PERSPECTIVE FROM THE 19^TH HOLE: This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus to use an image from my favorite sport, golf. Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all of my professional positions, including as press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon, as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as a private sector lobbyist. This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.

A letter to the editor in the Wall Street Journal this week contained a great analysis about one Donald Trump who, unfortunately, continues to be the U.S. president.

The bottom line was this: “Trump’s supporters take him seriously but not literally, while Trump’s detractors take him literally but not seriously.”

Well stated.

The author, a resident of Smyrna Beach, Florida, went on to describe what he called his “own unscientific survey” which suggests that there are a great many Americans who endorse many of the president’s policies, including tax reform, deregulation initiatives, standing up to China, and even occasionally ham-handed diplomacy with North Korea and Iran.

But, he added, they are personally embarrassed by Trump’s lack of decorum and polarizing language, even if much is discounted as being for effect.

Finally, the author made another great point when he wrote, “Unfortunately, the Democrat primary season seems determined to deny us a welcome alternative.”

Agreed.

If Democrats don’t get their act together to nominate an alternative who has a chance to beat Trump, we’re all in for a worse outcome – more Trump.