Praise for the President:
Robert Maynard, former Creator, Co-founder at Lifelock (2003-2008)
Yes. My mind has changed. Donald Trump is simply the best thing that has happened to our republic since the end of the Civil War.
Why? Well that takes a bit of explanation.
I spent 14 years serving our country as a military officer at the sharp point of the spear. I paid the price of being an American as did too many of my friends. I broke my back, my neck, the right side of my body has artificial joints and I’m sure there will be more.
Some of my friends paid with their lives. If anyone here wants to call me anything that dishonors what they and I have done, bring it.
I have always treasured the fact that I, and my children, can be called Americans. If you have not traveled the world, you simply cannot understand the magic and power that simple word carries.
When it became apparent that Donald TRUMP (are you kidding me?) was going to be President of the United States, I prepared to move to Mexico. Canada would be good, but it’s too cold and/or dark for me. His tenure, however, fills me with hope for the country and I am convinced that he is likely the only person who could do this at this time in our history.
Donald Trump? To me, since the first time I met him: criminal, pathetically bad liar, dumb as a rock, except in the ability to find the shortest, easiest, route to what he wants. He is morally bankrupt. No, bankrupt infers that at one time you had something and lost it. This…guy….he is just…a sad shell of what he could have been. I pity him.
Because the electorate, especially our GenX’ers and younger, now know that their votes matter. That what happens 6 or 8 times a year in their towns, counties, states and country and their ability to pull that figurative lever, makes a difference.
I raised my kids to be responsible voters. I always told them that not to vote would be to dishonor the millions who have died and suffered over the centuries to build, and keep, this country. I taught them it would dishonor me.
But I don’t think I ever was able to show them the actual value of their vote. Donald Trump has done that.
Had Hillary won, this country would be even more divided than it was/is. Had Marco Rubio, Bernie Sanders, Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, Jill Stein, all competent people, won the election there would have been no real change. The status quo would continue with a disillusionment in the electorate and a “what does it matter” shrug from our young people.
They don’t shrug anymore, at least not those I have spoken to. I think most of the voters on the entire spectrum are decent, patriotic, well-meaning men and women. Differences are real. They are important and healthy. However, hate, intransigence, hyper-partisanship, inflexibility and outright lunacy are currently in charge. We, the American people, have let it happen. But it has been exposed for the ugly thing it is. And America is not like that. I trust her. She is us and she will not let us down.
I don’t share his politics, but I would respect Mike Pence as President. The country voted his way. That is the way this goes. He lives his values and is not afraid to state them. I am uncomfortable that he is showing himself to be such a sycophant, but he is a politician and to remain in power I guess some degree of sycophancy is required.
And Trump? Frankly, I have met the guy..twice. I have been shopped deals to invest in with him. After the little bit of time I spent with him, I can’t imagine voluntarily going to lunch with the guy let alone investing in anything he leads. The guy has absolutely ZERO sense of public service. He thinks that people are around in order to serve him. That is not what a leader is about. A leader serves. The more s/he serves, the better a leader, usually.
So, yup, he’s an embarrassment. He is the antithesis of an honorable human. He shows none of the ideals that we share as an American. He is the worst of us.
But, he has surrounded himself with men (unfortunately, I do not know enough about the women to say this) of honor who will not let the republic be irreparably harmed. No matter their politics, men like Mattis, Kelly, McMaster, they would rather die than betray the oath they each gave to protect the republic. General Kelly gave his son to us. They have proven that. America is not a “fuzzy” concept to them. We are safe.
I’m quite confident that Mr. Trump will land in prison. Not because he’s a traitor (I believe he is, but that’s not what will land him in prison), but because he is a criminal. He has never been under such a microscope.
I’ve seen his business deals. I’ve seen first hand what he’s done when presented with an ethical question. He always, at least every time I’ve had the opportunity to observe, selects, not what is the “right” thing, or even the “legal” thing, but what is easiest and best for him, what he can get away with. That is not even a slippery slope. That is a high wire act in pitch darkness that cannot be sustained in the light of scrutiny.
However, he is the best thing that’s happened to us. I believe the country will move relatively quickly and significantly towards reasonableness, compassion, energy, hope and zeal for who and what we are. Hopefully, we will do that responsibly.
I believe that the era of Donald Trump will be short, but will in a perverse way end up being just what we’ve needed for decades. I believe that we will once again be a nation of hope, that brilliant shining star that burns for freedom, equality, opportunity and the vision to light the way for the world. Because I think that Americans, as different as we are, as much as we disagree, are fundamentally decent men and women and we share those ideals.
Weirdly, it will begin happening again because of this idiot that currently, and temporarily, resides in the White House.
I am no longer ashamed, appalled or discouraged. Donald Trump has started the fire that this country needed, albeit unwittingly. I am filled with hope because I know that it has been past time to hand the mantle of leadership to the younger generations. They had no idea what it meant, how unbearably heavy it is. But now, they know that they have no choice but to take it. Because they, too, are Americans.
So, President Trump, enjoy what time you have left. You have done this nation a great service. For those of you who voted for him out of spite, out of fear, out of greed, out of pure malice, THANK YOU. You have done our country a great service. |
