Donald Trump about the Reagan Airport tragedy: His opinion is cruelly flat out wrong. Trump's stupidity harms the victims' families

Trump had one job after the D.C. plane crash. He failed. | Echo Opinion published in the Houston Chronicle

Tragedy at Reagan National Airport turned stupid speculation

Dear Editor:  At a Thursday press conference President Trump, without any evidence, blamed former presidents Obama and Biden, the Democrats and DEI for Wednesday’s tragic plane crash in Washington, D.C. He also got out ahead of the investigation, blaming the FAA and making their job more difficult.

Not only can Trump’s assertions not be proven but some aviation experts already have cast doubt on them. When pushed by White House reporters, Trump made the absurd claim that what he knows about the reasons for the crash is based on “common sense.” Really!


Once again Trump is using the crash for purely selfish political purposes — at a time when so many passengers have died, and their loved ones are grieving. This is shameful, unprofessional, inconsiderate and disgusting. This is not presidential! When will people, including Republican leaders, denounce the president’s unhinged behavior?

What worries me is that this pattern of blaming is orchestrated and will continue. It should be noted, after all, that Trump read his comments; this suggests that his team prepared the remarks and that this narrative is part of a larger rhetorical strategy to create chaos and confusion — something that will make it harder for those who resist and who want to prevent the implementation of dangerous Trump policies.

From Richard Cherwitz, in Austin Texas

Dear Editor:  How appalling to hear the current president turn a press conference meant to comfort and support those who lost friends and loved ones in a terrible plane crash into a political opportunity, and to cavalierly place blame on a policy he doesn’t understand but rails against.

Narcissist Donald Trump has no idea how his suptidity harms victims of the Reagan Airport tragedy.

He began with a traditional moment of silence and then moved into a horrific description about the devastating crash. All hope for continued appropriate behavior soon evaporated as Trump launched into nonfactual assumptions, blame and personal attack.

His only job in the wake of this tragedy was to comfort, support and assure a thorough investigation. He failed. 💢❗

From Carol Godell, Spring Texas

Rep. Liz Cheney will do "Whatever it takes" to stop the spread of Trumpism

THE 2022 TEXAS TRIBUNE FESTIVAL

Rep. Liz Cheney says she will do whatever it takes to keep Donald Trump from the White House, even if it means leaving the Republican Party.

Cheney, who is the top Republican on the House January 6th committee, urged voters to prioritize preserving democracy over policy differences during this year’s midterms at The Texas Tribune Festival.

U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney said she would do “whatever it takes” to make sure former President Donald Trump is not the GOP presidential nominee during the 2024 elections, including stumping for Democrats running against election deniers running as Republicans.

When asked by Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith if she would consider running for president toward that end, the Republican congresswoman reiterated she would do everything in her power to prevent the former president from representing her party in the next presidential election.

The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit media organization headquartered in Austin, Texas. It aims to promote civic engagement through original, explanatory journalism and public events.  Echo report by Matthew Choi.

Rep. Liz Cheney:

“I certainly will do whatever it takes to make sure Donald Trump isn't anywhere close to the Oval Office,” Cheney said during the closing night of The Texas Tribune Festival.

Cheney, who lost to a Republican primary challenger in August but will continue as vice chair of the House January 6th Committee until she leaves office in January, said she continues to identify as a Republican, celebrating the legacy of the likes of Ronald Reagan and Dwight D. Eisenhower.

         Harriet Hageman- purple lipstick?

Rep. Liz Cheney has been the U.S. representative for Wyoming's at-large congressional district since 2017. Unfortunately, she was defeated for her bid to be elected in 2022, by the hideous candidate named Harriet Hageman, who had one time been a Republican ally with Ms. Cheney. It's the sad political proverbial, "With false friends like Hageman, Cheney didn't need enemies." IMO, Harriet Hageman must be as vile a person as she is a hideous looking woman. 

But, Cheney said she would no longer be a Republican if Trump gets the party’s nomination in 2024.

“I'm going to make sure Donald Trump, make sure he's not the nominee,” Cheney said. “And if he is the nominee, I won't be a Republican.”

Cheney maintained that she is an ardent conservative on policy issues, voting in near lockstep with Trump’s legislative agenda when he was in office. 

But, she warned a House Republican majority would give outsized power to members who have been staunch allies of the former president and his efforts to keep the White House, including U.S. Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (MTG -" "It's not easy being green"-

MTG- "Evillene"

with Lauren Boebert (Lauren Boebert is so stupid!) and Jim Jordan (#GymJimJordan aka "Locker Room Gym).

Cheney excoriated Trump for his failure to call off rioters at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. She said without equivocation that any decision by the investigating committee about whether there should be criminal prosecution would be unanimous across the seven Democrats and two Republicans. She did not say whether the committee would decide in favor of a criminal prosecution.

“One of the things that has surprised me the most about my work on this committee is how sophisticated the plan was that Donald Trump was involved in and oversaw every step of the way,” Cheney said. “It was a multipart plan that he oversaw, he was involved in personally and directly.

“While leaders in Congress were begging him, ‘Please, tell the mob to go home,’ Donald Trump wouldn't,” Cheney said. “And just set the politics aside for a minute and think to yourself, ‘What kind of human being does that?’”

The committee is gearing up to wrap up its work in the coming weeks and is slated to meet Wednesday, September 28, for another public hearing, offering no details about what will be discussed then. She said the next hearing is unlikely to be the committee’s last, despite committee Chair Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., suggesting the opposite earlier this week.

When asked if she would like Trump to testify before the committee, she paused for a moment before offering the following: “Any interaction that Donald Trump has with the committee will be under oath and subject to penalty of perjury.”

Texas taxpayers are funding Governor Abbott's obsession with border security

Maine Writer - This opinion letter published in the Austin American Statesman, a Texas newspaper, raises the salient issue in my mind, being, "where does all this money for border security come from"? Ahhhh! Let me guess. Maybe, it comes from taxpayers?

(But wait, wait! Did anybody tell Governor Abbott about the promise #TFG made?  Mexico was going to pay for the wall!)

Texas finds big money for border, but can't adequately fund services.

Re: May 2 article, "Troopers at border make big money."

I was appalled upon reading the details of the Texas Department of Public Safety's engagement at the southern border.

It troubles me that our elected officials seem to find the means for nefarious enterprises at the border that the governor, et al., champion, but can’t adequately fund more essential services such as education, health services or child care.

Delving deeper into the details, in addition to 10,000 Texas National Guard troops, Texas has committed 1,600 out of 4,200 officers to the border detail. What about the neglect due to the absence of these same officers around the rest of the state? What about the rationality of having troopers working 12 to 14 hours on 9-day shifts? 

This seems inhuman and calculated to increase errant behavior.

(Check this Newsweek headline:  Texas Dedicates Nearly One Billion $$$ To Secure It's Border With Mexico.)

And as to the overtime pay: $164,000 in overtime for a 6-figure salaried captain! What agency director can sanction close to $200 million in DPS overtime from March 2021, through February 2022, without incurring the wrath of the taxpayers?

Peter Ellis, Austin, Texas

Republicans who are owned by the NRA - vote them out!

It’s time to vote out National Rifle Association zealots

An echo opinion letter published in the Austin Texas "Statesman" newspaper

Dear Editor:  Donald Trump wrongly said that what happened at the Tree of Life synagogue massacre in Pittsburgh would have been prevented by an armed guard on site. And yet, the evil gunman shot three armed police officers. Let’s stop with the good-guy-with-a-gun fantasy. Let’s start with getting AR-15s off the market.

Now listen up, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, if three armed policemen were shot, what do you expect an armed teacher to do?

We need to vote all the Republicans out that are owned by the NRA, starting with Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Sen. Ted Cruz.

It is time that our kids, family and friends can safely go to church and school without being murdered.

Patricia Perez, Austin