He raced across Europe, saving the “Battered Bastards at Bastogne.” He killed and captured hundreds of thousands of Hitler’s finest soldiers, and is widely regarded as one of America’s greatest wartime Generals in all our history. Yet he was reviled by many in our political establishment for his harsh and often inflammatory rhetoric. In fact, in Bill O’Reilly’s book “Killing Patton,” (while we may never know the truth), he comes (Bill) very close to suggesting that General George Patton was assassinated largely because of his often heated speeches and rhetoric, which at the end of WWII could very well have caused WWIII.
Throughout the history of the world, there have been many examples of how one person changed nations, societies, and, in some cases, the history of the world. Of course, Jesus of Nazareth would be at the top of the list, then Gandhi (India), King David (Israel), Moses, Patton (defeating Hitler), Sam Adams (starting the revolution against King George), and many, many more. So what do these iconic men and Donald Trump have in common?
In nearly all cases (at their time in history), they were reviled and hated for what they were accomplishing or attempting to accomplish. Jesus was crucified, daring to speak about his father’s kingdom. Gandhi was assassinated for trying to create a unified India. Sam Adams was hunted for treason against the crown; Patton remains a question mark, but there is evidence suggesting how he met his fate. And these examples raise the question about President Donald J. Trump. So, how is it that with all of Trump’s victories in such a short amount of time, why are his approval numbers in the sewer? Yes, for Presidential polling, his numbers reside in the basement or close to it.
Answer: Personality!
America has held the belief (for over 200 years) that a President should behave in a particular manner. They are to be professional, have an even demeanor, be respectful of the office, watch their tongue when speaking in public, be respectful of foreign leaders, and have presidential decorum. Presidents are not to insult foreign leaders (by calling them stupid and other derogatory names), not call reporters “Pigs,” threaten to yank networks off the air for asking tough questions, and a litany of other infractions that Donald Trump has committed. In many respects, Trump is much like Patton was. He can be toxic at times, cantankerous, demeaning, insulting, and a host of other non-presidential characteristics.
Patton was the Germans’ greatest fear, and while Trump is traversing the globe, rounding up investments in America, he is accomplishing many of his goals through fear, not respect. According to the White House (and Trump), he has now accumulated trillions in investments from nations such as South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Dubai, the UAE, and, now, another coup: the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia pledging one trillion for American investments. Yet with Trump’s victories at the border, a rocketing stock market, lower inflation, oil drilling, a peace deal in Gaza, the destruction of Iran’s nuclear program, and negotiations in Ukraine, Trump is disliked by the majority of the American people. This may be one of the reasons:
Sam Walton (the founder of Walmart) once said, “You make one customer happy, they will tell 10 friends. You make one customer unhappy and they tell 100.” As the old adage goes, “One awe shit wipes out 10 attaboys.”
Remembering many other presidents, IE, Bush 41, Reagan, Carter, Clinton, and all the rest, we only viewed them on the evening news occasionally. For the most part, they did their jobs (whether you liked them or not) quietly, and we saw them give their State of the Union address; unless there was an epic event, then they came on to address the nation. You hardly ever saw them insult the media or an American citizen, much less foreign leaders. Yes, they would get cross-ways with a reporter at times, but they did so respectfully, not in a derogatory manner. With President Trump, it seems that he is a daily news story where he fights with the press, insults someone in some fashion, and the fact is, America is tired of his antics.
For all of his accolades and accomplishments, he seems hell bent on destroying them with his uncontrollable temper and demeanor. It almost seems as if he is a little boy in a $5,000 tailored suit. He is the boy who was bullied in school and now seeks retribution for his lack of popularity back in elementary school. I have personally witnessed Trump’s humor, charisma, and charm. I have been around him when he was relaxed, cranking our handshakes, patting backs, and complimenting people. Why he cannot be that Trump at all times, I’ll never know.
I will say this: if he doesn’t get a handle on this type of behavior, his incredible record of accomplishment will be long forgotten, and he will only be remembered as a jackass in the same breath as a great president. And that doesn’t get your carving on Mount Rushmore.
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