Donald Trump became president largely because he won votes in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. He won all the electoral votes in these states and was able to win the electoral college while losing the popular vote by about 3 million votes.

Now a majority in those three states that helped propel Donald Trump into the White House no longer approve of his job performance, with approval ratings in those states in the mid 30's and disapproval ratings at about 55%. More than 60% in Michigan and Wisconsin say they are embarrassed by President Trump. Even about 1/4 of those states' Tea Party members are questioning his presidency only seven months in although most of the voters who supported President Trump in last year's election still do so.

Nationally President Trump's disapproval ratings hover around 60% and his approval rating at about 35%. In previous posts I've stated that Congress has an approval rating of about 15% and I wonder what that 15% sees that I don't. I ask the same about President Trump: What does that 35% see that I don't?

Three months into Donald Trump's presidency I discussed the 2016 presidential election and the poor choices voters were stuck with in November. I stated that I understood how voters chose to oppose Hillary Clinton, but I also questioned how voters could actually support President Trump and approve of his behavior and actions prior to running for office, during the campaign, and after three months as president. Four months later I still wonder.

I'm honestly confused by the 30% of Americans who have validated candidate Trump's 2016 boast: "I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose voters..."

And mostly I wonder what it says about the 30% of Americans who think it is OK for a president to constantly attack and blame others, including someone who is clearly an American hero and fighting what is possibly terminal cancer. I'm also confused about:

How evangelical Christians helped elect and can continue to support someone who admitted to molesting women, who bragged about cheating on all his spouses (7th and 10th Commandments), who lacks compassion and humility required by Colossians, who stole from contractors as well as those who signed up for Trump University (8th Commandment), and who has told countless lies about other people and constantly plays loose with facts (9th Commandment). In fact, his fabrications and outright lies are almost constant.
How President Trump's followers can ignore his promise to have Mexico pay for that (silly) wall but now says he will shut down our own government if the wall is not funded by American taxpayers.
How they can ignore his refusal to release his tax records after promising to do so. Isn't it pretty obvious there is something in those records he doesn't want us to see?
How they can ignore his firing someone who was conducting an investigation against him and his presidential campaign. And he has threatened to fire the special counsel now conducting that investigation. Again, isn't it obvious that he has something to hide?
How can they ignore candidate Trump's promise to "drain the swamp", meaning get rid of all the insiders in the administration, when he actually filled his transition team and administration with lobbyists, corporate insiders, and those who contributed lots of money to his campaign. He appointed former lobbyists to administrative positions giving them responsibility for overseeing the corporations for whom they had previously worked. That isn't draining the swamp. His cabinet is one of the wealthiest and least representative in history.
Why are his supporters not offended by his support for a bill reversing the Federal Communications Commission's privacy policy making it possible for internet providers to sell customers' browsing information and other data without their permission? This was a win for corporations, not for his voters.
Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Rules were intended to keep companies with a history of labor violations from receiving federal contracts and also required employers to provide their workers with detailed pay stubs to help avoid wage theft by employers. President Trump signed a law reversing those rules. Oh, the overturned law also made it more difficult for companies to hide allegations of discrimination or harassment. Why are his supporters not bothered by this?
How can his supporters ignore the fact that he attacked President Obama for playing golf and traveling too much when President Trump spent as much on travel in ten weeks as President Obama did in two years. And he actually makes money indirectly by holding meetings with foreign leaders at his properties.
President Trump supported an Obamacare replacement plan that was only supported by 17% of Americans and was opposed by 56%. Does it not matter that at least some of the 23 million who would lose healthcare coverage were the voters who put him in office?
Just yesterday President Trump once again made the claim that Americans are taxed at a higher rate than in any other country in the world. This is simply false, but he keeps repeating the claim because it plays well to the uninformed. If anyone disputes such claims he calls it "fake news". Is his constant manipulation of voters not offensive?
How can his supporters accept his constant flip-flopping on policy issues (NATO, China as currency manipulator, his claim to not know Vladimir Putin, Syria, etc.) and not be concerned about the effectiveness of his policies?
Why are they not bothered by the fact that he has been unable to accomplish a single major campaign promise, and a good bit of the fault is his. His tweets and off-the- cuff comments (which almost always mangle the English language) have created an environment unconducive to compromise and accomplishment.

OK. I could continue offering arguments and facts, but by now it is obvious I'm not a fan of President Trump. In fact I've not been a fan of most presidents who have served during my lifetime, but my disdain for President Trump is almost visceral. I'm with the majority of Americans.

I know I have friends who are supporters of President Trump. Here is your opportunity to defend him. I honestly want to read your arguments (as long as they are civil). Please....defend President Trump.

Fiercely Independent

Defend President Trump

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