Here’s the Problem: Donald Trump Has Passed into Legend

Our current U.S. President has already been immortalized as an American antihero and martyr, regardless of impeachment outcome.

I will attempt to be non-partisan here with this short piece. Or, at the very least, balanced. No promises.

Despite my personal thoughts of our current U.S. President — which are not kind — I believe this much to be true:

Unless November proves otherwise, up to half the country will vote against my candidate. Most of that section of the voting public will stand by this President, no matter what.

That large percentage — likely in the forties — believe the Democrats are “sick” and “delusional,” while many Democrats consider Trump supporters as “cultists.”

Whichever percentage of voters loses this election will be devastated, and likely find it difficult to cope.

I’m 56 years old, never missed a vote since I was of age, and voted Democrat in the last election. I’ve voted GOP twice in my life. I’ve never switched affiliations, as I always support the party I believe would be best for office considering the current climate of the country. Who I’ve voted for primarily throughout my life, then, should further inform you where my judgement lies.

I do not trust a single current GOP lawmaker who defends President Trump under any and all circumstances.

I voted for Obama twice. I criticized him when due. I rarely see any devoted Trump supporting voter criticize him for anything at all.

Donald Trump has charisma. Barack Obama has charisma. Bill Clinton had charisma as a candidate and a President.

There is not a single remaining 2020 Democratic candidate who presently shares that charisma — again, in my opinion — and ignites and inspires a base as rabidly as does Donald Trump. The blue party is split among its current candidates: Some say Biden and Sanders are too old, Mayor Pete doesn’t have a foothold with black voters and is therefore unelectable, Andrew Yang doesn’t have a shot and no one is familiar with Deval Patrick, Amy Klobuchar is not well-liked, Tulsi is a “Russian asset,” Elizabeth Warren is radical and the billionaires are attempting to buy the election. Is anyone spotlighting issues other than Medicare for All? Can you quote me any of the candidates’ formal positions on gun control and foreign policy without visiting their websites? As Democrats will come together in the end and party voters will do what they must to keep Trump out of office, many will do so grudgingly as their candidate was not selected. Obama stood out from his field. No one here does so.

Some friends of mine do not understand how I can keep Republican friends considering the current country-wide polarization and my own outspoken behavior on the matter. I’m loyal and I’ve put old friendships ahead of politics because, in most cases, we can talk. We need to. They, as I, realize that Trump will not physically hold office forever. Most of my Republican friends dislike Trump and do not approve of his provocations and tactics. And some have publicly said so. They want a return to decent discourse, as do I. Though to me the means do not justify the end, and several of those friends, primarily women, have expressed a possibility of changing their vote this year, their perception of the current economy makes that decision a difficult one.

Those lifelong Republican friends of mine, regardless or in some cases because of their public views of Donald Trump, get similarly criticized for palling around with me.

The bottom line —

Once the next election is over, whatever side loses will still exist. Repeat that, please. Once the next election is over, whatever side loses will still exist.

Then what?

If the national anger within our two-party system continues to mount … things will get a hell of a lot worse before they get better. At some point, we will all actually have to talk to each other if we want real peace.

So there’s this, to be scrupulously clear on my end: Though Donald J. Trump offends me as a man and a U.S. citizen for innumerable reasons, that doesn’t mean he does the same to you, and I need to listen to that. I need to hear it, because pretending “another side” doesn’t exist has added to the ugliness and can be equally dangerous, and in part has brought us to this point.

I believe Trump to be racially provocative, for example, and I do struggle with friends of mine supporting his immigration agenda by proxy, while they fight with me — with, not against — for equal rights.

And yet those who do not switch their vote will vote for him again to support their party.

Party before country is not the way I was ever raised, but I want to be “that guy” who at least attempts to understand the complexities of certain opposing viewpoints because, either within a year or after another four, Donald Trump will no longer be President.

Chances are no other man or woman set to assume office will leave a mythic antihero upon completion of their term, as this President is destined due to the fervor of his most passionate followers.

How I long for a return to decency in this country. Regardless of side, we all need to stop pretending we’re the only ones who can make a difference.

I may not like it, but that’s the way it is.

Thank you for indulging me.

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