I'M WILLING TO CONCEDE IF.....

(photo courtesy of NBC News)

FOR THE RECORD

President Donald J. Trump has been in office for the second time for 46 days as I write this, although sometimes it has seemed like 46 years.  

A REFRESHER

Most of you who read the things I post and share on my Facebook page  and here on my blog know how I feel about Trump.  A refresher - I think he’s an ignorant, arrogant, self-absorbed, vindictive sociopath with no real affection for our country, as demonstrated recently by his willingness to spit in the eye of ALL our allies and cozy-up to leaders of countries who have been our greatest enemies - Vladimir Putin in particular.  

A CHRONIC BUSINESS FAILURE

He touts his success as a businessman as a qualification for the job of the leader of the free world, when his history demonstrates failure after failure after failure in his businesses. 

A PATHETICALLY SLOW LEARNER

Despite already having held his office for 4 years, he still fails to understand that government is not, and cannot be run as, a business.  Government’s sole purpose is to provide safety and services to the citizens of this country.  It is not, and cannot, be a “profit making” enterprise - a completely alien concept to Trump. 

HE SURROUNDED HIMSELF WITH LOYALISTS, NOT SEASONED PROS

In his attempt to “remake” government Trump has surrounded himself with loyal sycophants - some of whom have little, if any, qualifications for high ranking positions in government.  They “think smaller” than is required when acting on behalf of the President of the United States of America.  Many of them “shoot from the hip”, attempting to emulate and impress their boss.

A BULLY, NOT A STATESMAN

He demonstrates absolutely no aptitude for statesmanship, choosing, instead to berate and bully those with whom he must deal. 

WHEELER DEALER

That word, “DEAL”, is the cornerstone of his existence.  To him EVERYTHING in his life is a “deal” - every breath he takes is part of a “NEGOTIATION.”  And, in his life, many of those deals have failed badly!

THE GAZA SOLUTION - BONEHEADEDNESS PERSONIFIED

His “Gaza Solution” - to dislocate nearly 3 million residents of that area, scrape it down to dirt and rebuild it as the “Riviera of the Middle East” - is beyond hair-brained, conjured up with no apparent actual thought to where all those people will go and what kind of societal turmoil it will create for them and the entire middle east. 

COSTLY ARROGANT IGNORANCE ON DISPLAY

Without really understanding the monumental negative impact of his actions, he has unleashed the unelected, un-confirmed Elon Musk and his minions on the government like a pack of rabid pit bulls, where they are attempting to dismantle many of the essential functions of our government without apparent concern for the damage they are doing.  By firing tens of thousands of government employees across the spectrum they will create chaos when essential services are abandoned.  Veterans will be forced to stand in much longer lines to receive necessary services.  National Parks will be shuttered due to lack of staff to manage them.  Social Security payments may be delayed or abandoned altogether.  Income tax filings may be delayed because of dramatic staff cuts.  The beat goes on and on and on, with no real end in sight.  

HAIR-BRAINED IDEAS

He spontaneously combusts with hair-brained ideas, like levying onerous tariffs on goods imported from some of our most important trading partners, apparently not caring that it is the American consumer who will be paying the bill.  And, the reciprocal response will kick us consumers in the teeth - twice!  Yep, that $45,000 Canadian-built Toyota RAV4 may end up costing you $55,000!  If you live in a few of the northeast states who import their electricity from Canada your next bill will be a whopper!

HIS “GOLD CARD” PATH TO CITIZENSHIP

While probably not illegal, his scheme to permit wealthy wannabe immigrants to purchase a path to citizenship by simply forking over 5 million bucks for his “Gold Card”, along with some amorphous promises to ‘build businesses and create jobs”, makes me uncomfortable while less wealthy immigrants may end up imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay.  

ADIOS, USAID

He attempted to cease payment to organizations contracted to provide goods and services on our behalf around the world.  Those actions will, in fact, bankrupt many American businesses, including large numbers of farmers for whom the United States Government is their only customer.  

MORE BULLYING

He mistreats and harangues leaders of other countries as they pay homage to him.   Yeah, he’s the most powerful man in the world, but he doesn’t have to treat people like they’re his servants! 

WITH FRIENDS LIKE HIM…

He has abandoned the people of Ukraine in their most dire time of need because their president, Mr. Zelenskyy, failed to pay "proper respect" to Trump in their recent Oval Office engagement. He accused Mr. Zelenskyy of flirting with “World War III”, when, in fact, it is Trump’s behavior that is steering us toward that brink. 

THE PARALLELS ARE UNDENIABLE

He, much like Hitler in the late 1930s, overtly expressed in no uncertain terms an interest in taking Canada, Greenland and the Panama Canal by whatever means necessary because “we need them”. 

AND MORE...

These are just of the few more "memorable" gaffes Trump has perpetrated since being inaugurated in January.  You may remember many more, but you get my drift. 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS - I WILL CONCEDE IF…

But, despite all the anger and distrust I feel for Trump, I am willing to concede that I’ve been wrong about him if, by one year from today, he has actually accomplished the things he seems to be trying to attempt to do, although very much like a bull in a china shop, without destroying our country.  

*If he has stemmed the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs across our borders without going to war with our neighbors to the south and north.

*If he has rebuilt our economy and, by doing so, driven prices on essential goods and services down as he promised.

 *If he has managed to orchestrate a peaceful conclusion to the Ukraine/Russa war without forcing Ukraine to give up even more land to Putin. 

*If he has helped orchestrate peace in the Middle East without uprooting entire populations.

*If he has mended fences with our NATO allies and helped them become stronger both economically and militarily.

*If he has managed to keep China from taking Taiwan without us becoming involved in a Pacific War again.

*If he will begin acting Presidential and stop acting like a dictator in a 3rd World country.  Just follow the darn script on the teleprompter, for goodness sake!

*If he will focus his ICE agents on seeking out the real criminals among the illegal alien population and stop terrorizing hard-working citizens in our minority communities.

A YEAR IS ENOUGH

Based on his blitzkrieg through our government since taking office less than 2 months ago, a year is plenty of time for him to accomplish his promised goals without destroying our country.  I will not promise to agree with his self-assessment that he’s the “greatest American President”.  He recently conceded that "maybe" George Washington was our greatest President.

ONE FINAL THING, MY FRIENDS…

Some of you reading this are actually my friends, not just “Facebook Friends”.   Some of you are both.   I value every one of you, even if you disagree with me.  Unlike Trump, I accept the fact that others may have a different view of things than I do - such is life.  And, I respect your right to express that disagreement without fear of retribution.  Of course, I feel you should always agree with me. (That’s a joke)  What I do NOT want to happen is for us to stop being friends.  If what I write bothers you so much that it angers you,  then please, by all means, stop reading it.  As I’m permitted to do in this Representative Republic, I will continue to express my views, for whatever they are worth.  For me, they are not worth losing a good friend.  So, off we go, with fingers tightly crossed for the future of our wonderful country.