Edward M. Dowd: Donald Trump’s actions ‘astonishingly disqualifying’

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Published: 09-01-2024 1:35 PM

When most of us are faced with important decisions, we weigh out the known and probable pros and cons. Deciding which presidential candidate to vote for is no different.

For many voters the answer is simple. Donald Trump’s term in office was distinguished by chaos and lack of legislative achievement. What he will be most remembered for is his behavior after losing the election in 2020. It is an indisputable fact that on Jan. 6, 2021, while the U.S. Capitol was under attack by violent extremists, the 45th president, for three long hours, watched television while ignoring the pleas from White House officials and members of his own family to instruct the rioters to leave.

Trump instead contributed to the mayhem, inciting the already violent crowd by sending out tweets condemning Mike Pence. It would be Pence that would finally call in the National Guard. Once Trump knew that the rioters would not prevail, he reluctantly (and lovingly) called them off.

For most Americans, this and other astonishingly disqualifying behavior makes considering the former president for office unthinkable. For others, the idea that “things were better under Trump” seems to indicate that regardless of how fundamentally dishonest, cruel and self-serving the candidate has proved himself to be, he has their vote.

“Things were better” has particularly been linked with inflation rates. It is worth noting that no president has substantial control over things like gasoline prices and interest rates. The average inflation rate during President Barack Obama’s administration was 1.4%, compared with 1.9% during Trump’s term. The Biden average of 5.7% does not factor in the current rate of inflation, which is 2.9% Federal regulators look at 2% as the ideal rate of inflation.

Just as a broken clock is correct twice a day, there is a slim chance that Trump’s many promises of an improved economy could coincide with his being elected. What is much more certain is that it will have little to do with any organized strategy on his part.

What we can be sure of is that Trump will prioritize his own economic and political survival over that of our country.

Edward M. Dowd

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