Trump is, alas, no Boy Scout

Our President was never a Boy Scout growing up, but, as POTUS, he is the Honorary President of the BSA.

Which calls to mind the Boy Scout Law:

A Scout is …

Trustworthy — Sadly, no. Very little that Trump says can be taken at face value. He regularly lies, stretches the truth, turns tall tales into a lifestyle, repeats disproven assertions, and just plain makes stuff up. Even when repeating things he's been told (e.g., during his daily "Fox & Friends" watching), he passes it on uncritically, and never backs down when it's debunked. In his business dealings, he's left multiple partners high and dry, is often sued by contractors who he's stiffed, and in turn sues companies and municipalities that get in his way or somehow "disrespect" him.

Loyal — While Trump demands absolute loyalty from his employees team, he shows very little of it himself, being more than happy to toss them under the bus if they become inconvenient, distract from his agenda, or distract from him. The record of firings from this White House (as well as his verbal abuse of not-yet-fired folk like Jeff Sessions) show this. The only place he shows loyalty is to family.

Helpful — Trump let his staff, and congressional leaders, do all the heavy lifting on the ACA Repeal effort, limiting himself to angry tweets and occasional last-minute meetings with Senators that were mostly harangues about how they'd better get the job done or else.

Friendly — Trump is, by report, personally charismatic, in a clap-on-the-back raucous bonhomie, get-a-load-of-the-bazongas-on-that-chick sort of way. That charm has gotten him ahead in both real estate deals and as a politician. But, as noted above, that friendliness seems only skin-deep, quickly discarded if you are of no particular use or, worse, are hampering his interests. Just ask his ex-business partners in ventures that went bust, or people who voted for him never expecting such a nice guy to actually do the things he promised to do.

Courteous — Trump has brought campaign and administration rhetoric to a modern low. He insults people publicly. He calls them names. He gives them demeaning nicknames. He insists on precedence and power from his office, and continuously asserts that he is the most important person in any room. Anything nice he has to say about anyone is likely to turn into criticism or insult days later if they don't deliver.

Kind — His persistent efforts to thrown tens of millions off of their insurance all for the sake of cutting taxes for the wealthiest Americans belies any particular, individual act of kindness he sometimes offers. His offhand twitter-ban on transgender people in the military was callous in the extreme. His meanness when countered, and his vengeful nature when he thinks someone has betrayed him, likewise show him to be anything but kind.

Obedient — Donald Trump doesn't take orders. Donald Trump doesn't follow social or ethical precedent. Donald Trump doesn't think the law applies to him. As President, he seems to feel that he is the law.

Cheerful — While Trump is perhaps the smirkingest President of all time, his moods are mercurial. He seems to delight in outrage, and in passing that outrage on to others. He likes to troll people, to get a rise out of them, either out of a sense of superiority or to distract from his other actions (or crises). When he smiles, it's not out of personal good-cheer, but seemingly out of smug satisfaction.

Thrifty — Trump seems more than willing to spend whatever money he has on anything he wants — especially if it's not his money. Nothing is too good or too expensive if it's something he can do to ostentatiously show off his wealth.

Brave — Nervy, perhaps, especially if it's a matter of defying social conventions. But from conveniently dodging the Vietnam draft to denigrating the service record of at least one GOP war veteran who did serve and suffer in that war, there's no sign of either physical or moral courage from the President — even if he pointedly praises military valor and service to draw applause.

Clean — He doesn't drink or smoke. Presumably he regularly bathes (preferably under gold-plated fixtures at one of his resorts, since the White House is such a "dump"). So … maybe?

Reverent — Despite occasional awkward outreach to evangelical Christians in return for their votes, there is no record of Trump being particularly reverent or spiritual in his life. His high-flying New York real estate mogul / man-about-town reputation (complete with pussy-grabbing and woman-ogle-commentary, not to mention serial philandering and marriage) don't seem all that "reverent," either. He use of Christian faith seems to be primarily as a club against his opponents, or to pander to his supporters.

To be fair, the Boy Scout Law is a long row to hoe, and adherence to it is no easy matter. I don't claim to be noteworthily virtuous in all these items, either. But Trump's personal failings in each of the categories seem to make him a poor fit as Honorary BSA President, if not other presidential offices.

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