I wrote this letter to a colleague during the latest election cycle. He was trying to promote that Trump was the correct pick for president. I disagreed with his assessment of the situation. Just a note, the question I asked at the end has still not been responded to, I have not heard from this human who I have deep respect for since I sent this to him. If he ever reads this, I still have mad respect for you, and it was an honor serving communities with you. One love homie.

2/4/24

Hey man, I hope this finds you well. If you ever want to talk long form debate and conversation about anything we can totally meet and talk but texting is not, nor has it ever been, an ideal form of communication for me for long form back and forth in-depth conversations. I am also always looking for a “pin pal” if you want to email and don’t want to meet. Anyway, Trump talk is especially frustrating for me on text because I have things going on and I have already decided that he is mega-piece of shit that I would never lower my moral standards by supporting in any of his grifts, especially that of supporting his presidency.

Anyway, I figured I would just address the things you messaged me and give my take for them.

While I agree that the American system is not at all ideal, destroying the delicate balance of compromise, negotiation, and law creation as society evolves with the support of a constitution is paramount in creating a just and free society. I don’t know if you were kidding or not about wanting to see it burn, I am guessing you are kidding, but it was telling that your initial lean was to imply to burn it all down. I see Trump as that burning agent, and I think most Trump supporters do as well, I don’t need to guess, I have heard y’all say it for years now. As we have seen from our own history, when imperialist billionaires take over the usual best check to that power is not an elitist billionaire, it is usually a mass movement of concerned and marginalized groups. Now usually an elitist rich dude who sees it as an opportunity to bolster a political career and jumps in, but it is the people’s push that slowly drives change.

You say Trump didn’t act as a dictator, but I see that patently wrong. Just because he was bad at taking dictator power, he most definitely acted like a dictator as his family and the ultra-rich were the biggest winners of his presidency, he treated all political opponents with violent rhetoric, and quite literally when he lost the election he tried to hold on to power and still won’t admit openly the legal transfer of power. Just because he was shitty at being a dictator doesn’t mean that he didn’t, doesn’t still, want all the power for him and his.

You said you can’t defend Trump’s personality, but his is a cult of personality you can’t have one without the other. That is the game HE created, and it is dishonest to say you prefer to debate his policy not his personality. I am voting for a human being and that human being has shown me time and time again he is a complete garbage of a human being. I would prefer the imperialists, which I detest, to stay in power longer than entrust our future to this human waste of energy. But you do you dog.

You say judge a man by his enemies, I mean I guess the entire strata of the executive branch is the bad guy now. Ok. Fair enough about the political parties. As for the media attack, he deserved every minute of it and he loved every second of media exposure, so ok. Let’s also not forget one of the largest of the mainstream sources, Fox licked his boots deeper than Bush’s.

I will agree that some of the things he did in office were beneficial, hell even necessary. To your point NAFTA was in dire need of being renegotiated. I am in the camp that the NAFTA renegotiation was political theater and didn’t change much, if anything at all. I was glad to hear about getting the US out of the TPP. I really liked some of his cabinet picks… until they resigned because of his policy decision and because the dude is a huge piece of shit.

You asked me specifics on what policies I disagree with, his tariff war was ridiculous and was bad for the U.S. Getting out of the Paris Accords was a huge mistake. His immigration policy was trash. His entire handling of the major crisis of his presidency was absurd and enough to not vote for this man. His pull out game in Iraq and Afghanistan hurt the US, and also abandoned the Kurds who had our back. Do you remember the fucking government shutdowns, he acted like a dictator to get his way to pay for that lame and ineffective wall. His policies drove good people out of government and many of them, like James Mattis who I respect, gave us very clear warnings of who this dude really is, as it turns out he is the piece of shit he plays on TV.

Need I remind you this dude is one of the Epstein fuck wads we’ve been looking for? He has been proven to be a fucking creep in court. I could go on, about him, policy and personality, but I really don’t want to and you have to know the truth, you are capable enough at honestly looking at both sides of an argument, but I feel like here you and millions of others are caught in some weird culty echo chamber where you are trying to convince yourselves he is the right choice. From my perspective he is not.

This man basically spent his presidency golfing, talking shit, and fucking over the country and millions of people including you just decided to buy wholly in to the cult think of Trump. It is weird. I wish you Trump people could wake up because the only person he is working for is himself and will con and grift anyone to get his way.

Let me ask you, what did Trump do while in office, what policies can you point to that you disagree with?

Hello, My name is Matthew Dobbs. I am an Army veteran; I am the fourth generation of Texan to serve my nation in times of international conflict. I am a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, teacher, dad, and husband. My family has been in Texas since the 1800s, for what that’s worth. I have been a resident of this lovely city twice now in my adult life, first in 2007 when I moved here because I heard the river was a peaceful place to heal and collect myself after I got out of the military. I moved away to Houston, when I met my future wife who was, is, Houstonian. We chose San Marcos after we sold our house in Houston after Hurricane Harvey. I love this town, I just completed my Masters degree at TXST, my wife and I had a house built here, we’ve been raising our son here.

I am here to have my voice heard and my name recorded that I stand with my city government as they navigate treacherous waters. Our state politics is full of people that have no desire to govern, just the inclination to rule. I’ve read the city of San Marcos resolution, updated May 2^nd and I have read Greg Abbott’s threatening letter to this city. I cannot wait for the day where my fellow Texans are done with the lies of “small government” as the one party continues to rule us, as they make a mockery of the Republic.

I care about human beings. I care that people were murdered by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023. I care that the response of the Israeli government was to destroy the lives of men, women, and children for well over a year and a half now. I care that some people call Palestinians animals. I care that Democrats gave lip service to the bombing of homes, the killing of children, and didn’t attempt a thing while they wielded national executive power. I care that Republicans stand in support of the cleansing of Gaza of the Palestinian people.  I care that people laugh at President Trump’s AI mock up of what the rich and powerful would like to see Gaza become. I care when many pretend it doesn’t matter, then shrug when it is announced that Gaza is being stripped from the Palestinians. I dang well care that my city government is trying to do what it thinks is the right thing to do.

I am proud of y’all for even having this forum, I am proud of those who would stand for this resolution. **look around room** I am proud of the folks who came out here today.

I am really looking forward to the day where my fellow Texans embody the myth of what a Texan should be like. The myth of being a Texan tells us that we are independent, tough, and willing to do the hard things to get the dang job done. The myth of Texas tells us we aren’t willing to be pushed around by government men. The myth of Texas is that we are homesteaders who are trying their best to build a better world for us, our families, and our communities. The myth of the Texan is that we are willing to do the right thing, especially if it is the hard choice. The myth is that we are willing to stand up, be counted, and fight to keep what we care about safe from being exploited by the greedy thugs that want us to submit to their rule.

I hope we stop letting the greedy and those who expound the virtues of Jesus but continue to seed hate to control us through the politics of gangsterism. I care about the people of this city, I care about the people of this state, I care about people. I hope more cities and states take a cue from our, from the San Marcos city council and have government that stands for its people, not just its wealth generation capabilities and those who wish to profit from those capabilities. I care about people who care about We the People. I care, **look around the room** and I am glad to see so many other human beings who care, are here.

Thank you for your time, your effort, and I am grateful for each and everyone of y’alls service to this city. Protect the river and keep San Marcos beautiful, physically and mentally. This is a special place that many of us have held sacred for thousands of years and if we are decent stewards, thousands of years more. Thanks y’all.