by Andy Weddington
Thursday, 10 November 2016
To announce that there must be no criticism of the president ... is morally treasonable to the American public. Theodore Roosevelt - 26th President of the United States
Catching early morning news, there was a segment about today's visit between President Obama and President-elect Trump. The reporter commented it's a tradition.
Could there be two men with any less in common?
While President-elect Trump visited President Obama at the White House, my wife and I journeyed to a Marine base to celebrate our Corps 241st Birthday.
The Birthday pageant - a history parade with Marines in period uniforms and a cake-cutting, as ever, terrific.
The meeting in the Oval Office?
Oh, to be a fly on the wall.
On the way home my wife checked news headlines and read excerpts written about the visit.
She summarized that President Obama welcomed our President-elect and wanted to talk policy. And that Mr. Trump said he respected President Obama and would seek his counsel.
That is public politics.
For earlier this week President Obama, campaigning on behalf of Mrs. Clinton, said Mr. Trump had neither the experience nor temperament for the office. And he's said other disparaging things, too, about Mr. Trump.
That is public politics.
Just yesterday the White House Press Secretary, Josh Earnest, reiterated President Obama's sentiments.
That is public politics.
To be fair, Mr. Trump has returned the "platitudes."
Mr. Trump's entire brilliant campaign and written contract with the American people was and is the antithesis of the Obama presidency and its helmsman.
In short, Mr. Trump ran on dismantling everything President Obama did and touched and cleaning up the remains; a monumental commitment.
So President Trump's comments (about President Obama) today?
"Play nice" public politics.
For what, considering Mr. Trump's blistering assault (and rightly so) on President Obama and his policies (foreign and domestic), counsel could President Obama offer?
Other than Mr. Trump wanting to get from an expert what not to do?
And that's a possibility. A savvy one.
An exchange between the two men did occur to me this morning.
The private politics goes something like this ...
President Obama: "Donald, welcome to the White House - soon to be your new home. The Oval Office is ready for us. Shall we walk?!"
President-elect Trump: "Mr. President, thank you. Yes, my day is full so let's get to work."
In the Oval Office ...
President Obama: "Well, what I want to do this visit is outline my policies - explaining how we realized them; challenges to implementing; where we are; lessons learned to date; and why it's important for you to embrace and continue them."
President-elect Trump: "Interesting, Mr. President." While scanning the impressive office ... "Actually, I'm not much interested in hearing about your policies. At this point, I'd prefer my transition team engage, get details smart on them, and brief me. And then I'll be ready to discuss with you, should that be necessary."
President Obama: "Well, we could do it that way I suppose. But ..."
President-elect Trump: "My apologies, Mr. President, for having to cut our meeting short and run - I have meetings on the Hill and must get back to New York this evening. But, I do have a question for you. Have you scheduled the carpet cleaning? No? Well, please make sure that's done before we move in. Thanks. See you Inauguration Day."
Departing the White House, President-elect Trump saw and approached the Marine sentry ...
"Marine, Happy Birthday! See you in a couple of months. My honor it will be to be your commander-in-chief. Semper Fidelis."
In closing ...
Happy Birthday, Marines!
Congratulations, President-elect Trump!
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