The Rhetoric Surrounding Trump

In a call I had last night with my mom, a lifelong Republican, she repeated the talking point we hear so often in today’s ferocious political climate: “dial down the rhetoric.” In this case, she was referring specifically to me and my oft-used description of the former president: “criminal sociopath.”

Obviously, Trump stands to gain if Democrats would cease pointing out that he is under indictments at both the federal and state levels for trying to overthrow the U.S. government, that he is an adjudicated rapist and convicted felon.  Yet I’m not sure these are examples of “rhetoric” per se; they seem more like simple news items, like the Dodgers beat the Braves 3 – 1 or the Dow was down 100 points in today’s close on Wall Street.  

Now, is he a “criminal sociopath” as I and many other Americans believe?  Indeed, that’s an opinion and not a scientific finding, as it’s not up to environmental writers or car salesmen to make that call, but rather to neurologists and psychiatrists.  On the other hand, it’s an opinion that’s held by a great number of American voters, as we’re all going to learn in November. Whatever his precise clinical condition, his re-election, at least indicted by his own statements, represents the end to U.S. democracy.

Most of us stand adamantly in opposition.