What has been going on in Washington, D.C., over the last 18 months is no surprise. President Donald Trump openly showed his true colors during his candidacy. Sadly, a lot of people thought he was refreshing, interesting and entertaining, and he was enjoying this attention and fame. It was like watching a late-night comedy show where anything goes.
He was as surprised as anyone that he won! His ego was on steroids and his base just LOVED IT! So, he referred to his lesson book, “The Art of the Deal,” written by his favorite author. With his misguided ability to lie and bully, he began to create the ultimate “reality show” starring “King Trump.”
First order of business: repeal every thing President Obama did. The objective now is to promote and develop the “Greatest show on earth.” Having established approval with his base supporters, he can say and do anything Donald Trump wishes.
So let’s look at a few of his greatest achievements.
The “biggest tax cut ever.” The day after this bill was passed, Trump at his Mar-a-lago palace announced to a group of his rich cronies, “I just made you all a lot richer!” How much money has reached your pocket?
How about the “Affordable Health Care Act?” He has tried his best to kill this “Obama plan.” No replacement option prepared yet, but rest assured, it will have his name on it.
How about our old friends and our allies, like the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada and Mexico. He doesn’t need them, they are “little people.” How about our (his) intelligence agencies … “can’t trust them.” He doesn’t like what they tell him.
The media — or what he refers to as “fake news” outlets. Of course, that refers only to the ones that don’t support him. Without the media, there would be no democracy.
Tariffs. Since when are tariff wars a good thing? It is almost like putting sanctions on ourselves. Backing out of the Paris Accord, where almost the entire world recognizes the ongoing effect of climate change — except Trump. And, NATO. I don’t think Trump ever understood the purpose of this alliance. This was created to help stop Russia from infiltrating smaller countries, and to combine forces, as needed, to protect democracy … maybe he did understand it! We can not do it alone, and it can’t always be “America First.”
From the beginning of his candidacy, Trump puzzled us with his kind words and protection of this well-known enemy of democracy, freedom and the USA, Russian President Vladimir Putin. At the recent European and Helsinki summit, it became even more evident that Trump would betray our friends and allies, even Americans, to impress Putin. Why was this a secret meeting? Does Putin have something on Trump that ultimately demands loyalty to Putin?
We do know, Trump is NOT protecting and defending the United States. With all the controversy over that meeting and Trump’s loyalty to Putin, is America ready to have a big party with and for Putin? Russian interference with our election process should almost be a declaration of war, not a reward!
The time to improve relations with Russia is when they have been charged by our president and punished. Let’s face it, we can’t trust Trump — he hasn’t earned it!
OK, enough about Trump and the obvious. Our Constitution was designed to protect us from tyranny. Congress, the Department of Justice and American voters need to step up. The Republican Congress refuses to protect us. Both parties of Congress have been a poster child of failure for decades. Only voters can change this.
Congress is no different than Trump — they are in it for the power, money and ego. None of them have our interest at heart. Is this what millions of service men and women fought and died for? Somewhere down the road, the next generation of children could ask, “What happened to America? Why didn’t voters try to prevent this?” Did you?
Donald Risatti lives in Orange.