This week’s column by Tom Cardella is a continuation of last week‘s. 19-Q-Why do you question whether the president and his supporters are true conservatives? A-Don’t take my word for it. There’s a reason the conservative NATIONAL REVIEW devoted an entire issue to why they hate Trump. Just about all the leading conservatives — George Will, David Frum, Bill Kristol, Max Boot and many others have been more outspoken than liberals in denouncing Trump. Their main grievance is that Trump has greatly expanded the role of the presidency. They’re joined by other critics who believe that much of the expansion has been done illegally. He’s abandoned any semblance of free trade with his tariff policies. He’s sucked up to Putin and Kim. And as far as his moral values, he’s the antithesis of Ronald Reagan and much closer to Bill Clinton. 20-Q-How difficult will it be to recover from the Trump presidency? … [Read more...] about Cardella: Interviewing Myself (Part 2)
Opinion
Editorial: Could Congress vote conscience over caucus?
You are solely responsible for your comments and by using TribLive.com you agree to our Terms of Service. We moderate comments. Our goal is to provide substantive commentary for a general readership. By screening submissions, we provide a space where readers can share intelligent and informed commentary that enhances the quality of our news and information. While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderating decisions are subjective. We will make them as carefully and consistently as we can. Because of the volume of reader comments, we cannot review individual moderation decisions with readers. We value thoughtful comments representing a range of views that make their point quickly and politely. We make an effort to protect discussions from repeated comments either by the same reader or different readers We follow the same standards for taste as the daily newspaper. A few things we won't tolerate: personal attacks, obscenity, vulgarity, profanity … [Read more...] about Editorial: Could Congress vote conscience over caucus?
Dems play right into the hands of ‘racist Trump’ (opinion)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – A few days really can be a lifetime in politics.Last week, mainstream House Democrats were doing their best to isolate the so-called “Squad” of new, progressive congresswomen: Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Pressley.The Squad had taken aim at Speaker Nancy Pelosi and centrist Democrats over a border bill that AOC and the rest said lacked protections for illegal immigrant children. They compared centrist members of their own Democratic caucus to segregationists. In the midst of it all, AOC’s chief of staff, Saikat Chakrabarti, took fire from Dem House members for a text that said Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids, a gay, Native American lawmaker, had helped to “enable a racist system” with her border bill vote.I’ll say this for this new generation of socialist Democrats: When the play hardball identity politics and slam the race card down on the table, they’re equal-opportunity … [Read more...] about Dems play right into the hands of ‘racist Trump’ (opinion)
Readers respond: Enshrine penalties for absent lawmakers
I appreciated the guest column by former state Rep. Lane Shetterly (“Opinion: Sorry, Republicans, the Oregon Constitution doesn’t legitimize a walkout,” July 7) describing our constitution’s quorum language. He recommends a constitutional amendment, but I think that is both inadvisable (our constitution already has too much detritus in it) and unnecessary. Since the constitution already says the Legislature “may ... compel the attendance of absent members,” it could “compel” by enacting legislation establishing penalties for unauthorized absences. Denial of pay for all days absent without being excused by the presiding officer would be the beginning. Additional penalties could be applied for an extended absence, from escalating fines to be taken out of any pay still due the legislator, to an ultimate penalty of expulsion, which could be either automatic or require a vote of the body. Some action is clearly required, lest our … [Read more...] about Readers respond: Enshrine penalties for absent lawmakers
Letter to the editor: Twin Lakes Heritage Festival the best
You are solely responsible for your comments and by using TribLive.com you agree to our Terms of Service. We moderate comments. Our goal is to provide substantive commentary for a general readership. By screening submissions, we provide a space where readers can share intelligent and informed commentary that enhances the quality of our news and information. While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderating decisions are subjective. We will make them as carefully and consistently as we can. Because of the volume of reader comments, we cannot review individual moderation decisions with readers. We value thoughtful comments representing a range of views that make their point quickly and politely. We make an effort to protect discussions from repeated comments either by the same reader or different readers We follow the same standards for taste as the daily newspaper. A few things we won't tolerate: personal attacks, obscenity, vulgarity, profanity … [Read more...] about Letter to the editor: Twin Lakes Heritage Festival the best