Why Trump?

By Gary Bennett

It is not news to anyone that this presidency is emphatically different than ones we’ve known in the past. To be sure, ‘different’ is what many people voted for, and we’ve certainly gotten it.  But, I can’t help wondering, is what we are getting now what we all bargained for? 


As seen in the Frederick News-Post Saturday, April 6, 2019.

There were high hopes that Mr. Trump would drain the swamp, give a voice to the voiceless, and put an end to political correctness. We are swampier than ever, of course, with many of his close aids either indicted or currently serving time, but there is no doubt that he has shaken the political establishment. Before he was elected, we were less sure about the actual policies he would pursue. After all, Mr. Trump is a former democrat who had no previous voting record and had previously espoused such non-conservative principles as the right to choose. 

During the primary campaign and general election we heard him talk about strengthening border security, lowering taxes, and bringing back good-paying manufacturing jobs, to name a few. I think we can all agree that he has tried to keep his promises but I also think we can agree that he has not been very successful in enacting the legislation that would make them so. He has done much better with executive orders, but of course they can be easily reversed upon the election of a president with opposing views, and most probably will be.

So, how did we get here?  Is it just a recalcitrant Congress that stands in his way? It can’t be that. The president’s party controlled all levers of government in 2017 and 2018 and still not much got accomplished. Is it obstructionist federal judges who can stop executive orders in their tracks with the wave of a pen? To some extent, yes. But I believe the biggest barrier is that we elected a businessman/television star with zero political and governmental experience. He simply doesn’t have the wherewithal to do well in this job and is not very good at picking people who can stay out of trouble and help him. Mom always told me that anyone could grow up to be president. But, that doesn’t mean anyone should.

To believe that someone with no government experience can get a majority of Americans and a majority of Congress to accept or at least tolerate his policies is to believe that there is not an art or science to governing. My old political science professors at Frostburg State University would be aghast and tell you otherwise. Horse trading, building consensus, persuasion, and good old-fashioned compromise are the building blocks of good governance. This is what our forefathers envisioned.

This president is woefully inadequate in all these areas.  When you combine these shortcomings with his penchant for insult and ridicule, it is no wonder there is constant turmoil and few legislative successes to point to. Would you go along with someone who constantly insulted you?  No, me neither. What may have worked well in a closely held business does not work well in government.

Some may say that Mr. Trump has been unfairly scrutinized and challenged at every turn. I say that is exactly what democracy is all about. Mr. Obama, Mr. Bush, and Mr. Clinton (you can go all the way back to Mr. Washington if you like) were all challenged to the fullest extent possible. That is what helps make America great and keeps us from becoming a dictatorship. You can bet that if Mr. Obama’s closest associates had been indicted and imprisoned like Mr. Trump’s, Congressional Republicans would be doing exactly what Democrats are doing now. As citizens we should insist upon nothing less.

I’m old enough to remember the Clinton Administration being continuously challenged at every turn by a newly energetic Republican Congressional majority in 1994. What did they do? The Clinton Administration redoubled efforts to look for areas of agreement and compromise wherever possible. For the current administration, compromise seems to be a dirty word.  Mr. Trump doesn’t seem to want to play the game. For him, there can only be winners and losers.

The reason that Mr. Clinton could rebound and govern effectively, turning over a roaring economy and budget surplus to Mr. Bush in 2001 was that his presidency was the culmination of his government experience, not the launching point. The same can be said for most presidents except the current one. Experience does matter.  If you don’t think so, try applying to be the publisher of this newspaper.

I don’t blame the Americans who voted for Mr. Trump in the handful of key states that decided the election for the lack of legislative progress and the constant rancor and turmoil we now live under. Given the choice between Mr. Trump and Mrs. Clinton – a highly flawed, unlikable, tainted candidate that represented the old guard — I can see where many Americans would want to take a chance on the exciting new irreverent star on the political scene.

What I don‘t understand and what I would love for my Republican friends to explain to me is why they chose Trump as their nominee over the better-prepared, better qualified conservative Republican candidates available at the time. After all, most held similar beliefs to Mr. Trump but also had a history in government and a record of getting things done in government that Mr. Trump did not. Does anyone not think that John Kasich, for example, would have fought hard for conservative principles but been willing to compromise to move this country forward?

Please tell us all what it is about Mr. Trump that most Americans are missing and leaves us embarrassed for our country at the end of each evening. Is it the absurd political theater that Mr. Trump provides? Is it the political incorrectness?  Is it that he was untainted by Washington’s ways? Is it his purported business acumen?

As a moderate Democrat, I will admit I was entertained by the insults and name calling Mr. Trump leveled at the other Republican candidates. Like most, I didn’t see any way he could be nominated. And after he was nominated, I didn’t see any way he could be elected.  Of course, like a lot of people I was very much wrong.

But I’m wondering if after two years of constant turmoil and not getting much accomplished perhaps even Republicans have had enough. I think possibly some but probably not very many.  My guess is, however, that most independents who voted for Mr. Trump in 2016 will not do so again. Words, demeanor, grace, and yes results matter even if Mr. Trump is pursuing policies you agree with.

If Mr. Trump showed up my door this evening I’m not sure I would invite him in and show him the respect his office should demand. That is because I’m not sure he respects the office himself. He certainly shows no respect to those who disagree with him.  And I do mean everyone and not just opposing politicians.  Just ask the Gold Star father. Rather, his opposition is considered unpatriotic and presidential harassers.

I have lived happily through many presidents from both parties. You could question their policies but never their good intentions, respect for the office and all Americans, and their wish to bring us together.  I don’t think you can say that about this president. He doesn’t seem to want to be the president for all Americans.  

The World According to Good Office Etiquette

By Gary Bennett

With apologies to kindergarten graduates everywhere, I offer the following thoughts on good manners and self preservation tips learned over a lifetime working in an office setting. When you learn to play and work well with strangers, it is easy to apply these to the rest of your life.

Return messages within 24 hours. I am always very careful to follow this one even if it is to say that I received your message and will get back to you soon. It is just common courtesy. But, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to follow up just to see if someone had even gotten my message, and that’s if I even remember to do so. This lack of carefulness is seeping more and more into the consumer marketplace. It’s very difficult to reach a live human being these days, which necessitates leaving a message. Response is generally so low one has to wonder if anyone is even monitoring these messages. When my message is not returned in a timely manner, I can only assume that you have more than enough business and don’t need mine.

Ask for and return favors. This is a difficult one to get used to and may seem counter-intuitive. But, helping others and asking for help is evidence of higher level thinking and your supervisor will take notice. Trust me, the boss will be impressed if you pull in others and share the credit.

Don’t keep to yourself but get out there and join the fray. In many office jobs, it’s easy to keep to yourself and do it yourself. But if this is your strategy for going along and getting along, it won’t work. Eventually you will be seen as someone who doesn’t get enough accomplished and doesn’t know what is going on.

Introduce new people and welcome them aboard. Sounds easy, right? You’d be surprised how often this doesn’t happen. Hiring managers usually mean well but introductions is one of those things that tend to get put off until later. Imagine how well this would work when new people move into your neighborhood. The involved real estate agent could bring around the new neighbor and introduce them. This completely removes the awkwardness of introducing yourself.

Don’t shy away from tough assignments. We’re all busy, but I’ve found that those who take on the tough assignments and give it a good try and even ultimately FAIL end up in better stead than those who perform well on the easy stuff.

Dispense with jargon and abbreviations Using industry jargon, abbreviations and acronyms makes us look smart and like an insider, but it is the easy way out. It takes extra time and thought to use full and correct wording, but it will pay dividends in the long run because understanding is increased, which promotes the ability to solve the issue. I don’t know how many times I’ve been accosted with jargon from everyone from the property management person to a government bureaucrat trying to help me. Yes, I know you know your business, but I don’t.

Be willing to say you are sorry. This may not work in matters of love, but it works everywhere else.When you provide a right answer to the wrong question or forget that attachment, just own up to it. Apologize for costing someone else some extra time even if small. It’s not a sign of weakness and you won’t be looked down upon. Over time you’ll be seen as someone who takes ownership of mistakes and is not insecure. A person I volunteer for sent an email without the referenced attachment. When I asked for the attachment, it would have been so nice to get a quick “oops – sorry!” Instead all I got was the attachment and no acknowledgement of my time at all. Disappointing.

Be on time. This is a simple one but one that is almost always abused in direct proportion to one’s level in an organization, Yes, everyone knows you’re busy and double-booked but everyone has a job to do and their time is important, too. Chronically showing up late for meetings is a blatant show of disrespect or worse. Don’t do it. Just manage your time better.

Don’t blow off small talk as a waste of time. Because I perceive myself to be a hard worker, I’ve had a tough time with this one. But you learn over time that people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. Go ahead and ask about that ailing mom or how that special casserole turned out. It won’t cost you much time and you’ll be seen as a caring team player. My insurance broker is a master at constructive small talk and I am loyal because of that.

Don’t keep someone waiting who wishes to do business. There are limits to everything and if someone is waiting to talk business with you, the small talk will have to wait. It’s been more than once that I’ve been kept waiting in a store or business with my wallet out and ready to pay while two employees shoot the breeze oblivious to my presence. This tends to leave a bad taste in your mouth.

Don’t be a vocal martyr. No one wants to hear how you are working late or through lunch to tackle a tough assignment. Just do it. People will notice. You don’t want to hear how your stump removal person just can’t get to you because it is “crazy busy” right now.

Toot your own horn but not too loudly. There is an art to this one. You have to advertise a bit to get ahead but you shouldn’t have to be obnoxious about it. Why do you think the best law firms and financial planners barely advertise at all?

These 12 tips work well for me but I am under no illusion they are universal or will work for you. What are your tips? Leave lessons learned from your workplace as a comment to this article on fredericknewspost.com.