Posted on 09/13/2015 12:55:27 PM PDT by Kaslin
These past few weeks reminded me of those iconic photos where astronauts gaze at our planet from space, awed by the majesty of the view. Not that I was that far out there, though some of you might disagree. A few weeks in Europe sailing up the Rhine with Americans, Canadians, Brits, and Aussies allowed me re-examine—from another perspective altogether—the goings on in the American political scene, but more than anything, made me appreciate the fact that there’s no greater place than America, no place like home.
Of course, when you allow yourself a second thought, it’s always wise to mindful of the lens through which you are made to look. As in almost every US airport where the only channel to which the monitor is soldered is CNN, over there, it’s CNN, CNBC, the BBC, and al Jazeera, and with that lineup, it’s not hard to guess how some news might be presented. Our screen was often tuned to CNN (out of sheer desperation) where, as one might expect, the image and voice of Donald Trump dominated every news hour, every soundbite.
(CNN used to be my go-to news org when I respected its apparently thoroughgoing and insightful reportage—until the 2000 election that is, when its frothy biases became ever so evident. Friends rage about FoxNews, challenging me for watching. My response is simple: there are so many news outlets on the left side of things, but if the slam is accurate, then Fox is the only news org with a valid, alternate view, and so, I’ll take Krauthammer, Baier, Hume, and Wallace any day—just to name a few.
In my own political paranoia, I suspect the agenda of what I call State Media orgs is to showcase every bad angle, every outlandish bit that any Republican dares to show or utter, in hopes of making the other party alternative look entirely palatable. If this prognosticator is correct, they will have a hard row to hoe in making a ticket like Biden-Warren look good—but they will damn well try. Even though Joe would be 74 on the day of his inauguration, a one-term promise from him would allow a four-year prep for Warren, the real darling of the progressive world. Why pitch what would otherwise be a crazy idea is that if the New York Times has abandoned the Clintons, they must think the stench is just too much, even for them. So, get ready for the big pivot in State Media.)
Touring anywhere in Europe, you learn quickly that since the Roman conquest of the continent and Britain over two thousand years ago, nothing much has changed in how the Germans view the French, how the Alsatians view the Germans, how the Belgians view everybody, and how they all view the Russians. What’s gone on in Greece, and now with refugees storming the borders of a surprised Austria and Hungary—not a single one of which has successfully dealt with “foreign” migrants—it is easy to see that the next POTUS will have to be well-nuanced in relationship building and big nation leadership. And might those same qualifications not be necessary in dealing with very sophisticated nations in the Far East where ancient enmities likewise fester?
We need more than a Secretary of State with bonus air miles. What’s required is a first rate woman or man of vision and commitment in the top spot to navigate the deadly shoals left us by a feckless Administration, the only apparent foreign policy aim of which has been to tilt the table against the Israelis.
Foreign nationals to whom I listened seemed universal on that score. To them, the world is adrift, and there’s a clear sense America has stepped away from the “Chairman of the Board” seat, as it were, and that its vacancy has left all our futures vastly uncertain.
My new acquaintances from everywhere else treated me as a friend, to say the least. A retired British physicist went out of his way to tell me, for example, that his country owes its greatest debt to only two other peoples: the Poles who came over to fly against the Germans in 1940’s Battle of Britain, and the Americans who have been steadfast friends through thick and thin ever since. In that context, then, polite glances, a bit quizzical, appeared when the name of Trump arose. It was as if their trusted and revered uncle had presented them with Kim Kardashian as his new bride. Unfortunately, it was left to me to play the uncle, but I chose not to defend or explain the vagaries of American politics.
In the most respectful terms you can imagine, they did not disparage Mr. Trump, but expressed their dearest hope the Chairman’s seat would once again be occupied by someone capable of the kind of leadership the civilized parts of the planet demand. Knowing the mantle of leadership and power is no longer theirs to wear, their expectations of us are very high.
With the unending clips of “the Donald” calling everyone stupid and incompetent, demeaning accomplished rivals on a personal level, along with an I-barrage about of his negotiating prowess, all against a backdrop where treating others with courtesy and respect in the sandbox has become an all too necessary requirement for office, Mr. Trump is looking more and more like Rodney Dangerfield with a Don Rickles bite, but better hair.
No matter your view of their politics, Lincoln, both Roosevelts, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Clinton, and the Bushes were all accomplished politicians. I’ll take the woman or man skilled and suited for the job of POTUS. Yes, Trump says things many of us think and say in barrooms and at our barbeques, but we all know that WE aren’t suited for the presidency of the United States and neither is Donald Trump.
Stanne, not sure if you intended your comments to be taken in this light. Not trying to give you a hard time.
The Left
Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and every other Leftist has been rabidly against the “racist” and “other things” Trump. The criticisms of him have been relentless.
The Media
The media even pulled out the “rape” card. In addition there was “racist”. Then there were all the reports of his past stances on Issues.
The General “Conservative” (or at least neutral) Media Outlets
Then there were the generally “Conservative” media outlets, radio and internet. Many of those entities mirrored the Leftist media. Red State and others revealed their true characters as they have never done in the past. It as just “all-in” on Trump.
Pundits
No surprise here, but these folks were to a man against Trump stridently.
FoxNews
Fox, after the Kelly incident, made it clear in no uncertain terms they were in it to take Trump down. Didn’t work.
GOPe
This entity plotted to take Trump down every step of the way. It’s just blatant the lengths to which they would go to. Even the public has picked up on it. This entity is despised like never before.
FReepers
There has been a very vitriolic group against Trump here. They haven’t listened to his speeches. They still know he’s a Leftist.
If something negative is said, they believe it. If there’s something positive, they can’t.
Cruz no matter what bad things he does is still perfect. Trump no matter what good things he does, is still imperfect.
I remember back to 2008, and I mention it now because it’s so much easier to define the McCain moment compared to the Trump one.
Look at McCain, what a disgusting man he was. Look at the treatments.
Left
Frankly they were quiet to complimentary. He was their primary guy. They wanted to build him up to be the opposition. They knew they could destroy him later.
Media
They pumped him up. War hero. Distinguished service. (hell, he was Kennedy’s buddy - who could fault that from the Left)
General Conservative Outlets
They were mostly against him. They were not against him like they are Trump. With Trump it’s just pure hatred and take him down by any means. With McCain it was more a general disagreement within limits.
Pundits
These guys acknowledged that McCain was Left of center, but they didn’t get all worked up over it. If McCain was the guy, who where they to say otherwise.
FoxNews
In McCain’s camp.
GOPe
Hey, whatever the Republicans decide. Wink, wink...
FReepers
Universally opposed. (almost)
Compare this to Trump.
There’s no other conclusion to be had, other than that it has been an across the board repudiation of Trump.
Some FReepers have come to his defense, but other than that, it has generally been universal, they hate him.
His announced agenda is despised across the board. Some FReepers being the exception.
This should tell us something. When people like Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are agreeing with McCain, McConnell, and Boehner, you have to scratch your head.
We haven’t seen anything like this in our lifetime.
Not to this degree we haven’t.
Even in death Rodney is still taking the hits!
He just never got respect
Rodney was smarter and more popular than all of those stinking liars and douchebag politicians in DC.
There's guys who can't even spell respect who get more respect than I do.
How’d ya like to make fourteen dollars . . . the HARD WAY!
The only ones to ever trust are the ones ready and willing to not put anything past BO and Hillary, even to the point of not being so sure about the Bushes.
That’s it. It has never changed in my mind. It’s why conservatives sink as soon as they try to get in.
You have to know that any conservative will never get the nomination. Look no further than Hugh Hewitt, Imus, the Five, Perino, Megan Kelly, Brett Baer, Krauthammer, Brit Hume.
Then the long knives come out after the nomination.
Newt could have done well, Santorum started doing well. It is only when conservatives go to the middle that these pundits will support them.
Laura Ingraham said a year ago, deport the illegals, THey all went after her.
the conservative in name only pundits are now out and showing.
Trump is doing very well in the polls and in grassroots. He knows it. Cruz knows it, we know it.
The CINOs are out in force now because they are pretending they can stop Trump. THey want to stop him. He is for conservative causes. They refuse to think outside the box and hope the country can be great.
Why? I don’t know. THey are more complementary to Hillary than they are to Cruz, to the Veterans, to illegals.
WHy?
Are they actually liberal but only conservative considering the business they are in?
The true conservatives are a short but very smart group none of whom I can think of having insulted the Donald to now.
But don’t count on Fox or anyone like Hugh Hewitt
D1 my old FRiend, the day you get your own cable news program, I will sign up and pay the premium. Seriously.
You should replace Kraphammer on Faux News, you are light years ahead of that entire crew.
That was one of the best posts I’ve read all week.
I agree Stanne.
What a nice response. I appreciate that MKJessup.
No Carter. No Obama.
And there you have it.
Sorry, I reject your hypothesis ans Euro-trash hogwash!
These words pretty much illustrate the authors problem, he's watch clips and selected parts of what Trump says and stand for.
If he would bother to take even an hour to watch just one of Trumps speeches he would recoil in horror at what a fool he has made of himself with this column.
Went to the Kansas State fair today, and the Republican booth had campaign posters for every candidate except Trump.
And Legendary.
Don’t mess around, go all the way to 363.
I love when trump haters marginalize themselves.
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