Indict the AP
JONATHAN LEMIRE, ZEKE MILLER and DARLENE SUPERVILLE are journalists employed by the Associated Press (AP). Here is a list of 25 indictments that Lemire, Miller and Superville bring against President Donald Trump. Read them and ask yourself whether we have a problem with modern “journalism.”
1. Trump Governs by whim and tweet
Yes, Trump used “Twitter,” in order to keep his presence known and in daily communication with the public.
2. Deepened the nation’s racial and cultural divide
Much less than President Barack Obama
3. Undermined faith in American institutions
Meaning what, that he changed the course of government toward the national interest?
4. Failed to provide leadership during the worst pandemic
He did not think a nationwide lockdown was good policy
5. Smashed conceptions about how presidents behave
So?
6. Stretched presidential power beyond the limits of the law (Beschloss)
When and where?
7. Eroded Americans’ views of institutions of government
Meaning what? He changed policy
8. Waged an assault on the federal bureaucracy, casting a suspicious eye on career officials he deemed the “Deep State”
Thank God!
9. Attacked the intelligence agencies
That was long overdue
10. Targeted the Supreme Court for insufficient loyalty
By appointing qualified conservatives
11. Targeted the post office for its handling of mail-in ballots
Trump should have privatized the USPS
12. Unwilling to accept the electoral outcome of the 2020 election
His most grievous failing
13. Damaged the credibility of his successor
Biden did that to himself over a too-long career in government
14. Didn’t release his tax returns or divest himself from his businesses
Trump’s second most grievous fault
15. Undermined his own scientists
By not wearing a mask?
16. Used government property for political purposes, including the White House as the backdrop for his renomination acceptance speech.
True, but there were reasons of security
17. Used National Guard troops to clear a largely peaceful protest across from the White House
“Largely peaceful” means that some violence occurred
18. Cast doubt on once-inviolable alliances like NATO
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, NATO members should have been told that collective security was NATO’s responsibility
19. His “America First” foreign policy emanated more from preconceived notions of past slight
“Nationalism” is the new reality
20. Unilaterally pulled troops from Afghanistan, Somalia, Iraq and Syria
As Commander and Chief, that is his prerogative
21. Refused to embrace mask-wearing
If I can see a politician’s face, I can tell if he’s lying
22. Pulled out of multinational environmental agreements, an action that scientists warn may have accelerated climate change
India and China are the greatest polluters. Tell them to clean up their pollution
23. Stepped away from accords that limited Iran’s nuclear ambitions
Really? A First Strike would have been better?
24. Injured the nature of the U.S.-China relationship, dimming hopes for a peaceful emergence of China as a world power
Are you serious?
25. Trump defied health guidelines and addressed packed, largely mask-less crowds
That’s called “campaigning”
