Letter to the Editor

This letter is in response to Unlikely Impeachment Leads to Critical November Election, by Gerry Warner on January 19. Warner’s column is a perfect example of Trump Derangement Syndrome.

Warner writes, “If the Great Populist (some would say fascist) is re-elected in November, he’ll have a mandate to continue with his authoritarian and dangerous ways like threatening war with Iran and North Korea, pulling the US out of international treaties like the Iran Nuclear Agreement and the Paris Climate Agreement, packing the US Supreme Court with conservative extremists, completing the cruel wall and putting refugee children in cages – and most of all – scoffing at climate change, which most scientists say is the gravest issue facing the Earth.”

I will deal with each of these claims.

Warner calls Trump the Great Populist and indicates that “some” would say fascist. Gerry, who exactly are “some?” Trump won 306 Electoral Votes in the 2016 election. The Founding Fathers designed the Electoral College to give voice to every state and not allow the tyranny of the majority. This prevents states with the most electoral votes to impose their will on states with lower populations. If Trump were truly a fascist, would the media and Americans who dislike Trump be able to freely express their views without being forcibly silenced by an authoritarian government?

Warner believes that Trump is threatening war with Iran and North Korea.  Hopefully Warner is not concerned that Trump approved the drone strike that killed Qasem Soliemani, a General in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and head of the Quds Force, designated by the U.S. as a “foreign terrorist organization” which has been responsible for the death of over 600 Americans and thousands of Iranians. Trump will not let Iran commit terror acts without response. I suggest Trump believes the Latin saying, “Si vis pacem, para bellum: If you want peace, prepare for war.”

Warner states Trump is packing SCOTUS with conservative extremists.  It is the responsibility of the President to nominate a replacement for the Supreme Court when a vacancy occurs. Warner does not define “extremist” or name who they are. If Warner means Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh who were the last two justices to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, perhaps he should consider the words of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a liberal-leaning justice. On CNN.com on July 26, 2019 Ginsburg states in reference to Gorsuch and Kavanaugh, “I can say that my two newest colleagues are very decent and very smart individuals.” Ginsburg also praised Kavanaugh for appointing all female law clerks.

As for dealing with illegal immigration at the southern border, the U.S. finally has a president trying to enforce immigration law passed by Congress. Crossing the U.S. border illegally is a violation of 8 U.S. Code § 1325. By law, anyone seeking asylum must go through a legal port of entry.  As for a “cruel” wall, why is it cruel for a country to maintain its sovereignty and prevent people from entering the country illegally by enforcing immigration law?

And to climate change. Trump pulled America out of the Paris Agreement, which would have cost the $3 trillion over several decades, 6.5 million industrial sector jobs by 2040 and according to research from MIT would reduce global temperature by 0.2°C by 2100. Not a good deal for America or effective in fighting climate change.

Finally, does Warner ever consider the accomplishments of the Trump Administration?  Listed below are five:

1.  Implemented tax cuts which have benefitted 80% of Americans and help create four million new jobs;
2.  Jobless rate at 3.5%;
3.  As of September 2019, lowest ever unemployment rates for African-Americans (5.5%), Hispanics (3.9%), Asian-Americans (2.5%) and adult women (3.1%);
4.  During first 11 quarters of the Trump presidency, wages for the bottom 10% of earners over age 25 increased an average of 5.9% and for middle two quartiles wages increased 3.2%;
5.  Signed the First Step Act, a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill to reduce recidivism and refine sentencing laws and harsh penalties.

Mr. Warner, just parroting the left-wing narrative with no basis in fact does not contribute to rational discourse which is needed when discussing government policies.

Grant Giles,

Green Valley, Arizona, USA

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