Defending the Indefensible

Frankly, I pity Mike Pence. Some people think Alaskan crab fishing (crabbing?) is the world’s most difficult job. However, I submit to you that being the vice-president of the likes of Donald Trump and having to defend his consistently inane behavior on national television leaves Alaskan crab...crabbing (?) out in the freezing rain.

And Mike Pence doesn’t even get an employee discount on delicious seafood out of the deal.

Was Tim Kaine rude and unprofessional? Yes. Was the moderator not the greatest at her job? Probably. Was Mike Pence a gentleman in every way? Of course. However, it cannot be argued that Kaine absolutely crushed Pence by making Pence attempt to defend the indefensible.

Did He Just Say That?

Thanks to the modern invention called “video recording”, Trump’s past words and actions have been well documented. It was physically painful hearing those past words and actions thrown in Pence’s face. Even more painful - hearing his lame response: “He didn’t say that.”

Yes, Governor Pence, he did.

And you agreed to be his running mate. That one’s on you. You should have known what you were getting into. And you shouldn’t be lying to make yourself and your voters feel better.

For the most part, Kaine brought up legitimate concerns that I myself have voiced at one time or another. It was disorienting.

Of course, since Kaine has spent so much time with Hillary Clinton, it is to be expected that not everything he said was used in its proper context (let alone true). There were many accusations thrown against Trump that were completely false or completely warped into something they weren’t.

However, there were many accusations that were spot on. I found myself wanting to hear a legitimate reason, a legitimate explanation for why Trump has done some of things he’s done. Sadly, we did not see that at the debate. Instead, we saw a good man, being pummeled by the mistakes of his running mate. We saw a good man attempting vainly to defend the indefensible.

The Destination of a Leader

I’m not writing this to criticize Trump or Pence. I’m not writing this to discourage people from voting how they feel they have to. I’m writing this for us. I’m writing this for who we’re going to become.

Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine, along with the majority of Democrat politicians are complete hypocrites at best, a complete liars at worst. However, we have to look in the mirror before we can point a finger.

We can argue semantics, but Mike Pence straight up lied. A man I respected and thought of as one of the “good guys”. And that’s not something we can overlook.

I don’t believe Donald Trump loses any sleep over his casual relationship with the truth. And now we see his running mate following in the footsteps of the “Master of the Art of the Deal”.

If Donald Trump is your leader, where is he leading you? We have seen rabid Trump sycophants ignoring the facts, ignoring the truth since the beginning of this campaign. This has not been all of his supporters or voters by any stretch of the imagination.

However, leaders always take you in a direction. The direction Trump leads is not toward truth. And that’s not something we can overlook.

“It is of great importance to set a resolution, not to be shaken, never to tell an untruth.

There is no vice so mean, so pitiful, so contemptible; and he who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much easier to do it a second and a third time, till at length it becomes habitual; he tells lies without attending to it, and truths without the world's believing him.

This falsehood of the tongue leads to that of the heart, and in time depraves all its good disposition.”

~Thomas Jefferson

Truth. Even when it hurts.

I do pity Mike Pence. It may be time to try and find an easier job for him. I hear the Alaskan crab fishers are hiring.

Jonathan Paine

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“It is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth - and listen to the song of that syren, till she transforms us into beasts.

Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those, who having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation?

For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it might cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.” ~Patrick Henry

“There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily.” ~George Washington