To the Editor:

Obviously, women will forever be unwilling objects of your paterfamilias veneration and “protection.” Please, keep your pedestal; you may need it when the waters rise. Aside from your lack of respect for women’s self-determination, like many people you morally posture about preserving the lives of “precious babies,” but when it comes to taxpayer support for poor babies and families needing Medicaid, prenatal and post-natal care, nutrition assistance and education, you’ll take those Trumpian cuts, thanks, and those “precious babies” can fend for themselves. Hypocritical, and a colossal “bush biscuit.”

The meeting between Trump and Putin in AK was a humiliating display of subservience. Trump actually applauded the murderous tyrant on a red carpet and under a military fly-over, extending status to an ICC-accused war criminal. All Trump’s puerile threats that he wouldn’t let Putin “mess with me,” and promises of “very severe consequences” without an immediate ceasefire, at the end dissolved into uneasy purring. Trump has placed a steaming, fetid bowl of appeasement before Zelensky and urged him and Europe to swallow.

Monday morning swiftly brought European leaders to the WH, concerned about the extent to which Trump is committed to satisfying Putin. The ceasefire Trump said was essential is off the table, and all Russian demands are front and center. After a lot of nervous free-world happy talk, on a hot mic Trump said, “I think he [Putin] is trying to do a deal for me.” My God, Trump is “twirling his hair” and sighing out the window after Putin. There is no policy at work here. It’s just a resurrected Neville Chamberlain with a crush. Putin is playing for time while he batters Ukraine and toys with a mesmerized American President. It’s unbelievably dangerous, and heartbreaking.
Martin, you can’t recognize or accept that Trump is framing his authoritarian government structure and will succeed if “We, the People” allow it. He has repeatedly expressed admiration for the unfettered powers of Putin, Orban, Erdogan, Kim Jong-un, and Xi. Already, Trump is modeling their dictatorial use of military police power here, against civilians in LA and DC under false assertion of crime spree “emergencies” (everything Trump wants is an “emergency”). If he and his malignant elves can just engender enough fear – of anything – many will suspend analysis and consent to his authoritarian lust. Worked before.

It’s time to familiarize yourself with P2025 and the “big, beautiful bill,” Martin. Listen to the Trump Cabinet’s condescending refusals to answer in congressional hearings, or the reporting on the leaked DOD/DHS militarization memo I mentioned last week. Same guy.

In addition to his growing physical and mental health problems and “wonder of the world” level narcissism, Trump has a Shakespearean lack of introspection, humility, and wisdom to recognize when and what he doesn’t know, and that makes him a prime target for any vicious, steely-eyed, disciplined, cunning predator who is not self-delusional. And the world was watching. This is beyond politics.

Kelly Scoles,

Fillmore, CA