The Absurd Before the Weekend: I Remember

“Tip, if I had a ticket to heaven and you didn't have one too, I would give mine away and go to hell with you." 
President Ronald Reagan (R) to friend, Speaker of the House, Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neil (D)

 As a youngster, I watched Walter Cronkite and Huntley and Brinkley with my Dad. I didn't notice there were two distinct political sides, not one that was significantly different. They were like intramural sports - although the participants were on opposing teams, they all worked and played in the same building and often ate lunch together. 

My mother came from a fiscally conservative family, but they held no alliance or worshipped any of the political conservative players. I heard Grandma and Grandpa criticize the Republicans when criticism was due. Oh, wait, they didn't criticize President Eisenhower, as family legend had it, he was Grandma's cousin. Looking at photos of all of Grandma's brothers, my great uncles, the Eisenhower resemblance and baldness were striking. 

On the other side of the political spectrum, my Dad's family leaned more towards the Democrats. They seemed to be faithful to the Kennedys, especially my Dad. My mother shared a story about visiting my father's family. When my paternal grandmother started to criticize Eisenhower, she stopped herself. She said to my mother, "I don't mean to say anything bad about your family, but..." knowing that the legendary General had ties to my other Grandmother's family. Mom said there was no reason to take it personally, and she laughed it off. 

Through my adult years, when it came to politics, I declared myself an Independent. I believe this was due to my politically "blended" family.  Nationally, I often voted Democrat, and locally, I often voted Republican, and some years, vice versa. I was employed by a county defense attorney who, after work hours, was Chairman of the local Republican party. I worked a decade for the husband and the son of a Majority Leader in the Washington State Senate. There were a few years when I assisted a State Representative during his legal day job. He first served as a Democrat and later switched to the Republican Party. When it came to politics, I was flexible and open to discussion.

In 2016, I finally and officially signed up as a Democrat when the designer of the "birther" (targeting President Obama) announced his candidacy for President of the United States. I was familiar with his dalliances and his bigotry. All of those Republican locals whom I used to vote for - no longer. I was disappointed when I read on Facebook that four civic business leaders, men I admired, talked about the virtues of Trump and spewed misogynistic trash about Hillary. Previously, I had looked past the racist vitriol of one of these men as I valued his friendship, but I could no longer do it and feel good about it. It was then that I removed them from my social media, stopped attending events they were hosting, and never looked back on my final political decision.

I remember...

*When, after a bitter presidential race in 1992, Bill Clinton (D) and George H. W. Bush (R) developed an unlikely friendship during their post-presidencies. Their bond transcended personal and political differences, serving as an example of civility in American politics.

*When, during a rally for Presidential Candidate Senator John McCain (R), a supporter referred to his opponent, then-Senator. Barack Obama (D) as an "Arab" and how she didn't trust him. McCain said the following: "No ma'am, he's a decent family man, citizen, that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues, and that's what this campaign is all about," McCain said to applause.

*When former Presidents George W. Bush (Junior), Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama formed a camaraderie after their presidencies, despite their political differences. Their friendships extended to their families, particularly highlighting the sweet bond between George W. and former First Lady Michelle Obama and their sharing of candy. 

*When President Barack Obama escorted former First Lady Nancy Reagan (R) to the signing of the Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission Act, which created a plan to celebrate President Ronald Reagan's 100th birthday in 2011. First Lady Reagan was initially critical of the Obama administration, but later developed a friendship with President Obama and First Lady Michelle. Photos from the past with Mrs. Reagan show her embracing President Obama or holding his hand. 

*When a timid and apprehensive soon-to-be First Lady, Melania Trump, showed up at the White House on Inauguration Day with a thoughtful gift for the Obamas, wrapped in Tiffany & Co's famous robin egg blue paper with the generous white satin ribbon. Mrs. Trump's husband seemed to forget she had accompanied him to the White House, as he walked ahead of her, leaving her behind. President Obama and Michelle took over and escorted Melania into the White House. 

The White House has never been the same since that day. We had a four-year pause, a breather, in seeing the love from President Biden and First Lady Jill, and their long-standing friendships with their past political opponents, but in the last nine months, we're back to contempt and division, like we've never seen before. America has never had a holiday greeting from its President with sentiments like, "Happy Easter to all, including the Radical Left Lunatics who are trying to destroy the country."