News
    • Oceana’s Herald-Journal
    • Oscoda Press
    • White Lake Beacon
      • Iosco County News-Herald
      • Ludington Daily News
      • Oceana’s Herald-Journal
      • Oscoda Press
      • White Lake Beacon
    New York
    • Finger Lakes Times
    • Olean Times Herald
    • Salamanca Press
      • Finger Lakes Times
      • Olean Times Herald
      • Salamanca Press
    Pennsylvania
    • Bradford Era
    • Clearfield Progress
    • Courier Express
    • Free Press Courier
    • Jeffersonian Democrat
    • Leader Vindicator
    • Potter Leader-Enterprise
    • The Wellsboro Gazette
      • Bradford Era
      • Clearfield Progress
      • Courier Express
      • Free Press Courier
      • Jeffersonian Democrat
      • Leader Vindicator
      • Potter Leader-Enterprise
      • The Wellsboro Gazette
    © Copyright The Bradford Era 43 Main St, Bradford, PA  | Terms of Use  | Privacy Policy
    Powered by TECNAVIA