Increasingly unhinged, still touting the Big Lie, Trump is unfit to be president | Opinion
Harris vote
I will soon gladly vote for Vice President Kamala Harris, even though in deep red Kentucky, my vote will not impact the race’s outcome. However, it will record for elected Republicans that their passive and active support of former President Donald Trump’s lies do not go unnoticed or forgotten. Too few of them have found the honesty to declare without reservation that Trump lost the last election. By acquiescing to the BIG LIE, the trap was set for additional dangerous and unbelievably ridiculous ones. Once caught in the liar’s web, there is no easy exit. The risks now are certain to include countless childish name-calling and vicious revenge before all his voters, who like them, have accepted blind submission to the whims of a felon, sexual predator, and extremist.
It is hard to fathom the why of the devotion to this flawed individual who leads by bullying, vengeance and ego. Serious policy differences would account for some of this. But with a very questionable past Presidential performance and the treasonous Jan. 6 debacle that cost some their lives and their freedom, it still mystifies. Maybe like comedian Flip Wilson often quipped, “The devil made me do it!” It used to be funny, but no more!
Janice Russell, Lexington
Experienced public servant
Former President Donald Trump’s mudslinging lies against Vice President Kamala Harris include that she’s not qualified to be President. Harris has 21 years of government experience; 30-plus years if you count public service, more than most presidential nominees, including JFK and Reagan combined.
The consistent problem is: mostly white males like Trump, current Republicans and some U.S. Supreme Court Justices think the United States still belongs to them for their control and privilege. The rest of us have had to struggle/fight to qualify as human beings since the inception of our country.
The joy, laughter, and enthusiasm seen and felt with the Harris-Walz ticket is evidence that we finally are realizing/appreciating what is right in front of and on our very faces: our country is what it should be — a multi-racial democracy. It’s so beautiful that some of us could cry at the very realization that we finally made it — starting with journeys our ancestors took since descending from chimpanzees.
Let’s vote for Kamala who knows and celebrates who she — a public servant — and who we are, “We, the people,” as we face the future together in the time we have left.
Ramona Rush, Lexington
Self-preservation
Former President Donald Trump’s campaign hyperbole, lies, desperation and rhetoric are focused on only one primary objective — keeping him out of prison. Winning the presidency is secondary to not being incarcerated for him. There is no certainty Trump has even reached the depths to which he is prepared to sink to accomplish winning at this point in the election. It is also possible to postulate his actions are designed to insure a victory to hopefully prevent his ties to Putin and Russia from coming to light. The welfare of and serving the country are not his highest priorities.
Charles Myers, Lexington
Criminal complaint
Electing someone with a history of crime and corruption endorses and normalizes crime and corruption in our society. If it is ok for the President to commit acts of political sedition, violence, fraud, money laundering, tax evasion, sexual assault, and other crimes, then “Why should I follow the law?” In my mind, the former President and his MAGA supporters have nothing to say to anyone about law and order. Absolutely nothing!
Beverly C. Johnson-Miller, Lexington
Amoral candidate
Even during former President Donald Trump’s third run for the presidency, no one seems to know how to expose the multifaceted fraudulence behind his pretensions as a public servant. Journalists treat his utterances as serious, but should they call them lies and gross exaggerations, or threats and dangers, or just expressions of a party’s moral and intellectual corruption? Perhaps all three.
The Democratic party in Kentucky has ostensibly given up campaigning against our national disgrace in the name of practical electoral college politics, even though the number of statewide Democrats approaches that of Republicans. They project ineptitude and hopelessness in the extreme.
Much worse are the keepers of America’s traditional moral conscience, Christian leaders. Some dishonor God by praising “The Great Divider” as divinely blessed. Others duck the necessity of outing him as a public menace because they fear the wrath of congregants disdainful of “politics” or of criticism for support of Trump. How is the presumed body of Christ so far from its Lord in this matter?
This humble UK-educated citizen and Protestant seminary graduate wants to know what lead us again to the cusp of electing a proven amoral, proto-authoritarian incompetent to the supposed highest national office?
Tom Booker, Lexington
Putin tests
Bob Woodward’s new book “War” revealed that, in the early days of the Covid crisis, then President Donald Trump sent one of the rare state-of-the-art Covid testing machines to Russian President Vladimir Putin for his own use. This was at a time when Covid testing was in its infancy and Covid testing machines were in high demand by U.S. hospitals & medical centers. Nevertheless, Trump confiscated one and sent it to his friend the Russian dictator. Of course Trump vehemently denied the charge saying he’d done no such thing. However recently Putin confirmed that, in fact, Trump had indeed sent him a Covid testing machine.
With any other Presidential candidate in any other time in history a lie of this magnitude would lead to repudiation by his party and immediate disqualification from the race. And it certainly would if he/she were a Democrat. But Trump? Not a chance. Everyone knows he and the Republican Party lie; you expect them to lie. So Trump will continue his bid to regain the presidency to become a dictator on “day one!”
Jim Porter, Danville
Unfit
Former President Donald Trump is totally unfit to occupy the White House for another term and quite obviously unfit to compete on “Dancing With the Stars.” His recent display of total insanity shows that he is completely unhinged and has no business running our country, which thanks to him is in a quagmire of instability. He has taken us so far down the rabbit hole that we may never return. Every word that comes out of his mouth is a lie and his supporters are just as delusional as he is. His favorite descriptors are “best” and “greatest,” of which he is neither. Just the fact that he is being allowed to run shows that our country and its supposed leaders prove that we need a complete reset, if it’s not too late. The blame is not only on him, but on our Congress, our media and our seemingly insatiable appetite for entertainment. We need to vote out the members of Congress whose only goal is to keep their power, keep the media unbiased and value substance over entertainment. Obviously no one is blessing our country!
Sara Wellnitz, Lexington
Grocery prices
Up and away. Expect food bills to rise sharply and quickly if former President Donald Trump is sworn in as President next January. If your grocery basket includes: fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, coffee, wine, beef, shrimp, salmon, nuts, olive oil, chocolate products, dairy products, beer, spices, processed foods, tea, rice, poultry, lamb, sugar, bananas, pineapples, soy, frozen fruits and vegetables, baked goods, honey, fruit juices, sauces, ketchup, breakfast cereals, non-alcoholic beverages, baby food, prepared meals, canned fruits and vegetables, bakery items, vegetable oils, pasta, noodles, dairy alternatives, plant0based proteins, organic foods, exotic foods, dried fruits or of the thousands of food products America imports regularly, Trump has an early Christmas present for everyone: Much higher prices on all imported foods.
Trump’s economic strategy to lower your grocery bills involves placing import tariff taxes on all imported food items. Foreign producers or governments will NOT pay for any tariff Trump imposes on foods and all other imports. You, and not any foreign entity, will pay for those taxes in the checkout prices of any imported food item you buy. Lord forgive him. For whatever reason, Trump simply doesn’t understand grocery shopping economics like you do.
It’s your money. Vote.
Gene Lockhart, Lexington
Dancing Don
Imagine, if you will: “Mr. President, Mr. President. The Chinese have gone through with their blockade of Taiwan. Mr. President, Taiwan is on the phone! Where the hell is the President?” “Don’t bother him, he’s on the balcony listening to Ave Maria.”
Crazy? You bet. However a question and answer session is a far cry from an international crisis. But it is a very good look at Trump’s mental state, and his fitness for office. That’s basically what happened at a Town Hall-style meeting in Philadelphia recently. After two medical interruptions in the audience, Mr. Trump went from rally to rave, standing with a blank look, calling the tunes. That’s all he did. For 39 minutes.
Take this scenario and shift it to the Oval Office. I’ve been doing just that, after watching Trump speak, dance, ramble, insult and lie during his MAGA rallies. Asking myself the same question: how on earth is this man, with his abhorrent language and behavior, going to make America great?
The nation was right to be concerned about President Joe Bidens’ fitness for office. It is essential we exhibit exactly the same concern with candidate Trump.
Ross DeAeth, Lexington
Law and order
The Nov. 5, 2024 election is the referendum on the Jan. 6 Insurrection on the Capitol.
The country watched a soon to be ex-president, Donald J. Trump, a Congress of Republican election deniers, a U.S. Supreme Court judge’s wife; all embedded traitors, willing to lie, cheat and steal to keep their jobs and powers, willing to destroy the Constitution with hate-filled revenge on our country.
A shocked nation watched Republican judges give master classes on “Equal Justice to All.”
Trump’s 34 felony convictions in New York came from a jury of his peers; jurors who set aside political differences to obey the law.
Voters need to understand Donald Trump is never going to spend a minute in jail for his crimes.
Voters need to understand they are the jury, not Republican courts, who must vote to make certain Trump never spends another minute in public office. The Harris-Walz victory will show an anxious world watching this election “The Rule of Law” is still a scared oath to American voters.
Judy Rembacki, Georgetown
Potty mouth
For parents and grandparents, anyone who teaches their children not to say “bad” words — please do not allow them to listen to former President Donald Trump. Recently, he called Vice President Kamala Harris “ sh----” at a public rally. In addition, he lewdly alluded to the size of Arnold Palmer’s genitalia. His remarks are X-rated. A former student had to quickly remove his 9-year-old son from a rally due to the foul language by the man running for president.
Diana Martin, Lexington
Independent candidate
According to The Hill, former President Donald Trump has a 99 percent chance of winning Kentucky. That means that every Kentuckian voting for Vice President Kamala Harris is throwing away their vote.
Dr. Jill Stein is by far the best candidate because she will end all of our wars. She’ll stop sending weapons to Israel, which has been committing genocide in Palestine for more than one year, and she’ll stop sending billions of dollars to Ukraine.
It’s not the lesser of two evils this year. It’s one excellent candidate versus two extremely evil ones. Everyone planning to vote for Harris should vote for Jill Stein instead.
Geoff Young, Lexington
Barr endorsement
Recently the Lexington Herald-Leader complained that U.S. Rep. Andy Barr declined their offer of an interview regarding an endorsement. Why in the world would he? The Herald has never endorsed him and never will. Democrats could grab any random person off the street and the paper would endorse them. As for the claim that the editorial board is pragmatic and non-partisan, that is just laughable. The writers come down on the side of the left on every single issue, no matter how absurd.
Doug Reed, Lexington
Cherlynn Stevenson
Since 2019, Fayette and Scott County families in the 88th District have been fortunate enough to be represented by Rep. Cherlynn Stevenson, a common-sense leader who puts working families like mine first.
While it’s never easy to be in the minority, she’s been able to reach across the aisle to get results. Those results include medical cannabis, which is going to provide relief to tens of thousands of Kentuckians, as well as sports betting, which is already generating massive revenue for our Commonwealth. Most importantly, she’s been a vocal advocate for public education, ensuring that our public dollars go to local schools that serve every Kentucky student.
We need representatives in Frankfort like her, who are going to tackle the issues at hand, whether that be health care or the economy. Also, unlike her opponent who doesn’t even have an issues section on her website, Cherlynn has shown us where she stands.
On Nov. 5, I encourage voters to send Cherlynn Stevenson back to the General Assembly for another term.
Paula Setser-Kissick. Lexington
Edited by Liz Carey