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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsEnough is Enough By THE LAT EDITORIAL BOARD -These are not normal times.
Enough is Enough
By THE TIMES EDITORIAL BOARD
AUG. 20, 2017
These are not normal times.
The man in the White House is reckless and unmanageable, a danger to the Constitution, a threat to our democratic institutions.
Last week some of his worst qualities were on display: his moral vacuity and his disregard for the truth, as well as his stubborn resistance to sensible advice. As ever, he lashed out at imaginary enemies and scapegoated others for his own failings. Most important, his reluctance to offer a simple and decisive condemnation of racism and Nazism astounded and appalled observers around the world.
With such a glaring failure of moral leadership at the top, it is desperately important that others stand up and speak out to defend American principles and values. This is no time for neutrality, equivocation or silence. Leaders across America and especially those in the presidents own party must summon their reserves of political courage to challenge President Trump publicly, loudly and unambiguously.
Enough is enough.
Some people clearly understand this. On Monday, after Trump suggested that alt-left counter-protesters were as much to blame as Nazis and white supremacists for the fiasco in Charlottesville, a courageous CEO Kenneth Frazier, the chief executive of Merck & Co. resigned from the presidents American Manufacturing Council in protest. His departure, which the ever-gracious president greeted with derision, led to an exodus of other commission members.
This is no time for neutrality, equivocation or silence.
Also last week, five members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff issued a tacit rebuke to the president by condemning racism and hatred in Charlottesville. Denouncing Nazis and Klansmen is not exactly controversial or cutting-edge in 2017, but for the generals to take on the commander in chief is, to say the least, highly unusual.
Many Republicans and conservatives have broken ranks as well in recent months, dismayed by the daily chaos, belligerence and mismanagement. Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) have been outspoken critics. Max Boot, David Frum and other conservative public intellectuals have written articulately about the failures of the Trump presidency; the venerable conservative magazine National Review has as well. On Friday, former GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney said Trumps response to Charlottesville had caused racists to rejoice, and that if he didnt apologize it could lead to an unraveling of our national fabric. These votes of no-confidence from fellow conservatives and Republicans are powerful indictments.
But where are the rest?
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Rep. Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) are the two most-powerful men in Congress. Both have fired off the occasional potshot but for the most part have stood firmly behind this wildly flawed president, despite the taunts and insults Trump hurled at them from his Twitter redoubt.
What holds them back? Craven, self-serving political calculations designed to protect their careers, and dwindling hope that the president, despite everything, will help them move their long-delayed legislative agenda.
Their silence is shameful.
How about the more rational members of Trumps Cabinet? They should be fleeing the administration, refusing to stand mutely against the wall at his press conferences while he steps on their messages and undermines their best efforts.
Men and women of conscience can no longer withhold judgment."
........
More:
http://www.latimes.com/projects/la-ed-trump-enough/
dalton99a
(81,700 posts)Their entire series is excellent
gordianot
(15,253 posts)CentralMass
(15,265 posts)greatauntoftriplets
(175,771 posts)I was saying that about Trump a year ago.
bitterross
(4,066 posts)Here is their headline for the endorsement:
Hillary Clinton would make a sober, smart and pragmatic president. Donald Trump would be a catastrophe.
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-hillary-endorsement-20160923-snap-story.html
greatauntoftriplets
(175,771 posts)I hadn't known that. The Chicago Tribune, which owns the Times, endorsed Gary Johnson of all people.
Hekate
(91,003 posts)LA Times is still one of the country's great newspapers, I'm relieved to say.
greatauntoftriplets
(175,771 posts)I'm happy to hear that the Tribune isn't micro-managing its editorial policy. Now that Tribune Media is likely selling WGN to Sinclair, I don't trust that company.
american_ideals
(613 posts)Golden Raisin
(4,615 posts)No goddamn consciences while the country goes down in flames.
madaboutharry
(40,245 posts)volstork
(5,403 posts)SergeStorms
(19,204 posts)are only concerned about being re-elected. Trump is still popular with the typical Republican voter (for some reason unknown to anyone) and they're worried about the mid-terms in 2018.
That's a typical Republican for you.
It's always party over;
principal
country
constitution
good taste
honesty
integrity........you name it, Republicans stick with their party over anything. Now THAT'S sad!
L. Coyote
(51,129 posts)Beartracks
(12,835 posts)===============
maddiemom
(5,106 posts)Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)PatrickforO
(14,604 posts)This is a very good editorial.
We have not been silent, nor have we withheld judgement, so for us it is a merely a reminder to keep up the resistance. For the silent, it is a call to action.
H2O Man
(73,692 posts)Recommended.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)onetexan
(13,079 posts)the moral decay of the complicit GOP party is astounding. What happened to the party of Lincoln?
Fluke a Snooker
(404 posts)Antifa is the cure for providing real-world consequences to hate speech.
Hekate
(91,003 posts)Ligyron
(7,645 posts)Fear.
They are afraid of the 25% (or less) of the Republican base who think Trump is all that and a bag of chips.
Steve Schmidt really let him have it tho'. One has to admire principled people even if the are Republican.
diva77
(7,676 posts)lordsummerisle
(4,651 posts)I can't believe this thread hasn't had more recs than this...
Rob H.
(5,354 posts)Excerpts from copyrighted sources must be no more than four paragraphs and include a link to the source. See our DMCA Copyright Policy for more information.
The whole thing is well-worth a read. Rec'd.
bronxiteforever
(9,287 posts)Again.
nolabels
(13,133 posts)Many newspapers have been the lapdogs for money and republicans for decades. So when the digital web came along it was no wonder so many jumped ship. L.A Times is just pandering now. One of the last dinosaurs headed to oblivion
spanone
(135,924 posts)lindysalsagal
(20,791 posts)"Craven, self-serving political calculations designed to protect their careers, and dwindling hope that the president, despite everything, will help them move their long-delayed legislative agenda. "
Craven. That's the word.