The Milwaukee Post

8 • Milwaukee County Post • January 20, 2017 Eight years ago at this time, America was about to swear in as a president an unac- complished and inexperienced senator who came out of the corrupt Chicago Democrat machine, had spent much of his adult life in a church run by a racist anti-American and had hung around with an unrepentant domestic terrorist. His politics were as radi- cal as his executive experience was thin. Nonetheless, my side sat back and swal- lowed it. We didn't like it and dreaded the socialism that we knew was to come. But we understood that, horrid as Barack Obama was sure to be, that our nation's very exis- tence required us to accept that he had won. Contrast that to today. Entertainers are terrified to perform at Donald Trump's inauguration because they fear they will be boycotted and shunned to the point their careers may be ruined. Activists plan to march on Washington. Michael Moore is calling for disrupting the proceedings. There is a very real chance of riots around the country. A sitting member of Congress, the demagogue John Lewis, is saying the incoming president is "illegitimate." The difference in the two reactions has nothing to do with the differences between Obama and Trump. No; the real difference is between the character of the two political movements in this country. Conservatives and Republicans are patriots who funda- mentally believe in the concept of "America." Democrats and liberals have become a bitter movement of anti- Americans who prefer globalism to patriot- ism and loathe our country when it is not run by one of them. A perfect example of the anti-American left is Michelle Obama. Instead of being grateful for living in a nation in which a member of a minority race could get uni- versity degrees and have limitless opportu- nity, she (by her own words) has shown utter disgust with the United States. When Barack was running in '08, Michelle famous- ly declared that it was the "first time she felt truly proud" of the country. Now, in 2017, she's back to her bitter ways declaring that we once again don't have "hope." Is this someone who can accept the peaceful transi- tion of power that has been the hallmark of our nation? Obviously not, and she is typical of her side. Another basic premise of America is the right of dissent. My side resisted Obama as hard as it could. But that resistance was peaceful and made use of our democratic system. Tens of thousands attended tea party rallies. Ordinary citizens became activists for the first time in their lives. The result was the Republican landslide of 2010 that took the Congress from the Democrats and ended Obama's ability to pass radical legislation (instead forcing him to govern via unconstitutional executive orders). Our dissent and opposition was the highest form of patriotism. By contrast, liberals today are hellbent on personally demonizing Trump and his sup- porters. Rather than use the ballot box to grab power back, they attack the very process of democratic elections. They con- demn the Electoral College, the great Americans named to Cabinet positions and are repelled at the tens of millions of Americans who live here in flyover country who elected Trump. My side isn't pure. Way too many conser- vatives challenged Obama's legitimacy by alleging, with scant evidence, that he wasn't born in America. Some of the opposition to him had racist overtones. But virtually no important conservative opposed Obama in any way other than to use free speech and the political process to resist his governing vision of socialism, globalism and sympa- thy for Islamism. The left right now is making a fool of itself. Its 2-month-old temper tantrum is a revelation of its true colors. And, it won't work. In the same way that the over-the-top reaction in Wisconsin to Gov. Scott Walker actually helped Walker and aided the con- version of Wisconsin from a blue to red state, the obnoxious behavior of the unpa- triotic Trump haters will cause a backlash that will aid Trump. Inane and childish as Trump himself can be, whatever disgust many of us may have with his conduct is mitigated by the even more revolting behavior of the anti- Trumpers. * * * A special level of Trump hatred is still coming from the mainstream media as it commits an almost existential suicide. The same media that wouldn't report the actual fact of Obama's friendship with the terror- ist Bill Ayers last week hyped the lie-filled "Russian dossier" filled with untruths about Trump. CNN and other mainstream media outlets are coming to be viewed by the con- servative half of the country as untrustwor- thy propagandists rather than legitimate news organizations. You can't chase away half your potential customers and survive. Journalism in America is dying. The objective and unbiased mainstream media simply no longer exists. Instead, it has joined ranks with unabashed progressive activists to push a point of view. The result of this will actually be the proliferation of conservative news sources to fill the void left by the mainstreamers going partisan. (Mark Belling is the host of a daily WISN radio talk show. His column appears weekly in the Milwaukee Post. Send your personal correspondences to Mark Belling at Clear Channel Communications, c/o WISN, 12100 W. Howard Ave., Greenfield, WI 53228). MARK BELLING STANDING UP for MILWAUKEE Some are showing their true colors OPINION Last week's question In 2016, homicides were close to 2015's mark and most major crimes dipped slightly in Milwaukee.What are your thoughts about crime in the city and if it were up to you, what would you do about it? Do you feel safe in your neighborhood? As far as the crime rate — ha! It's a big joke. I just came out of a meeting talking with residents. I'm part of a watchdog group that actually talks to businesses and residents. We see what's actually going on.The police do not respond or report to the vast majority of things going on. Out of Milwaukee, a fine example is District 7, if they don't see it, they don't report it. We're getting the same thing in West Allis way too often. The other thing we are seeing is the same criminals back on the street, major drug dealers, who are hit with nothing more than a ticket for posses- sion for whatever, a small substance, over and over and over, and over — nothing happens.That's my take on it. I'm just listening and responding as a messenger for so many these days. It's getting discouraging. — Thomas Reed West Allis This week's question Are you more optimistic of Donald Trump as president than right after the election or are you experiencing a sense of dread? Why? What advice would you give him? Or, what's your take on the Green Bay Packers' season after the NFC Championship Game? (Respond to one question.) Editor's note: When responding to the Question of the Week, please include your full name with spelling, phone number and city where you live. Phone numbers will not be published. Anonymous responses are no longer accepted by the publication. Call 744- 6370, Ext. 15 and leave a brief answer. Readers may also send an email with a brief answer to: dmuck@conleynet.com. Question of the week Send your letters to: The Milwaukee Post, c/o Dan Muckelbauer, 3397 S. Howell Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53207, or by email to: dmuck@conleynet.com. We reserve the right to edit letters for style, length and clarity. Letters should be typewritten or printed and include full name, phone number and address. Please keep your letters to no more than 400 words. Letters policy Trump haters outright reject premise of America

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