We're just a couple of talkaholics

Our President has a problem. A very serious problem which not only affects him but also the people he loves. I know because I have the same problem.

Donald J. Trump, the 45th President of the United States of America, and me. Gene O. Morris, a retired publisher from McCook, Neb., are both talkaholics.

We can’t help it. At least we don’t think we can.

We babble on and on, day after day, occasionally saying something that makes sense, but, more often than not, we are spouting off about something we don’t know a damned thing about.

The only difference between the two of us is that my ramblings don’t do much damage because my wife of 37 years, Barbara Jean Morris, is a princess who has learned to let my constant outpouring of words flow freely down the drain. Unfortunately, my fellow talkaholic, Donald J. Trump, isn’t so lucky.

His talking addiction touches the lives of millions, turning some into sheep, who mindlessly follow his foolishness like it is the Gospel; while others who hear his torrent of words bristle like enraged bulls, bellowing loudly in opposition to his every uttering.

I personally began to realize I was a talkaholic last Tuesday night at our weekly poker game when Larry diagnosed me. He said it out loud for all to hear when he introduced me to Bruce, a newby in our game: “That’s Gene O.,” Larry said, “he talks all the time.”

Larry’s words hurt. I’ll admit that. But, in the days since I’ve been thinking about what he said. And, I see now, Larry hit the nail on the head. I do talk too much.

I promise, starting now, that I’ll try to do better. And, as part of my recovery, I’m going to be reaching out to Donald J. because, down deep, I think he knows he has a problem, too. I’m pretty sure, when he’s all alone, that he regrets calling people bad names. And I’d wager that he has occasional pangs of regret for all the lies he tells.

Although I don’t think he means to, Donald J. lies a lot. He does a pretty good job of it, using a technique I learned growing up on the edge of the Missouri Ozarks. Down there, we called them “stretchers.” Our lies contained a little bit of truth, but we enhanced them with embellishments to make the story flashier and more fun.

Now that I know that the President and I have the same addiction, I’ll do my best to help old Donny boy out. But I may need some help. After all, Donald J. Trump is our President and 321 million people in the United States and billions more around the world are affected by every word he says.