Trump sides with Putin

over U.S.A. | July 17 editorial

Voters will have to protect national security

The American intelligence agencies are in unanimous agreement that Russia involved itself in the 2016 election, all to benefit the candidacy of Donald Trump. The Russia probe, spearheaded by lifelong Republican Robert Mueller, has produced dozens of indictments and guilty pleas. Director of National Intelligence Dan Coates and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have issued repeated warnings that Russia has continued — and is ramping up — its efforts to undermine the 2018 midterm elections. The Department of Justice has arrested Maria Butina, a Russian agent who has operated within the United States since at least 2015 and infiltrated organizations like the National Rifle Association without having registered as a foreign agent. Republican operative Paul Erickson, Butina's romantic partner, is under investigation for funneling Russian money to the NRA in an effort to help elect Trump.

Despite all of this, Trump puts the denials of election interference from Russian President Vladimir Putin above all, simply because Trump prioritizes his own neck and will latch on to any lie he has to in order to protect it. All the while, Republicans in Congress are looking the other way, because the rubber stamp that the Trump presidency represents for them is too enticing to pass up (tax cuts, judicial appointments, the culture war, etc.). The GOP has to pay for that spinelessness and shameless opportunism, because, even if Mueller's investigation clears Trump personally, it is beyond contention that Russia attacked our democracy, intends to do it again, and the Republicans in Congress are doing nothing to fight it. The American people can make them pay for that by voting them all out of office in November. It appears that our national security depends on it.

Jaime Delgado, Riverview

It's not that funny

The Trump administration has been playing out like one long Monty Python skit. A foolish leader chooses foolish people to run departments that they know little or nothing about. They then do foolish things and are removed while a lady tells us that it was not foolish. The foolish leader holds rallies and tells the people that he has a bigger boat than they do — and foolishly they cheer. The foolish leader struts for the camera while he disrespects the nations of the world that are our friends and allies. The foolish leader praises our enemies and likes to hold private meetings with them. The foolish leader has taken the word of a dictator who wants to harm our country, over every intelligence service in his and other countries about serious meddling in our elections. With this, the foolish leader has moved from generally inept and unfeeling to toxic. The foolish leader is talking like a traitor. This skit has to end. Republicans, step up.

Tom Reid, Seminole

Trump got tripped up | July 18

A new government job

For the most part I am a smaller government guy. However, to be pragmatic, I would be in favor of hiring a full-time interpreter-in-chief, along with a staff of course, for President Donald Trump.

Kenn Sidorewich, Oldsmar