I was wrong about Donald Trump.
I never thought things would go this far. I never thought the Republican primary would get this out of hand.
"He doesn't have a chance," I told people.
"He's an absolute joke."
"He's just a narcissist who can't help himself."
"Republicans are never going to get behind the guy. It's not even clear to me that he's a Republican."
"If Donald Trump evens wins the nomination, I'm moving back to Sri Lanka -- immediately."
I was wrong about Donald Trump.
People are now realizing that Trump has a (more than purely theoretical) shot at winning the Republican nomination for the highest office in the land. In terms of American politics, what could be more depressing than that?
As an American who cares about the future direction of the country, the Tea Party had me worried. The Tea Party continues to have me worried. And yet now we've got Trump.
Seriously, America?
It's no secret that Trump's candidacy has alarm bells ringing throughout the Republican establishment. It's no secret that Trump's candidacy will probably set the GOP back considerably in coming years.
Trump is the obnoxious guy at the bar who everyone wants to avoid. He's the guy who pushes people unnecessarily on the subway. He's the close talker whose voice always seems to be elevated. He's the rich brat who pitches a tantrum when he doesn't get his way. He's the kid who has never had to worry about money and will never stop reminding people that he's never had to worry about money. He's the Ivy Leaguer who mentions the fact that he went to an Ivy League school three times over the course of a quick cup of coffee. He's the insecure racist, unwilling to acknowledge how much America has benefitted and will continue to benefit from immigration. He's the guy who derides Mexico as some sort of banana republic, when nothing could be further from the truth. He's the man who thinks he's better than everyone else, knows he's better than everybody else. Essentially, Donald Trump exemplifies the worst of America. In so many ways, he's the root of the problem, not the beginning of any genuine solutions.
Restoring some sanity to America's political discourse is going to take time, although it's a process that should begin now. And finally rejecting Trump's xenophobic, vitriolic brand of politics would be an ideal place to start.
Surely we're better than this. Right, America?