Nations letter: Ugh-ly editorial

Regarding Robert Ehlert’s May 8 editorial, “An Ugh-ly choice: Clinton? Trump?”

There may be some bewilderment among voters across the country over Donald Trump’s political rise, but I suspect that most of the bewildered are leftist writers like Ehlert. Calling this a “mutant” political year due to Trump’s success seeks to diminish his accomplishments. Call Trump what you will, but he acutely sensed the people’s anger and frustration after eight dismal years of Obama. Jesting that Trump’s popularity may be due to an alien takeover or a once in every 17-year Cicada hatch may provide a little liberal humor, but allows Ehlert to avoid reality. Trump literally rose from the ashes of Obama’s failed policies and from his attempts to divide the country along racial lines such as the egregious, false narrative of Ferguson which helped create “Black Lives Matter” in lieu of all lives matter. His promise to restore America’s worldwide image and rebuild our military that Obama has depleted also resonates with many. It is true that, as mentioned, the American dream “from rags to riches” now seems distant, and has been supplanted by an onerous and permanent “rags to welfare” system that promotes dependency but not dreams.

This story was originally published May 15, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Nations letter: Ugh-ly editorial."