Fortitude
Donald Trump wasn’t my first choice. The truth of the matter is that I was more enthusiastic about Marco Rubio or even John Kasich. When it came down to a choice between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, however, the choice, for me, was clearly the Donald. However, watching the 45th Presidency unfold, I’ve come to realize that my initial predilections were probably wrong. Witnessing the outrageous behavior of the Democrats and their unrelenting, biased, unfair and simply wrong headed attacks on the Trump Presidency, I don’t think my candidates I prefered at first would have been tough enough to withstand the vicious onslaught.
Now, some people say that, if we had elected a more “gentile and refined” President, the Democrats would “play nice” and the outrageous attacks wouldn’t be taking place. I don’t believe that for a minute. Remember, for example, how Mitt Romney, a very refined, gentile, and politically correct candidate, was vilified during his campaign. Even John McCain, a war hero and respected Senator, was excoriated during his campaign. (It was only AFTER he lost the election that the liberal media began to portray him in a more favorable light. And it was only after he began attacking Donald Trump that they made him into a hero). No matter WHO the Republicans nominated, that individual would, I believe, have faced the full fury of the Democratic Party, who have got to be the worst “sore losers” in the history of the world.
For President Trump, one of the most galling of the “sore loser” strategies has got to be their relentless investigations. After a two year and 35 million dollar “investigation” by Special Counsel Robert Mueller failed to find evidence of chargeable criminality, one would think that Mr. Trump could enjoy the peace of mind that comes with exoneration. Not so! At last count there are or were some SEVENTEEN investigations aimed at the man (Source: Axios.com)! No president in history has had to face anything like it. The Democrats will give him no surcease. And they appear determined to take their investigations to the height of absurdity. Everything the President has ever said or done is being dissected with an eye toward collusion, obstruction of justice, tax evasion, financial illegalities, sexual impropriety, and other potential crimes. I’m surprised they haven’t subpoenaed his scorecards on the golf course. How many of us would want our life history to be examined under such a microscope?… I didn’t think so. But, the Democrats try to justify their harangues by claiming it’s their duty to maintain congressional oversight of the executive branch. Congressional oversight, however, is one thing, Congressional persecution is another.
Now, aside from the unrelenting investigations, Mr. Trump is, on a daily or even hourly basis, attacked by angry Democrat Senators, Congressmen, the occasional Republican, the liberal news commentators, actors, comedians and others. There is an ugliness to all of this that is unprecedented. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, for example, had the gall to say, in public, that “We’re going to impeach the MOTHER F**KER.” That is the actual language she used. Then, that genius from Hawaii, Maize Hirono, during a twenty minute diatribe against Attorney General William Barr, managed to squeeze some digs in against President Trump too. She called Trump a “grifter and a liar”. The latest edition of “The Week” magazine featured a cover page with Robert Muller ripping a king’s garment off of Mr. Trump exposing an unflattering picture of his naked body with a pastie over his genitals!
Further examples include unfunny comedienne Kathy Griffin holding up a model of his severed head. And, as I demonstrated in a previous essay (A Leftist Photo Album, 9/13/18) the Internet is chockablock with outrageous pictures of Mr. Trump behind bars, hanging on a gallows, having a bull’s eye on his head, and other sick images. There are also “satirical” drawings of Vladimir Putin walking Mr. Trump as a dog, and even engaging in mutual sexual activity with him. And, that’s not all. There have been attacks against Mr. Trump’s wife, Melania, implying that she has worked as a hooker. Attack’s against Mr. Trump’s youngest son, Baron, implying l that he is autistic. Attacks against his eldest daughter, Ivanka, with talentless Samantha Bee calling her a “feckless c**t”. And, so on.
These attacks all are hateful (aren’t modern “progressives” supposed to be AGAINST hate speech?), crude and disgusting. Can you IMAGINE what it might be like to face this kind of ugliness every single hour of every single day?
Which brings me to the point of this essay: Mr. Trump has, it must be conceded, an amazing amount of fortitude. And, I’ve come to believe that none of the other 2016 Republican candidates would have been strong enough to endure this ghastly treatment and yet continue to function as President Trump has.
Yes, the man has fortitude. Astonishing fortitude. And, you might rightfully ask, HOW does he do it? I believe there are a number of answers to that question.
First, Mr. Trump has a number character traits, both good and bad, that serve him well in this regard. He is, likely, a very stubborn person, not easily dissuaded from pursuing his goals. Such perseverance helps one push aside the “slings and arrows” directed at him. Further, it’s likely that he is a bit of a megalomaniac. I bet he views much of the vitriol leveed against him as simply jealousy brewing in the hearts of lesser souls. I also suspect that he harbors an overconfidence engendered by years of success in the cutthroat world of mega real estate.
Second, I suspect that he takes tremendous sustenance from the political rallies and fundraisers that he often attends. If one watches videos of these rallies, one can feel the genuine respect, admiration and even love, that his constituents have for him.
Next, I believe he feels genuine satisfaction derived from his many important accomplishments (two conservative Supreme Court appointments, reviving a very lack luster economy, improving our trade agreements with a number of countries, rebuilding our military, ending the Caliphate, and others). And I suspect he feels extra gratification knowing that he has achieved all of these things despite the severe obstructionism he has faced in Washington from day one.
Lastly, there are the TWEETS. Although some people say that they like them, I don’t. And I think I’m not alone in wishing he would STOP sending them! In my opinion, most of those missives are juvenile, poorly thought out and do him more harm than good. HOWEVER, it may be that they provide him a sorely needed emotional outlet to “let off steam” at the outrageous way he is treated. It may also be that they allow him to push back against the myriad of insults, indignities, accusations and falsehoods that are thrown at him unrelentingly. So, if that’s what it takes for this man to endure and persevere, then so be it! Tweet away Mr. Trump! But, by all means, stand fast!