Change of Course

For John, BLUF:  President Trump was elected by Voters who want the swamp drained or just didn't want Ms Clinton elected.  I think it was a shock to Congress as well.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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"Have we ever had a president before this one who so disdains the advice and policies of those who have spent their lives working for the government he leads?"

From The Althouse Blog, by Professor Ann Althouse, 30 October 2019.

Here is the lede plus one:

"Have we ever had a chief executive who is so skeptical of the judgments of career diplomats and military leaders, who rejects the advice of top intelligence leaders, who trusts his family more than those with a lifetime of experience?  Yes we have.  And his name was John Fitzgerald Kennedy....  Throughout Kennedy’s presidency, he came more and more to distrust the received wisdom of the 'permanent government' or 'deep state' or 'military-industrial complex' or whatever term seems apt today. In his case, that skepticism may have saved the planet from nuclear annihilation....  [I]n the reflexive rush to criticize Trump, we risk forgetting the lesson of the Kennedy years:  There is danger in relying too heavily on the 'wisdom' of the elders.  A president with a well-honed resistance to the certainties of experts and a strong sense of history can be a crucial protection against disaster..."

From "When JFK Was Trump/In the rush to criticize the current president, we risk forgetting the lesson of the Kennedy years: There is danger in relying too heavily on the 'wisdom' of the elders" by Jeff Greenfield (in Politico).

I think the Professor, and Mr Greenfield are on to something.  The Bureaucracy is like a 550,000 DWT Super Tanker.  Gets a lot done, but does not change course very quickly.  President’s are elected to maintain course, or to change course.  President’s Kennedy and Trump were elected by Voters who wanted a new course.

Hat tip to Ann Althouse.

Regards  —  Cliff