Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Sid Salter: Trump Shooting Shows How Off The Rails Our Politics Is

If we are the American people we are supposed to be we are this week pausing from the caustic political exchanges on social media and thanking God for the fact that the assassination attempt at the campaign rally for former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania did not end in a state funeral.

It is naïve to suggest that politics and violence have not intertwined during our country’s history. There have been presidents killed, wounded, and shaken by such violence throughout our history – a history that has been changed and redirected by these acts.

Regardless, this sad incident should be a wake-up call for those on both sides of the political aisle who engage in irresponsible and dangerous rhetoric that the mentally ill and the misguided inevitably take to heart. The first significant memory I have of the world being wider than the pine tops I could see in the distance was the brutal assassination of President John F. Kennedy when I was a little boy.

On a black-and-white Zenith television, my grandmother’s daily visit to the fictional town of Oakdale, Illinois on the soap opera “As The World Turns” was interrupted by the voice of CBS anchor Walter Cronkite telling us that the President had been shot and seriously wounded in Dallas, Texas. Some 20 minutes later, he would tell us that Kennedy died.

My twin sister and I watched JFK’s alleged assassin Lee Harvey Oswald fatally shot in the stomach by strip joint operator Jack Ruby at the Dallas police station on live television.

In 1968, assassins snuffed out the lives of Dr. Martin Luther King in Memphis during a city strike and JFK’s brother Bobby Kennedy in Los Angeles as he sought the presidency. I watched those dramas play out on television as well.

Later, as a young father, I watched TV footage of the 1981 attack on Ronald Reagan outside the Washington Hilton and saw the collateral damage to Reagan’s staff and those guarding him. Reagan, seriously wounded, survived the attack and continued to serve.

Now former President Donald Trump joins the list of American presidents wounded in an assassination attempt along with Reagan and Teddy Roosevelt in 1912. Luckily, Trump survived but there was again collateral damage and innocents were harmed. Roosevelt was hit by the bullet but not mortally wounded. He continued his speech for 84 minutes and survived.

This is not the column I intended to write this week. I intended to write about the fact that despite all the drama in the 2024 Biden-Trump rematch, the polling in the race remains close with neither candidate having a substantial lead even after Biden’s extremely poor performance in the recent CNN televised debate.

Before this senseless act at the Pennsylvania rally, Trump’s protracted legal woes and eroding post-debate support for incumbent President Joe Biden had already plunged the 2024 election cycle into chaos and uncertainty.

Biden, 81, has been abandoned by several so-called “elite” Democrats including actor George Clooney and others in Biden’s party who openly question his mental acuity. At age 78, Trump’s ongoing legal battles continue but the Supreme Court provided a recent presidential immunity ruling that could provide him some relief.

A July 11 poll from ABC News/Washington Post/IPSOS showed that while 67 percent believed Biden should not seek a second term, the “horse race” question shows voters splitting 47% for Trump and 46% for Biden if they are the nominees. Both candidates have high “unfavorables” yet Trump’s unfavorables were higher than Biden’s even after the CNN debate.

As the two major parties hold their upcoming national conventions, what has been a dramatic campaign already may well see that drama increase. When Reagan and TR survived assassination attempts, those events became part of their political brand. Expect no less from Trump.

But the tenor of American political and social media rhetoric simply must find more reason and civility.

Regardless of whether from the left or the right, Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative, this is not the way our American political process should work.

Let’s pray for President Trump’s recovery, but let’s also pray for a national return to mutual respect, civility and bipartisan dedication to our democratic principles as a republic.

Sid Salter is a syndicated columnist. Contact him at sidsalter@sidsalter.com.

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sid, this is so lame and weak that had Trump not been shot at I don’t think you would’ve even had a submission this week.

KF, how much do you have to pay for this weak stuff? I hope not so much that Sid’s able to walk around in a pair of those $850 horsehide oxfords you were touting yesterday. If he is, you’re gettin’ took.

Anonymous said...

Trump shooting shows how off the rails the democrats are

there, I fixed it for you

Anonymous said...

It’s says a lot about Democrats and the media when morning Joe and Mika are removed for a day because the network anticipates they will probably say something inflammatory and insensitive. But that is a normal day for them and Joy Reid and The View.
The Democratic Party is sinking faster than the Titanic and I’m laughing at the chaos they brought on themselves. It’s quite entertaining!

Anonymous said...

"Your" politics!

Think I'll quit clicking this blog as long as this miscreant is featured here.

Anonymous said...

Enjoy the pantomime.
After Trump was elected in 2016, he appointed a majority Jewish Cabinet
After Biden took office in 2020, he appointed a majority Jewish cabinet.
When Trump takes office in 2025, he will appoint a majority Jewish cabinet.

Anonymous said...

The democrats don't intend to turn the rhetoric down. The head of the democrat party has doubled down on it in an interview with NBC New's Lester Holt.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/transcript-read-full-biden-interview-lester-holt-nbc-news-rcna162029

Joe Biden is a despicable, pathological, liar incapable of being honest. In the interview, he continues to repeat claims that have been proven false.

Anonymous said...

Sid, I agree to disagree with your take 100%. I fully believe the people want and need Trump back in office to finish what he started. We cannot afford another 4 years of inflation, open borders while BLM protest destroyed our cities with officers being hurt. And or killed. Obama was instrumental in setting the tone for downsizing the police, with Biden just continuing the rhetoric. I too watched JFK killed sitting in the room with my mother that morning as a child. Biden said put a bullseye on Trumps back. Tone it down on both sides and let the people vote in November. The hatred for the last 8 years is purely evil and of Satan!

Anonymous said...

July 17, 2024 at 9:59 AM, man, you got it bad. How do you sleep at night knowing they may be under the bed, or in the closet? Waiting to get you at any moment.

With a more serious tone, how exactly did all those Jews impact your life?

Anonymous said...

@10:15 AM
So Biden is a liar and Trump is not? What exactly did Biden repeat that has been proven false?

Anonymous said...

Biden did NOT say to "put a bullseye on Trump's back." He was speaking metaphorically. This is EXACTLY what Sid is talking about in the column.

Anonymous said...

@10:48
So no police officers were hurt or killed during the January 6th insurrection attempt? Neither one is justified, but you can't talk about one without talking about the other.

Anonymous said...

11:14 AM, how about we go back to their first debate. Biden said the laptop was a fake and no one in his family got any money from China. When you explain those two I will give you some more.

Anonymous said...

What all the bloggers, texters, Sid Salter & the rest of the world doesn't realize is that:

How crazy easy it was, for a 20-year-old nerd to take down the former President!

This how it unfolded:

1.) Dad, can I borrow your AR-15. Dad, Sure son.
2.) Drive to Trump rally after loading up on ammo, ladder, and improvised explosives.
3.) Walk to the Agr International building,
access the roof near the rally by climbing over an air conditioning unit adjacent to the building.
4.) Line up rifle on Trump. Fire off several rounds.

Anonymous said...

10:48 "The People" want Trump back in office...? What people? People just don't want Biden and his ilk that's all. Trump stinks but he's what we got so there's bound to be some frustration. But there should not be violence. We should just grin and bear it. MAGA

Anonymous said...

July 17, 2024 at 12:51 PM, there's a link below addressing the bullseye remark, with Biden acknowledging he said it. He also said he shouldn't because that kind of rhetoric should be toned down. He then doubles down on the rhetoric.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/transcript-read-full-biden-interview-lester-holt-nbc-news-rcna162029

Anonymous said...

July 17, 2024 at 12:55 PM, give a link where a law enforcement officer was killed on 1/6/2021.

Anonymous said...

@2:30 PM
He did NOT say to "put a bullseye on Trump's back." He metaphorically said it was time to put Trump under a bullseye meaning it's time to make him the campaign focus. You people are so brainwashed it's not even funny.

Anonymous said...

@11:01AM
I dont know how many more crisis we can afford that necessitate trillions of dollars printed and steered by these unelected appointees!

Anonymous said...

The "ladder" is fake news. He did not bring a ladder to the venue.

Anonymous said...

By voting 100% GOP this fall, it will feel that much better knowing Sidney is suffering.

Anonymous said...

Everyone thinks this will give republicans the sympathy vote, people forget about Dobbs. It’s what’s going to decide this election.

Anonymous said...

True: Trump can be am AO
True: Biden has memory loss
True: Biden has Kamala as VP
True: Trump has a bright young Marine Corp Yale educated attorney
True Any where between 6 months and 2 years Biden won’t know where he is
Your choice

Anonymous said...

July 17, 2024 at 8:40 PM, you are correct, people have forgotten about Dobbs. When you can't afford to buy food, pay rent, buy gas to get to work, and your credit cards are maxed out, killing babies ain't that important.

You need to leave your liberal bubble sometime and talk to other people that live in the real world. There will be a few far left wing, foaming at the mouth, baby killers obsessed with Dobbs, but not nearly enough to win an election.

Trump may get more black votes this election than any Republican, ever. The black voters will be voting on the immigration issue. They're stirred up over the illegals getting their goodies from the government.

The intercity voters in Chicago are talking about recalling the mayor of Chicago over that issue. The intercity voters in New York are upset over shuttered schools, that were being used to house the homeless, were then remodeled to house illegals.

Those, not upset about the loss of goodies, are upset over the illegals getting their jobs. You really need to get out some, talk to people. This election is really, really different. The democrat party, and apparently you, are oblivious to what's going on.

Anonymous said...

First of all everyone should stop getting their news from opinion/talk shows which are obviously biased. Better yet, try Reuters or the BBC which more clearly separates out opinion from facts.

9:20 PM, You seem to ignore Trump's confusing names as well and some of the absolutely looney tunes things he makes up out of whole cloth. Indeed, the "Marine Corp Yale educated attorney" education was evident when he listed the reason he was anti-Trump. You also forget both VP candidates are lawyers but only one distinguished themselves as a prosecutor. One went straight into politics working for Senator Cornyn which got him a clerkship and into a law firm. But his success was as a venture capitalist. He'd give you money for a start up but he wants a nice and permanent chunk of ownership in return which he could later sell.

Like Trump (as is clear in his autobiography, Hillbilly Elegy), your VP candidate (whose surnames have also been Bowman and Hamel had quite a chip on his shoulder and felt others didn't appreciate him. For Trump, he resented that he wasn't he invited into NYC social circles and for the Hillbilly, he resented he had to be bagging groceries and didn't have a cell phone. He was to self-focused to find out under what circumstances someone could get food stamps and have a cell phone when he couldn't afford a cell phone. The obvious possible and common explanation is that relatives not on assistance could have bought and paid for it to make sure they could keep in touch with their children and/or grandchild who was struggling financially.

Everyone should stop depending on bias opinion shows or websites for news. Fox NEWS is more accurate than their talk/opinion shows which run most of the day.


















Anonymous said...

This is the deception by which evil progresses. Attack the whole for the transgressions of a part, thereby elevating/legitimizing the bad and impugning the good, similar to negotiating/splitting the difference between something bad and something good and/or moral equivalency.

Anonymous said...

these comments are depressing and hyper partisan. Turn off the cable news, drink a beer, and enjoy life. America is the best its ever been and will continue to be fine regardless of politics but it will falter if we allow the disagreements between us to fester.

Anonymous said...

Will JD ever figure it out and what will he do when he does.

Anonymous said...

Mary Hawkins has more executive experience than Vance, Tater too, he could switch hit too. Bulldog on Monday, Lapdog on Tuesday afternoon.

Anonymous said...

Headline should have read, Secret Service has political issues after Trump assassination Attempt.


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If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

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