Letter to the Editor: Trump’s lies have been embraced, repeated by the go-along GOP

Dear editor:

I would first like to thank Lynn Meier as well as Dan and Linda Close for their recent letters to the editor.  Thanks, because it is difficult, and there is SO MUCH to cover … one letter can’t possibly discuss the current state of our country.

I am writing this week to pick up on the thread of Dan and Linda’s letter.  Sadly, it is true that our senators and congresswoman are NOT representing the needs of Wyoming people, but are instead bowing to and enabling everything, no matter how crazy, that our president utters.  Though these Wyoming representatives can and should do better, they are only emblematic of the current state of our national GOP.

Eight or so years ago, when then President Trump lied (which he has done and still does daily) supporters would smile and say, “That’s just Trump being Trump.”  The lies were excused as exaggerations, jokes, or just making a point.  Today, if the President sends out a social media outburst at 3 a.m., by 9 a.m. it is being retweeted without question, and presented as true, even on some TV programs.  This trend might be referred to as “mechanized lying” repeating irresponsible statements without thoughtful discussion, fact checking, or even context.

Perhaps some examples:

“Our economy is booming, there is no inflation”, when trading partners are leaving the U.S., and inflation and grocery prices are increasing.

“Tariffs will enrich our country”, when economists agree tariffs are taxes paid by American companies and consumers, and tariffs are inflationary.

“Only criminals and rapists are being rounded up and deported”, when ICE, driven by arbitrary quotas, uniformed with face masks and NO identification, will stage roundups in parking lots, outside schools and courthouses, making wholesale arrests with no regard to due process or the safety of the people they detain.

“Democrats caused the shutdown”, when the GOP controls the House, Senate, and Presidency and the House was sent home by the Speaker for almost 60 days and forbidden from negotiation with any Democrat.

“I am making the streets of D.C., Chicago safe again”, when local police state there is no emergency, and local governments must sue to have troops withdrawn from their cities.

“I am decreasing drug prices by 1,500 even 2,000 percent” ... huh?  I taught math; that’s not a thing, at least not in retail pricing!

And who could forget “the election was stolen”, when 60 full trials and appeals said unanimously that it was NOT.

Fact is, we could go on and on.  So many lies that some fade from memory.  But most have been embraced by the GOP, or at least unchallenged.  As a country and a party, WE must do better.

Respectfully,

Bob Leach

Greybull