Instead of an Olive Branch, Mr. Buchanan offers a "War."

I'm pissed. The editorial page  of today's local paper was given over (Viewpoint, 11/25) to one of the most notorious white supremacists in politics, Mr. Patrick "Pat" Buchanan. Mr. Buchanan doesn’t get much media attention anymore because of his racist rants. His forum has been limited to fringe websites populated by fellow ideologues. It's not surprising that he feels embattled as I'm sure that he feels the weight of history bearing down on him heavier than ever. His call for the losing side who didn’t vote for the winning candidate (the conceited cultural elite) to “accept its defeat” is disingenuous as is his cry of "arrogance."

The statement Mr. Buchanan referred to from the cast of the musical Hamilton was respectful and pointed out the diversity of America and the very real concern that the new administration is not showing much interest in protecting the rights of all citizens. For Mr Buchanan, and now the DNR Editor as well, any such dissent is a treasonous war cry. The Left (74% of the electorate, 49% of whom never bothered to vote because of the poisonous political environment) should just “get over it.” 

Look, everyone knows how the Electoral College works. Mr. Trump won by a razor thin margin. I don’t hear anyone really debating this except some fringe lefties whose job it is to raise such alarms. As to getting over it? I think Mr. Buchanan is correct, the Trump Administration is in for a battle. A newly energized left is just getting started.  It would be good for Mr. Buchanan and friends to remember that Mr. Trump was elected by 26.3% of the electorate, not even a plurality.

An historical model might be the Clinton administration was also brought into office by 26.3% of the electorate. The key differences are that Mr. Clinton's was a strong plurality (5%) and that Mr. Clinton soon realized that he would need to bend to the will of the defeated minority in order to govern effectively. The results are well documented. The "loyal" opposition achieved some significant accomplishments but never acknowledged Mr. Clinton's legitimacy. With Mr. Clinton and the vociferously loyal opposition, it came to impeachment.  Mr. Trump should expect the same level of loyal opposition now. He and his fellows are not victims, they are the leadership of our country. Perhaps it is they who should be asked to "Get over it."

Brent Holl - beatinpath@mac.com