Posted on 01/02/2019 8:35:00 AM PST by Louis Foxwell
Romney hits bull's-eye in criticism of Trump by Quin Hillyer | January 02, 2019 10:43 AM
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Mitt Romney’s surprising New Year’s Day column criticizing Donald Trump was a brave, bold, and bracing corrective for a president run amok.
Romney’s first paragraph lays out his case well: “The Trump presidency made a deep descent in December. The departures of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly, the appointment of senior persons of lesser experience, the abandonment of allies who fight beside us, and the president’s thoughtless claim that America has long been a 'sucker' in world affairs all defined his presidency down.”
If anything, though, Romney’s bill of particulars could have been longer. Trump badly misplayed his hand on funding for a border wall, making it less likely that he will secure barrier financing while spurring an embarrassing partial government shutdown. (Democratic leaders are negotiating in bad faith, and I believe they are also wrong on the substance, but that’s another story.) Trump also roiled investment markets with ill-timed and ill-considered criticisms of the Federal Reserve.
Abroad, he also made our mission in Iraq harder by appearing to snub Iraq’s leaders at a time when they are struggling to maintain crucial local support for that mission. His supposed breakthrough for peace with North Korea keeps looking more and more like the foolhardy claims of a sucker. And he continues to impose tariffs on metals from Canada and Mexico despite his utterly overhyped new trade deal, hurting American consumers while making congressional confirmation of the deal more difficult.
And those are just the worst of the lowlights.
The bigger and more important point of Romney’s column, however, wasn’t about specific Trumpian actions. Whatever are Trump’s policy errors (or successes), they are at least matched by this: “To a great degree, a presidency shapes the public character of the nation,” wrote Romney. “A president should unite us and inspire us to follow ‘our better angels.’ A president should demonstrate the essential qualities of honesty and integrity, and elevate the national discourse with comity and mutual respect. ... And it is in this province where the incumbent’s shortfall has been most glaring.”
It is of course true that the precipitous decline in the quality public discourse is far from being the fault only of this president. Still, it is undeniable that the Oval Office is a primary source.
Some people say this vitriol is needed to “win” against the Left, and some even find it entertaining. They are wrong. The open scoffing at decent discourse, the ubiquitous reliance on flagrant falsehoods, and the open disregard for ordinary standards of conduct, all erode civil society to an increasingly dangerous degree.
Until now, just about every Republican elected official who dared “call out” Donald Trump has been politically crushed. Romney, however, has national standing, and a safe seat for six years — guaranteed to last until Trump is gone. This verbal shot at Trump, as Romney enters the Senate from Utah, has at least a chance of emboldening other Republicans to work harder to rein in Trump’s excesses. More power to him.
More like a pig’s eye.
I don’t know who Quin Hilyer is, but I’m guessing since he writes for the Examiner he’s another milquetoast RINO! Praising the sellout Mittens Romney proves that.
And journalists wonder why they have lost all respect.
Writing an article defending a talking marshmallow should provide ample proof.
Romney, however, has national standing, and a safe seat for six years — guaranteed to last until Trump is gone.
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Don’t bet on it.
Thanks Utah Morons.
When will these people die?
Congratulations Mitt, you have a “following” at the Washington Examiner. Next thing you know Politico and NY Times will be on your side too.
Such a target rich environment. I’ll pick one: what actions by Trump made it less likely that he’d get wall funding there, Mr Genius? The rat position is: “Not one dime. Never.” This because they want to deny him a political win on this pivotal issue.
Just as we get rid of one Flake, another appears.
Anyone know who this a$$hole Hilyer is? With “republicans” like him, we don’t need any DemoRATs! Must be Romney’s butt boy!
“Quin Edmonson Hillyer is an American newspaper columnist and writer. He unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for the United States House of Representatives from Alabama’s 1st congressional district in the 2013 special election in that district, finishing fourth in the Republican primary.”
Still an obvious loser.
Not soon enough.
I use to feel bad that I couldn’t bring myself to vote for this mixed up ass hole for President.
Ok so what hivemind cult toad wrote this piece of bull excrement?
Romney wears a mantle.
Its called “ LOSER”
Probably never had a job interview in his privileged sheltered sect life except trying to be Trumps SecState - sorry Mitt, we need a pitbull not a poodle
Guess those nudies of Melania that surfaced in Utah during the primary campaign left a mark
Yes, going after PDJT these days definitely definitely puts you in the “independently creative pundit” class./s
Romney has a colossal ego. He knows that the best way to raise your media profile for Reps is to attack Trump. Mittens will be a regular on the talk shows despite being a freshman senator.
When has ANY American politician EVER been an icon of morality???
Mittens certainly doesn’t qualify. . . jealous, deceitful, disloyal traitor SOB who is conspiring to screw regular Americans who show up and work hard every day.
Trump is far, far from perfect, but I will take his version of morality over Mitt’s any day, any time.
Quint Hillyer is why journalists are deeply detested.
The difference between the Never Trumpers and Democrats are miniscule.
When all is said and done, they still Enemy #1.
Takes himself as seriously as the C.Edmund Somethingorother that we used to have here on FR.
Thankfully he has faded into the obscurity he richly deserves.
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