Perspective from the 19^th Hole 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 my professional positions, including as press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon (Les AuCoin), 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.  I could have called this blog “Middle Ground,” for that is what I long for in both politics and golf.  The middle ground is often where the best public policy decisions lie.  And it is where you want to be on a golf course.

There are a lot of words that can be used to describe those who bow and scrape before Donald Trump.

For his part, he’s:

• A Liar.

• An Abuser.

• A Retaliator.

• Selfish.

• Narcissistic.

• Etc.

One word I have used on many occasions is the one is this blog headline – sycophant. 

This time I mean it as a description for those who sally up to Trump to get what they want from him, as well as treat him like he wants to be treated, which is as king or like Christ.  Which he isn’t.

Sycophant is not a word used normally in everyday language, but, regarding Trump and his toadies, it is exactly on point.  Here is the definition:

“A person who acts obsequiously toward someone important in order to gain advantage.”

Gaining an advantage with Trump?  Yes, for many these days, that’s the main thing or even the only thing.