First...and THIS IS IMPORTANT...WATCH THE VIDEO BEFORE YOU CONTINUE READING THIS ESSAY.
Bill Maher went to the White House and had dinner.
Last night on his HBO show, he offered what he calls his "book report" on that visit.
I skipped the show and any related conversation about his impressions and watched this clip he made available on his Facebook page.
Full disclosure: I watched and then began this 'response' to his "report" without reading, even opening, any of what Facebook notes as, at this writing, six thousand plus responses in the comment threads of his post.
Primarily so that my two cents would not be influenced by anything anyone else had to say about it.
Fuses are so easily, too easily, lit these days. And the key issues of discussion get lost in the snap, crackle and pop of passion and elevated blood pressure.
And any 'counter points' to Maher's 'points' inevitably lead to accusations of bias and irrational 'hatred' and that now classic three word phrase that pays...
Trump. Derangement. Syndrome.
And then, of course, another fuse is lit and...snap...crackle..and pop.
So the self imposed goal here in this writing is to color inside the lines, stay in the lane...and keep it rational and relevant.
Even while the singing voice of Ringo unavoidably saturates the audio synapses.
"...it don't come easy..."
Because the Force is strong with this one (that would be me)...and the temptation is strong like Def Con to drop the pushback into third gear and put the fucking pedal to the metal.
But, obviously, that would, as it has so far, get us (apologies to John and Paul) absolutely....
"...nowhere, man...."
So, firmly fashioned in my big boy panties, I'll hunker down, grin and bear it and avoid the almost insatiable urge to pick every nit there is to pick in Bill's shit...
...like the early on snark about Zelensky's White House attire while his "friend Bob (Kid Rock)" gets a total pass for his Uncle Sam meets jump suit Elvis wardrobe for his own recent Oval Office occupancy.
And as a courtesy, in the spirit of showing courtesy, I'll give credit to Maher for attempting to take the high road...and, dare to dream dreamer he represents, perhaps even inspire his dinner host/tour guide to take the hint and travel down that road himself for a change.
To be filed, of course, under "Hell, ice cubes chance in".
See what I mean about that temptation thing?
The only "out" with a chance of minimal snark available to me is to 'hit it and quit it'
"It" being Maher's impressions.
So, let's do it this way.
Bill has obviously satisfied himself that there is a reasonably decent, pleasant, gracious (God, this is fucking killing me), wait for it...intelligent human being using up Sharpies by the crate at that big desk in that funny shaped office at 1600 Pennsylvania.
And I am sufficiently derangement free enough to concede that anything is possible.
If only statistically.
But....(please don't roll eyes or grunt unappealingly, you have to be a moron if you weren't ready and waiting for the 'but'), that's not the bedrock bottom core of the problem here.
The problem, dear Brutuses, is the trade deficit.
Wait. What? Trump is on target? He knows his shit and has got it together?
Really? Have we met? Let's do that funny 'turn a one syllable word into a two syllable word' thing.
Puhhh...leeze.
I'm not talking goods and products and shipyards and lions and tigers...and tariffs....
...oh, my.
What I'm talking about is the big A.
Accountability.
And all the other "ilities".
Responsibility.
Liability.
Oh...that trade deficit.
Wait.
What?
Okay. Picture me writing what follows on one of those cool dry erase wipe off boards.
And just for shits and giggles, one of those boards with the Presidential seal on it.
Maher is clearly, and understandably, beckoning us to join him in walking the path that will eventually, ideally, lead us all to common ground.
And it's unfair, and inaccurate, to suggest that he is now, after his tour, meal and conversation "championing" this 'different Trump than the one he shows the public'.
But just as clearly, and just as understandably, Maher seems appreciative, even grateful, that there is evidence of...that good old fashioned romantic/patriotic phrase that pays....'reason for hope' when it comes to the path on which his dinner host/tour guide has placed us.
And, hand to God, swear on my grandchildren, slap my ass and call me Skippy, I, too, wish for that path to turn out to be into Emerald City...and not over the cliff.
Remains, however...that problem.
That pesky, pissy problem.
The trade deficit.
And not the trade deficit that the "Trump he shows us" has the world economy soaring up and down faster and more frantically than Stormy Daniels on a pre-paid evening.
We're talking the trade deficit that has nothing to do with tariffs.
And everything to do....with Trump.
The "Trump he shows us'....
The Trump who Bill Maher, if only by implying, offers should be humored, taken with a grain of salt, even disregarded...in favor of that "different Trump".
And that, Bill...is where the deficit comes into play.
For again, if only by implying, you're suggesting that the path to that common ground requires extending to the "Trump he shows us"....
...respect for the office he holds, an office not 'deserved' but 'bestowed' by ALL Americans....when the 'Trump he shows us' shows very little, if any, respect for that office....
....compassion for the burdens of the office....when the 'Trump he shows us' shows little..no...compassion for those in need....be it the need for refuge, sanctuary, citizenship, monthly checks....even employment after decades of service....
....empathy for the challenges he faces as a president, even as a man....when the 'Trump he shows us' shows nothing...N O T H I N G...in the way of empathy...or humility...to A N Y O N E....
....simple, basic courtesy of a kind afforded anyone...simply...because....when the 'Trump he shows us' continues to mock, deride, denigrate, humiliate, embarrasses, insult...the list...like the beat...goes on....
The problem, Bill, is the trade deficit.
What we are being asked, even expected, to give.
Immeasurably out of balance with what we have every right to expect but are simply, undeniably, not getting....
from whichever...or any....of the Trumps that show up at any given moment.
Humored? Grain of salt?
Even disregarded?
Not necessarily a no can do for a president of the local Rotary Club.
Out of the question for a President of the United States.
The problem, Bill, is the trade deficit.
Oh..and there's one other problem.
What's happening here, Bill, is that while you're understandably excited and hopeful as you stand at the sign marked "High Road This Way" and wave and yell at everyone "hey!...everyone!...and Mr. President!....follow me!....let's go THIS way...!!!!! "
...the "Trump different than the one he shows us" is smiling and nodding, quietly pondering your beckoning....
...while the "Trump he shows us"...is laughing as you described his laugh...and calling out....
"....you all go on ahead...
...I'll catch up....."
