[Annotated] The Trump presidency is in a hole

And that is bad for America - and the world

Donald Trump won the White House on the promise that government is easy. Unlike his Democratic opponent, whose career had been devoted to politics, Mr Trump stood as^[각주:1] a businessman who could Get Tings Done. Enough voters decided that boasting^[각주:2], mocking, lying and grabbing women were secondary^[각주:3]. Some Trump fans even saw them as the credentials^[각주:4] of an authentic^[각주:5], swamp-draining^[각주:6] savior. 

After 70 days in office, however, Mr Trump is stuck in the sand. A health-care bill promised as one of his "first acts" suffered a humiliating collapse in the - Republican-controlled  Congress (see Lexington). His repeated attempts to draft^[각주:7] curbs on^[각주:8]travel to America from some Muslim countries are being blocked by the courts. And suspicions that his campaign collaborated with^[각주:9] Russia have cost him his national security adviser^[각주:10] and look likely to dog^[각주:11] his administration. Voters are not impressed. No other president so early in his first term has suffered such low approval ratings.

It is tempting to feel relief^[각주:12] that the Trump presidency is a mess^[각주:13]. For those who doubt much of his agenda and worry about his lack of respect for institutions, perhaps the best hope is that he accomplishes little. That logic is beguiling^[각주:14], but wrong. After years of gridlock^[각주:15], Washington has work to do. The forthcoming^[각주:16] summit^[각주:17] with Xi Jinping, China's president, shows how America is still the indispensable^[각주:18] nation. A weak president can be dangerous - picture^[각주:19] a trade war^[각주:20], a crisis in the Baltics or conflict on the Korean peninsula. 

The business of government 

Mr Trump is hardly the first tycoon^[각주:21] to discover that business and politics work by different rules. If you fall out^[각주:22] over a property deal, you can always find another sucker^[각주:23]. In politics you cannot walk away so easily. Even if Mr Trump now despises^[각주:24] the Republican factions^[각주:25] that dared defy^[각주:26] him over health care, Congress is the only place he can go to pass legislation^[각주:27]. 

The nature of political power is different, too. As owner and CEO of his business, Mr Trump had absolute control^[각주:28]. The constitution sets out to block would-be^[각주:29] autocrats^[각주:30]. Where Mr Trump has acted appropriately - as with his nomination^[각주:31] of a principled^[각주:32], conservative jurist^[각주:33] to fill a Supreme Court^[각주:34] vacancy^[각주:35] - he deserves to prevail^[각주:36]. But when the courts question the legality^[각주:37] of his travel order they are only doing their job. Likewise^[각주:38], the Republican failure to muster^[각주:39] a majority over health-care reflects^[각주:40] not just divisions^[각주:41] between the party's moderates^[각주:42] and hardliners^[각주:43], but also the defects^[각주:44] of a bill that, by the end^[각주:45], would have led to worse protection, or none, for tens of millions of Americans without saving taxpayers much money^[각주:46].

Far from taking Washington by storm, America's CEO is out of his depth^[각주:47]. The art of political compromise^[각주:48] is new to him. He blurs^[각주:49] his own interests and the interests of the nation. The scrutiny^[각주:50] of office grates^[각주:51]. He chafes under^[각주:52] the limitations of being the most powerful man in the world. You have only to follow his incontinent^[각주:53] stream of tweets to grasp^[각주:54] Mr Trump's paranoia^[각주:55] and vanity^[각주:56]: the press^[각주:57] lies about him; the election result fraudulently^[각주:58] omitted^[각주:59] millions of votes for him; the intelligence services^[각주:60] are disloyal^[각주:61]; his predecessor tapped his phones^[각주:62]. It's neither pretty nor presidential. 

That the main victim of these slurs^[각주:63] has so far been the tweeter-in-chief himself is testament to^[각주:64] the strength of American democracy. But institutions can erode^[각주:65], and the country is wretchedly^[각주:66] divided. Unless Mr Trump changes course^[각주:67], the harm risks^[각주:68] spreading. The next test will be the budget. If the Republican Party cannot pass a stop-gap measure^[각주:69], the government will start to shut down on April 29th. Recent jitters^[각주:70] in the markets are a sign that investors are counting on Mr Trump and his party to pass legislation.

More than anything, they are looking for tax reform^[각주:71] and an infrastructure plan^[각주:72]. There is vast scope to make fiscal policy^[각주:73] more efficient and fairer. American firms face high tax rates and have a disincentive to^[각주:74] repatriate^[각주:75] profits. Personal taxes are a labyrinth^[각주:76] of privileges and loopholes^[각주:77], most of which benefit the well-off^[각주:78]. Likewise, the country's cramped^[각주:79] airports and potholed^[각주:80] highways are a drain^[각주:81] on productivity^[각주:82]. Sure enough, Mr Trump has let it be known that he now wants to tackle^[각주:83] tax. And, in a bid to^[각주:84] win support from Democrats, he may deal with infrastructure at the same time.

Yet the politics of tax reform are as treacherous^[각주:85] as the politics of health care, and not only because they will generate ferocious^[각주:86] lobbying^[각주:87]. Most Republican plans are shockingly regressive^[각주:88], despite Mr Trump's blue-collar base. To win even a modest^[각주:89] reform, Mr Trump and his team will have to show a mastery^[각주:90] of detail and coalition-building^[각주:91] that has so far eluded^[각주:92] them. If Mr Trump's popularity^[각주:93] falls further, the job of winning over^[각주:94] fractious^[각주:95] Republicans will only become harder.

Were^{[각주:96][각주:97]} he frustrated in Congress, the president would surely fall back on areas where he has a free hand^[각주:98]. he has already made full-throated^[각주:99] use of executive orders^[각주:100] and promises to harness^[각주:101] the bureaucracy to force through^[각주:102] his agenda. In theory he could deregulate^[각주:103] parts of the economy, such as finance, where the hand of government is sometimes too heavy. Yet his executive orders so far have been crudely^[각주:104] theatrical^[각주:105] - as with this week's repeal^[각주:106] of Barack Obama's environmental rules, which will not lead to the renaissance^[각주:107] of mining jobs that he has disingenuously^[각주:108] promised coal country. It is the same with trade. Mr Trump could work through^[각주:109] the World Trade Organization to open markets. More probably, the economic nationalists^[각주:110] on his team will have the upper hand^[각주:111]. If so, America will take a bilateral^[각주:112] approach, trade protection^[각주:113] will grow and foreign policy will become more confrontational^[각주:114]. 

The character question

The Americans who voted for Mr Trump either overlooked his bombast^[각주:115], or they say in him a tycoon^[각주:116] with the self-belief^[각주:117] to transform^[각주:118] Washington. Although this presidency is still young, that already seems an error of judgement^[각주:119]. His policies, from health-care reform to immigration, have been poor - they do not even pass the narrow test^[각주:120] that they benefit Trump voters. Most worrying for America and the world is how fast the businessman in the Oval Office^[각주:121] is proving unfit for^[각주:122] the job.

1. stand as ; …의 후보로 나서다. [본문으로]
2. boasting ; 자랑하는 [본문으로]
3. secondary ; 1. ~ (to sth) (중요도 면에서) 이차적인, 부차적인 [본문으로]
4. credentials ; [pl] 1. ~ (as/for sth) 자격 [본문으로]
5. authentic ; 1. 진본[진품]인 [본문으로]
6. swamp-draining ; "늪에서 물을 빼어 늪을 말린다" 는 의미이지만, 흐름상 "기존의 흐름이나, 의견, 대세를 완전히 뒤엎는" 정도의 의미 [본문으로]
7. draft ; 1. 초안[원고]을 작성하다 [본문으로]
8. curb on ; …에 대한 억제[제한]. [본문으로]
9. collaborate with ; …와 협동하다. [본문으로]
10. cost ; 2. (…을) 희생시키다[잃게 하다] [본문으로]
11. dog ; 1. (문제나 불운이) (오랫동안) 괴롭히다 [본문으로]
12. feel relief ; 안심하다. [본문으로]
13. mess ; 1. UNTIDY STATE | [C] [주로 단수로] (지저분하고) 엉망(진창)인 상태 [본문으로]
14. beguiling ; [형용사] (격식) 묘한 매력이 있는 [본문으로]
15. gridlock ; [U] 2. (보통 정치에서 의견 차이로 인한) 정체[교착] 상태 [본문으로]
16. forthcoming ; 1. [명사 앞에만 씀] 다가오는, 곧 있을 [본문으로]
17. summit ; 2. 정상 회담 [본문으로]
18. indispensable ; [형용사] ~ (to sb/sth) | ~ (for sth/for doing sth) 없어서는 안 될, 필수적인 [본문으로]
19. picture ; 1. IMAGINE | ~ sb (as sth) …를 상상하다[마음속에 그리다] [본문으로]
20. trade war ; [명사] 무역 전쟁. [본문으로]
21. tycoon ; [명사] (재계의) 거물 [본문으로]
22. fall out ; 헐거워지다[떨어져 나가다] ;; fall out with sb ; (~와) 사이가 틀어지다 [본문으로]
23. sucker ; 1. (비격식) 잘 속는 사람 ;; 6. (美 속어) (특히 강조하는 말에서) 사람[것] [본문으로]
24. despise ; [타동사][VN] [진행형으로는 쓰이지 않음] 경멸하다 [본문으로]
25. faction ; 1. [C] 파벌, 파당 [본문으로]
26. defy ; 1. (권위・법률・규칙 등에) 반항[저항/거역]하다 [본문으로]
27. pass legislation ; 법률(안)을 제정하다 [본문으로]
28. absolute control ; 절대적 지배 [본문으로]
29. would-be ; [형용사] (명사 앞에만 씀) (장차) …이 되려고 하는[…을 지망하는] [본문으로]
30. autocrat ; 1. 전제 군주, 독재자 [본문으로]
31. nomination ; [U , C] 지명, 추천, 임명 [본문으로]
32. principled ; 1. 절조[지조] 있는 2. 원칙에 입각한 [본문으로]
33. jurist ; [명사] (격식) 법학자, 법률문제 전문가 [본문으로]
34. supreme court ; [명사] 대법원 [본문으로]
35. fill a vacancy ; 결원을 채우다, 공석을 메우다 [본문으로]
36. prevail ; 2. ~ (against/over sth) (격식) (사상・견해 등이, 특히 투쟁・논쟁 끝에) 승리하다[이기다] [본문으로]
37. legality ; 1. [U] 합법성, 적법성 [본문으로]
38. likewise ; 1. (격식) 똑같이; 비슷하게 [본문으로]
39. muster ; 1. [타동사][VN] ~ sth (up) (지지 등을 최대한) 모으다; (용기 등을 최대한) 내다[발휘하다] [본문으로]
40. reflect ; 3. [타동사][VN] (사물의 속성・사람의 태도・감정을) 나타내다[반영하다] [본문으로]
41. division ; 3. DISAGREEMENT/DIFFERENCE | [C , U] ~ (in/within sth) | ~ (between A and B) (특히 사회・단체 내의) 분열 [본문으로]
42. moderate ; (특히 정치적으로) 중도파[온건파]인 사람 [본문으로]
43. hardliner ; [명사] 강경 노선의 사람, 강경파 [본문으로]
44. defect ; [명사] 결함 [본문으로]
45. by the end ; 말 까지. [본문으로]
46. save sb sth(money) 의 구조 확인 [본문으로]
47. beyond[out of] one's depth ; 이해가[역량이] 미치지 못하는, 힘에 겨운, 키가 닿지 않는 곳에, 깊은 곳에 빠져서 [본문으로]
48. political compromise ; 정치적 타협 [본문으로]
49. blur ; 3. 모호해지다; 모호하게 만들다 [본문으로]
50. scrutiny ; [U] (격식) 정밀 조사, 철저한 검토 [본문으로]
51. grate ; 2. (창문 등의) 쇠격자 [본문으로]
52. chafe under ; …에 짜증나다. [본문으로]
53. incontinent ; 2. 자제[억제]할 수 없는; <비밀 등을> 지키지 못하는 ((of)) [본문으로]
54. grasp ; 2. 완전히 이해하다, 파악하다 [본문으로]
55. paranoia ; [U] 1. (의학) 편집증 2. (비격식) 피해망상 [본문으로]
56. vanity ; 1. [U] (못마땅함) 자만심, 허영심 ;; 참고 vain [본문으로]
57. press ; 1. NEWSPAPERS | [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] the Press 신문(과 잡지), 언론 ;; 참고 gutter press [본문으로]
58. fraudulently ; [부사] 속여서, 부정하게. [본문으로]
59. omit ; (-tt-), [vn], (격식) 1. ~ sth/sb (from sth) 빠뜨리다, 누락[제외]시키다; 생략하다 [본문으로]
60. intelligence service ; 정보국, 정보[첩보]부 ((특히 군사력에 관한 정보를 수집하는 정부 기관)) ;; intelligence agency [본문으로]
61. disloyal ; [형용사] ~ (to sb/sth) (친구・가족・국가 등에) 불충실한, 불충한 [본문으로]
62. tap ; 4. [타동사][VN] (특히 英) (전화 도청 장치를 이용해서) 도청하다 ;; 참고 wiretapping [본문으로]
63. slur ; 1. ~ (on sb/sth) 비방[중상](하는 말) [본문으로]
64. testament ; (격식) 1. [C , U] [주로 단수로] ~ (to sth) (존재・사실의) 증거 [본문으로]
65. erode ; 2. (서서히) 약화시키다[무너뜨리다]; 약화되다[무너지다] [본문으로]
66. wretchedly ; [부사] 가엾게, 불쌍하게; 지독하게, 불쾌하게. [본문으로]
67. change course ; 진로[방향]를 바꾸다 [본문으로]
68. risk ; 2. …을 각오해야 할 짓을 하다, …의 위험을 무릅쓰다 [본문으로]
69. stopgap measure ; 미봉책, 임시방편적 조치 [본문으로]
70. jitter ; 1. (구어) [the ~s] 신경과민, 초조, 공포감 [본문으로]
71. tax reform ; 세제 개혁 [본문으로]
72. infrastructure plan ; 기반 시설 관련 계획 [본문으로]
73. fiscal policy ; 금융 정책, 재정 정책 [본문으로]
74. disincentive ; [C] 의욕을 꺾는 것 [본문으로]
75. repatriate ; 2. (상업) (돈・수익을) 본국으로 송금하다 [본문으로]
76. labyrinth ; [명사] (격식) 미로 ;; 참고 maze ; US·UK [|lӕbərɪnθ] [본문으로]
77. loophole ; [명사] ~ (in sth) (법률・계약서 등의 허술한) 구멍 [본문으로]
78. well-off ; [형용사] 《서술용법》 순탄한 환경에 있는, 복받은, 유복한; (the well-off) 《명사적·집합적》 유복한 사람들. ;; 동의어 RICH [본문으로]
79. cramped ; 2. (사람들이) 비좁게 [답답하게] 있는 [본문으로]
80. potholed ; [ADJ] A pot-holed road has a lot of potholes in it. ;; pothole ; [명사] (도로에) 움푹 패인 곳 [본문으로]
81. drain ; 4. [sing.] a ~ on sb/sth (많은 시간・돈 등을) 고갈시키는[잡아먹는] 것 ;; 참고 brain drain [본문으로]
82. productivity ; [U] 생산성 [본문으로]
83. tackle ; 1. [타동사][VN] (힘든 문제・상황과) 씨름하다 [본문으로]
84. in a bid to ; …하기 위하여, …을 겨냥하여 [본문으로]
85. treacherous ; 2. (특히 겉보기와 달리) 위험한 [본문으로]
86. ferocious ; [형용사] 흉포한; 맹렬한, 격렬한 [본문으로]
87. lobbying ; [명사] 로비 활동, 의안 통과[저지] 활동(운동); 청원[진정] 운동; 원외 활동. ;; 동의어 lobbyism. [본문으로]
88. regressive ; 1. 퇴행[퇴보]하는 [본문으로]
89. modest ; 1. (크기・가격・중요성 등이) 그다지 대단하지는 않은, 보통의 [본문으로]
90. mastery ; 2. [U] ~ (of/over sb/sth) 지배[장악](력) [본문으로]
91. coalition building ; 연합형성 [본문으로]
92. elude ; 1. (교묘히) 피하다[빠져나가다] [본문으로]
93. popularity ; [U] ~ (with/among sb) 인기 [본문으로]
94. win over ; 설득하다, 자기편으로 끌어들이다 [본문으로]
95. fractious ; (특히 英) 1. 성[짜증]을 잘 내는, 괴팍한 [본문으로]
96. 가정법 were [본문으로]
97. fall back on ; (수동태로는 안 씀) ~에 기대다[의지하다], …까지 후퇴하다. [본문으로]
98. free hand ; 자유 재량, 자유 행동 [본문으로]
99. full-throated ; [형용사] (목청껏) 크게 소리치는(loud), (주위에) 울려 퍼지는 [본문으로]
100. executive order ; 행정 명령; [보통 E- O-] [미] 대통령 명령 [본문으로]
101. harness ; 2. (동력원 등으로) 이용[활용]하다 [본문으로]
102. force through ; …을 밀치고 나아가다. [본문으로]
103. deregulate ; [타동사][VN] [흔히 수동태로] (무역 등에 대한) 규제를 철폐하다 [본문으로]
104. crudely ; [부사] 조잡하게, 투박하게; [문장을 수식하여] 노골적으로 말하면 [본문으로]
105. theatrical ; 2. (흔히 못마땅함) (행동이) 연극조의, 과장된 [본문으로]
106. repeal ; [명사] (법, 제도등의) 페지 [본문으로]
107. renaissance ; 2. (특정 주제・예술 양식 등에 대한 관심의) 부흥[부활] [본문으로]
108. disingenuously ; [부사] 부정직하게; 엉큼하게. [본문으로]
109. work through ; [바늘 등]을 꿰다; [법률 등]을 통과시키다 ;; to experience a problem, a difficult situation, etc., and deal with it until you eventually find a solution [본문으로]
110. economic nationalism ; (경제학) 쇄국경제주의, 경제적 국민주의 [본문으로]
111. upper hand ; [the ~] 우세, 우위 [본문으로]
112. bilateral ; 1. 쌍방의, 쌍무적인 ;; 참고 : multilateral , trilateral , unilateral [본문으로]
113. trade protection ; the imposition of duties or quotas on imports in order to protect domestic industry against foreign competition [본문으로]
114. confrontational ; [형용사] 대립을 일삼는 [본문으로]
115. bombast ; [U] (격식) 겉만 번드르르한 말 ;; US [|bɑ:mbӕst] / UK [|bɒmbӕst] [본문으로]
116. say in sb/sth sb/sth ; ~를 ~라고 말하다 [본문으로]
117. self-belief ; [NOUN] Self-belief is confidence in your own abilities or judgment. [본문으로]
118. transform ; 2. (모습・성격을, 특히 더 좋게) 완전히 바꿔 놓다[탈바꿈시키다] [본문으로]
119. error of judgement ; 판단 착오 [본문으로]
120. narrow ; 2. [주로 명사 앞에 씀] (무엇을 달성하거나 피하는 일이) 아슬아슬하게[가까스로/간신히] 된 [본문으로]
121. the Oval Office ; [명사] (백악관의) 대통령 집무실 [본문으로]
122. unfit for ; …에 부적당한. [본문으로]