I love your last paragraph, it is a hope that I’ve had. The extremists will energize the moderates. The tribalism we are now experiencing ill hopefully cause reasonable people to collaborate and put country first.

Your 2 cents are of far greater value than you think.
Best regards

You might say Kanye’s was a jaw dropping performance, even Trump was at a loss for words.

I just read your linked article. As Trump said after Kanye's pronouncement... "That was really something". Kanye is a celebrity and, in some circles, an artist. What he is not is coherent.

While well expressed, your opinion ignores basic facts relevant to my claim of "divide and conquer". It became apparent to most observers that trump's use of lies about and mockery of his primary opponents was going to usher in a person who avoids substance to belittle on a personal basis anyone he opposes. His lies are legendary and his presidential lying began with inauguration crowd size. Of the seven criteria you described above, all but 5 and 6 describe aspects of my life. I do not understand your point about the Koch brothers not having an opinion. For years they contributed millions upon millions of dollars in favor of their republican candidates. However, what is most telling is this year they are reported to have contributed to democrat candidates as well. Your implicit disdain of those of different religion, race, physically mobility, sexual lifestyle is a good indicator of your prejudice against others different from you. You claim the "left" would exalt such a person to a "Supreme Bing of the Universe" is astonishing. Your statement of: "In the left's game, gay white men, supposedly an oppressed group, end up shouted down if they try to hold an opinion on abortion" doesn't fit the reality I've seen. In fact, consider what political philosophy oppposes adoption by gay couples; it isn't democrats. I never even heard of a gay person "shouted down" because he opposes abortion... never anything remotely like that. If you have an example I would appreciate a link to the source.

Finally, your comment "but to suggest he is uniquely engaged in playing to his base and vilifying opposition is wholly dishonest", well that is simply out of touch with reality. You may believe what you wrote but to deny trump does everything to play to his base and villify opposition is ludicrous! I suspect your entire post is tongue in cheek and, if so, it isn't funny at all. Consider that trump actually encourages violence against opposition; this was seen during a campaign stop in which he spoke of "punching someone in the mouth" and his offering to pay a supporter's legal fees when it was actually done. His denigration of the media at his rallies has led to pushing and shoving against reporters. Of course he is playing to his base and vilifying his opposition.

You may dismiss me as a liberal but you would be wrong; I admired and agreed with William F. Buckley, Ronald Reagan, Barry Goldwater and George Will (even more so now). What I am not is a fan of anything or anyone who gives the impression that our society should embrace a pseudo Aryan Nation mentality. What is wholly dishonest are your post's characterrizations and conclusion.

Fair point but perhaps their attention directed at Trump because he is considered to be the far greater threat; he certainly has greater power to affect the lives of all Americans... just a possible reason but it rings true. After all, democrats dislike ANTIFA as much as the overwhelming percentage of Americans.

Well I did say “perhaps”; look back you’ll see I used Charlottesville as my example and Trump’s handling of it.

ANTIFA is not an American movement, they are global of which there is clearly an American contingent. The most recent G20 meeting in Germany had a violent ANTIFA protest against globalization, not against America’s Republicans. There are neo-Nazi organizations around the world. My point is neither party wants anything to do with these urban terrorists.

Take these groups out of the equation and I remain in the belief the extremist democrats and republicans are pretty much evenly reprehensible but I don’t see either party prone to actual violence.

Perhaps but in Charlottesville, it was a pretty bloody fight on both sides and a young woman was murdered and dozens of people were injured by a car driven by a white supremanist.

Hal, in 70 years I’ve not seen the country so angry and polarized and yes, I blame trump for that. His idea of leadership is to divide and conquer, his favorite tools are lies and mockery.

Trump famously said “there are good people on both sides”. What he should have said about Charlottesville is “there are some really bad people on both sides”.

Only crazies support ANTIFA, KKK, neo-Nazis and their ilk. The political party they supposedly identify with wants nothing to do with them.

I agree that Obama's foreign policy was poor. I believe the current refugee crisis is a direct consequence of "Arab Spring". The rest of what you posted is trump hogwash. For instance, Obama didn't lose those jobs; companies shipped jobs offshore to reduce expenses and take advantage of tax laws passed with their blessing. Be assured, "those jobs" aren't coming back. They were lost and forever gone; not lost to people, "those jobs" were lost to automation. While employment is at a record high level, look beneath the covers, the jobs that were lost paid a lot more.

You invoked "thanking God".... I can't wait until Christian right acknowledges the true lack of character that is trump. They gave him a pass on so many egregious sins just to attain a Supreme Court that will knock down Roe Wade. The Christian Right made a bargain with the devil.... thanking God for trump is "supremely" ironic.

Oh yeah, I did fail to mention that bit of inheritance!

What I find astonishing is that less than half of the country voted and of those that did, less than half voted for trump. The scary part comes with the realization that a small percentage of Americans have put a terrible president in power and rabidly support him such that all other republican office holders are frightened into submission. The Republican Party has lost its soul. As a long time conservative, I am very seriously concerned for our country.
A pendulum is a good metaphor for many of life’s experiences and I fear the pendulum’s next swing in politics is going equally troubling. Like Kavanaugh said, “what goes around, comes around”. The extremist liberals will be equally troublesome once they get control. It seems moderate conservatism is a political construct I’ll never again see in my lifetime. I truly pity the generations yet to come; they will inherit a political wasteland.

Reality shows you have lost touch. Actually, job recovery has slowed since trump took office. Positive job creation began in January 2009 and has remained positive every month since then. Though still very positive, Job growth “numbers” have actually slowed in 2018

Before anyone goes crazy, that is perfectly understandable because after 9 years of continued job growth, there is low unemployment and relatively fewer jobs available.

The point? Job creation is proportional to economic growth which has been increasing steadily for the past nine years. Obama and Trump policies are only a part of that improving trend. Both Obama and Trump have taken good steps to help the economy recover but it is not totally due to one person or the other; to think otherwise displays a disregard for the facts.

While we’re at it, let’s talk about the deficit under both presidents. Obama’s administration really ran the deficit up. The major cause of that was the cost of unemployment benefits. That had a double hit; revenue outflow for benefits and greatly reduced payroll tax income. Of course the deficit would grow! Unemployment benefits are now a trickle compared to a flood and payroll tax revenue is at a near all time high. So why does the deficit continue to grow?

Good question; think about it because the answer directly hurts your children and grandchildren.

That would be great! The only way to make it better would be if both parties followed your advice.

Look at all the turnover to date in his cabinet and the reasons that compelled them to quit or be fired. His appointments were not draining the swamp, they were enlargening it.