Granted Trump was not yet born when the expression "America First" described a movement which was sympathetic to fascism, isolationist and smacked of anti-Semitism, so he can't be expected to have learned, first-hand, its ominous undertone. What is troubling, however, is that his adoption of that credo, and its invocation as a theme of his inaugural address, demonstrates either his ignorance of history or, worse, a willful conveyance of a hateful philosophy.
It is of little comfort that Trump may use the concept not to call up its original connotation, though it does, but rather to describe his vision of an America that would elevate self-gain and close-mindedness over traditional values of generosity and openness which underlie this country's greatness.
Saturday, January 21, 2017
Monday, January 2, 2017
Trump, Russia and Sanctions
Although Russia's unprecedented and dangerous meddling in the US election has been proven to the satisfaction of most open-minded Americans, Trump continues to express doubt and claims to be awaiting the findings of his own investigative team (probably the same team that looked into Obama's citizenship and "found things they can't believe").
While many suggest that Trump's reluctance to confront Russian misconduct is driven by his economic entanglement with Kremlin figures, I believe his principal motivation is his egotistical concern that his election may be seen as having been aided (and tainted) by Russian hacking thus, once again, putting petulant pride before national interest.
Most Republicans, true to form, are attempting to divert attention from Trump's unseemly stance by attacking President Obama, accusing him of imposing weak sanctions after waiting too long to act.
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