WASHINGTON (AP) A prominent Republican senator delivered a stinging rebuke Thursday of Donald Trump's short time in office, declaring he has not shown the stability or competence required for an American president to succeed.
Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, also said Trump "recently has not demonstrated that he understands the character of this nation." During comments to local reporters after a speech to the Chattanooga Rotary Club, Corker called for "radical changes" in how the Trump White House operates.
Separately, Republican Sen. Tim Scott told a newspaper in his home state of South Carolina that Trump's heavily criticized response to violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, "complicates this administration's moral authority."
Corker's remarks, which were posted on Facebook, came two days after Trump declared at a New York press conference that white supremacists don't bear all the blame for the melee in Charlottesville, where a woman was killed after being struck by a car driven into a crowd. Trump triggered a firestorm of protest, with a number of Republicans criticizing him for giving weight to the complaints of white nationalists by refusing to definitively condemn them.
Corker has sought to be a strong supporter of Trump's, particularly on foreign policy matters. He was considered as a candidate for secretary of state in the Trump administration before Rex Tillerson, the former chief executive officer of Exxon-Mobil, was picked for the job.
But Trump's impulsive and often bombastic style has complicated the relationship for Corker and other congressional Republicans. A few months ago, following reports that Trump had disclosed highly classified information to a pair of Russian diplomats in the Oval Office, Corker said the White House was "in a downward spiral."
But Corker in recent weeks had largely declined to answer questions about Trump's tweets or other political drama, telling reporters covering Congress that he was focused instead on matters of policy.
He elected to weigh in Thursday, however. Noting that the country is polarized, Corker said, "Helping inspire divisions because it generates support from your political base is not a formula for causing our nation to advance, our nation to overcome the many issues that we have to deal with right now."
Corker said, "The world needs for our president to be successful," and said he's hopeful Trump will do what's necessary to bring out the best in people, regardless of their political affiliations.
Trump, he said, needs "to take stock of the role that he plays in our nation and move beyond himself, move way beyond himself, and move to a place where daily he's waking up thinking about what is best for our nation."
Corker also defended his Republican colleague, Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona. On Twitter Thursday, Trump called Flake "toxic" while praising his primary election opponent.
Flake is "one of the finest best human beings I've ever met," Corker said. He said the White House would be well served to embrace Flake because of his substance and character. Flake has a "conscience and is a real conservative," according to Corker.
Scott is the Senate's only black Republican. He told The Post and Courier of Charleston that Trump erred by drawing a "moral equivalency" between the white supremacists and counterdemonstrators in Charlottesville.
"I think you are either missing four centuries of history in this nation or you are trying to make something what it's not," Scott said.
Trump's controversies have compromised the GOP's ability to get things done on health care, taxes and financial regulations and have put Republicans in a "precarious position," Scott told the newspaper.
Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.
I thought you guys didn't eat your own. WTF is going on these days, it's like the world is upside down.
Honestly I enjoy a good Republican civil war once in a while, but this is getting, I dunno just weird. I don't know how much more "BREAKING NEWS" I can handle.
Remember back in the Clinton years before the Lewinski scandal when pretty much everything was bipartisan, and everybody in public office was competent? Now it's like the only things that ever get debated are wedge issues that make everybody pissed off and take to the streets. And I don't know what's next, but I know something will happen next week that will take our minds off this week as if that were even possible. And then the following week there will be something else even more outrageous.
Maybe I'm just seeing the world differently now that my guy is out of office. Was it like this for you when Obama was president? Or are current events really just abnormal for everybody?
I am not exactly sure what is going on myself... But I think it's really not much different than when Obama cut Rahm loose as Chief of Staff... In fact I recall a lot of "shakeups" in the ranks as Obama chewed thru staff. Only the Democrats were all able to unite as one to pass healthcare, if only to stick it to the Republicans... That said, it's also the only time I seen all the Republicans vote as one because every single Republican voted nay on that bill as well. LOL, so there.
I am going to let you in on a little secret PowerStroker, one that I have told another close Democrat friend... It sucks, and it just got worse when Obama was President. Everything felt like a wedge issue. The worst part was the constant let down that impeachment was more or less futile, despite all the rumors to the contrary.
It was worse for Republicans though, because there was just Fox for the right and like 4 other major news outlets for the left and they loved rubbing it in! In fact some mornings my blood would boil reading the news! I'd be pissed off before I even slipped on my work pants!
But despite these constant and daily irritations during the Obama Administration I still made a go of it each day, albeit with a slightly twisted and grouchy acceptance of something that I did not want to accept. The sky was falling and news was more or less a sick desire to just see how pissed off it would get me. You see all the postings in here...
I'd imagine after another year of this PowerStroker, you'll be considered an angry old Democrat, because it really did suck day in and day out... It was nice however, blaming Democrats for everything and otherwise just being carried down the river kicking and screaming.
You'll be okay... Everything will be okay.
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What is to give light must endure burning -- Viktor Frankl
The BLM movement is reactionary, and the result of a disproportionate number of black people getting murdered by white cops.
The White Pride movement is proactive, and is what instills in those cops, the idea that reducing the black population by said murders would be a "good thing."
There is no moral equivalence between the two. Trump failed to understand this, and this is why he is tanking in the polls and losing support within his party.
If you don't already know this, then I understand why you like Trump so much. I guess I have a lot more work to do.
-- Edited by PowerStroker on Saturday 19th of August 2017 09:27:47 AM
It seems like Mr.Trump doesn't understand that a dodgy racist undercurrent has existed for a long while, & remains ignorant to it. This is likely from being out-of-touch with reality for so long. Silver-spoons every-day of your life & golf-courses don't provide the correct panoramic view of the state-of-affairs within the country. He also seems bent on pleasing himself & not the people.
At least this ugly mess has seen the removal of offensive ( to some ) historical monuments. I'd have thought that these stood as a reminder of how not to let things slip again, & to show that people have moved on from the slavery-days.
It would seem that they were actually keeping the racist-fire burning.
Once we start to use our history for the better, & learn from the errors of the the times, the better-off we'll be. It seems we use history as an excuse to continue on fighting.
Sad.
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"Only an alert & knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial & military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods & goals, so that security & liberty may prosper together". Dwight D.Eisenhower.
The editorial board of the Arizona Republic blasted President Donald Trump for pardoning Joe Arpaio, the former Maricopa County, Arizona, sheriff who was found guilty of contempt after profiling Latinos.
Trump on Friday pardoned Arpaio, who notoriously detained inmates under brutal and inhumane conditions. The 85-year-old sheriff was found guilty in July of ignoring a court order prohibiting him from detaining people based solely on suspicions about their immigration status.
The Arizona Republics editorial board said Trumps pardon showed the president entirely accepted institutional racism.
By pardoning Arpaio, Trump made it clear that institutional racism is not just OK with him. It is a goal, the board wrote. The pardon, they wrote elevates Arpaio once again to the pantheon of those who see institutional racism as something that made America great.
The board wrote that a pardon for Arpaio wasnt just insulting to Latinos, but to all.
The pardon was a slap to those who worked through the judicial system to make Arpaio accountable, too. It robbed the people hurt by his policies of justice even before a judge could mete out a sentence, it said. The pardon was a sign of pure contempt for every American who believes in justice, human dignity and the rule of law.
The Arizona Republic was not the only newspaper to speak out over Trumps decision. The Phoenix New Times, a weekly newspaper, posted a series of tweets outlining several of Arpaios most controversial acts over the years.
Among the leading political figures to criticize Trump for his pardon was Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).
The President has the authority to make this pardon, but doing so at this time undermines his claim for the respect of rule of law as Mr. Arpaio has shown no remorse for his actions, McCain said in a statement.
There is light at the end-of-the tunnel folks....The only problem being time, & the damage these idiots can cause in a short time, whilst at the top.
In a few years ( possibly sooner ) Mr.Trump will likely be out of office, & beyond that, these "people" are thankfully really old, & time will see them die-off one-by-one.
Here's to 2030....Maybe....
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"Only an alert & knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial & military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods & goals, so that security & liberty may prosper together". Dwight D.Eisenhower.