An outspoken supporter of Donald Trump agreed to sit down for a discussion about his presidency. We found some common ground on policy, but more on the need to keep talking.
Thanks so much for this delightful commentary on your conversation with Mr. Brendle. I hope to see more people come for coffee with you. It's refreshing to have 2 opposing sides meet in the middle and show us we have more in common than we'd think.
Thanks, Dan. While I might agree with Linda about the depth, I don't think that was the point. Plus, you're supposed to be on a break! The real value of this article is a discussion is happening. In my public life, I have found that challenging...either to get a conversation to happen, to listen openly, or to be listened to. What I often get are comments like those from CAM that either attack me or completely skirt the issue because that mind is made up.
I have a very well educated friend who only reads the NYT and only listens to Morning Joe for all of her news information. You, Mr. DeWitt, seem as uninformed and gullible as she. I’m sorry that you do not, have not, tried to fully inform yourself. You are missing important information because you think you know so much. I also have an older acquaintance who was Valedictorian of her high school class. She was so smart at eighteen that she has never attempted to learn anything new. You remind me of her. But, on the positive side, she would have been kind to Mr. Brendle instead of condescending like you.
Hi Cam. I think I'm pretty well informed and I can tell you why I rely on conventional news sources, especially the New York Times and Washington Post. I worked for more than 30 years for good newspapers. The pressure to be accurate at such places is hard to understand for people who haven't been journalist. I still kick myself for corrections I had to write 20 years ago. If you do that too many times, you're fired. If you make things up you never work in the industry again. And the reporters who make it to the Times or the Post are the ones who have met those standards of accuracy for years, or they wouldn't have survived the very tough competition to make it to those places. These are, on the whole, extremely smart, informed and careful journalists. That's my assurance that these sources are accurate. I don't always agree with their choices of news coverage. The story I linked, about black equestrians who can't find helmets that allow them to wear hair in styles that express their racial identity is, to me, ridiculous. If you're an equestrian, you are by definition privileged and don't need my sympathy. And I don't think I read enough about the border situation in '22 and '23 when it really was chaotic. Post and NYT didn't exactly bury those stories, but didn't give them prominence to reflect the true situation. Conservative media., unfortunately, has largely abandoned these standards, even at the highest levels (FOX) and the podcasts and social media sources that so many people rely on (including on the left) have no such accuracy guarrdrails, which is why so many people can believe things that are just not true, such as that Trump actually won in 2020, and that immigrants are disproportionately violent criminals.
Many Americans, children and adults, need to be educated about our Constitution, Separation of Powers Doctrine, the republic in general and civics as opposed to political parties and their policies.
It's terrific that you set an example for bipartisan dialogue, Dan. Thanks for that, but your brief discussion lacked real depth. I know it would take hundreds of pages to accomodate the lengthy debate on the rights and wrongs of Trump's plans, and the many important topics that should be delved into, but time will tell as policies are put in place and realities unfold in the upcoming months. There is much trepidation on one hand and excitement on the other. Let's all just walk together as unified citizens and support one another as we see what lies ahead.
Brendle is the Statler to Art Cole’s Waldorf. Their twaddle in the TT is not to be missed for hilarity. Dan would be better served by interviewing the 40 year old Trump advocates to get a clear picture of the coming storm and where this country is heading. It is not a pretty picture
Thanks so much for this delightful commentary on your conversation with Mr. Brendle. I hope to see more people come for coffee with you. It's refreshing to have 2 opposing sides meet in the middle and show us we have more in common than we'd think.
Great story Dan! Love to see a few more like this.
Thanks, Dan. While I might agree with Linda about the depth, I don't think that was the point. Plus, you're supposed to be on a break! The real value of this article is a discussion is happening. In my public life, I have found that challenging...either to get a conversation to happen, to listen openly, or to be listened to. What I often get are comments like those from CAM that either attack me or completely skirt the issue because that mind is made up.
I have a very well educated friend who only reads the NYT and only listens to Morning Joe for all of her news information. You, Mr. DeWitt, seem as uninformed and gullible as she. I’m sorry that you do not, have not, tried to fully inform yourself. You are missing important information because you think you know so much. I also have an older acquaintance who was Valedictorian of her high school class. She was so smart at eighteen that she has never attempted to learn anything new. You remind me of her. But, on the positive side, she would have been kind to Mr. Brendle instead of condescending like you.
Hi Cam. I think I'm pretty well informed and I can tell you why I rely on conventional news sources, especially the New York Times and Washington Post. I worked for more than 30 years for good newspapers. The pressure to be accurate at such places is hard to understand for people who haven't been journalist. I still kick myself for corrections I had to write 20 years ago. If you do that too many times, you're fired. If you make things up you never work in the industry again. And the reporters who make it to the Times or the Post are the ones who have met those standards of accuracy for years, or they wouldn't have survived the very tough competition to make it to those places. These are, on the whole, extremely smart, informed and careful journalists. That's my assurance that these sources are accurate. I don't always agree with their choices of news coverage. The story I linked, about black equestrians who can't find helmets that allow them to wear hair in styles that express their racial identity is, to me, ridiculous. If you're an equestrian, you are by definition privileged and don't need my sympathy. And I don't think I read enough about the border situation in '22 and '23 when it really was chaotic. Post and NYT didn't exactly bury those stories, but didn't give them prominence to reflect the true situation. Conservative media., unfortunately, has largely abandoned these standards, even at the highest levels (FOX) and the podcasts and social media sources that so many people rely on (including on the left) have no such accuracy guarrdrails, which is why so many people can believe things that are just not true, such as that Trump actually won in 2020, and that immigrants are disproportionately violent criminals.
Thanks Dan for sharing this. We all need to do it.
America needs a lot more of this bipartisn interaction.
Many Americans, children and adults, need to be educated about our Constitution, Separation of Powers Doctrine, the republic in general and civics as opposed to political parties and their policies.
Thanks for doing this article Dan. You made a good point about keeping an open mind and communication.
Read the Wall Street Journal, watch Fox News at 6 PM for at least a solid week and then see how you feel.
It's terrific that you set an example for bipartisan dialogue, Dan. Thanks for that, but your brief discussion lacked real depth. I know it would take hundreds of pages to accomodate the lengthy debate on the rights and wrongs of Trump's plans, and the many important topics that should be delved into, but time will tell as policies are put in place and realities unfold in the upcoming months. There is much trepidation on one hand and excitement on the other. Let's all just walk together as unified citizens and support one another as we see what lies ahead.
Brendle is the Statler to Art Cole’s Waldorf. Their twaddle in the TT is not to be missed for hilarity. Dan would be better served by interviewing the 40 year old Trump advocates to get a clear picture of the coming storm and where this country is heading. It is not a pretty picture
Bob cottage! See you in NC!