Wednesday Mar 01, 2017 · 2:07 PM EST
Honest reporters have a problem these days. Because they often need to replace “said” with “lied” when attributing quotes to Pr*sident Trump. And editors just aren’t going to let that happen.
Trump certainly told a few lies Tuesday when he ordered a review that could spark a rescission of the Waters of the U.S. rule that Obama approved last year. The rule clarifies what bodies of water are covered by Clean Water Act, a matter that the courts have been wrestling with for years, while landowners, right-wing activists, and industry have put pressure on to reduce government oversight.
Trump’s explanation for the move was jam-packed with lies. He said, for instance, that the rule “has truly run amok” and prohibiting farmers and ranchers “from being allowed to do what they’re supposed to be doing. It’s been a disaster.” That is pure nonsense because implementation of the rule has been blocked by the courts. A rule that is not being enforced can in no way be considered to have “run amok.” Nor can an unenforced rule be “putting people out of jobs by the hundreds of thousands,” as Trump has claimed.
As infuriating as this lying is, there’s a matter more sinister than spreading additional falsehoods from the infinite reservoir of Trump lies. Here’s Ben Brody:
President Donald Trump’s order on Tuesday to rescind and rewrite federal water regulations not only coincides with his conservative agenda but also could cut his costs as an owner of a dozen U.S. golf courses, again raising concerns about conflict of interest in the White House. [...]
The Trump Organization lists 17 golf courses among its properties, including 12 in the U.S. that probably would be subject to the rule. The golf industry, along with numerous business groups, has been trying to kill the rule since before President Barack Obama finalized it in June 2015. It has been under legal challenge and so far hasn’t been put into effect. Once it takes effect, it would raise costs for golf courses.
For decades, we’ve listened to people seeking public office say that government should be run like a business. Now we’ve got somebody in the presidency who is trying to do just that. Unfortunately, that somebody is trying to run the government like it is his business. Given Trump’s history, we know how that can go.
Source
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/3/1/1639077/-Pr-sident-Trump-s-decision-to-erase-water-rule-could-save-his-golf-courses-money
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