Richard A Rostron

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October 14, 2024 1:03 pm

Chaz is one of the mildest tempered guys I know. Yet, when I ran into him at a local restaurant the other day, his face was so red I thought it would explode. His eyes were bulging, his nose was flare... View MoreChaz is one of the mildest tempered guys I know. Yet, when I ran into him at a local restaurant the other day, his face was so red I thought it would explode. His eyes were bulging, his nose was flared and, I’d have sworn, smoke was streaming out of his ears. Worse yet, the obscenity-laden words spilling from his mouth were entirely unprecedented considering his customarily pious nature. “Chaz, what’s wrong?” I asked in alarm. “WHAT’S WRONG?!” he screamed. “It’s that #*%&ing Trump.” I had never really talked politics with Chaz and was a bit surprised by his response. But I asked, “What are you talking about?” “He’s claiming that Kamala Harris is lying about fracking, that’s what,” Chaz growled. “Well, that’s because she’s flip-flopped on the issue,” I explained. “Actually, she’s flip-flopped on a number of issues, like defunding the police, taking people’s guns, and leaving the border wide open.” It was immediately clear I shouldn’t have defended Trump. This was not what Chaz wanted to hear as indicated by the way his burning glare bore down on me. “How can you defend that $@*^ing *#@&!?” Chaz demanded. “Do you agree with him that Nazis and White Supremacists are good people, too?” “Of course, I don’t believe Nazis and White Supremacists are good people,” I said. “But neither does Trump.” When Chaz began to protest, I spoke first and said, “I know what you’re talking about and it’s a lie.” “It’s not a lie,” Chaz screamed as heads around the diner turned our way. “I’ve seen him say it on the news.” “What you saw was what the media showed you, an edited clip that intentionally gave a false impression.” “Why would the media lie?” he demanded. “Well, the media has taken sides,” I explained. “They’re telling you what to believe instead of telling the truth and allowing you to decide for yourself.” Before Chaz could respond, I said, “Look,” and took out my cell phone. I then found the actual press conference after the 2017 Charlottesville riot. I watched Chaz’s expression as he heard Trump condemn the Nazis and White Supremacists. “Well, maybe they got that wrong,” Chaz said, “But what about the way he mocked a journalist with cerebral palsy?” “Same thing,” I told him. “I can show you that video, too. But the media didn’t get it wrong; they heard what he said and mischaracterized his words. They did it on purpose and, after seven years, they still haven’t admitted that they lied.” Chaz was clearly struggling for words. Finally, he said, “That may be, but he’s clearly a great big jerk. How about his conviction in New York and all those other charges?” “Chaz, I know you. I’m certain, if you didn’t hate Trump, you’d agree that New York trial was not conducted fairly. And, to tell you the truth, I’d have been more worried about one or two felonies. But 91 felonies? “The same people who gave us the bogus Russian-Collusion investigation are piling on to take Trump down. It’s obvious.” “But the way he talks …” Chaz responded as a little color came back to his face. “Well, he does say what’s on his mind,” I admitted. “But at least we know who he really is and what he really stands for. I sure can’t say that about Kamala Harris.” Chaz walked out the door uncharacteristically muttering under his breath. He could see his arguments had fallen flat. It just wasn’t easy for him to let go of so much pent-up rage.

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