Due to other commitments, I was unable to watch the fourth and final night of the RNC. Not wishing to suffer through 2-3 hours of speechifying, I chose the easy alternative of reading the Andrew Sullivan live blog, which featured Andrew freaking out after reading the speech, and then his gradual return to normalcy as he realized Trump has not yet learned how to deliver a competent speech.
I think that Andrew, as a British immigrant of a true conservative bent, despite having been here for years, doesn’t understand that sometimes we Americans tend to have emotional surges and often forget that our personal experiences simply do not translate to this huge country of ours. For example, me getting mugged in downtown St. Paul doesn’t mean we’re in a crime wave and that chaos is about to descend upon the head of every Tom, Dick, and Harry. We need to be reminded of our immense size and activity from time to time, and then we start thinking again.
And that really leads me onto the important question of the day: What would I do if I were confronted with a Trump supporter today (and was actually articulate, rather than, like my wife, an “irrepressible wallflower”)?
I’d say, “Look, if you love your country, don’t yell at me about Hillary and all her alleged crimes. Take not 1, not 2, but 3 of Donald Trump’s claims, at random, and research them, and I mean really get down with them. Check the government reports, the neutral web sites – don’t take Donald’s word for it, don’t take the GOP’s, don’t take the Democrats’ word for it, and certainly don’t take Fox News’ word for it (because of this – summary: Fox makes you stupid, according to a long-time conservative’s objective research) – but the government non-partisan agencies are required to give truthful information. So, for instance, take Donald’s claim that crime is running rampant – and go get the stats. They’re online – so go find them. (Don’t expect me to help – of course!)
Do the damn research!
Did Donald lie? On all of them? Did he manage to be for something before he was against it before he was for it? Think about that. And you’re excited by him?
Finally, you say you want to shake things up in Washington? Here, show me your car. OK, would you let a thirteen year old with no experience fixing cars work on your beauty? No? Donald has no applicable experience – and, no, being a businessman simply doesn’t cut it. Why are you supporting him? Is your government not as important as your car? He can destroy civilization if he’s the President; in your case, you could have a car accident and get hurt, maybe even hurt a few other people, but that’s it. I know Paul Ryan and a few other GOPers think experts are unnecessary, but tell that to your car. Think about it. What possible good will come of this?”
