In a call I had last night with my mom, a lifelong Republican, she repeated the talking point we hear so often: “dial down the rhetoric.” In this case, she was referring to my oft-used description of the former president “criminal sociopath.”

Obviously, Trump supporters stand to gain if Democrats would cease pointing out that Trump is under indictments at both the federal and state levels for trying to overthrow the U.S. government.  Yet I’m not sure this is “rhetoric” per se; it seems more like a simple news item, like the Dodgers beat the Braves 3 – 1.

Now, is he a “criminal sociopath” as many Americans believe?  Indeed, that’s an opinion, as it’s not up to environmental writers of car salesmen, but rather to psychiatrists, to make that call.  On the other hand, it’s an opinion that seems to be held by the majority of American voters, as we’re all going to learn in November.

The Rhetoric Surrounding Trump