The Swamp Resists Being Drained

I am amazed at all the rhetoric that flows, sometimes like syrup, sometimes like venom, from the lips of highly partisan politicians trying to score points with their constituent bases, especially as election time approaches.  I get weary of the mass hypocrisy, selective use of “facts” and statistics, and the outright lies that our elected officials toss out to make their opponents look like evil villains while extolling their own virtues as keepers of all things “Great” and “American.”

I am conservative in my political views.  Yet, I am highly disturbed by the responses of conservatives when they are asked about behaviors and statements of other conservatives.  Most people on either side of the political spectrum would agree many of these actions or statements were not good or wise.  It is egregious when they simply change the subject.  Worse yet is when the response is an excuse or pointing a finger at someone on the other side who did or said something similar.  There is great hesitance to throw another colleague under the bus.  That need does not necessitate further distortion and obfuscation of facts.  Why not simply state the truth, but affirm support for the individual in question?

We all need to come face-to-face with the realities of the human condition.  Everyone makes mistakes.  Everyone misspeaks.  Yet we pick on every little thing that is even slightly questionable and rail against the sometimes unwitting perpetrator.  Whatever happened to comity and grace in the public arena?  It is worse when facts are deliberately distorted or outright lies are told fit a desired narrative when launching criticism at our enemies.  This has unfortunately become a way of life in our political world.  We need to be very careful when assigning motives to those with whom we disagree.

Liberals, with the help of their minions in the mainstream media (MSM) have made a living out of distorting President Trump’s comments and methods while totally ignoring the accomplishments of his administration.  The long litany of accusations about conservatives is almost laughable.  It is comical that conservatives are accused of wanting to kill babies, starve the elderly, persecute the poor, or start a nuclear war.  The hysterical comments of MSM “hard news” reporters about the President have made them almost irrelevant to all but the stalwart Trump haters who eat up every word.  All the Democrats have offered is criticism and demonization of the President.  They have no leader and no productive agenda except keep ObamaCare and repeal of all immigration laws to create a totally open border.

Republicans, moderates and conservatives have balked at President Trump’s agenda and resisted many of his proposals because they do not fit the traditional narrative of the party.  The odd fact is that the President has tried to muster support for many things that Republicans have been supporting for a long time.  The rollback of the Affordable Care Act, elimination of nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula, and immigration reform have all been championed by the right during the last 4 campaign cycles.  Yet, at least one faction of the party has resisted and little has been accomplished in those realms.  Some Republicans have been highly critical of President Trump, even questioning his fitness for office.

President Trump is often his own worst enemy.   He reacts to every single criticism, often with caustic Tweets that do nothing to promote his agenda.  In so doing he loses sight of the battles that are worth fighting and wastes time and energy on things that ultimately do not matter.  My suggestion to him is to cut back on his Twitter responses.  Save them for the things that ultimately have substance.  Many of his Tweets change nothing.  Those who want to believe the negative things others say won’t be deterred by his defense and the diehard supporters don’t seem to care what he says or does.  The rest of us will tend to pay more attention to less frequent and more substantive Tweets.  

I truly believe that the establishment (liberal and conservative) wants to see Trump fail because he is not following “prescribed” protocols.  They fear that they are loosing control of the political process that enables them to remain in office.  They do and say what is politically expedient, rather than what makes for sound and effective policy.  I do not say this lightly.  I am concerned that lust for power is the overwhelming concern of many long-term, career politicians. They govern by poll rather than by principle and conviction.  Where are the statesmen who work to find solutions rather than obstruct in order to gain political control?  What happened to those who don’t care who gets credit as long as the right thing is done?  As a grade school student, I read John F. Kennedy’s Profiles in Courage.  I pray for a new generation of leaders and statesmen who will embody the type of character and courage that will inspire and encourage excellence in all of us.  It is then, and only then that “The Swamp” will be drained.