Lawrence Akutagawa
2017-03-27 20:00:37 UTC
As many here know, I am not at all a devotee of Facebook (as some...eg, the
Village Idiot...are). So it was a surprise to me to see a Facebook
reference/link in an USA Today article:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2017/03/27/dan-rather-on-the-trump-presidency/99692316/
That reference/link when clicked led to the Facebook entry here by Dan
Rather:
https://www.facebook.com/theDanRather/posts/10158413677615716
We're roughly two months into the Trump Presidency, and it is the worst
start to a time in office I have ever seen. I am not alone in this
conclusion.
Many Presidential scholars are saying it’s the worst start of any Presidency
in the history of the country.
Now William Henry Harrison in 1841 talked too long in the cold of his
inauguration. He caught pneumonia and died a month later. So, yes, I suppose
you could say that his time was worse.
Rutherford B. Hayes had a tough time taking over in his first and only term
(1877) after a convulsive, controversial election by the House. But worse
than President Trump’s first months? Doubtful at best.
Abraham Lincoln had a terrible time at the beginning—states withdrawing from
the Union, civil war beginning and early political mistakes. But he was
laying the groundwork for his becoming one of the best, most important
Presidents ever. Is Trump, in a different time and in different ways, laying
such groundwork? Well, there may be people who will argue he is. But given
present evidence, that’s not likely to become a widely held opinion.
So after two tumultuous, chaotic and in many ways outrageous months (an
embarrassing defeat on ACA repeal, the deepening Russia probe, the striking
down of the travel ban) where do we stand? Where does all of this go?
It's important to talk about where we are politically - who is winning and
losing, in the Administration, Congress, and the national and local
political classes. But I am much more concerned about Where we stand as a
people is in a potentially dangerous, very dangerous place. A weak President
running a weak, ragtag administration is a prescription for trouble.
Trouble internationally could come from enemies and other competitors who
may see opportunities for advantage and overreach. Trouble internally could
easily come from a worried, divided nation, and opportunistic ideologues and
politicians who try to exploit the situation.
But, before you get too downcast if not outright depressed about this, keep
in mind that we Americans still stand united about core principles. Such as
a rock-hard commitment to The Constitution and to the concept of America as
a new (historically) idea, the idea of a free people constantly striving for
a better nation through a representative government—and trying, ever trying,
to achieve liberty and justice for all citizens. I also think the defeat of
Trumpcare this past week is proof most Americans see a role of government to
provide social welfare to our fellow citizens. Over the course of our
history we have seen that role on a march of expansion with no significant
reversals.
The core of our union—the union of our states and the union of our people as
regards core principles—is holding. We see the wisdom of our framer's
dividing power into different branches of government. The separation of
powers is holding, but stresses that could lead to cracks are increasing.I
worry of a growing national forgetfulness about one of the favorite saying
of our forefathers and mothers…”United We Stand, Divided We Fall." We forget
it at our peril.
Village Idiot...are). So it was a surprise to me to see a Facebook
reference/link in an USA Today article:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2017/03/27/dan-rather-on-the-trump-presidency/99692316/
That reference/link when clicked led to the Facebook entry here by Dan
Rather:
https://www.facebook.com/theDanRather/posts/10158413677615716
We're roughly two months into the Trump Presidency, and it is the worst
start to a time in office I have ever seen. I am not alone in this
conclusion.
Many Presidential scholars are saying it’s the worst start of any Presidency
in the history of the country.
Now William Henry Harrison in 1841 talked too long in the cold of his
inauguration. He caught pneumonia and died a month later. So, yes, I suppose
you could say that his time was worse.
Rutherford B. Hayes had a tough time taking over in his first and only term
(1877) after a convulsive, controversial election by the House. But worse
than President Trump’s first months? Doubtful at best.
Abraham Lincoln had a terrible time at the beginning—states withdrawing from
the Union, civil war beginning and early political mistakes. But he was
laying the groundwork for his becoming one of the best, most important
Presidents ever. Is Trump, in a different time and in different ways, laying
such groundwork? Well, there may be people who will argue he is. But given
present evidence, that’s not likely to become a widely held opinion.
So after two tumultuous, chaotic and in many ways outrageous months (an
embarrassing defeat on ACA repeal, the deepening Russia probe, the striking
down of the travel ban) where do we stand? Where does all of this go?
It's important to talk about where we are politically - who is winning and
losing, in the Administration, Congress, and the national and local
political classes. But I am much more concerned about Where we stand as a
people is in a potentially dangerous, very dangerous place. A weak President
running a weak, ragtag administration is a prescription for trouble.
Trouble internationally could come from enemies and other competitors who
may see opportunities for advantage and overreach. Trouble internally could
easily come from a worried, divided nation, and opportunistic ideologues and
politicians who try to exploit the situation.
But, before you get too downcast if not outright depressed about this, keep
in mind that we Americans still stand united about core principles. Such as
a rock-hard commitment to The Constitution and to the concept of America as
a new (historically) idea, the idea of a free people constantly striving for
a better nation through a representative government—and trying, ever trying,
to achieve liberty and justice for all citizens. I also think the defeat of
Trumpcare this past week is proof most Americans see a role of government to
provide social welfare to our fellow citizens. Over the course of our
history we have seen that role on a march of expansion with no significant
reversals.
The core of our union—the union of our states and the union of our people as
regards core principles—is holding. We see the wisdom of our framer's
dividing power into different branches of government. The separation of
powers is holding, but stresses that could lead to cracks are increasing.I
worry of a growing national forgetfulness about one of the favorite saying
of our forefathers and mothers…”United We Stand, Divided We Fall." We forget
it at our peril.