I recently received the following series of rhetorical exhortations from a friend who, like many Canadians, is unable to discuss President Donald Trump rationally. He wrote: “Imagine America deporting an academic from Columbia University for criticizing Israel. Imagine a President who repeats every morning that he is at war with Canada with the intent to achieve Anschluss. Imagine an American population that stands meekly by as its president acts as a dictator, internally and globally, no check, no balance, no accountability. Compare the quality of leadership in America with that of Russia and China these days.”