An article by Patrick Wintour, Diplomatic Editor of The Guardian called “Republicans and Democrats unite to condemn Trump’s attacks on allies” is a welcome piece. The subheadline hits home: “American politicians break rank at Munich Security Conference to hit out at ‘destructive’ president and urge Europe to stand up to Trump.”
Here is more of the story:
“Donald Trump’s most unbridled critics at this weekend’s Munich Security Conference have not been Europeans but Americans – and not just Democrat politicians.
A few Republicans, out of earshot of the US president’s favoured Fox News, have had the courage to challenge Trump’s diet of tariffs and unpredictability.
The criticism ends what little remained of the tradition that the US delegation to the conference limits criticism of the commander in chief abroad.
The attacks came thick and fast as Democrats vied to disown Trump, or, in the case of Hillary Clinton, the former US secretary of state, to urge Europe that Trump’s chief weapon – perceived unpredictability – can be neutered by consistent push back.
In the case of Greenland she said the resistance ‘worked because a critical mass of our allies said ‘no, not like, we will negotiate. We’ll do this. We will do that’. There was a well-presented opposition that said No. I hope what people are understanding is that unpredictability is uncomfortable, but it is important to arrive at a response and stick with it because that affects whether a leader thinks he can proceed … With Trump the question is, don’t doubt what he wants to do. Try to figure out how to stop him from doing it. Don’t debate what his intention is because he is telling you what his intention is. He may or may not be able to achieve it, but that is up to forces outside of him.’
Gavin Newsom, the Democrat governor of California, accused Trump of ‘doubling down on stupid’. He said: ‘Never in the history of the US has there been a more destructive president than the current occupant of the White House in Washington. He is trying to recreate the 19th century. He is a wholly owned subsidiary of big oil gas and coal.’”
There is really not much to add. I am enthused by the pushback on the incumbent president as I agree with what is said above. Sadly, there are even more reasons to consider in pushing back.
musingsofanoldfart 