Two Very Different Republicans Say What Needs to be Said

First, here is a statement from Senator John McCain. America should be grateful for every day that he remains with us:

“Today’s press conference in Helsinki was one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory. The damage inflicted by President Trump’s naiveté, egotism, false equivalence, and sympathy for autocrats is difficult to calculate. But it is clear that the summit in Helsinki was a tragic mistake.

“President Trump proved not only unable, but unwilling to stand up to Putin. He and Putin seemed to be speaking from the same script as the president made a conscious choice to defend a tyrant against the fair questions of a free press, and to grant Putin an uncontested platform to spew propaganda and lies to the world.

“It is tempting to describe the press conference as a pathetic rout – as an illustration of the perils of under-preparation and inexperience. But these were not the errant tweets of a novice politician. These were the deliberate choices of a president who seems determined to realize his delusions of a warm relationship with Putin’s regime without any regard for the true nature of his rule, his violent disregard for the sovereignty of his neighbors, his complicity in the slaughter of the Syrian people, his violation of international treaties, and his assault on democratic institutions throughout the world. 

“Coming close on the heels of President Trump’s bombastic and erratic conduct towards our closest friends and allies in Brussels and Britain, today’s press conference marks a recent low point in the history of the American Presidency. That the president was attended in Helsinki by a team of competent and patriotic advisors makes his blunders and capitulations all the more painful and inexplicable.

“No prior president has ever abased himself more abjectly before a tyrant. Not only did President Trump fail to speak the truth about an adversary; but speaking for America to the world, our president failed to defend all that makes us who we are—a republic of free people dedicated to the cause of liberty at home and abroad. American presidents must be the champions of that cause if it is to succeed. Americans are waiting and hoping for President Trump to embrace that sacred responsibility. One can only hope they are not waiting totally in vain.”

###

Permalink: https://www.mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/7/statement-by-sasc-chairman-john-mccain-on-trump-putin-meeting

Next, are the comments from former Illinois Congressman Joe Walsh (whom I had to once futilely vote for due to re-districting.) Walsh now hosts a radio show, and unlike other conservative hosts on the airwaves who express nothing but fealty to Trump, he has tried to take a more consistent approach. I will continue to disagree with Walsh on some issues, but if he is a man of his word, I can welcome him to the NeverTrump Club today, and hope that many other patriotic Americans will see this for what it is as well.

Here are some of his Tweets from earlier today: https://twitter.com/WalshFreedom

"Look, I'm no big deal, but today is the final straw for me. I will never support Trump again. If that makes me a NeverTrumper, so be it. I am a tea party conservative, that will never change. But Trump was a traitor to this country today. That must not be accepted. Speak out.

What you saw today was "collusion" on the world stage.

 By the way, we are still under attack from Russia, and the President of the United States just made clear he's on Russia's side. Republicans, speak out. Now. This can't be tolerated.

Trump was a traitor today. I cannot & will not support a traitor. No decent American should.

I've always tried to balance my personal distaste for Trump with my support for much of the agenda. The good Trump/bad Trump thing. After 2day, that dance is over. The bad Trump now clearly outweighs any policy benefits. He is a danger to this country. I can't straddle anymore.

You saw a man today both ill-equipped to be President, and a man clearly not loyal to this country's best interests. Gang, this is a crisis. Americans of all political stripes must speak out against him.

 

It's no longer about what Trump does. It's about what WE do. This is the time to speak out. This is the time for choosing. America is in danger. Choose country over party. Choose country over policy."