Just because the President is from the 'other team' doesn't mean you should act hysterical in response to his every action. Doing so just makes you a hack.
Before one starts typing a post on Facebook, the field says "What's on your mind?" How very fitting: that's exactly the question I want to answer right now.
President Barack Obama's historic Presidency came to its conclusion this past month. He boarded Marine One (temporarily "Executive One") for the last time and flew directly over My wife and I. I must admit that, as I watched his helicopter fade into the distance, mixed feelings washed over me.
On the one hand, I felt cautiously hopeful. I did not vote for Obama in 2008, nor did I vote for him in 2012. Politically, I am conservative; thus, Obama and I harbored deeply divergent policy positions. I opposed Obamacare, opposed his enormous fiscal deficits, opposed many of his immigration measures, and so forth. I felt that, from a policy perspective, it was time for change in Washington, D.C. I was--and remain--ready for a conservative approach to governance. Uncertainties about his successor notwithstanding, this is why I felt cautiously optimistic.
On the other hand, feelings of what I can only describe as remorse also welled up in me. As I said, Obama's Presidency was historic, and he came into office on a wave of, for many, hopeful optimism. To this day, the 69 million votes he received is a record. His Electoral College victory margin was substantial, and the 10 million votes that separated him and John McCain easily represent one of the top-ten largest popular margins ever. He received more opposing-party votes than anyone since Ronald Reagan. His second inauguration was the second largest in history--second only to his own first inauguration, which drew more people to D.C. than Donald Trump's, both of George W. Bush's, and one of Bill Clinton's added together. His "movement" remains the largest in recent memory.
I think that when he came into office he was a bit naïve and idealistic, believing that he could change more than a President actually can. He did eventually grow into the Office's constraints, however, and adopted a more pragmatic approach to governing during his final years in office--especially in matters of foreign policy. (This has nothing to do with his policy positions; rather, it's a statement about his approach.)
This is a long preamble leading into why I felt a bit of remorse. Barack Obama was subjected to some of the most withering criticism I've ever heard. I've heard much criticism of Obama's policies, and I largely agree with it. Unfortunately, I've also heard unbelievable personal insults hurled his way. I've heard people criticize him and even his family because of the color of their skin. I've heard fellow conservatives say that they "hate" him. (This sentiment appears to still be running strong: during Trump's inaugural parade, I heard several of his supporters telling each other that they "literally hate Hillary Clinton.") I've heard him called the anti-Christ. I've heard Obama's opponents accuse him of selling out his country. I've even observed conservatives openly rooting for him to fail--more times than I could ever count. (In my view, this last issue is both immoral and unpatriotic.)
This underscores a reprehensible inability on the part of many to separate "Obama the policy setter" from "Obama the man." In my view, "Obama the policy setter" was not a total success. I simply do not believe that liberal policies are in the best interest of this country, but that is where my disapproval of him ends: my differences with him are purely matters of policy--nothing more.
"Obama the man" is above reproach; I genuinely believe that he is a very good person and that he set a wonderful personal example for all Americans. He harbored and displayed a deep devotion to his family, appearing at all times to have been a committed and proud husband and father. Obama conducted himself professionally and always had a calm, even hand on the tiller. He did not deserve the vicious venom hurled at him, but he handled it with grace and dignity. Admirably, he did not respond by leveling the same type of insults at his detractors. He is simply a good, nice person. The way in which he comported himself is an example of which all Americans should be proud. Indeed, we should thank him for it.
So I'll admit that I actually feel a bit badly about it--sad even. He and his family devoted eight years of their lives to the service of our country. They received unbelievably raw, personal insults for the duration, yet all of them appear to have taken the high road every time. I don't delight in hating people, so I see the Obamas for who they were: good, well-intended people who, misguided though their policies frequently were, arrived on the White House front steps on January 20, 2009 sincerely hoping to make a positive difference for our country.
For that, I thank them. For the ugly insults, I apologize to them. I wish President Obama nothing but the best in his well-deserved retirement.
It's no secret that even though I am a proud Republican and a genuine conservative, Donald Trump was far from my first choice. That said, I choose to give him a chance. What other option is there really? I remain hopeful that we will now have effective, pragmatic, conservative governance--effective, pragmatic, conservative governance that benefits all Americans, that leaves no one out.
Going forward, I hope that everyone will consider what I've said here and will consider separating the President's character from the President's official actions. If both deserve condemnation, then condemn them. If they don't though, then do not conflate the two simply because it feels good to your baser side.
Give our leaders and their families--no matter their political positions--the same respect you would ask for yourself and for your families. If you're still attacking the Obamas, then you're wrong. If you're burning trash cans and cars in the street, then you're wrong. We must change the tone in this country, and we conservatives must admit that our own conduct and words have not lived up to the ideal. It is incumbent, starting right now and regardless of the past, on both sides of the political divide and on our entire electorate to commit ourselves to a more respectful approach to dialog--even if it appears that our efforts are not reciprocated.
I think that all too often we feel so disconnected from our President and so passionate about our political positions that we forget that the President isn't just the President. Just like us, he is also a father, a husband, a friend, and a human being with feelings, hopes, dreams, and so forth. From now on, let's try to reacquaint ourselves with the Golden Rule.
Originally published here.
Trump is a vile ignorant buffoon. This is not the same as Obama where the right levied insults and accusations that were based in bigotry and outright lies.
The fucked up thing is that there were very real policy problems, even evil being issued from the Obama administration. Kill lists. Drone strikes on civilians. Domestic surveillance. Mass deportations.
But highlighting those policies would not be a good idea from the war loving, domestic surveillance orientated, immigrant hating right. Instead they made him out to be a Muslim Kenyan gun grabber ready to send us all to fema camps.
But this new guy isn't calm or steady. He posseses no intellectual curiosity. He's only interested in his ratings and being revered. He's thin skinned. He's hired white supremacists. He's shown himself to be authoritarian in every way possible.
What chances are there to give?
While I don't disagree with you, it's tough to give a lot of credence to comments that A) spew vulgarity B)jsut repeats a bunch of mainstream media talking points.
Yup, Trump is in over his head and I sure as heck didn't vote for him. But 'interested in ratings', 'egotistical', 'hired white supremacist'? Brother (sorry to assume your gender), we gotta stop watching CNN!
I've written a lot about Obama's faults. Hopefully, we'll see the left come out against any of the sins that Trump persists on.
What does CNN have to do with those accurate descriptions? This administration is not within the bounds of normalcy. The level of incompetence and dysfunction is 'unpresidented'.
Accurate descriptions? I'm dangerously close to having to defend Trump, not something I enjoy.
White supremacist- Go to Steve Bannon's wiki page and start figuring out why people call him a white supremacist. There's 5 instances of the word 'racist' there. Turns out, the mainstream media's white supremacist talking point all points back to a tenable fact that Bannon co-founded Breitbart. At one point a couple Breitbart writers said something 'racist-y'. Thus Bannon = White Supremacist. If you repeat it enough times, it turns out to be true.
Now I think Bannon is a big turd and don't like his nomination. But, it's intellectually disingenuous to just repeat 'sexist, bigot, transphobic, misogynist..." left talking points.
I agree with one thing you said, though. The MEDIA COVERAGE of this presidency is not within the bounds of normalcy. It's by design. Everything is an outrage. Unfortunately, they're the boy crying wolf so when Trump bombed the Yemenis and killed and 8year old girl or proposed tariffs which are economically horrible, the relative stink made about it is lost.
"I'm dangerously close to having to defend Trump"
I wouldn't wish that task on anyone. Even Trump's highly paid professionals have a hard time defending him.
Bannon earned his reputation. Just Google about him and you can sit back an enjoy a barrage of quotes and views that flirt with white supremacy.
This is not a media issue. Trump is to blame for a complete lack of normalcy. The media is scrambling to figure out how to work with a delusional liar.
It's not like the media is delusional and inventing crowds that don't exist along with millions of illegal Hillary voters and obsessing over it. Trump's media woes are wholly of Trump's own making. The man is thinned skinned, unbalanced and a prolific liar. He is proving quite quickly that he is completely incompetent for the job. None of that is the media's fault.
Welcome to Steemit! I really enjoyed this article for it absence of rabid partisanship. I'm really not much of an "-ist" on the political spectrum, although my leanings are probably more left than right.
In Donald Trump, America got exactly what it wanted: Shock-to-the-system change. I find it noteworthy to remember that one way of measuring a "dominant majority" in the recent election process is to consider that there were TWO activist/change agents-- Trump and Sanders-- who between them held a massive majority for "NOT the status quo." Both are essentially independents who threw their allegiances behind one of the major parties. We... ALL of us... voted for "not the status quo," and we got it.
True story!
I noticed this was your first post, and I wanted to welcome you to steemit. Currently they don't vote up a lot of political content, but I am hoping that will change some day.
I hope that changes. I write a lot about Liberty. Not too happy with Ds and Rs, just liberty!
Good post brother, upvoted. I can appreciate your view. For me, I supported Trump from day 1. I am very thankful he is our president.
Thanks! I'm more of a Rand Paul fan, myself. I was torn and didn't vote for Trump. I ended up wasting my vote (much like the Hillary voters) and voting for the Libertarian.
Well written and some good points. I don't support any so-called leader but the personal insults and hate are not helpful.
From your introduction I got the impression that you were not in fact a republican because you are skeptical of the two party system. What in fact did you mean?
@teerx come check out my second post (I should have introduced myself first but went out of order.
https://steemit.com/politics/@libertylol/your-confirmation-bias-against-trump-is-embarrassing
Basically I see little difference in REpub/DEmocrat, though the media would lead us to believe they're polar opposites. Dems are supposed to be anti-war and pro-civil rights. We haven't seen that the last 8 years. Repubs are supposed to be small government and GWBush did nothing but start 2 new wars, increased govt with Dept of Homeland Security, No Child Left Behind, Medicaid Part D, etc.
We're destined for more government with both of them, and I'll keep writing and hoping to expose why that's bad.
Isn't this that post?!
I agree, there's little difference when it comes to what matter. Then are you a republican in the political philosophy sense, not the party sense?
Downvote my copy/paste skills!
https://steemit.com/introduceyourself/@libertylol/an-introduction-to-liberty-that-sexy-bitch
I lean more constitutional conservative vice republican.