To the Editor:

In a lurid manifestation of lack of character and consideration of constituent needs, the Republican House adopted the Senate Budget Bill, which caused some admitted Repo Congressional opponents to snivel that there was “nothing else they could do” because Trump insisted on a completely fabricated signing deadline of July 4. The Republican Congress couldn’t say “no” to the little guy squalling for his aery boom-booms.

Republican conservative and moderate legislators, who had expressed dire warnings about the big, beautiful bill, calling it a “travesty, ““broken,” and “mortgaging our future, “cowed under the pressure of a primary challenge threat, and voted for their jobs instead of their constituents’ non-billionaire interests. There were some crumbs for the Middle Class, but the real object was services for food support for families, Medicaid and other health insurance, veterans’ services, environmental safety and consumer protections. But tax breaks for the most wealthy were the one essential cause. The Republican budget just put another notch in the income-inequality gunbelt.
We await the findings of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) assessing on-site the damage to Iran’s nuclear sites but, even if it was as overwhelming as Trump declares, our global status as a peace broker is as tarnished as our 7-month reputation for clear, coherent, disciplined tariff negotiations. Especially measured against Trump’s cancellation of committed shipments of weapons to Ukraine. The WH deputy press secretary explained, “This decision was made to put America’s interests first [Iran?] following a DOD review of our nation’s military support and assistance to other countries across the globe.”

So, a peremptory attack on Iran is justified, but promised military assistance to defend embattled, free-world Ukraine must be balanced against the interests of nameless other countries, though Trump has insisted that Europe and NATO are not major “America First” concerns? How can this be seen as anything but a deceptive excuse for capitulation to Putin? This is happening in plain sight in front of the entire world, and makes a mockery of Trump’s “peace through strength” motto.
Last week in a July 4 celebration in Des Moines, IA, advertised as “a bi-partisan celebration to bring America together,” Trump choked the stated objective to blackout. He poutily declared that Democrats refused to vote for [the bill] “only because they hate Trump. But I hate them too, you know?” This sad and artless self-pity is yet another example of Trump’s wounded psyche which often translates to cruelty.

To wit: Trump visited “Alligator Alcatraz” the new pop-up, swampy, open-air immigrant detention center in the FL Everglades. Trump gushed about the 8-day construction, located in a High Hurricane Potential Area (which has already flooded), financed by select donors and some FEMA funds: plastic tents over cages, in a very hot and humid location, surrounded by alligators, snakes, horrendous mosquitos and other dangers. It’s location makes access extremely difficult for families, lawyers, or state congressional oversight. Trump whisperer, Laura Loomer, extolled the facility. “Alligator lives matter. The good news is alligators are guaranteed at least 65 million meals if we get started now.” Only the insentient could deny that cruelty is the point.

Is this who we have become in Trump II? No US Christian or person of conscience can criticize foreign treatment of US captives, or this administration’s treatment of any of us when we trigger Trump’s personal prejudices, Constitutional indifference, lust for power, personal demons, or human insensibilities. We have been warned. Repeatedly.

God bless the flood victims in TX.

Kelly Scoles,
Fillmore, Ca