2019 in Review

Well, just September.

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The News-Gazette  12/29/2019

The Opinions Page

The Scarlet Letter

Trumpy Bear

What a deal.  Only $50.

I think I'll wait 'til the after Christmas sales.

Am I crazy?

Impeached

Book: Fear / by Bob Woodward

I finished reading Fear: Trump in the White House by Bob Woodward.  I think it was mostly a waste of my time.  It just pretty much repeated things that have already been said about the Trump presidency.  In particular I did not like the frequent use of dialogue.  I find it doubtful that the author would have accurate knowledge of these conversations.  The one positive thing about this book is that it was written by an investigative journalist with many years experience.

Here are a couple excerpts from the book:

Gary Cohn was the chief economic advisor to President Donald Trump from 2017 to 2018.  Rob Porter served as White House Staff Secretary for President Donald Trump until February 2018.

General John Kelly served as the White House Chief of Staff for President Donald Trump from July 31, 2017 to January 2, 2019.

Rep. Madeleine Dean

(a portion of The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, 12/06/2019)

Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA), a member of the Judiciary Committee:

We have the evidence, sadly. This is an extraordinarily difficult week and time for our country. It is about the president's words. It is about the president's behavior when he betrayed his oath and he betrayed our country, asking for interference in our elections.

I think it's about the president. He abused his own office. And it's a pattern of behavior. When he was a candidate, he welcomed the interference of Russia in our 2016 election.

Remember what it's about. It's for his personal political gain. It's not about us. It's not about the safety and security of our country. In fact, it makes us less safe. It makes our elections less safe. This is extraordinarily and entirely about the president's behavior.

This is absolutely about the words of our founders, the things that they worried about. They reminded us that we depend upon our Constitution, but our Constitution depends upon us. If we don't uphold it, if we don't protect the precious nature of our Constitution and of our democracy, then where will we be? We will be suffering a monarchy. We will be suffering one person who believes he is above the law.

This is an extraordinarily sad and sober time for our country. But I believe our country is up to it. And I believe, and I have the confidence, that our Constitution is up to it.