It’s a big ask for a diverse, splintered citizenry to absorb, much less concur with the blizzard of Executive Orders, mandates, dictates and unilateral aggressions that pour from the Oval Office without pause. Each proclamation will “result in a new record,” “—– the world has never seen before” (fill in the blank), “making a lot of money” and so on into the tedium.

Many recent Presidential initiatives when presented in an orderly, thoughtful, reasoned sequence could and likely would gain traction with a large measure, if not the majority of the electorate. But who can keep up? Are policies developed with historical perspective? With careful weighing of outcomes? With consideration of impacts on our allies? Or are the skeptics’ worst fears driving Mr. Trump — the passion for a deal…any deal?

The list below is hardly complete, but this scribbler can’t help but be flummoxed by the sheer depth and breadth of policies/initiatives in play simultaneously:

Iran — bomb their nuclear facilities, stoke the insurrection and threaten “heavy” measures if executions are in evidence. And, oh yes, Mr. Trump is willing to negotiate with the murderous regime…the record of Iran past negotiations speaks for itself.

Greenland/Denmark/NATO — the US has a military presence in Greenland, but “we must own it!” Why? to alienate long-time ally Denmark? to blow up NATO? It’s ill-advised, ill-conceived and dangerous! The Danes offered unfettered access and following that rejection EU nations have landed troops on the island as a show of solidarity with Denmark. Stay tuned, more truculence/madness to come.

Venezuela — Bomb their drug runners at sea, launch a military/police action to pull Maduro out for trial and commandeer their tankers regardless of how they’re flagged. Demand that international oil concerns commit to returning to develop the county’s reserves despite a shaky outlook and previous losses from having assets nationalized. How does that fit with shareholders at $60+/- a barrel?

North American allies — Threaten military action on sovereign Mexico to take out drug cartels. And to the north, demean Canada with the 51st state insult and onerous tariffs on materials and resources we need. Carney’s response? A visit to Beijing and a pas de deux with the Chairman.

China/Taiwan — Claim a great relationship with Xi while the inscrutable one daily threatens Taiwan, builds an imposing navy and expands its Belt and Road initiatives across Africa while cozying up to India’s Modi and warming relations with Canada.

North Korea — Nothing current, but the fat brat won’t be silent for long.

Russia/Ukraine — While this debacle awakened slumbering Scandinavians and spurred lethargic NATO members to spend a bit more on defense/Ukraine support, Russia’s Putrid continues the mayhem and Zelenskyy’s resolve mean no end is in sight. DJT was to solve this one “very quickly.” Uh-huh.

And those include none of the chaos within our borders, to wit:

ICE — Trump-eting the influx of agents further inflames passions in Minnesota following the dreadful shooting death at the hands of an ICE agent. Surely the car tires could have been shot out and a record of the license plate for a later arrest. And how about the wisdom of an agent on duty in front of the car who had previously been dragged in another incident? The optics around the globe are testament to a society in upheaval and no model for rational governance. Minnesota is the poster child for excesses of all stripes. Following close behind are Illinois, California — and with Mamdani in charge, can New York City be far behind? Invoking the Insurrection Act will further inflame protesters and set the world to wondering — about almost everything! Lisa Cook, ex-FBI chief Comey and New York AG Letitia James have no value. Regardless Pam Bondi, Mr. Trump’s hand picked Attorney General is now out of favor because she has not pursued these cases to the President’s satisfaction.

Epstein files — How much redacting does it take? This is one job that needs to moved off the shop floor as soon as possible. It’s gone on way to long and it’s value as a club to beat the President over the head only rises with time. The guy was a perv, Trump knew him, so did a boatload and planeloads of others. Let’s be done with it.

The Golden Fleet — unlike the Kennedy Center, the President refrained from hanging his moniker on a reinvigorated US Navy and a ship building initiative. A larger modernized Navy is an admirable goal, especially in view of China’s increased capacity and aggression. Getting it through Congress and Appropriations is another matter entirely.

DOGE — Where’d you go? Even the genius of Elon Musk could not subdue the Leviathan that is government spending and waste. What was accomplished? There is little evidence that costs were reduced other than government workers being swept into the streets, agencies unable to fulfill their missions and the President bloviating about the greatest something-or-other in history. Better for Mr. Musk to take on simpler tasks — landing rockets back on their launching pads, brain implants and the supercomputer Colossus.

Tariffs and bonuses — Trade restrictions are taxes on consumers and tariff “bonuses” are vote buying. Period. Slapping tariffs on fellow NATO members in a tantrum over Denmark/Greenland is sheer petulance and stupidity.

Oil and gasoline prices — Moribund prices and the prospect for new supplies from Venezuela down the road have taken DRILL BABY DRILL to drill baby drill and let the rig go when the contract expires. And the holes drilled sit as DUCs (drilled uncompleted) until prices improve and completion costs decline. The public enjoys low gasoline prices but the President gets scant kudos for them.

As stated, not a complete list. Far from it. Now even those who tolerated the bombast and braggadocio are voicing their unease and opposition to the cascade of misadventures and overreach. The dilemma of mainstream conservatives becomes quite clear. What are the alternatives?

• Hope for the best and sweat out the next three years? Not a promising outlook when one considers that Mr. Trump is saying he would negotiate with the Ayatollah, or actively, perhaps militarily, intercede if executions are undertaken. Neither course has anything to recommend it,

• In 2026 turn the House and Senate over to the Ds. Gee, that worked well last time! Give the leadership back to Schumer and Jeffries and advance AOC, Sanders, Warren, Crockett and other “statespeople” into leadership roles. More impeachments, more “fair share” blather, more Mamdani-types on the ascent, more climate fantasies and more sanctuary empowerment.

A side note here about a blind spot big enough to accommodate an 18-wheeler. Major metropolitans including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Portland, Seattle, Minneapolis, Denver, New Orleans, D.C, and their states, each and every one are financially challenged, and are solid blue. Many are captive to trade unions — teachers, government employees and the like — or simply mismanaged — mis-allocating resources, embracing green boondoggles and similar misadventures. Constituents continue to elect Walz, Pritzker, Newsom and their ilk while the holes they’re digging get ever deeper.

• Not an alternative, but a hope for — Congress, both houses, assume their proper roles and rein in the Administration and its excesses. Falling in line with initiatives careening in all directions is an abdication of responsibility to the nation. While the Ds won’t cooperate with congressional Rs, the Rs must find the resolve to seize their proper role — separate and equal. They have nothing to lose and their self respect to gain. While they’re at it, get some backbone and tackle the nation”s $36+ trillion debt and Social Security. The feckless timidity of Rs in the face of the Trump ire and threats for primary opponents relegates this hope to wishful thinking.

Yes, it’s all happened very quickly, one year into the Trump second term. There is more — the Hegseth-Kelly dustup, Venezuela revenue reportedly banked in Qatar, where is Tulsi Gabbard?, Trump attacks on the Wall Street financial establishment, dogged pursuit of the Nobel even though he was gifted Ms. Machado’s, to name a few. It is a tragedy that the Ds have nothing to offer except Trump hatred. No solution there. Mainstream conservatives are rightly disillusioned and chagrined by the turn events have taken. Absence of restraint and disregard for the nation’s allies and attendant protocols are an embarrassment, dangerous and potentially catastrophic.

The nation has found its way out of more precarious situations, and it will eventually escape from this one as well. It is difficult to envision a path forward, but one thing is certain. It’s unlikely to appear very quickly.