{"id":5880,"date":"2017-01-29T03:09:07","date_gmt":"2017-01-29T03:09:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/?p=5880"},"modified":"2017-02-10T04:27:51","modified_gmt":"2017-02-10T04:27:51","slug":"obama-was-our-president-too","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/?p=5880","title":{"rendered":"Obama was “our president” too…"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

An illustration of\u00a0Karma<\/a>\u00a0– where the term “Trumpism<\/a>,” might be substituted…<\/em><\/p>\n

* \u00a0 * \u00a0 * \u00a0 *<\/p>\n

<\/h1>\n

Well, it didn’t happen. \u00a0On Inauguration Day we didn’t<\/em><\/strong> have another\u00a0\u201cdeja vu all over again<\/a>,” in terms of a\u00a0Hard Hat Riot<\/a>\u00a0like in May 1970. \u00a0(Or – five years earlier – of Hell’s Angels Attacking a Peace Protest<\/a>.) <\/em><\/p>\n

That is, on\u00a0Inauguration Day 2017<\/a>\u00a0we didn’t<\/em><\/strong> have\u00a0history repeating Itself<\/a>. \u00a0(As I feared in the last post, or at least not to the extent of the\u00a0<\/em>Hard Hat Riots<\/a>\u00a0of 1970.)<\/em> \u00a0<\/span>And BTW: \u00a0The caption for the photo at left reads:<\/p>\n

Hard hats on cabinet table after Nixon meeting with supporting construction trades group (05\/26\/1970) less than three weeks after the New York City Hard Hat Riot.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Meaning this: \u00a0A few weeks after hard-hat construction workers beat up peace protesters in 1970 – with lead pipes and crowbars – President Richard Nixon invited them to the White House. \u00a0Which leads to this question: \u00a0If either “Hard hats” or\u00a0Bikers for Trump<\/a>\u00a0had<\/em><\/strong> started beating up protesters on Inauguration Day 2017, would the Donald<\/a>\u00a0have invited them to the White House for a similar “victory lap,” like Nixon? \u00a0Fortunately, we didn’t have to find out…<\/p>\n

Also incidentally, within four years of the Hard-hat riot, Richard Nixon resigned under the threat of impeacnment<\/a>. \u00a0See also\u00a0That OTHER \u201cTeflon Don<\/a>,” which wondered back in March 2016 whether – if Donald Trump did manage to get elected – “he may well be the first president in American history to get both<\/em><\/strong> impeached and convicted.”<\/p>\n

On other hand, that post also noted that Trump might just surprise us, like that “other\u00a0Great American Showman<\/a><\/em>, P. T. Barnum<\/a>.” \u00a0(That is, though often called the Prince Of Humbug<\/a>, Barnum later ran for office and\u00a0turned out to be a quite effective “public servant.*”)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Which brings us to certain\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0exchanges in the days after the inauguration. \u00a0A Facebook friend<\/a>\u00a0(“FF”)<\/em>\u00a0wrote,\u00a0“Donald Trump is now our president.” \u00a0(Which of course included an unspoken\u00a0addendum<\/a>: \u00a0“And so we should all support him even if we voted for Hillary.”) \u00a0<\/em>That led to a couple of thoughts.<\/p>\n

First, “Obama was our president too,” as already noted. \u00a0And second: \u00a0“Where the hell have you been the last eight years?<\/em>” \u00a0But I didn’t respond with either of those thoughts. \u00a0As to Trump being now our president<\/em> I replied, “So was Lyndon Johnson, and we ran his<\/em> <\/strong>ass out of town!”<\/p>\n

The “FF” caught me at a bad moment.<\/p>\n

\"35\"But that led me to go back and review the moment – in 1968 -when then-president Johnson shocked the nation\u00a0by saying, “I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President<\/a>.” \u00a0(Caricatured<\/a>\u00a0at left.)<\/em><\/p>\n

Ironically, he did so to help\u00a0“guard against divisiveness and all its ugly consequences.” \u00a0He added,\u00a0“I should not permit the Presidency to become involved in the partisan divisions that are developing in this political year.” \u00a0(Which led to this thought: <\/em>“Oh, for an hour of Johnson<\/a>…”)<\/em><\/p>\n

That in turn led me to two other web articles: \u00a01)\u00a0Specter of Lyndon Johnson haunts Trump as President-elect<\/a>, and\u00a0New president should remember fates of LBJ and Richard Nixon<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\n

Trump has been elected precisely because most people, including even many people who did not vote for him, understand that the country has declined during the Obama administration – that living standards for the majority are eroding, that the touted national health insurance legislation has only made costs explode without covering everyone, and that the country’s standing in the world has diminished…<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Which could<\/em> lead to this response by “Bizarro Trump<\/a>.” \u00a0(Discussed more fully in the next post and as shown\u00a0in the bottom image.)<\/em>\u00a0 Bizarro Trump<\/a>\u00a0would say: \u00a0“If America has ‘declined’ over the past eight years, it’s all the fault of those right-wing traitors in Congress!<\/em><\/strong>“<\/p>\n

\"LutherTo extend that thought: \u00a0They’re the ones who refused to deal with Obama;\u00a0who refused to compromise. \u00a0In doing so they violated the <\/span>spirit of American politics<\/a>, going back to the Constitution itself. \u00a0(See\u00a0<\/em><\/span>U.S. Constitutional Convention: \u00a0Key Compromises<\/a>, and also<\/em>\u00a0Why the GOP Became the Party of No<\/a>. \u00a0That article – from 2012 – detailed “the Republican plot to obstruct President Obama before he even took office.”)<\/em><\/p>\n

Incidentally,\u00a0Googling<\/a>\u00a0“the party of no” got me some 8,890,000 results.<\/span><\/p>\n

And that brings us back to\u00a0karma<\/a>. \u00a0My theory is: \u00a0If you put together Exodus 22:28<\/a>, Luke 6:38<\/a>,\u00a0\u00a0Hosea 8:7<\/a>, and<\/em><\/strong> the concept of karma, you come up with this:<\/p>\n

\n

Donald Trump can’t do what he’s done and say what he’s said – especially as a candidate – without\u00a0<\/em>karma<\/a><\/em><\/strong>\u00a0coming back and biting him on the ass!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

And that brings us back to\u00a0Trumpism<\/a>, as illustrated in the top image, a political cartoon from 1918. \u00a0(Another BTW: \u00a0Googling<\/a>\u00a0“Trumpism” got me 606,000 results.<\/em>) \u00a0By substituting “Trumpism” for the term “militarism<\/a>,” you get the idea that people\u00a0generally\u00a0reap what they sow<\/a>, and that those who\u00a0live by the sword shall die by the sword<\/a>.<\/p>\n

All of which led me to the idea of a post on a new parlor game, “Bizarro Trump.” \u00a0(Based in part on Bizarro Jerry<\/a>\u00a0and Bizarro<\/a> Superman<\/a>.)<\/em>\u00a0 The tentative caption for the lead image below: \u00a0“Does this guy look familiar? \u00a0(At least metaphorically?)<\/em> \u00a0BTW: \u00a0He ‘debuted<\/a>‘\u00a0in November 2016\u2026”<\/p>\n

That idea – of Americans using Trump’s tactics against him – will be explored more fully in the next post. \u00a0In the meantime, Democrats should probably hone their skill at\u00a0gutter politics<\/a>…<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 * \u00a0 * \u00a0 *<\/p>\n

\"Bizarro-statue-620\"<\/p>\n

\n

* \u00a0 * \u00a0 * \u00a0 *<\/p>\n

Notes:<\/em><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n

The upper image is courtesy of\u00a0<\/em>Karma – Wikipedia<\/a>. \u00a0It accompanies a segment on the suggestion that the term is “akin to ‘Christian notions of sin<\/a> and its effects’ … \u00a0that the Christian teaching on Last Judgment<\/a> according to one’s charity is a teaching on karma.\u00a0 Christianity also teaches morals such as reap what one sows<\/a> (Galatians<\/a> 6:7) and live by the sword, die by the sword<\/a> (Matthew<\/a> 26:52).“<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cNote\u201d also that an asterisk in the main text indicates a statement supported by a reference detailed further in this \u201cnotes\u201d section. \u00a0Thus, as to P.T. Barnum turning out to be an effective politician:<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Barnum supposedly coined the phrase \u201cThere\u2019s a sucker born every minute,\u201d which sounds like classic Donald Trump. \u00a0On the other hand, he\u00a0served two terms in the Connecticut<\/a> legislature, then got elected\u00a0Mayor of Bridgeport, CT<\/a>, in 1875, where he \u201cworked to improve the water supply, bring gas lighting<\/a> to streets, and enforce liquor and prostitution laws.\u201d \u00a0He also favored the abolition of slavery and worked hard for \u201cAfrican-American suffrage.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\"BarnumSee\u00a0That OTHER \u201cTeflon Don<\/a>.” \u00a0As to the “Prince Of Humbug<\/a>,” that link refers to one musical number from\u00a0Barnum<\/a>, the Broadway play “based on the life of showman P. T. Barnum<\/a>.” \u00a0The original Broadway production opened in 1980, and was later revived “at the Chichester Festival Theatre<\/a> from 15 July to 31 August 2013.” \u00a0(Which leads to the question: \u00a0“A century from now will there be a Broadway musical based on the life of Donald Trump?”)\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Re: \u00a0Karma<\/a>. \u00a0It refers to the\u00a0“spiritual principle of cause and effect.” Wikipedia<\/a>:<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

[The] actions of an individual (cause) influence the future of that individual (effect).\u00a0 Good intent and good deed contribute to good karma and future happiness, while bad intent and bad deed contribute to bad karma and future suffering.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Re: \u00a0“Oh, for an hour of Johnson.” \u00a0The original phrase was “Oh, but for an hour of [Andrew] Jackson.” See History for Kossacks: Election of 1860 \u2013 Daily Kos<\/a>, which \u2013 <\/em>speaking of the interlude between Abraham Lincoln\u2019s election and his actually taking office in 1860 \u2013 noted:
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Lincoln found himself armed with nothing but words to stop the South from seceding before he could even take office\u2026\u00a0\u00a0 President James Buchanan, nearing 70 \u2026 looked at the Constitution and saw his hands being tied by a lack of specific instruction. \u00a0The cry went up from frustrated members of his own party: \u201cOh, but for an hour of Jackson!<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The image to the right of the paragraph “the ones who refused to compromise” is of\u00a0Luther Martin<\/a>, the Founding Father<\/a>\u00a0who promoted the\u00a0Great Compromise<\/a>\u00a0that made the Constitution possible.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Re: \u00a0The Bible citations and karma. \u00a0Exodus 22:28<\/a>\u00a0reads, \u201cYou shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.\u201d \u00a0(As to the last eight years, see “more honored in the breach<\/a>.”) \u00a0Luke 6:38<\/a>\u00a0holds that\u00a0<\/em>\u201cthe measure you use will be the measure you receive.<\/em>\u201d\u00a0 (In the\u00a0ISV<\/a>, \u201c<\/span>you\u2019ll be evaluated by the same standard with which you evaluate others.\u201d) \u00a0Which arguably nullifies the mandate of Exodus 22:28, as to those people who failed to observe it. \u00a0<\/em>And finally \u2013 on this point \u2013 there\u2019s this gem from\u00a0Hosea 8:7<\/a>,\u00a0\u201cThey that sow the wind, shall reap the whirlwind<\/a>.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Re: \u00a0“Trumpism.” \u00a0The noted\u00a0<\/em>“606,000 results” included\u00a0Donald Trump and the Causes of ‘Trumpism’ – The Atlantic<\/a>. \u00a0Those eight causes included Newt Gingrich, Rush Limbaugh and Roger Ailes – among others – contributing to “raging populism; coarsened culture; bitter, invective-laced politics; demagoguery and nativism.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Re: \u00a0“Gutter politics.” \u00a0The link in the text is to\u00a0Cruz Condemns Trump\u2019s \u2018Gutter Politics\u2019 – The Daily Beast<\/a>. \u00a0See also\u00a0Trump campaign blasts Clinton’s ‘gutter politics<\/a>,’ and\u00a0Cruz defends Huckabee, accuses Obama of ‘gutter politics<\/a>.’<\/em><\/p>\n

The lower image is courtesy of\u00a0kotobukiya created a statue that the bizarro version of jerry seinfeld would totally get on board with \u2026<\/a>\u00a0dailydead.com<\/a>: \u00a0\u201cStanding eight inches tall, this Bizarro anti-Superman statue is based on DC Comics\u2019 New 52 version of the popular villain and will be released in November [2016].\u201d \u00a0(Which is actually kind of appropriate\u2026)<\/em><\/p>\n

The original “lower image” was<\/strong> going to be the painting at right, of “<\/em>The senators<\/a> encircl[ing] Caesar,” and referring to Roman senators literally<\/strong> stabbing Caesar in the back. \u00a0(Not merely metaphorically, as has been the case for the last eight years.) \u00a0That image would have been courtesy of<\/em>\u00a0Julius Caesar – Wikipedia<\/a>, with the caption: \u00a0“The senators<\/a> encircle Caesar, a 19th-century interpretation of the event by Carl Theodor von Piloty<\/a>.” \u00a0The event is detailed further in Assassination of Julius Caesar – Wikipedia<\/a>, which includes a similar painting by\u00a0Vincenzo Camuccini<\/a>,<\/em>\u00a0“<\/em>La morte di Cesare<\/a>.”<\/em><\/p>\n

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An illustration of\u00a0Karma\u00a0– where the term “Trumpism,” might be substituted… * \u00a0 * \u00a0 * \u00a0 * Well, it didn’t happen. \u00a0On Inauguration Day we didn’t have another\u00a0\u201cdeja vu all over again,” in terms of a\u00a0Hard Hat Riot\u00a0like in May 1970. \u00a0(Or – five years earlier – of Hell’s Angels Attacking a Peace Protest.) That […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5880"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5880"}],"version-history":[{"count":61,"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5880\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6005,"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5880\/revisions\/6005"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5880"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5880"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5880"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}