Thanks for the responses to yesterday’s quiz. We shall grind on. This series lists prominent Republicans and Donald Trump’s former associates now openly critical of the POTUS. It also shows their reasons.
Click here for parts one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen and twenty. This is part twenty-one.
Click on the name for the source of the quote.
118. Carrie Cordero, national security specialist in the Justice Department under George W Bush:
“The loudest voices of opposition to Trump’s candidacy [in 2016] were those of us in the national security community. We knew then he was unfit to make critical national security decisions & incapable of taking informed advice ... We can go agency by agency with those fired or forced out or having thrown in the towel, but the big picture is clear: he cannot keep a coherent, competent team in place.” [11 September, 2019]
119. David Jolly, former Republican congressman for Florida:
“This is a man who is well known for his misogyny, his equivocation and manipulation on matters of race and racial justice, a man largely unable to tell the truth or accept accountability, a man of little intellect, conviction or ideology who is often willing, and at times seemingly longing, to display his lack of temperament and fitness on the world stage.” [17 October, 2018]
120. Alan Charles Raul, veteran cybersecurity lawyer, served with Ronald Reagan, George H W Bush and George W Bush:
“This is scary. We ought to be really worried about President Donald Trump’s nonstop attacks against judges, prosecutors, journalists and other groups he says are not nice to him. We cannot afford to tolerate disrespect for fundamental legal norms such as universal accountability under the law and impartial enforcement of justice.” [15 December, 2019]
121. Mike Madrid, former political director for the California Republican Party:
“Unfortunately, the main threat to conservatism is coming from Donald Trump. He has raised taxes, expanded government, saddled us and future generations with more debt and undermined free markets as much or more than any Democratic president in recent history.” [11 January, 2020]
122. Roger Ryberg, Republican since the 1960s in Arizona:
“The past four years have hardened my views that Donald Trump is incapable of leading this country. Character is extremely important to me – integrity, honesty and being forthright. He has no claim to any of these characteristics.” [August, 2020]
123. Soni Monroe, lifelong Republican:
“Over the last almost four years it has just been a disaster. And I so fear for our country ... Trump is uniquely dangerous. We must stop him from completely destroying our democracy.” [August, 2020]
124. Tara Setmayer, former communications director for Republican congressman Dana Rohrabacher:
“The way that this president behaves is the antithesis of patriotism. When you are the president of the United States you are supposed to behave in a way where you represent the entire country. You are in a position where things are bigger than yourself. Donald Trump is incapable of that because he is a malignant narcissist. So everything is about him.” [8 July, 2020]
And from the archives:
125. Christopher Shays, Republican former congressman for Connecticut:
“Many Republicans know Donald Trump could cause great damage to our country and the world at large, and still plan to vote for him. But not me. He represents practically everything I was taught not to be, and everything my wife and I taught our daughter not to be.” [10 August 2016]
To be continued ...
Readers’ tips in the comments are invited.