To my Republican friends

To the Editor;

To my Republican friends who may never have voted for a Democrat. This is the year that you can justify doing that.

For many Americans, Trump’s involvement in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol is more than enough reason to never again vote for him. His claim to be for “law & order” rings hollow after: his “fight like hell” advice to the Jan. 6 mob; his vocal support (“we love you”) for the mob’s actions; and his vow to pardon many of the rioters that have been found guilty.

January, 2021 was the first time in our nation’s history that there was not a peaceful transfer of power – not something to be proud of.

If any of Trump’s promises tempt you or persuade you, consider two of his biggest promises in 2015. He will build a “big beautiful wall” on the Mexican border and “Mexico will pay for it”. He will do away with Obamacare. How did those two promises work out?

The biggest threat to, not just America, but our whole amazing beautiful planet is global warming. Trump calls it a hoax, to the detriment of the future of all of our children and grandchildren including his. Doesn’t he care? This self-proclaimed “stable genius” is probably smart enough to realize it is not a hoax, just as he realized that he lost the 2020 election but will not admit to either.

For those of you who think he is good for business, can’t you see that short-term benefits sometimes result in long-term costs? Consider the national debt. Both parties are guilty of deficit spending, but Trump’s 2017 tax cuts added more than his fair share to the national debt. Some businesses love his weakening or doing away with rules and regulations concerning, for example, the environment or consumer protection – short-term good for businesses profits – long-term bad for the environment and bad for consumers.

His culture wars issues have more to do with blatant political calculations and taking away rights, in some cases of our most vulnerable and least powerful citizens, than in strengthening everyone’s “pursuit of happiness.” His public abortion stance is probably different from his private belief. His seeming satisfaction with the states deciding (no matter how draconian their restrictions), is at best, “passing the buck.” What happened to, “the buck stops here?” To take away the right of a woman and her doctor to make one of the most difficult and personal decisions of her life should not be decided by majorities of men in any situation.

On the issue of immigration – are the words inscribed on the Statue of Liberty “Bring me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free …”, no longer going to ring true for America? Trump’s promise of mass deportation and his demonization of immigrants, in general, along with his promises of retribution for his political enemies paint a dark picture of America. He claims ignorance of Project 2025. A convenient claim for him, but it was written by his supporters and, if followed, will undo much of what Americans have come to expect from their government.

Can you trust a man who seems friendlier to dictators like Putin and Kim Jong Un than to America’s traditional allies? Can you trust a man who often lies? And if Biden’s age was an issue,Trump at 78 is the oldest man to run for president and already showing signs of cognitive impairment.         

A growing number of Republicans have decided that Trump is too dangerous to be allowed to have power again, especially with only “yes men” in his administration and with his propensity toward dictatorial power. Susan Bennett in a letter to the Bangor Daily News suggested visiting the internet and Wikipedia’s impressive “List of Republicans who oppose Donald Trump 2024.” Good advice. Check it out and seriously consider voting for Kamala Harris.

Gordon Canning

Ripley