The Editorial Board has never taken sides in the presidential race. We're doing it now.
In the 34-year history of USA TODAY, the Editorial Board has never taken sides in the presidential race. Instead, we’ve expressed opinions about the major issues and haven’t presumed to tell our readers, who have a variety of priorities and values, which choice is best for them. Because every presidential race is different, we revisit our no-endorsement policy every four years. We’ve never seen reason to alter our approach. Until now.
This year, the choice isn’t between two capable major party nominees who happen to have significant ideological differences. This year, one of the candidates — Republican nominee Donald Trump — is, by unanimous consensus of the Editorial Board, unfit for the presidency.
From the day he declared his candidacy 15 months ago through this week’s first presidential debate, Trump has demonstrated repeatedly that he lacks the temperament, knowledge, steadiness and honesty that America needs from its presidents.
Whether through indifference or ignorance, Trump has betrayed fundamental commitments made by all presidents since the end of World War II. These commitments include unwavering support for NATO allies, steadfast opposition to Russian aggression, and the absolute certainty that the United States will make good on its debts. He has expressed troubling admiration for authoritarian leaders and scant regard for constitutional protections.
We’ve been highly critical of the GOP nominee in a number of previous editorials. With early voting already underway in several states and polls showing a close race, now is the time to spell out, in one place, the reasons Trump should not be president:
He is erratic. Trump has been on so many sides of so many issues that attempting to assess his policy positions is like shooting at a moving target. A list prepared by NBC details 124 shifts by Trump on 20 major issues since shortly before he entered the race. He simply spouts slogans and outcomes (he’d replace Obamacare with “something terrific”) without any credible explanations of how he’d achieve them.
He is ill-equipped to be commander in chief. Trump’s foreign policy pronouncements typically range from uninformed to incoherent. It’s not just Democrats who say this. Scores of Republican national security leaders have signed an extraordinary open letter calling Trump’s foreign policy vision “wildly inconsistent and unmoored in principle.” In a Wall Street Journal column this month, Robert Gates, the highly respected former Defense secretary who served presidents of both parties over a half-century, described Trump as “beyond repair.”
He traffics in prejudice. From the very beginning, Trump has built his campaign on appeals to bigotry and xenophobia, whipping up resentment against Mexicans, Muslims and migrants. His proposals for mass deportations and religious tests are unworkable and contrary to America’s ideals.
Trump has stirred racist sentiments in ways that can’t be erased by his belated and clumsy outreach to African Americans. His attacks on an Indiana-born federal judge of Mexican heritage fit “the textbook definition of a racist comment,” according to House Speaker Paul Ryan, the highest-ranking elected official in the Republican Party. And for five years, Trump fanned the absurd “birther” movement that falsely questioned the legitimacy of the nation’s first black president.
His business career is checkered. Trump has built his candidacy on his achievements as a real estate developer and entrepreneur. It’s a shaky scaffold, starting with a 1973 Justice Department suit against Trump and his father for systematically discriminating against blacks in housing rentals. (The Trumps fought the suit but later settled on terms that were viewed as a government victory.) Trump’s companies have had some spectacular financial successes, but this track record is marred by six bankruptcy filings, apparent misuse of the family’s charitable foundation, and allegations by Trump University customers of fraud. A series of investigative articles published by the USA TODAY Network found that Trump has been involved in thousands of lawsuits over the past three decades, including at least 60 that involved small businesses and contract employees who said they were stiffed. So much for being a champion of the little guy.
He isn’t leveling with the American people. Is Trump as rich as he says? No one knows, in part because, alone among major party presidential candidates for the past four decades, he refuses to release his tax returns. Nor do we know whether he has paid his fair share of taxes, or the extent of his foreign financial entanglements.
He speaks recklessly. In the days after the Republican convention, Trump invited Russian hackers to interfere with an American election by releasing Hillary Clinton’s emails, and he raised the prospect of “Second Amendment people” preventing the Democratic nominee from appointing liberal justices. It’s hard to imagine two more irresponsible statements from one presidential candidate.
He has coarsened the national dialogue. Did you ever imagine that a presidential candidate would discuss the size of his genitalia during a nationally televised Republican debate? Neither did we. Did you ever imagine a presidential candidate, one who avoided service in the military, would criticize Gold Star parents who lost a son in Iraq? Neither did we. Did you ever imagine you’d see a presidential candidate mock a disabled reporter? Neither did we. Trump’s inability or unwillingness to ignore criticism raises the specter of a president who, like Richard Nixon, would create enemies’ lists and be consumed with getting even with his critics.
He’s a serial liar. Although polls show that Clinton is considered less honest and trustworthy than Trump, it’s not even a close contest. Trump is in a league of his own when it comes to the quality and quantity of his misstatements. When confronted with a falsehood, such as his assertion that he was always against the Iraq War, Trump’s reaction is to use the Big Lie technique of repeating it so often that people begin to believe it.
We are not unmindful of the issues that Trump’s campaign has exploited: the disappearance of working-class jobs; excessive political correctness; the direction of the Supreme Court; urban unrest and street violence; the rise of the Islamic State terrorist group; gridlock in Washington and the influence of moneyed interests. All are legitimate sources of concern.
Nor does this editorial represent unqualified support for Hillary Clinton, who has her own flaws (though hers are far less likely to threaten national security or lead to a constitutional crisis). The Editorial Board does not have a consensus for a Clinton endorsement.
Some of us look at her command of the issues, resilience and long record of public service — as first lady, U.S. senator and secretary of State — and believe she’d serve the nation ably as its president.
Other board members have serious reservations about Clinton’s sense of entitlement, her lack of candor and her extreme carelessness in handling classified information.
Where does that leave us? Our bottom-line advice for voters is this: Stay true to your convictions. That might mean a vote for Clinton, the most plausible alternative to keep Trump out of the White House. Or it might mean a third-party candidate. Or a write-in. Or a focus on down-ballot candidates who will serve the nation honestly, try to heal its divisions, and work to solve its problems.
Whatever you do, however, resist the siren song of a dangerous demagogue. By all means vote, just not for Donald Trump.
USA TODAY's editorial opinions are decided by its Editorial Board, separate from the news staff. Most editorials are coupled with an opposing view — a unique USA TODAY feature.
Friday, September 30, 2016
Monday, August 22, 2016
AMBASSADOR BRIDGE...UNSAFE NOW ????? LOOK
The Ambassador Bridge is 87 years old, by the time the Gordie Howe International Bridge is completed the AB will be nearly 100 years old.
Is the Ambassador Bridge - safe - today....here are two photographs that I took in July 2016...on the Canadian side of the Bridge..is it safe ???? When was the last impartial bridge safety inspection done ????
Parts of the Bridge have fallen into the streets of Windsor.
Would you feel safe driving over the Bridge ????
Matty Maroun, the owner of the Ambassador Bridge, can't be trusted - it is said he put 1,000 windows into the old Central Railroad Terminal, but has not rehabbed or made substantial progress in fixing the building, that sits as a Tombstone to an entrance into Detroit.
Mayor Duggan seems to have been bought off or made a bad deal with Maroun, who has paid lobbyist and legislators who fight for his interests in Lansing and Washington, while Detroit looks at his failures.
It's time the Governor, the Mayor and the Federal Govt stands up to Maroun and takes control of urgent trans border needs of the US and Canada.
Is the Ambassador Bridge - safe - today....here are two photographs that I took in July 2016...on the Canadian side of the Bridge..is it safe ???? When was the last impartial bridge safety inspection done ????
Parts of the Bridge have fallen into the streets of Windsor.
Would you feel safe driving over the Bridge ????
Matty Maroun, the owner of the Ambassador Bridge, can't be trusted - it is said he put 1,000 windows into the old Central Railroad Terminal, but has not rehabbed or made substantial progress in fixing the building, that sits as a Tombstone to an entrance into Detroit.
It's time the Governor, the Mayor and the Federal Govt stands up to Maroun and takes control of urgent trans border needs of the US and Canada.
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION 2016...COMMENTS - READ THEM
REPUBLICAN STATEMENTS ARE FALSE, HOLLOW....BLUE LIVES MATTER..
Donald Trump (the BILLIONAIRE) says he is the 'Law and Order' candidate which should scare all Americans...that comment should send a chill through all minority communities...that comment should bother Law Enforcement Officers throughout the nation, who will see that police-community relations become more strained if Trump is ever to become President. Common Sense says this is TRUE.
Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke proudly and rightfully proclaimed that 'Blue Lives Matter'...he should have accepted the applause and walked off the RNC stage, but he continued, denigrating and condemning 'Black Lives Matters' supporters. He was divisive and harmed police community relations. It will be interesting to see how his speech plays out in his city...but it was wrong for America and for Blue Lives.
The Cleveland Police Union President asked Governor Kasich to suspend 'Open Carry' in Cleveland, to protect 'Blue Lives' - law enforcement officers, many who had come from all over the country to assist Cleveland officers. They feared that protesters who would be allowed to 'Open Carry' guns and rifles would present a dangerous problem for the officers. Kasich said he had NO authority to do so - he should have had his AG find a way.
Dallas (TX) police officers - asked for an end to 'Open Carry' because so many protesters were carrying the guns and rifles (legally) that it made it difficult for them to know a 'good guy from a bad gun'
I have have written that Law Enforcement Officers, City Police Chiefs, County Sheriffs, and State Troopers must take the lead to end 'Open Carry' that endangers 'Blue Lives' and we need better and extended training for CPLs holders.
LEOs must take the lead to get a BAN on military assault weapons, high capacity magazines, background checks at gun shows and allowing the ATF to inspect and monitor gun stores, gun shows, and to use computers to track weapons to aid LEOs nationally when crimes are committed by guns.
We must support all law enforcement officers 'Blue Lives' matters but we must acknowledge - that we must work together to form better police - community relations, and Trump rhetoric doesn't do that.
CHRIS CHRISTIE...GOVERNOR OF NEW JERSEY...SHAMES HIS STATE AND HIMSELF
New Jersey - Chris Christie (Gov) ...Shame shame shame.....
Governor Chris Christie shamed himself and his state by his unethical, insulting, demeaning, crude, distasteful, vulgar speech at the Republican National Convention 2016 - listing talking points about the former First Lady, US Senator and Secretary of State - Hillary Clinton, also a mother and grandmother.
He listed anti Hillary talking points, some discredited, and encouraged the crowd to chant back - Guilty,...then the chant of the Convention thru day three - Lock her Up....reverberated.
Christie wanted the be Trump's Vice President, but his NJ baggage and his support for the NJ Democratic Legislature's, 23c a gallon gas hike made that impossible. He is now focused on being the US Attorney General, and his speech at the RNC should spike, kill any hope he had of getting that job.
Christie has shamed his State and himself and all those that cheered lustily (for blood) at the Convention.
Donald Trump (the BILLIONAIRE) says he is the 'Law and Order' candidate which should scare all Americans...that comment should send a chill through all minority communities...that comment should bother Law Enforcement Officers throughout the nation, who will see that police-community relations become more strained if Trump is ever to become President. Common Sense says this is TRUE.
Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke proudly and rightfully proclaimed that 'Blue Lives Matter'...he should have accepted the applause and walked off the RNC stage, but he continued, denigrating and condemning 'Black Lives Matters' supporters. He was divisive and harmed police community relations. It will be interesting to see how his speech plays out in his city...but it was wrong for America and for Blue Lives.
The Cleveland Police Union President asked Governor Kasich to suspend 'Open Carry' in Cleveland, to protect 'Blue Lives' - law enforcement officers, many who had come from all over the country to assist Cleveland officers. They feared that protesters who would be allowed to 'Open Carry' guns and rifles would present a dangerous problem for the officers. Kasich said he had NO authority to do so - he should have had his AG find a way.
Dallas (TX) police officers - asked for an end to 'Open Carry' because so many protesters were carrying the guns and rifles (legally) that it made it difficult for them to know a 'good guy from a bad gun'
I have have written that Law Enforcement Officers, City Police Chiefs, County Sheriffs, and State Troopers must take the lead to end 'Open Carry' that endangers 'Blue Lives' and we need better and extended training for CPLs holders.
LEOs must take the lead to get a BAN on military assault weapons, high capacity magazines, background checks at gun shows and allowing the ATF to inspect and monitor gun stores, gun shows, and to use computers to track weapons to aid LEOs nationally when crimes are committed by guns.
We must support all law enforcement officers 'Blue Lives' matters but we must acknowledge - that we must work together to form better police - community relations, and Trump rhetoric doesn't do that.
CHRIS CHRISTIE...GOVERNOR OF NEW JERSEY...SHAMES HIS STATE AND HIMSELF
New Jersey - Chris Christie (Gov) ...Shame shame shame.....
Governor Chris Christie shamed himself and his state by his unethical, insulting, demeaning, crude, distasteful, vulgar speech at the Republican National Convention 2016 - listing talking points about the former First Lady, US Senator and Secretary of State - Hillary Clinton, also a mother and grandmother.
He listed anti Hillary talking points, some discredited, and encouraged the crowd to chant back - Guilty,...then the chant of the Convention thru day three - Lock her Up....reverberated.
Christie wanted the be Trump's Vice President, but his NJ baggage and his support for the NJ Democratic Legislature's, 23c a gallon gas hike made that impossible. He is now focused on being the US Attorney General, and his speech at the RNC should spike, kill any hope he had of getting that job.
Christie has shamed his State and himself and all those that cheered lustily (for blood) at the Convention.
Friday, July 8, 2016
GOD BLESS DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT ....JULY 2016
God Bless the Dallas (TX) Police Department.....
May God Bless the twelve (12) police officers killed and injured while doing their sworn duty to - Protect and Serve.
A police officer with a simple bullet proof vest and a 9 mm / 40 cal handgun is and was NO match for a gunman armed with a AR-15, military style assault weapon, a weapon of War, a weapon designed for mass casualties, as we saw a brave Dallas officer get into a fire fight with the crazed gunman.
Let us all - Police Officers, County Sheriffs, State Troopers, Federal Law Enforcement Officers - stand together - and demand 'common sense' gun laws - a BAN on military style assault weapons and high capacity magazines, background checks at gun shows, allowing the ATF to audit gun shops and gun shows, allowing ATF to use computers to assist law enforcement in tracking guns and for homicide and mass shooting investigations.
We as LEOs must take the lead - show the public that we who know the real consequences of homicides and mass shootings that we care and want assistance from them and that government, state and federal must do their part to protect LEOs and the public - NOW - not after another police killing or mass public shooting, NOW, we are ready to help Stop the Terror.
May God Bless the twelve (12) police officers killed and injured while doing their sworn duty to - Protect and Serve.
A police officer with a simple bullet proof vest and a 9 mm / 40 cal handgun is and was NO match for a gunman armed with a AR-15, military style assault weapon, a weapon of War, a weapon designed for mass casualties, as we saw a brave Dallas officer get into a fire fight with the crazed gunman.
Let us all - Police Officers, County Sheriffs, State Troopers, Federal Law Enforcement Officers - stand together - and demand 'common sense' gun laws - a BAN on military style assault weapons and high capacity magazines, background checks at gun shows, allowing the ATF to audit gun shops and gun shows, allowing ATF to use computers to assist law enforcement in tracking guns and for homicide and mass shooting investigations.
We as LEOs must take the lead - show the public that we who know the real consequences of homicides and mass shootings that we care and want assistance from them and that government, state and federal must do their part to protect LEOs and the public - NOW - not after another police killing or mass public shooting, NOW, we are ready to help Stop the Terror.
Friday, July 1, 2016
TRUMP = ISIS / ISSL / DAESH / AL-QAEDA - BIGGEST N BEST RECRUITER,
When DONALD J. TRUMP speaks 'people listen' it is his bombastic, ignorant rants, denigrating: President Obamas (weak), the US Military (weak / not strong enough), Mexicans and Muslims, the 'rigged' (American system) that is the meat and potatoes that 'radical terrorists' use to recruit 'new jihadists' and not just to those in the Middle East but to all 'terroists' around the WORLD, by using Trump's own words - that don't have to be tweaked or edited - they can use them on social media and in other forums against America and to put Americans in DANGER.
DONALD J. TRUMP has gone far below the level of decency to speak to Americans fears and doubts to create a divisive political campaign that has devalued the American Values at home and around the World. He is creating a level of mistrust between the American people and its Worldwide allies, that WE need to keep American safe and prosperous.
It is time for real Americans who love this country and its values, who want their children to grow up in freedom to reject the ignorant, bombastic and just plain wrong headed rhetoric of Donald J. Trump - start now, Today.......
Thursday, June 23, 2016
AMERICA....NEEDS 'COMMON SENSE' GUN CONTROL LAWS...NOW
President Obama has made sixteen (16) mass murder announcements...unless we pass more 'common sense' gun control laws:
No Fly - No Buy, a ban on military style assaults weapons (Weapons of War), ban on high capacity magazines, and end to 'Open Carry Laws' and more training in the law and use of a handgun for CPL holders, background checks at gun shows, and allowing the ATF to check gun stores and their inventories. This would be a good start to stop mass killings.
Or President Obams should prepare his 17th, 18th ....mass murder announcements.
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
DONALD TRUMP - TAKES ORLANDO VICTORY LAP...49+ DEAD
Trump takes Congrats lap as Orlando weeps....49+ dead
Trump - 1st Anti-American Values Republican Presidential Nominee
TRUMP..49+ Dead - TAKES VICTORY LAP...NOT PRESIDENTIAL
Donald Trump, again showed Why, he should not be the Republican Presidential candidate and how despicable - he and the Republican Party have become...US Rep Paul Ryan called his comment about a judge, racist "but continued his endorsement of Trump !!!!
Trump on 'twitter' took a victory lap, with his middle finger extended to President Obama and the American people and to the families of those who had members killed in Orlando - LGBT residents, by a homophobic terrorist - NO proof, yet exists that he was tied to ISIS / Daesh. Trump on his 'victory lap' was wearing a NRA sash.
He did call 911 (we are told) stating that he was and leaving his name) but NO proof, yet .....if a person wants to commit a horrific act and wants maximum publicity - attaching your name to ISIS / Daesh would give you added publicity, rather than being a LGBT hater.
Before, President Obama spoke Trump said he did not want 'congratulations' for his tough stance against 'Islamic Terrorists'. he wanted President Obama to use that phrase (for which the President has said would condemn all Muslims for the acts of a few), Trump just wanted America to be 'strong'...He DID NOT express sympathy to the families, the LGBT victims or make a comment about the need for a ban on military style assault weapons.
Trump and his minions COULD NOT prevent such an event, not crediting the Homeland Security Agency, the FBI and thousands of law enforcement officers, working every day, every hour to prevent these kind of incidents.
We citizens of the USA, do not need Trump as president - we need sensible gun control laws, and a BAN on military style assault weapons with high capacity magazines.
Loyal, decent, God fearing Republicans should repudiate Trump, now and every time he insults the USA and its citizens.
God Bless the USA and all the families and victims in Orlando, Sandy Hook, San Bernadino and every where - gun violence - has taken a life.
Note: 6-14-16...President Obama - not weak on Terrorism - Republicans are - Republicans talk talk talk tough but refuse to pass a law that would prohibit suspected terrorist from buying a gun, refuse to pass a law that if you are on No Fly List - you can't buy a gun...Why ???? because the NRA and some paranoid people are afraid that the 'government' is coming to take their guns away.
The NRA and Republicans won't allow the ATF to inspect gun shows or gun stores - won't reinstate the Assault Weapons Ban etc..30,000 people a year in USA die because of guns. We must have common sense gun laws to protect the public.
There is NO NO NO God given right for anyone to own a guns amd most especially - military style assault weapons !!!!
The US Constitution was written to allow guns for a well 'regulated militia' ...there was No army, no police, so you had a musket to protect your family.....Now the Founding Fathers would be ashamed and appalled to see their words twisted to justify ownership of 'military styled assault weapons' and to know that 30,000 Americans are killed every year because of gun violence, they would not be afraid of the NRA.
Note: I have tried since 1988 to get all toy guns to be colored - neon colors and not to be designed to look like real guns - think of how many children's lives could have been saved, how many law enforcement officers careers would be saved by not having had to shoot a child with a realistic looking to gun.
Trump - 1st Anti-American Values Republican Presidential Nominee
TRUMP..49+ Dead - TAKES VICTORY LAP...NOT PRESIDENTIAL
Donald Trump, again showed Why, he should not be the Republican Presidential candidate and how despicable - he and the Republican Party have become...US Rep Paul Ryan called his comment about a judge, racist "but continued his endorsement of Trump !!!!
Trump on 'twitter' took a victory lap, with his middle finger extended to President Obama and the American people and to the families of those who had members killed in Orlando - LGBT residents, by a homophobic terrorist - NO proof, yet exists that he was tied to ISIS / Daesh. Trump on his 'victory lap' was wearing a NRA sash.
He did call 911 (we are told) stating that he was and leaving his name) but NO proof, yet .....if a person wants to commit a horrific act and wants maximum publicity - attaching your name to ISIS / Daesh would give you added publicity, rather than being a LGBT hater.
Before, President Obama spoke Trump said he did not want 'congratulations' for his tough stance against 'Islamic Terrorists'. he wanted President Obama to use that phrase (for which the President has said would condemn all Muslims for the acts of a few), Trump just wanted America to be 'strong'...He DID NOT express sympathy to the families, the LGBT victims or make a comment about the need for a ban on military style assault weapons.
Trump and his minions COULD NOT prevent such an event, not crediting the Homeland Security Agency, the FBI and thousands of law enforcement officers, working every day, every hour to prevent these kind of incidents.
We citizens of the USA, do not need Trump as president - we need sensible gun control laws, and a BAN on military style assault weapons with high capacity magazines.
Loyal, decent, God fearing Republicans should repudiate Trump, now and every time he insults the USA and its citizens.
God Bless the USA and all the families and victims in Orlando, Sandy Hook, San Bernadino and every where - gun violence - has taken a life.
Note: 6-14-16...President Obama - not weak on Terrorism - Republicans are - Republicans talk talk talk tough but refuse to pass a law that would prohibit suspected terrorist from buying a gun, refuse to pass a law that if you are on No Fly List - you can't buy a gun...Why ???? because the NRA and some paranoid people are afraid that the 'government' is coming to take their guns away.
The NRA and Republicans won't allow the ATF to inspect gun shows or gun stores - won't reinstate the Assault Weapons Ban etc..30,000 people a year in USA die because of guns. We must have common sense gun laws to protect the public.
There is NO NO NO God given right for anyone to own a guns amd most especially - military style assault weapons !!!!
The US Constitution was written to allow guns for a well 'regulated militia' ...there was No army, no police, so you had a musket to protect your family.....Now the Founding Fathers would be ashamed and appalled to see their words twisted to justify ownership of 'military styled assault weapons' and to know that 30,000 Americans are killed every year because of gun violence, they would not be afraid of the NRA.
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