Restoring respect to U.S. presidency

The column “There is just one way to constrain this lunatic administration: Vote” (July 25) doesn’t quite communicate the urgency despite framing anyone who doesn’t vote against Trump in November as “part of the problem.”

Five hundred days ago when this so-called, must-be-recalled “lunatic administration” was a young pup, we heard “give him a chance” despite the inauguration crowd-size lie on day one. Chance to do what, exactly? Turn our friends into enemies? Turn the Supreme Court into a Supreme nightmare? Rewrite the tax code to reward his richest donors? Destroy immigrant families losing toddlers at the border? Reward partner in crime Vladimir Putin to VIP taxpayer (you and me) expense White House treatment?

Fast-track life-threatening climate change by withdrawing from the world’s climate treaty and authorizing oil drilling off all U.S. coasts and national parks? And that’s a few of Trump’s greatest hits, just the tip of the melting iceberg. The Republican Party has U-turned from “Anyone but Trump Toxicity” to “Avoid Trump Tweet Anonymity” with a 500 day-byday slide down into acceptance.

Trump’s assault on the presidency is a remarkable insult to the 44 previous presidents, each of whom would undoubtedly be horrified by the stink emanating from the current White House. Does this reflect your values aMErica? Jay Lustgarten Stonington