8/24/20: Miles Taylor and Elizabeth Neumann, both of whom served in the Department of Homeland Security, as gears in the machine of the Trump administration, have started a new group. The Republican Political Alliance for Integrity and Reform (REPAIR) “will include people who work or have worked for Trump but want to elect Biden and reform the Republican Party.” How much traction they can gain remains to be seen; but at least two other veterans of this dysfunctional administration are signed on, anonymously, including one still working inside, and who expects to be fired as soon as he or she reveals support for REPAIR.
Taylor and Neumann
hope to get 20 to 40 others to join.
____________________
“The chair behind the Resolute Desk has always been bigger than any political party.”
Michael Steele,
former chair of the RNC
____________________
A group of 27 former GOP members of Congress, of similar mind, has announced plans to fight reelection of the president. They cite Trump’s “corruption, destruction of democracy, blatant disregard for moral decency, and [an] urgent need to get the country back on course.”
Members of the Lincoln Project, another renegade Republican group, have a similar goal. Former RNC chair Michael Steele joined today. Steele explained his decision in words that echo Taylor and others. “The chair behind the Resolute Desk has always been bigger than any political party,” he said. “Sadly, we have witnessed its occupant devolve into preying upon fears and resentments with narcissism that nurtures only chaos and confusion.”
Trump, of course, will play these protesters off as supporters
of some “Deep State.” If we use our judgment, we might see them more accurately
as men and women of integrity, still guided by love of country, rooted in
principled conservatism and respect for the rule of law and the U.S.
Constitution.
*
IN ANOTHER SAD DEVELOPMENT, for the president, another staunch supporter went down in flames this week. Jerry Falwell Jr., head of Liberty University, a most excellent Christian school, was caught in a salacious sex scandal. It was revealed that Falwell’s wife, Becki, had been having an affair with a much younger pool boy, and that while they engaged in coitus, Jerry liked to watch.
Not a good look for the leader of a university based on
faith.
 |
Mr. and Mrs. Falwell Jr., with a pal. |
*
IN OTHER NEWS, the Republican National Convention is off to a rousing start. Speaking on the first night – and planning to speak four nights in a row – President Trump kicked off the celebration exactly the way you might have expected. “If you really want to drive them crazy, you say ‘12 more years,’” Trump began, as the audience chanted “12 more years!” in response. “Because we caught them doing some really bad things in 2016. Let’s see what happens.”
He also made it clear to his rabid supporters that they had nothing to fear but the icy touch of reality. The Democrats couldn’t possibly beat him. “The only way they can take this election away from us is if this is a rigged election. We’re gonna win this election,” Trump claimed. He added that he had never seen such record levels of enthusiasm for his presidency.
On August 23, according to RealClearPolitics, the
president had an average approval
rating in all polls of 43.9%.
*
LAWYERS for Eric Trump are fighting a subpoena from the New York State attorney general, involving questions about the valuation of four Trump-owned properties. Like any Trump, facing investigation, Eric has called this demand for testimony a witch hunt. “This,” he whined, “is the highest level of prosecutorial misconduct – purposely dropped on the eve of the Republican convention for political points.”
The attorney general’s office begs to differ. What investigators want to know, is did Businessman Trump, now President Trump, cheat the state on taxes, or did he cheat the banks? Maybe, both! In 1995 he bought a property called Seven Springs, north of New York City. Trump paid $7.5 million. By 2014, when seeking a bank loan with which he hoped to buy the Buffalo Bills, his company placed a value on Seven Springs of $291 million. Four years later, on an ethics form required of the president under federal law, the property was valued at $50 million.
Lower value, lower taxes.
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