This is courtesy of a CNN article called “This is the most succinct — and brutal — Republican rejection of Donald Trump that you will ever read,” which transcribes Steve Schmidt’s comments. Schmidt is a lifelong Republican, who was the campaign manager for John McCain in 2008 and Lamar Alexander in 2000. He is one of the founding members of The Lincoln Project, which is organized to help defeat Donald Trump in the 2020 election.
“Donald Trump has been the worst president this country has ever had. And I don’t say that hyperbolically. He is. But he is a consequential president. And he has brought this country in three short years to a place of weakness that is simply unimaginable if you were pondering where we are today from the day where Barack Obama left office. And there were a lot of us on that day who were deeply skeptical and very worried about what a Trump presidency would be. But this is a moment of unparalleled national humiliation, of weakness.
“When you listen to the President, these are the musings of an imbecile. An idiot. And I don’t use those words to name call. I use them because they are the precise words of the English language to describe his behavior. His comportment. His actions. We’ve never seen a level of incompetence, a level of ineptitude so staggering on a daily basis by anybody in the history of the country whose ever been charged with substantial responsibilities.
“It’s just astonishing that this man is president of the United States. The man, the con man, from New York City. Many bankruptcies, failed businesses, a reality show, that branded him as something that he never was. A successful businessman. Well, he’s the President of the United States now, and the man who said he would make the country great again. And he’s brought death, suffering, and economic collapse on truly an epic scale. And let’s be clear. This isn’t happening in every country around the world. This place. Our place. Our home. Our country. The United States. We are the epicenter. We are the place where you’re the most likely to die from this disease. We’re the ones with the most shattered economy. And we are because of the fool that sits in the Oval Office behind the Resolute Desk.”
There is nothing to add or refute. Your comments are welcome.
musingsofanoldfart 
Note to Readers: Per Reuters, some more Republican officials that served under previous presidents have joined the Biden team.
“Dozens of Republican former U.S. national security officials are forming a group that will back Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, people familiar with the effort said, in a further sign that President Donald Trump has alienated some members of his own party.”
In May 1918 Former President Theodore Roosevelt, a Republican, wrote an article that was published in the “Metropolitan Magazine” that began with these words : “Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the President or any other public official save exactly to the degree in which he himself stands by the country. It is patriotic to support him in so far as he efficiently serves the country. It is unpatriotic not to oppose him to the exact extent that by inefficiency or otherwise he fails in his duty to stand by the country.” I have followed and support the work of The Lincoln Project…they exemplify Roosevelt’s words. Thank-you!
Ellen, thanks for sharing Roosevelt’s powerful and poignant words. They are on target. Keith
Hi Keith and Ellen,
Apart from John Bolton’s book entitled “The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir”, there is another one according to https://time.com/5858357/robert-trump-neice-book/
Soundeagle, I read somewhere the president is more fearful of this book, as it shows he has had many warts for a long time. To be frank, nothing the president does today is any different than what he did before. He just has a bigger platform and stage. Five biographers wrote long before the White House, Trump has a problem with the truth. Keith
Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
I’ve learned to admire and respect Steve Schmidt!! Love the Lincoln Project! … “Schmidt is a lifelong Republican, who was the campaign manager for John McCain in 2008 and Lamar Alexander in 2000. He is one of the founding members of The Lincoln Project, which is organized to help defeat Donald Trump in the 2020 election.”
Dr. Rex, thanks for the reblog. I love your lead in. Schmidt’s work with The Lincoln Project and this statement need airplsy. Thanks agsin, Keith
Most welcome!! Thx for your post!! 🙏🏽
Thank you Keith for drawing this to my attention, and inter alia, the Lincoln Project. Were I am American I might just have to get out my check book!
David, thanks. I like using statements from Republicans and former Republicans as the president tries to paint all criticism as coming from Democrats. Keith
“But this is a moment of unparalleled national humiliation, of weakness.”
~ I follow with dismay and concern our nation’s transformation into an autocratic oligarchy.
Rosaliene, it is painfully obvious to us and these few former (and current) Republicans the president’s corruption, deceit and powergrabbing is a disservice to our country. The question these voices allow us to ask of Trump supporters is why are there several Republican groups working hard to defeat Trump in 2020.
This quote from Steve Schmidt would absolutely stun a couple of people we know who think the sun rises at Trump’s command. Keith
It is encouraging to see republicans realizing what we have in the Oval Office and what a danger to the nation … nay, to the world … he poses. If only some of the republicans in Congress would ‘get with the program’, but instead they are still licking his boots and refusing to do their job. Good post … I shall re-blog in a bit.
Jill, I did update my Letter to a Republican Senator and sent it to about fourteen Republicans. I think sending Steve Schmidt’s comments and asking for a reply. “Senator, help me understand why….” I do appreciate the reblog, as many people as possible need to see Schmidt’s harsh but accurate words. Keith
Great idea … I shall follow in your footsteps. Tomorrow. Sleep first. 😉 Yes, I wish every republican could see it, for perhaps it would serve as a wake-up call, just as General Mattis’ letter should have.
Go for it, Jill. Many thanks. Keith
Reblogged this on Filosofa's Word and commented:
I find it encouraging to find some republicans are seeing Trump for the malignancy that he is, and hope they can convince more among their rank and file. Our friend Keith brings to our attention the comments of one lifelong republican … thank you, Keith!!!
Jill, thanks for the reblog. More folks need to see the words of this former long time Republican about this corrupt and inept president. Keith
My pleasure! It deserved to be seen by as many as possible!
So true. See Rawgod’s concerns. We cannot hold our breath hoping people will see these words.
If this piece by Steve Schmidt and The Lincoln Project didn’t happen now, it would have come sooner or later. But is it in time to affect Trump’s promised outcome? I have my doubts.
You know I don’t trust Repuglycans of any ilk or banner, and this one is no different. This should have been written a long time ago, and distributed a lot more widely than it has been so far.
I don’t know if you remember what I often said about the Mueller Report, that it would not affect Trump’s standing in any important way. Mueller was a repuglycan himself and in the final analysis he wimped out. He had the evidence to wipe Trump’s ass all over the nation, but instead he left the door open for exactly what happened. He handed to Barr a report that made it possible for most of his research to never reach the American public. Everyone waited for fireworks, but they got ladyfingers instead.
This Lincoln Project could make a big splash, but so far it’s just a fizzle.
I hope I am wrong, I really do, but I refuse to hold my breath. The roller coaster is being pulled up the the first hill. It needs to be stopped before it goes over the summit. If not, four more years is going to feel like forever–and very well might be.
Rawgod, we should not hold our breath. Tribal oath is “trumping” constitutional oaths for far too many Republicans. In addition to all of his corrupt and deceitful behavior, COVID-19 and white supremacism is on the rise aided and abetted by his ineptness and seeds of division.
We need to let as many people know about these Republican voices asking others asking why would they say that? Keith
Most ostriches, um, er, repuglycans have no desire to know. They want to go home with the one who drugged them here. If they listen to you, the grande olde party could be over, then they’d have to go home with their own husbands and wives. How Bor(is)ing!
Ouch!
Rawgod, your saying they have no desire to know is dead-on accurate. If they actually looked under the hood, they would see the oil gasket is leaking, the battery is dying and a few spark plugs are shot. Keith
There is hope yet. There is always hope. This is a glimmering candle which it is hoped will grow and grow.
Roger, true. We need to give this flame some oxygen. Keith
Note to Readers: Per an article in the USA Today this morning, there is one more Republican public figure who will vote for Biden:
“In an interview released Thursday with The Atlantic, former Republican presidential candidate and CEO of Hewlett-Packard Carly Fiorina said she would be voting for former Vice President Joe Biden instead of President Donald Trump in November.”
In an unsurprising move, the president mocked Fiorina. In my view, he can mock all he wants, but that is one more Republican who has said they will not vote for Trump..
Note to Readers: I saw a disturbing piece from the LA Times which saidTrump supporters could care less that he offends conservative pundits. That is the stranglehold he has over his cultish flock. To me, these voices matter and I hope they matter more to the less myopic followers.
Steve Schmidt’s words above ring true. I think as many people need to see them as possible. Schmidt is not just saying their are style issues; he is saying Trump is the worst president ever. To be frank, I would not want my kids to emulate such a person.