Trumped Bill Tune bctune@gmail.com The election of Donald J. Trump to the Presidency of the United States has created quite the phenomenon both here and abroad. The reason the reaction has been so extreme is because it came as a complete surprise to EVERYONE especially Trump supporters. People in shock often over-react. There is no excuse for looting and rioting, but the critics of these violent protests forget the panic-stricken protests after Obama's first election, including destructive protests, an increase in hate crimes, effigy burnings, and town hall meetings with tearful pleas of “I want my country back!” (I always wondered back to what?) Fox News, who had just months before stated that the office of the President deserves basic respect from all (in defense of George W.) gleefully reported these protests which claimed Obama was facist, Nazi, communist and showed posters of Obama's face with the traditional Hitler mustache. Fortunately, the vast majority of protests this time have been peaceful. How do they differ from the early Obama protests? For one thing, they're based on the actual words and actions of Trump. He has demonstrated a consistent lack of regard for the rights of women, ethnic and religious minorities, and the LGBTQ community. The protests against Obama, on the other hand, were largely based on fears that: 1. He would try to take away your guns. (Never was even suggested); 2. He was a Muslim. (He is Christian); 3. He would make America a socialist country (really?); and 4. His presidency was illegitimate because he was born in Africa. (He was born in Hawaii). Thank goodness these protests had nothing to do with the color of his skin! <insert sarcastic emoji here> What's even worse is how church people are now trying to canonize Trump in an effort to justify the fact that 81% of evangelical Christians voted for him. On Facebook I see memes of a ghostly Jesus guiding Trump's hand. “Thank God prayer is back in the White House!” Really? The Obamas are a much better example of a Christian family than the current occupants of Trump Tower. Obama had much more appropriate words at the National Day of Prayer breakfast than Trump's first attempt (more later). Trump is hailed as a Christian leader in spite of three marriages (you gotta be a super model, preferably not American), a history of infidelity, failed businesses that hurt many people, unpaid contracts galore, multiple shady business ventures, and an obvious disregard for the rights of many of his constituents. No matter what he does, there is a defense. I read on catholicsfortrump.org (I think) a defense of his mocking of the disabled reporter. It was quite convoluted and unconvincing, but when you want to believe… Republicans are riding high now, heady with the success of this election. However, I'm not sure Trump will be good for them in the long run. Maybe he's already served his purpose. For eight years they have acted in their own best interests, not the best interests of the American people. They decided on day one to block everything they could from Obama based not on what Americans needed but whatever it took to regain power. In spite of this constant and irrational opposition, Obama was able to make a lot of progress. A country, which was economically close to imploding in 2008, is strong again. Republicans may twist every economic report in an attempt to negate the progress, but I'm sure had they been in complete charge they would now be crowing about those same numbers. Senate Republicans refused to acknowledge Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court, Merrick Garland, who was a popular judge on both sides of the aisle. This was done not out of civic duty, but out of pure spite for the President who had defeated them in two elections. McConnell's weak excuse for this diabolical action was that “the people should be able to decide who picks the next justice.” So what about the current President (at the time) that had been elected by the people twice? It appears that the Republican gamble has paid off and now Trump has his nominee in place. However, if the people should decide this pick, maybe it should go to the person who got the most votes in November. Just saying. I am amazed that McConnell now expects the Democrats to quietly follow the procedure that he so deliberately circumvented. Constitution, anyone? I have to give the Republicans credit for their overall strategy, the success of which is undeniable. Their relentless harassment of Hillary Clinton was effective. Years of Bengazi and email hearings never produced enough evidence for a single charge to be filed, but it worked. The people who already hate her ate it up and the people who didn't hate her were left always wondering. The email crisis mysteriously evaporated after Election Day, and embassy security, which was recently of vital concern, is now on the Republican budget chopping block. Mission accomplished. Even Trump, who vowed in the last debate to appoint a special prosecutor who would put Hillary in jail (a real crowd pleaser), publicly acknowledged after the election that the Clintons were good people and there would be no prosecutor. When Mr. Birther finally met Obama, even he was impressed with the man's class and demeanor. And what about that wall? I noticed that after the election Trump had cooled to the idea of a literal wall, but that was too much for his rabid supporters. He reluctantly picked up the banner again but with one serious problem - the most popular feature of the wall was that Mexico was going to pay for it. I guess his bullying has its limits. Even Trump knows that he cannot make that happen, and his attempts to get around it once again showed his lack of knowledge of tariffs, among other things. Americans are paying for the wall one way or another. Plus, the wall is not needed. It will not improve security and the fact is since 2009 (after our great recession) the immigration of Mexicans into this country is at a negative rate. Do we want the wall to keep them in? The construction of such a wall along the Rio Grande is a logistical and financial nightmare. Whose land does it go on? Do we “give” Mexico the river if the wall is on our side? Has a wall ever been foolproof? It was never a serious consideration, just a crowd pleaser for Trump the candidate. The leader of the free world is now a woman - Angela Merkel, who had to explain to our President what the Geneva Convention is. Sad. Trump went to talk to the CIA and, standing in front of the CIA Memorial Wall of agency heroes, talked only about himself, the size of his inauguration crowd and the unfair treatment by the media. Trump attended the National Prayer breakfast and talked about his success on The Apprentice, dissed his replacement, Arnold Swarzenegger, and asked for prayer - for the ratings of the show of which he is still producer. Christian leader or narcissistic despot? Candidate Trump demonstrated repeatedly that he was unread, uninformed, egotistical, and a bully. President Trump is no different. Sad. The same people that applaud the barrage of Executive Orders in his first week condemned Obama as dictator when he judiciously used the same privilege. Some of Trump's orders are meaningless symbolic gestures designed to appease his fans. Unfortunately, some of his sweeping changes have unforeseen (by him) consequences. Yet Trump wants no counsel because he has a “good brain”. He even shuns security briefings. There's a big difference between a strong leader and a bully. One of Trump's claims is, “I know the best people.” Where are they??? Steve Bannon is a well-known white supremacist that has cleverly worked his way into a position of unusual power. Scary. I fear even Trump does not know his plans for the future. Trump's cabinet nominations are the wealthiest, least-experienced group ever. After blasting Hillary for her association with Goldman-Sachs, Donald has at least six people in the afore-mentioned unqualified group with direct ties to or former association with that same financial institution. Many of these people have little or no knowledge of the position to which they've been nominated, or they have a history of directly opposing the agency, which they now hope to head. Sad. So far Trump's actions have been rash, poorly thought out, and mostly for show. This is the behavior of someone trying only to impress his fans. We cannot allow his missteps to go unchallenged. These protests are not about sour grapes. They are about preserving the values and qualities that have always made this country great. enough

Trumped

The election of Donald J. Trump to the Presidency of

the United States has created quite the phenomenon both here and abroad. The reason the reaction has been so extreme is because it came as a complete surprise to EVERYONE especially Trump supporters. People in shock often over-react. There is no excuse for looting and rioting, but the critics of these violent protests forget the panic-stricken protests after Obama's first election, including destructive protests, an increase in hate crimes, effigy burnings, and town hall meetings with tearful pleas of “I want my country back!” (I always wondered back to what?) Fox News, who had just months before stated that the office of the President deserves basic respect from all (in defense of George W.) gleefully reported these protests which claimed Obama was facist, Nazi, communist and showed posters of Obama's face with the traditional Hitler mustache.

Fortunately, the vast majority of protests this time have been peaceful. How do they differ from the early Obama protests? For one thing, they're based on the actual words and actions of Trump. He has demonstrated a consistent lack of regard for the rights of women, ethnic and religious minorities, and the LGBTQ community. The protests against Obama, on the other hand, were largely based on fears that: 1. He would try to take away your guns. (Never was even suggested); 2. He was a Muslim. (He is Christian); 3. He would make America a socialist country (really?); and 4. His presidency was illegitimate because he was born in Africa. (He was born in Hawaii). Thank goodness these protests had nothing to do with the color of his skin! <insert sarcastic emoji here>

What's even worse is how church people are now trying to canonize Trump in an effort to justify the fact that 81% of evangelical Christians voted for him. On Facebook I see memes of a ghostly Jesus guiding Trump's hand. “Thank God prayer is back in the White House!” Really? The Obamas are a much better example of a Christian family than the current occupants of Trump Tower. Obama had much more appropriate words at the National Day of Prayer breakfast than Trump's first attempt (more later). Trump is hailed as a Christian leader in spite of three marriages (you gotta be a super model, preferably not American), a history of infidelity, failed businesses that hurt many people, unpaid contracts galore, multiple shady business ventures, and an obvious disregard for the rights of many of his constituents. No matter what he does, there is a defense. I read on catholicsfortrump.org (I think) a defense of his mocking of the disabled reporter. It was quite convoluted and unconvincing, but when you want to believe…

Republicans are riding high now, heady with the success of this election. However, I'm not sure Trump will be good for them in the long run. Maybe he's already served his purpose. For eight years they have acted in their own best interests, not the best interests of the American people. They decided on day one to block everything they could from Obama based not on what Americans needed but whatever it took to regain power. In spite of this constant and irrational opposition, Obama was able to make a lot of progress. A country, which was economically close to imploding in 2008, is strong again. Republicans may twist every economic report in an attempt to negate the progress, but I'm sure had they been in complete charge they would now be crowing about those same numbers.

Senate Republicans refused to acknowledge Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court, Merrick Garland, who was a popular judge on both sides of the aisle. This was done not out of civic duty, but out of pure spite for the President who had defeated them in two elections. McConnell's weak excuse for this diabolical action was that “the people should be able to decide who picks the next justice.” So what about the current President (at the time) that had been elected by the people twice? It appears that the Republican gamble has paid off and now Trump has his nominee in place. However, if the people should decide this pick, maybe it should go to the person who got the most votes in November. Just saying. I am amazed that McConnell now expects the Democrats to quietly follow the procedure that he so deliberately circumvented. Constitution, anyone?

I have to give the Republicans credit for their overall strategy, the success of which is undeniable. Their relentless harassment of Hillary Clinton was effective. Years of Bengazi and email hearings never produced enough evidence for a single charge to be filed, but it worked. The people who already hate her ate it up and the people who didn't hate her were left always wondering. The email crisis mysteriously evaporated after Election Day, and embassy security, which was recently of vital concern, is now on the Republican budget chopping block. Mission accomplished. Even Trump, who vowed in the last debate to appoint a special prosecutor who would put Hillary in jail (a real crowd pleaser), publicly acknowledged after the election that the Clintons were good people and there would be no prosecutor. When Mr. Birther finally met Obama, even he was impressed with the man's class and demeanor.

And what about that wall? I noticed that after the election Trump had cooled to the idea of a literal wall, but that was too much for his rabid supporters. He reluctantly picked up the banner again but with one serious problem - the most popular feature of the wall was that Mexico was going to pay for it. I guess his bullying has its limits. Even Trump knows that he cannot make that happen, and his attempts to get around it once again showed his lack of knowledge of tariffs, among other things. Americans are paying for the wall one way or another. Plus, the wall is not needed. It will not improve security and the fact is since 2009 (after our great recession) the immigration of Mexicans into this country is at a negative rate. Do we want the wall to keep them in? The construction of such a wall along the Rio Grande is a logistical and financial nightmare. Whose land does it go on? Do we “give” Mexico the river if the wall is on our side? Has a wall ever been foolproof? It was never a serious consideration, just a crowd pleaser for Trump the candidate.

The leader of the free world is now a woman - Angela Merkel, who had to explain to our President what the Geneva Convention is. Sad. Trump went to talk to the CIA and, standing in front of the CIA Memorial Wall of agency heroes, talked only about himself, the size of his inauguration crowd and the unfair treatment by the media. Trump attended the National Prayer breakfast and talked about his success on The Apprentice, dissed his replacement, Arnold Swarzenegger, and asked for prayer - for the ratings of the show of which he is still producer. Christian leader or narcissistic despot?

Candidate Trump demonstrated repeatedly that he was unread, uninformed, egotistical, and a bully. President Trump is no different. Sad. The same people that applaud the barrage of Executive Orders in his first week condemned Obama as dictator when he judiciously used the same privilege. Some of Trump's orders are meaningless symbolic gestures designed to appease his fans. Unfortunately, some of his sweeping changes have unforeseen (by him) consequences. Yet Trump wants no counsel because he has a “good brain”. He even shuns security briefings. There's a big difference between a strong leader and a bully.

One of Trump's claims is, “I know the best people.” Where are they??? Steve Bannon is a well-known white supremacist that has cleverly worked his way into a position of unusual power. Scary. I fear even Trump does not know his plans for the future. Trump's cabinet nominations are the wealthiest, least-experienced group ever. After blasting Hillary for her association with Goldman-Sachs, Donald has at least six people in the afore-mentioned unqualified group with direct ties to or former association with that same financial institution. Many of these people have little or no knowledge of the position to which they've been nominated, or they have a history of directly opposing the agency, which they now hope to head. Sad.

So far Trump's actions have been rash, poorly thought out, and mostly for show. This is the behavior of someone trying only to impress his fans. We cannot allow his missteps to go unchallenged. These protests are not about sour grapes. They are about preserving the values and qualities that have always made this country great.

enough

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