Republicans must wake up to the purpose of Donald Trump's slush fund: He will use the money to bribe fealty from the GOP

Outrage Over Trump’s 💲1.8 Billion Slush Fund

Echo opinion letters published in The New York Times

To the Editor: Re “Risking Wrath of Trump, Some in G.O.P. Push Back” (front page, May 23):

Congressional "Growing Old Party" Republicans may be nowhere near defying Donald Trump’s sweeping right-wing agenda, but the opposition of some senators to the president’s outrageous 💲1.8 billion taxpayer-funded slush fund scheme to finance claims of mistreatment and possibly to support anew the grievances of January 6 felons is a positive departure from second-term blind subservience to Donald Trump by Republicans in both chambers.

For Donald Trump, though, pardoning the felons who desecrated the Capitol, brutalized police officers, defecating in the halls and tried to violently interfere with the certification of a presidential election was clearly not enough. Now, stooping to a new low of lawlessness himself, the president may seek to reward these people by offering them restitution, provided directly by American taxpayers.

With his years long, twisted interpretation of the horrendous attack on the Capitol, Donald Trump has sought to justify lawlessness that he personally orchestrated and encouraged. Now, finally, Senate Republicans — some of whom are taking a firm stand on the 💲1.8 billion fund — have found the courage to openly express opposition to Trump’s slush fund scheme. At long last, it’s a meaningful challenge to Trump's tight grip on them. (Maine Writer- Ya'think the maga cult knows how Trump's slush fund will also be used to keep them in kowtow positions❓)

From Roger Hirschberg in South Burlington, Vermont

To the Editor: Republican senators expressed outrage at Donald Trump’s plan to create a slush fund from which he would compensate cronies for having been investigated and in many cases convicted of crimes. So it seems that these sycophants can, indeed, distinguish between right and wrong.

The outrage was expressed mostly by senators who have either decided not to run again or who have been defeated in primaries. This scenario only underscores the cowardice of elected officials who have abandoned their sworn responsibility to serve the best interests of the nation in deference to their desire to remain in office. Shame on us for electing such corrupt people.

From Bill Gottdenker in Mountainside, New Jersey

To the Editor: Re “Curious Legal Aspects of Trump’s New Slush Fund,” by Adam Liptak (The Docket column, May 24):

Let’s use simple language to describe what is happening here: Donald Trump, aided by his sidekick Todd Blanche, is using a bogus nonadversarial court proceeding, with a too-clever “settlement,” as a fig leaf both to immunize himself, his family and his businesses from federal tax liability and audits, and to confiscate $1.776 billion of taxpayer money to be enjoyed by his friends and allies at the unreviewable discretion of a five-person commission controlled by Trump. A fairly audacious maneuver, one may say.

This travesty is, among other things, an egregious abuse of the federal court system. It is also an impeachable offense. (There has been no shortage of those in Trump’s second term to date.😡💢)

From Newman T. Halvorson Jr., Washington
The writer is a retired lawyer.

Republican clown show led by a weak Speaker McCarthy who is controlled by House crazies

Echo opinion letters to the editor published in The New York Times:

"In the midst of a contentious Republican primary, added to Donald Trump’s legal troubles and culture war fanatics, Mr. (GOP) McCarthy has become a leader of appeasement. This much was evident when it took 15 rounds of voting for him to even become speaker."

Republican McCarthy is the speaker of the clown show!

Re “McCarthy Opens Inquiry of Biden, (in failed attempt) to Appeasing Right” (front page NYTimes, Sept. 13): 

"Republican Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy’s announcement that the House of Representatives — which he leads with subservience to a vengeful far-right minority and a former president to whom he has sold his political soul — has opened a (fake!) impeachment inquiry into President Biden is clearly a low point in our politics," from  Kevin Li, Basking Ridge, N.J.

The Shakespearean Tragedy of Kevin McCarthy, Prince of Washington

The scheme by Republicans to punish the president, which comes without evidence, is a desperate gasp. It is motivated by former President Donald Trump’s persistent call for retribution and by congressional Republicans, whose only agenda has been one of obstruction, replacing meaningful efforts toward legislation that could benefit the American people.

The heavy weight of evidence supporting Donald Trump’s multiple indictments has not resonated with the vast majority of Republicans, who are determined at all costs to distract from his legal embroilment by elevating Biden family activities to a level of criminality.

In Kevin McCarthy, House Republicans have a leader whose actions, beginning with his tortuous unprincipled path to the speakership, have been focused solely on a need to preserve his fragile position.

Instead, McCarthy has embarked on a dubious mission in search of a crime, potentially at great cost to the country.

From Roger Hirschberg in South Burlington, Vermont

GOP budget deficit reality check ~ letter from Vermont

Trump/GOP budget is indefensible. Growing the government 13 percent...

An echo letter to the editor published in the Burlington Vermont Free Press.

Is a daily $3.3 billion or $2.2 million-a-second federal deficit the new spending norm? (MaineWriter~ *NOT*!)

Trump and the GOP were elected to office on promises to drain the swamp, cut spending and shrink government. Growing the government 13 percent does none of those.

Candidate Trump promised to get rid of the debt “fairly quickly.” Interest payments rose 10 percent from last year to $310 billion. It’s now on the path to becoming the fastest-growing part of the budget, rising from 7 percent of federal spending to 21 percent in 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

Investing in our national defense has merit, but without offsets from the remaining budget is irresponsible fiscal policy. This increased spending will prompt government to print more bonds to pay for it and that will create upward pressure on bond yields which will affect everyone’s borrowing.

The Republicans only care about the deficit when they’re out of power. Unless both political parties are willing to take on the challenge of limited government and less spending our current failed fiscal policies will reign supreme and leave even greater challenges for the next generation.

FRANK MAZUR South Burlington, Vermont