Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart

Some of you may know that my interest in politics began one afternoon in 1956. I came home, and turned on our black and white television. All three networks were broadcasting what appeared to be chaos. I soon discovered it was President Eisenhower’s second nominating convention. I was only 10-year-old, and I was mesmerized.

When the President walked onto the stage, I realized the atmosphere had changed. He was received by loud clapping and cheering as he stepped to the microphones. He was a symbol of power and strength: he was clearly America’s leader.

IN 1960, ONE MAN IMPRESSED ME AND SET THE STANDARD FOR ALL FUTURE PRESIDENTS

In the fall of 1960, I began my freshman year in high school. For many voters, John Kennedy was a pariah. He was a Catholic. For me, and my fellow students at St. Bernard High School, he was a hero. He captivated us with his speeches and sense of humor. JFK was the epitome of an American President, although in the early 1960’s, Catholics were not considered “Christians” by most non-Catholics, especially in the Deep South.

On November 22, 1963, when the only Great President in my lifetime was taken from us, I was a senior in high school. I shed tears for three days.

Prior to my first year in a public high school in 1962, I was naïve. I remained somewhat ignorant about how our government functioned until I attended a public high school. Over the next two years, in my history and economics classes, I began to understand how incapable and uncaring many of our presidents and congressmen were. I learned about the ugliest profession in the world: professional politician.

From my Black friends, I learned about the two Americas.

REALITY SINKS IN AND I BECAME BOTH SAD AND DETERMINIED TO EXPOSE THE TRUTH ABOUT WASHINGTON POLITICS

After we lost President Kennedy, the mystique surrounding our presidents disappeared, at least for me. Under Lyndon Johnson, the “war without purpose” in South Vietnam escalated.

In 1967, I reached my 21^st birthday. I would be able to vote in the 1968 general election for the first time.

My candidate of choice was Robert Kennedy. However, when he was murdered in the summer of 1968, I was forced to find a different man to support, and that was confusing and very difficult.

I will not reveal my choice, but I will tell you that the situation convinced me that it is moronic to vote for a political party. I would always be an Independent voter. I am totally convinced that all voters should be Independent. This is the definition of “American.”

GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS FORGOTTEN BECAUSE OF A BASIC HUMAN WEAKNESS

I was surprised and very pleased with the successes of Richard Nexon after his victory in 1968. His accomplishments were many, and included granting 18-year-olds the right to vote, ending the draft, creating the EPA, and engaging in efforts to create a relationship with communist China, and ending nuclear proliferation between the United States and the USSR.

When the Watergate Scandal became front-page news, I was disappointed. The exposure of one man’s fear and desperation to win an election shook the nation, and created a lack of faith in our country’s government. This was just the beginning.

His human ambitions continue to overshadow the accomplishments of one mortal man today.

Johnson and Nixon made me realize that few of our presidents were successful, and how few men and women are qualified to serve and hold our nation’s highest office.

IT ONLY GOT WORSE

As the age of nearly instant communication became more advanced, the American people became more aware of the high level of corruption in our nation’s capital. Fraud, insider trading, multiple forms of sexual misconduct, and blatant lies were exposed for all to see. With great power, and/or great wealth came levels of depravity I previously considered unimaginable. Our leaders continue to hide the truth under the guise of “for reasons of national security.” Bullshit.

In the 1980’s a charismatic and handsome Senator from Colorado, Gary Hart, appeared to be the Democratic front runner in the 1988 election. Working-class Americans had become frustrated with Reagan’s war on the majority of Americans while giving huge tax breaks to the already super-rich.

However, when a newspaper article revealed Senator Hart’s extramarital relationship with Donna Rice, and included a picture of the two together on a boat, Hart’s campaign nosedived. He was forced to resign from the campaign on May 8, 1987.

After a huge victory in the 1992 election, rumors filled the pages of our nation’s newspapers about Bill Clinton’s alleged sexual liaisons while the Governor of Arkansas. Republicans, led by Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich, planned to impeach the new president.

Clinton remained in the White House. However, Gingrich, who labeled his party the “party of family values,” revealed his true self when he asked his first wife for a divorce while she was fighting brain cancer. The reason? She would not agree to an “open marriage.”

Although Clinton’s immoral actions will always define him, he was one of the most successful presidents in American history. His economy was the most successful since that of FDR in the 1930’s and 1940’s.

THE 2000 ELECTION REVEALED CORRUPTION IN ALL THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT

Clinton’s Vice-President, Al Gore, was challenged by the former Governor of Texas, and son of our 41^st president in 2000.

George W. Bush’s greatest accomplishment as the governor of Texas was executing more men and women than any other governor in America’s history. He had failed in every private business endeavor, and was known as an alcoholic who loved cocaine.

The election will be remembered as the closest and most highly contested and controversial in American history. While a recount was being conducted in the deciding state of Florida, the Supreme Court overstepped its authority and ordered an end to the process, gifting the presidency to Bush. Mr. Gore had won the popular vote.

THE ONLY PRESIDENT WITHOUT A SCANDAL IS ELECTED IN 2008

In November of 2008, Americans celebrated the election of its first Black President. Barack Obama defeated John McCain to become our nation’s 44^th President. I, and thousands of other political writers, remain convinced that the Senator from Arizona might have become victorious if he had not chosen a brainless and fallacious woman as his vice-president, the then Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin.

President Obama remains the only modern day president not to face a major scandal in eight years.

THE 2017 ELECTION PROVED THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND MILLIONS OF VOTERS NO LONGER CONSIDERED MORALS AND PRINCIPLES TO HAVE ANY VALUE OR IMPORTANCE

In 2015, most Americans knew the name “Donald Trump.” However, only one in one hundred thousand knew who or what he was. This sad fact continues today as his cult continues to support him.

Between the day in 2015 when Trump declared his intention to win the Republican Party’s 2016 presidential nomination and election day, November 8, the “real Donald Trump” was fully exposed.

Although he claimed to be a successful businessman and a billionaire, both assertions were debunked. The facts that he was a serial philanderer, a lifetime criminal, an accused sexual predator, and Vladimir Putin’s puppet were ignored by about one-half of all Americans. They chose ignorance over fact.

In October of 2016, a videotape was released revealing Trump exiting an “Access Hollywood” bus. On the tape, Trump revealed the fact that he was a confirmed sexual predator and womanizer.

However, with interference by Vladimir Putin, the assistance of James Comey, and the mainstream media, he became your 45^th and illegitimate president.

One-half of our nation’s people proved that America had abandoned its moral compass, principles, integrity, and self-respect.

ONE EXTREMELY DESTRUCTIVE TERM EARNED HIM A SECOND OPPORTUNITY TO END THE DREAM?

During Trump’s first term, and during the four years between 2020 and 2024, those of us who were concerned about our nation’s future attempted to convince all Americans about the fact that Trump was the worst man in the world, and his entire focus was on personal gain, not all 340 million people.

His list of crimes against humanity is long and shameful.

Trump is a convicted felon 34 times. His record as an adulterer is unmatched and undeniable. On January 6, 2021, he became America’s greatest traitor. On January 20, 2021, he violated the Espionage Act. Between December of 2019 and January of 2021, Trump’s failure to lead our nation in the fight against Covid-19 resulted in an unnecessary loss of at least 100,000 lives according to health experts. America was moving towards a second Great Depression.

Today, Trump is violating the Constitution every day. He is a dictator who rejects the Constitution and the ideals and principles of our founding fathers. He is committing murder as he enjoys killing suspected but not confirmed drug traffickers in boats off the shores of Venezuela. His abuse of power is unforgivable and preventable. However our government is composed of hypocrites and cowards who know the facts but lack the will to save America.

79 YEARS OF CHANGE: HOPE FOR POSITIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: AND NOW DESPAIR

The changes I have witnessed in my nearly 80 years are for the most part disappointing and destructive. I watched as some of our leaders made progress as they attempted to move our nation forward and join the rest of developed nations, but their successors moved us backwards and destroyed progress.

I have no idea what this country in which I live should be called today. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are worthless. The promises contained in these great documents no longer have any meaning. Trump and his oligarchs have complete control of your future, my future, and those of everyone we know and love. We are pawns to be used at will for the rich and powerful.

Morals no longer exist. Principles and integrity are no longer found in any part of America. Millions of Americans are willing to accept what more than 400,000 American men and women fought and died for in WWII to prevent: fascism.

In my final years I do not live, I exist in limbo. I have no idea what to call the place where I attempt to survive, but it is not the United States of America.

Op-ed by James Turnage

Follow my blog and be informed

Sources: magazine.columbi.edu: “IS AMERICA IN MORAL DECLINE”

cbs19.com: “America’s moral depravity”