Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
The Image of Trump
Pictures can capture a Presidency. There’s the miserable circumstance that was captured as LBJ was sworn in, a happy Reagan on horseback, Nixon with two hands up making vees, and W serving Thanksgiving dinner to troops abroad. The right frozen moment gives you an idea of the man. Remember mom jeans?
I’ve settled into the idea that the Trump Presidency was best captured on August 21, 2017. He looked, unprotected, at an eclipse. You aren’t supposed to do that. Not according to experts.
From Chris Cillizza: “There’s literally only one rule with eclipses: Don’t look at the sun during them. Which brings me to the President of the United States.” Literally one?
Trump was mocked a bit online, but he’s still not blind.
I think this goes to the heart of the recently mocked video of Don Lemon and guests laughing that Trump’s voters are rubes video. It’s not that they are rubes. Not at all.
There are people who heed warnings. There are people who don’t. But most of us heed warnings and temper them with experience.
We have had thousands of years of eclipses before we had optometrists. You’re telling me that nobody looked? In the age before television and writing with no warnings about the possible damage from looking right at a covered up star we are to believe that everybody didn’t watch with rapt attention and still took down mammoths a week or so later?
There are those that are told, and those that test. The lesson from Chesterson’s Fence is not to never tear down a fence. It’s to know why you do so.
If anyone takes this post as license to stare into the sun or an eclipse I’m going to kick you right in the moderator forbidden zone, but a glance?
That’s Trump. He’s the guy that was told not to do something and thought the minders were too careful. He was right. They aren’t the most thoughtful lot. Stay between the lines and all is well, do what you’re told, but deviate and face hysteria. Too many on the Left are just waiting to be told what to think.
Published in General
“Mama always told me not to look into the eyes of the sun/But mama, that’s where the fun is”
Edit: I cut/pasted from the internet, but there was a possessive apostrophe that offended mine eye.
You mean “heed” warnings.
A guy like Trump is a walking warning to be heeded.
I had to avert my eyes to that picture of Obama on the bicycle . . .
“If the eclipse is so dangerous, why are they having it?” -overheard from a call-in show.
True. He makes bold changes and a lot of people aren’t comfortable with change. Or boldness.
I was thinking about the baseball pitch. I had forgotten all about the bicycle. Now I can’t get the image out of my head.
For better or worse… Trump is breaking molds, and having success.
That’s actually one reason I don’t think he is dangerous long term at all. There are just not that many people who hear, “don’t look directly at an eclipse” and do it anyway. Even less who can get themselves elected President. Trump isn’t going to destroy the Presidency, he is there for a time… and it will stretch and grow… and then someone else will come along and it will change some more.
I’m glad he’s successful, it’s good for the country.
How about the picture of Trump putting the Marine’s hat back on?
Trumps so bright that the sun needs to hide behind the moon to avoid directly looking at him, not the other way around,
My bad . . .
That’s a very Trumpian thing to say, Ryan. You’re catching on!!
I still don’t watch Trump speeches but he is doing what I want done so it is OK. I laugh at the NeverTrumpers who keep hoping something will come along to validate their hatred. I thought Obama was an empty suit (and still do) but was not about to embarrass myself by openly protesting. We will get through the next few years. After that? Who knows?
I mentioned in an earlier post that I rarely watch speeches. I prefer to read them the next day. You get a better sense of the ideas freed from any emotion tainted by the crowd’s mood or nerves. If you haven’t, W’s speeches, or at least his speech writers were particularly good.