It’s hard to root for somebody like that
- Bryan Schaaf
- May 27, 2018
- 2026
There’s a part of me that feels dirty simply writing this, but in the name of unbridled objectivity, I must.
Donald Trump — Mr. Miss Universe, the failed leader of the USFL and reality show icon — may go down as one of the most successful presidents of my lifetime.
And as a late-30s Gen Xer who grew up during his rise, just reading that seems surreal.
But by most measurables that truly matter most to folks just trying to live their lives — namely, can they find jobs and make money to support their families — it’s hard to suggest that Trump’s first 18 months in office haven’t been successful.
In the name of full disclosure, I’m not a Trump guy. My standard for any public figure, whether it be in the political arena or the public sector as a business person, athlete or entertainer, is that they also must be good humans in addition to being good at their profession.
Even among his most ardent supporters, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone vouching for Donald Trump’s character and kind nature.
So in November of 2016, I chose to cast my vote for the lesser known Libertarian based on principle and also because I couldn’t stomach attaching my name to either of the mainstream candidates wrought with ethical questions.
That’s a decision I don’t regret, but if I’m honest, I don’t believe Gary Johnson would have our economy humming along as furiously as it is today.
At last check, the unemployment rate is at a 20-year low, which puts us smack dab in the middle of roaring Clinton years. I had a bowl cut, a freshly acquired driver’s license and still had aspirations of being a 6-footer someday. All you need is a peek at that bald cranium nearby as evidence of how much time has passed.
The economy also has experienced three-percent growth over the past year, which, though I’m no economist, is apparently substantial following the Bush and Obama years.
One of the things I always enjoyed about Bush and Obama was that, despite their positions of power and backgrounds, both always appeared as decent, genuine, approachable human beings.
They were the kind of folks I’d love to sit down and have a beer and some brisket with.
Trump, by contrast, comes off as crass, rude and the expected product of an adult who has lived his entire life in the lap of luxury. Spoiled, arrogant and demanding, it’s hard to root for somebody like that.
But when the entire country’s well-being hinges on the success of that individual, we should support him, even if it makes us cringe a bit in the process.
I suppose in a day and age where every politician has skeletons in his/her closet, having a president who has been forced to lay all of their misgivings on the table, whether voluntarily or not, is still better than being deceived by those who are just really good at covering their tracks.
A wise businessman at a sustainability conference once said that nothing is less sustainable than not making money.
If nothing else, President Trump is certainly good at making sure that doesn’t happen.