Ken Berwitz
That is part of the last verse, from a poem (the name of which I am intentionally withholding until the end of this blog) written by Robert Burns.
His Scottish spelling notwithstanding, the idea is that it would be a great gift to see ourselves as others see us – it would help to prevent making jackasses of ourselves.
Why do I cite this verse today? Read the following excerpt from David Martosko\’s article at London\’s Daily Mail, and see:
Ben Carson isn\’t ready for prime time, Donald Trump told two national television audiences on Monday morning.
\’I think that Ben just doesn\’t have the experience\’ with tough negotiations to be president, he told \’Good Morning America\’ co-host George Stephanopoulos on ABC.
\’Ben cannot deal on trade. Ben cannot deal with China. It\’s not his thing, George. You know, you\’re born with it. It\’s not his thing. He hasn\’t got the temperament for it. It\’s not the right thing for him.\’
This, from a man whose “negotiations” have always been as a corporate head with entities that need him, or at least perceive that they do.
In terms of negotiating with heads of state, which may not feel that way – and may feel that they are holding better cards than the USA has (an increasingly likely scenario, given the absolute disaster of Barack Obama\’s foreign policy), Donald Trump has every bit as much experience as Ben Carson does. None.
And that, of course, is before we get to the fact that negotiating things is just part of what a President does. He may think being President requires nothing other than negotiating things with people who cower at the sight of him, but that is not the way of things.
Talk about the pot calling the kettle black (and, no, there is no racial meaning here).
Oh, I almost forgot: the title of Robert Burns\’ poem, the one I pulled that quote from? “To A Louse”.
Is the fact that I am talking about Donald Trump relevant to Burns\’ title? I didn\’t mean it that way…..but I can see someone thinking I did.
