Winston Churchill once stated that it “If Hitler invaded hell I would make at least a favorable reference to the devil in the House of Commons,” which was his tactful explanation as to why Britain would align itself with a monster like Stalin in order to defeat Hitler.

That was precisely the way I felt as now President-elect Donald Trump forced me to vote for an individual, Hillary Clinton, who had less credibility than a wild-west barker pedaling magic elixir from a wagon. Despite ongoing fears that underestimated, yet apparently motivated “uneducated white males” have elected the proverbial drunk uncle at a wedding who spews whatever hateful thoughts spring into his mind without filter, I would like to believe that there may be at least a small silver lining to this election.

Many recall that, during the Ronald Reagan years, there was prevailing perception among enemies around the world that cowboy Ronny was just crazy enough to do virtually anything. He used jet fighters to force an Egyptian airliner to land in Italy with the hijackers of the Achille Lauro. He joked on the air about bombing the then Soviet Union and he fantasized about a space-based ray to shoot down enemy missiles.

My hope is that Trump is less crazy than he appears but is perceived that way by other countries, just crazy enough that they don’t want to see what happens if they poke the bear.

If he is really that crazy, God help us all.

Robert Beauchesne, Lewiston

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