Yikes, I don't know where to begin! I'll just touch on a few of the doozies Old Kevin mentioned in his op-ed:
1) Kevin feels "safe" in his bed over the way Trump is handling Iran and North Korea. Say what? Is your bed 200 feet below the earth enclosed in a cement bunker, Kev? No reading the papers much are we? Kim Jong-Un has played Trump like a Korean fiddle.
2) Kevin says "all aid is quid pro quo." There is some truth to that. We have applied pressure on foreign governments in order to get them to invoke more democratic principles if they want our support, or we pressure them for better human rights policies. But the kind of "do this for me and I'll do this for you" that Trump presented to Zalensky was none of the above. Come on, Kevin!
3) Kevin loves the "record numbers of the stock market." Well bully, bully! That IS great news, if you have stock investments, which a majority of the country does not. So glad the Dow is performing up to your expectations, Kevin. That sure is one great reason to keep a tyrant and scoundrel in office.
For the record I love Maureen Dowd and her opinion pieces. And for the record I would like to have the 5 minutes back that I invested in reading her bro's stilted and rather shallow opinions.
95
Maureen, Thanks for giving your brother this outlet to remind us of the convoluted reasoning and misguided beliefs of intelligent, supposedly informed conservatives. I read it twice and laughed in the same places both times. Kevin is educated and talented. What a shameful waste of his gifts. paul in bessemer
59
Maureen, I appreciate your tolerating Kevin, he is afterall your brother. I’m not sure why you, in my opinion, wasted your column space by giving it to him. As a white guy who attends an evangelical church, I can get a Kevin in any given Sunday, and I have met for coffee with several. I find them wonderful people, their political support of Trump makes me nauseous at the least.
Greg
50
As reported on NBC Nightly News this week, Lindsay Graham, Republican Senator from South Carolina, announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee would be looking into Biden's activities in Ukraine. In response, Biden threatened the Senator, saying that if Graham went down that path, "he would regret it the rest of his life."
No innocent man would make such an open and notorious threat.
20
I just hope Dems get their stuff together. Are there any other candidates waiting in the wings? Kevin's thoughts are a lot like some old Grandpops all over the country, out dated and wrong. Not that I have anything against Grandpops, I just remember being in America during the Reagan years. Eight years is a long time.
23
To Kevin: I get that you think Trump has helped the economy (although he inherited it for the most part from his predecessor) and I also get that you dislike "liberals". That said, there are many reasons to question and, yes, turn away from Mr. Trump. One, he has no respect for key institutions of our government, repeatedly criticizing and scorning the US Intelligence Agencies and the FBI. Two, he lacks respect for the rule of law, taking action after action that violates or undermines federal law. He took actions to undermine the ACA, he directed Homeland Security officials to block entry of asylum seekers contrary to law, he blithely disregards legally issued Congressional subpoenas, he sought to enlist the involvement of Ukraine in internal US elections, contrary to federal election law. The list is very long. Third, he has habitually sought to weaken relationships with longstanding allies while acting the sycophant to Putin. Simply put, he is undermining the democratic form of government we have enjoyed for 230 years.
33
What is this all about from book by Anonymous:
"Early on in the administration it became apparent that he was pocketing the official White House silverware after every meal served to him. It is not something the staff was willing to challenge him on, so it has continued after every meal, every week, since the inauguration. Nobody had the slightest idea where he had been squirreling them off to until the cleaning crew discovered a sack underneath the bed in the Lincoln Bedroom containing literally hundreds and hundreds of stolen knives, forks, and spoons. Does he intend to take them with him when he leaves office?"
25
Kevin seems like nice fellow and I'm loathe to add to the partisan discord but reading his column was like listening to a borscht belt comedian knocking out flat one-liners!
This paragraph was particularly (un)funny: "The election is in a year. If Trump is as bad as Democrats say, let the voters impeach him. Adam Schiff has pursued the president with the obsessive zeal of Inspector Javert in “Les Misérables,” but his results have looked more like Inspector Clouseau’s."(haha. the audience chuckles). Or this doozy: "Warren/Sanders: If you combine the support of the two billionaire-bashing socialists, they lead the field. You might consider vacationing in Venezuela before committing to them or they could run together as the End of Days ticket." (the drunk in the audience laughs. everyone else starts to leave). Funny. If it weren't so sad.
12
Liberals, mostly, don’t sneer at religious conservatives, it’s more of pitying someone who has condemned themselves. I wonder if Kevin will love his market returns after Trumps mega deficit eventually , drags them into the toilet.
19
Sorry, Kevin, putting kids in cages, spewing hate and inciting violence seem to have been left out of your piece, which reflects the willingness of people who Take offense about their “religion” to ok with hate.
23
Well enough written but still suffers from being opinion rich while fact poor. Seems a trait common among the right. Kevin is one more Trump supporter who has gone deep down the rabbit hole. Still, good for you Maureen
15
If I wanted to hear or read this rhetoric, I would tune in to FOX news. Why waste your column space on this? You gave Trump a pass for a long time and now you have given one of his disciples space on the NYT front page because he's your brother and we're supposed to think it's cute. That's not journalism, that's a pathetic attempt at trying impress your family.
25
Agree, I get this at my church every Sunday from half my members either have to support me.
6
I would say to Kevin what I have said to everyone on why I do not support Trump — the Nazis and the Klan support him wholeheartedly. I will never throw myself in with the Nazis and the Klan. End of story.
36
Oh, boy!!! 😱😱😱 Indeed, your Thanksgiving has been worse than mine!! Sorry!!! (So, I guess, you are the smart one on the family!) 😊
11
It's time for the Times to say farewell to Mr. Kevin. He was kind of cute at first but has become utterly predictable and has nothing new to say. We learn nothing upon reading his column.
23
Has it occurred to anyone running this page that when a columnist lends her column space to a relative there's just a wee touch of nepotism at work?
10
By far the most interesting and insightful article published by a “Dowd” this year. We clearly need more articles like this in these pages as the NYT is increasingly becoming a left wing paper representing an elitist coastal mindset.
By the way, Bravo Kevin! Please don’t mind the nasty comments here. You should think of them as little badges of honor since they indicate the level of discomfort you have caused in their left wing cocoons void of contact with any other viewpoint or compromise.
23
What really scares me is that he writes almost as well as Maureen!
5
Ms. Dowd,
Satire, surely. Yes?
Your brother really didn't write this. Did he?
No one wrote this column believing it.... Oh, help me.
11
I would appear that many readers are unaware of the recent history of arms sales to Ukraine.
Dec 20, 2017: "Administration officials confirmed that the State Department this month approved a commercial license authorizing the export of Model M107A1 Sniper Systems, ammunition, and associated parts and accessories to Ukraine, a sale valued at $41.5 million. These weapons address a specific vulnerability of Ukrainian forces fighting a Russian-backed separatist movement in two eastern provinces. ...
Congress authorized such sales [of heavier weapons the Ukrainian government was asking for, such as Javelin antitank missiles] in 2014 in the Ukraine Freedom Support Act, but the Obama administration never authorized large commercial or government sales, a move widely seen as a de facto decision not to provide lethal weapons to the Ukraine military. "
Washington Post by Josh Rogin
Thus the fact is that in 2014, even after Congress approved the sale of weapons Ukraine had requested, Obama never authorized it.
10
This is from the Washinton Post in December 2017:
"The Trump administration has approved the largest U.S. commercial sale of lethal defensive weapons to Ukraine since 2014. The move was heavily supported by top Trump national security Cabinet officials and Congress but may complicate President Trump’s stated ambition to work with Russian President Vladimir Putin."
So before any of this brouhaha broke out, this administration had exceeded by leaps and bounds what the prior administration had provided to Ukraine to fight against Russia with: blankets.
10
I'm sorry you have a brother who doesn't care that our president puts kids in cages, or separates toddlers from parents without bothering to track either, or sanctions white supremacists, or cheats on his wife with a porn star, or looks the other way when journalists are butchered, but I don't need or want to know his thoughts. Don't give him another column.
25
Kevin, are you my dad????
4
Kevin, with all due respect, here are some thoughts: 1) you call Bernie and Warren socialists, but Warren is anything but. She is a committed capitalist who wants to see it work for all. Bernie is a Democratic Socialist in the mold of Scandinavia, which works better than Communist Korea or Russia that Trump sucks up to. 2)the market is soaring but who is it helping? Stock holders (i.e. people with cash to invest). They are raking it in and then paying less taxes because of the tax cuts on the rich. 3)Trump won by a slim margin, and all evidence points to his help from those beloved Communists of his. 4)maybe you are happy with how his handles Iran and NKorea but what exactly do you see as progress? 5)He's nearly destroyed NATO and the Climate Agreement, why? 6)Bureaucrats have an obligation to oppose illegality, period. I hope this helps you see why some folks would rather see him go.
18
What I will say is that this is a faithful portrayal of the world as the Trumpists understand it. I will give them this much, they speak as one. A product, I suppose, of the FOX megaphone. Maureen, I feel your pain. Their objection that there is no current alternative to Trump is of course laughable.
17
Trump promised us infrastructure improvements; he lied. He promised to eliminate the debt; he increased it, by a lot. He promised to repeal Obamacare and to replace it with something better; he hasn’t. He promised the US would be respected around the world; he was laughed out of the UN. Right wingers like Kevin love to repeat the lie that Trump is doing all the things he promised as their reason for supporting him when, in fact all he’s accomplished is the things they choose to hear from his high pitched dog whistles. Please keep Sean Hannity wannabes out of my paper.
17
All I can say is I am pleased to not have been at Maureen’s house at Thanksgiving. As I always read this annual “letter” from Kevin (can’t miss a car crash), I find this years missive as obnoxious as the past. He is so wrong on so many issues. Sigh...Until next year.
10
The alternative is respect for those with differing opinions; respect for other points of view; and - talking Trump now - respect for the rule of law, national security, and independence from hostile foreign powers. All of which are in danger with a Trump presidency.
I don't feel sorry for Maureen having such a short-sighted enabler of all thing un-American for the sake of party unity as a brother. I feel sorry for you, Kevin.
5
Maureen please let your brother simply state his views within the comments.
I like that you appear to be saying that we each can be poor indicators of our families who can be diverse, unpredictable, totally incapable of critical thinking ... or worse yet capable, coherent and reasonable sorts.
But I don't agree with giving them a podium ... unless you're going to do that for all our siblings as well.
It's your column but just sayin ... stop it! ;-) even with the wink-wink, nudge-nudge, I actually do mean it.
7
Kevin, the fake news media has fact checked and documented over 1,300 lies and counting spoken from your “very stable genius’s” mouth. Selling yourself to the devil for his supposed gift of a good economy and raging stock market shows how deep you and your republican syncopants have gone to bury your heads in the sand while the National Debt grew to almost a trillion dollars since the great tax cut for the rich. What ever happened to financial management and the supposed alarm about the National Debt ? If Obama had done any of the things mr. trump has done the republicans would be building barricades of burning cars, and tires in the streets. Hypocrisy is not a beautiful thing but a symptom of a corrupt and power mad “grand old party”.
11
I am genuinely sorry to see that the disease has spread so close to the NYT mother ship. Kevin’s view is, however, that of the classic Trump apologist: the economy is great, and, okay, so Trump is a little rough around the edges. He is just the right “tough guy” to occupy the Oval Office now. No mention of the unbelievably dangerous aspects of Trump’s “administration,” i.e., undermining confidence in our nation’s institutions and sowing doubt and confusion about actual facts in the national discussion, to the point that his Twitter feed can appear to some as the last bastion of “real news.” Kevin, along with the rest of us, may live to see the horrible fruits of these efforts.
11
Kevin, you are oh so sadly gullible. We’ve seen it before (with Trump encouraging violence against the press). Now Trump is going to start encouraging people to commit violence against his opponents if he’s impeached or not re-elected by weaponizing the you, the base. A recent Trump campaign ad prominently displays the words, “overturn”, “witch hunt”, “bull”, “waste”, “impeachment scam”, these words are his weapons – he’s infected you with his language, his story line. The language will become louder and more vulgar until (the scary part) there is a call to violence, a call to “OVERTURN”. People will die because trump won’t go without a fight, even though he’s 100% guilty of corruption. Are you okay with that?
Although you might believe you are fighting for Trump, you must first ask yourself, who and what are you fighting against? Democracy? The rule of law? Your neighbours? Your family? Your co-workers? American’s allies? Do you really want to start a war against your fellow citizens just because Trump wants to illegitimately remain in power?
PS I’m Canadian and haven’t been infected with Fox News propaganda. I fear greatly for my neighbours south of the border.
14
I have never been so grateful to be an only child. If Kevin were my brother, we would not have such a cordial relationship. Talk about the poster boy for white male supremacy.
8
Every year about this time I find myself wishing Maureen had a more interesting and intelligent conservative brother.
12
How'd you get that way?
8
Kevin should crack open a book. Let’s say “Animal Farm” and “1984” for starters. Or actually read and live the actual meaning of the New Testament of a forgiving, welcoming, & loving God. Holy moly!
10
Maureen,
I hope Kevin will take the time to read this stream of comments.
Perhaps next year you might allow Kevin a short "P.S." to YOUR column, rather than the whole column. The self-delusion of Trump supporters is depressing and sad.
11
Thanks Kevin. Bloomberg didn't reduce violent crime in the city. That started under Dinkins, just like the "Trump" economy has been going on for a decade now.
Nice try though.
11
Happy Thanksgiving Kevin. You sound like a bit of an absolutist; a bully. I have differences with my own family and their perceptions of 'reality' too. It seems the Republicans used to be the ones who believed in objective facts. Not any more. You can't pretend to know others until you understand yourself. Objectivity will follow. Kumbaya. Don't let family pressure you to back off from carefully considered conclusions Maureen. Keep up the good work.
4
Remarkable to read the injured, victimized, and selfish war cry of that endangered species, the white male who is being told he isn't in charge of the lives of others. I have no great regard for Ms. Dowd's own writing and certainly less for that of her sibling but I do wonder why those of us who are not religious, and who do not interfere with the rights and beliefs of those who are religious, care more for Jesus's call to suffer the little children to come among us than for Trump's "authenticity" in caging them. Frankly, this strikes me as the rant of someone who knows he is in moral peril and is looking for someone else to blame.
11
At the time of the American Revolution, atheists were known as "free thinkers". Among them were Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Ben Franklin. George Washington had two doctors in attendance when he was on his deathbed but no clergyman.Your brother seems to think it necessary that everyone think the way he does about religion.Not so.
7
Is it even possible to have government by unqualified personal opinion. Is democracy limited to a simple polling of feelings once every few years?
1
The 'Knights of Columbus bar'? That pretty much says it all. Who doesn't associate that drinking establishment with a wide diversity of opinion and clientele? : )
8
I am struck by the myriad ways in which Kevin misunderstands Trump.
The Democratic alternatives believe government spending should be on the people and not on millionaires. Beats Trump by a mile.
Religious bias, by the evidence, should turn Kevin away from Trump. Has he not learned of the adulteries and multiple marriages? The alcohol consumption level is a problem in Knights of Columbus bars. Been there.
The stock market is up but that is not the economy. Income is up but that is not the same thing as wages for working people. World economies are teetering due to Trump's inane tariffs and trade wars.
Deregulation has a cost yet to be seen. He has made our air and water less safe and all of us will suffer.
Police should be respected. But the disturbing videos of police overreacting cannot be ignored. Some people who should not be in uniform.
Iran is making nuclear material and North Korea is testing missiles. Kevin seems to have missed all of that. Be afraid, Kevin.
The New York construction trade workers who were stiffed on their contracts by Trump make
him no longer able to function in real estate in that region. Banks won't lend to him.
Impeachment is for high crimes. The Mueller Report (Kevin could NOT have read it) details the ways he used Russian help. The Ukraine phone call is but one instance of the high crime of inducing a foreign power to interfere in our election. THAT, sir, is a high crime. There was a series of them in fact. Kevin is willfully ignorant.
12
" I think that all aid is quid pro quo."
So what? it isn't just any quid pro quo that the Democrats say makes this wrong; it is that a political rival for the presidency in 2020 has been made the object of an investigation by a foreign power in order to "dirt" to be produced against him.
Of course, Biden is not yet Trump's rival; he has not yet secured the Democrat nomination, and revelations concerning the Biden quid pro quo to have the investigation against Burisma, on whose board Hunter Biden sits, have seriously damaged his chances of ever being the nominee. Worse, that quid pro quo had nothing to do with Trump at all; Joe, himself, bragged about it. And what we are not told in his braggadocio is that the prosecutor he succeeded in getting U kraine to replace the earlier one, did not even have a law degree.
4
Kevin is a right winger. I have a couple in my family. They see the world--and Trump--a certain way, and nothing anyone says can possibly make a dent in their mindset. Not facts, not rational argument, not explaining the rampant hypocrisy in their support as Christians for a man who has not a Christian bone in his body.
I don't know what is left to be said about these people. They would rather see the country become something the Founders wouldn't recognize than risk having the crazy librulz in charge.
Now, as an independent, I have no love for crazy liberals, but they have existed for a long time and our country has never faced an existential threat due to their actions.
The executive branch is completely dysfunctional under Trump, as is the Congress. He has corrupted the DOJ and the State Department, and is now destroying the traditional discipline of our military. He disrespects the Constitution in new ways every single day.
We are at a precipice. People like Kevin just refuse to see it, and every American is going to pay a very high price for his willful blindness.
16
Maureen's brother’s social judgement is off. Coarse and a bully? That’s the least of the negative impact Trump has had on America. He has no inner censor to stop him from emboldening the troubled and emotionally disturbed out there—the most susceptible to his dog whistles to act out in anger. While decent and informed parents and their children see through him and are sufficiently perceptive to spot an approaching bully, the kids of parents representing Trump’s base have in the President the worst role model in our country’s history .
7
So sorry that Maureen turned the column over to her brother - but glad she did it after Thanksgiving so it didn't ruin my dinner. He drinks the same bathwater as the MAGA crowd. Loved the "no harm no foul" defense that ultimately Ukraine got their aid; conveniently forgetting the cat was out of the bag by then and Trump had to do it. Bro credits trade improvement for the economy. Uh, there was also the little detail of a huge corporate tax break that makes profits soar on paper with no increased effort by the CEO. And his note about a long line of career diplomats testifying with third hand information -- ignoring that several of them in fact had first hand information. He is right about one thing however, not likely a single vote for impeachment in the Senate from Republicans. But that is not because of the evidence; it is because the Republicans have long since forgot their oath of office and are willing to let America fall under the bus in their obsequiousness to little Donny.
I did appreciate Bro's humor about Trump's handling of Iran and N.Korea. Tell us again, in what world does your brother live? He mistakes handling with being handled!
Please, Maureen, be kind, don't subject us to hearing your bro's preposterous thoughts again.
11
Maureen's Thanksgiving was not much different from mine. Among my guests were a brother-in-law who loves Trump and a Muslim gentleman who married into the family. Brother-in-law says he loves Trump for his anti-Muslim policy ("Muslims are against Western Civilization; 20-, 50-, 100-years from now they'd still be blowing up places").
Wanting to assuage the sensibilities of my Muslim guest, I turned to the brother-' and said: "Which side are you going to be on when the anti-immigrant violence breaks-out? Are you going to say: Save me, I'm not Muslim?".
What violence? Remember the battle cry of all those hate groups at Charlottesville, VA? Do you know Roger Stone said the violence is inevitable? Turning to brother-', I warned: "Be careful what you wish for".
Kevin Dowd has no reason to worry about any future threatening potential violence against immigrants. But, please don't goad on that pole-cat.
2
Is there a retirement plan in place yet here?
2
Hey Kevin,
Thanks for supporting an individual/party who will do their darndest to subjugate a women's right to do anything when it comes to their own body. I can remember back in the '70s when women were required to get permission from their spouse in order to have a tubal ligation. I don't remember that being the requirement for a vasectomy. The hypocrisy of this president and the republican party as a whole is astounding.
7
Kevin calls himself a Christian, yet seems to care only about cut-throat capitalism and maximized wealth and profits. If anyone has engaged in a war on so-called Christian values, I'd say there is no party more guilty than Christians themselves.
8
Kev's essay sound to be an unconvincing cerebral comb-over intended to substitute for real thought --- nice photo, though.
6
Hey Kevin, thank you so much for reminding me why I left the Catholic church. Happy Thanksgiving, from a happy Presbyterian.
8
If only brother Kevin's view was accurate. Then we wouldn't have to worry about this disastrous presidency and the legacy it promises for our country and our planet.
4
This is a nice rationalization. But let's not kid ourselves. When a Democratic president uses the full power and resources of the federal government to pursue his/her own political ends, believe me, Kevin will suddenly remember the Constitution; he'll be tuning in every day to the 24/7 coverage of impeachment talk on Fox News. You think Jim Jordan yells loudly now ?
How, exactly, is Trump "handling Iran and North Korea" ? Is he really expecting the Nobel Peace Prize ? And surely Kevin is old enough to remember Russia has never been our ally. Nice having our president be played as a stooge on an international stage.
And the economy. Remember when the job numbers were improving under Obama and the Republicans said the numbers were cooked by the administration ? And Spicer just laughed it off when the press asked him about it. And I am sure Kevin used to rail about the debt and ruining our children's and grandchildren's future. He probably thinks the debt is going down.
11
Thank you Ms. Dowd.
There is a viewpoint that stated in this article that explains one can be intelligent and be a Republican. Democratic pompous bigotry is alive and flourishing. It denies all success in the Trump administration. Those who are deaf to the accomplishments of this administration are going to be in shock when Trump handily wins in 2020.
9
I thought political conservatism means conserving democracy and the three branches of government. By stacking our courts, disregarding the rule of law, and emasculating the Congress Mr Trump has put us on the road to authoritarian government. By destroying the EPA he is poisoning our air and water and hastening global warming. Oh, how about a balanced isn’t that a conservative value.The fabric of America is being destroy all for the quick buck that giving tax breaks to corporate America and the very rich brings. True to form this irresponsible fiscal behavior will bring a steep recession not unlike we saw in 2007. No matter to Kevin, recessions are most deeply felt the poor and middle class and leave the rich unscathed. Isn’t this what it’s all about anyway- money and greed.
8
Maureen, some advice: Do yourself and the rest of us a favor and skip the family Thanksgiving get-togethers permanently.
Can’t wait to see how the history books treat Trump and his zombie followers, who have apparently lost all ability to think critically for themselves.
McCarthyism will look like a nothing burger in comparison to the damage this human wrecking ball of a president will have done to AMERICAN democracy. And, I’m guessing, Fox News won’t be far behind!
PS Of course, this all assumes we survive this animal, which is by no means assured.
9
Kevin is right about the Democrats but oh so wrong about Trump. Trump is an existential threat to American Democracy and the Constitution of the United States. He attacks his own staff and appointees. He refuses to accept the advice from people who know far more than he does. He has made a mess of our foreign affairs. He takes credit for anything apparently successful. He demonizes his friends when they fail his stringent loyalty tests and demonizes every political opponent with smear tactics. He lies almost incessantly, even lies when there is no need to lie. He blatantly fails to carry out the will of the Congress and claims that he is superior to all; he is the "chosen" one. He threatens to seek a third term if he is elected to a second term, in violation of the 22nd Amendment.
As to policy, his first term record is minimal at best: his tax cut is a failure that will substantially increase annual deficits; his wall remains unbuilt; his relations with NATO and our allies are at a low ebb; North Korea has perfected its nuclear program and represents a grave threat to the United States; China continues to challenge the U.S. and has not changed its behavior in response to American tariffs; our immigration policy is a mess; and we have an untethered president who violates the separation of powers, seeks political help from other nations and threatens our news media.
7
" The impeachment inquiry is a farce. Ukraine didn’t do the investigation and the aid was released. " This is what Kevin believes and how he justifies Trump's behavior. But this is based on a provable lie. Had not the whistleblower stepped forward, who knows what would have happened? Would Trump have been able to use the "investigation" to smear Biden and wind re-election? Four more years based on obviousl fraud? Kevin reminds me of those who compromise their integrity and morality for some personal gain. Such as Republican senators or "good" Germans.
6
Maureen, I read this hoping to get a better understanding of the conservative view. My eyes are popped open. The most striking statements "I feel safe in my bed the way the president is handling Iran and North Korea". I, on the other hand, have an emergency survival kit in the truck of my car because of same. Then there's "all aid is quid pro quo." Didn't you let him know that it's not the President's right to turn Congressionally voted military aid into his political quid pro quo? And, "the aid was released" is the only argument they have and so weak as to be laughable. I'm not done, yet. The Elizabeth Taylor analogy was disgustingly sexist but I'll resist comparisons to Epstein and Weinstein as that would be over the top. But the final, "Oh My God", which came out of my mouth was comparing the Warren/Sander campaigns to Venezuela. I'm glad Kevin didn't get a chance to vote against Medicare under LBJ. Is he returning those monthly checks to the U.S. government? My eyes are opened, however, as I had thought that the blame for Trump was laid at the feet of the uneducated white man. Alas, now I know there are educated white men from "good families" who deserve some of the blame, as well. I feel enlightened but very sad.
11
I understand that the chimera of a good economy, which is actually no better than it was under Obama with the addition of a massive debt going faster in the wrong direction, allows conservatives to excuse the conduct of this president, and I also understand that social conservatives are worried about what they perceive to be an abandonment of the "values" they cherish.
I could argue that this president represents the exact opposite of those values and that that anxiety is actually present on both sides of the political divide, but instead will address the view that I find most puzzling, feeling "safer" under the leadership of someone who is so obviously compromised by his business interests and devotion to authoritarians. His self proclaimed "toughness" and "genius" negotiating skills are as believable as the Rocky chest attached to his bloated face. In fact, he and his thoroughly incompetent and corrupt son in law represent the biggest national security threats in the country.
Supporting trump's foreign policy, nonetheless the rest of his poisonous, literally and figuratively, agenda strikes me as the worst kind of ideological blindness. If the GOP wants to commit suicide, so be it, but leave the rest of us out of the rush to the cliff.
5
As an old, white boomer, I am sorry to say that the solution to the nation's and the world's problems is for all of us to die. Then maybe the thoughtful, idealistic and fact/science-respecting younger citizens can vote the despots out of power and begin the hard work of improving the human condition globally.
9
Mr. Dowd:
Your column proves to me that the quantum multiverse in fact exists and that somehow our old, pre-Trumpian universe has undergone decoherence placing all of our timelines in a new universe devoid of provable (or disprovable) facts otherwise known as the science-based world view. I am stupefied how your reality differs so radically from ours! Maybe it is that your assertions exist without one shred of verifiable fact. I’m happy you can maintain perceptions of the world that bring you peace, however illusory that peace might be in actual fact. Yet, I weep for all the rest of us who must recognize the existence of your world view as proof that we coexist on the same moment of spacetime. One of us is on the wrong side of history. I firmly believe that it is you and your cohorts, unspooling the most disturbing world view life has witnessed in generations.
5
Trump made three big promises during the 2016 campaign:
1. Trump would build a wall on the Mexican border, and Mexico would pay for it.
Status: FAILED
2. Free healthcare for every American.
Status: FAILED
3. Trump would reveal all of his tax returns.
Status: FAILED
Everything Trump promised to the voters was a lie, before and after the 2016 election.
Any questions?
6
Where to start…Kevin, you don’t seem to be able to comprehend or acknowledge that Trump is both physically and psychologically ill. He has no clear vision, it’s all happenstance and reactive. His decision making abilities appear more compromised as time goes on allowing all manner of sinister and unsavoury influences, inside and outside the country, to pollute the white house. To continue to deny Trump’s ineptitude is wilful blindness and incredibly destructive to the country.
6
Kevin's column to an audience of perhaps millions has profoundly disturbed me since I first read it on Thursday. Perhaps Maureen Dowd, and the NYT wants its readers to see an opposing opinion, but one so utterly illogical and provincial--yes provincial--(despite his working in inappropriate quotes from lady MacBeth and Les Miserables-to show he read them) that I shudder when I think that a somewhat intelligent man has a mind that has congealed like refrigerated turkey fat. He mentions the 'great accomplishments' of Trump--the stock market rise(which benefits the wealthy) the jobless rate (but not inadequate pay), the deregulation fueled (which is damaging our air and water, etc)==but nowhere does he mention the harm being done by Trump's corruption, his corrupt cabinet, his separation of families, his racism, the harm to our alliances with Europe, Korea, etc --and I could go on. But even worse--- when I luckily emerged from WW2 on a 'suicide ship"--when many did not, I was proud of our country's Marshall plan, our participation in Nato, our participation in the UN for the betterment of all--but Kevin seems to think what Trump has be doing in the Ukraine--holding back military assistance --for further his own political benefit, to the detriment of our country--is equal to Trump's "quid per Quo" I am more than appalled.
6
For the last couple of years I've read Kevin's comments. Not this year. So done with that. And, please, no comments to my comment telling me how we need to understand and reach across, etc. etc. After 3 years of trump and his cult, I am completely done with that.
9
for decades the United Nations non-stop bashed Israel while overlooking the carnage and human rights abuses of other countries. It took Trump and Nikki Haley to stand up for Israel. Three previous American presidents campaigned with the promise of moving our embassy to Jerusalem, the eternal capital of Israel. Trump actually did it. Thank you President Trump for stopping the demonization of the only democracy in the Middle East.
4
My father was a Progressive Conservative member of the Canadian parliament from 57 to 63 while I volunteered for the local NDP (social democrats) candidate. It was no stupendously big deal.
1
Columns such as this one underscore how close we are to upheaval as a country. Nowhere does this privileged man think for a moment about the needs of others. He invokes a Christianity without fundamental Christian charity. As we move inexorably back towards historic economic inequality, he only celebrates the stock market, in which he is no doubt invested.
Moreover, this man and his friends do not reflect on how the other side in politics might feel after a generation of questionable outcomes: Bush v. Gore; rampant gerrymandering; Russian meddling; two Republican presidents elected without a plurality of the popular vote; no effort to combat potential election fraud in 2020; and instead Republican efforts to promote more fraud. Kevin and his pals must feel invulnerable. But it will certainly be interesting to see the popular reaction if Trump gets re-elected with a five million deficit in the popular vote, a narrow margin in the electoral college, and more evidence of election fraud. Just as it will be interesting to see what kind of demonstrations there will be if Trump's Supreme Court gratifies this man by overturning Roe v. Wade.
Taking stability for granted, Kevin and his ilk ought to consider the history of the 1850s, the 1870s, the 1890s, and the 1920s.
25
Government or governing is no construction business, real property enterprises or at worst a mob, courtesy of Rudy. Bullying does not work in governing. Kevin needs to refresh or to review the definition of government.
5
Kevin should read Stephen Miller's emails and the other notorious writings of Trump's far right hand man. I can only assume that Kevin's true philosophy is in exact alignment.
10
Ignoring Trumps failings (campaign finance violations, being fined for misusing his philanthropic organization, paying off those he ripped off at Trump U, etc.) and calling Hillary Clinton unqualified are but two critical flaws in Kevin's critique.
11
Kevin, I'm a religious liberal (Sunday School teacher, volunteer in my church's meal program for our hungry neighbors, lay eucharistic minister -- the whole 9 yards) and I don't sneer at you, but I do question your premises and disagree with your conclusions. I'm also a NYT subscriber of many decades and am deeply disappointed to see editorial space devoted to an opinion piece that seems not to have been fact-checked or edited. By all means, publish the work of conservatives, but make sure they're thinking conservatives, not just the knee-jerk kind.
17
@Alex That's why it's an opinion. When it seeps into news reporting, that's where it's a problem.
2
There are no “thinking conservatives” left.
3
Ms. Dowd, all I can do is to remind you of my dearly departed Granny's sage aphorism, "Friends are God's way of saying 'I'm really sorry about that awful family I gave you'."
Granny's the one who also offered the wise counsel, "If you can't laugh at yoursel, then there's nothing left but to run around making fun of other people."
11
I gave thank to your Maureen that Kevin wrote the column. I have made it a point to listen to the range of views and as Kevin fell down the tree he certainly hit most of the branches that make up the talking points for supporting the current administration.
Kevin makes broad assertions; Kevin accepts the talking points offered in support of such assertions. However, Kevin does not reach the level of how power and rights were originally addressed and have evolved as events and circumstances have affected them.
Our republic form of government is challenging - a simple majoritarianism approach, a "get over it," is imbecile. The quality of it is measured by how we treat what compromises our minorities at any one point in time.
Kevin's group, in say three decades, will fall into one of the minorities. See you in thirty Kevin ...
8
Maureen, Kevin is right about only one thing: Hillary Clinton was a terrible candidate. However, she would have been a far better president in her sleep than Trump is when awake. (In fact, it would be bett if Trump stayed asleep for the next 14 months.) As for the rest of Kevin's rant, he starts with a foundation of "despite everything, Trump is good," the political equivalent of 2+2=5, and builds from there. And your sister's opinion of Jim Jordan? Sorry, that bullying jerk is an offense to humanity, no matter what party he represents.
A closing thought: congratulations on not drowning in that bottomless well of political toxicity that your family apparently is. You're a better person than I am just for showing up. I wouldn't. I couldn't and remain sane.
9
Maureen's brother drinks the rancid kool-aid just like several in my own family circle : that is, relatives who are adamant in supporting a man without an once of compassion, logical rationalizing or thinking , who possesses deeply instilled prejudices , is alarmingly ignorant of history and global politics , lacks an interest in almost everything but pleasurable diversions ( e.g., golf) and harbors an obsessive fetish for numbers in polls and lists that include 'the greatest" or number one", i.e., a total lack of intellectual curiosity. He moves accordingly to how his base reacts to him and he to them. What a pathetic, destructive way to run a government and a country.
10
Thank you for this cogent political assessment. It has been sadly missing for over a decade of bias reporting. Move over Maureen and let your brother speak more often.
7
Well, when Kevin wins a Pulitzer Prize, maybe the Times will consider that...
2
Kevin starts out by claiming that liberals sneer at religion. His entire screed is one long sneer. Come to think of it, sneer is the defining expression of Trump and his supporters.
13
It's apparent that Kevin has bought into the entire Trump con. Unfortunately, the president has very little to do with the performance of the economy but will always get credited for success and blamed for failure. As a decorated combat vet he insults me when he pardons war criminals. He is a man who has no concept of service to anyone but himself. His erratic behavior has canceled the success the tax cut may or may not have in stimulating business investment. His entire career has been based on fraud and is a con. Snarling and heartless and fraudulently tough, insisting on the virtues of stupidity, he is the epitome of blind negation. Hate is just another luxury.
10
He now is starting to look like Trump
6
Kevin appears to be an insightful political observer!
3
Kevin's Trumpism trumps his professed Christian beliefs. His leader wanted our soldiers to first shoot to kill refugees fleeing terror and injustice then "moderated" his request to "just" shooting them in the legs. The stain of this man and his policies will besmirch our country for years to come. Vote blue no matter who.
7
Did you have the same education? What exactly happened that he and you have such diverse views of what you both see in front of you? Were your parents Republicans or religious? Just curious when opinions are so different?
3
What's the alternative to Donald Trump? This query is supposed to pass for judicious commentary? Would he have said this 3 years ago? When Lindsey Graham was calling Trump a jerk? How things have changed. Trump, the inveterate liar, the racist, the ersatz Christian, the commander in chief who fraudulently avoided the draft, the con man, the self promoter. The defender of the constitution who considers a free press the enemy of the people. The wisest man and self proclaimed genius who is schooled by the sycophants at Fox News. The man who lost the real election by 3 million votes. The man whose true genius was realizing that if you demonize one group of people, you'll gain the support of another, and once you do you follow up with worthless promises and false admiration for the country. A country whose constitutional values he's never respected, who's law's he's always sidestepped, and who's people, his people, he's never supported. Save your comments Kevin. You're just another hypocrite who cherry picks what he sees and remembers.
14
Your sisterly love knows no bounds. Otherwise we would'nt have this obnoxious man's, incoherent, irreligious, racist, unsubstantiated rants in this column especially when he is calling you a liar for your legitimate clear thinking and thought processes. A more interesting piece would have been the back and forth rebuttals with flying crockery. You see, that's the problem - fake news make all the noise while the real noise is too polite and listens!
5
This is just so selfish and typical of the Rs who only care about themselves and their almighty wallet in this very moment in time. Sad!
11
While this pile of lies was clearly published under the opinion page and the NYT's is committed to allowing a wide range of voices be heard in this space, I am dismayed and disappointed that it remains posted here. Why publish Ms. Dowd's brothers rants and give them tacit public approval? I know there is a segment of our society that believes these lies, and I grudgingly accept that that group is larger than I wished it was. Publishing differing opinions on issues is very different than publishing a manifesto of propaganda, as you have done here.
5
Of the 100 things that I have any interest in reading, reading what the brother of a NY Times columnist thinks about anything ranks at 101.
4
Oh, brother!!
4
I bet Kevin has been ribbing Maureen for decades about her politics. Delicious.
2
Mo, please, PLEASE, don’t subject us to this anymore. I read commentary from across the ideological spectrum, but this was just one long Trump screed that dredged up all the tropes of #FakeNews, “libtards” and what passes for thinking among the #Maga-ts. I know he’s your brother and you obviously love him, but he’s no kin of mine. I have to deal with his ideological brethren every, single day in my job, and that’s more than enough, thank you very much.
7
Kevin, please open your blindfold and see the true color of the man in the White House. A corrupt pathological liar child bully thrives by division and fear mongering. He does everything to support the wall street crooks to pollute the air and water we drink in the name of deregulation. I am assuming that you have children. The egregious acts under the direction of real deep state by Trump is destroying their future. Not sure how you sleep well at night because he has contained Iran and N. Korea - really, unless you watch Fox aka fake news channel or the conspiracy propagandas manufactured by KKK and other white nationalist groups. Please for the sake of the future of our great nation, open your eyes and find the truths behind the most corrupt man in the world. Trump and his cronies use the playbook of Nazi regime and Hitler did the same to fool the people. I don’t think you want to see the same consequences in our great nation.
4
Some of those bureaucrats, sir, were trying to implement a Presidential directive, but found they could not do so legally.
Shenanigans and hat tricks are not listed as requirements For government service.
6
Good things can be accomplished by also following the rules, and the rule of law. But that’s not the Trump way. His oath of office means nothing to him, and his damage to norms is dangerous.
4
Maureen, it really is time to retire this annual column. Terribly tedious.
17
He sounds like my Irish Catholic relatives, locked in the 1950s mindset. They are influenced by social values-religion, law and order, etc. I wish I have Jewish relatives, from my experience they root for the underdog and have more of a social conscience. Deregulation simply means gutting environmental regulations for the polluters. Your brother like many supports a Coney Island barker.
7
My question: why does Mr. Kevin sleep so well at night when every Cabinet Secretary Trump selects is trying to undermine the very departments they command? That is, until they are found to be so corrupt and/or so unfit that they are removed? How is this not 'Making America GRATE?'
8
Why wouldn't I consider vacationing in Scandinavia or Holland instead of Venezuela? What does Venezuela have to do with Warren or Sanders?
5
What about the climate change???
If you press Kevin about the environment, you'll get the blank stare all my Republican friends share when asked about the Earth. I can be a one-issue Liberal. And be right.
8
True enough, this is the one issue that every person on the planet should get behind particularly those of us who are the worst offenders (me). Abortion is small potatoes , sorry little ones) by comparison
1
Do some liberals sneer at religion? Yes, like every group we have intolerant individuals. But the blanket assertion is nonsense. And tell me how he has "handled" Iran and North Korea. Iran is now shredding the agreement and will have a nuclear device sooner rather than later. Inspectors noted that they were abiding by the deal. But of course Trump knows better. North Korea? A photo op with no meaningful outcome. Remember how conservatives ridiculed Obama when he said he would consider talking to North Korea? Oh how things change lol.
7
As with Trump and all his minions, it comes down to the same thing. Anything they do that works liberals into a tizzy is a win. Trump's best bumper sticker is "Hate the Libs" and Kevin embodies it. You're winning Keven! Good for you. I'm sure that feels great.
7
"His [Adam Schiff's] hearings produced a long line of career bureaucrats, disturbed and upset with Trump and brimming with second and thirdhand information."
WOW! How quickly Kevin sweeps aside the years of civil service, hardship tours, expertise of those articulate and non-partisan "bureaucrats" who take seriously the responsibilities of their roles and who have served both Democratic and Republican administrations. Give us a break, Kevin.....
14
And why second and third hand? Because the first handers are too busy obstructing justice!!
3
What Kevin doesn't talk about: immigrant children locked up in cages and separated from their parents; the systematic spread of Russian invasions and settlement of sovereign nations: Easter Ukraine and northern Syria; the abandonment of American Kurd allies and the destruction of their homes and settlement of their homeland by Turkey and Russia; the blatant baiting of mysoginist and racist behavior of the President at his rallys; the use of Areas of Opportunity in wealthy places like Lake Tahoe and by wealthy investors like Miliken, the systematic destruction of NATO and our allies; the abandonment of our farmers.
5
You can choose your friends but you can't choose you relatives!
7
Maureen, Please don't subject us to your brother's conservative opinions again next year. We all have our own conservative family members to contend with around the Thanksgiving dinner table. I much prefer to read what you think. If you decide to do this again, I won't be reading it.
11
Kevin lives in that past as many say here and does not care for change. He also has all the usual myths in his head that civilization, family, and country give to us; force onto us. Every other sentences has logical errors of thought and expression. Kevin wants to feel good. That's hard to do as a human if you see the truth.
I understand what Kevin tries to say with his "consider the alternative" to "Trump. We would get the corrupt democrats instead of the corrupt Republicans. They all lie and try to enhance themselves of course. I voted for Obama twice but he continued the same policies that the corporations, the elite and the military industrial complex wanted. He must have pleased Kevin.
The truth about our dying capitalism is hard to swallow as climate change starts to overtake us, nuclear weapons spread, the disparity in wealth grows, day by day. A study out this week of the increasing poverty, death rates, and dropping availability of health care in America. It is in the Journal of American Medical Society and summarized in this newspaper. Itʼs Not Just Poor White People
Driving a Decline in Life
Expectancy
"A new study shows that death rates increased for middle-aged people of all racial and ethnic groups." https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/26/health/life-expectancy-rate-usa.html
If Kevin has the capacity to look at what the country is doing to him, he should try to study this one also:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA_YgudgRF8
3
To Kevin,
However you view Hillary; ...........that's how "Democrats" view Trump.
I find Trump's narcissism and compartmentalization extreme to the degree that I am terrified of what he may do at any moment. That is based on his well known business history and his governance these past 3 yrs.
I am not alone. Anxiety is pervasive nationwide. Trump's not the sole cause, yet he uses divisive anger and fear as his driver for political gain.
"The liberals still sneer at religious conservatives: Well, speaking for myself here's why............
Trump speak, which I hear in your own words as well. Like Republicans, Democrats come under more than ONE label.
The more liberal arm of Democrats are not "socialists". That's another Trump tool, an extreme/fake label Trump has made his flock believe. Social Security, Medicare, Welfare are "safety net" programs that ALL citizens take advantage of, including the the GOP. Then those cries of "socialists" include your gang as well.
Seeing young kids with their parents at Trump rallies brings to my mind how shamefully similar that appears to KKK rallies. That along with the hatred and bigotry expressed and supported on the right.
Labels,name calling, mislabeling and fact-less comments Trump peddles to his base are simply brain washing.
6
Yuck. An adult who is okay with polluted water and air because his 401k looks better. (Any $$$ gains could be wiped out in a week.) An adult who compares Venezuela's socialism to all of western Europe, which manages to provide health care and education for citizens. A man who thinks the Mueller report proves no wrong-doing. I could go on but I'm feeling ill. Thankfully I don't have to listen to such stupidity at my dinner table.
9
Extortion is no big deal but lying about sex now that is impeachable!
13
If Kevin Dowd believes Trump has been the arrival of the messiah for America, then Kevin:
Spend a week in one of the immigrant internment camps in Texas, where the Administration shows its "love" for those who've come to our shores for a better life. Wait - wasn't that Dowd's grandparents escaping poverty and famine in Ireland?
Sit next to Alex Jones or Rush Limbaugh during several days of their hate-filled, nationalist, white supremacist, anti-Semitic and racist screeds ... and where they'll also accuse Dowd's sister of spewing lies and hoaxes about our Constitution, democracy, and decency.
Required to live in a tent outside a factory with choking gases belching out of its smokestack in the "heartland" now that the Trump administration has turned back EPA regs that kept the air and water quality clean ... and now has dropped out of the Paris climate accord.
Love that framed copy of your earlier op-ed and a signed love note from Trump.
7
Hi Marueen,
Perhaps Kevin can take a break from listening to Sean Hannity and read this from the Wall Street Journal.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/huawei-manages-to-make-smartphones-without-american-chips-11575196201?shareToken=st9d92daf314c94f8c875c5e638a364503
HuaWei just launched a high end phone with exactly ZERO hardware or software content from America.
Trump? His net impact was to kill the American part of the supply chain to Huawei by suspending business with Huawei in May.
Making America Great Again?
Only on the Sean Hannity show.....where Sean spends more time selling Juul than he does selling Trump. A bit more anyway.
6
Amazing, Kevin manages to put every Republican talking point into one column while ignoring blatant corruption, law breaking and undoing of constitutional separation of powers. It is a litany that sounds like the chant of a cult.
7
Good morning and Happy Thanksgiving to you all. Let us remember that it is an occasion to thank the blessing of living and working in this great land of ours, with totally opposite political animals like Maureen and Kevin. Thanks for bringing your no-nonsense brother to the fore and let him speak up. Yes, many people voted for Trump last time because they could not stomach the disgustingly arrogant follies of the Clinton gang. If the Democrats continue to promote outliers candidates that want to break the piggy bank, they will not stand a chance in next year's elections. Hey, I'd love to invite Kevin for a round of serious draft beers. (Maureen, you can come over as long as you join in the fun) Arrivederci!
3
Exactly how do you break a piggy bank that is already broken?
4
A couple of comments -
1. You are right the economy is booming, but no mention of the deficit. My problem is that Republicans complained about deficits under Obama and now do not care. At some point whether Right or Left, it will matter
2. I am not anti-police - not sure where this comes from. I am concerned with a young boy with a toy gun or a woman playing video games in her home is shot dead and the high level of deadly force on people of color. Most police are great, but cant we agree that this is not right and talk about this.
3. Trump has done what he said - on somethings yes, but not on the wall. Who will pay for the wall? My tax dollars are paying for it. Pass the biggest infrastructure bill - not on my potfilled roads, best health insurance bill - my kids who do not get health care from their employer can not afford health care on $15 an hour wages.
I wish we could stop the name calling and denigrating remarks about each party and talk issues. We might discover we have a lot in common.
7
This is the best,by far,thing Published in the Times in several years'
5
Seriously? Why would anyone run this column in a space normally reserved for opposite points of view. Absolutely ruined my morning. We all get to see plenty of this type of commentary everywhere we look. Gravitating towards writers such as Dowd is an escape into something that makes more sense, at least to me. Finding this op-ed today got the morning off to a very poor start. Unnecessary, especially on a holiday weekend.
9
kevin. i need to say 'the world has changed'. your pronouncements ALL are based on a static world.
2
Trump and his band of Merry Grifters will be gone some day.
What's our plan for all the angry voters who were taken in by his campaign and wanted to punish us - the good people who are non-Trumpers? Somehow we need to reach them, understand them, bond with them. I don't have a clue how to do this - I am so horrified by what they have done to the rest of us and to democracy.
Maureen, could you interview some bright people with ideas in this regard and let us know about them? I am not looking for more doom and gloom on this rainy day in San Francisco. I am looking for some hope and joy.
3
Someone needs to tell Kevin that Trump is not a conservative and never was. He used conservatives as a way to gain power and he needs you to keep it by getting reelected in 2020. If that happens, Kev (God help us all), you think he'll still need or care about you, the conservative movement or the Republican party?
9
I really am not interested in reading your brother's opinions.
12
Kevin,
Was it not possible for your party to locate another candidate, one less, ignorant, petty, destructive, angry, hateful and unqualified to advance your Christian values?
11
A little chink in the wall is Kevin's side comment on Michael Bloomberg. It's too bad Democrats are turning away from a Bloomberg candidacy because I think some Republicans would vote for him. He's a great CEO type who was a successful NY mayor for two terms. He knows how to manage and organize messy government problems. He'd be a very good president IMO.
5
Bloomberg did not serve two terms as NYC Mayor. He served three. And in order for Bloomberg to run for & serve that third term, the term limit law had to be changed. Subsequent to Mayor Koch's multiple terms, the law was changed: NYC mayors were limited to serving two terms. (Thankfully, this law prohibited Giuliani from running for a third term.)
During what I believe what was the latter part of Bloomberg's second term, the law was changed to remove the term limit. This change was exceptionally controversial - opposed by many NYC residents. And, if I remember correctly, it occurred essentially just in time for Bloomberg to run for a third term. Many NYC residents who opposed the change in the law remained angry during Mayor Bloomberg's third term. In my opinion, this anger (& her connection to Bloomberg) negatively impacted Christine Quinn's her primary campaign against Bill DeBlasio to be the Democratic candidate for NYC Mayor. (Basically, Quinn had facilitated the term limit change which allowed Bloomberg to run for a third term.)
I'm sorry I have no time to research whether my memory jives with the actual timeframe. Please accept my sincere apologies.
Further, I offer no opinion here re: Mayor Bloomberg's performance. I simply want to fill in some details for you.
I don't know what Catholic Church Kevin attended, but the Catholic Church that I attended as a young man taught me above all else to believe in the Golden Rule the rule that says "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" and above all else be a human being, which were also drilled into me as child by my parents. Not the Trump's golden rule "he who has the gold rules". Big difference between the two.
12
I would have thought poor Maureen at that Thanksgiving dinner but after reading today's column I have to go with Poor Kevin. Another Trumper suffering from Republican Persecution Complex. I hope at Thanksgiving dinner Maureen brought up children being separated from their parents as punishment for crossing a border hoping for a better life; attempts by Republicans to take away medical coverage from those that finally have it and denying it to those that need it; young and not so young adults drowning in student debt combined with a national debt as a result of another ridiculous tax cut that will eventually bring down the American economy; and of course the problem of accelerating climate change which our grandchildren will have to face and cope with. I do have one question for Kevin though: if a Democratic President had attempted to use the powers of the office in order to bring down a political rival would the Republicans have been arguing no big deal then as well? I thought that issue was settled in 1974. God bless your family Maureen.
5
Of course most of Kevin's sentences violate some principle of logical thought. Logical thought is the science of expressing an a fact in such a way that that fact is proven true.
I could give you 50 or more examples; here is one big one:
"Ukraine didn’t do the investigation and the aid was released." Those two statements are true and he implies therefore, there was no crime. The aid was released after the democrats demanded it and the crime was discovered. The bribe had already been demanded, but the scheme failed. Bribery is stated in the constitution as a reason for impeachment.
I could go on with all the logical misstatements but haven't the time. Ten more pop up and I only read one quarter of the way through.
If Kevin represents the hope for the future, we are in big, big trouble.
Thank you Maureen for your service.
12
There is more cherries being picked here than at Knotts!
But allow me to make one financial comparison.
I wonder if Kevin would double the mortgage on his house (extending the payments another 20 years) and NOT use the money to add an extension or to upgrade the kitchen but instead go to Vegas and blow it on a "good time"? Or perhaps add to your ample collection from the Franklin Mint? Or purchase a new porsche?
I strongly doubt it, and yet he approves of the same lack of financial acumen except multiplied millions of times higher?!!!
Some people are defending MD's decision to give her brother the space, to hear the "other side". No. Not when in building the "argument" he picks a few good cherries that would have matured regardless, and ignores the bushels of other cherries that were left to rot through sheer carelessness and ignorance.
9
@john
I think Kevin suffers from a life-long lament over the stark tragedy of the Reformation, before which the peasants prayed fervently and toiled happily in their knee breeches (on land they did not, and could never own) under the watchful eyes of the church fathers. Ah, it was perfect when the great unwashed knew its place and any hint of dissension brought exile or incarceration and torture or, better yet, burning at the stake.
I used to find Kevin's contribution at America's celebration of the destruction of native tribes amusing. He's a charming old-school Irish Catholic nativist and bigot who doesn't mind if the boys in blue get a little rough. But he's not even trying to make sense anymore; surely even an entitled white guy can see the difference in quid pro quos between realpolitik and one that serves an individual. It's twilight time, Kev.
20
Hello Maureen, Have you ever considered the fact that your brother might have been adopted?
10
i don't think you should get to give your brother voice in the New York Times just because you write for them.
21
@peggy It's interesting to read all the well written replies, and what states and countries they originate from. Without this column, you wouldn't have that
opportunity.
1
@peggy That would be perfectly in line with the NY Times because they generally report the liberal side of a story.
1
Wow what a depressing column. I know people think like this but it saddens me deeply. Despite what others try to convince us, Trump is a LIAR, cheater, and an abuser of power. He would anoint himself king in a tenth of a second if he thought he could get away with it. He cheats on his wives, sleeps with prostitutes, doesn’t pay his bills, and sullies every decent individual who has the misfortune of getting involved with him. He forged weather maps, ran a scam charity, and turns credible accusations of his own actions against others. He was once different. He always had a giant ego but at one point in his life he had heart, he wrote warm notes to people and he did friendly favors for those he thought would appreciate it. But in the end his unyielding quest for power and attention has corrupted him greatly and it will forever be a stain upon this great nation.
778
All people ultimately get the leader they deserve.
if despite all the evidence from the impeachment hearings, Americans in swing states think it is all just plot by Democrats and the Deep State against a beloved President, then , with great sadness, we must admit that this is the President that America deserves.
7
@Ramesh G
remember nearly three million people can't be wrong in spite of the Russians injections.
1
Kevin read the script perfectly. Didn't hear any new arguments, but since these are the ones sanctioned by Fox, they are the ones he had to use. Well done Kevin!
16
Maureen Dowd’s brother Kevin notes, “Ukraine didn’t do the investigation and the aid was released.” This is a common but unnecessary Trump defense. The Ukrainians have repeatedly stated they never perceived a link between Trump’s request for a “favor” and military aid. They readily agreed to conduct the investigations Trump requested because they agreed the investigations should be conducted. There was no need for a quick pro quo, bribery or extortion.
Last week, newly appointed Ukrainian General Prosecutor Ryaboshapka fired the prosecutor who had been handling the Burisma investigation and expanded the investigation to include suspicion of embezzling state funds. The case had been stalled due to its political sensitivity. Until recently Hunter Biden, the son of former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, sat on the Burisma board of director. The reopened Burisma investigation has the potential to engulf the Bidens in scandal or implicate them on criminal wrongdoing. Ukraine has agreed to share information with the U.S. attorney general.
Ryaboshapka also has ordered his staff to review other shutdown or suspended investigations to see they were suspended or shutdown to protect corruption officials and oligarch.
4
Has Trump called for any other investigations? He cares so much for corruption, right? Weird it seems limited to the “deep state” democrats and his biggest dem political rival... But, Putin is “a great guy!” and Kim Jong Un and Trump are “in love”. Please republicans, stop trying to sell us rotten bananas.
1
“The worst candidate in political history” who had 3 million more votes but still did not win.
11
Thanks Maureen! You just made my Thanksgiving even worse than yours. I thought I'd be free of the Man in the Office at least for the time he absconded to Afghanistan. But Kevin undid all that. I know you are trying to bring the existent alternate Trump Universe which can beat the Democrats in 2020 and I thank you for that. But it just gave my already obnoxious uncle more fire-power at our Thanksgiving table.
3
Ah, Kevin, a man raised in Roman Catholic teachings, well versed in what he learned long ago from his Catechism, and every day confirmed in his beliefs about the world around him by watching Fox and Friends from which he recites their talking points like so many "Hail Marys" on his rosary.
His forebearers, the Dowd clan, didn't leave their home country, Ireland, for the United States, because they wanted more freedom to practice their faith. Their family and the ancestors of most of your readers came because they were poor, hungry, ill clothed, poorly educated, and dying before their times from disease and warfare on behalf of the kings, queens, and oligarchs of their day. They wanted better lives for themselves and their children, just like the Central Americans of today.
Christ's teachings were to love your neighbor as yourself, help the sick, feed the hungry, give to the poor, be as good as a Samaritan to strangers, comfort those in mourning, and be merciful to others. Good lessons then, good lessons now, but not what you will hear from Fox and Friends.
What a perfect photo of Kevin! An older man, sitting on a couch, probably watching Fox News for the latest messages.
But "Judge not, lest you also be judged" and have some more leftover turkey.
15
There is so much that is wrong with this reasoning. Kevin doesn't seem to have a grasp of our national interest as far as foreign policy. He only mentions what suits him. He ignores our abandonment of the Kurds and the stupid comment that they did not land at Normandy. Or Trump's stated interest in bowing out of NATO. Or his standing next to Putin at Helsinki and believing him over 17 of our own intelligence agencies. What Trump did in Ukraine was against the Constitution but once again shows his ignorance, believing conspiracy theories, some spouted by Putin. I could go on and on. I find some of his writing amusing but it is not very deep. It is all lazy thinking. If you oppose abortion, fine, don't have one. I am not pro abortion, just don't want to have the government make that decision for families. Liberals are not anti-religion, just want a separation of church and state. That's partly why the Pilgrims came here. I shouldn't comment though because then someone angry and stupid will send me an annoying reply.
14
Simply parroting FOX News.
11
I'm going to focus on this on paragraph...
"The impeachment inquiry is a farce. Ukraine didn’t do the investigation and the aid was released. I think that all aid is quid pro quo. The election is in a year. If Trump is as bad as Democrats say, let the voters impeach him."
1. The aid was only released after Trump got caught, like a bank robber handing the money back after the police tracked him down.
2. You're confusing issues here... Quid pro quo for something benefiting America is one thing, but for personal gain it is explicitly forbidden in the Constitution.
3. How can we "wait for the election" of the Presdient is illegally using his office to tamper with that election?
This "farce" was forced upon the American people by one person: Donald Trump.
19
"...have you seen the alternatives?..."
Yes. They are *far* better.
Any other questions?
13
Kevin Dowd's column succinctly demonstrates that for republicans and conservatives facts don't matter. Truth is anathema. Its become an ideology that creates an ingrained agenda disavowing other political viewpoints through an unwavering and stubborn opposition.
16
Its obvious that Maureen loves her brother more than he loves her. If he cared about her he would not have abused his annual Thanksgiving Day opportunity to senselessly rail about the virtues of Trump. It is telling that he failed to acknowledge the continuous lies that stream out of the White House every day.
I'm surprised that Kevin was so distracted that he missed the chance to attack the current Pope nor did he give the mainstream press credit for "putting Trump just ahead of Harvey Weinstein and trailing only Satan ".
8
Poor Kevin. He has fallen prey to the Trump nonsense. No facts. Name calling. Character assassination. Thank you Kevin for reminding us of what those voters who believe in Democracy are up against.
12
With a brother like that who needs enemies?
6
The Anger and Resentment is real, irrespective of the messenger. The changing demographics of the country are happening, and many people have been left behind. They have not been well served by the political class, of either side.
It is no surprise of the blindly loyal following of Trump. In times of unrest and feelings of abandonment people will turn to those who espouse their anger and fear.
Shame on the political class for spending the last 30 years telling each of their sides that a feeling is as important as a fact. You end up with an electorate unable to distinguish between the two.
6
@Matt If you are speaking mostly of white rural demographic, they have not been left behind as much as that they are standing still while others are beginning to catch up. Their anger and fear are about losing their power over marginalized groups.
And THIS IS NOT A BOTH SIDES DO IT issue. One side has Fox news which disseminates lies and propaganda. The other side tends to rely on reported factual news.
2
"The liberals still sneer at religious conservatives."
"Liberals" as in "free thinkers"--free from godstory dogma-- obviously a genre of fiction--with countless variations. The "Knights of Columbus Bar" conversation is just one brand--preaching to the choirboys--and other forms of abuse.
"Conservative" as in preserving the past--so out with Science and all Academia--the basis of Progress and Progressive thinking--the never ending search for better ideas about everything. Including godstory fiction.
5
So Kev, do you like that Trump calls your sister "The enemy of the People?"
Other comments opposing Kevin's views are sufficient, but I must say that for someone who holds himself out as a devote Catholic, I find it appalling that he has no sense of compassion for those less fortunate, like immigrant children who Trump put in cages after separating them from their parents.
His view are convenient rationalizations consistent among his political cohorts to justify their positive views of an especially indecent human being. I feel truly feel sorry for him and his grasp for the past. Yes Kevin, there are alternatives to your idol.
6
@Andrew: The Roman Catholic Church was established by a panel of clerics to become the state religion of the Roman Empire 300 years after the events attributed to Jesus.
3
Kevin can support Trump all he wants, but he should not describe himself as religious! There is nothing religious about separating children from their parents, holding them in cells, and going to court to argue that they don't deserve basic toiletries!
At least be honest Kevin and say that you are racist, and that you don't care how cruelly children are treated by this administration.
11
Kevin sites Trump's NY real estate "creds" as shaping the man's style. I grew up in NY and anyone who was a serious player in NY real estate knew that Trump was a chump and con man. Most New Yorkers knew he was a fraud and mob boss wanna-be. Also, it's kind of pathetic and telling how Kevin includes a signed and framed newspaper clipping from Trump which in itself is very Trumpian. His argument loses most of its thrust with that piece of idolatry inserted within.
11
@Sean
he " gets it "
yikes
No malarkey here.
Right, boomer?
Ok!
3
OK, what is Kevin's take on Climate Change? Does he think that Trump's abandonment of the planet's health is a good thing? Or has he swilled too much Trump-Aid?
5
"Klobuchar/Buttigieg: They are the two least crazy people in the field, which means they have absolutely no chance."
"The Martin O’Malley Award to Beto O’Rourke for thinking a vague resemblance to the Kennedys, an Annie Leibovitz Vanity Fair cover and a 214,000-vote loss to Ted Cruz could carry him to the nomination."
Hahahahaha!
3
Kevin, you are right. I hate turkey(s)! Went on a cruise to avoid them.
If I were Sisyphus there would be many things I’d say to Kevin, trapped “securely” inside his labyrinth of walls and mirrors.
7
The contortions of reality that one must justify maintaining white male dominance. Breathtaking.
10
Kev,
Same ol’ economy for most of us
Same ol’ health care insurance for all of us
Little more Big Brother in the bedroom, family, women’s health, IH but that’s not your problem.
Same ol’ fightin cross the aisles.
Same ol’ fake news.
Maybe a few less allies, but now we’re pals with Putin and MBS, real men.
Yup trump’s done such a darn good job, we should ask him back.
7
The Fox is strong with that one.
10
Well Kev, if you believe the pathological liar in the White House has delivered on all his promises you must believe that Mexico has paid for his Wall, Kim Jong-un has given up his nukes, Iran has abandoned its nuclear program and will soon kick out its mullahs, the war in Afghanistan is over, ISIS has been defeated, Jared Kushner has achieved an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal, Vladimir Putin is our friend, NATO is our enemy, Ukraine not Russia interferes in our elections, trade wars are good and easy to win, our farmers love tariffs even though they can no longer sell their soy beans to China, Americans want more expensive steel and aluminum in their cars, coal mines have reopened and your tax cut has reduced the deficit.
20
@Christy
Love your reply, point by point. Hope Kevin spends some
time reading the column today, but sadly it seems he
prefers the Fox new story line that he regurgitated.
1
I can tell Kevin gets his "facts" from a source other than the "main stream media", as he likes to say, condescendingly.
6
Right from the get-go Kevin sees things through a distorted lens. Maureen, I feel your pain.
2
Wow! Kevin's self absorption is shocking! Apres moi....We are facing the destruction of the planet, shredding our democracy and rule of laws but hey, it all seems to be just fine for Kevin! Wouldn't want to rain on his right to ignore anything that might change his
world.
6
Another old white man who does not recognize women at all in his misguided views. I wish we would stop making these men feel they are relevant.
6
Ms. Dowd, please do not do this again. Your brother is an ordinary, ill informed guy repeating Fox News talking points. The only thing that distinguishes his opinions from those of millions of other similar Trump fans is that he's your brother. That's an interesting curiosity. But it does not justify giving him this platform. There is a reason you have a column in the Times and he doesn't. If you are going to yield you space to a guest columnist, please try to find someone with real insights, a truly distinctive point of view, or some relevant background and credentials.
17
As an alternative to Maureen, Kevin is no match. I appreciate that we were provided with a contrary opinion within this "failing" New York Times, but given a choice, I would prefer my Maureen fix of wit and intellect—two requisites for opinion columnists—instead of brother Kevin. His analysis was nothing more than a list of Fox News talking points. In an attempt to find something redeeming, I'll score him two points: his analogy to Liz Taylor's wedding night, and recognizing that Mayor Pete and Amy Klobuchar aren't crazy. Please bring back the worthy Dowd.
2
Dear Kevin:
I simply do not know where to begin to address your comments and therefore I will not even try...reason is of no help here. It's true, I do not understand you or your friends with the red hats. Nothing seems capable of denting your illusions...not a dying planet, the evisceration of our system of government, the erosion of U.S. credibility, the immorality, the untruths, etc., etc.. I feel sorry for whomever next occupies the Oval Office as he/she will inherit the swamp that you and the 'chosen one' have stocked to the hilt with the lowest bottom-feeders in the country. I'm trying to understand you but unfortunately time is running out. Please just go play golf or something and leave us alone. PS: We love your sister Moureen but we have a question ....was she adopted?
4
Maureen, your brother Kevin is truly delusional. Anyone who can witness the Trump debacle and still support him is beyond help. My condolences.
5
Kevin Dowd is just another “I got mine and I want to make sure I keep mine” boomers. He will step over you in the street while pretending to be pro life. That’s his prerogative - so the rest of you should know there are millions of Kevin’s out there and that is why you need to vote the blue lever even if you don’t fall in love with the nominee.
10
I'm a lefty Democrat, and this is now the only Maureen Dowd column I read all year. That way I get my hit of snark from someone who actually stands for more than snark.
1
Ok. Now I get it. I always wondered why Maureens brother Kevin couldn’t see through Trumps con but now it is plain to see. Kevin doesn’t want to. Kevin states “Liberals sneer at ‘religious conservatives.” What is a religious conservative these days Kev? Are those the ones that absolutely blaspheme the name of Christ solely for their own political agenda? Conservatives have remade Christ in their own image and have zero to do with the actual gospel of Christ. Christ would grimace at the conservative slogan “guns and god” and it is sickening how conservatives have hijacked the message of Christ to propagate their hate. Not to mention Trump has never even cracked open a bible yet continues to get massive “religious conservative” support. Religious conservatives are simply another ruse that Republicans use to con people, all in the name of Christ. If this is how you worship God kevin it is no wonder you yourself are lost deep inside Trumps con. I wont even waste my time commenting on the rest of your piece because I can see what I am dealing with here: someone who has zero interest in truth and will lie to the ends of the earth in service of his own political agenda.
4
Delusional whining from an aggrieved trump supporter is not a surprise. "Liberals are so mean!" But complaining about the mainstream media in the NYT displays a comical lack of self awareness, so that was funny.
6
Kevin is the epitome of white privilege, the typical Trump supporter who can read and write a complete sentence -unlike his hero. Kevin makes the same noises as the victimized Trumpers who see their warped version of democracy always under attack by those do-gooders.
Kevin, take a look under your Republican umbrella, look at your fellow travelers. Do you see the neo-Nazis, white supremacists, xenophobes,homophobes frauds, science deniers, outright crooks, and phony evangelists you share that umbrella with ? You do. Those are your people, your gang. Take them to the Knights of Columbus bar for a drink.
8
Jim Jordan has sex appeal? Who knew?
4
Maureen, you should go home for a meal more often. Rockville, Maryland doesn't seem too far away from where you prowl around in Washington.
Kevin looks more like an Irishman than DeNiro trying to play an Irishman. Can he act, as well?
Kevin is certainly plugged in and offers an unshakeable analysis why in 2020 Donald Trump will, with any great statistical likelihood, gain a second term. Then, the Democrats will be rid of him, or will they? Will they groom a viable candidate by 2024?
Love the Liz Taylor/Larry Fortensky? quote. A gem.
So, what does Kevin do when sis is not prompting him to write her column? He should be exposed to your readers a little more often. Or, get his own column.
2
Kevin Dowd deserves the Pulitzer Prize for his Opinion.
His Opinion, virtually stands alone, as an oasis in a desert of mind numbing "progressive" Opinions in the Times like endless miles of sand lacking any diversity.
7
Kevin is completely brainwashed with FOX talking points. Its quite stunning that people are so easily fooled.
2
this nitwit apparently has never had any real contact with the police and our so called justice system and lives in alternate reality although he's right on describing the libs
What I find most disturbing about this diatribe is its arrogance. The snide dismissals of Warren and Sanders, the vain attempts at humor ("Out, damned spot"), the tendency to gloss over any real examination of the facts with cynicism ("The impeachment inquiry is a farce"). No vision of a better world, just a haughty demeaning of anything that challenges his entitled world view. How ugly and sad. How positively Trumpian.
8
Gosh how many days is Kevin’s idiotic screed to be given space in the opinion section of the digital Times?
It was blessedly in the print edition for only one day.
Time to move on even if it is Mo’s bro.
you're in denial dude...
1
If there was ever a voice so full of its own arrogant "rectitude" than this one, I have not heard it. So gleefully divisive and combative, why so angry Kevin? Your tone betrays you and negates any legitimate point you may seek to make in this pathetic word vomit. What an utterly gross characterization you portray of Catholics and the KoC who are otherwise decent public servants for the poor and needy. Seriously, shame on you. A healthy does of humility is in order.
2
The brother of an influential NYT columnists gets to recite Fox News propaganda in her column on Thanksgiving weekend? Mr. Putin must be so pleased.
4
It'd be extraordinarily difficult for this fellow or me to change each other's views about Trump. I acknowledge that not everything Trump does is bad for the country (although he does few things graciously or with dignity or without exaggerating or lying), but for me the overwhelming issue is his weakening of the post WW II Western alliance. Add to this his weakening of our intelligence agencies, State Dept., and free press and it's hard to understand how any intelligent educated person can support him.
I don't know how Maureen Dowd can handle Thanksgiving dinner without having severe heartburn.
1
Refreshing to hear a balanced view in the New York Times for a change! Thanks Kevin well said!!
2
Thanks, Kevin. We don’t agree on much, if anything, but I always enjoy your column and I appreciate your sister for giving you the space every year. Hope you had a good Thanksgiving despite the annual family drama!
2
A little simultaneously translation is called for:
"The impeachment inquiry is a farce. Ukraine didn’t do the investigation and the aid was released."
Translation: He didn't actually rob the bank so what's the big deal?
"All aid is a quid pro quo"
Translation: If it's ok to trade aid for, say, UN votes, who says Trump can't trade aid for quashing a political opponent. Makes sense to me.
"The election is in a year. If Trump is as bad as Democrats say, let the voters impeach him."
Translation: So, even if Trump did do something awful -- and I'm not saying he did -- we shouldn't be making huge decisions such as impeachment in an election year. I would say the same thing if the Republicans tried to nominate a Supreme Court Judge in an election year. (Ok, bad example, scratch that second thought).
8
I wonder at the intention of the Times, and Ms Dowd, for running her brother's piece repetitively. Perhaps just the holidays. That aside, it is a forceful if one-sided argument from the Right.
My take-away: most conservatives tend to be deeply absorbed in protecting their own interests, egos, property, rights, guns, and beliefs. That tendency shrinks rapidly when it comes to the rights of those who are unlike themselves: immigrants, homeless, LGBTQ, on and on, including those who want to help those less fortunate, those excluded by the more fortunate, or those millions subtly or explicitly being harmed by those in power.
In other words, America is for the white Christian folks who were born here (recently), who have little to no interest in those who are outside the inner circle of acceptables. You can be rich or poor -- if on the poorer end, you should still have the American dream of becoming richer, which Trump is inspiring in you.
Kevin's rhetoric far outstrips Trump's absurdities -- but the idea is similar: "As long as I'm winning, you're losing." And in that sense, America isn't great again -- it's lost for all of us.
11
Kevin admires Trump for "his handling of Iran and North Korea"? Kim Jong Un continues to build his nuclear arsenal and fire missiles toward Japan while refusing to meet with Trump whom he again calls "dotard."
Freed from the constraints of the nuclear agreement cancelled by Trump, Iran is now enriching uranium beyond the limits the agreement imposed, bringing closer the reality of an Iranian nuclear bomb.
God help us.
Kevin also supports the president for "his" economy, jobless rate and record stock market? GDP growth is much as it was under Obama -- lackluster 2% as the economy struggles to recover from the damage inflicted by the previous Republican president. Even if employed, many workers can't make ends meet. And the stock market inches into record territory thanks to gratuitous tax cuts for corporations and their wealthy investors that have pushed the federal deficits to nearly a trillion dollars to be foisted on our children, despite Trump's promise to eliminate not just the deficits but also the national debt.
7
It is very important that people who disagree with this point of view seriously consider it and not dismiss it out of hand, not so that they may come around to agree with it but so that they will understand a point of view far different from their own and, perhaps, find a way to communicate civilly and effectively with those who disagree and maybe, just maybe, find a way to reach common ground. This is an illustration of the beauty of the First Amendment, the greatest insight and gift of our Founding Fathers. Thank you Ms. Dowd, for sharing us with us your brother's point of view.
5
It's remarkable that Mr Trump gets credit for the economy.
Every positive trend such as employment, stock prices and growth have continued along the same lines as since well before he was elected - despite a huge tax cut and allowing companies to pollute more without cost to them
He has managed to turn some positive trends to negative, such as the number of (health) uninsured and the deficit
8
I completely agree with ‘Kevin.’
People should be made to swear to a god that they do not believe in; which then therefore, means that the person can lie under oath without penalty.
Exactly how your president behaves.
I would love to say something completely disparaging here but I will not because I don’t want to confuse the issues. His opinions and intellect speak for themselves.
5
I have a younger brother that has the same political outlook as your brother, and he is also a very conservative, religious republican who would not change his mind no matter how much evidence is laid out before him.
Politics and religion are two subjects we avoid most of the time because there is no middle ground. Right is right and Left is left and never the twain shall meet.
2
Kevin overlooks the fact that Trump is a minority President. He lost the election by approximately 3 million votes and is imposing policies and ideology not supported by the majority of the US population. Tyranny of the minority shouldn't be embraced in a democracy.
10
As painful as it is to read a point of view on Trump that is so very different my own, I am reminded again of the truly amazing freedom we have in this country to express our views. My citizenship students are amazed when we talk about freedom of speech and I remind that that I can say nearly anything I want in disagreement with our leaders without fear of jail or punishment. They mostly come from parts of the world where this could never happen. It is part of the freedom they have come for. I fear, however, that it is teetering on the edge, not because we have changed our laws (yet), but because this president sets an example that it acceptable to trash and denigrate his critics - politicians and private citizens alike to a dangerous degree. While I disagree with Kevin, he has expressed his views with civility and we are disagreeing with equal civility, a freedom many have died for.
2
@P Toro
thanks on that - I am amazed that the " enemy of the people " statement didn't make Americans startled !!
nope
business as usual - tweet on
Clearly, Kevin has thought about our current state of politics. He makes it clear his Catholicism informs his political views. That's fine, but he chooses to write about only the Catholic issues that matter to him. There are others...and I'd love to hear Kevin's thoughts about them.
What does Kevin think about babies in cages and the crisis at the border? I'm betting there are a crowd of nuns who would gladly explain why they are protesting Trump's immigration policies and providing sanctuary.
How about Trump's abandonment of the Paris accord and his ignorance about climate change? Maybe Kevin should check with the Pope...he's written quite a bit about it in Laudato Si.
Trump's treatment of the Kurds? The documented thousands of lies he has told in office? Multiple marriages, affairs, documented claims of sexual assault? Old Testament, New Testament...take your pick: none of it is acceptable under Judeo-Christian ethics.
He is not a man who would be welcome to say grace with my family at my dinner table. As a fellow Catholic, it is hard to believe that Kevin could look past all of his sinful conduct and support him so vocally.
14
Thank you for sharing my thoughts so succinctly! When it’s all about “us” we’ve hit bottom.
Thanks for reminding the Trump absolutists that his violent, crackpot policies destroyed families, tore children from their parents and sent the toddlers off to Trump’s death camps, with no mechanisms for identifying and reuniting parents with their children. Those capital crimes alone (kidnapping, child abuse, rape and murder) should have put Trump in a cell, with no access to the levers of power.
2
Kevin slides by the Ukraine scandal.
Trump tried to cheat on the 2020 election in a corrupt attempt to pressure the vulnerable Ukrainian president. That should be a show-stopper without even mentioning all the other catastrophic aspects of Trump’s presidency.
6
This would make an excellent piece for a class on
critical thinking for a group of 5th graders. Perhaps it could be the start of a new series of adult fairy tales; it's only missing
" but they still lived happily ever after"
7
"I’ve been pleasantly surprised that he has done exactly what he promised despite a hostile press."
Mexico paid for the wall?
The press missed coverage on that.
7
Trump promised to release all his tax returns...once the “audit” is completed. That’s the fundamental lie around which the entire Trump administration wobbles.
3
I love Maureen Dowd, and especially that she chose to turn the mic over to her brother for this column. While I disagree with pretty much everything Kevin said, it is so very important to hear his point of view. Unless we can get to a place where America works for more people - which for me means much better managed capitalism - rifts like that in the Dowd family will grow.
4
"I feel safe in my bed with the way the president is handling Iran and North Korea."
Just a statement, no reasons why, just blind obedience / conclusion that things have improved with a nuclear power and a nuclear want to be power.
REALLY?
From my side of the table P.Trump has made a hash of relations with both countries, giving a dictator photo ops and concessions with no plan or concessions on the part of North Korea.
Reneging on a deal with Iran left the Europeans out on a ledge and the US reputation for honoring treaties in the dust.
As for the support of the economy try reading this article from Fortune Magazine "Why Trump is Bad for Business"
https://fortune.com/longform/trump-policies-bad-for-business-trade-immigration-taxes-regulations-us-economy/
As for abortion, why oh why does the Religious Right not care about the children in Yemen being bombed and starved by the Saudis with US Air Support? Don't living, breathing, children matter?
13
One of the best columns ever written. Bravo Kevin!
4
Over the holiday weekend I read this column to several Millennials at my workplace, including 2 Gen-Z (born after 1/1/2000), from a variety of backgrounds, including three of very mixed ancestry accustomed to "code-switching." All of them are apolitical, two (one 100% Irish-American) tend conservative. Their consistent response: "sounds like my drunk Irish uncle talking to himself in a corner after Thanksgiving dinner," said one. The rest basically shrugged shoulders, rolled eyes, and said, "so what?" Kevin didn't anger them, or excite them to disagreement, or offend them. They simply considered him functionally irrelevant. Two of them did say, "OK, boomer." You are turning into the ancestral grand-uncle who yelled about Clemenceau, uncle who yelled about FDR at Yalta, and grandfather who just never got past Easter 1916. You are becoming a caricature of yourself.
8
Why would Kevin hope that the coming I.G. report will be worse than we've been led to believe? To justify and validate his own belief in a "deep state?" And likely, regardless of what the I.G. report reveals, it will not be as dire as he hopes. How could we believe a report anyway that simply parrots what Trump and Barr have been yelling about?
I believe he is going to be very disappointed, because the report will likely find that dedicated FBI and national intelligence employees were doing their jobs according to procedure. They will be more like the career employees who have testified in the impeachment inquiry than evil-doers out to stage a "coup."
Your brothers' willingness to simply ignore the harsh reality of a lying self-serving, narcissistic president is, sadly, reflective of Trump's base of voters.
Image
5
The idea that the only way for those practicing their religious convictions is to follow a vainglorious coward while naively believing Progressives are at war with Christmas, Thanksgiving or even freedom to worship is delusional.
The fairy tales regarding Social Security leading to us being a failed Petro-state akin to Venezuela or Kurdistan is complete nonsense- what isn't,is the fact that Trump embraces the idea of an oligarchy that benefits the few & offering forced state religion beamed to everyone via state run media.
Kevin is leading a life with blinders on, no matter what his background was. He is embracing our worst impulses while ignoring our greatest needs.
8
I'd say Kevin just about nailed it.
7
Lighten up Kev. No one ever came back from being unequivocally dead to tell us there is a hereafter. God and the Donald are a projection of your neeed for an ideal Daddy figure who will make all things right. His bullying is actually something you admire because authoritarianism is decisive if not always effective. Its also simplistic which enhances the appeal. Can't have women controlling their own bodies either, because increasing equality for one always diminishes it for you. We can't all be equal. Who would make the decision's? And, if the public servants who disagreed with Trump simply left, the government would cease to exist - an outcome you think would be fine and dandy. I could go on but it would be better to talk to a fern.
9
This is a joke, right? No? Well then . . .
It would appear to me that your religious stance is really code for anti-abortion groups. What else could it mean? We have the most irreligious man as president. What would Jesus do? And by the way, before we deal with abortion, how about the children already born?
As for that wonderful economy - bought and paid for by the taxpayer. After inheriting an already sound economy, we are deeper in debt than ever. Where is that 3% (or more) growth rate? Where is the reinvestment by corporations that was promised? Nope, no great success here.
After legitimizing the regime in North Korea and abandoning our path for communication with Iran, you really sleep better. Must be those sleeping pills.
Now let's talk about immigration reform and the wall. Failed. Healthcare. Failed. Middle East peace. Failed. Respect around the world. Seriously?
This is not reasoned. It is lazy thinking.
13
just one question: where does he get his news?
8
My sincere sympathies Maureen. You have a lot on your plate. I am tempted to call you a glutton for punishment for even showing up to Thanksgiving dinner, but in my heart I think you are a good person for not "cancelling" your family.
1
Never trust the words of a middle aged guy with a comb-over.
11
@Richard: Neither Kevin or Trump are middle aged.
1
I was hoping that Maureen would write a Sunday counter-column in reply to her brother's on Thanksgiving. No such luck.
3
I'd like to see Fox News publish a Democrat's opinion article (perhaps by Ms. Dowd?) above the fold on their front page, as NYT has just done. That'll be the day.
Thanks NYT, and thank you, Ms. Dowd.
3
I guess that Kevin has no problem supporting a lying, dishonest adulterer, just as long as the economy and the stock market are doing well.
9
My therapist has me read out loud to her any article pertaining to Trump to relieve me of my “Trump Anxiety” .
2
You know, "Kevin's" writing style looks a lot like his sister, Maureen's. Hmm. I knew she hated Hillary but I assumed it was just a case of Queen Bee Syndrome where a woman assails another woman in hopes of being accepted as 'one of the boys' (i.e., internalized misogyny). Word to the wise: the guys really don't like women who do that any better than they like other women and other women really HATE those woman-hating women.
Leave poor Kevin out of it.
2
got halfway through and thought: why should I finish this? I'm glad Kevin feels safe in his bed. After all, that's all that matters, right? C'mon Maureen. Skip this next year.
4
Reading the "thoughts" of Bent Kavanaugh's high school basketball coach -- i.e., Maureen Dowd's brother --one can only be heartened by the thought the human race is bust exterminating itself. So long.
4
Great job, Mo, pushing the Trump agenda and Fox talking points right before the impeachment vote. And the way you always fit the Clintons into your (oops, I mean Kevin's) story line is just amazing. Such hatred, masquerading as journalism.
4
Once again I ask “Why should I ask what Kevin thinks.” Posting this column every year is stupid. We all know there are people who think like him in this country. Maureen, please lose this tradition.
5
Another old white male...blah, blah, blah.
2
What a waste of newspaper space. And so much nonsense.
2
Kevin Dowd: "I support the president for his economy, his jobless rate and the record numbers of the stock market that his deregulation fueled. "
It may feel good now, Kevin, but have you given any thought to why those regulations were put in place?
Thanks to Trump's deregulations banks and lending institutions are again free from pesky consumer protections. Meanwhile the environment, pristine wilderness and endangered species are threatened more than ever.
Kevin, enjoy the latest wacky weather we've been having (climate change is "fake") and hope that the economy doesn't suffer another 2008. Breathe easy in the changing atmosphere, don't forget your sunblock and vote as so many GOP people do: for yourself. Nothing else matters.
8
to Kevin..... 'OK BOOMER!' and when he's gone our children will be left to inherit the fall out of Trump's hateful divisive rhetoric, his denial of truth, his financial actions that will leave them bankrupt (as did the 'W' administration- and then there is the collapse of our ecosystems he is cheering on as he guts the EPA and pulls out of the Paris Climate Accord and continuously sours our relationships with all of our allies with his reckless, uninformed aplomb. Happy 'Fake' Thanksgiving.
390
@Greg Metz
Please stop stereotyping Boomers. I am 73 and I don't agree with Maureen's brother one iota. I agree with you. Stop putting people into pigeonholes by age, please.
51
Oh, Maureen. Why would we want to read this when so many of us have just survived our own Thanksgiving dinner? We love your own brand of insight, wit and eloquence. I am sorry that you too must cope with a sibling's blind loyalty to a man who mirror's his own insecurity over our changing world. I love old white guys. Had one as a father and am now married to one, but watching that particular demographic grasp at vestiges of their own traditional command of the world is just pathetic. Your brother is probably a fine man who is scared to death of change. Next year, if you aren't up to a full column, then just share pie recipes.
507
@Donna, technically I'm an old white guy, too; but I'm an old hippie (in the eyes of some, even if I look better now in short hair) who hasn't relinquished my ideals of peace, love, understanding, tolerance, intelligence, education, wisdom - you get the drift - and still has made a good and responsible life for myself in capitalist America. Like the disheartening broad-brush term "boomer," we over-55s aren't all like Kevin. He reminds me of the smug and arrogant frat boys I avoided in college and have tried to avoid my entire life, except that Kevin seems to have added toxic bitterness to the formula.
That said, there are many other sources where we can read the Kevins of the world's tirades. I hope Maureen invokes the conservatives' favorite cudgel, term limits, and tells Kevin that as of this year his term has expired.
35
@Donna
The only thing worse than Kevin’s rote Trumpian talking points would have been her sister extolling the virtues of the rabidly partisan buffoon, Jim Jordan.
40
Couldn’t have said it better! Thanks Kevin for expressing my thoughts exactly.
4
We, the American people have a problem. Our discourse has grown to the extent because there is a lack of will to bridge it. The result is our society is functioning at a flawed level. I would’ve paid good money to be a fly on the wall at the Dowd’s Thanksgiving table. Then again, if it was like ours, discussion steered clear of politics and religion. It’s a sign of the problem if this occurs at every family gathering.
And here lies my point. Unless we learn to have a healthy dialogue across the political divide that results in problem solving compromises, our society will be under threat. We need a leader that can inspire and challenge us to solve problems together. Healthcare? The richest country in the world should have quality, affordable healthcare for all its citizens. I’m not smart enough to figure out how it’s done, but put the right people is a room and don’t let them out until they agree on a solution. Guns? Let’s keep guns out of the hands of people who shouldn’t have them. You can do this exercise with nearly any problem. Even abortion! But, we must learn to have constructive dialogue and respect each other.
I am sure there are folks on either side that are dismissing my utopian view of America. But we need to get back to effective government as imagined by our founding fathers. And it calls for leadership that respects all Americans. And what we have now, clearly is not working.
4
Kevin's column should be required reading for all Democratic presidential candidates, their advisors, and the DNC. They won't convert him, but they need to understand his views without laughing at him. Progressives seem to think they have a great nationwide base that can be tapped for victory. The base may exist, but it won't be enough. There are plenty of voters who want Trump out but can't stomach the thought of the 3,000-point hit the stock market will take the day after Warren is elected.
4
A very revealing piece that leaves out perhaps the biggest fear of many Trump supporters which I would like for Maureen’s brother to discuss: they find liberals and Democrats unacceptable because they believe that the Democratic party is pro minorities, women, and gays at the expense of the beleaguered straight white male. So with that being the driving fear, Trump, no matter his flaws -personal, policy, or constitutional - is better than anyone the Democrats could offer. If I had the chance to talk with the author, I would want to explore this concern in depth. Not sure how to convince him that Trump is only for Trump, and that Democrats will pursue policies that lift up all Americans regardless of race or gender, or sexual orientation, but I would try. At the end of the day, you are either more comfortable and supportive of a country where most of the real power remains with wealthy white men and those striving to join them, where the wealthy few rule while encouraging everyone else to fight over “cultural” issues, or you are open to something better. In that case, facts, truth, even preserving democracy, really don’t matter.
10
I thank Maureen for sharing Kevin's thoughts with us. It is good to hear both sides. But his side is worrying. "It is good to remind them occasionally that the president makes policy and the agencies should carry it out without comment." If the word of the president must be obeyed without any dissent, then we don't have a president. We have a dictator or king. That thinking is very dangerous. It seems that is what Republicans want.
12
Such a pleasure to read the thoughts of a man who sees and then describes and analyses the world as it is and not through the “what I think it should be” lens that so many on the left look through. Why do many of us support a politician who is a narcissist? As he says, have you seen the alternatives? And, worse, have you seen what they would do? I wish Kevin would write Maureen’s column every Thursday.
375
@ehillesum: “As he says, have you seen the alternatives? And, worse, have you seen what they would do?“
Most people who support Trump likely would not vote for a Democrat unless the Democrat was to the right of center, probably far to the right of center. So the “alternative” is always going to be apocalyptic to them.
259
@ehillesum
I suppose it is a good idea to listen to the opposing side once in a while. For that credit Ms Dowd. But listening to her brother once a week is terrible idea. Once a year is quite enough.
I do understand about about having a terrible Thanks giving. I have struggled through many such Thanksgivings in my day. I found that silence works best in dealing with people who have already made up their minds on politics and religion, Only get into it with them if one of them asks a serious question to which they have not previously decided the answer.
It used to best to talk about the weather but the weather could lead to arguments about global warming which can lead to verbal combat.
Good luck. It is very likely that you will survive.
140
@ehillesum
"The hearings ended with a thud and, according to a new Quinnipiac poll, public opinion has even slightly shifted in the president’s favor. There will not be one Republican vote to impeach."
Humm... When did gaslighting become any part of the practice of in telling like it is? The cited Quinnipiac poll reports no such shift.
513
He seems nice.
100
Dismal. Maureen you have my sympathy.My sibs agree with Kevin.
196
The second paragraph 'The liberals sneer at religious conservatives' and so on. Right there is the problem. We are not sneering at your religion or anyone else's. We respect your right to practice, not warp, pervert and subvert the rest with our choices. Live and let live. We just want you to mind your own.
1323
Don't tell Kevin, but the Korean peninsular is more unstable than ever and Iran is back to enriching uranium...all because of Trump
1010
Wish Kevin could spend a week with a black man and see what it’s like to be stopped and frisked. I also find it interesting he feels safe in his bed and not afraid Putin will be ruling us. He really ought to be studying Russian.
682
Kevin seems to feel that Jesus would support a man and a party that would rip an innocent child from their mother arms and then ships them miles away.
I do not.
By the way when can we expect that check from Mexico in payment for the wall?
700
Even if one agreed with Dowd's view of Trump's accomplishments, his piece ignores entirely the issues of Trump's nativism, bigotry and sexual misconduct. How about sharing with us how you feel about those things as well, Kevin?
447
i am also a sibling (1 of 12) in a Catholic family. I am FAR LEFT along with 2-3 others. I have 2-3 siblings that are FAR RIGHT. The rest are mostly in the middle or apathetic about politics. My approach is different. I ignore their beliefs and am civil to them in family matters. I believe that negative attention is a reward for them. They love it. When they are no longer getting rewards for their beliefs they'll believe something different. Maybe more insane, maybe less. But, my telling them their beliefs are not in alignment with FACTS or REALITY won't help. Don't look down on them. Don't admonish them. As if you would any weird person you run into at your local hangout place, help them if they ask but otherwise stay out of their way. This is why the MSNBC crew doesn't help. John Stewart was really bad at giving them too much attention and then sneering at them. They eat that up and then blurt out: Liberals---UGH. it'll be back to COPS ARE PIGS if we let those people have power.
142
Would Kevin say there is always quid pro quo with aid if Barack Obama did the same thing?
372
And the Trump shall set you free!
Trump’s gonna lead us to the promised land!
53
After all that, you say, "Happy Thanksgiving"?? That's like a cop handing you a speeding ticket, and saying, "Have a nice day!"as he walks away...
105
Kevin's essay contains two statements that are common to all Trump supporters' explanations of their support.
1) Trump's manners are bad, but his policies are what really matters.
That leaves out a lot: incompetence, ignorance, mental instability, bigotry, and an absolute selfishness that will ultimately sacrifice everyone including his admirers. Are the Trumpists oblivious of all that, or do they consciously skirt it? And why would they do so, to their own disadvantage as Americans? What's in it for them?
2) Trump has done what they want done. Other politicians talk about doing things, but he really does them.
What, exactly are Trump's accomplishments? It seems to me the list is pretty short in the first place and consists entirely of things that can be done almost automatically -- by signing an executive order or sending a nomination to the Senate -- without political skill. In the passage of the tax bill, Trump actually proved a hindrance to Congressional Republicans. They got it done in spite of him. I wish journalists would press Trumpists for examples of his performance.
Furthermore, it's baffling that one who writes as well as Kevin fails to see that Trump has been dangerously played by Kim Jong-un. His pantomime of diplomacy and foolish declaration that the danger is past are now forcing him to feign unconcern no matter what Kim does. Yesterday brought two more missile tests.
Maureen, please follow up over the cold turkey sandwiches.
487
This man represents the continuing collapse of the American ideal. I suppose all greatness fades eventually, and even as I hope that the longer arc of history will prove me wrong, I don't see this kind of monumental ignorance going away anytime soon. Too bad; America's experiment was such a shining light in the world. Tragic to see it dim and flicker.
324
seriously?
I’ve often thought throughout the last 3 years whether you regret your vote and now it is clear that not only don’t you regret it, you are proud of it.
Trump has degraded and divided our country. He has taken all the steps to destroy the environment, insulted women at every chance, made the rich richer, worked to stack the courts with intolerance. His lies are numbing, they are frequent and intolerable. He is building a wall, incarcerating children , separating families Oh the list is endless.
No quid pro quo? He withheld aid approved by congress in order to push an investigation of a political opponent. You thought those witnesses weren’t clear and effective?
What if Obama did that? If Clinton did it? Oh can you imagine the hypocrisy?
We are watching a reality show in the White House and you are supporting the charade.
you feel safer with a time bomb who governs by a tweet? Really? You have a bit more money in your pocket and women are losing their right to choose. That is most definitely worth the future of our country. How shameful.
643
Well if I were a trump apologist that is about how I would frame it. Of course there are a few "holes"; a glaring one is the view of impeachment expressed here. Come on, trump essentially extorted (or bribed if you prefer) a foreign government to do his bidding to discredit a potential opponent. Now there hasn't been absolute evidence that the so-called "quid pro quo" involved a threat to withhold necessary military aid but the circumstantial evidence is becoming irrefragable. Then you have the clear lying about it, the disingenuous denials etc.. It is so unseemly for someone who is supposed to represent the best America has to offer that you wonder if we no longer care about truth and honesty as standards of behavior. Maybe we're so jaded we don't believe it possible for a president to put the nation's interest ahead of their own. Maybe it is, as the current word puts it, all "transactional".
128
Kevin supports a minority party of pro-Russian zealots that has America by the throat. There's nothing that will change the minds of True Believers about anything. We can only hope to vote them out of office. Despite the flaws of majority rule, it's the only way we can maintain a free society. Republicans refer to majority rule as "mob rule." Next November the majority "mob" has to get to the polls and save our democracy.
261
I appreciate the candor and empathize with Maureen. Outside of the US most observers have been puzzled and alarmed at the depths the US could plunge to, disorienting scrapping of moral and ethical boundaries and disinformation campaigns worthy of Stalin. It is illustrative to see that pretty normal people are this worked up and that far off the map.
122
This column gave me a sick feeling in my stomach, but it certainly illuminates how the half the country sees the world. (Btw, not one mention of climate change. There'll be no babies - aborted or not - if we lose the planet.) So now what?
242
Kevin repeats word for word what other conservatives say, all nicely packaged by their propaganda outlets for them. I have heard the same from many of them. No personal insight, just liberals are bad and government is bad. They brush over any factual argument presented to them. Utter inability to see Trump’s criminal behavior. Yeah, he is innocent and Democrats are the ones who make up stuff against him.
It is amazing how far one can go on propaganda. Just amazing.
363
Like many voters, Kevin seems to see himself as a victim who would favor a theocracy over a secular state. His talking points come straight from Hannity and he is ultimately a tribalist. As the current occupant of White House said, he could shoot a man on 5th Avenue and would not lose the support of his base. Voters like Kevin prove this point. The only hope for change is the passing of his generation and the ascendancy of a new generation.
277
No mention of the National debt or the increase in violence against “minorities” while thumbing his nose at our intelligence agencies disparaging them on the world stage. Not a mention of his pardoning war criminals, handing Putin an advantage in Syria and in Ukraine, all against the advice of his own military. He doesn’t own the economy and the new jobs pay low wages. Awareness of the broader situation eludes many people.
213
A well written, clever piece that I totally disagree with.
90
It reads like satire to me. He's pulling our legs.
87
I am a Catholic - born and raised. Despite my horror and sadness about the Catholic clergy and the rampant and unchechecked sexual perpetrators in the rank and file clergy I believe in Christianity and its tenets. Faith is far more than than the "ruling elite" of the clergy. What Trump has perpetrated in his governance: truth does not matter; spewing brazen personal attacks against others who were honestly elected who wanted to exercise their constitutional mission for checks and balances jand just simple matters of matters of humanity - separating immigrant parents from their children--reminds me too much of the Nazi regime. There - I said it.
196
I agree with one point: "Trump drives news circulation"
51
The aid ultimately was delivered to Ukraine. So, bribery or extortion is perfectly OK provided it is thwarted by public exposure. That’s the quality of moral analysis you get from “religious conservatives,” such as Kevin. But whatever you do, don’t “jeer at religious conservatives.”
189
"Hopefully, the coming I.G. report will be worse than we’ve been led to believe.." Kevin wants the FBI to infiltrate a presidential campaign and commit all the other offenses the right wingers have been imagining?
35
Really 1.6k people opining and taking seriously this column...let’s all just take a deep breath and let this man express his views and thoughts..so what...however the Schiff/ Javert comparison is funny and kind of on the mark..
30
This is the best opinion piece I have read in the NYT in 3 years.
69
Abolish the Electoral College.
156
So, Kevin Dowd gets one more forum, his sister's column, in which to declare his never ending love for Donald J. Trump and to his claims of what Trump has done for this country. So..Where is that border wall that Mexico is scheduled to pay for? (The repairs of the existing FENCES do not count.) So where are all the billions and billions of tax cuts that that phony tax reform legislation was going to give to the masses of small business people? Right into the hands of the 2%. I will stop there and go have something to eat: Turkey of course.
78
Regarding readers' comments on abortion (Personally I'm ambivalent; this moral issue is above my pay grade.):
Our progressive friends often claim to believe in science, to be rigorously rational. Yet, they have never explain to me why a developing baby in the womb is not a living human being. If a formed baby in the womb is not a living human being, please explain exactly what it is?
Perhaps some NYT readers can explain? Thank you in advance.
31
We have made too many excuses for Mr Trump. He is odious. Hillary Clinton was the only person he could have defeated. We democrats have to accept that. Mr Trump causes or deserves hatred, is highly offensive and is repugnant and disgusting. Odious. Odious. Odious.
64
Kevin, you forgot to mention all the people of the same high quality as Trump that he surrounds himself and associates with.
69
Wall Street is going nuts the same reason kids go nuts when they know no one will punish them if they behave badly. We are headed for another Bush era plunge. As for liberals "sneering" at conservative Christians, holy heck, Barack Obama lived a more Christian life, in office and out, than our current president, who only uses the Christian right to get votes. If anybody is laughing and sneering at them, it's POTUS.
175
OMG I can’t even with the excuses. Trump is beyond despicable. His hatefulness, lying, and vulgarity alone are reasons to impeach him. Glad Kevin is sleeping well because most of us are having nightmares.
132
Well, he sure trolled us liberals real good. But at least I know what the Fox News talking points are without having to watch that godforsaken channel.
138
And what does Kevin have to say about bashing of Gold Star parents, FBI, and Intelligence agencies?
100
Does Kevin admire Trump for being a man of God? Help me.
63
Oh, pass the pepper!
14
Please, pass the cranberry sauce.
15
yes, mocking the disabled, gold star families and draft evasion, extortion, bribery and possibly treason are all admirable traits Kevin. So insightful Kevin.
108
Brilliant!
19
I hear fear...
19
"I applaud his unconditional support of the police at a time when I worry we’re returning to a ’60s-style “police are pigs” mind-set."
It's amazing. Veneration for the police is at its highest among Americans than it's been in my lifetime, and it's all because black people had the temerity to protest that the police stop killing them for minor infractions or for nothing at all.
111
Hang in there, Maureen. At least your brother didn't try to defend Trump's pardoning of rogue American soldiers convicted of war crimes... or grabbing women by their private parts. Perhaps he might even believe our 17 intelligence agencies over what Vladimir Putin says?.... I know, you're afraid to ask and find out.... and I can see why.
68
"The Washington Post reached a new journalistic low when it described the world’s No. 1 terrorist as an “austere religious scholar,” after our forces cornered him and he blew himself up."
The Washington Post corrected its mistake. The question is, Kevin, will you correct any of yours?
78
Your brother forgot to mention the shining moral example Trump sets by consorting with porn stars and using his privilege power and money to keep them quiet until after the election. The pride he feels knowing that Trump is behind locking up immigrant children in cages. The relief he feels now that Finally a president has warmed up to our brothers supporting freedom for all...Russia/USSR and hey how has NATO protected anyone for sixty years. The Red and the Blue need to divide. Reconciliation is impossible.
43
So Kevin is OK with the president's bending US foreign policy to his personal rather than the nation's ends?
74
Report from the Dark Side. If you don't want any health care insurance, The Don is your guy. If you want more climate-killing CO2 from fossil fuel extraction that's also contaminating our ground water, The Don really "digs coal"! If you want more gun massacres of our school children and your loved ones, The Don is your straight shooter on Fifth Avenue and everywhere else. If you want concentration camps posing as detention centers for immigrant children including infants separated from the parents where many are dying, The Don is your "great white knight." If you think holding up a bank and stealing its money [think, for example, Congressionally authorized funds for Ukraine to obtain military weapons from us], but handing it over when caught is not a crime, The Don and his Gang of Eight (Barr, Giuliani, Mulvaney, Pence, Perry, Pompeo, Sondland, and Volker) is your vision of Team America. If you want government of Trump, by Trump, and for Trump, The Don is the man is 2020. God helps us all!
145
"Have you looked at the alternative?"...you don't have to look too far; how about Maureen?! She can juggle with words; she can write not only tweets but full articles regularly in a paper "popular" all across America (and few outlying areas of the world :) )
Unfortunately, there are some people like you who have not heard the name--The New York Times.
15
Astonishingly superficial, dismissive, and willfully ignorant.
179
Hurray for Kevin! He speaks for so many of us who have been disparaged ad nauseum by sis Maureen and the NYTimes.
47
Thank you for a BRILLIANT op-ed, Kevin.
Can’t wait to start reading the exploded-head-coments now... (but first I need to put some popcorn in the microwave).
47
I could not have put into words my own thoughts on current politics any better than this article does. Outstanding piece of writing that succinctly captures the case for supporting the re-election of President Trump. Thank you, Kevin.
38
you should contribute here more often :)
34
Most Honest Op ed The Times has written all year.
43
Brother's views are basically Fox talking points and misinformation.
124
.....Wow!
In what world does Kevin reside in.
I do not recognize it.
57
Your brother sounds like someone who needs to read his sister's writing. Just saying.
40
I mean really, Kevin, if you don’t get it by now.....
49
I just came home from a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends. All of us have been in San Francisco long enough to remember what it was like in the early 80's when the plague ravaged across the city. We all lost many friends, we're all old now and we're all ever so grateful. I opened the Times website and started the read the Charles Blow piece, but then I came across Kevin Talks Turkey. What a great ending to a great day.
17
Not H. L. Mencken, to be sure, nor Ambrose Bierce, but this is a pretty good, nicely written, curmudgeonly apologia.
12
Children in cages, Kevin. Children in cages...
64
Sounds like a fun family gathering. If it were me, I'd order in pizza
24
I remember when certain types best arguement against the Iraq War was the way Bush said nukular instead of nuclear. No possibility of blow back there.
Bloomberg is advertising in Houston. It sounds like he's making Beto's campaign talking points. The New Green Deal (in Houston?) and gun regualtion ought to get out the votes out for Republicans like it did with Cruz. does the guy know what country he's living in?
2
How far must I keep scrolling down before I find a commentator who agrees with Kevin's positions?
10
Being antiabortion isn't necessarily a religious opinion. One can oppose abortion and be nonreligious. Secular people can freely come to the opinion that killing unborn humans is horrible and should only be done as a last resort and never as birth control. A culture that allows abortion for birth control is a corrupt culture.
15
The word “corrupt” means acting dishonestly for money or personal gain. I don’t see how that applies to a woman’s right to choose.
60
Wow...direct talking points from Fox News and other so-called conservative media. I have two friends who voted for and support Trump and it's AMAZING how they say the exact same thing, almost word for word. There's a groupthink that seems to be completely blind to who Trump really is, what he does and how he does it because they rely on others to tell them and point to the straw men of liberals, Democrats, the Clintons, socialism, whatever. We are in deep doo-doo here.
86
Thank God people like Kevin are a minority of American voters. A quirk of history gave them a disproportionate share of our country's electoral votes.
54
Well…
There you have it.
Donald Trump came to Washington to “drain the swamp.” What he’s managed to do is convince nearly half of America that Washington is as bad as Donald Trump.
But Trump is worse. Sure, Washington, DC, was not the bastion principled unselfish politicians and efficient governance. Yes, of course, there was a certain level of cynicism about politicians and government amongst the populace.
However, past presidents led by creating a positive vision for America and its place of leadership world based on our values. Not one where America wins only if everyone else loses.
Trump won by exploiting the fears and grievances of less than half of the electorate. He continues to govern through the creation of a cult of personality and gaslighting his followers into thinking that its supreme leader is infallible.
I find Kevin’s entire argument convincing, yet I’m having none of it.
15
So Trump worked construction with those darn bone spurs? Poor guy must have suffered terribly.
76
Many people reach Kevin's conclusions through the same path -- Donald Trump has packed the courts with anti-abortion judges. Not one other thing on his list really matters. Kevin wrote:
"I support the president for his economy, his jobless rate and ... [record] stock market that his deregulation fueled. I applaud his unconditional support of the police ... I feel safe ... with the way the president is handling Iran and North Korea. Most of all, I support him for saving the Supreme Court from Hillary Clinton."
Trump's economic numbers are nothing. Most are a continuation of the trend established by Obama. Some of the Stock market numbers reflect the billions of tax breaks given to corporations and the very wealthy.
Iraq, Iran, and N Korea are wild cards.
All that mattered to Kevin was "saving" the courts from Hillary Clinton. That is Mr Trump's ace in the hole. It does not matter that he threatens the rule of law, the safety of our allies, he tacitly supports resurgent Russia while weakening US threatening US interests.
All that matters to Kevin is the threat of abortion.
84
Kevin rationalizes his views by leaving out important portions of our reality (policies on immigration, environment, corruption, misogynie, Russia), partly swallowing some of the hallucinations of Trumps success (on economy, etc.) for the sole benefit of some policies he likes (conservative judges, abortion, etc.) and because of his fears of the "left". None of the democratic candidates is really left, in fact they are much more mainstream and certainly less radical than "far-right" Trump.
40
Sorry, you don't get a pass for admitting to not liking Trump's style. His supporters have learned that line well.
37
It's all fun and games until something happens and we suddenly need a functioning government and a president with working cerebral cortex. We are one disaster away from a catastrophe. It's funny until it's not.
103
I imagine that Kevin is retired and wonder if he would have tolerated a co-worker, professional colleague or, worse yet, boss, as erratic and unethical as DJT in a company or career he cared about.
62
This is so disheartening to read. Kevin is merely spouting Fox talking points without giving evidence, or worse, making naive and untrue statements, such as crediting Trump for the economy that Obama created. It's my guess that Kevin has good health insurance (or Medicare: socialism!) and a stock portfolio that is rising in paper value due to the artificial pumping that low interest rates and low capital gains tax has produced. He is blind to the suffering Trump has inflicted on innocents and the vulnerable: children, migrants, the poor, Kurds and Ukrainians—and the environment that we all depend upon. And perhaps worst of all, he groups together as a monolith all who disagree with him as "liberals" to be despised, especially if they respect the First Amendment's separation of church and state, or worse, do not share his delusions about god and the superiority of Christians.
So disheartening to read.
80
Why? Really what is the point? Just another person willing to support a president who has no moral code, lies, cheats--and this is with his own family and associates. Is this president at any price? The price of such disregard will be paid eventually. I cannot wait till he is voted out of office and in jail.
53
Lolololololol
Like far too many on the right, Mr. Dowd, your view of Trump’s strongest accomplishment seems to be his infuriating the media and the broader left. What wonderful times we live in!
If you believe in law and order and being tough on crime, then you must either also have to believe that the president is above the law or that he should be impeached. No fair heckling the democrats for being soft on blue collar crime and then rationalizing away the quid pro quo (and general corruption) of your hero.
56
As a Canadian I should perhaps not comment. As a human being on this planet I must. How can a reasonably intelligent person support Trump, his values and ad hoc policies ? His impact is being felt worldwide and we are the worst for it ( except Russia and China who are gaining allies/partners worldwide).
Meanwhile drink a lot during Thanksgiving and hope you have no memory of family conversations.
58
A certain Person once said, "Feed the hungry, clothe the naked. help the sick, visit the prisoner, love one another as i have loved you."
I believe the Dems are better at following those instructions, not perfect, far from it, than the Republicans.
Independent
86
The democrats didn't lose the 2016 election. They were up against a rigged system. The "electoral college" voted for Trump. Not the people.
62
Kevin reinforces my decision to ignore any and all religions while raising my family.
Thank you Kevin.
71
This makes me wish there was a geographical way to divide the two Americas. I don’t want to live in Kevin’s America any more than he wants to live in mine.
91
I try as hard as I can to see things from points of view different from my own. That said, though as Psychologist I have hunches about what draws certain types of people to Trump, as a civilian, I can no more see things from Maureen's brother's point of view than I can empathize with a Flat-Earther.
53
Trump is in Afghanistan, proposing a deal to the Taliban? What could go wrong?
29
People please,
In my lifetime whenever we have had great government we have had a democratically controlled government.
FDR saved America. Clinton presided over a federal surplus which was thought at the time would go on indefinitely. Obama saved our car industry and fought to give all Americans health insurance. By the way We taxpayers got our money back from the car bailout. Trump increased our debt by well over a trillion dollars with his tax cut for his rich friends. He purchased republican loyalty on the backs of future generations. He doesn't have to worry about his grandchildren paying the bill. This tax cut should save his family an estimated four billion in taxes. How big was your tax cut? Will your grandchildren be better off because of this tax cut?
Why should we protect a President brought to power By Putin? Is this the best for America? It certainly doesn't seem so. Also I'm a little surprised When he has already told well over 12,000 lies. This president and his enablers have made
lies the new form of republican truth. The idea is if you tell the same lie enough times it magically become a new truth. And of course for you Mr. Dowd and others like you I guess it works. I fear for our democracy. Corruption can not be held as an acceptable method to achieve and hold power. Our democracy is being destroyed from within, if we let it go unchecked we have only our unenlightened selves to blame.
62
Kevin ignores many facts that disprove his narrative. He lives in a delusional world of Mr. Trump's own construction that is divorced from reality.
Kevin should stop drinking Mr. Trump's cool aid -- the economy is growing at a slower rate now that when he took office, Iran is on the road to developing nuclear weapons, North Korea remains a threat, stonewalling does not turn a wrong into a right, etc. If all Kevin does is listen to Mr. Trump's lies and those of the Fox pundits, I fear for our democracy.
47
While the majority of issues, conundrums and overlooked problems with Trump are evident in this essay, Kevin (and the rest of the climate-deniers) fail to see the really significant environmental problems on the horizon which will dwarf the political and religious divide that has been placed between us.
Not a peep........
27
At least Maureen Dowd still speaks to her sister and brother even though they do not share her politics. Some families have had a parting of the ways because of their political differences. This is so silly as everyone is entitled to their opinions. At this time of year with Christmas just around the corner family is so important. Nothing should ever divide or split families apart. After all it is only politics.
488
@KMW It's "only politics" if your life isn't threatened by Trump administration policies. As one example, Jeff Sessions' neutering of consent decrees and their enforcement pretty much guarantees more minorities will be killed by the police going forward. The freedom to be carefree about Trump and his policies is one more thing we can chalk up to white privilege.
436
@KMW I have to immensely and respectfully disagree with the "After all it is only politics" part of your comment. When you are one of the many members of counbtless marginalized communities in this country right now being constantly attacked emotionally, intellectually, and physically by this person occupying the Oval Office and/or his countless followers everyday, "politics" is not even on your radar. There is an immense difference between political differences and the morality/immorality discussions, I am sure many families had this holiday and will have again with the holidays ahead. Political conversations seem secondary at the moment.
19
@KMW I agree with you. Love is eventually going to figure this mess out.
In the mean time, what better place to remember that we're all in this together then around a table with loved ones? I really enjoyed the photo Kevin. He looks like a nice man and I'd have dinner with him. Just like Archie Bunker, I bet he's a lovable guy too!
3
Kevin, there is such as thing as the rule of law and Trump doesn't abide by or respect it.
38
The only word that referred to the environment in this article was "deregulation." Trump is the earth's worst nightmare, and when every other harmful policy of his has faded away, the disastrous consequences of his anti-environmentalism will remain. The writer evidently doesn't care. It isn't even a blip on his screen.
40
“The worst candidate in political history” won the popular vote by almost 3 million votes. If you do not believe that the overwhelming majority of Americans should have no say in how America should be governed or should not have a leader that recognizes he needs to govern for all Americans, not just himself, then Maureen Dowd’s brother must have been born and raised in North Korea.
30
Sadly, Trump will win in 2020 and then refuse to leave 2024 unless his son is elected. What will Kevin do then?
6
I couldn't read it. Trump has been running roughshod over the Constitution for three years and all this man is worried about is that he believes (wrongly) that liberals look down on him because he believes in his version of Santa Claus.
35
In your sister's world and Kevin's, is the climate crisis "normal variation"? Is elimination of protections for the environment a good idea? Because if every other thing Trump did was dictated by God, what he seeks to do to the environment we depend on for life makes him guilty of the worst crime imaginable. But I guess protecting the "unborn" is more important than protecting the children already living and their future children if they have any.
28
After three years of this farce of an administration, embarrassment of a president, and the wholesale attack on our domestic and international institutions, i no longer tolerate the willful ignorance of a Trumper. I let them have it.
40
I agree with Kevin on his view of the Democrats although I like Bloomberg, Biden, Pete, Amy, if the alternative to trump is sanders or Warren, I’ll sit at home. Pretty much disagree on Trumps “accomplishments”. I feel like Kevin when I read Charles Blow today. I’ll take trump before woke liberal idiocy.
13
People like Kevin, those smart enough to know better, frighten me. They would rather give our country to Putin than get rid of an amoral and disgusting autocrat. 4 years ago I tried to understand / engage/ reconcile with these folks. After being slapped away, I stopped. I now actively avoid them. It has de-stressed my life.
36
You are a good sister, Maureen.
Thanks for the insight into narrow issue wrestling lovers.
Kevin is just going to be Kevin, like his president.
Happy days, to you.
10
I would love to ask Kevin if anything he believes about Hilary Clinton came from an objective source, i.e. not Fox News and their ilk or a Republican talking head. Also, his statement echoing Nikki Haley that nothing wrong was done because there was no investigation and the aid was released is so ridiculous (look up Writer Jonathan Chait's "Sideshow Bob defense") that he is either being disingenuous or is simply too ignorant to have a meaningful dialogue with.
25
Thank you for this column. I, a staunch anti-Trumper, have always wanted to know how intelligent people could support Trump. Kevin's well-written essay was exactly what I needed to read.
12
Yes - he sounds just like my own highly educated brother. God forgive him.
13
I wonder if, in his condemnation of the DNC, Kevin is aware of the fact that during the Constitutional Convention of 1787, Benjamin Franklin made a motion to start each daily session with a prayer. The motion failed.
After scuttling the idea of a daily invocation, the Framers produced a secular document, with Article VI guaranteeing that "no religious test shall ever required as a Qualification to any office or public Trust under the United States."
Kevin can believe what he wants; the republic was founded on the principle of separation of church and state.
64
I agree with Kevin's ramblings on one thing : let the voters decide.
The remainder is a spew, and whether you agree it's a spew or all true, demonstrates why political parties are a particularly horrible way of organizing complex issues in one package.
11
Why did I read this, I don’t know I thought , maybe, maybe I could find a whisper of understanding. But for me, none. And I thought, this is the thinking in control of our country, does it deserve a nanosecond more coverage? No, please no. Just so we can have a day of peace. My elderly parents are so distraught at the direction the world is going, my father, a scientist, is withdrawn and apologizes for the world we have left his grandchildren. There is nothing amusing or informative about this column, at all.
100
Kevin can't vote agaist Trump because the other side (the Dems) won't support religious encomiums in their platforms and because they defend the right of women to have control over their bodies. But he can scoff at truly un christian behavior by the man who is spposed to inspire our children. Kevin can't see the moral damage done by a president who insults people on a daily basis. What does Kevin tell his children "this president is doing his best to bring us together "
But the worst part of Kevin's shrug it offf stance toward anything the man does" comes in his dismissal of the charges for which Trump is being impeached. We're supposed to find it all right to try to rig one more election.
58
Ms. Dowd does us all a service to step aside for her Republican pro-Trump brother. Notice what is missing: concern that our foreign policy has been handed over to the Kremlin, concern that the rule of law is being atrophied by Trump and his minions at every turn, sustained cruelty to the less fortunate at every opportunity, tilting the American economy even more dramatically toward the rich as our deficit swells like never before. He is an ideal representative for the president he lionizes: invective is king, the national interest does not matter, rational arguments are never offered. All this so Mr. Dowd can feel safe in his bed, as if he tossed in turmoil while Obama presided.
82
This explains why the 'let's all sit down and get to know each other' argument doesn't work. There is no reasoning or talking to people like this. They will keep their idea as long as it serves them. When they no longer get rewards for their beliefs, they'll give them up. Certainly not by my or a great debater explaining it to them. They need to hit ROCK BOTTOM just like other addicts. Then, they might actually find SANITY.
45
Because of his all-consuming hatred of abortion, Kevin is willing to sleep with the Devil.
I'm a Catholic like Kevin, but my Jesuit mentors taught me that religion is my personal, my personal, relationship with God. I'm supposed to be guided by my conscience. So, they can legislate all the abortion rights laws they want, but it doesn't mean that everybody is mandated to follow them. It's a personal choice and everyone is responsible for his/her own action.
88
Thaank you. My Catholic educators taught me the same. They also taught me to think for myself , to seek & value education, and to reapect people of all faiths
34
Wow! This guy's comments are why, despite trying so hard to give Trump supporters the benefit of the doubt, I fear that my kids' futures can't possibly include pride in their country. Kevin has done a great job memorizing the Republican's prescribed talking points, so congrats to him for that. I likely won't be alive when people like him fade away, but I hope that happens in time for my kids to enjoy it.
I can't imagine Maureen Dowd having to deal with this.
52
Give the man a column! Seriously!
25
Maureen must have observed Kevin's development from an early age and might venture some guess as to what happened. Where and when was the bifurcation that determined her brother's and sister's beliefs as opposed to hers? In any family that has a similar fissures, what explains the divergence? Is it personality? Early life experiences, or exposure to a larger world?
13
Maybe exposure to heavy metals?
27
Don’t forget birth order!
3
It is truly disheartening to see someone so terribly misinformed .. about so many things. My first impulse was to itemize all the assertions that were demonstrably fallacious. But, to what avail?
Clearly, the Trump electorate finds the fact-based world to be anathema, and would deny the existence of the sun .. as they go blind staring at it.
I give thanks this day, that I'm not one of them ....
58
Whoops. He forgot about the thousands of Latin American children separated from their parents and placed in concentration camps.
Or the pardoning of war criminals.
Or the breaking of treaties.
Or the abandoning of allies and cozying up to bullies.
Or ...
76
He also forgot climate change. All such apologists for POTUS do.
25
Dear Kevin:
Turn off FOX. They don’t actually care about informing you.
Talk to your sister instead. She does want to inform you.
Good luck!
57
Maureen, it would be all right with me if you dropped this thanksgiving tradition of yours. Basically, your brother regurgitates Sean Hannity and TrumpTV. I already make it my habit to visit this alternative universe and so is column wasn't provocative in that sense. It would be a more interesting column if your brother Kevin would write the column about 'the Democrat' of his dreams---and in that case (the Democrat of his dreams) would he accept the morality of that idealized someone if they lied about everything from the critical to the banal, is venal, can't articulate a coherent sentence, is ignorant and doesn't read, surrounds himself with family members masquerading as diplomats and ambassadors, doesn't release tax returns, thinks nothing of extramarital sex with porn stars, and I am just getting started...please channel my question to your brother....by the way, you are more loving than I would be. You can't choose your family but you can choose your friends and that is whom you should be spending your Thanksgiving with....pass the gravy, please.
69
Sounds like he's a typical Fox News viewer.
46
Your brother has allowed others to do his thinking.
67
His piece reads as Fox News greatest hits.
59
One of my best friends from college (graduated in 1976 ) who is now a physician, is exactly Kevin in another body. I sent him an article the other day about the firing of the navy secy and my disagreement about Trump's pandering to the war criminal Eddie Gallagher. He called me an idiot. I feel sorry for Maureen's brother Kevin and my friend. They have both jumped the shark.
62
This is why I love reading the NYT. The comments section is THE BEST! Thank you, commenters, for getting beyond the snarky one-liners, having intelligent ideas and responses, and for reading the articles and giving them a spin in your head before unloading in complete sentences.
That said.....I wonder how Kevin views Nixon and Watergate? Quid Pro Quo as usual? Burglars R Us? Maureen, would you ask him to weigh in? Pass me some turkey will you?
47
How convenient that Kevin left out the unforgivable and traitorous comments Trump made in Helsinki. Donald Trump is Vladimir Putin's sock puppet!
Speaker Pelosi knows the truth!
All roads with Trump lead to Putin.
He must be stopped!
68
Kevin.....Assuming you have grandchildren, how will you explain to them your defense of a president who lied endlessly, and who bragged about grabbing women’s private parts?
56
With all respect for Kenvin he forgot Trumps biggest achievement namely we have now white Christian hate groups hating other white Christian hate groups.
26
Nice column Maureen!
4
Hey Kev, what about climate change and the undeniable and imminent demise of the earth? Crickets.
29
Thank you, Kevin, for expressing the thoughts that most of us in fly-over country believe. I, too, voted for Trump, not because I thought he was the next Jefferson or Lincoln, but because he wasn't Hillary Clinton. Why our betters in the main-stream elite press do not understand this is beyond me.
15
ok...I will give you that...yet how can you-or anyone-continue to support him now? Seriously. I'm legit asking.
23
Maureen: this is like listening to Fox News...
46
Well, I can see that Maureen and Kevin share a gene for the ability to craft caustic one-liners. But where she has an astute eye for contemporary issues and the people in power, he has some serious blinders on. I will say that in his two-by-two rejection of the Democratic presidential hopefuls, I have to agree with him that Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg would be the strongest pragmatic choices and adaptable leaders if either or both were to trump trump at the polls in a year. And he is right that the consensus of Democrats will fail to recognize that and miss the chance to take over the White House from the worst president who has ever lived there. That leaves Washington, and given Kevin's extraordinary lack of discernment, perhaps he thinks trump is the better one.
16
Gee whiz too bad he is going to be impeached !!
20
Kevin - there is no one so blind as he who would not see. Happy Thanksgiving anyway, you and your family.
29
The outrage that Kevin's opinions produce is amazing. It's also one of the roots of our polarization. I disagree with Kevin but don't feel outraged about his opinions in his sister's column. I've always been interested in hearing from others with whom I don't agree. I hope Kevin returns again, preferably sooner than next Thanksgiving.
18
Kevin Dowd, if you drive with your eyes closed you'll eventually run into something that you didn't see coming.
55
The only point I wish to respond to is the oft-repeated one that the president makes policy and the bureaucrats should carry it out without comment. Or some variant thereof
Is it not fair to say that that principle should not be absolute? If Hillary had been elected, and then said that Ukraine had to donate $100 million to the Clinton Foundation before they could get their weapons, would that not bother you? Would that not be somehow out of line, out of the norms that professional diplomats would find acceptable? Would that not move one or more of them to try to alert their superior to it, perhaps file a whistle blower complaint?
That's all that has ever been the question in this event. Many in the State department were bothered by not because a quid pro quo was demanded, but because of what was demanded and for what apparent reason.
And some did quit, sir.
42
I am thankful we live in a country where the majority of the people do NOT think like Kevin, even if Trump is reelected by the EC. I'm also thankful to have spent my US life in states that don't have an R majority like CA, WA, and NY. Wouldn't have it any other way. (Yes, I know about how my vote counts here.) Cheer up Democrats - one day the pendulum will swing back and it'll be like 2008 all over again. Sure, America would've been in decline and would need to be set right again but we can get back to taking that two steps forward again. The nature of regressive behaviour is that it'll always fight back.
26
I am glad I read this because the quote from Elizabeth Taylor was brilliant. I don't know if 20 or 30 years from now the GenX'ers' or Z ers will ever generate such wit, if they continue to punish others for displaying a sense of humor.
10
Ms. Dowd, you can choose your friends but you can't choose your family. Half my family are solid Republicans who support Trump. The other half are Roosevelt Democrats. We still speak to each other, but not about politics.
10
How entertaining that the most top-of-mind and tangible issue on Talking Points Kevin’s mind is the economy, which was a gift from the Obama administration.
59
Well, as a wise man once said, "You can't logically persuade someone who didn't arrive at his opinions by logic". We are arguing against fundamental < beliefs > which are unlikely for person to ever change. Religious fundamentalists who want to impose their faith on our nation threaten the liberty of us all.
47
Oh dear.
Kevin we are at war with Russia.
I hope you are practicing your Cyrillic script.
22
I had hoped on Thanksgiving that there would be more appreciation here for farmers and other rural Americans who actually harvest food or otherwise participate in food production - even though they may share Kevin's political views. While commenters do seem more generally charitable, many seem to be under the mistaken belief that most farmers (and even most rural people) are hypocrites and even "wards of the state" (as Paul Krugman recently put it, 10/31/19).
To clear this NYT misperception promoted, just because 40% of farm income is associated with some form of federal aid (USDA statistic) does NOT mean that the average farmer has 40% of their income coming from taxpayers. (Farm income is not normally distributed and Dr. Krugman surely knows.) The majority of farm subsidies go to the largest 10% of our farms - the very "farms" or agribusinesses that small farms (like ours) have to compete against without the benefit of subsidies. The majority of American farms are under 100 acres and do not see a cent of direct farm subsidy. Many (if not most) of these farms require outside employment in order to pay the bills. Many of us believe that nonindustrial/small-scale food production is a matter of national security - and that Thanksgiving is the best holiday of the year.
18
Hilarious! And much of that humor is SO funny because it rings true. Probably couldn’t take Kevin too often, but once a year he’s great.
4
There’s not one reason on his list that isn’t either a Fox News talking point, a flat out lie, or both (which is by far the biggest category of defense).
North Korea and Iran are both closer to nuclear statehood than ever before. The economy is a mirage, benefiting the few at the direct expense of the many. And police malfeasance is higher than ever vis-a-vis crime rates, which are at historic lows.
The thing that frightens me the most about our country is how many people believe things that are so categorically and demonstrably false.
69
Dear brother Dowd, I used to be like you: a lifelong registered Republican. White. Family guy. Christian. I live in the suburb of a busy city. That is to say, Trump should be "my kind of guy", right? No way. He can't lead anything but a private family business. He cares more about policy decisions based on whether it "keeps his voter base" than whether it actually helps people/Americans. His use of swear words and his policy decisions, especially how he has torn families apart, are completely at odds with my Christian religion. I love the economy, but I'm not sure I can trust Trump for helping my portfolio, because in truth, I can't trust Trump. To me, that's what it really comes down to. I used to say I vote for a person who values the American ideal, but I just don't think if our current president even knows what that means.
108
Stock market is going up because of the too low interest rates and share buy backs thanks to the corporate tax cut gifts by this administration . This cut is a short term gain for long term pain.
Regulation cutting is also a long term liability for short term profit. Letting businesses do as they like without need to worry on consequences for the environment is a receipts for disaster. No policy achievement here by Trump. Just marketing. These actions will need to be reversed sooner or later to avoid complete breakdown of society.
Only reason Kevin is now a happy guy, is because he feels relevant again, with another old ignorant Archie Bunker white male in the WH. Kevin knows perfectly well that Trump is a fraud.
However both are threatened by the new multi cultural , educated and tech savvy generations coming up behind them Trump is an aberration an extinct and dying breed. No worries fellow sane citizens of earth. Time is on our side.
72
@M.Short: Good investments are drying up, so people buy stock that doesn’t even come with voting rights.
3
This sort of narrow-minded, the end justify the means, and short-sighted believes that Trump supporters exhibit will be the reason for the downfall of the Republican party.
They have chosen to follow an orange-haired snake oil salesman who will lead them down a path to irrelevancy.
November 2020 can't come sooner for this Independent.
41
Unconditional support for the police!
Wow!
And this is a guy who takes offense because liberals are not showing enough deference to his "Christian" values.
How tone-deaf can you be? .. I mean, not just for such a supposedly "sensitive" Christian, but for any human being? Deeply disturbing really. God help you Maureen.
49
Haven't checked out Maureen's column in about a year. I think it will be much longer before I check in again. Her brother likes what DT is doing with North Korea?
Really, that's funny.
33
I am a Catholic pro lifer and have encountered pro abortion folks who have said some terrible things about my religion. All we are trying to do is save the babies but that upsets them so. I do not understand why as we are also thinking of the mothers who abort. They are also Trump haters.
Kevin Dowd is correct when he says that not one Democratic presidential candidate supports the pro life cause. This is why they have lost the support of many in their party. They are also very progressive on many of the issues such as free college tuition and no limits on illegal immigration. Everything they are for I am against. It sounds like Mr. Dowd is too. What a very smart man.
15
@KMW
Sorry, more children die from malnutrition and poor care than there are fetuses aborted. Doing much work there to get the government to enure basic food and care for all children?
The US has executed more than 100 innocent men in the last 20 years - are you out there marching and agitating against the death penalty?
So, not really pro-life, just anti-abortion - why not use an accurate name for your belief?
39
@KMW: “Kevin Dowd is correct when he says that not one Democratic presidential candidate supports the pro life cause.”
I could be wrong but I think the reason “pro-life” people and “pro-choice” people can never compromise is due solely — or at least primarily — to the “pro-life” people.
I think that many “pro-choice” people share my feeling that Roe v. Wade struck a reasonable compromise but “pro-life” people believe that, from the moment the sperm fertilizes the egg, that “being” deserves to be protected.
15
@KMW
The opposite of the “pro life” people is not the “pro abortion” people, but the “pro choice” people. There’s a large difference between “pro abortion” and “pro choice.”
Pro lifers want everyone to toe the line according to their beliefs. Pro choicers do not dictate to anyone what they should do, but leave the decision up to each individual.
As a pro choice person, I am fine with you - or any other pro lifer - to carry any pregnancy to term. But I am also fine with someone making their own choice if they believe an abortion would be the best choice at the time, due whatever circumstances caused them to make their choice.
21
I’ll forever live in wonder how most every right wing god-fearing Christian including Kevin can totally ignore Trump’s determination to degrade their god’s creation, earth, in every way possible.
64
Maureen, will you do us a favor some day and write a serious column about Secretary Clinton. As you see it, her professional strengths and weaknesses/ so too her personal ones.
Good luck at dinner tonight. Just don’t talk politics!
5
Kevin,
I had a sit-down talk with a Forever-Trumper in the park yesterday who reminds me of you and here is what I told him.
99 percent of the American people know in their heart of hearts that Trump is a pathological nonstop liar, a chronic tax cheat, has been colluding with Putin since before he came down the elevator, was a draft dodger and has made a lifetime habit of grabbing women he doesn't know on airplanes and in hotel rooms.
The remaining one percent cannot be statistically accounted for
because they are in no mental condition to respond to surveys
The 45 percent of the 99 percent of which you are a proud member don't give a hoot in Hades about this, you and they will continue to support him regardless.
The country is already in a disastrous mess politically, and by the time Trump and you are through with us -- if that time ever comes -- the trouble we will be in will likely have become irreversible and irreparable.
The great bulk of this trouble will inevitably be visited on our children and grandchildren.
Meaning that you Kevin, and the rest of your 45 percent, will have deprived them of a chance of ever growing up in a normal, democrat, decent America.
Do I expect you and the 45 to voice any concern about this before joyfully voting for Trump again in 2020.
No, frankly I don't.
53
99 percent. I would live to see your “source.”
4
nobody cares what your brother thinks. surely you've heard this feedback before?
76
Why am I reading this? I'm 62, but this is an old white guy and it shows. All the points here show the fear that an older generation has about the country changing. It's amazing how fear constricts the imagination.
69
I can't believe that I actually pay for home delivery and digital access, and this dribble is supported.
36
He said nothing about the environment except snark about turkeys. He said nothing about our standing globally. All he did was reiterate a Faux News summary. Really, you were raised in the same household???
27
Maureen,
Allow me to say how sorry I feel for you. I know that your sister and brother are not dim witted, if for no other reason than they are related to you. However, they certainly do a good imitation. Good luck to you!!
18
I really read this. always open to arguments from the opposite side - but when I got to the piece " Venezuela for a holiday" to cure you from the arguments from E.Warren and B.Sanders, when they ask for more social justice, I feel for you Americans, I see what you are up against.....how can you compare a Democratic party in the USA with a complete corrupt gangster regime..?
actually I think Mr.Trump is fine with the government of Venezuela, they are the same breed, Mr.Maduro and his croonies - simple greed
42
Maureen
My sincere condolences
36
Religious conservatives are misogynists who do not see women as human beings. It is sad to read yet again the mistake that most people make; it is not the Executive that makes policy, but the Legislature and it is the Bureaucracy that executes the policies. Basic American Government. But hey, since educational public policy has been treated like a stepchild, there are way too many badly educated Americans. And, oh, by the way, you can thank the Republicans for this situation. It is a great way to control a country, control the information/education.
27
I haven't felt so threatened since I had to sign a loyalty oath to graduate from grade school and high school in NYC during the McCarthy era. No doubt your brother hates me because I am an American who is a Jew (not an Israeli thank you). And no doubt, he can't see the value of patiots like Colonel Vindman - another American who happens to be Jewish - Ambassador Yovanovich and the rest of us who care about this country and understand and value the constitution. Maureen's brother has the right to speak but I suggest that since he likes autocracy, he emigrate to Russia.
57
North Korea. Sure. Trump is certainly winning.
20
Sorry to say, but Kevin is part of the problem.
53
Oh dear, I hope Ms Dowd doesn't make this a holiday tradition.
30
too late.
9
Kevin, you live in an alternative universe where facts are discarded and you can say whatever you want. It's unfortunate that Ms. Dowd has to share her Thanksgiving table with someone like this. But unless we understand others we will never find any common ground. Listen, listen, listen, try to understand, ask questions. You don't have to agree but it's positive to try to understand
17
Poor, poor Kevin. The Democrats have officially recognized that religiously unaffiliated Americans like myself exist. However does he endure???
33
it isn't so much that Kevin cherry picks his "facts," but rather he merely cherry picks his prejudices.
34
Well, you asked for it. I think it would be so exhausting to counterpoint each of his arguments. Especially since he will only counterpoint each of your counterpoints with more faulty facts. No minds will be changed so my recommendation for you, Maureen, is to blow off political discussions ( I know, impossible in your family) and enjoy your time with the family. Your best counterpoint will be your vote in November.
9
This voice from a white entitled male is truly a cry of desperation in the final act of the Republican Party.
40
Kevin, Your fist and most important concerns are religious and oath of office.
How can you then support an oath-breaking, completely non-religious man who mouths the words So Help Me God while clearly not believing either in God or what he is swearing to uphold??
Yours sounds like a worse case of hypocrisy: to prefer Trump's venal lies to an honorable non-religious oath-swearer committing to abide by a principle to serve our county.
I notice you don't defend Trumps manifold demonstrations of lack of ethics and principle.
Religious believers should try finding a leader who isn't the preferred choice of racists, war criminals, spouse abusers, white collar criminals, and sexual predators, don't you think??
22
Kevan has benefited from a system designed to unfairly support a privileged white male, of course he loves Trump
31
I have siblings like this dude Kevin. Years ago I stopped attending all my family gatherings. Because of their deranged cackling, their feigning worldly wisdom. Their embracing hate and selfish prejudice like it's a flavor of ice cream.
This broad ignorance is the stuff of 1938 Europe. I don't hang with people like this any more. I.Don't.Miss.It.
44
Thank you Kevin! GOD bless.
Jim in Illinois
12
When Giuliani will be cornered and thrown under the bus, he will spill the beans he claims he has as “insurance”, let’s see how Kevin feels about Trump...
18
The journalistic nadir of the year.
21
Well, "deplorable" fits well here.
38
Ms Dowd, I simply love that you and your brother do this as an annual tradition!
7
Well my goodness, Kevin. I will address just one of the silly assertions you cooked up.
Religious conservatives include the Taliban, I sneer at them, and you should, too. But I suspect you are referring to the US brand of evangelical so called Christian conservatives, I don’t sneer at them so much as I consider them non existent. As a reader of the scriptures, you should not need to be told that Christ told us all what He considered the requirement to be one of His followers; seeing to one’s fellows. He also made clear at His lunch with the Pharisees (a seat of national power) that nations as men are obligated to see to their fellows. By those standards (Christ’s own standards, mind you) those millions of religious conservative Franklin Graham loving evangelicals are not Christian, and likely not really religious. They cannot be conservative and Christian, no matter their delusions to the contrary.
27
As my people would say, "Oy, vey's mir". How possibly could a person so intelligent and educated support the obviously criminal Trump administration?
16
Greetings Maureen,
Your brother Kevin showed us who he was a few years back during the Brett Kavanaugh debate. Enough said.
29
No interested in this dude at all. Enjoying the comments, however.
29
So, Trump's brofriend Putin doesn't give Kevin pause? Wake up and smell the turkey, Kevin, before it's too late.
24
The usual fact-free mishmush that animates every Trump supporter.
34
Happy Thanksgiving, Kevin!
I too love the way things are going. Daily, I log into the Times. The entire op-ed section is Trump-focused or Charles Blow losing his mind. It is a great time to be a Republican, or even a moderate.
We should be ashamed of Thanksgiving, then ashamed of our CO2 footprint, and then be filled with white guilt, etc, but the spirit of Thanksgiving is family and happiness. Liberals negative-nanny woke history rewriting is tiring and America is tired of it.
Let Warren win the nomination and Trump win 2020. I hope we get 4 more years of Dowd's brother.
God bless.
11
And we have to be nice to the Trump supporters, as an op-ed piece in this here newspaper tried to show us yesterday, why? They trash us, and nobody tells them anything about civility.
24
Maureen, I feel your pain. Blood is thicker than water and if you have a sibling who is thick, brainwashed, and/or a cult member, there's really nothing you can do about it. Here's the question I would like to ask your brother, 'Do you think Vlad believes in God?'
9
Kevin is the turkey for your thanksgiving column.
14
For Thanksgiving I'm thankful Kevin is not my brother
21
Love it!
3
Well, sorry Mo.
Your brother is a full bore Trumper member of the cult of personality.
I know you love him and you should.
But he is off his rocker with talking points, and unwilling to look at facts and reason.
He likely will never change, nor will his responses.
What Trump has really done is expose the sliding scale of ethics and morality and legality to suit the moment as employed by the GOP.
Good luck.
23
Kevin sees what he calls his religion not as a religion but as a tribe. A mean bullying tribe that despises the truth. It's ironic that he and tens of millions of other Americans name this nasty tribe after Jesus Christ, who was of a different sort.
22
After reading Maureen’s brother’s comments, her columns (particularly those about President Obama) finally make sense to me. It’s a condition that runs in the family.
14
No person of Irish descent should ever vote Republican these days. You’re supporting the same kind of hard-right, anti-immigrant people who harassed and attacked your ancestors.
You shame your heritage.
38
Just one word...Yikes!
12
It is astonishing that you, Maureen, validate Kevin’s dangerous nonsense. It’s the same kind of drivel that has permitted the Catholic Church to get away with years of sexual abuse. To what standards exactly, if any, does Brother Kevin hold the Presidency? Lies, stonewalling and obstruction of justice are okay because his vaunted Catholic church got away with it for years? Thou shalt not lie except when there’s financial enrichment to be had? How did Brother Kevin feel about Trump’s “unequivocal” condemnation of Saudi Arabia where Jamal Khashoggi, a journalist like yourself, was concerned? Was his dismemberment his own fault because he spoke and printed the truth? Not a few Republicans held their nose and voted for Trump. Three years later those of us with a sense of right and wrong, a sense of decency, are still holding our noses.
32
"Somewhere, Abe Rosenthal weeps.
The irony is that Trump drives news circulation. Without him, subscription rates would be cut in half."
This is true, and based on some of the newer comments in the comments section, its obvious that right wingers are buying subscriptions just to make pro Trump comments. Either that or Vlad has his agents working overtime to pose as American commentators.
So I applaud Maureen Dowd's stealth business sense by having Kevin write the Thanksgiving article, it's been an incredible shot in the arm for "the failing New York Times".
10
No mention of the environment and the legacy left for children and grandchildren?
Thinking the booming 1950s New York building industry toughest in the world?
There is little point rebutting ignorance with logic. You either see, and understand, the WORLD we live in, or you don’t.
16
I know he’s your brother, but why are you giving him your platform? If I want to drown in ignorance & talking points, I’ll turn on Fox.
40
I just threw up a little. My God, that his a true believer living in a fantasy land. Have fun!
10
Ah Kevin or better yet the generic Kevins — gotta love a brother no matter how delusional.
Right out of the bag it was about this:
“I support the president for his economy, his jobless rate and the record numbers of the stock market that his deregulation fueled.”
As though Trump actually was a credible agent for any of it.
Our POTUS is chaos incarnate.
18
Kevin sleeps better because of the president's handling of Iran and North Korea? Talk about rose colored glasses and being deliberately misinformed.
Please have Kevin look up "selective reasoning."
For me, his only comment worth consideration is: "God help me." (or better, God help us.)
18
Maureen Dowd is lucky—Kevin sounds rational. My family’s Trump supporters are more like Devin Nunes.
8
I couldn't get past the first sentence. This is the same answer that people gave in the 1920's and 30's as to why they supported Hitler and fascism, "do you really want the socialists to gain control?" Someone can explain to you how it happens, but you can't really understand it till you're a first hand witness. Most people don't care about the rule of law as long as there is turkey on the table. Happy Thanksgiving!
18
You poor thing! Have an extra glass of wine?
Happy Thanksgiving Maureen!
3
Some Americans know what matters, and some don't. Trump is a sugar-high for men like Kevin. What has he achieved that any fascist dictator has not? I'm sure Kevin thinks he has made his case. He has not. He has made yours.
12
My sympathies Maureen.
4
Seeing the justifications here for demagoguery, by a segment of the American population, is sobering. These thoughts come from the same people who are climate-change deniers, who don't see the day to day racism black people endure, who think women have no right to their own bodies, who don't recognize the rise of nationalism in the world or recognize how the Holocaust as the worst case in history of anti-Semitism is seen only as a one-off anomaly - basically they only see the world through a very small and selfish lens of their own tribalism. Now that they have the "man who would be king," all that was accomplished by Obama is trashed and everything that makes this country a democracy is being cancelled. My hope and prayer, for this day of remembering our national origins, is that their effects on this country and the world continue to be fought with every legal power available and may the search for truth and justice still be of the highest value as we go into the next year.
15
So Kevin must have been a huge Obama fan if he cares about the economy. Remember the Great Recession of 2008? Gee, who fixed that? And without jacking the national debt sky-high, as Trump has done. And if he values security so much, he must have been thrilled by the Iran Agreement that Trump blithely tore up, as well as Obama's support of our Kurdish allies who imprisoned thousands of ISIS zealots, only to have Trump break the alliance and help set many of them free, saying "it'll be Europe's problem." Obama, as I recall, also strongly supported our allies in NATO, and when it was warranted was harshly critical and always wary of Russia, Saudi Arabia, North Korea -- you know, the dictatorships Trump loves so much. And if he's really into religion, Obama supported religious freedom and could sing a mean verse of "Amazing Grace." Trump? Religion? Huh? And, let's see, the Supreme Court. Bret Kavanaugh. Enough said. And as far as honor, dignity, principles, integrity -- jeez, Kevin, stop rationalizing the behavior of the biggest liar in American history, who also happens to be the most notorious adulterer, the only president to pay off porn stars and prostitutes, the only one ever to talk in sexual terms about his daughter to a radio audience, the only one ever to brag about sexually assaulting women, and the only one to openly mock a disabled person. Happy Thanksgiving, Kevin.
24
Kevin should ghost write all of his sisters articles.
6
@dewey dog and I forgot to say it looks like we’ll enjoy 4 more of these.
Oh, Maureen, I had no idea how poorly informed your brother is. This is not about Democrats vs. Republicans; it's about Right vs. Wrong.
Memo to Kevin: Are you actually going to trust a man who lies as often as he breathes?
Maureen, pack-up and fly to sunny Santa Barbara. The fire is under control and you would be among a family that appreciates the warnings and humor you bring to any occasion.
14
The shameful thing about this screed is that it represents the thinking of a large segment of the U.S. population. Think about that when you're in the supermarket standing in line: the person in front of, or behind you - or both - could be thinking what this reactionary fascist is saying; and supporting the moronic bully who is President. Fear for this country for that's what a lot of its people are like. If I were Maureen Dowd I'd be spending Thanksgiving with my friends and avoiding my family as if they were ISIS members. . .and in a way, that's what they are.
17
Only truthful statement Trump ever made was on a hot mic about grabbing things.
15
Your brother was a police officer? And he condones Trump’s actions? Thank God I wasn’t on his beat. Apparently his sense criminal behavior is on a sliding scale. I doubt he would have granted perpetrators on his beat a similar cushion of “legality”. Then again they where more then likely not wealthy white folks.
This is a preposterous OpEd. You feel safe in your bed at night because of who you are and where you live. And of all people you should know this. The illusion that Trump has created this stock market and stemmed crime through his actions is ludicrous. He has certainly pulled families apart, enriched the wealthy, and set us against one another more then any president in memory. And I have been around the sun more times then you. He has definitely exacerbated the climate crisis and moved us closer to a climate apocalypse. Oops! Silly me! I forgot! Your ilk do not believe in climate science, and more then likely science in general.
Maureen please dispense with this nonsense. I love my brother too. But this is like giving the keys to your new car to a toddler. He is a much better fit on Fox or Rush Limbaugh, or better yet the circular file.
21
Wow, Maureen, hope you have a happy thanksgiving. Wine might help a bit.
6
Maureen, you definitely need to scope out a tropical island, and make it your tradition for Thanksgiving! Very very sad.
the worst thing about this kind of a rift is that both sides say to each other "do you really think I'm an idiot?"
However, when one side is fact free we know who is living in la-la land.
7
All aboard the Polarized Express, Cocky Kevin at the helm, bridges washed out ahead. Oy.
11
Happy Thanksgiving Maureen. Despite the intro I have no doubt you are thankful to have a brother like Kevin.I also suspect that you secretly share more than a few of his opinions.
5
Maureen,
I am so sorry for you.
Happy Thanksgiving.
4
Did you notice that he never answered the question "How can you still support him"? He pivoted immediately to another subject, as if to say "Well, he's the least dirty shirt. Look at how filthy all the others are..." To which I say, "Why don't you demand better, no matter who's side he's on? Your brother, like so many others in this country, has been brainwashed by right-wing nonsense, and has lost his ability to think logically and constructively. He worships money above all else. Dignity, honor, integrity and respectability mean nothing to him. He'll spout off about Hillary's server until the day he dies, but he won't say a word abut the rot that consumes his on party. He *is* today's Republican party. He worships The Constitution, until things don't go his way. Then he screams "Witch Hunt! It's a cancer like this country has never seen before. It's a tidal wave of hypocrisy and ignorance.
12
A disturbing column, Maureen. Is it all sure-fire formula?
I think you reveal here more than you realize. So is all this just talk? One opinion versus another? Brother vs Sister? I could get doing this as a family tradition, but you do realize you are taking up valuable NYT real estate with this, right?
This is not a time for this Maureen. A tone-deaf offering this year. No thanks.
11
Maureen Dowd..this is a complete waste of a column..even in a newspaper that (sometimes) tries to be objective.
And no doubt there are Trump supporters and even Donald T himself who will seize on it and trumpet its support for the President.
..wish you hadn't done it..if it was just attempted humour..sorry it goes down like a lead balloon..
15
Thanks for reducing me to a stereotype, Kevin. You're a bit of one yourself. Happy Thanksgiving.
10
Your support of the police in the face of BLM says it all. No Kevin, you're not a racist, you just want to show your support for sensible law enforcement (Stop and Frisk), even when it really didn't do what Bloomberg (and you) thought it was doing. Please refer to NYT most recent article on why Stop and Frisk was marginal in lowering crime rates. And even though cops still shoot unarmed black men and women at disproportional rates, you had to make hay out of Democrats giving a voice to continued injustice. Your guy still has a hate on for the Central Park Five, you too? No, you're not a racist, you just play one in the NYT.
12
If Kevin hits the turkey with the same zeal as he swallows all the Fox News swill, he should be asleep by now.
Sleep gently, fellow American, and may your dreams be half as fanciful as your perception of reality!
6
I weep for America.
12
Hey Kevin. I know Maureen loves you, but I wish you could get out of your silo. Trump pardoning war criminals was the last straw. My military veteran parents are weeping in heaven.
15
I find most Republicans to be selfish and callous. As long as they are making money, who cares if kids are in cages? Who cares that people are committing suicide in American concentration camps for immigrants? Who cares that young people are dying because they cannot afford insulin? Kevin certainly doesn’t care. Nope. All that matters to Kevin is money and his definition of God. That is why he is a Republican. And that is why I refuse to associate with people like Kevin, even at Thanksgiving.
19
I can't speak for anyone but my self, but I do find religious conservatives hypocrites, at best
The talk about the sanctity of life, yet won't pay for medical care for pregnant moms or kids
They loathe gay people cause of how they interpret the bible, yet, when it suits their need, they ignore what the bible says (rich man into heaven like camel eye of needle)
they talk about how we liberals should respect religion, but they support a man who is a Muslim bigot, and, even worse, he surrounds himself with neo nazis
If this is your religion Mr Dowd, I think it deserves all the contempt it gets, and more
And as to Mr Dowd's notion that unrestrained support for the police is a good idea
It is 100x harder to grow up as a black boy in Chicago then as a super wealthy spoiled brat in NYC
14
My sympathies Maureen.
3
Why must we be subjected to this every year on the one day of the year when many of us are forced to hear this tripe from our close relations?
Isn't it enough that Kevin's sister will use her column the other 51 weeks to trash whomever the Democrats nominate?
12
Maureen, was it really your obligation to find an outlet for your brother's diatribe on Thanksgiving?
Why not Walt Whitman's
elegy "O Captain My Captain", in praise of the single most revered Republican president in our history: Abraham Lincoln. No doubt, Kevin reveres DT as the Chosen One.
8
Read it and weep. He’s wrong about trump but sadly right about Dem candidates. It will take a miracle to not have 8 yrs of this fool. Dems will have themselves to blame.
3
Now, more than ever he looks like a Trump supporter. Isn't it about time you quit giving him a platform?
Tired of Kevin.
12
Kevin,
I am surprised that “destroying American democracy” didn’t make your list of Trump accomplishments..
If you like what Trump has done, you should try moving to Russia. You’ll just love Putin!
12
I think Kevin wants another signed newspaper clipping, so naturally, he’ll defend the defenseless.
2
It's surprising Dowd's brother didn't say he's grateful for NYC's racially segregated public schools. That would really illustrate the difference between Democrats in NYC and Trump supporters. Or it would illustrate there is more that unites us than the NYT OP-ED writers care to admit.
2
From this column, l now better understand the mental gymnastics that Catholic devotion requires in the face of bald evidence of institutionalized child abuse. If you cannot honestly face down pedophiles then Trump must really look like the “Chosen One.”
8
Your brother is a poster boy for the cognitive dissonance and confirmation bias that allows trump supporters to to ignore his lying -cheating - bullying - and serial sociopathy.
They're moral compass points to their 401ks and dreams of white supremacy,
Climate science denial - a rampant out of control deficit - disastrous growing inequality - incompetence and regression at all federal agencies -support for tyrants and a weakening of respect for truth and intellect.
A vulgar buffoon and a match made in heaven for your brother and their ilke!
Very sad for your nieces and nephews methinks.
11
Your brother is a typical Republican. No surprises here. I however don’t pay to read your brother. I will not read him again. I like Greek mythology, not American mythology which is all your brother is peddling. Happy Thanksgiving
Maureen.
9
Careful Maureen, your brother writes well. The inspector Javert and Clouseau comparison is clever!
3
Spoken like a true Boomer.
3
Kevin
Why sugar coat trump? His manners are coarse because he worked in the construction trade?!!!
How about his manners are coarse becuase he's an amoral narcisstic sociopath whose deregulation you cheer is making huge profits for billionaires destroying the environment
22
“Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain.” Lily Tomlin.
It’s Thanksgiving. Tell Kevin that you love him, but not to smoke the turkey before he tells us of his bromance with you know who.
1
Delusion and rationalization. Excuse after excuse after excuse. Trump is a liar, a cheat, a grifter. His policy ideas stink. He's exploding the deficit for the benefit of the richest Americans. He doesn't have the managerial skills to be night manager at a gas station. People like Maureen's brother criticize fact-finding and investigative journalism while tuning in nightly to propaganda driven Trump TV, Fox News. Only in America!
14
Stay home, Mo, watch football and take your BP meds. Works for me. And turn off the phone. Like I am about to do.
5
Thanks for sharing your turkey.
7
I'm beginning to sense a subtle recognition in the NYT that their columnists, those so perceptive canaries in the political coalmine, are beginning to understand that the Democrats are losing, that Mr. Trump is gaining popularity. Just the other day Ross Douthat finally admitted that the voters appear more interested in the economy than Ukraine, and now Ms. Dowd, using her brother as mouthpiece, says the impeachment hearings have failed to move the needle for the Dems (what else have they got?). And, the Bloomberg candidacy in effect tells the Democrat left and the entire black constituency to 'shut up', that the election can't be won without sidelining them and their concerns, if it isn't already too late to talk about winning at all, that none of the current Democratic candidates has a chance against Mr. Trump. Going forward the NYT now has the unenviable job of preparing its readers for loss to Mr. Trump in 2020.
5
Not a farmer.
"The liberals still sneer at religious conservatives."
No they don't - you have a delusional view of reality that is born, I believe, from ignorance and hate. Just because you think something does not make it true, your know. And your statement is without citation or other proof, which makes it suspect.
As a religious person with some views that you might label as liberal I promise you that I will say a prayer for you, not despite your views but because of them.
9
You care nothing about the values that our country was founded on like “no man is above the law.”
If our democracy fails it will because of folks just like you.
10
Hi, Maureen: You are so lucky and blessed to have a brother,
Kevin. He is a consummate foil for you!. You could urge him to be Trump’s heir as next president. I envy your sanity dealing with him as a brother. Can you ask him to consider Thanksgiving not as feasting, but as contemplation for once?.
God help us indeed.
4
So old Kev gives it the “everybody does it” pass...nary a mention of “I want to ask a favor, though”, much less the Constitution. Presumably Kev thought Benghazi was the worst scandal in history - definition of cognitive dissonance.
9
Had to stop reading about half way in.
11
Maureen: So sorry for your loss.
5
Funny how blustering liars make some people feel safe. Funny how Barack Obama did not make those same people feel safe.
9
No argument there with Brother Kevin, I have given up talking or to give my opinion of demagogue liar trump, they still stick with him.
Jim Jordan hot ? Oh brother .
How about Michael Bloomberg / Deval Patrick ?
Or Deval Patrick with any front runner?
And trump dump Pence and run with Tulsi Gabbard , then the Presidency will surely go to any of the Democrat winning the nomination.
Happy Turkey day to Kevin with brothers and sisters !
2
Maureen, my condolences to you. Your brother loves the liar. He loves giving the rich big tax cuts, and apparently he loves the look of the new right wing Supreme Court. And I would guess he loves the hate that the anti-semites and white nationalists spew as they find cover in this disgusting excuse for a president. Fox has successfully indoctrinated almost half the population of our country. As our kids will have to confront the destruction of the planet as we know it we can thank people like your brother.
12
I grew up Catholic and knew Knights of Columbus members and you sir do not represent their values. Whatever good book you folks are reading, it's not the same one I grew up with. Supporting a serial liar who slept with porn stars when his wife was at home with their baby - a man with no sense of decency or decorum whatsoever - because he makes the stock market go up? Time to throw the money changers from the temple. And time to read the real bible Kevin. The one with Jesus in it. It might be eye-opening.
17
Maureen trashed Obama and Hillary Clinton. She aided Trump‘s election. She deserves a really bad Thanksgiving.
19
My guess is that Kevin only listens to Fox, Rush and Tucker. So perhaps he'll be in Russia next year celebrating a real thanksgiving.
8
Tulsi Gabbard outlasted Beto and is outpolling Kamala, yet even Maureen’s brother gives her the Thirteenth Floor treatment. I guess he’s as afraid of peace as the Times’s regular columnists.
1
I am so thankful that no member of our extended family has opinions like Ms. Dowd's brother. The members of our family our empathetic people that rely on facts before forming their opinions.
Michael Wald, Seattle, Wa.
7
100 demerits for a reference to Les Miserable. Next, you'll be quoting Rent! How can you call yourself conservative?
3
Male, pale and stale. I hate the holidays.
13
Please stop characterizing this column as presenting the other sides point of view. It is, and always will, just Kevin's point of view. He speaks for no one but himself. (As does Maureen).
7