www.washingtonpost.com/news/global-opinions/wp/2018/07/20/how-i-miss-obama/
The Washington Post article includes a link to Obama’s recent speech in South Africa.
Category: News and Opinion
Diplomacy with Donald
A Must Read from Kathleen Parker in the Washington Post
What Will It Take?
If the president’s performance today at the press conference in Helsinki isn’t recognized for what it is by Republican leaders, America’s democratic legacy and leadership in the world is seriously at risk.
Where are you Congressman Randy Weber? I have only you to count on to help correct this situation. It’s not as if there is some single mistake or transgression. He has committed numerous “high crimes and misdemeanors” since taking office – and probably some treason and bribery, as well. Your voters have a decision to make in November.
In my opinion, the highest of his high crimes is his daily violation of his oath of office.
If you feel he abides by this oath, I invite you to comment and leave your argument.
This was a day of shame for all Americans, most especially the ones who voted for him. To those folks, this is a bandwagon you should abandon to save your conscience, your reputation and your self-respect.
Madeleine Albright: An Interview in The Guardian
This is one of the most interesting articles I came across today. Madeliene Albright, the former U.S. Secretary of State has a new book, Fascism: A Warning. She was interviewed by Andrew Rawnsley of The Guardian. Check out the interview here in The Guardian.
Ms. Albright does not offer us much comfort. From the interview:
“The things that are happening are genuinely, seriously bad. Some of them are really bad. They’re not to do with Trump; it is the evolution of a number of different trends. All the various problems that we have, they can’t be solved by simple slogans. But it’s easier to listen to some simple slogan.”
Yet simple slogans seemed to be what a significant number of voters responded to in 2016.
Independence Day 2018 Passes
The 243rd year of the republic is underway and the country’s somewhat democratically elected leader proves every day to be so fully incapable of the job as to endanger the future of mankind on the planet.
I count his lack of understanding the complexities of policy as incompetence. Add to that his boorish behavior and a host of probable criminal, if not treasonous, activities that are being investigated by a special counsel and I think there is sufficient reason for impeachment and conviction by the Senate.
And then there is immigration. Our sense of justice and stewardship of our world’s resources carry a moral requirement of a willingness to share. But, more than that, our history demonstrates that immigration has been the world’s gift to America of productive and loyal citizens. To take such an extreme stance against immigration is an act of national disloyalty even before we try to account for its immorality.
Of course, I know that impeachment isn’t likely to happen. Somehow the God-fearing Republicans in Congress fear something called “Trump’s base” more than they fear God. Commentators who don’t particularly fear the so called base still treat it as something real and reasonable to fear if you are running in any area that leans Republican.
But let’s take a look at the base. It seems to hang in at around 40 percent or less in national polls. That’s not a majority. It should be of little concern if our House of Representatives had been fairly apportioned. It looks a bit more impressive in Trump’s public appearances. However, what they really are is an audience. And what he is, is a performer. And a bad one at that. You can make your own judgment of that audience based on what you see behind him on the screen when he speaks at one of his occasional rallies.
I cannot speak respectfully about this base since it expressly stands for ideas and policies I find reprehensible. Those quiet members of this base, i.e., those who pretend to oppose him so as to make themselves appear less blameworthy while secretly voting to support him have God and their grandchildren to answer to.
I live with this quiet base in Lake Jackson on a day to day basis. Some of them are my friends. I am very well aware of that. But all I have to say to them is that they should be ashamed. There is no moral justification for supporting the Trump policies and administration.
There isn’t much to say that isn’t said hundreds of times each day by reasonable people and I have, therefore, not added a lot here on the subject. Lately, though, his irrational and uninformed actions relating to trade and our alliances are forcing issues to a more dangerous level than ever.
Congress, Representative Randy Weber, it is time to be rid of him. Now.
