(November 22, 2016 at 3:52 pm)abaris Wrote: I'd wish for him to be Nixon. Nixon's an icon compared to what this guy has in mind.
Nixon was a human dung beetle (apologies to actual dung beetles), and that's just taking into account his bigotry, thin-skinned paranoia, and petty vengefulness. His Vietnam policy was a continuing disastrous folly that resulted in untold numbers of unnecessary dead on both sides. Watergate was a shameful fiasco and he deserved everything he received because off it -- except Ford's pardon.
But, for all that, give the man his due. If not for the Watergate cover-up and the stubborn refusal to simply cut our losses in Vietnam, he would be celebrated today as one of our better modern presidents. Unlike some people I could name, he actually understood domestic and foreign policy, had legislative experience, and had eight years' experience as Vice President prior to winning the Presidency. He signed into law a number of reasonably progressive pieces of legislation while President, and made some bold moves on the world stage that decisively ushered in a new era.
With Trump, we should be so lucky. I'm not holding my breath. But I will hope for the best. But I don't trust the son-of-a-bitch, and I trust his inner circle even less.
