Reflections on Trump’s presidency
Readers discuss Donald Trump’s presidency, including his behavior and the impeachment hearings.
Republicans, president insulting our intelligence; destroying democracy
As Abraham Lincoln said, “You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.” Unfortunately there are a number of voters that appear to be fooled all the time, and they’re all members of the what used to be — but no longer resembles — the party of Lincoln, the Republican Party. The loyalty of their base defines group think — the practice of thinking as a group in a way that discourages any discussion of ideas that differs from party agenda.
In Mr. Trump, the Republican Party is supporting a man best described by Alexander Hamilton in a letter to George Washington: “When a man unprincipled in private life desperate in his fortune, bold in his temper, possessed of considerable talents, having the advantage of military habits — despotic in his ordinary demeanor — known to have scoffed in private at the principles of liberty — when such a man is seen to mount the hobby horse of popularity — to join in the cry of danger to liberty — to take every opportunity of embarrassing the General Government & bringing it under suspicion — to flatter and fall in with all the non sense of the zealots of the day — It may justly be suspected that his object is to throw things into confusion that he may ‘ride the storm and direct the whirlwind.”
May God help us survive this attack on our American values, democracy and leadership that the entire world used to expect from our great nation.
Robert Boody, Old Saybrook
For those who have suffered abusive relationships, Trump opens old wounds
Donald Trump’s campaign and time in office has involved a daily litany of nasty attacks on those who dare to cross him, and some who simply disagree with his policies. His Twitter rants against former FBI lawyer Lisa Page are just another example of his modus operandi to publicly shame, defame, and mock individuals into submission — especially women.
After years of trying to take the high road and ignore her abuser, Lisa Page spoke out. Good for her. Anyone who has experienced abuse at the hands of a person in authority will tell you that silence is not the remedy. It only gives the abuser a green light to keep attacking you, because there are no consequences.
Unfortunately for Page and others abused by Trump, expressing defiance in the face of the attacks will not lessen them. It only fuels Trump’s fire.
Still, Page is doing the right thing by exposing Trump’s attempts to destroy her reputation and the effect it has had on her day-to-day life. Trump abuses his power and shows his preference of being mean-spirited.
We must vote him out in 2020.
Anne K. Howard, New Hartford
The hearings are unnecessary and politically motivated
I think the impeachment hearings are politically driven. I feel the president may have overstepped boundaries but nothing that comes close to an impeachable offense. I believe his request of the Ukrainian president should not have been asked, but I believe most presidents have done similar acts during their terms.
I do not believe there should be impeachment hearings. I feel the Democrats are moving forward specifically to effect 2020 elections. I also believe the people chosen to run the hearings are too bias to fairly evaluate.
For context, I am a 57-year-old white male, and I voted for Trump because he was the lessor of two evils, as the saying goes — Hillary Clinton being the other. I am a registered Republican. I do not believe the hearings for President Clinton should have taken place either even though I did not care for him as a person.
Brian Mattocks, Beaver Falls, PA