Yuuuuuge Kudos To Senator Romney......
Mitt Romney: The president shapes the public character of the nation. Trump’s character falls short.
It is so refreshing to hear a Republican speak the raw truth about the "man" the nation calls its president. Senator Mitt Romney is a man with true character, integrity, decency, and values that Americans understand. It is men and women of courage like Senator Romney that are needed in the Republican party (of tRump) who are unafraid to stand tall and call out the president every time he lies or misrepresents the truth or American interests. Now is the time and Romney is the man. We can only hope more Republicans with a modicum of integrity will grow a set of cajones and do the same.
From The Washington Post.
The Trump presidency made a deep descent in December. The departures of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly, the appointment of senior persons of lesser experience, the abandonment of allies who fight beside us, and the president’s thoughtless claim that America has long been a “sucker” in world affairs all defined his presidency down.
It is well known that Donald Trump was not my choice for the Republican presidential nomination. After he became the nominee, I hoped his campaign would refrain from resentment and name-calling. It did not. When he won the election, I hoped he would rise to the occasion. His early appointments of Rex Tillerson, Jeff Sessions, Nikki Haley, Gary Cohn, H.R. McMaster, Kelly and Mattis were encouraging. But, on balance, his conduct over the past two years, particularly his actions last month, is evidence that the president has not risen to the mantle of the office.
SKIP
To a great degree, a presidency shapes the public character of the nation. A president should unite us and inspire us to follow “our better angels.” A president should demonstrate the essential qualities of honesty and integrity, and elevate the national discourse with comity and mutual respect. As a nation, we have been blessed with presidents who have called on the greatness of the American spirit. With the nation so divided, resentful and angry, presidential leadership in qualities of character is indispensable. And it is in this province where the incumbent’s shortfall has been most glaring.
The world is also watching. America has long been looked to for leadership. Our economic and military strength was part of that, of course, but our enduring commitment to principled conduct in foreign relations, and to the rights of all people to freedom and equal justice, was even more esteemed. Trump’s words and actions have caused dismay around the world. In a 2016 Pew Research Center poll, 84 percent of people in Germany, Britain, France, Canada and Sweden believed the American president would “do the right thing in world affairs.” One year later, that number had fallen to 16 percent.
SKIP
The world needs American leadership, and it is in America’s interest to provide it. A world led by authoritarian regimes is a world — and an America — with less prosperity, less freedom, less peace.
To reassume our leadership in world politics, we must repair failings in our politics at home. That project begins, of course, with the highest office once again acting to inspire and unite us. It includes political parties promoting policies that strengthen us rather than promote tribalism by exploiting fear and resentment. Our leaders must defend our vital institutions despite their inevitable failings: a free press, the rule of law, strong churches, and responsible corporations and unions.
SKIP
America is strongest when our arms are linked with other nations. We want a unified and strong Europe, not a disintegrating union. We want stable relationships with the nations of Asia that strengthen our mutual security and prosperity.
SKIP
I remain optimistic about our future. In an innovation age, Americans excel. More importantly, noble instincts live in the hearts of Americans. The people of this great land will eschew the politics of anger and fear if they are summoned to the responsibility by leaders...
To be sure there are some things this sight disagrees with Senator Romney on. Most notable is his inferred reliance on faith based judgements. But, putting those disagreements aside it is clear that Senator Romney's vision and leadership is far and above superior to that of tRump.
As long as McConnell controls the GOP for Trump, the mess will continue to grow and worsen. If and when more GOP
ReplyDeletesenators figure out they work for America and not some weird accident of history (as kindly as I can put it), the
wretched circus and its clueless 'base' hang on. I find Romney too much the pro-business type conservative. BUT
he is decent, he is dignified...and. gasp, he actually thinks!
Well said BB Idaho. Romney you can work with. Being from MA I can vouch for that.
DeleteJerry, I find it both offensive and wrong to NOT acknowledge that NOT all republicans are assholes. If you wish to be that regimented and rigid then more,power to ya Jerry. But count me out.
ReplyDeleteAs far as driving out of national politics. I sure as he'll hop tRump, Pence, and the rest of the GOP Leadership does. As for Romney? I concur with BB Idaho..
I agree with BB-Idaho that Romney is decent and dignified. I don't understand, however, why he accepted Trump's endorsement after his 2016 speech during the campaign where he said this about trump: "Here’s what I know. Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud. His promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University.
ReplyDeleteHe’s playing the members of the American public for suckers. He gets a free ride to the White House and all we get is a lousy hat.
His domestic policies would lead to recession. His foreign policies would make America and the world less safe. He has neither the temperament nor the judgment to be president and his personal qualities would mean that America would cease to be a shining city on a hill."
And yet Romney accepted the fraud's endorsement? Romney plays politics just like every other pol. Romney didn't have a decent thing to say about trump, and still didn't in his recent WaPo op-ed. Why, then, did he accept this fraud's endorsement.
Are there no politicians with the courage of their convictions? It seems not.
And yet Romney accepted the fraud's endorsement? Romney plays politics just like every other pol.
DeleteYup Shaw, jut like every other pol. Democrats included.
Are there no politicians with the courage of their convictions? It seems not.
No there are NOT. The very nature of politics requires a candidate make promises to the people they represent to get elected. A great many of which they know they will never be able to keep. So, COMPROMISE with philosophical adversaries IS a requirement if a leader hopes to accomplish anything of lasting value.
But "willing to compromise" is not the same as "not having the courage of one's convictions". In a pluralistic political system, any politician who wants to get anything done has to compromise. The great thing about the two-party system is that people who can't compromise get locked out of power. Obama was, if anything, too willing to compromise, yet he definitely stood for things. His accomplishments -- the ACA, the Paris climate agreement, the Iran nuclear deal -- testify to that.
DeleteWith all due respect, Romney is a monster. His company, Bain Capital, made money by destroying viable companies and the jobs of their employees. He got rich by crushing other people. As a businessman he probably caused far more harm than Trump did. As for his principles, in 2012 he was notorious for flip-flopping all over the place trying to please everybody, and he's continuing to do so now, first condemning Trump, then cozying up to him trying to get a job, now standing against him again. I have no doubt that he genuinely finds Trump repulsive, but if he's more outspoken than other Republican politicians, it's because his voting base is in Utah, where Trump is not very popular.
My assessment of the most recent Republican candidates is that McCain was a decent man, Romney was good at faking being a decent man, and Trump doesn't even bother trying to fake it. As for other "good" Republicans, they're awfully thin on the ground these days. Murkowski? (Well, Mueller is a Republican, but I assume you're talking about politicians.) To me, given what the Republican party now stands for, the mark of a decent Republican would be that they leave the party.
To me, given what the Republican party now stands for, the mark of a decent Republican would be that they leave the party.
DeleteAgreed. So I did. Eleven years ago. There is no room in the party for an individual that is a fiscal conservative (think responsible economic and fiscal policy) yet maintains a liberal position on most social issues.
You are right about holding to ones convictions -vs- compromise. Obama is a good example of being able to do both and do it successfully. There is little question (in my mind anyway) that Obama is more progressive than the country as a whole. As a leader he understood the value of as well as the inescapable necessity to compromise when necessary. Perhaps he did compromise too readily or too much. Still, he accomplished many positive things.
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DeleteOkay Jerry (or is it really TOM), I am done with games. Feel free to NEVER return unless you have something of value to offer. I will not suffer fools any longer. The choice is yours. Either offer something of value OR stay the hell OUT.
DeleteI don't normally comment about individual bloggers, but there are definitely issues with this guy.
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