A Chinese proverb says, “May you live in interesting times.” Whether that’s a curse or a blessing is up for grabs. Like it or not, Mr. Trump has certainly made things interesting. After his recent arrest, despite all the speculations and innuendos, here are several points the pundits missed.
If you want it, here it is, come and get itBut you'd better hurry 'cause it's goin' fast
(Come &
Get It, Badfinger/ Paul McCartney)
First, there is no comparison between Trump’s
Mara Largo gaff and the actions of Pence, Biden, or even Clinton. Instead of
cowboy’n up, Trump went Watergate by lying and cover-up. Missing a play this obvious
should concern inquiring minds as to Trump’s abilities to make decisions under
real pressure. Simply, he failed a test
even a “diminished” Biden easily passed.
Did I hear you say that there must be a catch?Will you walk away from a fool and his money?
Third, former Reagan speechwriter and
Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan suggests a Trump Primary victory is the
end of the Republican Party. Since 2016, independents and moderates have begun voting
left of center. Noonan opines a third Trump campaign will solidify the divorce.
America is best served by a healthy two-party system. If you think we have
problems now, a multiparty system will be a real, “here, hold my drink” debacle.
Fourth,
If you want it, here it is, come and get it
But you'd better hurry 'cause it's goin' fast
Finally, about every 100 years, Americans
get to play ‘whack a mole’ with populism. Our sixth President, Andrew Jackson
served from 1829 to 1837, Nebraska’s William Jennings Bryan, ‘The Great
Commoner’ was a national figure from 1896 to 1908, and Teddy Roosevelt’s Bull
Moose Party (1912) & Ross Perot (19912 – 1996) lead us up to Trump (2016). By
the mid-1990s, the Republican Party moved from Reagan’s conservative platform toward
populism. Like the Democrats, along the way toward ideological purity, the GOP ejected
moderates. Consequently, extremists in both parties have become more strident, intolerant,
and offering legislation less representative of the majority of Americans.
As both parties demanded ideological loyalty,
the bedrock of self-governance, civil debate, fell to the wayside and
compromise became a dirty word. Healthy public discussions and political debates
restrain extremism through the moderating effects of competing ideas, constructive
dissent, and respectful civil engagement. Paul Ryan, Jeff Flake, Liz Cheney, Scott
Walker, Ben Sasse, and Adam Kinzinger represented the future of the GOP. Alas,
they’ve left or were pushed out and today the GOP’s Presidential bench is discernably
weak and the party is subject to the whims of, to quote Senator Romney (R), “morons.”
If there’s been a silver lining, it’s
been watching Congressman Bacon’s political evolution. Subjected to MAGA slings
and arrows, Bacon was recently recognized for his cross-aisle overtures and
participation in bipartisan groups such as Problems Solvers. Former NYC Mayoral
candidate Ed Koch once said, “If
you agree with me on 9 out of 12 issues, vote for me. If you agree with me on
12 out of 12 issues, see a psychiatrist.” Many don’t agree with Bacon
on everything but he’s matured into an elected official who, even under stress or
disagreement, demonstrates character and integrity. And in these moments, there
is hope.
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