From an Angry Reader:
You seem intent on defining progressives as people who loathe Donald Trump, as clearly defined group who have a unified strategy of driving him out of office.
The tactic of defining—and dismissing—all progressives with a broad brush is a convenient way to give Trump supporters a clearly defined enemy to hate. That style of rhetoric has more in common with Rush Limbaugh than a respected academician. It is also the type of divisive and overwrought discourse (from both sides) that we are currently awash in.
I am a progressive, which to my mind describes what I am for, not against.
I do deeply regret that, though fairly elected, Donald Trump is our president, but that is unrelated progressivism or conservatism. Even if I were apolitical I would find President Trump deeply lacking in so many non-ideological ways. He is thin-skinned, untruthful and doesn’t seem to grasp the import of his position and seems to lack the character and intellect for the presidency.
I agree that he is being relentlessly attacked from many quarters (not just progressives), but his detractors do not need a strategy to bring him down. The media does not need to constantly vilify him to destroy his credibility. Simply observing his behavior, listening what he says and reading his tweets is sufficient to irreparably damage his presidency. He will likely bring down his own presidency with very little outside help.
Respectfully,
Glenn Shellhouse
Colorado Springs, CO
Victor Davis Hanson’s Reply:
Dear Angry Reader Glenn Shellhouse,
Trump is the first president who has neither political nor military service, so obviously the landscape is very different, and of course Trump’s style is over-the-top and often ad hominem. All regrettable. But with Obama the venom was directed at entire groups (“punish our enemies”, “get in their faces”, “take a gun to a knife fight”, the clingers, the “lazy” Americans, etc.).
Discussion (12)
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God bless Dr. Hanson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Who gave us a 20 trillion debt, a 1 trillion student debt that is likely to default to tax payers, like me who cannot afford additional expenses? Who gave us unsustainable obama-healthcare, unsustainable social security, medicare, and medicaid? Who gave us a near impossible to solve crisis with N. Korea, with Iran, with Syria, with Libya, with Iraq, with Afghanistan, with Russia, with China? The experienced politicians, the political class who answer to no one (the Clintons, obama, rice, the IRA, the EPA, the FBI, the Justice Dept., etc.) did. Trump did not. This business about Trump's manners is nonsense.
Please make no mistake. I love that our President attacks the media. Today's media is corrupt leftist propaganda. The media is more of a threat to America than N. Korea. There is no need to make apologies for Trump or his supporters. (Just for the record, I wanted Ted Cruz. He would not have won, and would have crumbled under these relentless character assassinations.)
I think replying to Mr. Glenn Shelhouse is a waste of ink and energy.
I enjoy all your writing. And special angry reader.......... Best Regards Steven
Excellent reply, sir.
Victor, I appreciate your very well argued reply. Has it not occurred to progressives/leftists that conservatives no less appreciate the broad brush of contempt simply for our association with President Trump? Am I required to condone all of his pettiness (he gets on my nerves as well) simply because I support many of the policies and leaders he's put into place? President Obama was no less a narcissist yet I rarely heard anyone from the MSM point that out. I too am quite amazed that Pres.Trump enjoys a 40% approval rating given the overwhelming attempt by almost all media outlets to smear him. I've lived through Watergate, Iran-Contra, Whitewater, Bengazi and all scandals in between and I've never seen a more vicious and obviously one-sided press. Every day in my daily Microsoft feed I am inundated with refuse from clearly partisan hacks posing as journalists. If the leftwing media treated President Obama even partially like they do President Trump, he would have left office with a 10% approval rating. Thanks for standing in the gap.
Agreed that Trump tweets are unfocused, but we got what we deserved as we atrociously did in getting Obama voted in by intellectually and ideologically lazy voters (should I add morally, too). I don't watch much on purpose but I'm so angered by CorruptMedia that Trump unleashed on the journo-infidels as much as he wants and as much as the withering response is as childish as ever. . Our erstwhile high civilization is no more. We've devolved into children and adolescence. Fighting over the black hole of power that was allowed to swell and fester because losing control is losing all power. Where did the limits go? The states are weak and need to buck up. Texas is leading and some are following, but the fight by governors (Abbott of TX) needs to be ratcheted upward many times over. . I'm breathing much to hard and must stop, because I really do hate losing my liberal society that has no idea that conservative governance is what saves the liberal society. I'm tired of my country being dumb.
I would like to invite you to speak at The Family, either at our Farm in Portola Valley (near Woodside) or at our City Home in San Francisco. We have luncheon talks at our Farm on Fridays and at our City Home as Special Events either at lunch or at dinner. I am happy to provide you with more information about us and as you may otherwise be curious about. We broke off from the Bohemian Club in 1902 as an indirect result of the animus towards WR Hearst (and Ambrose Bierce) following the assassination of Wm. McKinley. Please let me klnow if you have any interest.
Danger, Will Robinson. Virtue Signalling = not being "deeply lacking." I am surprised you did not resort to scatology. A**holery comes to mind. Luck for Trump, who fears he will get "very little outside help" in bringing down his Presidency, the Fake New Media has generously chipped in with 80 or 90 percent negative coverage.
Prof. Hanson, I am so sick and tired of the Left and the Trump Haters claiming that he is a liar. I grant you that he exaggerates (who doesn't) but I am unaware of any lies that he has told. Can you please share with me any (and all) lies that President Trump has told--let's limit this to his public life. Who knows what he told Marla when he got home late.
Professor Hanson, Your measured and insightful responses to "Angry Readers" always impresses me. Rather than lash out and excoriate your critics you use your God given intelligence to offer specific and valid responses to them. I enjoy the "Angry Readers" letter almost as much as your regular postings with the Hoover Foundation. The detail of your regular postings are impressive. I wish I could remember half of what you've written. I've just come on board reading your postings within the last year. I look forward to reading more in the coming years. Bruce McClelland Tucson