Looking back at 2018 there were many unprecedented news events. Many of them involve Donald Trump and his catastrophic approach to the Presidency. There was, for example, the Parkland school shooting (among other shootings), the barrage of climate disasters—coupled with Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Accords. Then there was the recognition of the corruption that surrounds his administration—from former Environmental Protection Agency Secretary, Scott Pruitt, to former Secretary of the Interior, Ryan Zinke. Of course, there was the President’s corrupt deal with the Kremlin to build a Trump Tower in Moscow, his subservience to Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, and his self-serving lies—almost one every waking hour. And, of course, there is the tightening noose of the Mueller Investigation--highlighted by the conviction and guilty pleas of Trump associates--coupled with their agreements to cooperate with the prosecution’s growing case against Trump and the other 17 investigation against him.
But for me the key event of 2018 was learning how deeply flawed Trump is both as a leader and a person. I always believed him to be very blemished, but I underestimated his faults. The source of his unworthiness may be some aberration in his personality, his profound ignorance, or some innate deficiency in his cognitive ability. It may be any one of these or all three. Whatever the source of his flawed leadership and personal style, it will prevent him from digging out of the hole in which he now finds himself. The results of the midterms are a sign of things to come.
Be assured, no matter who his advisers are, who his Chief of Staff is, who the White House Counsel is, who is personal lawyers are, Trump will make horrendous mistakes in 2019. His proclivity toward self-destruction does not mean Progressives should relax and wait for him self-immolate. We must push him and let him know how much we disapprove of him. He cannot ignore us, and our resistance will help drive him from office either in 2020 or sooner.
But for me the key event of 2018 was learning how deeply flawed Trump is both as a leader and a person. I always believed him to be very blemished, but I underestimated his faults. The source of his unworthiness may be some aberration in his personality, his profound ignorance, or some innate deficiency in his cognitive ability. It may be any one of these or all three. Whatever the source of his flawed leadership and personal style, it will prevent him from digging out of the hole in which he now finds himself. The results of the midterms are a sign of things to come.
Be assured, no matter who his advisers are, who his Chief of Staff is, who the White House Counsel is, who is personal lawyers are, Trump will make horrendous mistakes in 2019. His proclivity toward self-destruction does not mean Progressives should relax and wait for him self-immolate. We must push him and let him know how much we disapprove of him. He cannot ignore us, and our resistance will help drive him from office either in 2020 or sooner.