Perspective from the 19^th Hole is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus to use an image from my favorite sport, golf.  Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all my professional positions, including as press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon (Les AuCoin), as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as a private sector lobbyist.  This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.  I could have called this blog “Middle Ground,” for that is what I long for in both politics and golf.  The middle ground is often where the best public policy decisions lie.  And it is where you want to be on a golf course.

When Donald Trump speaks, it is as if whatever happens to cross his mind ends up coming out of his mouth.

Both sides of his mouth.

So, though I won’t watch, Trump will be speaking to Congress today and I have no idea whybecause he detests the place unless it meets his incessant demands.

Back a few weeks now, when the commercial airliner collided with a helicopter on the way into Reagan National Airport, what did Trump say?

When any real president would offer support to those grievously affected by the tragedy and the loss of all lives, the words that came to Trump’s mouth were that the fault lay with Pete Buttigieg, who had run the federal Department of Transportation for President Joe Biden.

Or that it was Joe Biden’s fault.  Or former President Barack Obama.  Or “diversity, equity and inclusion” commitments.

Say what?

All without one scrap of evidence.  Just words spewing.

How could such phrases occur to Trump?  Well, the fact is that he practices the blame game all the time.  Not just this time.

Apart from the plane crash, read these words from Republican analyst Karl Rove who writes for the Wall Street Journal:

“Speed (in the Trump presidency) can lead to mistakes, such as pardoning at least 170 January 6 rioters who were accused of attacking police with deadly weapons.  The blanket pardons were an attempt ‘to move past the issue quickly,’ according to Axios.

“Rather than spend the time to identify violent criminals, ‘Trump just said: F— it: release ’em all,’ an anonymous adviser told Axios’s Marc Caputo.”

Rove also wrote that “Trump might also want to re-think linking presidential actions to partisanship and political favors.  Visiting North Carolina victims of Hurricane Helene, he led with how the region supported him in record numbers, and I’m supporting them in record numbers, too.”

Then, he went to California and, there, tied wildfire relief to passing a voter identification law he wanted.

Rove asked:  “Can you imagine the MAGA world rage if a Democrat president conditioned aid to red states on weaker voting laws?”

More from Rove:

“A bigger challenge awaits Trump.  Every president has a mandate, no matter how narrow his winning margin.  But it can’t all be done by executive orders.  A future president can easily undo them. To give his agenda some permanence, Trump must pass it into law.

“Which brings us to Congress.  It has a role to play, especially on the budget and taxes.  And little can be done on a party-line vote.  Against Trump’s urging, 38 House Republicans chose not to vote to raise the debt ceiling last December.  That points to the necessity of at least some bi-partisanship.”

Here is the way the New York Times put it:

“The first weeks into Trump’s second tour in the White House have seen so many lines crossed in the pursuit of his agenda that anyone who believes in the Constitution and honest governance should be worried:  Many of Trump’s first assertions of executive power blatantly exceed what is legally granted.

“He and his supporters have sought to undermine those best positioned to check his overreaches of power.  And he is moving to eliminate the tools of accountability in government in quick order.”

So, again, don’t listen to Trump as his mouth opens.  Out will spew violence and invective, no matter the circumstances.

As he sets out to make headlines every day – after all, he is a reality TV show host, not a real president – I hope the invective he spews will catch up with him, including making some of those voted for this felon question their votes, even though those votes cannot be undone now – and Trump will continue in office regardless of his inability to think.