To the Editor:
I guess since the newspaper is named the Republican, you feel obligated to promote that viewpoint.
I always considered myself a moderate Republican. If you look back at history there was a time when there were liberal, moderate and conservative Republicans. Something that needs to happen again.
I believed that government should have financial responsibility, individuals should take responsibility for their own circumstances, and that the private sector is more effective in solving most problems.
Only the federal government can regulate interstate and foreign commerce, declare war, set taxes, spending, and other national policies.
Education is one of the most important responsibilities of the State and Federal governments. The statement “An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people” has been attributed to Thomas Jefferson. Those ideas were what I based my political views on.
The last few years it seems there is no room for anybody but Trump Republicans, and they by their actions, and words it seems, do not share my traditional moderate views. Trump and FOX news, calls people like me a RINO.
I listen to the denial of science and climate change for example and wonder what would Teddy Roosevelt who established hundreds of parks and championed environmental causes, what would Richard Nixon who signed into law the environmental protection agency, and Ronald Reagan who signed into law CARB for automotive emissions, as governor of California, what would these Republicans say today?
George Bush was given a balanced budget when he took office in 2001, Republicans today are printing and spending money like drunken sailors.
Politics is kind of a hobby for me, I like to read the history of our Republic and the world.
But I hate to say, a lot of what is being written in speeches and public documents today, I just don’t think will stand the test of time as great oratory. Trump has compared himself to Lincoln, the Gettysburg address for example was a profound political statement as well as a great work of literature.
Trump has trouble making complete sentences.
Maybe I expect too much, but the leader of our country should have a command of the English language as a minimum job qualification, not only to communicate with the people, but as an example for the education of our children.
All school children should read the Gettysburg address. What profound Trump speech will we have our children read 100 years from now?
I know politicians all lie from time to time, but our current leaders have went off the deep end completely. And trying not to be too critical but, Mexico will not pay for a wall, China does not pay tariffs — you and I do — and 70,000 (and counting) dead Americans means the virus was not a Democratic hoax.
Just a few of the big ones.
The statement that Trump made in 2018 “What you’re seeing and what you’re reading is not what’s happening” was very similar to “The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.” — George Orwell, “1984”
Just stop and think about that.
Trump has stated openly that he is a Nationalist. I get bombarded by Republicans about the evils of communism, socialism, and other threats to our country. If I read history right, our greatest generation who is now almost gone, fought to stop Nationalism in Europe and the Pacific, to save the world from Nationalism.
Why no alarm today about the threat of Nationalism?
A famous German Nationalist said “never allow the public to cool off; never admit a fault or wrong; never concede that there may be some good in your enemy; never leave room for alternatives; never accept blame; concentrate on one enemy at a time and blame him for everything that goes wrong; people will believe a big lie sooner than a little one; and if you repeat it frequently enough people will sooner or later believe it.”
Kind of sounds relevant to how our political leaders are acting today.
And I guess my biggest disappointment is the use of slander and insults in the political process today.
Not sure who said it, but the quote “Insults are the last resort of insecure people with a crumbling position trying to appear confident.”
And relating back to education, I remember when educated people were taught and practiced the art of debate; “making stronger arguments based on reason and compromise.”
What happened to those American values?
So my suggestion to the Gasconade County Republican, is to remember the long history of the newspaper, and the party after which it is named, and leave quoting FOX news to the talking heads on TV. I get enough of that drivel when I watch the news. Let me read some oratory worth remembering, and a sound reasoned argument.
And more to the point of your last editorial, how can Trump Republicans make the sexual history of any candidate an issue, with the statements and actions of Donald Trump?
I mean really, he cheated on his wife with a porn star. I would think that is tops for any politician in the sexual dirt department.
