As this year of disgust - 2017 - comes to a close...more than two-thirds of Americans do not approve of the President of the United States. The year 2017 is a year when 16-term Representative John Lewis - who is commonly referred to as "the conscience of the U.S. Congress" - was strong with his thoughts that an illegitimate president moved into The White House. In a January interview with NBC News Political Director and Meet The Press moderator Chuck Todd, Congressman Lewis was adamant with his words..."I don't see (Donald Trump) as a legitimate president." And for those of you who dispute Lewis' remark, the non-partisan newspaper, Roll Call, praises the Georgia Democrat as "a genuine American hero and moral leader who commands widespread respect in the chamber."
This year, 2017, finds Donald Trump as the only elected U.S. President in history who was not named America's "most admired man" in his first year behind The Oval Office desk. Ironically, however...a Gallup Poll - released on Wednesday, December 27th - has, for the sixteenth consecutive year, identified Trump's 2016 Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, as the "most admired woman" in our country. The former Secretary of State has been crowned with that title a total of twenty-two times. That's more than any other person.
Republican Trump is our nation's 45th President by virtue of an arcane and obscure system of political voting. Even though Hillary Clinton won the popular vote, Trump claimed victory after the November 8th, 2016 election when he successfully achieved the magic number of 270 electoral votes. All that being said...a recent poll by the Pew Research Center says 32 percent - that's less than one-third of Americans - approve of Donald Trump as our country's leader. Trump continues - as he has throughout 2017 - to frequently criticize and chastise...both Mrs. Clinton and former President Barack Obama for a variety of unjustifiable reasons. Yet, according to the Gallup Poll, Trump ranked second place as the "most admired man" in the U.S.A. The top spot - that's first place - goes to our 44th President. Mr. Obama has held the number one position as America's "most admired man" for ten years in a row.
As we suffer through Trump's tirade of tweets and his pathological lies...criminal allegations against him continue to grow. Trump is accused by tens of millions of Americans for being involved in a conspiracy to collude with Russia in order to interfere and influence our 2016 presidential election...and for allegedly obstructing justice when he fired FBI Director James Comey. Comey testified before Congress that he believes he lost his job because Trump wanted to put a stop to the Russia investigation. Trump has all along insisted that the Russia probe is a "witch-hunt"... "a hoax"...and "fake news" that was created by Democrats - and what conservatives call "the liberal media" - because of Hillary Clinton's loss in the 2016 election. No American President can function - let alone succeed - when he's made the working free press his enemy. Collusion will be proved...as will conspiracy and obstruction of justice. And guess what, Donald? It all may be the result of hard work by one or more reporters. Do you remember Watergate? Americans should forever be grateful for Bob Woodward, Carl Bernstein and the late Ben Bradlee of The Washington Post.
As the year 2017 has progressed...more and more people - mostly Independents and some Republicans - who voted for Trump...have realized this year that they were snookered in to believing Trump's lies. And I am certain that those numbers will increase throughout 2018...and when they do...we will perhaps see three-quarters (or more) of our voting population enraged and turning against Donald Trump. Furthermore, as I wrote in a column back in February 2017, former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn will spill the beans and throw Trump under the bus in order to save his own skin. And there may be others who have been...or who are currently... part of Trump's own circle...who will do the same.
On December 28th, 2017, Trump told The New York Times that the Russia inquiry makes the United States "look very bad." No Donald...you make America look very bad. Meanwhile, the vast majority of Americans remain frustrated, concerned and even angry that we are subjected to a President who cares more about reducing taxes for the wealthy than the so-called middle-class and the poor...and that he'd be willing to sign a law that could bring death to millions of people if they lost their health insurance. Thankfully, the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare") was not repealed this year.
Early in the presidential campaign, I frequently wrote columns where I labeled Donald Trump "a mentally ill madman"...who is "reckless, delusional and dangerous"... and "totally unfit to serve as President of the United States." I expressed those descriptions long before it became commonplace. It wasn't until November 29th, 2017 when the The New York Daily News published the following. "After his latest spasm of deranged tweets, only those completely under his spell can deny what growing numbers of Americans have long suspected: The President of the United States is profoundly unstable. He is mad. He is, by any honest layman's definition, mentally unwell and viciously lashing out."
In an e-mail I received on September 28th, 2017 from former Vice President Joe Biden, Mr. Biden wrote, in part..."We have an American President who has publicly proclaimed a moral equivalency between Neo-Nazis and those who would oppose their venom and hate." Vice President Biden says Donald Trump "has emboldened white supremacists with messages of comfort and support." I continue to shake my head with wonder how nearly 63-million Americans voted for this man.
Michael Jordan - not the famous basketball star, but someone with the same name - tweeted about Donald Trump on November 28th, 2017. "He is vile, he is vermin, and anyone exposed to him should immediately be provided with some form of disinfectant."
The proverb, "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" is traditionally connected to a 17th Century carving over the door of a Japanese shrine, which depicts three iconic wise monkeys. Today, America could attach the aforementioned proverb to a number of Republican Members of Congress who - for whatever their reasons - have so far...refused to recognize that our country is being led by a paranoid narcissistic maniac who everyday puts the United States in grave danger with his off-the-cuff offensive remarks. Trump's toxic tongue has badmouthed and belittled honorable individuals...and callously offended everyone who won't - in plain English - "kiss his butt." And even then...nobody is really safe from Trump's evil ways.
The impeachment of Donald Trump is on the minds and the lips of numerous Americans...including many in Congress. A Republican-controlled House of Representatives impeached President Bill Clinton on December 19th, 1998 because Congressmen believed Mr. Clinton was guilty of perjury and obstruction of justice. Those charges were the result of a sexual harassment lawsuit that was filed against our 42nd President by Paula Jones. Wisely, Senators were smarter than House Members and, therefore, on February 12th, 1999, the U.S. Senate refused to convict Mr. Clinton. He was rightfully acquitted. But Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation will eventually take down Donald Trump...and our nation will be better off when Trump is removed from office. I won't predict a specific date, but I am fully confident that Mueller - along with investigations by Congress and an assortment of dedicated journalists - will dig the political grave and metaphorically bury Trump... especially after the 2018 mid-term elections when, I believe, Democrats will regain control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. However...as regular readers of The Controversy are aware...I have stated in other columns that Trump will never be impeached. He will not ever put himself through House impeachment hearings and a Senate trial. However, as was the case with President Richard Nixon...once impeachment proceedings begin, Trump will resign the presidency. The evidence will be clear and Trump's choice will be cut-and-dried. Resign...or be impeached, convicted and removed from office. Trump will choose resignation.
Donald Trump is a spoiled brat who - for most of his life - has gotten whatever he has wanted and has done whatever he has desired. So therefore, in a Thursday, December 28th, 2017 interview with The New York Times, Trump insisted..."I have the absolute right to do what I want to do with the Justice Department." But Congressman Adam Schiff doesn't agree. The California Democrat - who is the Ranking Member of the House Intelligence Committee and a former Member of the House Judiciary Committee - responded to Trump's bogus claim in a Friday, December 29th tweet. "No you don't. You can do what you want with your golf courses. But the country and its Justice Department belong to the American people." Trump simply doesn't want to accept the fact that the United States does not operate like The Trump Organization. "The Donald" may have been the boss of everything linked to the "Trump" brand...but when it comes to the brand of "America"...the citizens of our nation are the bosses. And in nearly a year since his inauguration, Trump still doesn't seem to get that through his head. And I suppose he never will.
And that's The Controversy for today.
I'm Gary B. Duglin.
"We'll talk again."
The Controversy is a publication of GBD Productions. Founder and Editor-In-Chief of The Controversy is Gary B. Duglin.
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Gary: Your current blog is over the top, terribly unfair and dismissive of the position and beliefs of 50% of America, who are your fellow citizens and not "the enemy". Rather than take on your points one by one, I'd rather address what I believe is a more important underlying issue: the need for respectful discourse with those with whom we may disagree. On Wednesday, January 10th, starting at 7:30 P.M. my committee will be presenting our 13th Annual Celebration Event of the Life and Work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It will be attended by 500+ people of numerous backgrounds, religions, ethnicities and racial compositions, a true rainbow of diversity. The focus of the Event will be the teachings of Dr. King contained in his book "Where Do We Go From Here? - Chaos or Community". In this work, Dr. King argues that the way to effect change is not to alienate everyone with whom you may disagree, but to communicate and educate one's fellow citizens, form broad alliances centered on meaningful change, and to effect permanent change through the ballot box, legislation and court decision. Your post does nothing positive to implement that strategy because it is merely a one-sided diatribe. When we stop talking with one another and simply stay within our respective comfort zones, we deny our pre-political values as Americans and erode the fabric of our nationhood which must be a binding force stronger than the disagreements which tend to drive us apart. You will always fall short of credibility unless your argument includes a fair and thoughtful analysis of other positions utilizing objective fact for your analysis.
ReplyDeleteThere are national implications where avoidance or outright refusal to speak with those with whom we may disagree is the norm not the exception. The resulting societal paralysis and animus among citizens arising from this bigotry of ideas, characterized by unwillingness to be exposed to any position contrary to our own, is arguably the biggest internal threat to our nation since the Civil War, itself. Under this condition, the arc of the moral universe identified by Dr. King as bending toward justice is perpetually delayed....Where we often label those with whom we disagree in a way that enables us to discount, discredit and negate the entirety of their views, are we creating another lengthy period of stagnation during which no progress on major issues can or will be made?
I hope that you and your readers will consider this response in the constructive manner in which it is intended.
The following reply to the above reader's comments will be in two parts.
DeletePART ONE OF TWO
Jeff, as noted in my replies to a number of previous readers who responded to other columns over the last five or so years since I began writing my commentaries for The Controversy, I welcome all opposing views. That is the purpose of this forum. It is the reason I call it...The Controversy. I will say...since you - unlike many of my other readers - have included your name and not hidden behind the "anonymous" banner...that you have the courage to make your statement and stand by it with a signature. I appreciate that. However, all that being said, I honestly believe that my editorial above is not at all "unfair" - as you seem to feel. I have never considered Republicans of our country - whether they be elected elected officials or my neighbors down the street - as being my "enemy." I am in full support of communication among all people...and I am in favor of constructive conversations with other caring Americans. The problem is - as I have observed over this last year - that most Trump supporters (not all, but the vast majority) are blind to the fact that the current President of the United States is - as my title indicates - "delusional and dangerous." Donald Trump's actions - since moving into The White House and, quite frankly, since he became a candidate in June 2015 - have shown me that he doesn't care who he hurts, as long as he receives applause from his so-called base of supporters.
You stated that you did not want to take on my points one by one. Respectfully, I submit there is little that you can actually dispute. Oh I understand that you (probably) and other Trump supporters do not believe that Trump obstructed justice by firing James Comey, but it is clear to me (and millions of other Americans) that he did. Let me please remind you that Trump told NBC News anchor Lester Holt that he gave the boot to Comey because of the Russia investigation. I'm sure that you - along with the rest of the country - have seen Lester's interview with Trump. And, as I noted in my column above, Comey testified to Congress that he feels he lost his job because Trump wanted him to put an end to the investigation of Michael Flynn and the entire Russia probe. You (probably) and other Trump supporters don't believe that Trump was involved in a conspiracy to collude with Russia in order to meddle in America's 2016 presidential election. Please remember that Donald Trump, Jr. put in writing that he wanted "dirt"...from a Russian...on Hillary Clinton. It amazes me when Trump supporters don't think Don, Jr. (and his brother-in-law, Jared Kushner) didn't tell "Daddy Donald" about the June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower in New York City. I most certainly believe that Trump, Jr. and Kushner told Trump, Sr. everything...from the Don, Jr.'s chain of e-mails...to the meeting itself...and its aftermath.
GBD
END OF PART ONE OF TWO
PART TWO OF TWO
DeleteJeff, as to other parts of my column...there are, of course, my opinions...but there are also factual statements, along with other people's personal thoughts...some of whom are known Americans, while there is also the average citizen. It is clear to me that Donald Trump is an offensive bigot who has no consideration for people who differ from whatever it is that he thinks or does. So it boggles my mind when my fellow citizens support a man for President who can utter the disgraceful remarks that Trump has expressed this year and over the last two-and-a-half years. I won't list them, as I'm sure you are as familiar with them as I am. Beyond all of that...Donald Trump is a liar. Not the type of liar that some other politicians are...by stating a promise to do something in a campaign when he knows he really can't accomplish it...but a pathological liar who makes up things as he goes along. These lies should not...and cannot...be tolerated. The New York Times has documented facts that "Trump told public lies or falsehoods every day for his first 40 days." The newspaper says that "Trump achieved something remarkable: He said something untrue, in public, every day for the first 40 days of his presidency. The streak didn't end until March 1st." And there's documentation by other news organizations that show Trump lying over and over again throughout all of 2017. Furthermore, in an interview with The New York Times on December 28th, 2017, The Washington Post has fact-checked comments made by Trump. The Post says, "In a 30-minute interview, Trump made 24 false or misleading claims." If you haven't already read it and would like to read the story, please click on the following link. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2017/12/29/in-a-30-minute-interview-president-trump-made-24-false-or-misleading-claims/?undefined=&utm_term=.c4fd12565a01&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1
In past years and with past presidents, I have found that - although I may not like the President's politics...I have liked and even respected the man. People like President Ronald Reagan and President George H. W. Bush, just to name a couple, are Presidents who I wholeheartedly disagreed with when it came to their political views and what they felt was best for our country. But despite my disagreements with them politically, I liked them as people. They were/are honorable, respectable gentlemen who truly cared about our country...and every person who lives in America or visits it. And they would never utter such harsh, insulting, despicable language that Donald Trump has spoken (or tweeted) time and time again.
As noted at the outset, Jeff...I created The Controversy so that I could provide my thoughts...about various subjects...to readers who might be interested in my views...but who also wanted to provide opposing opinions. Earlier today, I spoke with a reader by telephone who stated that my column above was "excellent." She "really liked what I wrote." I mention this to you only because you posted your name...and for full disclosure to others who may read my response to you...not only do I know you as a family relation, but because the other person is someone who you are acquainted with, as she too is a family relation. Differing views from two of my cousins. But although you may find my column to be "over the top" and "terribly unfair"...it's refreshing to receive comments from someone who is not hateful with his words. Thank you for your thoughts.
GBD
END OF PART TWO OF TWO
Please stop the Trump bashing, and the bashing of the US Constitution “arcane and obscure system of political voting”. President Trump was elected by the method that gives each of our 50 states a say in the election. Could it be amended, I would like to see it changed to giving an electoral vote for each congressional district a candidate wins and then the 2 votes for the state would go the popular winner in that state. If you went with a straight national vote, no candidate would bother with 25% or more of the states. Why go to Utah or Iowa or Rhode Island? Remember we are not just one nation we are also 50 States with every state having rights. To go back to President Trump, here a just a few of the things he has done to help make America Great again!
DeleteTrump 2017 success story:
Tax cuts
Economic growth: 6 Trillion dollars growth in stock value
Consumer confidence highest in 17 years
Deregulation: Trump has cut 67 Obama-era regulations and added only three new rules
Judicial appointments: Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch and over 40 other nominations.
Trade: President Trump worked out a trade deal with China, Vietnam and South Korea.
U.S. energy: The Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines are under construction. Jobs to be created: 42,000
The successful push back against ISIS
Stock market: The Dow has set record highs 70 times this year, rising 5,000 points in a year for the first time in history.
The list goes on and on. As for the President’s approval rating, if the left wing mainstream media put their personal hatred for President Trump aside and honestly reported the good he has done and if the left would stop their impeachment talk looking to use lies and falsehoods to discredit this legitimate President his rating would be much higher. I will not get into much of what you said about the President, taking things out of context. Yes he did say he had the "absolute right to do what I want to do with the Justice Department" when asked if he would order a new investigation into Hillary Clinton, the President does have the power to order the Justice Department to open an investigation on Clinton or on many others that is his “Constitutional power” as head of the executive branch which the DOJ works for! I know by reading your column you’re not fond of that document but it is the law of the land.
The following reply to the above reader's comments will be in two parts.
DeletePART ONE OF TWO
I in no way "bash" the U.S. Constitution. In my November 30th, 2016 column, I explained the reason why we should no longer use an "arcane and obscure system of political voting." But I will repeat it here. "The Electoral College is absurd in the 21st century. It was established at a time - 1789 - when according to Constitution.org and FactCheck.org...our nation's founding fathers were suspicious of democracy. Men like James Madison did not entirely trust voters. Let us remember that when the U.S. Constitution was written...women weren't permitted to vote...black slaves could not cast any ballots...and only a specific type of man had the right to vote. In some parts of America...a man had to be a property owner in order to vote. That apparently showed that the individual was a person of good judgment. Since none of the above is applicable today...our Presidents should be elected through the same simple process that we elect senators, congressmen and all other elected officials. And for those who argue that smaller states would then not be contributing as much to selecting the President...that's not only illogical, but irrational...and should not matter. We are one country...with one President. And the candidate who receives the most votes nationwide...should win the election and become the next President."
Have you been brainwashed by Donald Trump? I think so. Trump has done NOTHING to help America. I won't comment on all of your points, but here are a few.
Trump's tax bill may just destroy our nation, as we know it. It is designed to ONLY help the wealthy and not the poor and the so-called "middle-class" (which, of course, there really isn't one). The tax bill will save boatloads of money for the rich and only pennies for the "middle-class." Some people will actually pay more in taxes. Major economists and financial experts nationwide agree that the Republican tax bill is a horror. Plus the tax bill put an end to the Affordable Care Act's mandate, which will only raise more taxes later on because by not including the mandate in the Affordable Care Act, there will be Americans who won't purchase health insurance, but instead they will go to hospital emergency rooms. Most will not pay those bills so what will happen will be taxes will have to increase to pay the hospitals.
Donald Trump is not responsible for any economic growth in the stock market. That's due to President Obama and he not only deserves the credit, but economists give Mr. Obama that credit. And that's why the Dow has skyrocketed. The same goes for consumer confidence.
Cutting anything by President Obama is a mistake.
You really want me to believe that Trump's federal court appointments and his appointment of Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court are reasons to say that "The Donald" is doing something great. You may think those appointments are great. I certainly do not.
GBD
END OF PART ONE OF TWO
PART TWO OF TWO
DeleteIn 8 years as President, Barack Obama kept America safe from terrorist attacks by al-Qaeda and ISIS. No credit to Trump.
All you want to do is blame the media for Trump's failures and his lowest approval rating of any U.S. President in modern history. Trump's 32 percent approval rating will dip lower as 2018 rolls on. He'll be lucky to have a 25 percent approval rating in the near future. Keep an eye on Pew and many other polls.
Impeachment is going to be discussed and - as I have written - once congressional proceedings begin (or sooner, depending on Bob Mueller's investigation)...Donald Trump will resign the presidency.
Trump is a liar who is unfit to serve as our nation's president. It's a shame - and practically criminal - that there are so many Americans who just don't seem to get it. But more and more Americans are understanding it.
Trump's approval rating will not be "much higher." And why? Because the Independents (and some Republicans) are realizing that they should never have cast their vote for Trump in November 2016.
Trump has no clue - and apparently you don't either - about what the president has the power to do when regarding the Justice Department. I refer back to Congressman Schiff's comment...and mine.
I'm amazed that Republicans like you want to accuse liberals, progressives, and Democrats in general of not being "fond" of our Constitution. You have no right to make such a remark...because you're wrong. I won't say anything more than that because, if I do, you will only accuse me of hating Republicans. I hate nobody, so I'll let my column stand for itself.
GBD
END OF PART TWO OF TWO