By Carl Weinschenk
This is the last (or at least one of the last) posts at this site, at least as it currently exists. Afterall, a site called “Vote This Time” has a bit of a problem after the midterm elections pass. (Changing the name to “Vote Last Time” won’t do the trick.) I do have some thoughts about continuing on toward the presidential election, but we’ll see.
I’ve never denied that this is a partisan site. By the same token, my goal is that everyone vote, no matter who he or she favors. The idea is that our nation is stronger when people participate in its civic functioning. That includes people with whom you disagree.
For this post, however, I am going to go full partisan. Donald Trump presents a clear and present danger to the United States of America. He is not on the ballot, but looms like a toxic cloud. The damage he is doing is enabled by the Republican party he dominates. It’s important to consider his record when deciding for whom to vote.
Our country is in extraordinary danger because of Donald Trump. Our financial security has been compromised by inflation and the cost of living. We’re in bitter fights with our closest allies. Our farmers and truckers can’t afford diesel fuel. We are involved in an ill-conceived and senseless war in Iran. The list goes on.
Trump and his accomplices have done awful things in our name. The shameful, unprovoked targeting of Haitian immigrants in Youngstown, Ohio and similar racist and xenophobic attacks elsewhere are disgraceful and cynical. ICE has murdered Americans and continues inhumane detentions and deportations. Gutting USAid led to the death of thousands of people, largely children. The law enforcement elements of our government have been given the mission of protecting the president of the United States against rape allegations. That list goes on as well.
Here are reminders of some of the ways in which Trump has failed us, his office and the United States of America. It is by no means complete, and some of the topics overlap.
- Corruption
- Tariffs
- Alienating our allies
- Toadying to Putin
- General disrespect for our institutions
- Lying about his and other people’s records
- Profiteering
- Threatening the press
- His connection with Jeffrey Epstein
- Vindictive
It’s obvious that the guy is a bad apple. The Republicans for whom you vote next Tuesday (or before) have for the most part cowered in fear instead of standing up to the threat. They’ve put their own interest (mainly, getting Trump’s endorsement and avoiding a primary) ahead of their duties and the oaths they took upon gaining office. Don’t believe incumbent Republicans who claim to have seen the light and now move away from Trump. It’s an act meant to fool you.
In most cases, the candidates ready to battle Trump will be Democrats. But there are Republicans and independents who are answering the call. Indeed, anti-Trump Republicans deserve special credit. It is not easy to buck the group in which you grew up.
As I wrote this post it occurred to me that something above is inaccurate. I could have edited it. It’s more useful to correct it, however: Doing whatever is possible to oppose Donald Trump is not a partisan issue and this is not a partisan post. Voting against Trump’s enablers is the patriotic things to do.
Image: Lance Cheung. Via Pixel. Original public domain image from Flickr