Public criticism of Donald Trump's failed leadership includes the public opinion of the Honorable Mitt Romney

Between the honest resignation letter made public from Secretary and retired General James Mattis, leaving the Department of Defense; and now the opinion article by former Republican presidential candidate and Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, this 2019 New Year will be a watershed year form the American people. Moreover, this year will provide a brutal reality check for those who wrongly believed that anything productive would ever come of the now failed Donald Trump leadership. These "bookend" public statements are evidence of what is a growing "dissent from within" the Republican party. These public statements are obviously held privately by more who are in leadership positions, but the brave, who have nothing to loose, have chosen to go public. Kudos to them!

Leadership requires supporting courageous public statements like those publicized by the Honorable Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney: The president shapes the public character of the nation. Trump’s character falls short.

By Mitt Romney echo opinion published in The Washington Post

January 1 at 8:00 PM

Mitt Romney, a Republican from Utah and the party’s 2012 nominee for president, will be sworn into the U.S. Senate on Thursday January 3, 2019. 

Honorable Mitt Romney the former Massachusetts Governor, GOP Republican presidential candidate and the new Senator from Utah

The Trump presidency made a deep descent in December. 

The departures of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly, the appointment of senior persons of lesser experience, the abandonment of allies who fight beside us, and the president’s thoughtless claimthat America has long been a “sucker” in world affairs all defined his presidency down.

It is well known that Donald Trump was not my choice for the Republican presidential nomination. 

After he became the nominee, I hoped his campaign would refrain from resentment and name-calling. It did not. When he won the election, I hoped he would rise to the occasion. His early appointments of Rex Tillerson, Jeff Sessions, Nikki Haley, Gary Cohn, H.R. McMaster, Kelly and Mattis were encouraging. 

But, on balance, his conduct over the past two years, particularly his actions last month, is evidence that the president has not risen to the mantle of the office.

It is not that all of the president’s policies have been misguided. 

He was right to align U.S. corporate taxes with those of global competitors, to strip out excessive regulations, to crack down on China’s unfair trade practices, to reform criminal justice and to appoint conservative judges. These are policies mainstream Republicans have promoted for years.  (MaineWriter note:  Donald Trump did not necessarily embrace the bipartisan criminal justice reforms. In fact, he upstaged what should have been a 2018 year end political success by abruptly announcing an uncalled for draw down and withdrawal of American troops from Syria. This spontaneous and unwise decision made without consent of this cabinet is the proverbial straw that caused Secretary Mattis to resign and to publish his letter of resignation.)

But policies and appointments are only a part of a presidency.

To a great degree, a presidency shapes the public character of the nation. A president should unite us and inspire us to follow “our better angels.” A president should demonstrate the essential qualities of honesty and integrity, and elevate the national discourse with comity and mutual respect. As a nation, we have been blessed with presidents who have called on the greatness of the American spirit. With the nation so divided, resentful and angry, presidential leadership in qualities of character is indispensable. And it is in this province where the incumbent’s shortfall has been most glaring.

Romney says his win is a 'call for dignity' and 'respect'
Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney delivered a victory speech Nov. 6, after winning the Utah Senate seat race against Jenny Wilson (D). (Reuters)

The world is also watching. America has long been looked to for leadership. Our economic and military strength was part of that, of course, but our enduring commitment to principled conduct in foreign relations, and to the rights of all people to freedom and equal justice, was even more esteemed. 

Trump’s words and actions have caused dismay around the world. In a 2016 Pew Research Center poll, 84 percent of people in Germany, Britain, France, Canada and Sweden believed the American president would “do the right thing in world affairs.” One year later, that number had fallen to 16 percent.

This comes at a very unfortunate time. Several allies in Europe are experiencing political upheaval. Several former Soviet satellite states are rethinking their commitment to democracy. Some Asian nations, such as the Philippines, lean increasingly toward China, which advances to rival our economy and our military. The alternative to U.S. world leadership offered by China and Russia is autocratic, corrupt and brutal.

The world needs American leadership, and it is in America’s interest to provide it. A world led by authoritarian regimes is a world — and an America — with less prosperity, less freedom, less peace.

To reassume our leadership in world politics, we must repair failings in our politics at home. That project begins, of course, with the highest office once again acting to inspire and unite us. It includes political parties promoting policies that strengthen us rather than promote tribalism by exploiting fear and resentment. Our leaders must defend our vital institutions despite their inevitable failings: a free press, the rule of law, strong churches, and responsible corporations and unions.

We must repair our fiscal foundation, setting a course to a balanced budget. We must attract the best talent to America’s service and the best innovators to America’s economy.

America is strongest when our arms are linked with other nations. We want a unified and strong Europe, not a disintegrating union. We want stable relationships with the nations of Asia that strengthen our mutual security and prosperity.

I look forward to working on these priorities with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and other senators.

Furthermore, I will act as I would with any president, in or out of my party: I will support policies that I believe are in the best interest of the country and my state, and oppose those that are not. I do not intend to comment on every tweet or fault. But I will speak out against significant statements or actions that are divisive, racist, sexist, anti-immigrant, dishonest or destructive to democratic institutions.

I remain optimistic about our future. In an innovation age, Americans excel. More importantly, noble instincts live in the hearts of Americans. The people of this great land will eschew the politics of anger and fear if they are summoned to the responsibility by leaders in homes, in churches, in schools, in businesses, in government — who raise our sights and respect the dignity of every child of God — the ideal that is the essence of America.