OPINION:
Sometimes the most effective way to start a conversation isn’t to make a statement — it’s to ask a question.
That is precisely what I wanted to do in last week’s column, when I urged readers to compile their own list of President Trump’s accomplishments rather than simply reacting to criticism of him with name-calling (TDS!).
The prompt wasn’t an accusation or an argument; it was an opening, a chance for readers to step out of the usual cycle of outrage and counter-outrage and instead make their case using specifics.
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What followed in the comment section was less a single conversation and more a collision of worldviews. Some readers took up the challenge directly, offering detailed rundowns of policy wins they felt were being overlooked — tax changes, border security measures and shifts in foreign policy among them.
Others used the moment to reflect on the tone of political discourse itself, lamenting how criticism of any political figure is too often treated as betrayal rather than legitimate debate. And some pushed back against the framing of the question altogether, arguing that it revealed more about political tribalism than it did about governance.
Threaded through the responses was a familiar tension: the difficulty of separating a leader’s record from the identity of those who support or oppose him. It shows up again and again in today’s political commentary, often overshadowing substantive debate.
Below, in their own words, are the voices that answered my challenge — a snapshot of how one column became a battleground for the ongoing argument over what “the facts” really are.
“The_PatriotX” had a take that (of course) I liked, because he understood my intent completely. “I like this breaking of the fourth wall. My respect for Joseph Curl just went way up. I’m so sick of reading columns from people who pretend their readers don’t exist,” he wrote. “I was a Free Press subscriber for a while, and you’d see this where the author would write some idiotic propaganda article like ’Grocery prices aren’t going up, you’re just buying too much stuff!’ and then the comment section would just be 100% anger and vitriol at the author for lying and deceiving, and then the next day there’d be another completely out-of-touch article that never mentions what happened with the last one. So that’s why I’m here, and I appreciate the two-way dialogue.”
“arrassbozo” took aim at Trump supporters, saying, “Name-calling and accusations of a made-up disease are all most of the MAGA posters have. It’s surprising how many people think TDS is caused by a hatred of Trump rather than a disagreement with any of his policies. It only takes 1 or 2 disagreements before the insults and the diagnosis of TDS come out. They don’t want anything but blind submission to the President.”
“MajDad” echoed the comments. “Right on. Too often the dialog from every side is more ’don’t criticize my guy/gal’ than ’what are the facts?’ We need to remember that our guy/gal is still human and far from perfect. And that when someone is justifiably criticized, that is not condemnation of the person but only criticism of something that person did. Take a deep breath and be willing to allow our guy/gal to be human.”
Others took aim at yours truly. “Your homework assignment Joseph, Make a list of the Good Things President Trump has accomplished during the last two years and compare that list to all your cheap shots announced in your columns,” wrote “JusticeNow.” “YOU MIGHT LEARN What His Supporters Have Learned; Trump’s Policies are very effective for the American Public and the Rotten World we live in!”
But that was the task I urged the readers to do: Tell me why Mr. Trump is so good.
“Jfran” took on the assignment — while spitting a little venom. “It seems to me that reporters (especially with opinion pieces) are often prone to find an ’angle’ to get the reader hot and bothered. Mr. Curl does a very good job of getting the reader into that type of mood, but usually not for good reasons. I agree with stating the facts, something that Mr. Curl seems to be very one-sided in!”
“So let’s see a piece that lists the good. Sure, the Iran conflict has put a pause on getting prices under control, and we want to see this end. (I believe it will after the midterm, even if the rudderless Dems win both houses, God forbid!) … The OBBB (One Big Beautiful Bill) did so much to right the ship economically! Not only the commonly talked about no taxes on overtime and tips, but also making permanent the first term Trump tax cuts. Let’s add in an additional $6,000 per person deduction for seniors to offset Social Security tax,” he wrote.
“ChanceyGardiner” took another tack, asking, “What would life be like without Donald Trump?”
“The documented 10 million (actually far more) unvetted illegal aliens escorted in by Biden and the Democrat enablers would now be approaching double or a greater multiple, spawning rapes, murders, exploited children, unemployed Americans, and urban Third World enclaves,” he wrote.
The reader went on to sum it all up in a wonderful way. “I might liken President Trump to the plumber or pest control guy who comes to my house. He might be coarse, vulgar, showing his crack when he bends over, but damn, if he fixes my leak or gets rid of my roaches, he’s done his job. He’s fixed my problems, and I’m glad to pay him, or in Trump’s case, elect him.”
Of course, he did throw in one more dig. “Mr. Curl, you need help. Don’t die a whiney, cranky, delusional old man.”
I’m trying, though it’s hard when I’ve been doing this for 40 years. But thanks to all who commented. Let’s hope we can carry on the dialogue in the comment section for another 40 years.
• Joseph Curl covered the White House and politics for a decade for The Washington Times. He can be reached at josephcurl@gmail.com.
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