Trump’s transition is even more alarming than his campaign

There is a widespread belief that anyone who criticizes President-elect Donald Trump is a left-wing rabid Democrat or an embittered sore loser.

I’m sure there are some people who do fit in one of those categories, but there are many more citizens who view themselves not as party partisans or rigid ideologues, but first and foremost, concerned and informed Americans.

They view the presidency as an office that is a shining symbol of our democracy and our greatness as a nation. Naturally, they want the person who occupies that office to possess qualities that go along with the high honor of sitting in the Oval Office.

So there is no other way to say it: I am terribly worried about the future of our country with Trump as president. I say that because, since being elected on Nov. 8, he has in no way acted to unify or reassure the nation that he is fit for the job.

The very first thing he did was to go on a “thank-you tour” of the states he won. I’m sure this public act of gratitude is appreciated by the citizens of those states, but wouldn’t it have been a much better idea to go to the states he didn’t win?

{mosads}He could have used that opportunity to reach out to people and tell them that he will be a president for everybody. He could have spent an equal amount of time in states he won and states he didn’t.

But instead, Trump further divided the country. His travels clearly suggest that if you weren’t for him, he’s not for you.

The entire transition has been devoid of dignity and class. Prospects for Cabinet posts have to march through the Trump Tower lobby and display themselves for everyone to see.

Not to mention, the actual choices are appalling and could be disastrous. Individuals are selected, it seems, by one factor: their net worth. Billionaires are preferred. People of average income need not apply.

There is an exception to the rule, though. If you are in favor of destroying the department you are interested in leading, then you are a top prospect.

Not one registered Democrat has been picked. President Kennedy, for example, choose Robert McNamara for Defense and C. Douglas Dillon for Treasury. Both were registered Republicans.

Does Trump understand the value of a bit of bipartisanship in the name of national unity? No, he seems only to be interested in pleasing the right wing of the GOP.

And how about the huge issue of conflict of interest? That phrase is alien to Trump. He seems to view the presidency as just another title he holds. That the U.S.A. is a sort of a subsidiary of his international business empire.

Will he even live and do business in Washington? Or will the White House be permanently moved to Fifth Avenue in New York?

But back to that sensitive issue of conflict of interest. Will we ever see his tax returns? Will there be a complete and total divesting of all of his assets to a true and genuine blind trust?

Is the Trump presidency just a vehicle for further enriching himself and his immediate family?

The very first thing he should do is sell his hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington. The Trump sign should be taken off the building on America’s Main Street. It should be done before he is inaugurated on Jan. 20, 2017.

Speaking of which, the inaugural speech will be his first public act as president. Will it be uplifting and inspiring? Or will Trump just wing it and show the world that the most powerful and admired country has elected someone who is neither substantive, nor serious?

The most important qualities for a president are good judgment and intelligence. But Trump is a man who seems bothered by the search for knowledge. He knows only what he knows. He doesn’t even read! He gets his information “from the shows.”

I sincerely worry about entrusting the nuclear codes to this person. His temperament, lack of discipline and desire to get even with anyone who dares say a word of criticism could imperil each and every one of us.

Running as a candidate for president is one thing. Serving as president is quite another. Trump’s lack of respect for facts might lead to disaster.

(Finally, stop tweeting. It’s unpresidential and the 140 characters can be wildly misinterpreted.)

Fun time is over. Now we will truly find out what this country has done to itself.

To be honest, I’m not optimistic or in any way confident of the future. Trump, in the brief time he has been president-elect, has not grown or matured. He has shown that he is incapable of being anything more than an ego-driven showman.

I just hope we all survive the Trump years. How sad and dismal to have only that expectation.

Mark Plotkin is a political analyst, a contributor to the BBC on American politics and a columnist for The Georgetowner.

The views expressed by contributors are their own and not the views of The Hill.