Achievement Updates

Editor, Times-Union:
The Trump administration — at least Trump anyway —has been extremely busy since taking over our government. Each day brings a new chaotic, headscratching distraction to keep us from recognizing the downward trajectory of our democracy. Though Trump has been busy with the remodeling, redecorating, and frightfully gaudy reconstruction of the White House (our house, by the way), he has managed to tend to a few other projects, none of which seems to benefit anybody but him. Recent accomplishments include:
— blowing up fishing boats in international waters
— re-launching Trump Vodka
— making plans for a UFC fight in front of the White House to “celebrate” America’s 250th birthday (Nothing like watching folks beat each other bloody at a birthday party.)
— destroying the historic White House Rose Garden to create the Rose Garden Club for his loyalists and gazillionaire friends (Could any of us reserve that space for weddings, graduation parties, birthday parties, showers?)
— destroying the White House East Wing and historical grounds to make room for a 90,000-square-foot golden ballroom … another option for entertaining his nearest and dearest (I did not realize there was still a demand for ultra formal balls in America.)
— making the White House Walk of Fame a tribute to all past presidents by hanging their portraits on the long walkway wall (Except for Biden, whose “portrait” was an auto pen.) (How old is Trump again? 12?)
— investigating the UN for the “conspiratorial” attempt to hurt Donald and Melania by suddenly stopping the escalator as they approached and by rigging the teleprompter so Trump would have to wing it … as he so eloquently does (A bit paranoid are we?) Note: It was found his own staff was responsible for the mishaps.
— demanding “his” DOJ investigate and prosecute anyone from his past who may have hurt his feelings by calling him out for illegal activities (I thought the Republicans vowed to focus their campaigns on looking toward the future, not the past.)
— refusing to release the Epstein files after boasting for years how he would so transparently do so (Too many close friends’ names in those files, Donald? Yours, too?)
— making it abundantly clear that he is a proponent of free speech … as long as he approves of that speech
— shutting down the war on cancer by defunding cancer research and terminating hundreds of dedicated, experienced leaders of the cancer research system
— putting up large signs declaring “President Donald J. Trump Rebuilding America’s Infrastructure” on projects funded and begun under President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill
— urging people to stop taking Tylenol because a former heroin addict/brain worm survivor and a snake-oil salesman/quack medic who has financial interests in a questionable medical treatment for autism told him to
— declaring at a solemn celebration of life for Charlie Kirk, “I hate my opponent, and I don’t want the best for them.”
Trump and his administration vowed to seek out and rid America of the “worst of the worst.” I believe they are looking in the wrong places.
Jeanne Tuka Schutz
Winona Lake, via email