Yes, President Trump can be rude, crude, ridiculous, and highly unpredictable.
But here’s the thing: The country is more than the sum of one man and one branch of government. Moreover, like any president, Trump is restrained both by the implicit checks of the executive branch and by the sustaining rule of law. This, I believe, inherently limits the potential for a cataclysmic incident that destroys our nation. This gives me a degree of comfort and normality in how I regard the current state of politics and leadership.
Others see it differently.
These days, Twitter is full of hyperbolic rhetoric from some journalists and many liberals and celebrities who seem to believe Trump is destroying America. And of course, whatever Trump might believe, these individuals deserve the right to express their opinion forcefully, reflexively, and passionately.
Yet as some increasingly freak out, I myself find Trump increasingly amusing. Don’t get me wrong, I recognize that many political issues from identity politics to immigration to foreign policy are exceptionally serious and worthy of prudent, careful analysis. Nevertheless, we do ourselves no favors if we allow ourselves to become subsumed by the emotion of the moment.
As I say, I know Trump is a flawed person like any of us. Still, I recognize and embrace the fact that he has been elected by the democratically manifested will of the people. And that matters because democracy and freedom are inherently good and pure things even if Trump is not.
In turn, when it comes time to stop working for the day, I find myself comfortable diverting my attention to other things, such as Star Trek and soccer. I do not worry that the world is about to end or work myself into a rage about some tweet the president has posted.
I think this is the healthy way to go.
Indeed, it’s the “Dr. Strangelove” way to go. And if the worse comes, we’ll always have 242 years of glory.
