Of Service and the Rage of a Small Man
Donald Trump had choices for how to honor Robert Mueller. He chose hate.
Robert S. Mueller III was a lot of things. He was an athlete who played hockey as a youth with John Kerry. He married Ann Cabell Standish, the love of his life, in 1967 and would remain with her for the rest of his life with a loving family. When many people with his blue-blood upbringing were avoiding service, Robert Mueller signed up to go to Vietnam, earning valor awards. Time and again, he answered the call of service.
For sixty years, he tried to do what was right. In essence, he was everything President Donald J. Trump is not. And when Muller passed away, Trump said he was happy he had died.
Every single day, Donald Trump reveals how small he is. He could have said nothing. It would not be the best thing. Robert Mueller served his country for most of his life. Many people admired him. But Donald Trump could not do that. Normal presidents of both parties honored him. But Donald Trump chose the worst way. Donald Trump always chooses hate.
We had co-author Thomas Schaller of White Rural Rage on Hardball a few months ago. One of the many good points the authors make in the book is that Trump voters support Trump because he hates whom they hate. It also works that they hate who he hates. So many Trump voters have gone along with his hate of Robert Mueller, even in his death. There is no grand strategy to this. Trump hates someone, and he encourages his followers to do something. That includes attacking the Capitol. That explains why so many Republicans are afraid of Trump supporters.
Robert Mueller was a Republican, and he did not fear Donald Trump. We can disagree about the results of Mueller’s work. But it is hard to argue that Robert Mueller deserved what Trump celebrated. He clearly did not. Robert Mueller was a man of honor who tried to do his best to serve the American people. We will continue to honor that, and someday soon, the American voter will get something better of an American president.
A world leader who communicates by tweets, raging incoherently. In one week he manages to insult the representative of a friendly nation, and to disparage the memory of a man who served his country with honor. And still his loyal sycophants kneel with their noses up his ample post-erior. If this was the subject of a play on Broadway it would close after the debut for lack of audience appeal. Shame on us if we don't limit his power asap.
In all my 70 years, I have not hated republicans....but, I have been hated because I vote democrat most of the time. trump has created a huge divide in our country and his hate does not mean he and the maggots love the USA more. I served in Iraq. I did not agree with bush, but I didn't hate him. As to trump, I feel nothing. When he dies, and he will die, I will feel nothing...but I will celebrate quietly.