by Lynn Mandaville
When I first read Army Bob’s column “Unhinged Left Can’t Get Over Losing the Election” I found myself quite put out.Because Bob paints with a very broad brush, I take his criticisms personally. He doesn’t allow that not all those opposed to Mr. Trump fit his convenient assessment of them. I do not fit conveniently into his generalized category of anti-Trumpers.
There is surely some algorithm that would calculate how many people I represent with my particular set of opinions, assumptions and voting patterns who do not fit the populace Bob assumes to exist without variation.
Rather than respond to Bob in the comments section of his column, where so many of readers have expressed their objections, I choose to address his issues in my own space, knowing that I am not unique in many of these thoughts.
First, Bob, I am over “losing” the election. I am one of those voters who lost before she ever cast a ballot, because both choices were repugnant to me. What I can’t come to grips with is Trump’s clumsy, embarrassing, juvenile approach to governing our nation. But he is the president, not Hillary and not Barack. So I criticize him and his administration without calling names or resorting to personal attacks. I address his issues, policies and character traits – not those of Hillary or Barack – in as intelligent a manner as I can muster. I have written in this publication my strong feelings toward the inappropriate free expression of others who take issue with the president.
Second, you make certain, inaccurate assumptions of liberals in general. You say we all advocate violence. We don’t, just like not all Trumpers subscribe to his “punch ’em in the face” mentality. You say we are all Hillary fans. We are not. Some of us take issue with her questionable alliances on Wall Street. Her mistakes are hers and hers alone. She misread the voting public and lost the electoral college. You say we ignore that other presidents won elections by way of the electoral college. We don’t. We feel that the electoral college is an antiquated override of the popular desires of the people and should be abolished.
Third, you claim that the Russia investigation is baseless and unnecessary. Well, that ship has not yet sailed, Bob. Several intelligence agencies of the United States believe that there is sufficient grounds for an investigation to be conducted. So what’s the harm if it serves to reassure a doubtful demographic that our president is on the up-and-up? Let’s let it play out and calm the waters.
A few random observations before I close. I don’t think all Trump supporters are stupid. I have tried to listen and understand from where they come in supporting him, and some of it I get. I do believe, however, that some are misguided, that The Donald has sold them a bill of goods over which they will eventually have buyer’s remorse. I didn’t love Bill Clinton. He was a morally bankrupt man and I yelled my share at the TV over the Lewinsky debacle. I don’t demand a military coup to undo Trump’s presidency. But I do demand transparency, and bi-partisan government as opposed to closed-door drafting of legislation, i.e., a health care bill.
Finally, you say that liberals’ ideas are “outside of the American mainstream.” But the popular vote indicated that three million more people leaned toward ideas other than Trump’s, so who’s ideas are mainstream, and whose ideas are “other?”
I offer these observations, Bob, not to demean or discount your feelings or opinions. I offer them respectfully, to ask that you not make broad assumptions about everyone who takes issue with the current President of the United States. Because that IS the American way that we must protect. We must be able to disagree in an agreeable manner. We must be able to see all the nuances involved in being a participant in this republic we so love, in spite of her failings. Long may she wave!
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