The overarching theme of the incoming administration seems to be this: We know rather well that we'd breaking well-established norms by ( fill in the blank ), but it's not illegal. Since Cheeto Mussolini doesn't care about precedent, or respecting the norms, or the Office of the Presidency, absolutely everything he does is simply to enrich himself and the Republicans with whom he is in collusion. This is, without a doubt, perpetrating the biggest robbery of the American people ever conceived.

Meanwhile, His Orangeness will demand and receive adulation for the continued success of his predecessor, President Obama. There's no question that this president-elect will be riding the coattails of a real, competent president. Trump's Republican faithful sycophants and poorly educated followers won't have a clue that he is obliterating the most treasured institutions our Founding Fathers established. Not that it matters in the end, but we have to witness this atrocity as he gives us a smirk and an unusually stubby middle finger.

Dear leader-elect's likely action of not sending a budget to Congress isn't illegal, but it would certainly be unprecedented. The deliberate refusal to do this critical component of his duties has ulterior motives, which seem to define the King of the Swamp Monsters.

Considering he has no motivation to act in a fashion commensurate with the prestige of the office of POTUS, this seems as innocuous as his klan 'victory' rallies. He's not just shirking his duties out of laziness or incompetence. His team's reasons are somewhat Machiavellian, and that should concern every American.

Every in-coming president since the Congressional Budget Act went into effect in the mid-1970s has submitted a budget.

Forbes lists those reasons very clearly, none of which should be comforting to any thinking person.

First, it would allow Trump to avoid the complaints that always come from those the budget proposals would harm by denying them a platform to criticize the White House. No proposals on paper would mean nothing to disparage. Second, it would allow the White House to avoid having to say how much its taxing and spending proposals will increase the federal deficit and national debt.



Given that many estimates put the likely annual deficit from the Trump campaign plans at $1 trillion or more and that the total increase in the national debt before the 2020 election could easily equal the borrowing during the first 4 years of the Obama administration, the likelihood that this is a major consideration should not be downplayed. Just think of the value of not having to publish a table that for the first time shows those very high numbers, and not having to answer to the House Freedom Caucus. Third, it would also eliminate the need for the administration to publish a table with the very optimistic GDP growth promised during the campaign, the high interest rates many economists think are coming and Trump’s unrealistic assumptions on jobs and unemployment. Fourth, it would eliminate the need for the House and Senate to hold hearings on the Trump budget. That would expedite Congress’ consideration of its 2018 budget resolution and the reconciliation process that is widely expected to be used to accelerate the passage of many of Trump’s and the House and Senate GOP’s priorities. Fifth, although there have been a few rumors about possible directors of the Office of Management and Budget, almost a month after Election Day no one has yet been named. That almost certainly will delay the development of the Trump 2018 budget until almost the summer and the GOP congressional leadership might not want to wait that long to begin its work on the all-important 2018 budget resolution and reconciliation. Finally, because the White House and Congress will be preoccupied until around the end of March with a budget resolution, reconciliation bill and appropriations for 2017 and a new debt ceiling increase, Trump may not have time for the 2018 budget that would have to be developed at that same time. Given that schedule, plus the fact that it will take some time to get the Trump cabinet and subcabinet confirmed, the White House may think that not submitting a 2018 budget and just working with Congress will be its best chance to be successful.

He'll work with that Republican Congress to make America hate again, make it more like 1845 again. I wish this was simply hysteria on the part of those of us who see what's coming, but don't get your hopes up. One might equate watching and waiting for this new administration to take over like standing on a beach, as an imminent tsunami fast approaches, and not budging one inch...