I remember shortly after Ronald Reagan was elected in 1980, one of the then-major news magazines, either Time or Newsweek, ran a headline with Reagan’s image saying, “Warts and All.” Of course, that was meant to be a put-down because both magazines clearly leaned Demofiendishly and favored incumbent Jimmy Carter in the election.
However, that adage can be fast forwarded to the second term of Donald Trump. We getcha, man, but stop it with all the Biden put-downs. I don’t remember Reagan wasting time bad-mouthing his predecessor. Joseph Biden has become your wart.
Reagan, by the way, was the first major Republican I ever voted for. The last Democrat I voted for, years earlier, was then-Senator Alan Cranston, who later resigned in disgrace for campaign finance shenanigans.
All that aside, Donald Trump needs to put the memory of Joe Biden to rest. I’m tired of hearing that “Biden wouldn’t even be awake yet” and “The Ukraine war never would’ve started were I president,” blah, blah. The ghost of Joe Biden haunts almost every exchange Trump has with reporters.
My message to The Donald: “You’re in charge now. Take ownership.” Perhaps the war in Ukraine would have been avoided under your watch, but we don’t know that. What we do know is that you now own that war as Biden’s successor, and your molly-coddling with Vladimir Putin is, in my view, only making the war worse.
Forget the fame and legacy, man. Even if you end the war in Ukraine and the other one in Gaza — and perhaps convince Iran to give up on a nuclear arsenal (good luck) — the Nobel Committee will never in a zillion years award you the Peace Prize. Historians won’t rate you highly, either.
So far, your threats in Gaza and to Iran have seen some hostages released, but the end to hostilities and terrorism seems nowhere near. Time for some real action to back up your words. Likewise with Putin, get some cojones and stand up to the man.
Now, let it be said that I voted for Trump three times, and even now when I have disagreements with him and his policies, my basis for supporting him is and has always been, “Who’s the alternative?” There’s no politician in either party who has America’s best interests at heart as does Trump.
Now live up to our expectations, Mr. President, and put the Ghost of Delaware to rest.