We were watching the news yesterday when our oldest suddenly groaned. “And I thought George W. Bush was going to be the worst president in my lifetime,” he said.
Paul Manafort, it had just been announced, was to plead guilty and flip on Trump.
“Well,” I said, “at least you missed Nixon and Reagan.” This didn’t seem to be a particularly helpful comment.
Our oldest, I should say, is 31 years of age and hasn’t lived with us in 17 years. He left home at 14 to attend the Robert Louis Stevenson school in Pebble Beach. After that he was off to Eugene to study at the University of Oregon. And after that he bought a house there. All of which is to mention that he has not, by us, been indoctrinated in his opinions.
He is a graduate of an academically elite private prep school and is a university alum; he’s a homeowner who identifies himself as a banker–both the makings of a perfect young Republican, right? Wrong. He is also independent, a reader–and clear-sighted.
I think much of the country–essentially the youth–is veering toward this position: Trump is our worst president in a goodly long while. And, while the anticipated “Blue Wave” might never materialize, I would not be surprised if the youth this time votes Democratic in massive numbers.
At what other time in our history has a sitting president also been an unindicted co-conspirator?
A better question, in spite of the above, is if the youth will even bother to vote–Democratic or otherwise.
Apathy wastes the passion of youth.
Apathy elects Republicans.
And Republicans understand that. They depend upon a low voter turnout. But I suspect participation in this year’s election might be higher than Republicans are anticipating. Why? Because Trump is volcanically unbalanced. Because Trump is crass, cynical and full of himself. Because Trump bears scant respect for the rule of law. Because Trump is the Obstructor-in-Chief. Because Trump separates immigrant families. Because Trump pays off porn stars. Because Trump is a shameless liar. Because Trump diminishes the office with his serial Tweeting. Because Trump is the champion of nepotism.
Ask Jared.
Because Trump is the sheriff of tariffs, imposing pointless policy, hurting some Americans and forcing others to bail them out when they were better off in the first place. Because Trump is in the Russian Mafia. Don’t believe me? I invite you to revisit my column “Ladies and Gentlemen–the Iceberg” from February 1 of this year.
The information condensed and transcribed therein is what will eventually sink the Trumptanic.
But mostly because congressional Republicans won’t do their job as a check on this traveling Trump campaign chautauqua.
They are either too enamored or too afraid of him.
Either way, if congressional Republicans refuse their duty the federal government becomes an unbalanced two-legged bar stool. And the best remedy is to vote the rascals out.
Drain the swamp!
I am therefore exhorting the youth to vote in droves. And to vote for representatives who will honor their office and act as a check on the executive branch. I know it seems like with each election cycle somebody is bound to claim it’s the most important one in living memory. But this November’s just might be.
Unchecked, a president–of any party–might tend to become a tyrant.
We fought a revolution to get out from under this sort of thing.
We were watching the news yesterday when our oldest suddenly groaned. “And I thought George W. Bush was going to be the worst president in my lifetime,” he said.
Paul Manafort, it had just been announced, was to plead guilty and flip on Trump.
“Well,” I said, “at least you missed Nixon and Reagan.” This didn’t seem to be a particularly helpful comment.
Our oldest, I should say, is 31 years of age and hasn’t lived with us in 17 years. He left home at 14 to attend the Robert Louis Stevenson school in Pebble Beach. After that he was off to Eugene to study at the University of Oregon. And after that he bought a house there. All of which is to mention that he has not, by us, been indoctrinated in his opinions.
He is a graduate of an academically elite private prep school and is a university alum; he’s a homeowner who identifies himself as a banker–both the makings of a perfect young Republican, right? Wrong. He is also independent, a reader–and clear-sighted.
I think much of the country–essentially the youth–is veering toward this position: Trump is our worst president in a goodly long while. And, while the anticipated “Blue Wave” might never materialize, I would not be surprised if the youth this time votes Democratic in massive numbers.
At what other time in our history has a sitting president also been an unindicted co-conspirator?
A better question, in spite of the above, is if the youth will even bother to vote–Democratic or otherwise.
Apathy wastes the passion of youth.
Apathy elects Republicans.
And Republicans understand that. They depend upon a low voter turnout. But I suspect participation in this year’s election might be higher than Republicans are anticipating. Why? Because Trump is volcanically unbalanced. Because Trump is crass, cynical and full of himself. Because Trump bears scant respect for the rule of law. Because Trump is the Obstructor-in-Chief. Because Trump separates immigrant families. Because Trump pays off porn stars. Because Trump is a shameless liar. Because Trump diminishes the office with his serial Tweeting. Because Trump is the champion of nepotism.
Ask Jared.
Because Trump is the sheriff of tariffs, imposing pointless policy, hurting some Americans and forcing others to bail them out when they were better off in the first place. Because Trump is in the Russian Mafia. Don’t believe me? I invite you to revisit my column “Ladies and Gentlemen–the Iceberg” from February 1 of this year.
The information condensed and transcribed therein is what will eventually sink the Trumptanic.
But mostly because congressional Republicans won’t do their job as a check on this traveling Trump campaign chautauqua.
They are either too enamored or too afraid of him.
Either way, if congressional Republicans refuse their duty the federal government becomes an unbalanced two-legged bar stool. And the best remedy is to vote the rascals out.
Drain the swamp!
I am therefore exhorting the youth to vote in droves. And to vote for representatives who will honor their office and act as a check on the executive branch. I know it seems like with each election cycle somebody is bound to claim it’s the most important one in living memory. But this November’s just might be.
Unchecked, a president–of any party–might tend to become a tyrant.
We fought a revolution to get out from under this sort of thing.