Out of the blue I asked, “Have you ever read Reinhold Niebuhr?”

Obama’s tone changed. “I love him. He’s one of my favorite philosophers.”

So I asked, What do you take away from him?

“I take away,” Obama answered in a rush of words, “the compelling idea that there’s serious evil in the world, and hardship and pain. And we should be humble and modest in our belief we can eliminate those things. But we shouldn’t use that as an excuse for cynicism and inaction. I take away … the sense we have to make these efforts knowing they are hard, and not swinging from naïve idealism to bitter realism.”

This exchange is from a piece written by David Brooks back in 2007 recalling a conversation with Barack Obama.  It’s just one example of the nature of a proper President of the United States, which Obama possesses in spades.  He can talk college basketball or philosophy, your choice.  The parasite infesting our WH today?  Not so much.  Between boasting and gorging on well-done steaks, Trump sits on the toilet tweeting childish insults and lies on a daily basis.

How far we’ve fallen in such a short time.  God help us.

Props to a Facebook friend for the reminder.