Over the holidays, Dennis Prager listeners were treated to a few Best Of episodes from 2005. A New Year’s resolution Dennis recommended people consider is evaluate how we come off to people, specifically in direct, face-to-face conversations. Here’s the rule: If you utter four sentences and the person you’re talking to engages with you, keep going. However, if the person looks as though he’d rather leave you to watch paint dry on the nearest barn door, either recalibrate your topic or approach, or zip it.
Mitt Romney should take this advice.
To kick off the new year, the newly-minted Mormon Senator from Utah – you know, because carpetbagging isn’t exclusive to former first ladies – wrote an op-ed piece in the Washington Post mostly criticizing Donald Trump’s demeanor.
The world needs American leadership, and it is in America’s interest to provide it. A world led by authoritarian regimes is a world — and an America — with less prosperity, less freedom, less peace.
To reassume our leadership in world politics, we must repair failings in our politics at home. That project begins, of course, with the highest office once again acting to inspire and unite us. It includes political parties promoting policies that strengthen us rather than promote tribalism by exploiting fear and resentment. Our leaders must defend our vital institutions despite their inevitable failings: a free press, the rule of law, strong churches, and responsible corporations and unions.
Is Mitt Romney calling the Donald Trump administration authoritarian? Please show me any evidence Donald Trump has acted in ways similar to dictators – such as using the IRS to go after conservative 501(c)(3)s like Barack Obama. Trump calling the mainstream media the enemy of the people may be incendiary, but it’s nowhere near what the MSM calls him on a regular basis on every network. I’m not even sure I disagree with Trump regarding his attacks on the press. They’re awful on multiple levels and while this isn’t a call to shut down the press, let’s not pretend these people are serving the public good.
By the way, I used “Mormon” as a qualifier since the Mormons I know wouldn’t use any position of trust to act this petty over a personality they didn’t agree with.
This is not to say Romney is entirely wrong in his criticisms; Donald Trump isn’t a perfect president. He has yet to fulfill two, major 2016 campaign promises – defund Planned Parenthood and build a wall on our southern border (something he should have fought for with a Republican House).
I, for one, like only a fraction of what Trump says on Twitter, and in my opinion his administration would be better served if he were off social media entirely. But Donald Trump comes as a package, as we all do, so in our assessment of his presidency let’s consider his actions more than his words.
Senator Romney, you’re coming off as a privileged and petulant piss ant. Your 2012 bid for the White House was yours for the taking, and you lost. It’s a sign of a short memory and poor judgement on your part if you forget the same media that loves you today wasn’t the same who accused you of animal abuse (dog on the car roof) and sexism (binders full of women).
It’s time for you to consider how you’re coming off to people, and grow up.
