The following are a few quotes that have a consistent theme in defining the current incumbent US President. I had many to choose from, but I felt these frame the sentiment from a variety of perspectives within and outside of the US.
Former FBI DIrector James Comey as quoted in The Guardian article entitled “Comey book likens Trump to a mafia boss ” – “This president is unethical and untethered to the truth and institutional values. His leadership is transactional, ego driven and about personal loyalty.”
Japanese Finance Director Taro Aso as quoted in Reuters article “US will only rejoin Pacific Trade pact if terms improved” – “Trump is a person who could change temperamentally, so he may say something different the next day.”
Lt. Colonel (Ret.) Ralph Peters in his resignation email to Fox News – “In my view, Fox has degenerated from providing a legitimate and much-needed outlet for conservative voices to a mere propaganda machine for a destructive and ethically ruinous administration. When prime-time hosts–who have never served our country in any capacity–dismiss facts and empirical reality to launch profoundly dishonest assaults on the FBI, the Justice Department, the courts, the intelligence community (in which I served) and, not least, a model public servant and genuine war hero such as Robert Mueller–all the while scaremongering with lurid warnings of “deep-state” machinations– I cannot be part of the same organization, even at a remove. To me, Fox News is now wittingly harming our system of government for profit.”
Chief Executive Gustavo Grobocupatel of an Argentine Agricultural Group quoted in a Reuters article entitled “US seeks to outshine China at Latam summit without Trump” – “Trump’s plan seems to be to ensure the US is no longer the world’s leader.”
Four Star General (Ret.) Barry McCaffrey as quoted in an article in The Daily Mail – “Donald Trump is a ‘serious threat to U.S. national security’ due to Russian inaction.”
Conservative columnist, author and pundit David Brooks during a speech made in Charlotte in April, 2018 – “Donald Trump is the wrong answer to the right question.”
Editor-in-chief of Red State, a conservative webcast, Erick Erickson quoting on his show an anonymous Republican Congressman he bumped into at a grocery store – “Here’s what the US Congressman said: ‘It’s like Forrest Gump won the presidency, but an evil, really f*cking stupid Forrest Gump.’ He went on to explain that if the president tries to fire the Special Counsel Mr. Mueller, he and his fellow Republicans were ready to impeach him over it, for the sake of trying to save the GOP from going down with him.”
Thomas Wells who penned the article in The Huffington Post in July, 2016 entitled “Donald Trump Hired Me As An Attorney. Please Don’t Support Him For President” – “It is a special and unique form of arrogance to think you could even consider being literally the leader of the free world without doing the work to deeply understand the job.” He also noted Donald Trump “lies all of the time.”
I will leave it to the reader to draw their own conclusions. With the exception of the two foreign leaders, these people swore an oath to the Constitution and/ or are Conservatives.
musingsofanoldfart 
An excellent selection of quotes, dear Keith! All very apt, and largely disregarded by Trump followers all over the nation. What, I wonder, is the straw that breaks the camel’s back, that wakes them from their zombie-like state? I think Lt. Colonel Peter’s words, “ethically ruinous administration” sum it up well.
Jill, thanks. Sarah Sanders is in full smug role calling Comey a leaker and a liar. Comey’s credibility is far far above that of Sanders’ boss. How does she sleep at night is beyond me? I keep thinking at some point, she will find her conscious. There is no hope for her boss to find his. Keith
I think that one cannot find what one never possessed.
That would be the proverbial needle in the haystack.
Note to Readers: While preparing for this post, I noticed President Trump pardoned Scooter Libby, who worked for VP Dick Cheney. Libby went to jail because he outed a CIA operative named Valerie Plame, which is a crime. The reason was to discredit her husband, a former Ambassador who did some recon work to confirm if Safdam Hussein had Weapons of Mass Direction. He did not find such a link. His recon was intentionally misused by Cheney and George Bush as a reason for the invasion of Iraq.
The Ambassador was infuriated and wrote an op-Ed piece on The New York Times saying he did not find a link to WMD and his report was purposefully misused. Libby went after him in an article and let it known his wife was in the CIA.
Let be brutally frank. Trump pardoned a man who is one of the reasons we invaded Iraq. Over 4,000 American soldiers, allied soldiers, and civilians died as a result and ISIS was spawned from Hussein’s demise. And, we are still there.
Another disgraceful action by Trump. Even Former Pres Bush refused the request by Cheney to pardon Libby, of course its well know that Libby was acting on orders by Cheney. Sarah should be sued for libel. Her parroting of trump goes too far, Trump earlier tweeted that Comey is a “slime ball”. To Imagine our president is such s low Class liar and no one Will stop HIM is nauseatimg.
Holly, it is interesting to go back and read Thomas Wells’ article in The Huffington Post from July 2016 as he forewarned us. One item is everyone against him is name called or labeled by Trump. Everyone. He rarely argues the issues. And, things he feels he must change are name called or labeled. Why don’t his followers see this huge character flaw? He is the lone constant in this. Keith
I’m sure that Trump pardoned Libby to send a signal to anyone who is facing criminal prosecution because of their dealings with him. “I will reward loyalty” he was saying. Loud and clear.
Janis, Trump rarely acts altruistically. What you say has more merit. Mark Shields and David Brooks both said on the PBS Newshour the book has merit and Comey is a dedicated public servant. Shields said Trump’s tirade validates the claims that his presidency is a “forest fire.” Keith
Note to Readers: Check out Gronda’s post on Erick Erickson. I have seen him interviewed. Whether you agree with his politics, like Brooks, Will, Gerson, Douthat and orhers, he calls the President on the carpet for what he is going to the country and GOP. He is very articulate. Yet, his voice has been diminished by the pro-Trump people.
Note to Readers: Whether you agree with the targeted strike, I am comforted that the military coached the President to wait and make sure al Assad did it and worked in concert with the U.K. and France. We are told the air strike was focused on the source of the chemicals. Let us hope the targeted approach does not create greater conflict and Trump holds his tweets to a minimum.
While Trump is a habitual liar, Putin and al Assad are much more skilled at lying and being dictatorial. Frankly, I trust none of the three, but am comforted that Mattis is calmer and professional.
Dear Keith,
We are singing the same song.
I am so relieved that General Mattis took over the reigns over what to do in response to Syria’s chemically gassing his own peoples in Douma, Syria on 4/7/18. His response was measured and carefully considered and that he sought other countries for help and support.
. A true conservative could no more support President Trump than he could support Senator Sanders to be president. President Trump is an anathema to the concept of conservatism. We know many conservatives who are “Never Trumpers” and who now feel disenfranchised by the republican party.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders has bought the kool-aid to where she lies without a second thought. The president just loves to create his own reality to where his life is a lie.
Thanks for another insightful post and mentioning my post.
Hugs, Gronda
Thanks Gronda. I feel I am on the right track if we are singing the same hymn in the songbook. Too many picked up the wrong hymnal. A letter to the editor today spoke of ignoring the hooey and focusing on the bigger picture, how well Trump is doing with the economy. My rebuttal letter said looking at the bigger picture, it is malfeasance to pass s tax cut and spending bill that increases the debt when it is at $21 trillion. It is poor stewardship to take a chain saw to environmental regulations and ignore what people are doing to combat climate change. It is an attack on our democracy to be routinely untruthful making untrustworthy to our allies and demeaning the media when they criticize you. I mention the economy is doing well in its 106th consecutive month of economic growth, yet the President has only been in office for fifteen of these months.
As for Sanders, my respect for her has waned with her ever increasing untruthfulness. When you defend a liar that usually makes you a liar. Like her boss, she attacks people who have dutiful served our country. Keith
Note to Readers: Japan Prime Minister Abe is traveling to meet with President Trump at his Florida home. The reason is to try and repair a heretofore solid relationship that was damaged when Trump did not grant a exemption on his steel tariff. This is just one example of where our allies have felt slighted. It is a recurring theme to this Presidency.
The quote from Peters is an apt putdown of the pseudoconservative propaganda machine. I hope the anonymous Republican MoC quoted by Erickson is correct in claiming that even contemporary Republican MoC-s would be for impeachment if Trump crosses the red line with Mueller.
Agreed. Peters’ quote needs to be distributed far and wide. As for the MoC quote, I am impressed by the letter sent to me by Senator Thom
Tillis which I posted today. Thanks for commenting.