Trump’s gimmicks aren’t working with voters anymore: It was only a couple of weeks ago, at the Republican Party’s midterm convention, that President Donald Trump made a dramatic promise: If Republicans retain control of Congress in November, he will deliver a $5,000 check to every American adult. Yet even though 99.99% of people could use an extra five grand, GOP candidates aren’t talking about it in their speeches, putting it in their TV ads or recording social media videos about it.
In fact, Trump himself seems to have realized that the idea went over like a lead balloon. And even as he continues to search for a last-minute gimmick to reverse Republicans’ midterm fortunes, reality may be setting in, even in the Oval Office.
The latest idea Trump expressed interest in was a temporary ban on diesel exports. That proposal, pushed primarily by Republicans in the Midwest, at least has the benefit of identifying a genuine problem. Diesel prices are at their highest point in history — averaging more than $6.50 per gallon — and the increased fuel costs affect prices for just about everything Americans buy.
One poll finds only 13% of voters believe Trump genuinely intends to send Americans $5,000 each.
The problem is that a diesel export ban might not bring prices down, and would cause more problems, like deepening the global energy crisis. A coalition of major business groups, including Big Oil, urged Trump not to go ahead with it, and the idea got pushback even in Trump’s administration, most notably from Energy Secretary Chris Wright.
So now it’s uncertain whether the diesel export ban will go forward. Add it to the list of Trump’s election-season gimmicks that either backfired (like importing more beef from abroad in an attempt to lower prices at the grocery store, which enraged farm state Republicans) or were simply shoved to the back burner (like the $5,000 checks).
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Republican hopes turn to… https://www.ms.now/opinion/trump-midterms-diesel-ban-5000-checks<br /><br />