The Weekend Begins on Friday

Alec Baldwin, whose dying mediocre career was saved by his terrible impersonation of me on SNL, now says playing me was agony. Alec, it was agony for those who were forced to watch. Bring back Darrell Hammond, funnier and a far greater talent!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 2, 2018

So now you notice?

“When I hear what Vladimir Putin was saying about the nuclear capabilities he has, the President of the United States is tweeting about Alec Baldwin this morning, I mean, where is your sense of priorities?” [Former Central Intelligence Agency Director John] Brennan asked. “And so I think a lot of Americans are looking at what’s happening with a sense of — this is surreal.”

No, that's not the problem; this is:

You may have noticed the reality TV show going on at the White House,” Cornyn told reporters, as documented by Texas Capital Tonight reporter Max Gorden.

Or rather, this:

When a country (USA) is losing many billions of dollars on trade with virtually every country it does business with, trade wars are good, and easy to win. Example, when we are down $100 billion with a certain country and they get cute, don’t trade anymore-we win big. It’s easy!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 2, 2018

Okay, three problems:

“I don’t think trade wars are good,” Cornyn told reporters.

Not exactly profound concern, though, which is really what's called for.  And where was Brennan when Trump was giving the Soviet Ambassador Israeli intelligence in the Oval Office?  Oh, well, that was so last year.  Trump has given the middle finger to his advisors, and now he's feeling his oats:

When a country Taxes our products coming in at, say, 50%, and we Tax the same product coming into our country at ZERO, not fair or smart. We will soon be starting RECIPROCAL TAXES so that we will charge the same thing as they charge us. $800 Billion Trade Deficit-have no choice!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 2, 2018

At least Congress has to approve that.  Trump has the power to impose tariffs on his own, but not to raise fees:

The details of what Trump intends to propose were not immediately clear. Current U.S. tariff levels are "bound" in the World Trade Organization, meaning the U.S. could only raise them by entering into negotiations with other countries, which are likely to demand concessions for any changes.

In addition, Congress has the final word on taxes and tariffs, so Trump would have to persuade lawmakers of the wisdom of any changes in that area.

Still, he can singlehandedly drive us into a recession, which is what the "trade war" would do, by all accounts.  Then again, if he's not noticing that Putin just double-dog dared him to drop a "small nuke" on North Korea, maybe it's not the impending recession we need to worry about.  On the other hand, he really burned "Alex" Baldwin, didn't he?  That guy's career was "dieing"!