This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
If the 2016 election was about choosing the lesser of two evils, it appears that we have chosen the greater. Does the shameless character of the president matter? The new populism of white identity politics has brought us to a new crisis by enabling the most repulsive aspects of politics.
The Trump campaign rallies were about vulgar and demeaning language against Muslims and minorities. That is an important factor in his support, which means he is somewhat less hypocritical about his darker world view than other politicians.
Who would have thought that the country would fall for a deceitful leader who uses demagoguery for his own adoration and omnipotence? His legislative agenda is in disarray, exposing his vacuous understanding of democracy.
Trump always uses superlatives. The more you listen to him, the more apparent it is that he does not speak from the outlook of anyone else. Did he really think that asking the FBI director to hold off on the Russia investigation would not raise suspicions, not to mention firing him?
No communication is possible with him, not because he lies, but because his character is thought-defying and against reality itself. Thought tries to get to some depth or meaning. With respect to Trump, thought is fruitless because there is nothing there. When Trump spoke metaphorically about shooting someone and not losing any voters, his support was sustained. He now has literally carried it out with James Comey. What he will lose is his raison d'etre.
Don Hiddleson
Millcreek