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I’m on a DTD (Donald Trump Diet)
A few weeks ago, following the elections and Trump’s proclamation that he was running again, I declared that I would avoid posts that described anything Trumpian. I even requested that people refrain from bringing him up in my posts, and for the most part, people have been obliging.
I don’t hate Trump, but I don’t like him. And I am tired of having to explain and justify my positions regarding him. I felt like people were centering their worlds around him—conversations, opinions, declarations—and I wanted no part of it.
I realize that this post breaks my vow. But I wanted to share some of my reactions to my decision.
First, I feel so relieved and much more at peace. I’ve stopped pulling out my hair (kidding) and I feel free to focus on other issues of the day: the other crazy political situations, the cultural issues of the Woke agenda, situations in Florida, and just (what I hope are) thought-provoking posts that provide food for thought.
Maybe my posts aren’t as dramatic or passionate or even hysterical as some. Maybe they aren’t clickbait that are so intriguing and fun to read.
But they are honest and, I hope, thoughtful.
And my DT Diet has greatly reduced my angst and frustration. It is low-calorie and definitely good for your health. Will I be able to maintain it over time? I’ve already been tempted by some rich and filling posts, so it’s hard to say. We’ll have to see how much willpower I have.
Anyone want to join me?
Published in Politics
You and I may agree on the essence of voting being a battle between liberty and the nanny state, but that doesn’t mean that’s where the electorate is. In order to win elections, you have to have a broad base of support unless you’re in safely red areas. Trumpy candidates turned off voters in contested areas, and non-Trumpy GOP candidates did well. The voters clearly don’t agree that candidate quality doesn’t matter.
The electorate will not control what I will do in 2024. Either they deserve liberty or they don’t. If they don’t, I won’t save them. Like a drunk who won’t admit he has a problem until he hits rock bottom and is in the gutter, too many voters refuse to admit the country has a problem and won’t until it is in the gutter. If we must hit rock bottom before they will get their fight on, then why delay getting there. The picky voters will not affect who or what I vote for.
This is quite astonishing considering your strong support for Trump. Will you leave him out to dry in the primary? And why?
I think you mistake my position for “strong support.” I am noting the phenomenon and critiquing what I feel is an overreaction to the man, especially given the opposition and utter destructiveness we face from the Left. People who expend their passions on Trump distaste have lost focus on the real and immediate danger we face from the neo-pagan, totalitarian Left. If Donald Trump is the handy weapon to fight them, we should use him. That’s my position. He has shown himself to be exceptional policy-wise and he really does seem to understand the art of the deal (NATO, for example).
And, besides, Colorado is a late-primary state and the issue will largely be decided by the time we get to vote. It might be more fun to troll the Democrats by voting for one of their outliers (it would have been Tulsi Gabbard before she left the party).
I will vote for Trump again in 2024 if he is the nominee. I would prefer my Governor DeSantis because I think he is the one who will “leave me alone”. My circle of friends, etc. don’t speak about Trump at all. I only hear the word Trump in the mainstream media or on podcasts. Hence, I don’t watch TV or listen to podcasts.
Good for you! I haven’t watched or listened to regular news broadcasts for over four decades. I find 90% of their subject matter to be a waste of time, just another form of entertainment in the guise of being serious. They rarely report on important stuff that affects your everyday life, other than weather and traffic reports. With the Internet there are zilllions of opportunities to become informed without suffering through the sensationalistic news media.
Thank you so much for this valuable response; seems we are very much on the same page when it comes to trying to be informed without being overwhelmed. I try, mostly unsuccessfully, to read a few other blogs- there are a few on Substack I particularly like but that old problem of being overwhelmed gets in the way of doing much more. On that point, I am amazed at the number of people who seem to listen to many podcasts and I say that admiringly, not critically. I listen, when I can, to one podcast and would like to listen to more. We watch one news show, Tucker Carlson, and find that his show is excellently produced with a lot of real substance in each show. The editorial page of the WSJ is invaluable; the news side can be, to put it mildly, irritating. All of this points up the reason I try to write pieces which require some level of research –as an old Law Professor of ours often made the point that if you want to really learn something, write about it. I’ve never forgotten that lesson. Thanks again for your most valued input. Happy Holidays. Jim
And Merry Christmas to you!
Hear, hear!