A FACEBOOK DIALOGUE

Friday morning started with a few Facebook posts. A comment I made as to my fear that Trump would not leave the White House even if he lost the election triggered retort from a conservative businessman (a Facebook friend).

I find that those successful businessmen have strong opinions and can usually articulate them with conviction. I understand those who defend Trump because of the perception that the president’s actions have resulted in a good economy. I can not speak to the validity of that position at this time, but let’s take the following discussion at Facebook value.

ME: “I too fear Trump’s desire to staying in the White House regardless of the election results. Hard to comprehend the possibility.”

CONSERVATIVE BUSINESSMAN: “That concern is totally baseless. We are a nation of laws. No president would be allowed to stay in office once he or she lost an election. The president is not a dictator. They don’t control the army or law enforcement or the courts. I don’t understand where this comes from other than fear mongering Haters on the left.” (I nearly responded with a “I hope to God that you are right.”)

ME: “Sorry, that a president was elected with the help of a foreign government. And now That president and his party [primarily the Republican Senate Majority Leader] is now blocking any attempt to harden the [digital] wall against hacking of our electoral system. The so-called president should be indicted for obstruction of justice and the man that is president is a sexist racist liar. We voted for him and were not prepared for the result of that uninformed vote.”

Given that the president controls the Senate, the Department of Justice and is now represented on the Supreme Court [by his appointees]. Why should we be worried about an attempt on his part to stay in office? He exhibits all tendencies of the dictator and considers himself above the law. Yes, I do hate Trump because he is warping our democracy into something that our grandchildren may not be able to overcome.

The very fact that we were having this exchange instead of debating the real issues of the day – immigration policy, healthcare, fiscal responsibility, I believe proves my point.

 CONSERVATIVE businessman: “I am also sorry that we are not discussing issues rather than baseless name calling and slanderous statements. I believe in the rule of law and, as such, President Trump will be limited to two terms as has every president since Roosevelt. My problem is that all of your statements are generalizations. I keep asking my liberal friends to provide verifiable facts to back up these generalizations and I get nothing other than I usually end of being call some outrageous names. See, I really didn’t like former President Obama and I opposed all of his socialist, one world government policies. If asked, I could cite logical reasons and backup for this dislike. I never called him names or disparaged him personally, even though I believed him to be a pitiful president. I am willing at any time to logically discuss immigration policy, healthcare, fiscal responsibility or other important topic of the day. We can’t do that, however, when the left continues to focus on what I consider to be baseless name calling.”

ME: “Okay, let me give this a shot.”

First, name-calling – “Trump is racist.” Look at his words and actions. Your interpretation of those words or “naming”, may be based on your values and interpretation. But the fact is he did say the words.

Second, the validity of his election – that one is simple, read the Mueller report. My opinion any way it’s read provides the reader with the facts of Russian intervention and obstruction of justice. His actions that dismiss the veracity of our institutions provide the fact in my mind that he is obstructing any effort to prevent another attack in the 2020 election. My evaluation of his actions provides the basis for believing that any election that he loses will be attacked and disputed. Any rational leader when threatened by an external force would simply follow the premise of “rather be safe than sorry.” And deal with the issue.

Third, “Trump is a liar – the facts of his untruthfulness are found in his statements. Case closed.

Lastly, Trump is a sexist – maybe I don’t have hard facts, but I have made a judgment based on his actions and his history.

“It is interesting to note that any discussion of Trump’s character, policies and politics always invoke a counter with criticism of President Obama.”

“I don’t believe that Obama was the best president we ever had. But I do believe he is the best man we ever elected. His core values were based on family and religion. His decisions, in my opinion, were based what he thought best for the people. His actions were based on a foundation of informed analysis. Was he the perfect public servant whose judgment was always on the mark? No. He was a man doing his best to serve his country. I just can’t say that about Trump.”

CONSERVATIVE BUSINESSMAN:    Wayne, thanks for your reply. There is very little I can comment on or reply to. I would have to research his statements and actions, determine which were considered logically as racist, sexist and lies, ask if I had the correct ones and then reply. That is way too much work

so I will end this stream with an observation that it is interesting that you have read the entire Mueller Report. It is interesting that this politician is held to the absolute truth when past presidents (beside former President Obama) are not. It is interesting that Democratic candidates can lie about their ethnicity, their heritage and other public information and it is OK. It is interesting that all of the candidates during the debate could twist facts to fit their position. Maybe not exactly a lie but certainly not the truth. It is interesting that the Clinton Foundation received over $100M from the Russians without any outcry and that President Trump received nothing but should be impeached.

It is interesting that after all of the time and money spent on the Mueller investigation, the Democrats could not really come up with any actionable crime. Lastly, and I have to go back to former President Obama, it is interesting that he provided direct aid and comfort to our most sworn enemy, Iran, and not one Democrat raised the issue of Treason. Thank you for this conversation

The conclusion of this “conversation” led me to seek further information, facts that would provide something for my serious businessman friend to mull over.

I looked into the accusation of the Clinton foundation receiving money from Russia. Rather going to either the New York Times or the Washington Post which have now been labeled as fake news I went to NPR website which I considered to be a reliable source versus so-called “fake news” their findings can be viewed at https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/11/06/561587174/the-alternative-russia-scandal

    Many Americans have become accustomed to President Trump’s lies. But as regular as they have become, the country should not allow itself to become numb to them. So we have catalogued nearly every outright lie he has told publicly since taking the oath of office.

SOURCE: New York Times story By DAVID LEONHARDT and STUART A. THOMPSON UPDATED December 14, 2017

I have picked several of his lies to conclude

JAN. 23 2017 “Between 3 million and 5 million illegal votes caused me to lose the popular vote.

” There is no evidence of illegal voting however there is substantial evidence that the election was influenced by Russian hackers. Trump is given to exceptional hyperbole. In this case while he was elected in the lead tutorial college is ego would not accept the fact they lost the popular vote by approximately 3 million votes. Bottom line the majority of those who cast a vote did not support him. His pride wounded immediately jumped to this lie. Frankly, when I look at this issue, I believe he engages in self-deceit more than deceiving the public.

JAN. 25 2017 “So, look, when President Obama was there two weeks ago making a speech, very nice speech. Two people were shot and killed during his speech. You can’t have that.” 

There is no documentation that there were any homicide victims in Chicago that day. God knows where he pulled that from.

Maybe others can address this history in more detail. If you would like to see such an analysis go to https://www.politifact.com/personalities/donald-trump/