Opinion: Scaramucci was a symptom, but President Trump is the problem

[nitpicker]

http://www.dw.com/en/opinion-scaramucci-was-a-symptom-but-president-trump-is-the-problem/a-39913876

Opinion: Scaramucci was a symptom, but President Trump is the problem

01.08.2017
Author Michael Knigge

Even for the Trump administration the reign of chaos that has engulfed the White House in the past few days is unprecedented. And while Anthony Scaramucci’s exit is a good sign, the core problem remains. Perhaps it is Donald Trump's secret goal to set a new record for the shortest tenure and the quickest exits of White House staff in US history. Should that be the case, then his administration is right on track to achieve its mission with Monday's surpriseouster of recently appointed communications chief Anthony Scaramucci.
(snip)

The incessant intrigue that has been the one constant in Trump's White House has left it completely rudderless and chaotic in a time of numerous domestic and international challenges. But instead of what in normal times would be the role of the White House - crafting a coherent policy agenda for the administration and established a process to work with the various departments and agencies and Congress – Trump's White House has been preoccupied with feuding and backstabbing. And while the political and professional inexperience of many key Trump aides certainly has helped to create it, it is not the main reason for the inability of this White House to get the Trump presidency on track.

The main reason, make no mistake, why this White House has been largely dysfunctional until now, is the president himself. That's because President Trump not only handpicked most of the staff himself, often against the advice of experienced observers, but also that he appears to think that a cut-throat culture that mercilessly pits individuals and factions inside the White House against each other, will produce a good outcome. It doesn't.

As problematic as the culture Trump as president helped establish at the White House is his inability to allow or even demand a clear chain of command that does not involve him at every step. Trump's alter ego Scaramucci had not only predicted the ouster of his rival Priebus but had bragged about reporting to Trump directly, and not as is customary, to the chief of staff. The president relishes the ability to meddle in everything and not follow established protocol. Coupled with Trump's penchant to stir up trouble via Twitter and his - let's call it, unusual way of looking at current events – it amounts to making the White House and by extension his administration ungovernable.
(snip)

[Rhiannon12866]

1. K&R! This is just the latest "scandal." There's a new one every day

It's impossible to keep track without a scorecard - and they're getting worse.

[rpannier]

2. The guy who ran Sears into the ground

also uses this approach.
An odd belief that competition all the time makes things better.

[rlegro]

4. Yes, and for me the analogy is this:

invasive plant species overwhelming indigenous plants that have no genetic defense. It's not really competition, it's blitzkrieg slaughter.

[Scarsdale]

3. This administration, plus the gop

have diminished the White House to little more than a low rent motel. Gone are the days when a president commanded respect. The gop began this descent when they vowed to block ANYTHING President Obama tried to do to better the lives of ordinary citizens. The gop "leadership" acted like high school mean girls. Now they have their representative in the WH, and he is crude, low class, despicable, unhinged. None of those characteristics are suitable for a president. tRump is a total disaster, and the gop OWN this fiasco. The entire gop has now proven just how little regard they have for citizens, putting this orange maniac into the WH and backing him up. "Give him time" etc. The presidency is not a training position. tRump has not a single quality that a president needs, or should have. Other countries are horrified, yet the gop tries to act as though this disaster is "normal" They have helped degrade the USA.

[yurbud]

5. that should be the subtitle of every story about his flunkies

[raccoon]

6. I think the problem is the GOP. Trump certainly doesn't help though. Nt

[dalton99a]

7. Kick