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Advice to Trump Critics: Breathe
My latest column for USA Today explores the beltway class’s hysterical outrage every time Donald Trump gives a speech, takes a meeting, or tweets, well, anything.
His detractors were outraged by how long it took Trump to make Cabinet nominations, then a few days later switched their outrage to his actual choices.
They were outraged that a tiny meeting of “alt-right” racists praised him. When Trump condemned the wannabe Nazis, the press blamed his supporters for falling for “fake news” and something called “Pizzagate.”
Can you believe what Trump said to Pakistan’s prime minister — or that he accepted a congratulatory call from Taiwan’s president? What will the totalitarians in China think?
But none of that pearl-clutching compared with the outrage over Trump’s tweets about flag burning or recounts or China or Hamilton or “Saturday Night Live.” Sad!
But let me offer a little friendly advice: Breathe.
Some commenters replied, “Oh yeah, what about Republicans responding to Obama?!” While Republicans didn’t burn down our own cities and attack cops, a few cooked up conspiracy theories and compared him to Hitler (as has happened to every president of the past 50 years). But Obama used those people to define his entire opposition, which played into his hands. Meanwhile, his level-headed critics blocked any major legislative accomplishment for his last six years, introduced poison pills for Obamacare, and won electoral wipe-outs for both midterms.
If Trump critics’ primary goal is emotional venting, by all means perform a week-long St. Vitus dance every time the President-elect makes a grammatical error on Twitter. But if they want to prevent Trump from exceeding his constitutional authority, they might want to keep their powder dry until he does something that matters.
Published in Politics
Ditto. Handshakes all around.
Nope – don’t care why you might think such a stupid thing, but it definitely lacks anything resembling a critical thought.
I take responsibility only for voting for (or against) someone – not for what they might perhaps do 9 months or 3 years from now. I have no say in their advisers or how their cabinet might change over time – or even what an enemy might do.
In other words, I can’t tell the future and neither can you.
Just like the guy in the Asimov story “Franchise”…
Critical part of the story is how Mr. Muller blames the guy who voted for a disastrous candidate, but when the spotlight is placed on him he comes to realization that he can no longer do such a thing.
I’ll point out Trump’s mistakes like any other person – but the only thing I blame liberals for is what they believe, who they vote for is of secondary importance.
So go ahead KP – blame me all you like when things go FUBAR under Trump – it has no meaning to me and is really quite unhelpful overall – but if it makes you feel better then go right ahead.
I have said since the election that the Trump administration will be very good for the “Snowflake Generation” because they will learn that their worst nightmare Republican president is not that bad. However, the longer they are histrionic about this election the less influential they will be and the more chance that the “Eureka!” moment will not lead to principled opposition, but outright conversion.
It ‘s the same puppy, just rolling over and playing dead. The professor spent most of his grant money on porn and hookers.
Nothing unites a crowd like the other team running the wrong way.
I am curious how much is the left versus the media. The actual liberals I know (I live near Portland, so the supply is ample) seem to be going about their business quite well until a camera and microphone gets thrust in their face.
I think Andy Warhols fifteen minutes has become fifteen seconds of fame.
I do believe the meltdown is mostly a media event, not to be confused with reality. Let us be careful.
I’m not so sure. I saw a comment on Facebook yesterday where a gal was blaming her friend’s suicide on Trump. She actually said that her friend committed suicide because Trump got elected.
I find Facebook does not reflect actual human behavior. It is the equivalent of accidentally seeing someone making faces in a bathroom mirror.
It’s a well known phenomena – people only share the good aspects of their own lives and the bad aspects that dovetail with their preconceived beliefs.
To say that you didn’t vote for someone simply means, to me, that you are trying to establish your objectivity for the purposes of the discussion at hand.
Ah @johngabriel. 4 years. That’s cute. The way the liberals are going hes getting the full 8 years.
Just 8 years? All through the election I was promised Trump would become a dictator.
Well pooey on yooey.
In my sideways way, I was agreeing with you. People are weirder than usual on Facebook.
I miss the old-fashioned Jiffy Pop that could be made on the stove.
I wasn’t pooing on yooey. I was pooing Jamooey.
Jon, Republicans may need to borrow that bag as this story is becoming more disturbing by the day:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/12/15/lawmakers-fume-over-agency-refusal-to-brief-house-panel-on-russia-hacking-claims.html?refresh=true
The 20th is going to be an interesting day. Something sinister is afoot…..
I (slightly) amazed by the constant whining on Twitter about Trump. If he does anything, then it’s like everyone has something to say. I don’t mind the opinions, but at least make them coherent. Many “tweeters” seem to not understand politics as much as they think they do.
It’s still around! I bought some just over a year ago.