Character Matters and Our President Is Lacking

From Forbes, by John Zogby

The mean-spirited nature of the president’s firing of the Secretary of State via Twitter, followed by his Attorney General’s firing of Deputy Director of the FBI, two days before his retirement, suggests once again that Donald Trump is not prepared to lead a country, let alone a company or anything involving fellow human beings. While there is some evidence of Presidential accomplishment – notably fulfilling promises on ending regulations, enacting tax cuts, eliminating the individual mandate in the Affordable Care Act, even positioning himself for a meeting with the dictator of the noxious regime in North Korea, the simple fact is that this President is hyper-sensitive to criticism, allows himself to be governed by his darkest thoughts, holds grudges and carries out vengeance, and is (thus far) a terrible role model for the next generation. When I conjure up all of those things, I cannot help but be reminded of the 1960’s hit rock song by the Guess Who, “She’s Come Undun”. Here is the entire song (but please just replace it with the masculine pronoun:

She’s come undun She didn’t know what she was headed for And when I found what she was headed for It was too late

She’s come undun She found a mountain that was far too high And when she found out she couldn’t fly It was too late

She’s gone too far She’s lost the sun

She’s come undun She wanted truth but all she got was lies Came the time to realize And it was too late

She’s come undun She didn’t know what she was headed for And when I found what she was headed for Mama, it was too late

It’s too late She’s gone too far She’s lost the sun She’s come undun

Too many mountains, and not enough stairs to climb Too many churches and not enough truth Too many people and not enough eyes to see Too many lives to lead and not enough time

It’s too late She’s gone…

It’s too late She’s gone too far She’s lost the sun

She’s come undun

It’s too late She’s gone too far She’s lost the sun

She’s come undun She didn’t know what she was headed for And when I found what she was headed for It was too late

She’s come undun She found a mountain that was far too high And when she found out she couldn’t fly Mama, it was too late

It’s too late She’s gone too far She’s lost the sun

She’s come undun No, no, no, no, no, no, no

(Songwriters: Randy Bachman)

Undun lyrics © BMG Rights Management US, LLC

Thomas Jefferson famously said that a rebellion every so often was a good thing. But Thomas Jefferson passed away 193 years ago and could never have foreseen Donald Trump as President of the United States. The United States is a nation of laws and rights – and believe me, we are mainly good people. We will be alright. We have had some clunkers along the way. Andrew Johnson was a brooding drunk. Ulysses S. Grant was bitter and indifferent. Warren G. Harding was a trusting flyweight. Richard Nixon lost his incumbency because he let his “enemies” consume his thoughts. And Bill Clinton was an alleged predator of women young and not so young. But we survived and today we will triumph.

But Mr. Trump is just an embarrassment. We have to come to grips with the fact that he still has the support of 40% – 45% of likely voters, he has accomplished (whatever your feelings) some of his agenda and his supporters include a lot of very rational and thoughtful people. He is in the process of not undoing a nation – merely undoing himself.