I’ve lived in Iowa for around 30 years with the exception of a 10-year hiatus when I served as a missionary in Honduras before moving to Portland, Oregon. I have always considered myself a Democrat, although I have found myself voting for both parties over the years.
Portland, however, shifted my perspective. The political landscape there isn’t divided into two parties; it’s a spectrum from left to far left, then to the extreme. Initially, I thought this progressive environment would be beneficial, or at least it should be.
Then came the frenzy over Trump. I wasn’t a Trump enthusiast, but the level of hysteria seemed disproportionate to his actions.
Anyone familiar with Portland area knows it’s a city where political passions run high. It’s a breeding ground for groups like Antifa and, ironically, the Patriot Front, where marches often resemble “Fight Club” more than political protesting.
I learned a harsh lesson about tolerance in Portland. Wearing a MAGA hat here would likely get me attacked, or metaphorically tarred, and feathered. This city, which prides itself on acceptance and diversity, has no room for political dissent. Agree with the majority or face anything from ostracism to losing your job.
This situation reminded me of the hysteria during Bill Clinton’s presidency, with daily proclamations by Rush Limbaugh of “America under siege.” I wasn’t particularly a Clinton fan either, but the uproar seemed exaggerated. What was it about Clinton or now Trump that stirred such fervor?
Clinton, I believe, was too centrist for comfort, appealing to Republican voters with policies on immigration and welfare reform. Trump, on the other hand, was and is a disruptor, unyielding to media narratives and unbound by Washington’s traditional constraints.
Now, in Trump’s second term, after a four-year hiatus, his message is more refined, and he’s backed by a much stronger team, including figures like Susie Wiles.
The left’s outrage over what should be straightforward reforms in government systems and audits for fraud, waste, and abuse appears, once again, out of proportion. The reaction feels like a case of chronic hyperventilation.
No president is perfect, and Trump certainly isn’t. Interestingly, his presidency most echoes Clinton’s in my lifetime. For Clinton, it was the Monica Lewinsky affair that was used to cast doubt on his leadership. For Trump, it’s his association with Elon Musk that’s under scrutiny, although Musk, like Trump, isn’t without flaws. Yet, Musk is poised to achieve something unprecedented in my lifetime: a thorough, honest audit of federal departments. Common sense would suggest that this is a good thing, if not an historic accomplishment.
It is so early in his presidency that it is unclear how it will all play out, but the correlation between Trump and Clinton seems hard to ignore.
Time has been kind to Clinton, although a bit tougher on his wife. It’s good to remember that political hysteria is not limited to Trump and that this too shall pass.
- Scott Satterlee
Cedar Rapids
