The Dangerous Reactions to the Shooting of Steve Scalise

Note: I want to preface this by saying I am not attacking anyone personally, nor am I attacking any particularly political persuasion.  I simply want to point out what I consider to be particularly fallacious reactions regarding last week’s shooting.

Since the shooting last week in Alexandria, Virginia of Congressman Steve Scalise and several others, reactions have run the gamut from sympathy to vitriol.  While most have stuck to the former, there are those on both sides who, predictably, have preferred the former.  It is natural to want to assign blame for such a tragedy, but politicizing it will do no one any good.  On the contrary, it will serve only to drive us further apart.

Trump's Administration: Built on Vindictiveness and Greed

Our country has seen many kinds of presidents.  Some were very good, like Lincoln and Washington.  Some are regarded quite badly, such as Andrew Jackson and George W. Bush.  Some have been plagued with scandals, like Clinton.  Some have even been virtually forgotten about because they accomplished so little of note during their tenure.  Never have we had one like Trump.

Many are rightfully drawing parallels to Nixon, who has long been considered the most corrupt president we have ever had, from the fact that Trump’s slogans are ripped right from Nixon, to the fact that Trump has arguably committed multiple acts of obstruction of justice in an attempt to stop the Russia scandal, which is the exact charge that brought down Nixon.  But Trump’s words, actions, and policies go far beyond anything Nixon did.  Nixon was a notorious liar, but Trump lives for mendacity.  Nixon was arrogant and self-centered, but Trump is consumed by his narcissism.  Nixon was obsessed with what others thought of him, but Trump cannot live without adulation.  Nixon had a superiority complex, but Trump believes himself infallible.