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Any truly objective view of Donald Trump would conclude that he was an overall negative for the Republican Party and for the nation. Anything good that happened was inspite of not because of him. The man has no respect for rule of law, limited government or free trade.

As far as hoping if he is re-elected in 2024 that their are people around him who will restrain him and not be sycophants. That’s delusional thinking at best, Trump surrounds himself with sycophants and most republicans have shown no willingness to stand up to him.

My problem with your entire attitude and approach to Trump is that you minimize the dangerous aspects of his most cultish followers and especially how he encourages their idolatrous attitude and view of him.

As for respecting rule of law Trump does not. He thought as president he had the power to do whatever he pleased. As for fighting back all Trump did was blow off his mouth. Especially nuts was claiming falsely that his inauguration crowd was the largest in history, or that they would have had the border wall finished in three weeks. Those are provable lies.

Stop trying to rationalize or downplay his bad side. It’s the only one he has.

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Yes, Trump did a number of good things, and he did restore constitutional rights for men accused of sexual misconduct. It is Obama and Biden who are in rebellion against the rule of law on that issue, not Trump. He appointed three solid justices, which would not have happened had Clinton been elected. Roe v. Wade may fall because of that.

Trump did have good advisors during his first term, and the New York Times reported that he was talked out of bad decisions by those advisors. Because of his pride, Trump can't be talked out of something publicly but is reachable privately.

If I was minimizing the wickedness, of the Cult, I would not have called it out.

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Recognizing the good and bad of Trump is not being double minded. This isn't black and white.

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I've already written about Trump raising tariffs. (I prefer the term "import taxes," because raising tariffs is a tax increase.)

https://www.conservatibbs.com/p/limited-government-is-not-communism

https://www.conservatibbs.com/p/please-oppose-president-trumps-tax-increase

I simply don't agree that Trump is pure evil. He's a narcissist, and he is a thin-skinned crybaby who cannot take even the mildest criticism. Far from being an alpha male, Trump is weak and effeminate when it comes to being able to take criticism. This has encouraged the cult mentality by making people afraid to criticize him because he will melt down.

And he also did many good things. Defending due process, defending religious freedom and cutting taxes. Most important of all if the decision actually does come out, finally overturning Roe v. Wade.

Jack, you're no different than the "Always Trump" crowd who cannot handle anything negative said about him.

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But to accuse me of being like the “Always Trump” crowd is silly and is beneath you.

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Dude, you have been questioning my character and motives for months. I can't have a different opinion or take on events, I have to be sucking up to Trump or trying to play to the MAGA base or whatever. Now you complain because the is mirror turned on you.

I didn't ignore Trump's reaction to his Republican critics. I explicitly addressed it after the links in my last comment. You're so blinded by hatred of the man that you're accusing me of "casually dismissing" his behavior after I criticized him.

You said "If Trump’s evil isn’t black and white than nothing is." That's a pretty clear statement that he is pure evil.

I've never denied that Trump is very deeply personally flawed. Honestly, I think his total lack of discipline over his mouth is even worse than his past sexual promiscuity, especially as leader of the free world. He just can't get out of his own way. He thinks he is always the smartest person in the room and he can never, ever allow anyone else to get the last word in. All of that is very bad and I don't know how many different ways I can say it.

But he also did implement good policy as President. After decades of interventionism being the status quo of both parties' foreign policy, Trump completely shifted the Overton Window and made non-interventionism acceptable in the GOP. And above all else, he gave us three justices who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade. After over 60 million innocents have been killed, the importance of that cannot be diminished.

You dismiss all of the good policy Trump did put in place, because you believe the bad aspects of Trump far outweigh the good. Fine. That's not an unreasonable position. I don't agree with it, but I respect it.

You don't respect the opposite position. And that's the difference between you and me.

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