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Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Charles Blow in Hell

This article first appeared in Eagle Rising.

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New York Times columnist Charles Blow makes no bones about it: Because Donald Trump is president, Mr Blow thinks we are living in Hell. That is the thesis of his latest op-ed in the New York Times.

Where do you begin with an op-ed like this? You would think Mr Blow woke up and found himself in Ghana, Haiti, Sudan or Yemen. But he hasn't. He lives in the greatest country on earth. No, it is not perfect, but it has produced the richest, most innovative, and freest society in history. Even if you are not a Trump supporter, I defy you to explain how your individual life has become worse since he came into office. Is he taking your money away from you? Have you lost your job? Have you been arrested for criticizing Trump in public-as Mr Blow does with absolute impunity?

Like so many progressives, Blow uses the latest natural disasters to remind us of Global Warming and to bash those (like Trump) who are not convinced. He takes Trump to task for trying to obliterate the "legacy" of his predecessor by the stroke of a pen while ignoring the fact that Trump has been cancelling Obama's executive orders, most of which circumvented Congress. Blow also bemoans states that try to pass voter ID laws which are designed to stop illegal voting. Contrary to what Blow would have us believe, it is not an effort to keep blacks and other minorities from voting. It is an effort to prevent unregistered voters, illegal aliens, non-citizens, and other ineligible people from voting.

While Mr Blow gives no praise to Hillary Clinton, he believes that she was by far the lesser evil. He also refers to the "corruption" of the Trump administration. Really? Has there been a Fast and Furious scandal with ATF allowing guns to walk into Mexico and as the attorney general denies culpability and lies under oath? Has there been an IRS scandal with the tax agency putting the screws to conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status and then lying about it to Congress-or (Lois Lerner) refusing to testify?

But if I may turn Blow's attention back to Mrs Clinton, has there been a Benghazi catastrophe under Trump with a resultant cover-up? Has there been an email scandal with resultant cover-up? How about the pay for play with the Clinton Foundation? Need I go back to the days of Hillary Clinton's position as first lady, Travelgate, Whitewater, Rose Law Firm, "nuts and sluts", and all those little matters? Hillary Clinton is the very face of corruption.

As a result of his op-ed, Mr Blow will not lose his job, nor should he. He is right in line with the NY Times' editorial policy. No, he will get in his nice car, drive to his nice home (assuming he lives in the suburbs), and do what he wants to do on his time off. That is the American dream, and  Mr Blow is living it. He doesn't have to worry about the police kicking down his door in the dead of night and dragging him and his entire family off to some dungeon to be tortured.

The only blowback (No pun intended) that he has to worry about is wise guys like me who criticize his words. No doubt he will call that an assault on his free speech rights. It isn't. I am not calling for Blow to be fired or arrested. I am just disagreeing with his opinions.

That's what we do down here in Hell.

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