Lee Geiger

In short, Mr. President-Elect, the Constitutional dictate of American democracy has given you a tremendous and awesome responsibility. I am willing to give you and your administration a chance. Please don’t screw it up.

Lee Geiger

Dear President-Elect Trump,

My name is Lee Geiger, and I write a blog called The Marginal Prophet. On January 26, 2016, I published a post entitled “An Open Letter to the Republican Party,” where I stated, “If, come November, Trump is the choice you’re giving me to go up against Hillary or Bernie, I’ve got three words for you; He. Can’t. Win.” You, along many of my readers who zealously supported you, including many I hold with the utmost respect, proved me wrong. You pulled a rabbit out of a hat and shocked the world. For that I offer my grudging, if dispassionate, congratulations.

In my opinion, you’re candidacy succeeded for three reasons. First, your experience as a reality television star taught you that many Americans pay more attention to bold personalities who promote dramatic confrontation rather than examining and debating relevant social issues, regardless of undeniable facts or staring-you-in-the-face details. Second, you took advantage of the escalating anger percolating deep within the economic underprivileged, especially among white-Americans living in Middle America, and by virtue of being the last Republican standing you became their singular agent of change. And third, you benefited from the blind arrogance practiced by many on the Left. While pursuing noble goals such as national health insurance and more rights for the LGBT community, much of the Democratic Party failed to listen to the underemployed American, the disenfranchised men and women who wanted more than just a job and a place to live. They wanted an honest day’s work and a viable community they could be proud of, and they believed that no one in Washington was focusing on their issues. But trust me when I say this; the Democrats won’t make the same mistake in 2020. Or 2018.

Don’t confuse your victory with a political mandate. Your opponent won the popular vote. Indeed, you did not earn my vote, primarily because I do not respect your value system, especially when it came to your treatment of women and minorities. Every four years, when I am privileged to vote for a president, I don’t expect to agree with every policy stance a candidate takes. But I do expect to be able to look them in the eye. As of today, sir, I am unable to do that with you.

However, you are now my president, and I echo President Obama’s statement that he wants you to succeed. That being said, my biggest hope is that you will learn humility. I pray that you will find the requisite courage to surround yourself with people who think differently than you, who won’t be afraid to tell you when your are wrong. No president has ever had all the answers, and you are no different. Please take my advice; before making any major decision, take a slow stroll through the hallowed halls of the White House and look at the portraits of forty-three men who preceded you over the course of 240-plus years of American history, and ask yourself what they might have done.

You have been handed more than just power; you have an incredible opportunity. A divided America is about to make a conservative turn to the Right, and the burden you carry will be whether you decide to unite this country with compassion instead of hate, justice instead of falsehood, and understanding instead of judgment. Abe Lincoln once said “a house divided cannot stand,” and that statement is as true today as it was in the ugly and bitter days of slavery. And unlike your Democratic predecessor, who was greeted in 2009 by a vindictive Mitch McConnell saying his singular goal as leader of the Senate Republicans was to make sure President Obama was a “one-term president,” you have been given a green light to succeed with the gift of a Republican Congress.

In short, Mr. President-Elect, the Constitutional dictate of American democracy has given you a tremendous and awesome responsibility. I am willing to give you and your administration a chance. Please don’t screw it up.

Regards,

Lee Geiger

The Marginal Prophet