A thought on Austin Lumbard, Tustin’s Republican mayor

It’s funny—Instagram posts tend to last. And tell all sorts of stories.

Austin Lumbard

So Austin Lumbard, Tustin’s mayor, is a Republican and Donald Trump voter.

These things are not secrets, and they shouldn’t be. Elected officials owe it to their constituents to let us know who they politically support.

So, again: Austin Lumbard, Tustin mayor, is a Trump guy.

But as he runs for re-election, there’s something that confuses me, and it’s this post, from his Instagram feed …

Here’s the full text from Lombard’s Jan. 6, 2021 entry …

The United States of America is better than the wretched display we witnessed today. Our country was founded and relies still upon the timeless principles outlined in the United States Constitution.

Ideals of respect for other’s rights regardless of agreement, the dignity of each person to pursue happiness, and the peaceful transition of power are what make America truly exceptional.

Our Republic and the Electoral College were in fact formed to protect each individual’s rights from mob rule! Today‘s tragic and disgraceful events proved why the mob cannot rule.

Rioters destroyed the “people’s house” because they are upset about an election. They tarnished America along the way, and they showed the world just how ugly things can and will inevitably get when politics overtake the rule of law.

We are better than this and we will get through it. But we mustn’t let this point in our history lead to further discord. We must choose to be the people we are capable of being. We must be lawful, civil, and respectful of each other, especially in times of disagreement, lest we break our fidelity to the principles our fore fathers shed blood to protect.

#usa🇺🇸 #constitution #civility #ruleoflaw

It’s weird, because—well, that was it. Done. Over. A wrap. Lombard never publicly commented on the U.S. Capitol attacks again, never used social media to utter a single negative peep about Donald Trump, has not once complained about masked ICE agents grabbing brown people off Orange County streets or the Epstein Files being covered up or the Iran war or gas prices or Pete Hegseth or the White House rape culture or … anything.

Dude was one and done: Jan. 6—then silence.

And call it whatever you want, but that’s not leadership. It’s cowardice in the name of party loyalty. It’s being lame and yellow and pathetic.

It’s soft.