Hey Donald Trump, the clock is ticking
The fallout for “president” Donald Trump is growing at a rapid pace. Everyone from George W. Bush to newly resigned James Miller is tearing into Trump for his inaction and incredibly stupid actions surrounding the death of George Floyd. Trump is not the smartest man in the room or on the planet, for that matter.
While President Bush did not call Trump’s name, his poignant statement is a direct slap in Trump’s face. President Bush has largely remained out of politics since he left office, but what is happening in our country was enough to drive him deep into the fray. In his writing, Bush said: “It remains a shocking failure that many African Americans, especially young African American men, are harassed and threatened in their own country. It is a strength when protesters, protected by responsible law enforcement, march for a better future.”
Protesting has been the backbone of our society for many years. Not since the civil rights movement have we witnessed protesters being violently attacked by the very people who are supposed to protect us. Bush lays this notion out clearly: “Those who set out to silence those voices do not understand the meaning of America—or how it becomes a better place.” That is exactly what Donald Trump did when he had federal officers attack peaceful protestors so that he could have a photo op, which turned both Episcopal and Catholic leaders against him.
Catholic Archbishop Wilton Gregory said: “I find it baffling and reprehensible that any Catholic facility would allow itself to be so egregiously misused and manipulated in a fashion that violates our religious principles, which call us to defend the rights of all people, even those with whom we might disagree.” This could hurt the Catholic vote for Trump. Even Pat Robertson, an extreme right-wing evangelical figure, said that Trump “has gone too far.” Trump’s reelection is looking more unlikely by the day as the fallout continues.
James Miller, former undersecretary of defense who had been appointed to the Defense Science Board, abruptly resigned his position in a letter to Mike Esper. In his letter, Miller said that both Esper and Trump violated their oaths of office. He called Trump’s tactics an “appalling use of force” and further said that while Esper might not have been able to stop Trump, he could have opposed him. “Instead,” wrote Miller, “you visibly supported it.”
Trump’s numbers continue to drop at an alarming rate, yet Republicans in office refuse to rebuke him. They cannot defend him and simply avoid questions on the issue. Meet the Press published on Twitter their attempts to ask several Republicans about Trump’s actions. Rick Scott (FL) said, “I wasn’t there” but obviously has been under a rock the past few days. Ron Johnson (WI) was under the same rock: “I didn’t really see it.” Mitch McConnell topped them all. He simply walked past the reporters as if he could not hear them. What are these people thinking? Do they honestly think people want them to remain in office to continue terrorizing the very people they purport to represent? Tick tock, Republicans. Your time is coming.
Shirley is a former entertainment writer and has worked in the legal field for over 25 years