The funniest thing I heard this week, even though the Resting Bitch Face thing was mighty amusing, was a Trump supporter complaining about the name calling directed at them and their favored candidate.
Whether you like the guy for the job or not, Mr. Trump (and many of his supporters) have ‘Borked’ the opposition at every opportunity. Engaged in or advocated left-wing Lawfare intimidation tactics. Encouraged name-calling and insulting behavior.
As I explained here this behavior is not unexpected, nor surprising, but it does inform others about a person’s relationship to principles. How they support or defend a candidate, their positions, or their behavior–past or present–shows us whether previously expressed values or principles are more important than any one person or any particular campaign.
This one is no different.
Now, for the record, I am not one of those Trumpmageddon types who is worried that a President The Donald might get mad and let loose the nuclear arsenal. He likes his stuff and his family and his lifestyle and getting it blown up is not high on his list so I think that is a bit dramatic. But many agree that there is no real way to know what he really believes on any given day, what he will do, or how he will govern. If that does not bother you, or you feel secure in the notion that his recent conversions are not fleeting (as in, for campaign purposes) but legitimate and potentially lasting, good for you.
Not everyone agrees.
I do think Trump has a unique formula that has attracted a wide-range of the electorate, and he has been effective at emphasizing the right issues at the right time (along with a unique campaign style). That’s called good campaign strategy, even if we have no idea from what basis he would govern. And we don’t. What we have is a popular public figure with a loose tongue and a gift for snark that scares the crap out of the political class, and to whom a significant portion of the country class is drawn.
Good for him, and his campaign, because he’s knocking them dead all the way to Fifth avenue. But if you are going to give it or enjoy watching your candidate give it, you ought to be able to take it, and that includes supporters.
So, to the Trumpkins complaining about getting some of what their campaign is giving, including to those inconvenienced by facts about Mr. Trump’s past stands on issues or the words that come out of his own mouth, thank you. It continues to be very enlightening, and awfully amusing, to see you get your jimmies rustled when you get back what Trump and many of his supporters regularly give out.
Please continue to complain about any lack of civility from other candidates or their supporters. It always makes me laugh when I read it and with a hobby like this you need all the laughs you can get.
