Death in Las Vegas: The diminished president responds
After the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history took place in Las Vegas on Oct. 1  President Trump spoke about the tragedy from the White House the following day. (The Washington Post)
[Tell us: What is the single best thing and single worst thing  Trump  has done since the election?]
 President Trump  spoke appropriately in expressing âsadness  shock and grief.â  He  dubbed the shooting as an act of âevilâ and praised the speed of the response by police and first responders as âmiraculous.â  His  appeals to unity and the âties of communityâ were aptly chosen and soberly delivered. And yet   his  reputation as a provocateur and angry accuser now colors how many of us absorb  his  response.  His  frequent resort to race-baiting and contrived controversy lessens  his  effectiveness  and  his  erratic personality virtually ensures that in hours or days  he  will be back to  his  old stunts.  His  sincerity about unifying the country is immediately called into question.
 President Trump  makes a statement on Oct. 2 at the White House in Washington about the mass shooting in Las Vegas. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)
 Trump  lacks the emotional stability to reduce emotions over the long haul.  He  lacks the intellectual sobriety to grapple with complicated  contentious issues. And we suspect  he âll soon return to senseless tweets and outbursts about the mayor of Puerto Rico  the press  Muslim immigrants  the NFL and the American flag  mention of which in remarks following a shooting would be unremarkable for any other president but sound like a dig at his adversaries coming from him.
After the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history took place in Las Vegas on Oct. 1   [TGT]  spoke about the tragedy from the White House the following day. (The Washington Post)
[Tell us: What is the single best thing and single worst thing   [TGT] has done since the election?]
  [TGT] spoke appropriately in expressing âsadness  shock and grief.â   [TGT]   dubbed the shooting as an act of âevilâ and praised the speed of the response by police and first responders as âmiraculous.â   [TGT]   appeals to unity and the âties of communityâ were aptly chosen and soberly delivered. And yet    [TGT]   reputation as a provocateur and angry accuser now colors how many of us absorb   [TGT]   response.   [TGT]   frequent resort to race-baiting and contrived controversy lessens   [TGT]   effectiveness  and   [TGT]   erratic personality virtually ensures that in hours or days   [TGT]   will be back to   [TGT]   old stunts.   [TGT]   sincerity about unifying the country is immediately called into question.
  [TGT] makes a statement on Oct. 2 at the White House in Washington about the mass shooting in Las Vegas. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)
  [TGT] lacks the emotional stability to reduce emotions over the long haul.   [TGT]   lacks the intellectual sobriety to grapple with complicated  contentious issues. And we suspect   [TGT]  âll soon return to senseless tweets and outbursts about the mayor of Puerto Rico  the press  Muslim immigrants  the NFL and the American flag  mention of which in remarks following a shooting would be unremarkable for any other president but sound like a dig at his adversaries coming from him.