Why can I never seem to say the right thing?<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\nAll that it takes for those of us who find neither\u00a0Trump and Clinton worthy of receiving our votes, even at the bare minimum threshold of tolerability, to have an alternative choice, is this:<\/p>\n
For Trump to leave the race.<\/p>\n
Yes, I know, that\u2019s just as much of a fantasy. \u00a0But odds are good that he never really thought he would get this far, when he announced his candidacy, that it was a publicity stunt. \u00a0There is at least a certain chance that at some level he realizes that he\u2019s in over his head, that he can\u2019t, as he seems to imagine, just wing it and have \u201cmeetings\u201d and \u201cbe smart\u201d and so forth \u2014 that a president has to put in a lot of work and genuinely \u201csweat the details\u201d in order to succeed. \u00a0And we already know that he scrutinizes the polls. \u00a0He publicly only announces those showing him in the lead, but what\u2019s to say he doesn\u2019t read, and understand the others, too?<\/p>\n
And Trump has a history of filing for bankruptcy, right? \u00a0That\u2019s a form of \u201cbailing out\u201d if ever there was one. \u00a0And he shut down Trump University and Trump Steaks and his various other ventures once their time had passed. \u00a0To be sure, he replies that it was all very strategic \u2014 but what\u2019s to say he couldn\u2019t \u201cstrategically\u201d leave the race here, too, even ostentatiously picking his replacement (who perhaps might be Pence, anyway), and claiming heroism for having raised important issues and championed the \u201clittle man\u201d?<\/p>\n
But how do we get from here to there?<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s my rather desperate, lack-of-a-better option suggestion: \u00a0a National Prayer Vigil. \u00a0Position it as a combination \u201cpray that God gives Trump guidance to do the right thing\u201d and, heck, \u201cthanksgiving that Trump raised Very Important Issues.\u201d \u00a0But artfully construct the whole thing so that, at its conclusion, Trump can magnanimously say, \u201cGod told me that, like Pope Benedict, I should step down,\u201d quite as if he had already won.<\/p>\n
Now, to be sure, the folks who excel at Prayer Vigils, the evangelicals, have thrown their lot in with Trump. \u00a0Are any of them having second thoughts? \u00a0Getting spooked by the polls? \u00a0Can they be reminded of Clinton\u2019s aggressive abortion and LGBTetc. policies, issues they hold dear and could well affect them in terms of the erosion of conscience provisions?<\/p>\n
This assuming, of course, that there\u2019s still time for the GOP to replace him on the ballot!<\/p>\n
FURTHER thoughts:<\/p>\n
OK, fine, I know a prayer vigil is wishful thinking. \u00a0And faithful readers will know that I struggle with the utility and efficacy of prayer. \u00a0But here\u2019s the thing: \u00a0prayer is about all we have left, in this crazy election where you either sit out the vote (which I think is an entirely valid choice, akin to being a conscientious objector) or vote for someone you deeply dislike. \u00a0Do you pray that Trump gets assassinated? \u00a0Or has a sudden serious health crisis? \u00a0No, of course not. \u00a0So you\u2019re pretty much left with praying that he has a miraculous change of heart. \u00a0And if that\u2019s the case, and if you share this thought with others, then why not join together.<\/p>\n
Hey, who\u2019s the patron saint for persuading politicians to do the honorable thing? \u00a0St. Thomas More, probably, as he is, generically, the patron saint for politicians. \u00a0St. Thomas More, pray for us!<\/p>\n
Image: \u00a0from https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Donald_Trump<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
OK, so all the wishful thinking about the Libertarians getting enough votes to play spoiler in the election is just that, wishful thinking. But \u2014 I\u2019m feeling inspired by The Onion, which parodically reported that Trump cried into his pillow, \u201cWhy can I never seem to say the right thing?\u201d All that it takes for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2209,"featured_media":4831,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[116,325],"class_list":["post-5031","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-2016-election","tag-trump"],"yoast_head":"\n
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<\/p>\n