1. Dignity of the Office
There are those who criticize Trump for not being above it all. They say: "Ronald Reagan was vilified a ton by the media. So was George W. Bush. Neither ever stooped to this kind of stuff."
There are those who criticize Trump for not being above it all. They say: "Ronald Reagan was vilified a ton by the media. So was George W. Bush. Neither ever stooped to this kind of stuff."
2. Implicit in that assertion is an admission that no matter how a Republican president behaves, media will vilify mercilessly regardless. When confronted with that, critics resort to: "Reagan and Bush knew it didn't matter all that much. Trump ought to understand the same."
3. Well, I wouldn't say it didn't matter. There was a time when even I thought Reagan was totally unqualified to be president -- an opinion that was based solely on media accounts.
4. Only later, as I actually read his letters and speeches, and saw the results of his actions, did I realize how much I had been lied to by the media.
5. Ever since I have been examining MSM "narratives" with a critical eye, and I have seen nothing but a steady slide down into partisan sewers. By saying that, I am not excusing Trump's behavior. Just pointing out that two wrongs don't make a right.
6. I have a sneaking suspicion that Reagan's and Bush's gentlemanly behavior toward MSM only encouraged MSM to misbehave even more egregiously. Reagan and Bush couldn't have behaved in an ungentlemanly manner even if they tried. It was not in their nature.
7. Trump is clearly different. He takes the fight wherever the opponent wants to take it, and doesn't seem to mind getting into the sewers.
8. Dignity of the president's office has been used as a shield by MSM to vilify Republican presidents mercilessly with impunity, just as terrorists in the Middle East theater hide among women and children to avoid return attacks from the U.S. army.
9. We are in uncharted waters. We'll find out what happens when MSM can no longer count on the dignity of the POTUS office to avoid retribution.
10. We just may be witnessing mutually assured destruction. It makes me profoundly sad for both parties involved, and for all of us bystanders.
The End
The End
