John Kimbrough reminds us in his May 13 editorial that MAGA is alive and well, despite growing membership losses and declining confidence in the movement. He idealizes the glory of Trump’s agenda, which I’m now challenging:
He claims that Trump made Vladimir Putin “irrelevant.” Tell that to the 1M Russian deaths and casualties; the 300K Ukrainians; the 25K civilian deaths; the damage to infrastructure, the economic impact, the displaced citizens. Trump claimed that he would end the war in weeks.
Trump “brought new respect to our veterans and honored their sacrifices.” That is inconsistent with his previously bragging about never serving in the military and claiming that soldiers who died were “losers” and “suckers.”
Trump’s “brilliant use of tariffs” is a curious claim, since consumers ultimately pay for them. American families have already paid more than $1700 each, with costs climbing steadily since his second term.
Our economy is maintaining positive growth, but it is not “booming.” Stocks, to the 62% of folks who own them, are doing well during our “irrational exuberance,” funded primarily by AI companies.
The high gas prices are “temporary and will soon be drastically reduced.” Not so, according to economists, who fear that prices will never return to pre-Iran war levels. Americans burn 375 million gallons of gas each day, and gas prices have risen $1.52/gal since Trump’s war. That means we are paying an additional $570M each day!
Trump “pardoned innocent citizens peacefully expressing their right to free speech.” Really?? 2000 rioters stormed the Capitol building on January 6, and more than 1100 arrests were made. 140 officers were injured. 113 persons were charged with assault with deadly weapons, which included crutches, pepper spray, bear spray, stun guns, baseball bats, flagpoles, fire extinguishers, batons, hockey sticks, knives, rebar, skateboards and other makeshift weapons. Have you ever been peacefully hit in the head with a baseball bat?
Trump “lawfully unleashed ICE to rid the country of illegals who commit crimes or are a menace.” Or to harass or detain or arrest or export non-white civilians, including US citizens, who have Hispanic names, or to kill at least two civilians who were “expressing their right to free speech.”
Trump has “appointed the best of the best to his cabinet.” This is the biggest joke of all. Pam Bondi, Kristi Noem, Robert Kennedy Jr, Linda McMahon, Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, Kash Patel. Enough said.
Trump “halted Iran’s ability to hold the world hostage with nuclear weapons.” Not really, since Iran still holds about 1000 pounds of uranium enriched to about 60%, which is below the 90% deemed weapons-grade. What is Trump’s plan to extract or destroy that cache?
Trump’s and Hegseth’s claim that Iran’s missile program had been “functionally destroyed” is false, since about 70% of its prewar missile stockpile and mobile missile launchers have been retained and are operational. And the Strait of Hormuz is still closed.
Kimbrough assures us that his claims are " matters of fact, and lying or misrepresenting them is a statement about the morality of the person who does it.” Trump does not merely misrepresent, misspeak, or exaggerate; he lies constantly and continuously. Most of us are so inured to his years of spewing garbage that it hardly registers anymore. Except when his comments and actions inflict unnecessary pain.
Trump does value money, power, autocrats (dictators) and those who worship him. Does he care about ordinary Americans? He said recently, “I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation. I don’t think about anybody.” He does think about his wealthy, loyal followers and big businesses, who profited from his “big, beautiful bill” and tax breaks. Does anyone care about the US national debt?
When will we reach enough-is-enough status with MAGA and Trump? I’m hoping that midterm results will show changes in our collective attitudes and awareness of the con job that’s been smothering us for years. But Trump and adoring friends who continue to worship him blindly still have another couple of years to go. God help us.
Richard Owen
Woodland
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