For my inagural blog post for my new re-fashioned website, the topic had to be political. Sorry — not sorry.

Inspired by two separate instances where Leftist friends targeted supposed Trump supporters and Republicans, I wrote the following in response.

     Addendum here probably adding fuel to the proverbial fire, I dare comment that most of what is against Trump is character assassination rather than constructive criticism against successfully passed policies. Clinton's election proves character does not matter and harping on Trump's 'evil' personality is a hypocritical effort at rationalizing why one must adhere to failed Democrat dogma. Recall, Bush 1’s re-election campaign was based upon his having established moral character being both a Conservative and a Republican verses Bill Clinton’s lack thereof. Character was left aside for more meaningful concerns.

     Pre-election Trump has no political record other than his past lobbying, including donating to the Clintons and even while as president to Democrat opponents, and a series of failed presidential bids. As an effective tactic, I understand why character assassination is the primary and often times sole method employed against Trump. Part of his campaign traded on his celebrity status, just like Jesse Venture, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Al Franken before him; being a political outsider was another factor that got him elected. Like Obama and AOC, it is not an issue of having experience. I find the unsubstantial criticism of Trump centered upon his adopted affiliation with the Republican Party toward which most non-Right-of-center have a de facto antagonistic attitude. I.e. it is not about Trump himself but more about his siding with an “opposing” side.

     Post-election, Trump's character no longer matters still. Going off Clinton, before and since election, demonstrates character is irrelevant to job performance. Whether one agrees or disagrees with what Clinton said or how he acted, is immaterial to job performance. Likewise with Trump. Regardless whether one likes or dislikes Trump’s tweets or braggadocio behavior in the end, character is inconsequentially toward Trump’s performance as president. Since performance is what matters, then what is of concern are the policies Trump has initiated and supported that have passed and the substantive impact of such policies based upon a set of parameters. Let us define for the moment, later may be extended, the following parameters: national security, which is defined by the Constitution as the primary job of the president, and economic health of the nation, which since Wilson and exacerbated by FDR and post-Kennedy Johnson, the economic welfare of the individual has been linked to the president’s political actions.

What I find most problematic is the premise ‘Trump is ‘evil’ implies all that Trump does or supports is also (necessarily) ’evil’. That is blatantly false. I put forth a specific example where Trump has done ‘good’ not ‘evil’ despite presumptive claims to the contrary.https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/25/us/politics/trump-animal-cruelty-bill.html

Now, unless one supports animal cruelty, here exists one example of Trump doing good.An open-minded, receptive individual can admit the possibility all that Trump does is not bad or evil. Further, if they escape the character centric criticism opting for policy focused assessment then there is promise of a more balanced — “fair” criticism of Trump.

Take for example, 

• Pre-election commentary on media coverage of Trump, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XoS-s4DIGE

• A more balanced assessment since Trump’s election, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkosbgYIOWM

To be clear, I am not making an argument i.e. a series of connected statements working at validating an assertion. I am, however, expressing dismay at the weak criticism and automatic anti-Trump stance by those not Right-of-center only on account of his outward character and his current chosen political affiliation. Trump may be the biggest asshole, but let’s leave aside our opinion of his personality and concern ourselves with what matters. For example, if unemployment for Blacks is (— was? pandemic times) at an all historic low, then if this is what (Trump’s) racism looks like, then I, for one, invite more of it.