Eugene Robinson: I wish President Trump failure

[babylonsister]

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/11/i_wish_president_trump_failure.html

I wish President Trump failure: Eugene Robinson
on November 14, 2016 at 11:04 AM, updated November 14, 2016 at 11:09 AM
By Eugene Robinson


WASHINGTON -- The people chose Hillary Clinton. But it's the electoral vote that counts, not the popular vote, so Donald Trump will be president. And no, I'm not over it.

No one should be over it. No one should pretend that Trump will be a normal president. No one should forget the bigotry and racism of his campaign, the naked appeals to white grievance, the stigmatizing of Mexicans and Muslims. No one should forget the jaw-dropping ignorance he showed about government policy both foreign and domestic. No one should forget the vile misogyny. No one should forget the mendacity, the vulgarity, the ugliness, the insanity. None of this must ever be normalized in our politics.

snip//

If a normal Republican had been elected, I could say the polite and socially acceptable thing, something like, "I didn't support So-and-So but he will be my president, too, and I wish him success." But I cannot wish Trump success in rounding up and deporting millions of people or banning Muslims from entering the country or reinstituting torture as an instrument of U.S. policy. In these and other divisive or cruel or unwise initiatives, I wish him failure.

I do hope he succeeds in avoiding some kind of amateurish foreign policy blunder that puts American lives or vital national interests at risk. And let me be clear that I am not questioning his legitimacy as president. When the results are certified and the Electoral College casts its votes, Trump will be the nation's duly chosen leader, ridiculous though that may be.

But he has not earned our trust or hope. Rather, he has earned the demonstrations that erupted in cities across the country. He has earned relentless scrutiny by journalists, whom he shamelessly made into scapegoats during the campaign, and he has earned the constant vigilance of the public he now must serve.

snip//

If Trump is beginning to confront reality on some fronts, that's a first step -- in a thousand-mile journey toward credibility and respect. But appointing Bannon is a big step backward. We must watch Trump, and judge him, every single inch of the way.

Eugene Robinson's email address is eugenerobinsonwashpost.com.

[Solly Mack]

1. K&R

[handmade34]

2. No one should be over it

This is not normal, nor is this good, nor is this acceptable... I will fight

[Paladin]

3. Eugene Robinson speaks for me.

Not for the first time, he's eloquently expressing exactly what I've been feeling.

[BeyondGeography]

4. This is actually going to cost him with a fair number of his voters

He also backed away from the idea of having a special prosecutor reinvestigate Clinton over her emails. "They're good people, I don't want to hurt them," he said of Bill and Hillary Clinton.

E.g., NPR had a reporter go into a diner in deep red Ohio last week after the election and the one thing they were all amped up about was criminal trials for Hillary and Obama.

[ProfessorGAC]

11. Obama?

In a scandal free administration they want prosecutions? What a bunch of idiots!

[BeyondGeography]

13. I kid you not

"Hang Obama" was something you could hear at his rallies, after all. Was it a fringe? Sure. But that fringe added up to a lot of important votes.

[ProfessorGAC]

17. Quite Annoying

And "hang" sounds to my ear like "lynch". I think you know where i'm going.

[Tansy_Gold]

21. Exactly.

I've heard it here for past eight years. "They" still hate him and always will.

[trotsky]

24. Nope, they'll forget.

A new shiny object will be put in front of them, and they'll forget how this was supposed to be about convicting Hillary and Obama of treason.

[KatyMan]

26. Hillary and Obama

Are so last season, come on. There will be a whole passel of new villains when episodes start up again.

[trotsky]

28. It will be hailed as a sign of King Trump's benevolence to allow Hillary to live out her life.

To help "heal the nation." Fucking bullshit is all you can expect from this administration and the GOP.

[Demsrule86]

33. Obama should pardon her period...got to play

hardball with the Gop asshats.

[trotsky]

35. No way, no how.

She didn't do anything illegal. There is nothing she can be tried for, and certainly not treason. If Obama issues her a pre-emptive pardon, it plays right into their narrative AND gets Trump off the hook for dropping a campaign promise. That's exactly what he wants.

[Demsrule86]

36. I agree and Obama should state that but he should also state he will not allow Trump to use the

US Justice system for a political prosecution.

[JI7]

45. i think the Clintons and maybe even Obama should have some smiling photo ops with Trump like they

are having a good time.

we know Trump himself probably doesn't like hanging out with his biggest supporters . he only likes the cheers he gets from them at rallies. but have you seen him actually hang out on a more personal level with any of them ?

i would be ok with it just to make the scum who voted for him angry.

[MrModerate]

5. Let's not mince words: Trump has already earned our hatred . . .

Wishing for his success is impossible. The best I can do is hope that America and our allies survive.

[Fast Walker 52]

6. yep... but the nightmare has really only begun

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/11/trump-north-korea-nuclear-crises-214457

[BeyondGeography]

8. Oh sure

Can we rely on Trump to act with diligence, competence, diplomatic skill, reason and restraint?

[Fast Walker 52]

9. pretty much... it's scary as fuck

[BeyondGeography]

10. I keep telling people this is what I'm worried about

They think I'm exaggerating. No. This IS what I'm worried about. The world is a tinderbox and so is Trump.

[heaven05]

16. 1000

many have no idea what nightmare realities are barreling down on them. Trump is a figurehead, if he were removed we still have pence and a RW House and Senate and soon, very soon, Supreme Court.. Nightmare? Yeah on super steroids. Only small solace is, the trumpfuhrer voters WILL suffer too.

[spanone]

7. c'mon eugene, the media has forgiven trump!!!!

[heaven05]

12. "earned relentless scrutiny by journalists"

really???? They are largely responsible for this monster and the creation of the New Nazi Party of AmeriKKKa. Vigilence by the public will only mark a person, as my brown skin has marked me in the eyes of the new brownshirt movement spreading across our nation. This monster will not serve up, as Omarosa said or one of his brown skin surrogates, we will all have to bow down to him on his golden toilet/throne.

[malaise]

14. Same here

I am still in a state of stunned incredulity

[lillypaddle]

15. Amen, Eugene Robinson

it will be a cold day in hell before I give that freak any support at all.

[njcpa1978]

18. DT is already a failure.

He has started failing his supporters. BOO HOO to them. He is failing America by his lack of understanding of the job of President, (just as Obama). He is failing himself because he will surely fall well below how wonderful he thinks he would do this job. Just like all those Internet "Fail" videos, I am afraid we are going to have a YUGE President FAIL 4 years. Lord help us.

[Arkansas Granny]

19. I'm afraid that a Trump success would look a lot the same as a Trump failure. Either will be bad

for the country as a whole. The man is unhinged and his administration will share that trait. It's going to be a long four years, folks.

[catbyte]

23. but for all the horrors that trump might bring, I fear a President Pence more.

There's just no hope anywhere.

[handmade34]

20. I wish the Republicans

no success... everything they stand for, the ideas they push are all in direct conflict with what I hold dear...

Inclusion, health care for all, a clean healthy environment, accessible public lands, Equal Rights for Women and the right for women to make their own choices and control their own bodies, Black Lives Matter, LGBTQ rights, gun control, strong public schools, teaching critical thinking, FACTS, etc....

[catbyte]

22. I'm sill not over it, either. I haven't turned on my tv or really checked online news since 11/8.

I can't believe that I live in such a fucked up country. I can't believe that everything I've worked for my entire adult life was flushed down the toilet.

I'm 61 and tired. I hope I bounce back, but that isn't even a glimmer of a possibility now. I feel like there's been a death in my family. I guess there has--the death of everything I held dear. Sorry to be such a Debby Downer, but I still can't believe this has happened, but I'm so glad that DU is back.

[OldHippieChick]

25. Ditto and I'm older than you

I hate not being able to watch the news, but it's still just too much. We survived Nixon, Reagan and GW, but this is beyond all of those.

[Arkansas Granny]

27. I'm not over it either. Like you, I haven't watched any tv news, although I have read a few online

sources. I just know that if I turn on the tv I'll hear his voice and I'm not ready for that.

I don't worry so much for myself, but I have children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. How is this going to affect their future, especially the girls? This is just so messed up.

[catbyte]

29. I was never so grateful that I had a messed up reproductive system as I was on the morning of 11/9

I've always been "meh" about kids, but now I really am glad that I had endometriosis, and that is so messed up. I feel so sorry for all the young people who are scared now. A friend of mine has had a horrible week--her son is a quirky, wonderful 12-year old with shockingly red hair & freckles who has been the target of bullies for a while now. She had to tell him that the bully won. Her 8 year old daughter has been crying because she's worried about her Muslim and Hispanic friends. I don't think I'd be able to handle that, so I'm selfishly reveling in my infertility.

Jesus, I can't believe that this is happening.

[world wide wally]

44. I haven't watched the news either because I know there can't possibly be any good news.

We are so fucked right now. I'm not sure what the way out is, but I hope I can even give a shit one of these days.
This country has turned itself into a bad joke intentionally and shown us exactly how a madman like Hitler came to power. That is what the people (at least enough of them) wanted. Right now, I am not crazy about Americans and I am not going to pity a Trump voter for anything they have brought on themselves.

[blueotter]

30. I agree!

#NotMyPresident

I'll never accept him or legitimize him. He's trash.

[ailsagirl]

38. Never in a million years...

[lonestarnot]

31. K & R!

[Greybnk48]

32. I agree with his (ER's) every word.

Trump's an ignorant vulgarian, worse than Dubya, and he's NOT my President.

BTW: I subscribed to the Washington Post yesterday just to support one of the only papers left. It was a tossup between WP and NYT and I basically flipped a coin. My entire State is Gannett and has been for years. Everyone who can, should support the last of the news people.

[Demsrule86]

34. I will do the same.

[uponit7771]

37. Amen

[UTUSN]

39. Go gene go!

[Generator]

40. What?

No pass on the pussy grabbing? Give a guy a break.

[krawhitham]

41. K&R

[dhill926]

42. righteous....

[Lucinda]

43. KNR