Not Deplorable At All October 11, 2020October 10, 2020 Friday’s “The Daily” does a great job helping folks like me understand Trump voters — in this case, in northeastern Pennsylvania. It’s clear these folks are anything but deplorable. They are fine, decent, and smart. (Just because you’re smart doesn’t mean you can’t get conned. I believe Trump has conned them.) With so few days left, we’ve almost surely lost them for this election. But if Joe wins, I think in working to reunite the country he will show them the respect they deserve. Carl and Tom, whom I’ve only met via email, probably don’t fit the mold of the Pennsylvanians you’ll hear on that podcast. In Carl’s case, a big part of his Trump support seems to be Israel. Trump moved the capital to Jerusalem (without, his critics complain, getting concessions in return); and it’s just now that the United Arab Emirates have normalized relations with Israel, which is a big deal. Interestingly, it may be former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, more than Donald Trump or Jared Kushner, who helped make that happen: How former British Prime Minister Tony Blair worked for years to bring Israel and the United Arab Emirates closer together, and turn the accepted formula of “peace with the Palestinians before normalization” on its head — a must-read for anyone who yearns for peace in the Middle East. However it happened, and however the credit should be apportioned: kudos. I share Carl’s happiness that it did. But not his enthusiasm for Trump; nor Trump’s enthusiasm for journalist-murdering, opposition-imprisoning autocrats. Did you see Pete Buttigieg on Fox News? Asked about places Biden and Harris disagree, Pete gives a crisp 40-second answer. (Thanks, Upworthy.) Do you work for the Justice Department? I didn’t think so. But just in case you do . . . please read this reminder of your oath. Here is one brave assistant U.S. Attorney who clearly needs no reminder: Many former federal prosecutors have spoken out against Attorney General William Barr, while current federal prosecutors have understandably remained silent. The attorney general’s comments at Hillsdale College, however, compel me to speak out as well. While I am a federal prosecutor, I am writing to express my own views, clearly not those of the department, on a matter that should concern all citizens: the unprecedented politicization of the office of the attorney general. The attorney general acts as though his job is to serve only the political interests of Donald J. Trump. This is a dangerous abuse of power. From his misleading summary of the Mueller Report, to his selective intervention in cases against political allies of the president, to his accusation that victims such as George Floyd are being used as mere “props” by those calling for racial justice, to his baseless claims about mail-in ballots, William Barr has done the president’s bidding at every turn. For 30 years I have been proud to say I work for the Department of Justice, but the current attorney general has brought shame on the department he purports to lead. James D. Herbert God, how I should have shoved little Billy in a locker when I had the chance. Happy Columbus Day! “Illegal Immigration Since 1492,” as those who would rename it Indigenous People’s Day have pointed out. Thank you, Squanto, Sacagawea, et al. We have not done well by your descendants.