Trump and his dubious demands were the cause, the impeachment was the affect. As usual Trump deflects, spins, insults and shows us his immaturity as he excites his base. The only thing PERFECT about his phone call was the impeachment he earned. Perfect!
6
We need to rewrite the definition of "presidential."
5
To understand the origins of the National Prayer Breakfast, check out “The Family” documentary on Netflix.
1
In 2016 I voted against Trump because I thought he was a slimeball. I voted against Clinton for the same reason. After the election, both have acted as I'd expect.
I didn't expect how hateful people who voted for Clinton would become if she lost. Many who support Trump are afraid to let it be known, and those who oppose him think that's a good thing! People who support the President shouldn't be intimidated into silence in America.
Many have been assaulted, and a few sent to hospitals, just for wearing MAGA hats. One man had a gun pulled on him - over a hat! These incidents involved normal citizens. A lot of politicians & pundits have been mistreated, but I'm focusing on ordinary Americans.
The '#resistance' says Trump supporters hate immigrants. Some fraction does, but every Trump supporter I know only hates illegal immigration, not immigrants. They hate that people are doing something wrong and benefiting from it. People who hate Trump supporters can't justify it by pointing to anything they did wrong. They voted. That isn't wrong to do regardless of how you cast your ballot - not in America.
Pelosi is at the top of all this. It's not credible to say she doesn't hate anyone, or that she prays for Trump's health. I believe she'd pray for him to reverse his positions - or that he'll be struck by lightning.
Trump frequently says appalling things, but I'm appalled by his opponents' violating the American compact. That can't be rewarded. I'll be voting for Trump this time.
2
Did Donald Trump commit impeachable offenses at the National Prayer Breakfast? Nope. In fact, most of the time, as far as I can tell, he does not actually commit impeachable offenses. Just sometimes. Most of the time, as he was at the National Prayer Breakfast, he is truly and deeply offensive.
2
Those on the right are willing to look the other way for all of Trump's transgressions and boorish behavior because he has delivered them 2 Supreme Court justices and if he gets re-elected he could potentially deliver them 2 more with two of our current justices over the age of 80. That could turn the court sharply conservative for years to come. Everything else is just noise.
5
If Trump had actually stated where we are and where we're going, he would've re-stated the devastating path that William Sheridan Allen showed his readers in his famous book from 1965 looking back to 1930-1933. Brooks is right on the money with his prayer, as simplistic as might sound. If we do not stop isolating each other with hate, we're lost. And at this point, the planet might be lost too.
2
The bully in chief is growing bigger and worse. The strategy so far has been for the Republican enablers to smile, laugh and say yes (with gritted teeth say the rumors) to any horrible nasty abuse thrown their way and allow him to get away with breaking any law possible so they can get a few judges thrown their way. Unfortunately, with each law broken, each degradation of the constitution, each bit of decay of morality, Trump has been allowed to get away, he has become stronger, nastier and escalated his national tantrum. He now knows after his acquittal even if the republicans had been sheep before they are insignificant muck under his shoes now. Sure they got a few things in return but they fed the monster and it’s grown very large. He doesn’t care about them, as all his loyal associates in jail can attest, as Mitt Romney loyal except for making one good faith vote can attest. Trump will turn on them and put their heads on a spike to keep his own power. Democrats are fighting for the soul of this country, Republicans need to fight for their own soul if it’s not too late.
14
@R. Pasricha
exactly. The moment of reckoning will be in November and we see if Trump will actually relinquish the presidency. He's already laid the groundwork to doubt the legitimacy of the vote.
5
Where is the spiritual leadership one would expect in this highly religious country? In the wilderness, apparently, tails between legs, and licking Mr. Trump's boots. Christian values, you say?No problem we'll just re-write the manual. Right is wrong. Failure is success. Night is day. Wash it all down with a swig of coolaid...there you go.
God bless America.
12
His best will never be good enough. But he should at least, try.
2
My prayer? Deliver us from evil.
My husband is dying at home so three weeks ago I stopped. I could take no more Trump. No more of him doing exactly what he blames others for.
I read 3/4 of this article because of Nancy Pelosi, whom I greatly admire. No surprises here; an honorable friend of liberty attacked by a monster/mobster.
I have stopped reading much more then a headline. No more rancid social media or MSNBC either.
I miss my columnists, and the other sane steady voices of the Times. I miss being in the know. But it's beyond me to endure or fathom this viscous nightmare of crudity and cruelty that is Trump and the Republican party.
For what it's worth I've tuned out the Democrats chaotic dance too. I'll vote Blue no matter who when the time comes. But I'm done except for the prayer; I'll keep praying for our safe deliverance from evil.
18
@Leoradowling1043
I am sorry you are going through this. Everyone is exhausted by Trump's behaviour and the coverage of it. The sad part is that "All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing". I think the senate acquittal was the tipping point. That was the chance to state that this behaviour is inappropriate and put a check on Trump. But they failed because they are cowards. If Trump wins the presidency in November then I think it will be the end of the United States. On election night Stephen Colbert declared Trump as the last president of the United States. I think if Trump will not concede in November or actually does win the electoral college, California will secede. It is exhausting but we cannot give up and normalize this behaviour. Trump unleashed is dangerous.
8
How much more of an OBVIOUS difference between what American conservatives used to stand for, and now follow with blind allegiance
terribly sad
6
Trump has no shame. Because in the Trump world in his mind Trump is perfect. He believes he can do no wrong, because when he does it that is legal. Nixon said it, but Trump believes it is true. Trump has no understanding of American history or values. He is literally clueless.
Combine total ego with total ignorance and you get Trump the man baby. He is the victim of mean people who would hold him to the Constitutional standard of normal POTUS behavior.
Susan Collins wishful thinking is absurd. Trump has not one shred of regret for demanding improper foreign assistance in winning re-election. He still thinks his call was perfect.
The scary part is that almost 50% of Americans think Trump as a monarch is a good thing. I guess civics is not taught or learned anymore.
Trump does not believe in an external God. Trump is God in his world. Mean people who do not agree are devils...
18
In a democracy we do not demonize the opposition.
11
If my father had behaved like Trump did at the National Prayer Breakfast, I would have taken him aside afterward and said, "Dad, you can't say things like that. You owe people an apology." Do Trump's grown children ever have those kinds of conversations with their father? Ivanka, Don Jr.and Eric are visible public figures by choice. Someone should ask them about this.
21
@JM
I really admire your faith in people. In my opinion though it is far too late for Donald Trump’s grown children. I think they have all shown their true colors. Most recently, Don Jr. was rallying for the expulsion of Mitt Romney from the Republican party (if I were Mr. Romney I’d accept, but that’s beside the point). My sympathies go to Trump’s minor child, Barron. He’s innocent, but as he is virtually the same age as my sons I also know that that innocence is on the wane. What kind of adult will Barron become, with the role models he has? Poor kid...! He does have my sympathies.
5
It should be noted, if it hasn't already, that Trump didn't shake Pence's hand. And he most likely didn't see Nancy awkward offer her two hands to him. One doesn't normally offer one's hand to someone who is not looking at one. She did that and she knew she could claim she was rebuffed. The woman has zero self-awareness. Does she even view the videos of her that are everywhere? Can she not see the hatred oozing out of every pore? Is she drugged up so as to see herself as humble and honorable?
2
I think Trump is the one with zero self awareness she offered her hand, and he pivoted and ignored her. Trump supporters still think he can shred the constitution, and only play to his republican base, and that is OK.
8
I watched Trump' s White House acquittal celebration on TV today. This man once again showed how much of an embarassment he is to the office of the President. And the host of fawning enablers that were his applauded guests should be ashamed of their pitiful subservience to his delusions. I never could have imagined our country being dishonored this way.
27
“I apologize, I’m trying to learn,” he said. “It’s not easy. It’s not easy. When they impeach you for nothing, then you’re supposed to like them? It’s not easy, folks. I do my best.”
He said THAT?!
He said "I apologize"?
He said "I'm trying to learn"?
Maybe he has taken one infinitely small step towards at least trying to fake it, as Arthur Brooks suggested?
But then he went over to the White House and ranted incoherently and with utter self-absorption for over an hour.
So if he is trying to learn, well, he needs to try harder.
9
@herzliebster
he said he's trying to learn because that was the justification that senator collins gave and so it is in the press. He is trying to fool everyone. If he didn't do anything wrong, as he says, then why is he apologizing?
Every GOP senator will be forgotten, but Romney just wrote his name in the history books. "Here, stood a man with a backbone."
37
I disagree. Their treachery needs to be enshrined in history.
5
Trump was acquitted and refuses to show contrition. This man is all about himself. He does not care for the country. Nancy owned him. He is rude and crude. Our standing on the world stage has been diminished since he became President. We will need someone like Obama to bring our honor back. Trump would be wise to remember that the people did not elect him. We elected Hillary. The Electoral College chose Trump. I only hope they don't make that mistake again.
18
@Sharon Conway
I've said that before. The first time in history the electoral college needed to do their job and they fell flat
6
A completely predictable outcome to an unnecessary event. Trump's clearly committed crimes for which he deserves to be removed from office, but there was never ANY chance of that happening. If Pelosi had simply held on to the impeachment articles and never delivered them to the Senate, that 'stain' would remain lingering in the air. By taking him to trial, the Democrats stage managed Trump's acquittal.
It's becoming harder and harder to believe the Democratic leadership is capable of winning and holding the presidency ever again. They appear to be completely rudderless and clueless with how to deal with an immature, impulsive and not-very-clever narcissist.
2
The National Prayer Breakfast has already evolved into a commercial enterprise for making business connections. Folks should read about its origins and funding to appreciate that religion is barely a factor. Having the most unethical autocratic president address the “congregation” is entirely consistent with its lack of Christian values. The only question is - will he be added to the Holy Trinity?
6
His refusal to raise his hand to say he loves at least one enemy ends up being one of the very few honest/non-lying communications of his tenure. It was that hard to raise his hand.
13
The President used the national Prayer Breakfast to demonstrate that he is really NOT a person of faith at all. It doesn't matter though because, IMO, his supporters aren't either.
14
The headline, subtitle, and the entire story normalize Trump's completely out of the ordinary behavior. It is what Peter Baker does best. He protects his golden goose while providing a serious disservice to his paper and the country.
Also, each mention of Speaker Pelosi was presented in a negative -- intentional or a coincidence Peter?
1
Schiff was right. Trump will never change. Collins was wrong. He has not learned his lesson. If some of us are in mourning after the results of an impeachment trial without documents or witnesses and witnessing the absurd spectacle of a State of the Union in which Russ Limbaugh won the Congressional Medal of Freedom, it is because we must face the fact that we are living in Trump's alternate reality and no longer in the America we knew and loved.
524
Limbaugh was awarded the honor because he has an illness that is deadly not because he deserved such an honor.
10
@REGINA MCQUEEN I am sorry that Limbaugh is dying; that does not qualify him for an honor, now that it's been given to him, which is tarnished forever.
85
@Harvey Perr is correct; we are living in Trump's dystopia. Do not succumb to despair. VOTE, VOTE, VOTE. And encourage your friends and neighbors to vote. This has to end. I am encouraged that the Democrats are surrendering the documents requested on Hunter Biden as it indicates that they will not play the dishonest games the Republicans have played in total refusal to follow govenmental norms. Comey has been investigated extensively; McCabe is still being investigated. It doesn't mean anything will come of it. There are no laws against making enormous amounts of money if foreign powers are willing to pay, and the Bidens have nothing to fear. Democrats need to remain faithful to the laws. We need to participate in our democracy and eventually this nightmare will be over.
7
The Democrats have accomplished the impossible. They’ve transformed Donald Trump into a sympathetic character.
Everyone in my family...Democrats, all...are sick and tired of the ‘Resistance’ pathological obsession with Donald Trump. After enduring three years of Democratic Party hysteria and handwringing, ad nauseam...we’ve had enough!
48
@Susanna So we should not be hysterical and handwring over constitutional abuses, lies, promoting foreign influence and on and on and on? If we do not, then we are saying we accept this behavior.
We do not accept this behavior!
301
@Susanna
As a Democrat, I can tell you there is nothing "sympathetic" about Donald Trump.
The "hysteria" you and your family refer to is nothing more or less than fear and sorrow that our country and its values are at such great risk.
Now that you and your family have "had enough," what are you planning to do?
Please make some sound suggestions that the rest of us can consider.
281
@Susanna Dear Susanna, I understand your weariness, and that of members of your family, with the disgusting personal and political conduct of the man we have entrusted with the highest office of the land. However, resistance should not be deemed pathological or hysterical, when it is in service of the defense of our Constitution and Rule of Law that (we hope) still provides foundation for our country's governance. In fact, if anyone has been hysterical it has been the ardent defenders and mouthpieces of the President who 'pathologically and hysterically' scream abuse at critics of the President. If we shrug and walk away from this man's egregious misconduct we have no right to complain when our democracy is eroded and falls.
289
About that rising stock market ... the NYT noted:
"One factor behind this week’s rally is the effort made by the People’s Bank of China to bolster the country’s economy by pouring billions into financial markets. The expectation among investors that central bankers outside Beijing will take similar steps could also be fueling the rebound."
So, we see the world's governments creating cash to infuse into their economies, and we see that cash being invested in the stock market instead of into the real economy.
Gee, I wonder how that will end.
33
@Adrian Maaskant - They are putting their money in the Chinese stock market. That might help US markets a little, but their main idea is to keep the Chinese stock market from suddenly collapsing.
1
Ahhhhh, the power of the bully pulpit. Progressives love it when it is theirs, not so much now.
7
@Joe Slavoski You're right about one thing - bully.
18
@Joe Slavoski
Yes, being beaten up by hatred and greed is humiliating and disheartening Joe. The bloviating Orange King has his way... and yes I hope the tide will turn and there will come another day, when power speaks Truth rather than dividing us with Hatred.
13
@Joe Slavoski exactly Joe. While the Republicans fully support the bully pulpit no matter who, no matter which party is in power. Isn't that right Joe?
11
Nobody actually believes Nancy Pelosi when she says stuff like this in bad faith. It's just trolling and not even good trolling at that. Why wouldn't Donald be a little upset about this whole thing? He started out his term under investigation because the FBI committed fraud in the FISC court and then as soon as that ordeal finished he had to deal with a coordinated effort by partisan holdovers in the NSC working in conjunction with Adam Schiff (who lied for years about the veracity of the Russian investigation). It's a complete disgrace and pretty understandable why Trump would express himself like this.
3
@Ted The Democrats are actually trying to save the country and presidency. I am a New Yorker and was aware of Trump's problems with truth, money and his personal life for decades. New Yorkers did not vote for him. He hasn't changed and never will. He has gotten a little more belligerent. But Trump thinks that makes him a big man. To New Yorkers he is just a small petty person.
2
I don't think the Republicans are afraid of Trump. They support him because the are getting what they want for themselves and their donors. Same goes for the "christians".
21
He's sick in more ways than can be counted. Nothing will change until we have a new President. Trump is a list cause with no hope of improvement.
May God Bless America.
17
Now we are using prayer as a weapon??? The prayer breakfast is a joke. Leave religion out of it. It is an insult to nonbelievers, Muslim Americans, Buddhist Americans, Hindu Americans, etc. - you get the picture.
13
Only Susan Collins think Trump has 'learned' from his errors; he certainly demonstrated humility and contrition today.
17
A number of people ask us to please be more respectful when we discuss the political and ethical climate, but watching and listening to what the man at the top does and says is so utterly beyond belief that one must call out the moronic, disrespectful, bullying, horrific behavior of this president. If you’re being assaulted you can possibly run or fight back.
His behavior has damaged the country badly. Very badly.
28
It feels like Trump has hijacked America and we are all taking a wild ride.
19
It's now left to us, the American people, to get trump out, by voting him out. I just wish the children he locked in cages were old enough to vote.
29
"..used a national prayer breakfast on Thursday to lash out at his political opponents, accusing them of being “very dishonest and corrupt people”.
Only in America!
In case readers have suffered an irony bypass, here is the World's Great Liar (or WGL), a man who worships only one god.
And that god, of course, is himself.
Solipsism lives!
21
Why oh why do I never read about Narcissistic Personality Disorder in the pages of the NYT? Each day is a new day of "wonder" and bafflement at something he said or did with no further examination of what's really going on or why. This blind spot is as frightening as the man himself.
23
@pork chops, everyone needs to know more about NPD, because in the 2016 presidential election, BOTH major-party candidates had it!
1
"When you get up and you quarrel everyday, you sayin' prayers to the devil I say" Bob Marley Seems like many of the people at the "prayer" breakfast are doing just that.
18
First of all, THANK YOU SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI!!! You've shown why those of us frustrated with "you know who" feel like!
...and second, donald trump is a DISGRACE and EMBARRASSMENT to our COUNTRY!!!
26
Whining and gloating, how Presidential. Medal of Honor for crudeness and divisiveness, nothing but the most courageous for this White House. Will someone please put the chubby toddler back in his crib.
23
Why is the NYT printing this? It’s all spectacle and Trump wins anytime there is spectacle and we readers fall for the bait too.
9
@ Mike-
Amen (no pun intended). The NYT and every other media outlet has been giving him a free ride simply by covering his every little statement, ever since he announced his candidacy for president (actually, we’ll before that). No one in the world would be able to afford all the news coverage this person has received for free, just by opening his stupid little mouth.
7
The most inappropriate thing about the Prayer Breakfast is that US presidents attend it. The Prayer Breakfast is a religious conservative Power Breakfast. Who are they trying to kid?
18
"It’s not easy, folks. I do my best.”
It's time for all of us to demand more from him. And if this is the best he can do, then let's free him from his struggles and give the job to someone capable.
27
The 25th Amendment is still relevant and applicable.
Short of that, he needs - our survival needs - for him to receive an intervention.
While Romney came to be the sole inheritor of a mantle of intervention that Sen. Goldwater took up in 1974, intervention does not have a chance of being persuasive when it's only one intervener. Goldwater had House Minority Leader John Rhodes and Senate Minority Leader Hugh Scott to join him on the pivotal "intervention" somber walk to the White House to convince Nixon he would not prevail and to resign instead of putting the country through impeachment (with articles having just passed the House Judiciary Committee and trial.
When only a single voice of sanity in a President's party stands up for the Constitution, then megalomania and carte blanche defiance of the rule of law is implicitly rubber-stamped. What was really rubber-stamped was the chilling self-aggrandizing metaphorical prediction from Trump's own lips - he has committed Presidential equivalent acts of murder on 5th Avenue and his fans have cheered him on to such an extent that those fans' Senators are terrified of job-loss by President tweet and being primaried that a vicious cycle of intimidation now stands as the fear-based foundation on which our federal government now rests.
Who among the accomplices would have the courage to join in an intervention? Exposing his secret taxes might be one such. Our own democracy now depends on little else in sight that could save us.
12
“...and urged the audience to vote in the Fall.”
Yes, Sir, Mr. President. We WILL vote. You better believe it!
13
It's time for any sane person in the USA to separate from these 'Christians'. If JC were alive today, - given that he believed in universal love, he would have been jailed or deported. Can you imagine the tone of Trump's tweets?
I think he would have wised up at that point and declared himself an atheist. (Tempering that JC was actually Jewish.)
5
If this is how Trump reacts after being acquitted, lord knows what his reaction would have been if he were convicted.
Think about that for a moment.
This is one truly scary and unhinged dude.
18
I don't have words to express my total disgust for trump. He has killed the grand experiment of America. Our nation is now only a pile of ashes. Can it be resurrected? Right now, in this time of national despair and grief, I don't think it can be. I fear there may be too many Americans like me who have lost all hope.
20
I’m right there with you. My only hope is that Canada will take my family after the Russians hack the election and the Republicans discount our votes as fraud.
4
Why doesn't the press report on Trump's dementia and obvious drug use?
29
Funny that Speaker Pelosi said Trump looked sedated. It would not surprise me if they put some thorazine in his coke during his limo ride to the House chamber.
Trump appears at times to be almost unhinged.
I firmly believe he suffers from some form of serious mental illness. Combine his marked mental decline, his instability, his dishonesty and his inability to control himself in international affairs, and we have a man utterly unqualified to serve as President.
And yet here we are. The self-serving Republicans who care not one bit about this Nation's future, holding onto this bedlamite's skirt for dear life, thrilled with the tax cut and anti-ACA nonsense, and at the same time scared to death that should they let go, they will be thrown to the wolves.
29
@ Texas Duck-
He is. It’s called pathological narcissism. There isn’t an accredited doctor anywhere in the world of independent thought that would not make this diagnosis right now. Yet this is never reported on in the Times, or anywhere else. All they report about is his incessant crowing about how wonderful a human being he is.
10
He won. He beat the rap.
However, based on his sprinkles of vile and mean comments coupled with his overzealous behavior, one could be hard pressed to believe that he was actually acquitted.
17
I keep flipping back and forth between angry, terrified, and exhausted.
I used to keep myself pretty under-informed for the sake of my sanity. That is, until impeachment began to look like it could really happen.
Now that I see how he acts without the filter of a kindly NPR news anchor rephrasing his raw words for him, I am just shaken. My work performance is truly terrible now. My sleep is terrible. I can't believe how physiologically damaging this man's actions are to a citizen who has never even seen him in person. I'm 26 but I feel so old. I don't know what else to say.
28
There you have it: Trump “did his best”, which was utterly dreadful.
He was unfit for office from the moment he announced his candidacy, and has not improved an iota since.
18
“I don’t like people who use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong,” quotes Trump. Sen Romney tithes 10% of his income, Trump won't even show his taxes because he cheats. So while many did not support Mr. Romney there is no doubt he is a sincere Christian motivated to do the right thing.
How can Evangelicals support a man who cheats on his taxes, on his wife and lies consistently to the American public and then cries continually how unfair everyone is to him.
63
Oh come on, the Mormon church was officially racist until the 1970s. Don't take my word for it, just Google 'racism' and 'mormon'. This church was founded by a proven fraud. Why is it that by calling yourself religious in the USA that you can get away with the vilest behavior that other people would land in jail for?
7
Am I the only one troubled by the word acquittal? The word is not entirely wrong - but it seems incomplete and therefore inaccurate.
An impeachment trial is not a criminal proceeding, in which proving the elements of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt requires conviction.
A slim majority of Senators agreed the House proved the basic facts of Trump’s actions vis a vis Ukraine and considered his conduct wrong. But the GOP - those who slavishly defended him and those who criticized his conduct - united around the decision not to remove Trump from office for that behavior.
Acquittal was not a majority Senate verdict of exoneration. But, as with the exoneration Trump wrongly claims in the Mueller findings, nothing nuanced or real matters in Trump world.
22
It is clear that Trump is not religious, and is not a Christian. What is also apparent to me is that the so-called religious right who support him are also not religious, they just pretend to be, to get votes and have power and to hide their bigotry under the guise of so- called religious freedom.
We need to have some new ways of referring to them:
Use Anti choice ( not pro life)
Use religious wrong or pseudo -religious,( not religious right )
Use closeted bigots ( not evangelicals)
Don’t even call these people conservative, because it is not conservative to spout hatred and recrimination the way Trump just did
Use another term ,say ,”reactionary” or “the party of whining”
or please make your own suggestion.
35
"It is clear that Trump is not religious, and is not a Christian." He is Member of the Church of Trump, and so are his followers. Or are you saying that these spiteful, anti-feminist, racists are actually Christians? Like many who have claimed to be Christians, they are hypocrites and reactionaries, albeit of an uneducated type.
17
This!!!!!
1
Mr. President, do what you do best. Campaign to your political base, then govern for your socioeconomic class and race. If you win, then so-be-it. SCOTUS Justice Rodge Taney will have been proven correct.
2
I am usually rather prolix, but little more needs be said.
Sick.
One word. Rebublicans, "conservatives" (what are they "conserving"? They are more correctly "destructives"), are: sick.
What's killing American Democracy is so much bigger than a pathological president.
Please, everyone, read the portrait of master GOP strategist, Karl Rove, entitled, "The Architect." From the publisher:
"[GOP] ambitions have always been far more sweeping—to build a right-wing dynasty that can dominate American politics for decades. Rove’s master plan imagines a political system so controlled by Republicans that it is resisted only by symbolic."
Do you recognize the sickness? Can you now see, the problem we face is not merely a tumor, it's a vast metastasis?
And surgical removal of the tumor is not enough. Chemo, radiation, and by every means necessary must we rout the disease.
If you want to pray for the survival of American Democracy, pray "with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength"--register to vote!
Help family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, & strangers, register--help get out the vote!
Now, there is a way of praying that might just save the day.
22
It looks like it is time for the First Amendment separation of church and state. No more prayer breakfasts.
38
Trump is simply a vacuous villain who loves the limelight.
33
As are MOST American career politicians, regardless of party affiliation. Isn't there any way to find better people to run for office? Apparently not.
What he has not learned by now is normally learned by the age of four.
This is a slow, (stupid is a better word,) selfish, cruel, cowardly, malevolent, uninterested and uninteresting human being that has become willfully ignorant of ethics, social mores, morality because he claims a few cents.
There are better words that come to mind, but they are usually censored.
53
As the parent of a sweet, spirited, thoughtful, polite, & smart 4-y-o ... Couldn't agree with you more.
16
I completely agree! When my children were young they were taught,”If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” They have grown to be compassionate and loving adults. What went on in Trump’s household that he is such a hateful human?
9
Well, we all noticed that Trump couldn't stand up straight as he delivered the State of ....... He slouched leaning on one side of the podium then the other, depending on which teleprompter he was reading from.
28
ya gotta love him using a Newspaper headline to trump his vindication ...
15
His best is pitiful.
31
In addition to his honed skills as a grifter, liar, xenophobe, sociopath, racist and a fraud and a failure, he excels at projecting; especially when he calls any Democrat "corrupt."
As the saying goes, "it takes one, to know one."
37
This is the man (?) evangelicals hold in such high esteem? Please ,what is it that attracts you to him ? Is it his lack of compassion, ethics and his anti Christian way of living ? Is it because he’s a draft dodger ? An adulterer ? Misogynistic ? Homophobic ? A habitual liar ? There’s several reasons so please, can one rational, free thinking evangelical pick one ? Just one.
38
I'm not even religious, but me thinks it's the misogyny.
15
@Psst
The evangelicals want their candidates for the Supreme Court appointed, even if it is the devil himself that makes the appointment. And Trump is that devil.
That is the reason they continue to support him. Years after Trump is gone those justices will remain. and little thought given to he that delivered them.
11
Simple explanation: He must have misunderstood and thought it was a prayer breakfast for him!
24
can we elect an adult the next time? Other countries laugh at us; Trump probably had no friends growing up and did not learn how to get along with others. But it is not our job to kneel to him. He is the president for the entire country although that idea makes me sick to my stomach. Keep after him, Nancy. He is unhinged but get the nuclear codes away from him. He may decide to use his toys. He is that childish of a person. And he loves seeing his name in the newspapers.
29
The hypocrisy of the religious in America is acutely highlighted when one of the most immoral men to have ever entered national politics becomes their hero and savior. I have zero respect and absolutely no use for either.
30
“I apologize, I’m trying to learn,” he said. “It’s not easy. It’s not easy. When they impeach you for nothing, then you’re supposed to like them? It’s not easy, folks. I do my best.”
Hmm, that looks like an act of contrition to me. A lot better than “fake it.” A lot better than the partisan reporting.
1
@Daniel Kauffman
There was no contrition -no apology or acknowledgment of having done anything wrong- in that statement, only a lame comment about trying to control himself, which the later speech ( I mean rant) at the “celebration” showed he is incapable of doing.
25
@CTMD
Perhaps because he did not do anything wrong.
1
Well, for those who wonder "WWJD" -- all you have to do is look at Trump.
Jesus would do the exact, complete opposite.
Mean-spirited, petty, vindictive, cruel, judgemental, ignorant, bigoted, racist, foolish - that's Trump. And now, without restraint or constraint of the Constitution, and without fear of oversight from Congress, we will all get to see Trump, unrestrained.
I wonder how long before Congressional Republicans realize the huge mistake they have made?
30
Face it -- Donald Trump would know Christianity if it slapped him upside the head. It's a mystery why so many Evangelicals swear allegience to him.
17
Observe the grinning sycophant McCarthy. He appears delighted with the others at the ranting of this president who demonstrates more conclusively every day -- at the National Prayer Breakfast, no less! -- that he is not right in the head. McCarthy and his ilk model the opposite of profiles in courage.
25
All the Trumps are WISO’S- “working class in speeches only”.
6
I'm not religious and I have no problem with being totally moved to tears by Mitt Romney, Doug Jones, Adam Schiff, and Speaker Pelosi yesterday. They spoke from the heart, something rump is incapable of doing.
As a non-believer in god, however, I believe in the power of karma. I believe xxxxx needs my prayers, too. So #prayfortrump maybe it will put one small cell of peace in his body and that's better than what he's capable of now. Let us pray for our country, for all of us, for peace, and for karma.
16
Trump was "acquitted" in a sham supposed trial, by a corrupt, complicit Mitch McConnell presiding over a corrupt, cowardly Republican led Senate. Without witnesses or documents, what Mitch McConnell and the Republicans accomplished was a cover up, and Trump was not exonerated. We live in a time when liars rule.
23
@Marc Castle
Why is it that Schiff spent two years swearing he had absolute evidence that Trump conspired with the Russians to fix the election and yet did not include one word of it in the articles of impeachment?
Democrats claimed that the only reason Mueller did not recommend that Trump be indicted for obstruction of justice, when he was so obviously guilty, was that Justice Department guidelines did not permit the indictment of a sitting president, that being the responsibility of the House, to impeach. And yet, there was no article of impeachment accusing Trump of obstruction of justice.
You are absolutely correct. The impeachment was as absolute sham.
1
I don't blame him one bit! The Dem and the Left have done nothing but insult criticize and when they have no proof of a thing they just distract divert and argue. No matter what the man does. Even the good things that he has done aren't recognized. Many of us are just sick of political correctness. Ideas and ideals are pushed down the public's throat! We are advised to like those things and if we don't are told to pretend we do. In the name of political correctness! If we say anything aloud we are accused of being many bad things! We are to accept those things and not only that but like them and keep up the political correctness! One of the things that many of the people that voted for him and will again, liked about him was he seemed and proved he wasn't going to keep kowtowing to the DEM and the Liberal Left! No more grinning and baring it just so the left could push their ideas on us without complaint! No More!
3
@Jared just out of curiosity, tell us what you define political correctness to be.
7
Really Jared? No proof? There is eyewitness testimony, transcripts, emails, texts and video. How much more proof do you need? Even most Republicans and his own attorneys no longer deny what Trump did.
14
Jared: Your rant would be a lot more effective if you had included specific topics that have been “pushed down your throat”, and the “ideas” you find so repellent, as well. What is it, exactly, that the “libs” and “the Left” have tried to foist on you that are so objectionable? Without specifics, your comment fails to make any point, other than you are sick of “political correctness”. I apologize for all the long words, I tried to keep this as simple as I possibly could. Please clarify. Thank you! Signed, The Left
13
So how were the eggs?
3
There is only one thing left to do to save our country:
Whoever the Democrats finally nominate must WIN this election.
Vote BLUE.
20
Arthur Brooks echoing what Rob Portman tried a few days back. Republicans telling us all to come together and drop the contempt!
Both Brooks and Portman are conservative thinkers in the 21st century - they have no credibility.
Conservatism has applauded the arrival of an intolerant bully in the executive office. A bully who endlessly pours gasoline on Lamar Alexanders "culture fires".
To take such a cowardly position - bully protector - and then ask everyone to come together is creating ANOTHER false equivalency.
Inclusive progressives already have love in their hearts. That's what motivates them.
Conservatives fear/ hate progress. That's what motivates them.
We are not on opposing ideological islands that have equal value. Framing national division in this way is a myth.
14
"I don’t like people who use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong,” Mr. Trump said. Seriously? These people are most of your base.
32
I know! This article gave me many laughs. The person who is so funny wasn't trying to be, though. Reading this account of the Prayer Breakfast (big laugh there), I felt the way I did when I would be witnessing my toddlers' tantrums, complete with indignant accusations and reasons why they DESERVED x y or z (I had to give them guidance and stifle my laughs, in those cases -- thank goodness I don't have to do that for Dear Leader whenever he needs it)...
10
The headline should be that Trump said the words ‘I apologize’ for perhaps the first time in his Presidency, if not his life! Even if it was blatantly insincere.
11
Not surprisingly, Donald Trump acted like a bratty toddler. He blew his big chance to be the president. He ruined his own moment of glory! Every single person that he attacked deserves thanks and praise. Each one has demonstrated courage and integrity under fire. Mitt Romney is especially amazing because he mentioned faith in connection with his decision about Donald Trump. He admitted his faith and stood against Trump. Amazing! Nancy Pelosi is also notable for the serious and respectful way that she has approached impeachment. Sadly, Trump doesn't get it and apparently never will.
17
This guy. Trump has no self awareness to know that people are not laughing with him but at him.
18
Please, please - I hope and pray that every person who loves this country gets out to vote in November. Let your voice be heard. Every single vote counts! Let's break a record to make this the largest voter turnout in history! Any one of the Democratic nominees will be a far better leader than the narcissistic bully currently in office. We need a strong, intelligent and ethical President who will put the needs of ALL Americans first!!! This administration has been good for late-night talk show humor and SNL parodies, but not much else. Get out the vote! And let's take our great country back.
18
@Joanna
The greater the turnout, the bigger the Republican wave.
Ms. Pelosi should finally retire, or as my Italian-born mom would say: take out those bids and get ready. She is too old for such an important office.
During the SOTU address, she was an embarrassment. She spent the whole time chewing on something and making faces, like my 8-year old in church. Then in a fit of rage she ripped federal papers. Seriously? Where are we in middle school?
I am a committed democrat and can no longer take her tantrums. I am afraid many Trump’s ads will portray her senile behavior.
4
I love her. Hope she keeps it up. Trump is no match for her. That’s really what he’s whining about.
12
Mary Hellen: You thought Ms. Pelosi was exhibiting “senile behavior “???? What about the Dotard standing no more than 3 or so feet away, yammering away with all sorts of craven nonsense??? I can hardly believe you found Ms. Pelosi so entrancing, given the Drama Queen stumbling through his so-called “State of the Union” address! If you watched Ms. Pelosi all through the so-called “speech”, you definitely missed the real entertainment taking place just in front of her ... just saying.
9
@MorningInSeattle,
I love her too. She has all but guaranteed Trump’s re-election.
2
Thank you President Trump for making a mockery of the silly practice of a "Prayer Breakfast".
I thought our country had a division of church and state so hat's off to the Pres. for making a joke of it. All these polls do is eat anyway.
3
Who was it that said:
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full."
Anybody know? It sounds familiar.
6
Sadly enough from a historical perspective Trump May indeed be celebrating prayer and religion
“I don’t like people who use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong,” Mr. Trump said. this is an obvious reference to speaker of the house Nancy Pelosi and Senator Mitt Romney Who both described how their faith and religious views influenced them during the recent impeachment. Trump seems to be completely incapable of seeing other politicians use their religious beliefs as justification if they have the nerve to disagree with him.
He’s an authoritarian and dangerous to our constitution and civil liberties.
14
Ms Pelosi would indeed make a great president. As for Mr Trump, does he have to attend events like these? He is entirely out of place, embarrassing to watch and listen to. Impossible to imagine him praying for or loving anyone else but himself.
19
Let me help you:
“I emerged victorious from this awful trial. It was totally unfair, and it was a terrible time for me personally. However, even though they were totally wrong, my opponents believed they were doing the right thing, and so for the good of the country I forgive them and hope we can move on. I invite Mr. Schiff and Mrs. Pelosi to meet me in the White House to discuss how we can ensure that the government is run with fairness and transparency. Thank you.”
4
We all knew it would be too much to ask that our president express contrition and remorse for his misdeeds. But it would have been nice if he could just have behaved with some decorum. Not a chance; he's waving it in our faces and ready to start a fight.
11
Unfortunately, Trump isn't the first person to display classlessness at the National Prayer Breakfast. That honor goes to one Dr. Ben Carson.
3
Why does it not surprise me that Trump would do this at a prayer breakfast? What would surprise is that if he had not.
12
Half the country thinks it’s playing a hilarious prank on the other half. It’s at everyone’s expense.
1
I sometimes wonder based on various descriptions of his behavior, if he is not truly suffering from some cognitive impairment. I do not mean to infer sarcasm here, I honestly wonder if he has some undiagnosed issues. He simply is impenetrable. He has no empathy, no sense of remorse, no barometer for right or wrong, and has such an innately vicious nature. It is so puzzling and so sad. I think his brain is not normal.
20
@Susan
Nancy is definitely displaying a high level of cognitive decline.
1
@ebmem Nancy is on top of her game. Trump is suffering and we have to be aware and alert. Pence may end up as president before the term is over.
2
Maybe Mr. Trump knows Ms Pelosi doesn't pray for him on the basis that he has remained unchanged.
3
The National "Prayer Breakfast" should be discontinued if it is to be a forum for this kind of rhetoric. This one was nothing more than a political rally for Trump, who waved newspaper headlines, disparaged his political rivals, and mocked other people's faith. He knows nothing about forgiveness or atonement.
12
Wow. I am not religious, but have respect for people who are. Expect the same of my President - even, or maybe especially Presidents without precedent! God willing, this guy goes any place but the White House in 2021!
6
Trump has commented over many things these last years that have generated shock and awe but Trump discussing prayer?
He was only in office a month when at a rally in Florida he was READING the Lord’s Prayer off a teleprompter. Please.....
This shining example of morality has been all but abandoned by the religious right. I think Trump prays but am not sure it’s to the Man upstairs.
7
This is who evangelicals think was chosen by God to be president?
Pat Robertson: " “I think God calls all of us to fill different roles at different times, and I think that He wanted Donald Trump to become president. That’s why he’s there...."
7
Such honesty is so rare in politics. No wonder History's Best President Ever made a fortune in people seeing a man who intends precisely what he says. Invariably. May God continue to bless him so!!
1
It would no doubt be illuminating to find out who is on Donald Trump's prayer list. I'm guessing that Donald Trump, President Trump and himself take up the top three spots, and if more prayers are forthcoming, he returns to the top of the list and repeats himself again and again. I'm also sure it would be informative to be privy to his prayer method. I'd be willing to bet that it goes something like, "God I'm good. God I'm Great.", over and over.
18
If holding the office of POTUS is "so hard" and Trump finds himself "still learning", it appears he admits he is not qualified to hold said office. Ergo, he needs to resign and go back to his real estate "empire".
43
@Sue
Maybe he could have another reality show in which he plays a president so he learn what it entails?
3
I see the smirking and laughing head table guests while Trump proudly displays a headline about the most serious charge that can be lodged against a president. Just another example of the political alternate universe he has so adeptly created on lies and bullying and built on a vision of one seriously defective human being. Don't Americans get enough of that with their reality TV? It seems they desire to be "entertained", in the darkest manner imaginable, through their president too.
29
@Tonyp152
The alternate universe was built years ago by Rush Limbaugh and Fox "news" - starting when they got Saint Ronald of Reagan to throw out the Fairness Doctrine.
It was the beginning of the end.
The corpse of Democracy is now simply going through a few remaining death rattles.
10
@Ambient Kestrel You're right, he didn't create it. "he has so adeptly manipulated" is more accurate.
3
Maybe the WH could do a screening of Disney's classic, Bambi. He could listen to Thumper's mother admonishment that "If you can't say anything nice about someone, don't say anything at all."
If we all follow that advice about politics, we will be a very silent nation for sure, but it couldn't make matters worse.
As for Trump, the silence would be both profound and profoundly welcomed.
19
It would be nice if we could have some reporting of the reactions of people in the room. How, after what preceded the rant, could people just sit and listen politely to the paranoid raving?
It seems to me that for all the Republican carping about "liberal" political correctness, they certainly practice their own very toe-the-line version of political correctness.
20
I am not sure what the problem is with him doing it at a National Prayer Breakfast. Alas, Conservative Christians are one of America's worst threats to our democracy, so Trump would have been speaking directly to their God or their God was channeling through Trump.
20
Trump needs more than a prayer. He needs a serious talk therapy, potent medication, community volunteer service hours in the inner city or Indian reservation or poverty-stricken suburbia (so that he can see and feel how the other Real America without a NYSE stocks ownership really looks like), reflection in silence (no more yelling, taunting or cursing!!!) at a mountain top in Tibet, a walk on the floors of a child-labor factory (where his daughter imports from) in China or Latin America, and maybe even exorcism. Can one's mouth be that foul, cruel, and evil yet have a soul that is clean, pure, and just? I think not.
20
This man breaks at least one commandment numerous times DAILY, LIES, plus who knows how many others. It's a joke having him at a prayer breakfast. I bet my pension he's never prayed in his life, except maybe to get out of the draft.
28
I am distraught, I can't think of anyone in the world who is interested in what is happening that knows less about America than Americans.
We are terrified maybe even more terrified than some of you are.
19
Trump is brutally dishonest with himself. Why would one expect him to be honest with America?
11
Was there really any doubt about how the current occupant of the White House would act and react? He was acquitted in the Senate trial- so-called -whose ending was pre-ordained by corrupt (McConnell) and spineless (51 other GOP Senators, not Romney) sycophants. Of course he would blow his horn! He's the greatest everything! Just ask him!
Not only that, but this outrage, along with his outrageous behavior, will continue daily until, oh, November 3 or thereabouts. We, the American voting public, have one check left on this state of affairs. Vote!
14
A Prayer Breakfast is not the place to vent your hate for those who disagree with you. This only underscores the small-minded narcissistic behavior of the speaker.
20
Yes, hundreds of indignant comments.
Dig into your pockets and support the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) if you want things to change.
I did.
18
"Mr. Trump’s speech on Thursday morning was as overtly a political talk as any president has made at the National Prayer Breakfast … "
!!!
I don't think the journalistic integrity of The Times, nor Peter Baker's individually, depends upon using the printed page to 'liken' hate speech (be it spoken at a prayer breakfast, a campaign rally or anywhere else) so 'even-handedly' as to make it seem not much worse -- if worse at all -- than the offense committed when a parking ticket is not paid.
2
Capt. Queeg was supposed to be a fictional character.
10
It would not matter if Romney never mentioned his religion as the reason to vote for impeachment. He did something that Bone Spurs considered a personal insult and he will go on and on about it because Romney is getting more attention than the baby. He is after Bloomberg for being short and Nancy for being nervous and on and on. He is a self absorbed hypocrite who uses a prayer breakfast as a forum for his hate.
27
Poor Nancy. She did her best to stop that liar.
Now she has to sit there while he rails against his fellow citizens. She is in a terrible situation. I support her efforts to show that his lies are not tolerated.
21
If Jesus walked into that National Prayer meeting, the Republicans would have impeached him for not wearing a dark colored suit and for not siding with the money lenders.
21
Susan Collins, care to comment on Trump’s ability to “learn his lesson”?
27
Unbelievable. He's holding a newspaper.
12
I was listening on the radio and I also thought POTUS seemed oddly flat affect. Talk about “Sleepy Joe” I thought, what is up with you tonight? Did the White House have him on some kind of mood altering substance to allow him to read the teleprompter and not deviate from the script?
9
@NYCSandi Maybe that's what Nancy noticed! She was right behind him.
2
I am in total agreement with Mitt Romney .
Trump clearly abused his power and will continue to do so. It is a very sad day in American history. I will never understand how so many people continue to support our president and seemingly place him above God! I am sickened at the very thought of another 4 years of his lies!
15
@Pamela If he is still alive, he will not leave, probably will not allow elections, perhaps by starting a war - can't have an election when there's a war apparently. Time to be scared, I'd say.
3
Trump is holding up a newspaper with big bold headline "Trump Acquitted." This was such a mistake. He will now believe he is untouchable. He is also using foul language. He is such a detriment to this country. Why are people still following him. Would you want him in your family? I wouldn't want him as a neighbor or a friend. I detest this man. I am 72 years old and now for the first time I hate a President and a political party. Only one person, Mitt Romney, stood up to him. If we still have a country in the future this will be remembered as a dark time in our country. Germany does not allow any information on the Nazis. Let's not go down that route. Bring all of Trump's crimes to the forefront. He is getting standing ovations. Now he is demeaning Schiff and the Democrats. Imperial presidency.
15
Senator Scott of Florida, who has proposed making it impossible to impeach the president, is the devil.
13
@Ice Tea Party
No, but it was the devil’s ideas.
2
What happen to...." and for give us our trespasses as we for give those who trespass against us"
I guess he does not know this prayer
Not very Christian is he.....this...that three marriages. ....extramarital affairs.....
It fits that he would not act as a Christian.....even at a National Prayer event......
9
Something wrong here: Prayer breakfast & the Impeached Liar at the same event as an invited guest.
Is religion in so deep ...trouble as to associate with a Grifter?
Must be.
12
Karma is a you-know-what and I look forward to seeing it play out with a blue wave in November.
That goes for the hypocritical evangelicals, too.
12
Im not listening, but Trump is having his "press conference" as I write this. He still claims to have done nothing wrong, and I suspect, true to form, he will be announcing to Ukraine and China to investigate his rivals. You cannot be the perpetrator of wrong doing and simultaneously act the victim. Trump is a master of this deception. He's a grifter, pathological liar, and phony human being; a waste of O2.
11
How long will this nation tolerate having a tantrum-throwing child in the White House?
10
Odd. I thought festivus was in December.
7
G-d help us all: this really IS his best. And it's so unfathomably awful. I, too, pray for the President. But I fear it's increasingly obvious that those prayers are going unanswered.
19
I read that the one thing Evangelicals dislike about him is his profanity. Did any of them watch his "celebration rally" this afternoon? Lester Holt had to apologize to parents of children who may have heard it.
15
Whatever your political orientation, it is clear that Trump is exhibiting increased symptoms of mental impairment in his behavior and speech.
Whether you call it "frontal lobe dementia", "malignant narcissism", or some other mental health descriptor, this sort of mental impairment in a head of state is a extraordinarily serious and problematic.
Being governed by a mentally deficient egomaniac should keep everyone up at night and on their toes -- no matter what your party affiliation.
Although the 25th amendment exists to deal with precisely this sort of situation, the Republicans will certainly block its implementation.
That leaves only the ballot box.
Perilous times.
29
@Humphrey Claim Couldn't agree more - from an outsider's perspective, it is obvious the guy is off his rocker, delusional....and seems to be on drugs of some sort....no doubt a prescription.
5
I'm confused. Nowhere does that article state that any prayers were actually offered, or if they were, their content. Why do they call these things "Prayer Breakfasts?"
I searched the NY Times archives and in 1984 found another National Prayer Breakfast headline in the Times entitled "REAGAN, AT PRAYER BREAKFAST, CALLS POLITICS AND RELIGION INSEPARABLE." That event was reported to involve disputations about prayer in schools with speeches being given about discrimination against religious people.
I don't see any reason to believe that there's much actual prayer going on at these events at all. These "prayer breakfasts" seem to me to be nothing more than political and culinary buffets with a sprinkling of religiosity.
I for one would like to hear Trump utter a single prayer. He says he's a Presbyterian. Well let's hear it, Mr. President.
6
@Kip Leitner Trump could not utter a coherent prayer if his impeachment depended upon it. He is Presbyterian in name only. Remember, Jesus knows his own (Bible verse omitted). We are not one nation under God...never have been...from the inception of this country, religion and prayers were a cover for aggression against Native Americans and later to cover for the import of Africans to become slaves in America. And to award Rush Limbaugh the Medal of Freedom was obscene in so many ways .
11
It was prayers for breakfast not at. But surely more prayers are needed.
Essentially I agree with Pelosi, except that in addition to "his state of mind" I'd add "the *state* of his mind." I honestly can't conceive of any rational people not scratching their heads over Tuesday night's "throne of lies."
12
Sounds just like a man who realized he did wrong and wouldn't ever do something like that again "he learned his lesson". Were the so-called moderate republicans making excuses or do they not realize that he's a vindictive snake oil salesman and will keep going until someone else puts the breaks on!
9
@Harvey Brownstein Where is Susan Collins now?
1
Pelosi is right about Trump being on meds on Tuesday night. It's happened before (frankly not often enough), and it's pretty clear when he's skipped a dose or two versus not. Just another factor in this increasingly unstable chaos.
14
@MCV207
As a psychiatrist I'll never see Trump as a patient unless I'm on call for the ER and he is brought involuntarily as a patient. I'll fulfill my ethical, moral and professional duties.
1
Thank you, Ms. Pelosi, for you are extraordinary and a bit of the right stuff. Listening to the prayers of the Poor Clares in Ireland, forwarded by a medical friend and nun from France, who is praying now for our country.
8
“Nor do I like people who say, ‘I pray for you,’ when they know that’s not so.”
So I guess Trump is adding the skill of reading minds to his "smartest guy in the room" mentality.
12
Love that Pelosi said "he looked to me like he was a little sedated." That's exactly the right note to get under his skin.
Pelosi should also add the "some people say" artifice (one of Trump's favorite rhetorical devices) and say,
Some people say he is addicted to Adderall and Sudafed. I don't know if its a fact but people are saying it and that would explain a lot.
Or something like that. That would get under his skin.
18
Although impeached as President, Trump will continue to command center stage, lie about his exploits, and defame anyone who opposes him.
But history will write the last word. Trump will not escape the final, honest verdict about his presidency
14
The president is a child. He thinks like a child and behaves as a child behaves.
I watch the press, both print and electronic media and you all are doing a pathetic job of covering the imbecilic behavior of this child.
When one side says, "it is raining outdoors" and the other side says, "no, it's sunny outside", it is YOUR job to actually look outside and tell us the truth about the weather. It is not your job to say, "well, I guess it depends on your point of view". There is the truth and it is your job to tell the truth no matter the consequences.
I watch the Sunday morning News interview shows and I must say, they have all turned into self aggrandizing pablum fests. They are all so worried about losing access to the child and his worshipers they refuse to ask the tough questions or do their jobs as the formerly much vaunted, Independent Press.
For God's sake, step up your game or join the Fox and Friends team and stock-up on lip balm, as the child demands.
13
@Rinchino You are so right!!
1
Trump trashes the spirit and comity of the National Prayer Breakfast. In other words, Thursday.
5
"Mr. Trump’s speech on Thursday morning was as overtly a political talk as any president has made at the National Prayer Breakfast... "
Unless you can cite a president who used one of these meetings to whine and play the victim the way Trump did, then the correct language is:
Mr. Trump’s speech on Thursday morning was MORE overtly a political talk than any president has made at the National Prayer Breakfast,
This is yet another example of the insidious "bothsiderism" that plagues the NY Times and has damaged this country. Your obligation is to the truth, not the "appearance" of fairness. In this case, the bothsiderism is subtle, but it fails to single out -- truthfully -- just how destructive this man is.
6
Statistically, only 40% of any complainers here actually vote .
1
Voting doesn’t matter unless you live in a swing state. FACT
1
An entire room of phony Christians embrace Trump. What a surprise.
That's because most white people who support Trump could not care less about their fellow man.
Their religion is capitalism.
Trump cannot even fake it in an event with the word "prayer" in the title.
As long as he continues to support the overt and subtle message of white supremacy, all those people will continue to support him.
13
As it appears to me, the only connection Trump has to Christian principles is to see how many of the "Seven Deadly Sins" (envy, gluttony, greed or avarice, lust, pride, sloth, and wrath) he can tick off his bucket list. I am still waiting to see evidence of integrity, ethical behavior or morality. I am so sick of constant lies and character assassination by Twitter I could scream.
18
Trump: “I apologize, I’m trying to learn,” he said. “It’s not easy. It’s not easy. When they impeach you for nothing, then you’re supposed to like them? It’s not easy, folks. I do my best.”
Arghh! I was ready to fire another snarky comment at you Mr. Trump but, with this humble apology from you, not only that I sympathise with you for a second time in four years (the first was when you complained that NYT never ran a positive story about you; yes NYT ! you should force yourself to write a + story every 10 negative ones, so that you can claim that you are objective and balanced) but I am also thinking that you will be the 2nd inept Republican president that gets trained to be a good one after 4 years in office. King George did it, boy Donald can do it too ! How ironic that, about the time when you learn what kindness is, you have to leave office. Maybe you should stay for a second term or for life if you are a slow learner and need more time to ... improve.
2
@mynameisnotsusan Don't offer him to stay for life! He already wants to.
NYTimes - you are covering a Trump Celebration in the WH. This is not a formal response to his acquittal but a Parade. This is not news but a egomaniac spouting lies in real time. Please discontinue covering the POTUS campaign in the WH.
10
Here in Quebec church and state are separate. Many of us would like to be able to believe but the evidence before our eyes tells us the Earth is 4.5 billion years old and there is no evidence of anything outside of normal happenings or changing the laws of the universe.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec_ban_on_religious_symbols
Politicians in Quebec would thankfully be better served being seen at an orgy than at a breakfast for America's most successful human predators. I understand Jesus looked out of the kitchen to see the American holy men not only wept uncontrollably he wrent his garments he put on sack cloth and ashes.
America now has a unit of measure for hypocrisy the NPB or National prayer breakfasts.
11
Mitt Romney must feel that guy who didn't clap for Stalin at a Soviet Communist Party meeting.
15
I can't move past the fact that Trump awarded gutter talk show host Rush Limbaugh The Medal of Freedom Award.
We all know Limbaugh relished in singing the offensive song, "Barack The Magic Negro."
And in 2012, as college women testified to Congress for reproductive rights ----including birth control that would treat medical conditions, Limbaugh repeatedly called a Georgetown Law student "a prostitute."
What did we hear at the State of the Union Address? A male senator yells “Thank you, Rush!”
How much cognitive dissonance is there in the GOP senate?
38
@Politics Focus Limbaugh also mocked Michael J. Fox for having Parkinson's disease, and made fun of Chelsea Clinton's looks when she was a little girl first moving into the White House. Limbaugh is another little bully, just like Trump.
19
@Politics Focus Limbaugh is a disgusting little man. Giving him that aware was a slap in the face to everyone who received the award and earned it. Sometimes I think the Donald does things just to irritate people and get his name in the newspaper. It is obvious he does not care about the country or the people in it. I wish people would awaken to this fact. And the Christian Right hanging onto him is disgusting.
6
The typical abnormal and sorry behavior we have come to expect from this president.
11
I'm sure others are listening to the press conference? The things that this man is saying are not decent, not honest, not sane. For god's sake. The scope and scale of the dishonesty are like nothing we have seen for a hundred years. Things are going to get worse before they get better. This is not somebody who, for instance, will leave office when he loses in 2020. And his audience--who in the world are they? Are these the same frightened senators that Senator Brown was talking about yesterday when he said that most Republican senators know Trump did just what the House managers said he did, and believe his wrongdoing was worse than Nixon's? Would these unhinged and untethered and dishonest and immoral and frightened people ever stop protecting him, even if he were to refuse to leave office when he loses? He is still talking now. I made the best speech. They all said it, the experts. They were going to overthrow the government, the duly elected government. The crookedest most dishonest people. 33,000 emails deleted. Mueller had the look but he was the top scum. 99% of the FBI is mine.
12
Just going to throw this out here because it is so relevant to what’s happening right now: nearly HALF of all adults who were teens in the 90’s and early 00’s who attended Southern Baptist churches no longer do. Why? Because the hypocrisy is so disgusting to us.
We were teens during the Clinton impeachment, and the big push was to tell us to “flee from sexual immorality.” Now we are watching our parents’ generation rally being this man who has bragged about sexual assault, and we are watching the same people who stood up during Clinton’s impeachment and talked about moral values, and how the president should be a moral leader, now defend the most immoral president of the modern era. Literally the only president who even comes close to his level of indecency and brazen immorality is Andrew Jackson, and wow that was 2 whopping centuries ago.
Why does it matter that Millennials are abandoning evangelical churches, the largest denomination being Southern Baptist? Because these churches are bastions of right wing politics. We want no part of it.
When I was a teen, prayer breakfasts were solemn occasions. Southern Baptist churches for example used to really care about moral values. Now they’re too busy defending Trump and damning gays to hell to remember what a moral value even looks like.
There is a coming blue wave among Southerners of my generation. And it’s because of the gross hypocrisy of our parents’ generation. We are going to help right this ship.
41
@Corrie
Thank you for your comment. The story of folks like me is not the same but it is similar. We grew up during a slightly earlier era in the protestant churches of the Midwest, e.g., the Methodist church. At the time those protestant churches were progressive, tolerant, open-minded. Since then, however, those churches have become close-minded and intolerant, and the very makeup of the congregations has changed. They are chasing out ministers who, for instance, offer support for young people who are gay. The younger generations have left those churches in droves, too.
6
It's getting all very boring.
1
"I don’t like people who use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong," says Trump at a National Prayer Breakfast. Pretty much the most hypocritical thing he's ever uttered.
Well, now we know for sure the Trump doesn't like himself at all, but I wonder, how can these so-called "Christians" look themselves in the mirror and thump their bibles every day? Trump is the absolute antithesis of Christian values. He brings our entire religion down along with the country into the swamp of corruption. It's sad. It's pathetic. I actually feel sorry for a guy who can say stuff like this with a straight face. It must be horrible being such an incredibly horrible person.
13
There's no other way to say it: the President of the United States is a jerk. And he has no intention of changing, because his unbridled behaviors delight his base.
12
Trump is a petulant child. And an empty ghost.
Nothing, nothing, will ever please him for any sustained period of time. Deep down he his a miserable man.
So sad that so many people do not recognize that.
Their allegiance to him, will haunt them.
They will be rationalizing their reasoning for this, until they're dying days.
16
Mr. Trump, you are a weak, oversensitive, pathetic, and malicious cry baby who needs to be pacified by harming others. Consequently, your statement reeks of hypocrisy: “As everybody knows, my family, our great country and your president have been put through a terrible ordeal by some very dishonest and corrupt people.”
Your conduct with the help of Giuliani, Pompeo, and your propaganda organ [Fox News] has put Marie Yovanovitch, Alexander Vindman and others “through a terrible ordeal” and your conduct was “very dishonest and corrupt.”
Your pathetic reference to God and religion cannot excuse your evil conduct and cannot redirect blame for your “sad” experiences that are the result of what you have sowed.
17
Mystics who support Trump cast doubt on all mystics - every one of them.
3
Trump quoting Jesus again—I hate people who disagree with me. Wait...isn't that what Jesus would say?
6
Trump’s performance today is confirming everything that Congressman Schiff, Speaker Pelosi, the House Impeachment Managers and evening some cowering Republicans said about him. If you can’t see that, you are either willingly blinded to too disinterested or stupid to notice.
13
oh, he’s just the president... he’s leading our whole nation so he can act how he pleases. Now everyone else, you have to do this this and this. But president trump gets a pass because...? Anti women’s choice, anti immigrant, anti gay, anti anyone but white straight Christians.
Riiight. Some prayer breakfast. What a joke. Not fooling me.
6
It would behoove the Times to also note the sponsor of this event is not exactly a non-controversial one:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fellowship_(Christian_organization)
6
How laughable are his self-pitying whimpers. This impeached president is no more a victim than he is a paragon of honesty.
Dump trump. Vote 2020.
9
And the biggest lie told today by Trump?
"I'm trying to learn."
LOL at that one.
14
This is what it has come too?? This horrible rhetoric after he’s just been impeached and at a National Prayer Breakfast surrounded by religious hypocrisy!!
What is the US turning into. You are was past the stage of being an international laughing stock. How shockingly absurd.
10
Yes, going through impeachment has certainly taught him a lesson on how to behave, hasn't it, all you Senators who expected him to take away a learned experience.
Yes, he learned something- You're all complicit Cowards and his take away is no one will stand up to the school-yard bully.
You should be ashamed!
10
Trump stiff his contractors, cheats on his taxes, and pays for sex outside his 3 marriages.
Or course he is Christian.
Ask Pence. Or Pompeo.
13
He is so hate filled at his core that he had no business being at
the prayer breakfast.
9
Whoever put a sedative in Trump’s water before the SOTU, can you do that everyday please? Trump’s trying isn’t good enough. He behaves like a dry drunk, raging all the time. He needs to calm down.
10
How many times is it now have we seen a headline including the words "Trump Lashes Out"?
I, for one, can't count high enough to quantity the childish rantings of our so-called leader.
3
People need to walk out on him. They need to stand up, state that his is a disgraceful person and then leave.
Enough of this.
10
@Matthew Better yet, they should laugh at him. That would utterly destroy his fragile, vain ego.
6
@JenD
At this point "trump" is now extremely dangerous. I'm not sure laughing at him makes sense now.
1
The Senate did NOT acquit this guy. It was the cowardly GOP puppets who did it. Without witnesses the "trial" was nothing but a kangaroo court in reverse by the dishones and corrupt people on earth....the Senate GOPers.
12
Boy, if any of those preachers had an ounce of integrity, they would lay into Trump with some Big Boy Tough Love.
They are letting him embarrass himself- he can't even be called a representative of anything like the nation. Acting like an overtly petulant adolescent spoiled brat who cant get his way but mommy and daddy have allowed to grow into a loathsome bully is doing this man no favors. Laughing while he abuses others in the name of "religion" is proof of their paper-thin spirituality.
Quit having these disgusting get-togethers on the taxpayer dime. The last one had that russian operative working the room for NRA and religious hypocrites for contacts and she got deported back to Russia after being put in jail.
8
The deal was already sealed but my family and I will now work as hard as we can to get Democrats into office from President to local council from now until November. How 'Evangelicals' with all their reference to Jesus Christ can back this ugly man who is full of hate is beyond comprehension.
12
After 3 years of the spiritual pedestal crashing down yesterday, Democrats ponder what to do next.
And all the right-wing fake Christianists applauded the hate and lies. Tells you all you need to know about the Republican Party.
10
Trump could have sacrificed a goat to Baal on the lectern and 99.9% of evangelicals would still vote for him in November.
12
Our pseudo/faux commander in chuff now has license to go full steam ahead in exercising his vindictive nature. What would Jesus do?
7
Well Susan Collins, I guess he didn't get the memo about learning his lesson! When will you?
14
I pray for Mr. Trump.... to lose in 2020.
14
All those devout people at the National Prayer Breakfast will of course remember that great saying of Jesus in Luke 6:29 - "If someone strikes you on one check, knock him on the head with a bat and spit in his face also."
Trump is certainly following that wise teaching to the letter.
10
These religious sycophants disgust me.
I get it, they get their war of abortion and their judges installed so they don't have to bake cakes they don't want - but I thought deals with the devil we're still supposed to be a no-no.
If they truly practiced what they preached they'd realize the wolf in sheep's clothing that Trump is.
11
Project much? Trump is making Roy Cohn and Joseph McCarthy proud. Accuse your enemies of your crimes and sins and never, never, deviate from that script with an apology or hint of self-reflection.
8
A prayer breakfast? I figure upon walking in he would melt like the witch in The Wizard of Oz. How many days ya think before he orders the arrest of Adam Schiff? And instead of the Oval Office being stormed and the president swinging from the nearest tree; (Which would have undoubtedly happened in similar circumstances 200 years ago.) the news media will remind us that both sides do it; and constitutional scholars will ponder whether this is within presidential powers. More charges before the election. And then let's landslide this stinking criminal.
10
Trump lies, cheats and steals-he is cruel and unrepentant-he takes money from his charity and spends it on a large portrait of himself.Trump focusing on himself and his fortunes at the Prayer Breakfast is akin to the parable of the “money changers” at the Temple.Jesus was infuriated when the Temple( read, Prayer Breakfast) was used for evil purposes.Trump should be expelled from the Temple!
10
Cringeworthy. Embarrassing. Vulgar. Low Life.
These are just a few adjectives to describe Trump's crude actions.
But humiliation is what I most feel as an American abroad.
10
What a disgrace we have for a President.
11
Newsflash: POT CALLS KETTLE BLACK
If Trump wants to accuse anyone of being "very dishonest and corrupt people", he only needs to have a look in the mirror.
7
What’s worse than a sore loser? A sore winner. A spoiled infant for his entire life.
9
Note to the so-called Christians who attend "prayer" breakfasts:
Jesus spent a lot of time hanging out with, and preaching the cause of, people Donald Trump would call "losers."
Or maybe you haven't read your Book lately.
14
Christianity has been assimilated by Trumpism.
6
After reading this editorial and being forced to listen to the Great False God Trump (I always watch the SOTU), I could not be more proud of Speaker Nancy Pelosi than I am now after just listening to her press conference. Dignified and strong, always elegant and controlled – even when showing her passions – Pelosi laced her presentation with references to the president's lies and gutter-rat style of a twelve-year-old bully. Tearing up the speech was the smart, brave thing all American women of courage do all the time, whether silently when listening to blow-hard bosses, ready-to-punch-you-out rednecks or pathetically paternalistic politicians.
8
Please remind me why we have a National Prayer Breakfast?
8
Gee, Nancy,
Do you really think so?
Well, that settles it, no one is going to vote for a candidate with “No class”.
We voters are going to flock to a party with a dozen or more electoral improbables representing everything from Anabaptist to Zoophile and incorporating every possible perversion of which the human reproductive impedimenta is capable, while inaugurating programs and policies to assure that no American dollar reposes in the immediate vicinity of anyone who happed to have earn it.
Just what everybody is looking for.
1
...says the bad person who calls himself "good."
7
Everyone in DC needs a timeout!
4
The president is so shallow and contemptible on so many levels that it boggles the mind. I say impeach him again (and then again).
6
At a PRAYER breakfast, the president called others “very dishonest and corrupt people”.
Now ask yourself: to whom were the prayers sent?
9
At the first National Prayer Breakfast President Eisenhower said “God has given me a lifeboat and said… ‘Moody save all you can.”
How much the candor has changed!
1
Holier-than-thou Dems standing in judgement of our President and acting as pure as the wind-driven snow are the pot calling the kettle black.
1
Hey all you Evangelicals out there. Do you think a prayer breakfast is the proper venue for his behavior? You guys, and organized religion in general, really have created a credibility problem for yourselves by supporting someone who is the furthest thing from being spiritually enthusiastic. Can you say HYPOCRISY?
11
Well, it was either this, or
.
.
.
President Mike Pence and vice president
.
.
.
Jared Kushner.
Take your pick.
1
"I do my best." --Donnie Trump, February 6, 2020
Best? Gosh! It's hard to even imagine what could be worse!
10
A prayer breakfast is an absurd notion to begin with. Does anybody really think God wants to hear anybody praying with their mouths full of pancakes? Talk about bad manners.
1
Where are Nancy Pelosi's retort in this article. The headline is deceiving.
Sounding more whiny and wounded than ever.
5
So...Jesus was a gun-toting, foul-mouthed Republican who denigrated the poor, made refugees the equivalent of Satan's evil hordes, belittled those worse off than he and cheated his way through life?
Oh, OK. I'll skip religion if you don't mind.
8
"Love your enemies?" Wars are never won by loving your enemy.
“If you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles.” – Sun Tzu
2
@Dennis: News flash — Sun Tzu did not purport to be a “Christian.” Nor did he bloviate and pontificate at “prayer breakfasts.”
3
There is some more good news for Trump today. He is now a member of the Great American Presidents Impeachment Club, joined forever with his good friend Bill Clinton in the annals of history.
1
Please when covering unhinged rants, label them as unhinged rants. Whether from the white house or from the gutters.
4
Will some Republicans and religious leaders there please call him out! Disgusting.
4
This is a truly godless man leading this prayer breakfast.
How anyone truly of faith can support this is beyond me.
9
What kind of a person rips people at a prayer breakfast?
All the Republicans own this. They enabled him. They own the lies, racism and corruption. Forever.
8
Hey, all you God-fearing, make that Trump-fearing Republicans - which of the two senators below best represent your party?
“Here’s what I know. Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud. His promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University. He’s playing the members of the American public for suckers. He gets a free ride to the White House and all we get is a lousy hat.”
- Mitt Romney 2016
"I’m going to do something I haven’t done the entire campaign. I’m going to tell you what I really think of Donald Trump. This man is a pathological liar. He doesn't know the difference between truth and lies. He lies practically every word that comes out of his mouth. And in a pattern that I think is straight out of a psychology text book, his response is to accuse everybody else of lying.”
- Ted Cruz 2016
11
shameless; pettiness is his nature. with his permanent smirk, he gleefully extends his vulgarity, coarseness, vindictiveness to all that he believes are 'out to get him'. his narcissism is breath taking. that one as he has escaped all penalties for his incessant wrong doing boggles the mind.
7
Attack is the best form of defense.
When you know you are dishonest and corrupt you call you opponent dishonest and corrupt.
3
the 2 year old that throws a temper tantrum because no one likes him. He is the world's biggest bully and ugliest man alive.
My conservative cousins are finally seeing what he really is.
9
I hope she keeps hitting back!!
8
Is it me? Or does that picture of Trump holding the newspaper look sorta like another Dewey Defeats Truman moment?
@Gregory Diedrich
One of his aides must have told him to do that. He’s not an original at anything.
1
Revenge at a prayer breakfast? Must some sort of religion I’m unfamiliar with.
7
Why is the Times still broadcasting Trump's remarks at the White House. He has been rambling for many minutes now at what is essentially a victory party. Enough already. This is not newsworthy.
4
The charlatan GOP embracing themselves and their god at what truly is a fake prayer breakfast.
2
If Trump and his sycophants are the face pf America going
forward, expect a dark destiny. It would seem the Christians leaders who have perverted the teachings of Christ into an orgy of power and greed are going to get what they've longed for:
END TIMES.
9
Trump only knows how to 'prey'.
12
This year's 2020 National Prayer Breakfast theme:
"Jesus died for our sins, so let's not disappoint him."
5
Hypocrisy has a new, eternal hero in Donald J. Trump.
2
Perhaps Trump should re-read “Two Corinthians.”
5
Golly! That Donald J Trump sure does learn a lot fast, ain't that right, Susan?
4
And the opening salvo from Democrats to neutralize this fascist steamroller was ... the Iowa Caucus. I'm just brimming with confidence.
1
What would Jesus say about Trump?
3
I pretty much know what Mrs. Pelosi was praying at this breakfast.
3
Did he make it through this year’s prayer breakfast without using profanity?
5
Trump is winning like a DOG...!
The Murdoch and Mercer propaganda juggernauts must be attacked and vigorously dismasted and disabled. Until then we don't stand a snowball's chance in heck of having this autocrat not coup next November's election.
I feel we are on an inevitable descent into our second Civil War.
3
This may be a first, but I think he "F/L/U/N/K/E/D" the prayer breakfast.
He surely FLUNKED the State of the Union speech.
If you ever are asked to give a speech before a distinguished body or peer reviewed from some philanthropic group, it is not a good sign when the leader, Pelosi, rips up your paper before everyone present - cameras included - to mark the day for the history books...!
4
Well, lashing out is, after all, what prayer breakfasts were designed for.
464
@Alison Siewert
Thanks Alison - you made my day! Cheers to you.
38
@Alison Siewert
And a big AMEN to that! Well done Alison.
21
@Fluffydog Mine too!!!! ;-)
14
What's worse — Trump insulting people at a prayer breakfast, or the folks who laugh along with him? It's not even nervous laughter any more. The sycophants around Nero, Caligula, or Mussolini come to mind.
11
We are now in a fascist state, where the President is above the rule of law and where he openly crows about the GOP Senate's success in covering up and falsely exonerating his high crimes.
When the President can break one law, he can break all of them. And the GOP Senate has given him complete freedom to enlist America's enemies--all of them--to help him steal the election.
We are now on the fascism slide. Every day new norms and laws will be broken, objectors silenced, foreign interests put before the American peoples'. There are ZERO bounds on Trump's treason, ZERO limits to his lawlessness.
This will end with violence in the streets.
10
Amor fati Trump! I will explain this to you. Amor fati is a Latin phrase that may be translated as "love of fate" or "love of one's fate". It is used to describe an attitude in which one sees everything that happens in one's life, including suffering and loss, as good or, at the very least, necessary. These fates that you should accept are ‘fuel’ for your improvement in life. This allows you the serenity to accept what you cannot change and change what you can and not be a mealy mouth whiner like you are Trump.
2
Well, one can always count on trump to behave like a classless oaf and to say the most ignorant, juvenile things. If nothing else he is a marvel at consistently being the worst in whatever he does.
6
I'm telling you - most people who are not far-leftists will very much relate to his comments. Do you really expect someone who has been called a dangerous traitor to immediately turn the other cheek?
@ Citizen
Not if he actually IS dangerous and/or a traitor. Then I would expect him to reflexively counterattack.
2
He's asking for it, so Impeach him again!
Or, vote for Mike Bloomberg!
Bloomberg will teach him a lesson!
6
Sure! Everyone remembers those times Jesus used his sermons to publicly cast judgement and attacks upon his political enemies........ wait a minute..........
8
" ...then you’re supposed to like them? It’s not easy, folks. I do my best.”
Another glimpse into his infantile mind. You are not instructed to "like" your enemies, but love them as Speaker Pelosi understands (Matthew 5:44). This is beyond the ken of Trump.
4
Who attends this event? Are all faith traditions represented or is it just the right conservative biblicists?
1
Hypocrites, moneychangers in the temple, whited sepulchers, casters of first stones, crossers of the road, Jesus wouldn't approve of these folk. He was a champion of victims, while they like to blame their victims and encourage violence and hatred.
Naming what you do and claiming it is what your opponents do is classic Trump-Republican these days. Nothing more criminal that a Democrat, even every kind of predator, including pedophiles!
For example, the do-nothing Democrats have hundreds of bills gathering dust while McConnell refuses to debate them in the Senate.
And as to legal channels for getting first-hand information about Trump's many crimes against humanity, good luck with that. Total blackout! But Limbaugh gets an award for being as big a liar as Trump!
Cheating in elections and repressing opposition is reaching a new high under Trump. This is bad stuff.
We need a Democratic Senate, please please vote!
9
I pretty much know what Mrs. Pelosi was praying for at this breakfast.
3
And I’m fairly certain she wasn’t the only one.
2
Mr. President, I understand it is hard (and I know you mean impossible) for you to act appropriately, for you to tell the truth, for you to admit any fault, for you to apologize. If I were your family member, I might try to help you, to encourage you to go into therapy. But you're the president, and your mental disorders have an effect on too many people. And yes, I know you're looking for someone "To protect you and defend you/Whether you are right or wrong," but, sorry, it just ain't me.
3
Fake Trial, Fake Aquittal
8
The hypocrisy of Trump and his Republicans is stultifying. Pelosi finally lost her patience and made a symbolic gesture of tearing his sales pitch/STOU and they scream and gnash their teeth even as Trump spouts poisonous insults and lies and breaches protocal EVERY DAY. The groping, "She's bleeding out of her wherever", "cancel the trip to Denmark because they didn't like my idea to buy Greenland" president who has disrespected everybody and everything.
How can the Pubs worry about respect for Trump when he has brought disrespect for the presidency and America to the point that world leaders openly laugh at him at conferences?
This is what deranged looks and sounds like.
6
Perhaps we should rename it the National Hypocrites Breakfast? Those who profess their faith so loudly seem to be the biggest hypocrites.
4
So continues the US nightmare. Shameless criminal president, spineless republicans, and foolish 40 + percent who still think trump is great.
He's likely, along with those republican quaking doormats, to undermine the rule of law and make this country a true dictatorship.
3
Trump can't even go to a prayer breakfast without whining about one thing or another. The most pathetic "president" in history. And, of course, the most corrupt.
2
I saw a brief clip of this event, and was gobsmacked. My initial reaction was that Trump badly needs psychological counseling. My second reaction is that the 25th Amendment must come into play to remove him from office due to his mental incapacity.
My third reaction is that Trump is a dangerous, unhinged lunatic who threatens this nation's future.
7
Shame on you Robert Portman, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowsky and all your spineless Republican colleagues. Your are enabling the destruction of our democracy and the rise of a boorish wannabe monarch. How will you justify this to your children?
4
Good for Pelosi for tearing up his speech. It was a disgraceful pack of lies.
3
His "Celebration" now ongoing is just pathetic, and sick. And scary - this is our President?
1
Mitt should join Justin Amash and work with the true conservatives at The Lincoln Project to re-establish a real Republican Party and let the Trumplican Party/Cult slowly fade away.
Do it guys. Your Country needs you!
Frank
4
Hey Nancy,
You have 2 messages.
The retirement home called, your room is ready any time, just come on over.
The DNC called, something about cleaning your desk by 5 pm today?
Nancy bet her entire legacy on this, and the disaster and ridicule of the Democrats that resulted, that's all on her.
Time to go.
I am sure the DNC and I would agree on that.
This is what the Republicans have wrought. Not a shred of self awareness that his actions were wrong. What a disgusting immoral man he is.
3
What would Jesus Christ himself say about the behavior of Donald J. Trump?
2
When fascism comes it will be carrying a cross wrapped in the flag and be named Trump.
4
Far be it that anyone, even God should steal Trump’s thunder.
5
God help us all!
7
"very dishonest and corrupt people...." As the expression goes - "You spot it, you got it." He's a national disgrace.
7
Yeeeesh, all this religious self congratulating bloviation has no bottom. Oh this naked emperor will stop at nothing folks, he's just getting warmed up, prepare for another lovely day of orange spew and poison.
However, Thankyou Mitt for a ray of integrity from the trough. And off we go to the rocky shore with no lighthouse.
8
I believe we are in the midst of an American tragedy with the worst yet to come. Should the Democratic nominee win the election in November, I have no doubt that Donald Trump will try and block an orderly transfer of power, try and prevent the winner from taking office and use the federal judiciary, even more filled with right wing and far right wing judges than it is now, including a possibly Supreme Court with a larger right wing majority than it currently holds. The Democrats and its nominee will be accused of interfering with the election, using third parties and even foreign countries to tilt the election in the Democratic nominee's favor. Donald Trump will call for investigations by his Justice Department and the US Senate that will be so comprehensive in their search for the elusive "truth" that he will be obliged to prevent any transfer of power until "we get to the bottom of this." thus extending his stay in the White House indefinitely, i.e. four more years and beyond. On the other hand, should Donald Trump win the election, he and his Senate and even his House Republicans will work together to end the two term limits on the President. The Democrats and every American institution, political, governmental and otherwise, need to be prepared in every way to effectively respond and turn the tide.
7
Trump made clear today that there will not be an election this year if he knows he's going to lose. He's hanging on for dear life, and he knows prison is his fate if voting doesn't go his way. The House Judiciary Committee must immediately begin holding hearings and summon all relevant military personnel to testify. The question at hand: "If the president attempts to cancel the 2020 election and millions of Americans take to the streets in protest, will the military obey their commander-in-chief and disperse the demonstrators by whatever means necessary or remain loyal to the constitution even if Attorney General Barr claims that Trump's action is legal?"
Democrats can be confident that their candidate will win in November. But the real question is: Will we even get to November before our democracy is destroyed?
2
If this is how the National Prayer Breakfast is going to be with Trump celebrating in this unfortunate manner his so called victory (an acquittal from the Republican controlled Senate that is really nothing more than a pass) then the National Prayer Breakfast should be cancelled, or at the very least the so called President we have now dis-invited from it permanently.
He is not in the least bit a pious man exhibiting the type of spirit he does as seen today, among many examples we've seen so far.
4
Trump's War of Attrition.
Trump's speech in the East Room, lavishing praise on those who helped him fight impeachment, was frightening.
He'll never admit he did anything wrong.
Anyone who opposes Trump or criticizes him will be targeted for humiliation, ruin, even loss of their job (Andrew McCabe).
He even went after Strokz and Page again.
It was horrifying to watch.
Trump's not in this for the country.
He's always been in it for Donald Trump.
And Donald Trump will now take personal revenge against those patriots who tried to hold him accountable to the Constitution and rule of law.
I remember Trump's only meeting with Richard Branson, a luncheon years ago, long before Trump thought about running for president. Branson said he was shocked because he'd never met Trump before & Trump spent the whole luncheon talking on and on about one topic - one of his obsessions - telling Branson that he'd needed to borrow some money after a bankruptcy & there were 5 people he went to who refused him. He told Branson he was going to spend "the rest of his life" "ruining" those 5 people.
That's Trump's temperament. He thought that was a good goal for the rest of his life: ruining people who refused to loan him money.
Trump never thinks about how to be constructive, how to make things better. Its only about enriching himself & ruining anyone who gets in the way of his vanity.
This is the only thing going on in our government now:
Trump's War of Attrition.
Trump's Revenge.
2
and how a first world country supposedly democratic officially holds a national prayer breakfast is beyond my secular understanding... just one more small thing in a huge list of things...
2
The Trump Bubble. So warm and righteous inside, so vicious and unfair outside. The line between what he knows to be false spin and what he actually believes may dissolve inside that Bubble. Who knows, really.
2
I regret that the last 20 years of my life will be spent watching a good country in so much pain. The cancer that produced and supports Trump will be gone someday,but the next twenty years are going to be tough to weather.
5
“I don’t like people who use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong,” Mr. Trump said.
Well, if they didn't Donald, you would get no endorsements or votes.
7
There has been discussion of reforming the Electoral College. What needs to be teformed is the Senate. We are no longer the thirteen colonies. Why should a state like Alaska, with 750,000 people, have the same 2 senators as California, population 40 million? That is not fair representation.
6
"At one point, Mr. Brooks asked the audience, “How many of you love somebody with whom you disagree politically?” Hands around the room shot up. ... But what he did not seem to notice was that Mr. Trump was among those who did not raise his hand."
Trump is a know-nothing child. I fear for our country. The man is a danger to the world.
1
It disturbs me greatly to say it but we may be witnessing the beginning of the end of the United States. Totalitarianism almost always comes into being when the requisites for democracy are lost, including a truthfully informed electorate, elected representatives who ultimately put country before personal gain, and equal, one person-one vote representation. As terrible as Trump may be, his existence as POTUS is a symptom not the cause of the conditions that history shows over and over are the precursors to totalitarianism. God help us. And in this time of unthinkable military destructive power, God help all of humanity.
3
Trump turns a prayer breakfast into a hellish event, as evangelical followers and teachers at the breakfast are viewed on video as enabling him gleefully in his dark efforts to lower their bar of credibility yet again.
Thank-you Nancy Pelosi for praying for Trump, who desperately needs your prayers.
And Thank-you Mitt Romney, for your refusal to cooperate in the Republican obstruction of justice, which, without witnesses and documents, can in no way be considered a trial.
2
Unbelievable. Utterly unbelievable! He should go back to Wharton and take Human Relations 101. If they do want him back, he should make a donation like his dad did to get himself in.
1
@Roger
"If they do want him back, he should make a donation like his dad did to get himself in."
You forgot to add that his dear old dad paid for his grades, as well. Transcripts anyone?
Donald Trump will never acknowledge his faults and will always blame others for his own short comings. This is truly very sad and disappointing. He squandered his opportunities to do something good for the greater good of humanity.
1
He’s a child who was never effectively disciplined for his bad behavior. Asking him to do the right thing is just another invitation for him to push the boundaries further.
2
The media needs to stop covering every word he utters, every campaign rally he holds, every tweet he makes as if it's newsworthy coverage that he acts like a king while disgracing the office of the presidency and the executive branch. The outsized coverage of his troublesome behavior only validates his supporters' belief that he's some kind of deity. To shun his public appearances and avoid breathtaking coverage of him can bring the focus back to the real world and real people's problems.
1
I hope no one actually had anything to eat for this "breakfast" because they would be nauseated at his appearance and likely to throw up.
1
The Trump presidency is a gut punch to Americans who believe we're all in this together, for we must see that Trump and his supporters are us, if we are to be united. And we must be united if this American experiment is to continue to reach our potential. Yet we recognize in Trump our own turbulent adolescent years, or the teenage selfish turmoil of our children, still unable to put ego aside for cooperative mutuality.
Adult maturity requires suffering from non-cooperation, and by suffering begin to see suffering in others, leading to a growing sense of compassion for all those who suffer. Human maturity is seeing yourself in others.
For this man-child president, suffering is his next developmental step. For everyone's well-being, Americans must be loving parents and apply sound discipline by the vote to his cultural dissonance.
1
Donald Trump is lucky that his Senate Republican enablers we’re sufficiently frightened into voting for acquittal. He has taken on the trappings of a dictator, looking to punish his enemies and place himself above both Congress and the Supreme Court. Refusal to cooperate with the House investigation and refusal to allow key testimony both in the House and In the Senate DO NOT equal exoneration. They equal GUILTY with a sham trial presided over by Trump’s fearful Republicans. History will judge all of them, and most likely not kindly. They will, at some point, have to explain their behavior to their children, to their constituents, and, most importantly, to themselves. They may be smiling today, but their names will forever be bound by the shackles and chains of shame and self - loathing. The United States has been damaged by a bunch of self- interested Republican politicians, and it will take a lot to restore the tarnished luster of our wonderful nation. We can begin the process by voting.
1
The first of many more times when republicans will be afforded the chance to say "enough!"
1
Listening to Trump today, he had zero fear in saying out loud that if he hadn’t fired James Comey, he probably wouldn’t be standing there today. He knows that admitting obstruction of an FBI investigation won’t have any repercussions now. He has a need to always confess out loud to his crimes. In ordinary times there would be consequences and constraints. The Trump Cult of Corruption is on full display and his minions are awaiting their next marching orders.
1
Not one “person of faith” at the National Prayer Breakfast displayed the courage Pastor Faith Green Simmons in Flint, Michigan.
https://qz.com/782362/at-a-church-in-flint-michigan-pastor-faith-green-timmons-politely-shut-down-donald-trumps-politicking-then-he-lied-about-it-and-called-her-a-nervous-mess/
The man is truly the Chief Swinherd of the Republican Party.
And his herd has completely lost its way.
Trump is a wolf and doesn't even bother with sheep's clothing. Why any Christian supports him is beyond me. Matthew 7:16 seems appropriate "You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles?"
4
Trump's lizard amygdala knows that playing the poor aggrieved victim is fodder for his aggrieved base, so he continues to do it. Poor fella, he's really had it hard all these years....My worry is that this strategy will once again be successful in November.
1
I hope that Arthur Brooks, David Brooks, and other principled Republican “intellectuals” are finally seeing the monster whose ascension they helped wrought. I further hope that they will now atone for their previous support of the Republican agenda and loudly speak up and out about the lying, the hatred, the ignorance, the depravity, and the likely mental illness that is destroying our once-great country. Take a page out of Mitt’s book and speak truth to power.
2
Good heavens! This is the President of the United States of America. Look what comes out of Mr.Trump's mouth--at a supposedly "unifying" prayer breakfast, no less.
At a minimum, Mr. Trump can be said to be a disaster in his job as President and doing irreparable harm to this country. What large corporation would put up with a CEO that acts like Trump? Why do we?
But honestly, Trump's behavior at this and numerous other events at home and abroad indicates Donald J. Trump is truly mentally disturbed and dysfunctional. My hunch is the whole world knows it, why don't we?
However, at this point, it should be evident that President Trump is more than quirky, nonconforming, embarrassing, or just "being Trump." He is truly dangerous.
To add fuel to the blazing, red-hot Trump fire, the cowardly Republicans--many of whom are well educated lawyers and experienced politicians are afraid of this man-- and they have just rewarded, celebrated, & reinforced his damaging behavior with their almost unanimous acquittal.
Of course, Trump seems to be feeling desperate and very angry about his well-earned impeachment, and I am afraid he will use his Republican Party acquittal to claim he is once again exonerated and empowered--as he did after the Mueller investigation. More than ever, he can demand and dictate as he wishes, as Dershowitz just gave him "legal" cover to do.
No one will be able to stop Trump now--least of all, his Republican Party.
4 more years? Really GOP??
3
It IS hard to teach an OLD dog new tricks! SAD but true!
Why does no one talk about how he gave up our Kurdish allies to gain favor with Erdogan for the benefit of his real estate holdings in Turkey? Why does no one talk about what the ultimate goal of his behavior concerning Ukraine was, and still may work out to be, his letting Putin capture that country by not helping them defend against Russia's aggression there? This is no longer a re-work of Nixon's southern strategy. It has become rule by the stupid, and I mean the electorate. His lying is playing them like a fiddle.
4
“I don’t like people who use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong,” Mr. Trump said.
That statement precisely describes every Republican that claims to be a Christian and the National Prayer Breakfast itself. Religion all over the world continues to be perverted for power & money and Christians in this country are no different! Disgusting, and violates every single thing the Bible and/or Jesus Christ taught and died for!
6
> And sometimes when it’s too hard, ask God to help you fake it.
Forgive me if I'm wrong, but isn't that deceit? If so, I have plenty of scriptures to point to that say "deceit" is wrong: https://www.openbible.info/topics/deceit .
Suggesting that someone not be honest and true doesn't seem very Christian to me, but I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that someone who claims to be a "Christian libertarian" doesn't follow the faith they espouse.
Really, is it any wonder that Trump doesn’t know how to behave at a prayer breakfast?
4
I hope that today's gutter sniping will be replayed as a perfect piece for Democrats. Trump must be reduced to an ugly mistake by the electoral college states. His almost 3 million vote deficit meant nothing. We have an amoral and mentally unfit president that only the generals may be able to tackle to the floor as we live in a potential 7 Days in May. Great book and movie but a frightening possibility.
1
I believe we may be seeing the absolute worst people in government that we have ever seen.
3
Re register as Republican so you can vote in their primary for Romney
@scoops I would, but my state has dumped its Republican presidential primary.
“That was not a State of the Union. That was his state of mind.”
- Nancy Pelosi, on Trump’s 2020 SOTU address
Finally! Something I am sure we can all (Democrats, Republicans and Independents alike) can agree is funny.
3
What is newsworthy in this article? Trump behaved as a despicable cur lashing out at political opponents -- what's new? That he acted this way at a National Prayer Breakfast? Who was praying and to whom? Given the prior comments by some politicians that Trump was sent by God, maybe they now pray to him. If so, that might be newsworthy, but probably not. Republicans seem please to worship this wrathful man. The smiles and smirks on the faces of the people shown sharing the dais with Trump seem to show a bit of worshipful conviction for the guy. Until something worthy of this much space in the Times occurs, I suggest that the Times look elsewhere for its news. Trump's behavior and Republican worship is so yesterday.
Many of the churches represented at that breakfast should have their IRS tax exemption stripped away. They engage in rank partisan activity on behalf of Trump in violation of the law. See https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/charities-churches-and-politics
2
He has to hold up a newspaper about HIM at a national prayer breakfast?
Why didn't he wear a T-shirt with the word "Acquitted" silk-screened on it?
Then he has to make himself out to be a victim?
No class, no taste, no sense that the office of the presidency is bigger than him.
No, everything is about advertising his "brand", proving that its still #1.
If he had been president on 9/11, he would've spent the whole day talking about himself!
2
Trump's gods are himself, power, and money.
1
So far, his best is his worst.
That white evangelical Christians do not vocally and publicly call out Trump for his profoundly anti-Christian behavior is a sure sign they have transferred their fundamental loyalty from the Lord of glory to the master of chaos.
2
Senator Romney should wear every recrimination proudly as a badge of honor. Thank you for your moral courage, sir. You are a lone voice among cowards.
5
What is Donald Trump doing at a National Prayer Breakfast?
America's Siberian President Donald Trump is a heathen hedonist pagan.
Trump is multiple married serial adulterer, sexual assaulter and harasser.
Trump is man who thinks that there were ' Two Corinthians'.
Trump is a man who thinks that there are ' Ten Suggestions aka Commandments ' that he can choose and select from to obey and follow while grabbing lady parts.
Trump is a man full of pride who loves and worships money.
Trump ia a man who doesn't see nor recognize Jesus Christ in the poor, the homeless, the sick, the thirsty, the despairing, the imprisoned and the stranger.
See Matthew 25: 31- 46
3
Bad behavior all around. Nancy Pelosi is no class act either ripping up the speech. Really? I wold love to see if an average person behaved the way they do. Most people would be fired for their antics. Sick and tired of all of them.
I can't and won't watch this corrupt liar any more. He is hateful, petty, painfully ignorant, and a con artist.
Now our entire efforts must be on uniting the majority of Americans who wanted him removed. We will have the final say, but we must do it together, and we must not falter.
1
Makes absolutely no sense to me that so many supposedly devout, God-fearing "evangelical Christians" willingly follow and defend this corrupt, immoral, godless person.
The Wikipedia entry for "antichrist" says that "In Christian eschatology, the Antichrist or anti-Christ is someone recognized as fulfilling the biblical prophecies about one who will oppose Christ and substitute himself in Christ's place before the Second Coming."
Do they possibly see him as the harbinger of the Second Coming? Or what?
Anybody?
2
A history lesson for the new Teflon Don.
"On April 2, 1992, .....the jury found [John] Gotti guilty on all charges of the indictment ..... "The Teflon is gone. The don is covered with Velcro, and all the charges stuck."
Sentence: life imprisonment without the possibility of parole."
1
Personally, I pray for a wrathful god who uses his powers to smite prideful leaders. Or something like that.
4
Just when I thought it could go no lower. This is a National Prayer Breakfast club. They should be ashamed of themselves. So this is what religion is all about. The National Prayer Breakfast should denounce Trump's behavior!!!
Nobody sinks to the occasion like Donald Trump.
9
If there was any question how Trump would behave following this, he made it clear today. He punished Romney by allowing drilling on protected Utah lands. How many other scared GOP senators were threatened with similar actions behind the scenes? Romney got the first blow, but watch as the season of revenge descends on the democrats. November is a long ways off.
22
Since Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20, 2017, every day has been a sad day.
This is simply one more of the same.
People who want this to change will need to step up on November 3, 2020.
That is all there is to say about that.
29
Well, we have now passed the Jackson, Grant, and even Harding administrations in terms of overt greed and corruption at the top of the ticket. I weep for the Constitution
21
Grant was not greedy or corrupt. No comparison to Trump.
Trump is a three-year-old. He has no filter, lacks judgment, believes the world revolves around him, and has no interest in anything that does not concern him directly.
It is beyond my comprehension that competent, successful adults would be afraid of him as Sherrod Brown's opinion piece states today about Republicans in the Senate. Keeping one's seat in Congress at all costs seems untenable to me. Such a strategy is not guaranteed to work while throwing out one's integrity is forever.
18
Donald Trump and Nancy Pelosi deserve each other. If the last six weeks have proven anything, they've both besmirched the reputations of the offices they hold and long overstayed their time in office. The Democrat that gets my vote in November must demonstrate that they will clean house, starting with showing Ms. Pelosi the door.
4
Joe Crowley was supposed to be Nancy Pelosi's heir apparent. We all saw how that worked out.
The mother of all false equivalencies. Trump besmirches his office with every breath he takes.
3
I keep remembering FDR’s admonition to the American people that “there is nothing to fear but fear itself”. So many people are afraid of the possible harm that Donald Trump can do to America now that he remains in power. But there is hope. Rise up against the fear and replace him with your vote in November. And keep your fingers crossed that America will endure.
5
@Nature
I am sorry you would support him; but you right to do so. If you decide to vote for him (a grave mistake, I believe), AT LEAST GET THE FACTS, not his lies and Do the homework before you cast your vote!
Consider these items:
Stock market is not an indicator of economic health.
The stock market rally the last few days is a reflection of China reinforcing banks (and they hold our debt notes!!)
China is not cutting the key tariffs-you and so are still paying them.
The farmers in the country still supporting him is because you and I have paid farmers at least $6.7 billion for their 2019 production, on top of $8.6 billion provided for last year's production and additional trade relief efforts like commodity purchases and marketing assistance...farms are still closing down because of Trumps great deals.
Trump lied in the State of Union when he said he would protect your healthcare and pre-existing conditions-his admin is in court to scrap.
The job numbers are pretty great-until you realize these low/medium wage, it keeping in line with actual cost of living AND THE TRUMP ADMIN did not support a minimum federal wage.
And on and on...
16
Maybe Mitch McConnell can tell Trump that there was a Iowa problem with the vote count on the impeachment. We'll have to take the vote again.
1
So should we admire Speaker Pelosi's restraint or not? Arthur Brooks urged all to replace hatred in national political life with love. He did this next to a man who willfully inspires hatred in both his supporters and his opposition. Trump does this because aggression and domination is all he knows or wants. Those who hate in response to Trumps provocation do so in part because it allows them to diminish the "other" to a parody of themselves and justify their own aggression and will to dominance. So considering Trumps willful provocation at the "National Prayer Breakfast" should Speaker Pelosi have responded more forcefully then? Its the same question I have regarding the Democrats response to the republicans provocation at the State of the Union address & I have the same answer, yes. Its past time to stand up to this bully openly and in his presence. If decorum is just something to be ignored at will then respecting it when your opponents do not is giving them a pass for their bad behavior & encouraging more of the same. You don't have to hate Trump to admonish him or his sycophants in congress, you do have to call them out for it and do so in simple and understandable terms in their presence and as often as possible. The high ground simply makes you a better target.
8
The past three years have shown the world that many of our institutions are corrupt, and that the FBI will not reform itself or enforce our laws equally.
Until those who broke our laws go to jail and the politicians who drove the 3 year witch hunt against Trump with lies, more lies, and innuendo are voted out of office the divide between left and right in American will never heal.
@Stanz Really?
3
Is Trump implying that we should feel compassion for him and his family members? Does he feel compassion for any of the families he ruined during the border wall debacles. I see photos of terrified, crying children. And some of those children died in the "care" of border facilities. Does he feel compassion for them?
Does he feel compassion for the "terrible ordeal" he put political opponents through? Like creating a false narrative about Hillary Clinton's emails...and yet currently Ivanka and Jared use the same methodology (private servers) for their secure communications within the White House.
Does he feel compassion for anyone? I see no sign of it at all.
10
It seems that Adam Schiff was right. Trump’s reign of righteousness, ridicule, and revenge has begun. Now that he’s “above the law” there will be no end to his venom, vitriol, victimization, and vengeance. And who will dare to stop him?
14
Even though the end result was a foregone conclusion, impeachment was absolutely the right thing to do, because it publicly laid out trump's abuse of power. The Republicans disgraced themselves, as we knew all along that they would. But one of their number acted with honor. In acting according to his conscience, Senator Romney all the more exposed the dishonor of his colleagues.
And so today, as trump triumphantly celebrates his acquittal surrounded by a bunch of morally challenged accomplices and sycophants, I have one word for him:
Icarus.
13:20 EST, 2/06
8
Now that Trump and his cohort feel vindicated, they can release the witnesses and documents they hid during the Senate trial. There's nothing to hide now, is there?
10
Mitt dearly wants to be president but he can't run for the Republicans and running as an independent never works. The Democrats dearly want to defeat Trump but they seem to be without a viable candidate who could do that.
Do you think........?? Nah, that could never happen.
1
I am so tired of my country for the last three years. We have had a president who should never have been elected; we have a president who is the most divisive in the history of America; we have a president who is crude, crass, and hate-filled in his speeches and incites supporters to chant violence; we have a president who had no governmental experience and has no understanding of our history. This latest speech-- at a prayer breakfast no less-- is more than embarrassing--it is repulsive and cringeworthy not just for Trump's comments but for the smiles and clapping like trained seals of the Republicans. The country's Founders would be appalled and perplexed at how their original ideals ended up like this.
17
Trump said, about his vindictiveness: "It’s not easy, folks. I do my best.”"
Your best just isn't good enough, Donald. That's why your parents most likely sent you to military school, why you stiffed contractors, defaulted on bank loans, got in bed with Russian 'bankers', refuse to provide details of your financial history and your taxes, and delight in sowing hatred among your fellow Americans.
And that's why I'd predict a majority of Americans will again vote against you in 2020. We all just have to work a little harder to insure that we get those Electoral College votes going for a "D". Because as a person and as a president, your best just ain't good enough.
14
Trump is the Pharisee, Luke 18: 9-14. He who exalts himself will be humbled. Hopefully sooner than later come November.
7
So I wonder, to the evangelical Trump supporters, do you think it was lost on them the irony of hearing him say: "“I don’t like people who use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong,”?
13
Perhaps the 'failed' impeachment of Trump is having an unintended result. He'll never get over it, continually exposing himself as the classic bully / coward. His list of grievances now extends to his poor, maligned long suffering family, who do no wrong. Don Jr., courageous the big game hunter calling Trump's critics 'cowards' is the ultimate.
I pray our military leaders, perhaps with some help from congressional leadership, are able constrain Trump from doing any real harm to the world during the next 10 months.
2
Attacking his political opponents at the National Prayer Breakfast? And accusing those opponents of corruption and dishonesty? Methinks the charlatan doth protest too much.
5
I watched Trump live and he didn't "lash out" -- that is NYT "resistance" language. He called Mitt Romney out for allegedly falling back on his "faith" (OK so every single other Republican is a religious hypocrite?), and Pelosi for her preposterous statements that she doesn't dislike Trump, she "prays for him." He was calm when he said it, and it seemed reasonable to me (and I'm sure a lot of non-NYT readers).
2
Remember when the Republican Senators were outraged that Schiff would say their "heads would be on pikes" if they crossed the president? Just take a look at what Mitt Romney is enduring today from Trump and his media.
15
I’d like to offer my congratulations to Senator McConnell, Franklin Graham and the rest of the Presidents enablers. You’ve finally built your monster, you loved him, nurtured him and fed him.
When he gets loose and turns on you don’t come looking for help from me.
11
As much as I abhor Trump, I try and not be as ignorant as the people who give him no credit for anything. Contrary to what the partisan hacks post, Obama did not do everything right and Trump does not do everything wrong.
That being said, the guy cannot just take a win and shut up. Going on the attack at a prayer breakfast? He had a decent State of the Union address (lies aside), gets acquitted by the senate, and then steps all over it by this foolish display of temper at a prayer breakfast.
It will be a good day when he is no longer President.
4
The National Prayer Breakfast itself is a travesty, a politicized enterprise undertaken to inflict Christianist values on the rest of us. However, even at the NPB, Trump's posturing stands out as being entirely tone-deaf for the event. He is a hateful, small-minded, amoral (and immoral) man.
2
Pelosi fires back? Sorry but Pelosi and Democrats have been shooting blanks out of nerf guns. They have nothing and are a complete failure to the people of the United States.
3
Orwell once defended the use of profanity in literature as "being like a horse sneezing at bad hay."
Speaker Pelosi did far more than that with her courageous and forthrightly visible act at the end of Trump's screed. More power to her.
That the editorial board would would equate her act with Trump's behavior is, quite frankly, pathetic.
8
I can't help but compare Trump's remarks to the eloquence displayed by Mitt Romney as he explained the reasoning that led him to vote the way he did. I can't claim to be a person of faith, but I don't for a minute doubt Romney's sincerity or the reality of his internal struggle with this. Donald's words aren't just childishly stupid by comparison, but they demonstrate the complete lack of character that we've come to expect from him.
8
Speaking of prayer, I guess none of these Trump supporting, upstanding moralists have given much thought to what happens at judgement first day in the here-after and this self-admitted sexual mis-adventurer is on their resumé.
4
"Dishonest and corrupt," coming from him. Now that's rich.
14
Lets be real. Trump is an embarrassment to humanity. Even worse, he’s on the wrong side of history.
9
This too shall pass. Hopefully Trump is the worst we will see and Pelosi, is fantastic, but a younger woman who knows the game, might have thought twice.
1
I wonder if Susan Collins still thinks Trump has learned a lesson...oh wait, still "hopes" he learned a lesson.
6
You might think that a National Prayer Breakfast would be a moment for a President who professes to be Christian would attempt to exhibit Christian values. You might well think that.
6
Cannot expect more from such a phony, ever-lying man. Crude, unrepentant, care nothing for the poor or the least among us, he gets high marks for only one thing-consistency in his badness.
5
If the so-called people of faith, e.g., ministers, pastors, etc., in the audience at the prayer breakfast can just sit, listen and tolerate the trash that Trump offers, how can their congregations have belief and trust in them? Are they all supporters of Trump. The hypocrisy is incredible and nauseating.
5
The only thing missing from Trump’s “victory lap” confab going on now is that the low level minions aren’t sitting around him at tables working hard to bust open the heads of stolen parking meters. The Republican Party is nothing more than a bunch of mobsters.
5
The impeachment process is winding down and Trump is just whining up.
5
Mr. Trump's faith is in himself.
3
This is too hard to watch. Trumps is a human Pit Bull that I hope that Republicans will finally understand that the President speaks more like a Mafia Don than a world leader. He has reduced his status as a leader to sulking childishness. The Republican party is spineless as they sit there at Trump's hotel laughing and applauding as his status as world leader has been reduced to a schoolyard bully.
5
Conservative Christians are vocally upset by the spread of disbelief and the rise in atheism, particularly among America's young people. If they want to counter that trend they can start by watching a video of this prayer breakfast. Trump lies and lies and lies, and Conservative Christians laugh, applaud, and egg him on.
And then wonder why the population is turning away from them.
11
Pelosi making faces before the President during SOTUS and shredding the speech was without class. They (Pelosi & co) started all this nastiness, not Trump.
1
Pelosi did not need to invite Trump. The only nastiness came out of the speech maker. Read each tweet and every word coming out of his mouth from now till Election Day if you need to be reminded of who says vile things.
2
He’s lucky that is all she did. Most of us would have liked her not to invite him in the first place.
1
How mighty "white" of Trump to state, "I apologize, I'm trying to learn", and "It's not easy. It's not easy. When they impeach you for nothing, then you're supposed to like them? It's not easy, folks. I do my Best". Trump, all this for his Evangelical right wing fanatics. Until he ran for office not even his families paster of his church in Queens, NYC saw him in church on a regular basis. He's like incarcerated criminals looking for parol who all of a sudden find "God". Another Kodak moment.
1
@Michael Remember, this is the same guy when interview by CNN on Jan 17, 2016 stated, “After months of reflection, Donald Trump says he still doesn't regret his decision not to ask God for forgiveness for his sins.”
“In an interview on Sunday with CNN, the Republican presidential frontrunner said that he does not regret never asking God for forgiveness, partially because he says he doesn't have much to apologize for.” Unfortunately, Trump might now deny this due to his “selective memory”.
1
This was truly embarrassing diatribe. But I have to consider the source. I found the Republican Senate chortling in glee rather childish.
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.”
― Daniel Patrick Moynihan
2
Christianity at its best. Turn up your megaphone, the world needs to hear you better.
2
Speaker Pelosi brought shame and embarrassment to her office by her undignified and disrespectful actions Tuesday night. She must resign immediately.
Trump and all those who applauded him at this “religious” breakfast are surely going to be judged harshly at the pearly gates.
3
Mitt owns Trump forever now.
6
So the holy evangelicals and republicans in the room smile and laugh as a grotesque, woman assaulting president, who paid off hookers a week prior to the election, condemns political opponents at a annual prayer service, for doing their Constitutional mandated responsibilities.
Guys, this is what President Madison intended when he wrote the second Amendment, not what dead supreme court justices interpreted.
7
Having this guy and his crew out of the WH cannot happen soon enough for me. This week in particular has been quite maddening. The acquittal, Rush Limbaugh and the phony medal of freedom act for his base, to today’s rant at the National Prayer breakfast of all places. This is not going to change...that is a fact. And it very well may get worse. We need to keep our cool and vote him out in November. We have this one shot to get it right. Let’s not blow it.
4
DJT will be the end of DJT. His lack of understanding/ acceptance of the commandment to love your enemies means that he is his own false idol. To follow this man is to invite destruction. "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" (Mark 8:36)
3
He was impeached for nothing ... well, if you consider attempting to collude with a foreign county to effect the election “nothing “.
4
"This is a day of celebration."
1
Every peek behind the curtain reveals a petty little man who pouts and lashes out at anyone who gives him a shred of resistance. Just another example.
5
Rule of law is dead here, get out while you can. I know I am.
4
We have excused the childish, inappropriate behavior of Donald Trump many times, and we probably will continue to do so.
There are more important things to consider about the habitual Trump misconduct, and we did that during the impeachment proceedings. Undoubtedly, we will need to return to the subject of Donald Trump’s continuing disdain for the Constitution and the rule of law.
It is reflective of Donald Trump’s grotesque personality that he cannot grasp his misuse of non-political events, but we need not sink to that level.
414
@sdw We excuse him indefinitely, if we use statements like "we probably will continue to do so."
I don't mean to single you out, because many feel powerless - but do you remember just after his election, when people were storming their local politicians town hall meetings?
This is the only thing that will get their attention.
They hide in their offices and make up stories of what their constituents want
I guarantee they would change their tune, when angry citizen upon citizen shows up and scolds them until they listen.
21
@sdw
Maybe you excuse his "childish, inappropriate behavior," but I don't. He was so out of it, he couldn't even stand up. He leaned all over the podium the whole time.
19
@Ian Brooklyn Vote!! Support Democratic candidates at all levels. End our national nightmare. Dump Trump, Ditch Mitch, disbar Barr, emasculate Lyndsey "Windsock" Graham. There is now a long list of R miscreants that we need to remove from Washington D.C. Can't shoot them in downtown NY. But, the ballot is an effective substitute for a bullet. Use it.
15
and here is comes...
"Exonerated", "Perfect Call", "I'm The Victim", "I'm Trying"...
All the hits will be marched out this week and for the next nine months. If not by the Trump himself, then by his ignorant bully adult kids, and obnoxious enablers. The bully mentality is very tough to tame, as it always has a way out of the jam.
Democrats ( candidate and voters ) had better get their act together or this will continue on for at least 4.5 more years.
Vote in November 2020.
21
Applause not just to Romney but also to Manchin and Jones. They will also experience the wrath for doing what was right.
28
@jill0 As a close neighbor of Alabama, I too applaud Doug Jones for his principle and political courage. He obviously puts his country above his personal and political concerns. Thank you for your service, Senator Jones.
9
The State of the Union address was a campaign event. The “Prayer Breakfast” was a campaign event. There is not a minute of the waking day that Trump isn’t playing used car salesman — and who knows, he may do the same thing as he sleeps.
For all that, he still hasn’t managed to sell that good ol’ fashioned Trump Miracle Snake Oil to a majority of America. Unfortunately for us, the man has got his henchmen in the Republican Party and his ex-KGB operatives working around the clock to cram that bitter medicine down our throats, whether we want it or not.
32
I am waiting for karma to kick in, for more profiles in courage to show up and the pendulum to swing back. It is obvious that Trump supporting Republicans are only concerned about reelection. While understandable, do they deep down respect themselves for being so beholden to power? Holding on to their positions of power and influence is so important they are afraid of doing the right thing? Frankly, Mitt Romney did the right thing and if he loses reelection when his term comes up, I am sure he will be fine with that.
20
@Tbone: “No one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it.” — George Orwell.
1
@chambolle George Orwell didn't know everything. Marcus Aurelius shared power.
Didn't hear the breakfast but am listening to the President speaking now; it appears he is in the White House. Is it legal for a sitting President to campaign for one side of the political party, and criticize the other. What happened to balanced time for both parties.
It is obvious the Republicans are worried about losing the Senate; otherwise, why the need to campaign on the taxpayer's dime, at the White House.
If there is anything positive in the Impeachment aftermath is the strong possibility that the President will cause the Senate to flip to Democrats. He did the same already for the Republicans, losing 60 or so House of Representative seats.
More unhinged talking does not result in more votes from those who are looking for leadership.
17
@David
The only people that I feel sorry for that are in a cult are the children.
"Republicans" don't qualify.
They made their bed. Mattresses included.
1
Trump is still talking. I think that this is going to be the only subject that Trump will be speaking about for the remainder of the year. And, if he wins the election he'll be talking about this for the next 4 years. It's bad enough that he continues to talk about the election, but add this to the mix. I've already watched The West Wing while Trump's been president, but I
I'll put it back on my queue. Calling Josiah Bartlet!!!
9
Mr. Trump's projection is funny in a very sad way. Every time he attacks someone, it applies 100% to him.
31
Your best isn't good enough, Mr. Trump. The country deserves an honest effort to restore unity.
13
'“That was not a State of the Union,” Ms. Pelosi said Thursday. “That was his state of mind.” '
Absolutely correct. It is bizarre to think DT is doing anything that is not in his own interest.
But, in fairness, the entire impeachment brouhaha was nothing else but the culmination of Dems efforts to disgorge DT. Concerted, vicious, unrelenting and low-class attacks on the legally elected president, for ~ 4y now. Pelosi is none less partisan than DT and is hardly a beacon for anything but fierce narrow-minded political fighting. There are a lot worse than her, though ...
2
@ss So you would read what the whistleblower revealed and toss it in the trash can, huh? Or you would say, "If we look into this, Republicans will say we're trying to take down the president and it might hurt our election chances in November so we'd better just keep quiet about it"? Some things are not partisan and politically motivated, but just "the right thing to do." Please re-read Senator Romney's remarks.
3
Who will produce an ad campaign succinctly recounting evidence of Trump's fealty to Russia, Putin, and the oligarchs? And who will push that ad campaign into Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maine, Kentucky, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Florida, Arizona, etc.
Whoever is willing to do that will get donations from me. Just tell me where to send the money.
With this much evidence of treason, no Republican should ever be re-elected.
17
@Justin
I agree with you. If more Americans understand the extent of Trump’s financial links to Putin, Trump and his GOP defenders will lose in November.
See this recent report, entitled “Russian Government Bank Deposited $500M into Deutsche Bank Subsidiary as it Lent to Trump”
https://forensicnews.net/2020/01/21/russian-government-bank-deposited-500-million-into-deutsche-bank-subsidiary-as-it-lent-to-trump/
Trump’s tax returns would also show that he is in hock to Putin-connected Russian oligarchs, which is why Trump is so desperate to hide his financial records.
Mueller was prevented from investigating Trump’s finances by Rod Rosenstein, and William Barr terminated the investigation prematurely.
You might also be interested in The Moscow Project, https://themoscowproject.org/.
They also distributed The Asset Podcast last year, https://theassetpodcast.org/.
But they don’t seem to be running campaign ads.
2
@Justin Yes, and an ad campaign aimed at Christian voters and military families and veterans, too. There's plenty of material that should give both of those groups pause. Like you said, just give us the address to send donations to.
4
When you have a president who cannot see, in his own mind, that he has done something wrong, who seems to truly believe that what he did was not wrong, that is a mentally unfit person. And when one of our two political parties-- minus one man of principle and conscience -- enthusiastically supports a mentally unfit president and allows him to do anything he wants to do, that is a prescription for anarchy if not a dictatorship, with tragic consequences for many people. The gleeful, raucous reception he received from Republicans at the State of the Union should give us all chills. If enough patriotic Americans do not vote Nov. 3, however long the lines are, whatever the weather, to remove not only this president but every Republican on the ballot, we will have lost our country on that day. It is now that clear.
19
Unless something was happening out of our view those hideous laughing faces reveal who they are praying to and what they are praying for.
Now if something else is happening, something none of us see, let's say an angel of mercy in a top hat and an angel of decency wearing a cape are doing a comedy routine with an angel of the green new deal then their laughing faces would be beautiful. If I had to bet it is probably the former. But there is always room for miracles.
4
This is the behavior that elicits contempt for him. He has no respect for people. I don't believe anyone respects or likes him including his "supporters". He is not a spiritual or religious person. These are the kindest things I can think of.
13
Trump has done a lot of damage to the Democrats, and it is probably more long-lasting. Trump will leave the scene at some point, the GOP will go back to their regular course of business, but the Democrats will be crippled for decades.
The Democrats didn't have to take the bait. They didn't have to say well, if you're playing Rush Limbaugh, then we'll play Jerry Springer. They could have treated Trump with respect and dignity, and shown him up. That would have put them in a better position to win future elections.
As it is, the voters will see two competing clown cars, and will ask which clown will make them better off while they hold their noses and vote.
3
@Jonathan It's well beyond "clown car" politics, sir. There is nothing to laugh about.
1
Respect is earned. All this President has earned, is my contempt. Approaching 20,000 lies in office. Truth matters. Vote.
4
Remember way back when, oh, about a week ago, Republicans were expressing outrage over the mere suggestion that Trump would retaliate against fellow Republicans who wanted to actually hear witnesses and review evidence as part of the impeachment "trial"? Remember how they acted like that was some kind of outrageous accusation, even though we all knew that, once acquitted, Trump would use every opportunity to exact revenge?
Are those senators now going to admit that Trump is now doing exactly what Adam Schiff said he would?
Of course not. Because, as Schiff said, and as everyone knows, they live in fear of this president.
14
Watching this man speak so incoherently and realising people think this is a total appropriate response to him being acquitted. It’s frightening.
23
Kudos to Nancy Pelosi for starting the conspiracy theory that Trump self-medicates before State of the Union speeches. It's just believable enough to last a lifetime!
7
Trump appears to speaking to a part of the US population that wants to be on the winning side of politics regardless of how victory is achieved. Clearly shaking down foreign governments for dirt on opponents doesn't matter. Lying about opponents doesn't matter. Spouting a stream of lies doesn't matter. Breaking laws doesn't matter. To this segment of the population the only thing that matters is winning. The ends justify the means. More and more America is only about wining and nothing else as the values of the founders get shelved and are replaced with the values of angry callers on conservative talk radio. A great country has fallen.
7
@Bob Indeed so, but the confounding part of it is that none of the voters who support this morally bankrupt president actually live their own lives the way he does. In their work lives and personal relationships, they don't tell big lies, cheat, verbally abuse others, blame others for their own failures and faults, provoke violence, or break the law. Why these same good people and upright citizens support a president who does all those things is something I can't understand.
This doesn't surprise me. I'm surprised he didn't invite Stormy Daniels to the state of the union.
2
@JR She should have been invited by Speaker Pelosi, as well as all the women who have accused him of sexual harrassment and assault. But Democrats don't go that low.
We are are called upon to do good in our lives, help others, especially the less fortunate, so in that spirit, I implore the God of all that is, to look upon His creation, look at the human being we know as Donald Trump, help him to see and understand the error of his ways, show him how to help, instead of hurt mankind, lead him onto the path of righteousness, and stay with him lest he stumble and fall off.
And, if You find he is beyond salvation, irredeemable and simply unworthy, then please, please, insulate mankind from his horribleness, and at Your earliest convenience take him from us and implore the Entity in charge of that "Other" place to make room for him, and if he is refused entry there, perhaps You can create for him a Golden Palace, call it Trumps Retreat, and place it a least a billion light years away from us, in an area where other life forms will never encounter him; lots of rooms for his Republican partners and all of his minions.
I humbly entreat you to hear my prayer.
11
Blowback: the tyrants we sat all around the world, well, now we have one sitting here, yes, just made in the USA. What a tragedy! But actions sooner or later bring consequences. Trump is just the consequence, Trump by himself doesn't have any existence whatsoever. The political-social circumstances of our actions brought this man and his servants to us.
5
@Maita Moto How?
When you listen to Trump you can notice something is wrong with him. Besides the rationale and rhetoric
11
Just watching Trump at his acquittal party and it strikes me that he doesn't really have too much to do or that he really doesn't do much or both.
7
I love this IDEA of a prayer breakfast. It's as if Christians are a tolerant and peaceful people AND YET, their words and actions are specifically exclusionary.
I was raised in an Anabaptist life and let me tell you - NO ONE in that faith thinks my independent secular views makes me a good person - all of them - pray for my salvation.
What a total joke that behavior is; kept at arm's distance in the hopes that i come crawling in to the fold of fear. ugh.
8
@NDV
The "Fold of Fear": I like that.
Stay independent. And secular. You'll sleep better at night.
2
“That was not a State of the Union,” Ms. Pelosi said Thursday. “That was his state of mind.” She also said the president “looked to me like he was a little sedated,” at the State of the Union, adding, “he looked that way last year too.”
So, Rush does share. Good for him.
12
@Tomás
Hey - why do you think Trump* gave him a medal, because only Rush lies more than him?
2
Holding up a newspaper headline "Acquitted" at a Prayer Breakfast certainly qualifies as gloating, but we all knew this would be the outcome, so no surprises there. Some comments have hoped for some contrition, or that the president might become chastened. This doesn't appear to be the case.
Maybe the President will redeem himself by sincerely working together with the House Democrats and pass a major infrastructure bill and do the good things he claimed he was doing in his "State of the Union" address, but I would be surprised if this happens. He has hundreds of bills he could sign that the House has passed but now languish in Mitch McConnell's In-Box.
But all the President can offer the Nation at this point is a pathetic mew that he is "trying to learn..[to do his] best..." which tells us that he doesn't care about manners and nor being presidential (we are way beyond that) and that he will be looking for some payback.
4
The religious support for a man that makes it a sport to try and "trigger" and divide the country, cheats on his wives, not pay his bills, cheats his own charity, swindles people with his fake university, dodging the draft is really quite amazing not too flattering and speaks volumes.
14
Bizzaro world. Where everything is the opposite of reality.
11
That people of faith or those just having decent morals can support Trump is beyond me. Supporting a Republican agenda is one thing, but Trump is disgusting. The worst thing about his acquittal on the impeachment charges is his knowledge that he is unhindered from behaving in whatever way he feels, and because of the partisanship that the Republicans have instituted, he will be, at best, only mildly condemned.
4
The National Prayer Breakfast. Yes, that is exactly where you behave like a spoiled, whining brat and insult the religious convictions of your colleagues. Low class is far too mild.
Hey, I recognize that many of the attendees are getting rich tax free by selling stories of salvation, though slightly different depending on their frock, collar or hat, and are in many ways as corrupt as Trump. However, they know how to behave, particularly because there are some actual believers and people who live by the Book in the audience, not just con men.
Why someone didn't take Trump by the elbow and sit him down or walk him out, I don't know. That was an affront to the deity of any Abrahamic religion and most others as well.
Sad.
11
@Steve Every true believer in the room should have walked out.
To learn from an experience, one must have certain cognitive abilities and incentives to motivate himself to improve. Trump has neither. Thus even his statement "I'm trying to learn" is a lie.
9
@USexpat True. He has also had 73 years to learn humility and compassion. I believe in conversion at any age but in a president up for re-election, time is running out.
Nancy Pelosi's ripping up of Trump's speech can be considered throwing down the gauntlet to let him know he has a fight ahead of him.
5
Have seen many planning ,budgets,and accomplishment presentations torn up when they were inaccurate by knowledgeable managers who knew the facts.
Trump got the message.
@JD Athey I certainly hope so. It's time Democrats take off the gloves.
Trump’s performance at the prayer breakfast shows again how miserably inappropriate he is for the highest office in the land. He can’t even keep petty revenge out of the one venue where he could show just the slightest whiff of interest in healing the national division. To blatantly accuse Pelosi of lying about praying for him, when she’s sitting right there, is beyond the pale. He clearly knows nothing about Christianity; he’s merely interested in Christian support. The man who professed to “never asking God for forgiveness” will never offer it either. I would hate to be on his enemies list. The Fear Caucus (formerly Republicans) will stick close, clap and cheer.
8
@Jim I would be honored to be on his enemies list. When a person forfeits their soul and their sacred honor for power and money, they have lost more than they gain. Every one of those Republican congress members can make a good living back home and live much more comfortably than thousands of their constituents.
1
Nancy Pelosi is the classiest and smartest person in Washington! BRAVO TO NANCY!
16
Thank God someone in the Democratic party is finally slinging right back at President Trump. He has been throwing mud at his "enemies" with little or no response for far too long. Everyone in the Democratic party should call out his lies and leave the niceties behind. When he is attacked, he demonstrates no self-control which only serves to frighten more people about him being in the Oval Office for another four years.
8
Got to agree with AOC, it’s time for Pelosi to go. She’s 80 next month. Hold a parade and let her retire to her vineyard.
1
when you listen to Trump his children Evangelicals and cohorts who claim to be on the Religious side yet the infantile insults, the lack of sincerity, the lack of humility, the lack of accepting the consequences for actions taken all of this defiles the truth taught not just by priests and ministers but by laypeople and those who choose to live their lives within the guidelines of humanity. How can one say on one hand I despise people who claim to pray, who use their Religion for their benefit yet he, the Donald most likely does not know the basic prayer which is the Lord's Prayer without it being printed on some form of surface be it paper or teleprompter, nor does he know his own National Anthem, for too much time people have given this entity,( I have an issue now calling him President as he knows not the complex institution he represents, and he has so much disregard for truth, law, decency) a "mulligan". yet he has no problem calling out John McCain, Mitt Romney, Elijah Cummins, John Lewis, Rosa Parks , Nancy Pelosi to name a few, but even more challenging is his continuous disrespect for all people who do not idolize him which by the way if he was Christian would realize the only one you Idolize is the Almighty, I also do not forgive Melania, why are we so eager to give her a pass, she has made the choice to remain with this man who continuously shows infidelity, immorality, corruptness, Soon the Donald due to age and health will have to confront God's infinite mercy.
8
If we can manage to survive as a constitutional republic for the next year or so, our only chance after the inauguration in 2020
is to get him, his cabinet and the Senate out of control of this feckless party. If we’re unable to accomplish this existential imperative, we are done as a representative democracy. We’ll join many others on the ash heap of history.
To those of us who are disinterested, uninterested, and ignorant of what’s happening to our country, think Germany 1933, as just one example. Nothing lasts forever. No one. No nation.
7
Trump basically delivered his State of the Presidency address at the National Prayer Breakfast. There he denounced prayer and forgiveness, extolled the virtues of hatred, revenge and recrimination. Trump also demonstrated his state of mind in the morning when he is usually asleep. The State of the Presidency is unrepentant and unhinged.
9
If the reporting is accurate, Professor Brooks made a speech about peacemaking, encouraging us to love despite our political differences. While true, it sounds like he missed the big picture, as many conservatives apparently have. The issue at stake here is not in getting along with different political views. This is something Americans have done pretty well throughout most of our history. The real issue is dealing with a president and administration which is immoral, unethical, and vindictive against anyone who disagrees with their actions. As a progressive, I would take Mitt Romney any day over our current president. Trump is a disgrace to our nation’s laws, values, and peoples, who instead of serving the public only serves himself. The question is why do conservatives continue to put up with his behavior, when many of them claim to hold the moral high ground over progressives?
12
BLOOMBERG-ROMNEY 2020
Run as independents and unite this country!
3
Trump is projecting when he calls other dishonest and corrupt.
Officially he has unhinged himself from reality and simple decency in front of 320 million Americans.
3
Trump at a prayer breakfast? I have little doubt that Trump idolizes, but even then does not pray to, only what he sees in the mirror each morning.
3
As an atheist I guess I should be pleased that Trump and his minions have done more to destroy the credibility of religion than anyone in recent memory but I'm not, because The Church of Trump is tearing this country apart.
4
The honorable Ms. Pelosi and the criminal narcissist Trump:
At opposite ends of the class spectrum.
7
I've never understood the rationale behind these "prayer breakfasts", which apparently have some actual official standing. Are they paid for out of tax money? Is that even constitutionally appropriate?
And when an intelligent woman like Nancy Pelosi, whom I otherwise admire greatly, talks about "praying", it merely makes me want to squirm in embarrassment.
5
...and we should believe anything Trump says? Why? Truth, religion, compromise is anathema to this man.
1
It thought it was the National prayer breakfast, not the trump prayer breakfast!
2
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men (and women) to do nothing...as true now as it was in 1770.
3
Loving the victory lap speech! Way to go Mr. President
1
I find it blasphemous for trump to even mention the word prayer. most of us share a feeling of reverence when that word comes to mind. Trump, Osteen, Collins & Paula White are the absolute worst examples of practicing faith one can imagine. And patriotism? When an Air Force General at the sotu is passed by for a presidential medal and instead it goes to a trump buddy who is racist and a drug offender. This potus is so out of touch with "Right".
7
I wish the NY Times would include the president's entire speech. I'd like to know everything he said. I work and listneing to the national Prayer Breakfast is not possible. Actually, i wish the NYTimes would always publish every speech the president makes.
1
In this article the President was reported as citing his approval rating in the latest Gallup poll. He was saying in effect that the Gallup poll is a neutral evaluator of candidates. Really and truly the pollster reporting is not neutral. POLLS ARE BLATANT ADVERTISEMENTS FOR A LIMITED SET OF CANDIDATES WHO ARE LISTED IN THE POLL. Polls bring up the names of some candidates and fail to publish the names of others. In fact, being included in a poll is a prelude to being a candidate for a national office. The statistical measure is a secondary consideration in a poll. I remember talking with George Gallup about this very topic back in the 1960s. Candidates are really sold the same way soap is sold. And polls keep their names front and center.
4
@AM - The central bank of Europe has been lending money to regional banks at -0.5%, that’s right, minus and the regional banks charge roughly 2.25% on a 30 year fixed home loan to the end user with roughly 20-30% down. That’s a very good deal for the consumer and good for long term investment at relatively low risk...it‘s not such a good deal for the banks though. Too close to the inflation rate. Where can a poor bank make any money nowadays? Answer: bank account overdraft fees to the tune of 14% a year and higher! How on earth do they get away with that and not get regulated for gouging?
2
Job numbers look great, stock market is rallying, China is cutting its tariffs, POTUS is on a roll. I did not vote for him in 2016 but will be doing so along with all of our peers here whom have benefited greatly from this President.
12
@Nature he wants to take away your health care, your retirement benefits, food from the poor, and turn the country into an international laughing stock. But sure, if you want to pretend he's doing anything at all to help you and not himself then go right ahead. Just know that you're totally wrong about him.
109
@Nature Then you celebrate incivility, incompetence, and the deconstruction of our democracy. I am glad your portfolio is healthy. Our society is not.
92
@Nature Is that all that matters? I'm not asking that with aggression or malice; I really want to know. What about our place in the world? What about standards and norms for lawful behavior among elected officials? What about the rights of racial minorities, women, poor people, children? What about having a president who doesn't belittle everyone he doesn't like, a president whose mouth is so foul that you can't let your children listen to him? Does any of that matter?
95
Well, Mr. Trump, I don’t like people who pretend that they champion ‘Christian values’ all the while exhibiting anything but those qualities. Nor do I like people who say and do whatever it takes all in the name of expediency.
69
He will now call for retribution. This man draws power from fear and a climate of fear is what he wants to create, needs to create, especially during elections.
36
One would think a National Prayer Breakfast, attended by our elected leaders, would be blatantly unconstitutional.
Maybe they've decided that since we no longer have separation of powers, there's no point in worrying about separation of church and state either.
37
If the media, esp. NYT, isn't careful, the constructions of the narratives will all be trump's with the media confined to the standard tally of lies, misleading statements, etc. This does nothing to move anyone who is not already fully aware of the country's imprisonment in his alternative reality.
I suggest that a new series begin, with good graphics and links to original coverage, that detail the consequences of what the policy changes have been in many federal agencies and departments. These would include, but not be limited to:
cuts in budgets; eliminations of oversight (with actual consequences); redefinitions of
acceptable pollution levels with implications for water
and air quality; consequences of
gutting ACA to people at different income levels; manipulation of energy markets both to reward
carbon based energy sources AND to obstruct renewables.
Another important issue is what states (red and blue) have been forced to do to make up for cuts in money coming from
the 2017 tax bill, and how these do and do not factor into what individuals actually detect in their disposable income.
Rather than focusing upon the surface narratives that trump
controls and is master at manipulating, it is imperative that the deep structure of his policies, their consequences for average people's daily lives, be tallied and explained
in clear ways.
While people may notice more disposable income
from their paycheck, what new costs are they not noting?
45
@bl Agreed. This sort of coverage, this late into the term and so near to the election, is the print equivalent of CNN et al showing Trump's campaign rallies, complete and un-fact-checked, through far too much of the campaigning season of 2016.
1
This type of reporting doesn’t sell newspapers and gain advertisers. As a capitalistic paper pushing the status quo agenda forget about it and get ready for more negative Bern pieces.
Mitt Romney had obviously given a great deal of thought, and prayer, to his decision. Rachel Maddow reported that there were only FOUR senators in the room when he gave this speech. Three Democrats and one Republican. The rest of the GOP didn’t even have the courage to listen. Romney will have my respect for the rest of my life for what he said. The plain unvarnished truth. As for the rest? Karma has a plan for them. And we all know what Karma is ...
72
Of course, how many Americans profess and practice beliefs such as those expressed by Speaker Pelosi but harbor and practice like Mr Trump? anyone want to do the statistics on that?
5
@GSS
That is what christians (and religious folks in general) do.
The applause emanating from this crowd reminds me of Stalin's audiences who were afraid to stop clapping.
60
@kevin sullivan
I hear you. But we have to accept that there actually are people who affirmatively like this monster. Depressing but true.
2
@T. Monk they like who he says he is, not who he actually is.
1
If Trump is reelected, can we start another impeachment proceedings? Plenty of other crimes and misdemeanors to work with.
13
@Antoine we don't have to wait. Subpoenas should be issued today.
1
As a long-life democrat, I really failed to understand the goal that democrats had moving forward with this impeachment process. I wonder if they really thought this out as carefully as they should. I despise the president and want to see him lose the 2020 elections -- but nothing in the recent house trial increase the likelihood of that happening. If anything I think the president has come out of this even stronger and more determined than ever, and I fear another 4 years of this nightmare.
3
@Chris Impeachment isn’t a political calculation. It’s a Constitutional duty. No matter what Senate Republicans will abide, Trump’s outrageous and unlawful behaviors left the House no choice.
4
@Chris
If a person in your neighborhood mugged you and stole your wallet on Thursday, would you just shrug and forget it because there wouldn’t be any impact on you getting paid on Friday?
Democrats did the right thing. Without impeachment, Democrats would have sent an implicit message that Trump’s behaviors were acceptable and beyond reproach.
2
Not everything should be political. He committed an impeachable offense, and therefore was impeached. whether that plays into election results should not be a concern.
As a long life Democrat, you should think more about your priorities more than what happens in November 2020.
1
The scorpion has stung the frog. Trump HAS learned a lesson, Senator Collins. He learned that those who could impose consequences will not, and that he can now increase (if that's possible) the ways in which he corrupts the power of the Executive Office for his own personal purposes. I hope you, Senator Collins, have also learned a lesson, namely that the blame for future corruption falls on those who have the responsibility to protect against miscreants and abandon their responsibility.
43
Democrats have to admit.. They deeply dislike Trump, and that influences how they feel about the impeachment.. Trump's in-your-face reaction to his acquittal is a perfect example of how he sends Democrats into a tizzy.. and it was all predictable.
... The Senate was never going to get a 2/3 vote to remove Trump from office.. Sensible people knew this a long time ago.
..--The November election has always been the only realistic way to get rid of Trump.. but are Democrats up to that challenge?
--..None of the leading candidates seem like obvious winners over Trump (who now seems revitalized & with momentum)..
And there is a lot of doubt that any candidate will be able to unify a Democratic party that seems more interested in fighting each other than anything else..
...Got 9 months..Democrats better pick up their game.
5
@mike
Impeachment was a duty, separate from the chances of conviction.
4
Why are Democrats creating a boogie man out of Trump? Stop glorifying him. He is an extremely flawed politician. He should not be hard to beat if Bernie Sanders was the candidate.
1
@mike MIKE, Since the impeachment started and continuing through yesterday, my landline phone has received a DAILY robe-call from Trump. Only now. And, I'm a Democrat. So, I would say he's running scared and leaving near-lunatic level messages (they've changed a few times). I see only the face of a broken and shamed man in newspaper pictures.
I do believe this will all catch up with him and only more information will come out regarding his behaviors.
1
Trump's comments are just one more example of the indictment/hypocracy of far too many Christians who have mangled the religious philosophy of Christianity. In far too many instances, their advocacy of the US being a Christian nation is accompanied by blatant un-Christ like behavior. But these Christian minions are blinded by all the things Jesus warned about in his teachings - greed, wealth, ego, fear, and self-centered righteousness. They mindlessly believe their misguided prayers will bring them prosperity, health, and worldly favors. These constitute many of the misguided evangelical right who are too cowardly to practice true Christian faith. There are Christians who take His teachings seriously and do their best to live their lives by example as they are called upon to, and they can take comfort in continuing to do so. I'm afraid they are unfortunately a minority in these days of moral and ethical ignorance. So goes the destiny of humanity, so well documented by the uninspiring, if not egregious, history of much of the Church, which continues to be written. It is not about what one says - it is about what one does.
9
I would also add there a real expression of fear in these “Christians” of current times and perceived threats.
I can’t understand this theology of fear some of my “conservative” Christian friends express. Jesus!
1
This is what the breakup of America looks like. As far as I can tell, we as a country, are all done. I don't see any scenario in which the two sides set apart their differences shake hands and make up. It's over people. The Times should do an article on the stress and division all of this has wrought on American families where there are political differences of opinion. The destruction caused by the extremist in chief is sadly irreparable, in my opinion.
15
The best way I've ever heard it put:
A human being is like a monkey riding an elephant. The monkey thinks it's in charge, but the elephant goes where it wants to go, and then the monkey makes up reasons to explain why it was actually the monkey's idea to go there.
In this analogy, the monkey is a person's conscious mind. The elephant is all the stuff going on in the subconscious.
Never has there been a public figure who embodied this illustration of human behavior as much as Trump.
7
Speaker Pelosi is correct. Trump has two kinds of class; low and no.
37
A lot of people pray about Trump. Just not necessarily the way he thinks they do.
14
Believe me it brings me no joy to admit it.
How refreshing to see the integrity of senator Mitt Romney voting with his conscience and not with the other partisan members of congress. All politicians should take him as an exemple instead of
participating into the rampant corruption and divisive spirit now so present in Washington.
I simply have the greatest admiration for him.
Perhaps Donald Trump should learn from such a courageous and moral man.
13
Mix public displays of piety and prayer and politicians and expect reason and decency? The whole notion of a 'national prayer' anything is disgusting.
Separate church and state. Let politicians pray in church or synagogue or mosque or better yet, let them do it in private.
Best of all, let's admit that prayer is a vestige of superstition and that what distinguishes us from the Iranian theocracy is our freedom from government organized prayer meetings.
11
So much for Trump learning his lesson.The National Pray Breakfast leaders have soiled themselves publicly - this isn't a prayer breakfast but a Trump political rally.The religious leaders have betrayed all tenets of religious doctrine by allowing this shame to go one. Anyone of the religious leaders could have stopped Trump by standing up and asking for a prayer for Trump or at least walking out. Shame on them everyone knows what Trump is and this breakfast should be boycotted in the future.
19
Let's all remember the facts of how this started.
HE CONFESSED.
1 Rumors came out in the press about a whistleblower.
2 The nature of t he complaint became public.
3 Trump produced a written summary of the phone call which he made a point of telling us was a complete transcript. I
4. In that summary Trump not only confessed he provided proof that he had done exactly what was suspected.
5 Having been confronted by Trump with a confession and proof of criminality, Pelosi, being a well known fan of reality based living, literally had no choice as Speaker of the US House of Representatives but to allow an impeachment inquiry to be launched.
And that is how. KNowing how clever a crook Trump is why would he have provided that confession setting this whole thing off?
5
Sen. Collins never had any clue of integrity in stating, "trump learned his lesson". She and all glowing Republicans will go down as corrupting law and the Constitution. Charlton Heston throwing the tablets into Mitch McConnells office might help.
9
Trump needs to be on speed dial with a shrink. And, those around him need to help him understand that he fabricates what he thinks is the truth. I was just watching him on TV at the White House, Trump cannot accept that he did something wrong. I hope Ms Collins is watching. Heaven help us if we have to go through 4 more years of this sad man and his delicate ego.
10
"Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?" Matthew 7:16.
Trump's damaged ego lashed out again this morning. So much for prayer. Trump demonstrates repeatedly he has none of the characteristic of a spiritual or religious person. He's just "thorns" and "thistles." Pray for him and our country's well being.
7
I’d like to know who these people in the photo are.
Maybe public shaming of those who pander to Trump would help them to see the light.
Trump does not hesitate to try to publicly humiliate his enemies but he does it with lies.
The Democrats and the press need to speak the truth and name names.
5
Had not Nancy Pelosi ripped up her copy of the text of Trump's speech, the Republicans would have thought more highly of her.
Wouldn't they?
4
@Mike Edwards I don't think so, they hate her as much as they did Hillary Clinton in the last election. I understand why she did it, but I really wish she hadn't. It would not have changed Republicans' minds, but she should have taken the higher ground.
1
@Mike Edwards
NO! They have vilified her for years.
“Ask God to take political contempt from your heart,” says Arthur Brooks, Harvard professor, as if this was equally asking both sides to make a committment.
As reporting in the Times by Caroline Fredrickson on 2/4 has made clear, the R’s have been cynically, for years, attempting to “rig” election in their favor. The R’s like to characterize the D’s as feckless and naive, but doesn’t that seem less, well, corrupt and morally defensible than intentionally subverting the ostensible “will of the people?”
R support of Trump has made it clear, if it wasn’t before. Both parties are not equally responsible for the subversion of American values so readily apparent in the Trump administration and the Republican Party.
Much has been made of Trump’s prolific lying, yet the moral implications as well as the changes to public discourse that this lying brings about remain largely unspoken. Politicians have always lied because they aren’t always in a position to freely speak the truth. Generally, though, they have maintained a sense of believability. Not Trump. His willingness to not even fake believability has fatally wounded public discourse, making it impossible to believe anything a public figure says, and turning the public cynical. This hasn’t been bipartisan, but is all on the R’s
I don’t like saying this, but the only solution (and this ought to be a slogan): “Vote D in 2020” and do it in every possible election, everywhere.
8
Christians on ordering cake: "We cannot support what we think is immoral by ordering cake from a bakery owned by gay people. We would probably even pay more and go elsewhere, because money is less important than our moral standards."
Christians on supporting this President: "Well, we've all done things just like he has, like...grabbed women's private parts, cheated on our spouses, manipulated an entire country into distrusting solid news sources, lied about breaking the law, abused power for the purpose of gaining an unfair advantage in a presidential race, attempted to discredit everyone who disagrees with us, taken credit for work that wasn't ours, and laughed in the face of the love-your-enemies message, but like...our economy is so good! That's what matters right now."
14
Contrast the classless, childish behavior of Trump (at a prayer breakfast), who has escaped serious consequence for conduct he was clearly guilty of with the dignity and grace shown by the Central Park Five, wrongfully convicted children who were incarcerated and for whose death Trump advocated for in newspapers. This is the person many saw fit to the lead our nation. I will never understand it.
11
He’s delusional.
Trump is now one of three Presidents who have been impeached.
I venture to predict that he will soon enter the record books alone by becoming the only President to be impeached more than once during his first four years.
12
She prays... “hard for him because he’s so off the track of our Constitution, our values.”
An embodiment of compassion and Christian spirit, is our Speaker.
4
When I saw what the Republicans did yesterday it reminded me of a story that is attributed to Winston Churchill. He supposedly asked a woman if she would sleep with him for a million pounds. She giggled and said she would. He then asked her if she would sleep with him for 10 pounds. She said it was insulting and asked “What kind of woman do you think I am?” Churchill replied,” Madam we have already established that. Now we are merely discussing the price.” If President Obama has done what Trump has done every Republican in the senate would have voted to convict him. Yesterday we learned what type of men and women the Republican members of the Senate are. Not a one of them excepting Romney are fit for the offices they hold.
11
Name 3 things Trump & the GOP vehemently oppose: women, minorities, religious freedoms.
6
Anyone who's seen the documentary called "The Family," about the religious men (and it's mostly men) who organise the annual so-called National Prayer Breakfast, will know that Trump is seen as blessed by 'God' because of his so-called riches (the 4 Feb NYT article "The Money Behind Trump's Money" about Trump's corrupt practices abetted by Deutsche Bank notwithstanding) -- when he's actually their puppet, as he's Putin's puppet, in order to promote their nongovernmental religious, right-wing policies here and abroad.
8
Today I gave up on ever going back to the Church.
Those "good people" cheering the Immoral One did it for me.
Don't want to be in the same zip code.
12
"It’s not easy, folks. I do my best." trump's "best" is lower than Speaker Pelosi's and Mitt Romney's .000001%
3
"Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God" Matthew 19:23-24
What is astonishing is the total embrace of the evangelical community with this vainglorious man, who is incapable of remorse. Franklin Graham, not even close to a shadow of his father, is perhaps the worst as he trumpets a twisted interpretation of the gospels for his benefit. This abhorrent message is not lost on the millennials, who recognize the hypocrisy of the political evangelical movement, and are leaving the fold faster than any other generation.
14
Until Trump came along I never fully appreciated the Bible verse, Timothy 6:10: "For the love of money is the root of all evil...."
Now I do.
10
The whole world will erupt in celebration when he is finally gone.
18
@Brett
What is left of it.
I always love when Donald J Trump utters "they should be ashamed of themselves". This is a president that lies more frequently and significantly than any other in history. I will never forget the 2020 State of the Union address as you have to look long and hard for a truthful statement in the entire speech. Hopefully some day voters will elect something other than an extreme narcissist. God help us all!
7
I am not a Christian, but I know about the "prayers for the people" each Sunday, in which the president is prayed for. How could Trump have missed that. He is so rude. Being rude and lying should be impeachable.
3
My church no longer prays for the president
But tearing the president's speech was classy.
1
Trump has the integrity of fog.
6
A scarecrow occupies the whitehouse. A very dangerous one. I recall seeing Nixon get on AF 1 for the last time, leaving office knowing he was caught and soon be thrown out of office. Those who took the oath of office took it seriously. That there are politicians and those who shamelessly ignore their duty to the constitution and the country, is sad and dangerous. That there are those who refuse to see that is the most dangerous thing for our democracy. Absolute power corrupts absutely. The only thing we have to fear is our own ignorance.
2
If those are devout Christians, all I can say is "Thank God I'm an atheist!"
5
Like Susan Collins said, Trump has learned his lesson through impeachment.
1
Good Christian that he isn't, Trump displayed his usual lack of tolerance and grace. Evangelicals around the country no doubt rejoiced.
3
Trump can deny wrongdoing all he wants -- as he's doing right now in his White House conference.
However, he'll never be able to remove the stain that now accompanies his name: Donald Trump, Impeached.
5
NY Times, please talk more about the end results of the Mueller investigation. The trumpians talk and act like it was a gigantic nothing burger, waste of taxpayer dollars etc. But people were thrown in jail as a result. The extent of Russian interference in our election was brought to the light. It wasn't a nothing burger at all was it???
2
The man is soul-sick with vicious hatred, anger, resentment, blind fury. Some people change. But some just dig in and embrace their sickness. “Can a leopard change its spots?” the prophet Jeremiah asks rhetorically about such people. The answer is all too obvious.
8
"If you shoot too high and miss, everybody feels more secure".
Trump will win by default, again.
The last line says it all. His "best" is not good enough.
1
I’ve decided that it may not be worth saving the American people anymore. We have tens of millions of folks that are willfully ignorant and tens of millions more that don’t even bother to participate in our democracy. This is why all of this is happening. Trump is just the symptom. So they deserve to have Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security cut. They deserve more right wing Supreme Court justices that are anti environment and anti worker. They’ll also have to face the upcoming consequences of climate change.
3
It’s been over three years and I am still dumbfounded that this person is actually President of the United States and that his bizarre and despicable behavior is not only tolerated but cheered by Republicans.
10
The impeachment and past three years of partisan politics has proven that Americans are selfish, cruel and not so smart. The prayer breakfast proved that Trump is the epitome of all the above. I’m sure God exited that room as soon as Trump entered.
6
Well done Mitch McConnell. It looks like your wife will be able to keep her job as the Secretary at the Department of Transportation.
6
And that Putin’s aluminum plant slash money laundromat will be built in Kentucky.
1
Unfortunately this is now the new norm, at least while Mr. Trump is still in office. The only way to covert the minds of those who currently support him is to get down in the mud with him. Will it be pretty? Certainly not....but but those who are civil enough to understand that Mr. Trump is a 7 year old in a blue suit will understand and those like Trump who believe every word that comes out of his mouth and actually respect his bullying tactics, will oddly enough, respect it. No one like to see adults acting like children, but when push come to shove, the only way to beat a bully is to become one. Take off the gloves and fire away!
1
"It’s not easy, folks. I do my best.” Your best, Mr. Trump is soulless and self-serving. Your best will never be good enough because you do not have the capacity for empathy.
6
Trump's corruption has been proven with objective evidence. The congressional Republicans, less Mitt Romney, have chosen to seditiously embrace that corruption.
Good for Pelosi for bluntly saying so. She is setting the tone and leading by example regarding how the Democrats should be talking about Trump and his slavish bootlickers in the Republican Party.
.
6
All hail the new King of America and his subservient Senate. We didn’t need that Republic anyway.
God help us all.
3
If his supporters think trump is finished doing his corrupt and evil deeds, they most certainly will find out differently — we can only hope it is not again at the expense of our country.
And the cowardly senators will reap what they sow.
1
President Trump's sordid behavior is evidence that Evangelical Christians have truly reaped what they sowed.
7
Our democracy is in mortal danger!
3
So much for the seven cardinal virtues having a place at this event.