4A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2018
editor@dailyastorian.com
KARI BORGEN
Publisher
JIM VAN NOSTRAND
Editor
Founded in 1873
JEREMY FELDMAN
Circulation Manager
DEBRA BLOOM
Business Manager
JOHN D. BRUIJN
Production Manager
CARL EARL
Systems Manager
OUR VIEW
The humiliation of America
D
oes the United States have a
president anymore?
It was hard to tell Monday
as Donald Trump gave a mortify-
ing, humiliating account of himself in
Finland alongside Russian president
Vladimir Putin. Trump’s fealty in the
face of a man credibly accused of using
his country’s military to meddle in U.S.
elections was disgraceful.
Just last week, the U.S. Justice
Department charged 12 Russian mil-
itary officers with hacking com-
puters and accounts tied to Hillary
Clinton’s presidential campaign and the
Democratic Party. When asked directly
whether he believed Putin’s denials of
Russian involvement or his own intelli-
gence agencies and justice department,
Trump quickly changed the subject and
demanded to know why the FBI did not
examine the hacked computer servers of
the Democratic National Committee.
“Where are those servers?” Mr.
Trump said. “Where are Hillary
Clinton’s emails?”
He continued: “I will say this: I don’t
see any reason why it would be (Russia
that was responsible for the election
hacking) ... I have great confidence in
my intelligence people, but I will tell
you that President Putin was extremely
strong and powerful in his denial
today.” (He tried to walk back the state-
ment a day later.)
Putin smiled from behind his
podium. How could he ask for more?
You could add it to the rooftop evac-
uation of Saigon, or the bloody disas-
ter of the Bay of Pigs, as moments when
the U.S. looked utterly weak and beaten,
outsmarted by a foreign adversary.
At least in Havana and Saigon it took
AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais
President Donald Trump, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, shake hands
at the beginning of a meeting in Helsinki, Finland.
‘Trump wilted like a flower when he had the
opportunity to stand up to Russia and Putin.’
bullets to stop American interests, mis-
guided as they may have been. In the
case of Trump’s capitulation, we must
still wonder what exactly the Kremlin
has over him. But it’s becoming more
clear that whatever it is, he places its
importance over the country he was
elected to lead.
This is not a partisan argument.
Anyone who understands what is at
stake here sounded the alarm. Trump’s
devotion to Russian interests is now a
national security issue for the United
States.
Former Republican Speaker of
the House Newt Gingrich tweeted:
“President Trump must clarify his state-
ments in Helsinki on our intelligence
system and Putin. It is the most serious
mistake of his presidency and must be
corrected — immediately.”
“Today’s press conference in
Helsinki was one of the most disgrace-
ful performances by an American pres-
ident in memory,” wrote John McCain
(R-Ariz.)
“There is no question that Russia
interfered in our election and continues
attempts to undermine democracy here
and around the world,” House Speaker
Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) said in a statement.
“Russia interfered in the 2016 elec-
tion. Our nation’s top intelligence agen-
cies all agree on that point. From the
President on down, we must do every-
thing in our power to protect our
tion of Brooke Flood and Barbara Poulshock,
and I want to acknowledge their spirited act-
ing and musical performances. They all seem
to be having fun, which is very infectious for
the audience.
The theme of this musical is
especially appropriate for our times,
as we tend to place undue emphasis on
outward appearances rather than recogniz-
ing the inner light/beauty of each person. At
the end of the show, two seniors from Surf-
side, Washington, who were sitting next to
me, remarked how impressed they were with
the quality and talent of our local community
theater, as they had lived previously in New
York and gone to number of Broadway shows
there.
This musical will entertain all ages, so
bring the entire family and enjoy this magnif-
icent production. It’s a must-see event of the
summer.
KENNY TAM
Klipsan Beach, Washington
Do not dismantle
our democracy
democracy by securing future elections
from foreign influence and interference,
regardless of what Vladimir Putin or
any other Russian operative says,” said
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah).
Despite all these clear facts, Trump
wilted like a flower when he had the
opportunity to stand up to Russia and
Putin.
We do not need nor want an arms
race, another cold war or hot one. But
the world needed a full-throated defense
of democracy, of respect for elections,
of the ability to distinguish truth from
lies. Trump is counting on the fact that
his actions will not be questioned by
many of his supporters — those in his
base who do not believe the media,
the military, the FBI, the CIA, the spe-
cial counsel, the House Committee
on Intelligence, the U.S. Justice
Department and on down the line.
Trump tweeted Monday: “Our rela-
tionship with Russia has NEVER been
worse thanks to many years of U.S.
foolishness and stupidity and now, the
Rigged Witch Hunt!”
Trump demeans our country daily.
He abhors the institutions built specif-
ically to guide this country peacefully
through times of political upheaval.
He professes admiration for dictators
like Putin days after denouncing the
European Union as our number one
“foe.”
Here is how you can help make
America great again: You can support
an unbiased, unfettered, thorough inves-
tigation of meddling and foreign col-
lusion into the 2016 election. You can
vow to protect it. Otherwise, you’re
working for the Russians and against
America and her interests.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
‘Beauty and the Beast’
is wonderful
T
he Peninsula Association of
Performing Artists has done it again.
The musical production of “Beauty
and the Beast” is just plain wonderful. A huge
cast of nearly 30 performers brought this
treasured fairy tale to life with great danc-
ing, singing and lots of humor. It’s a rollick-
ing, fast-paced spectacular performance.
For a good time come and see it on week-
ends at Fort Columbia, Washington. For
more information and to buy tickets online
go to papatheater.com/ooam-tickets or call
503-522-2092
SUZANNE LEONARD
Ilwaco, Washington
Ban drones around
Haystack Rock
T
he facts in the article “Go see the
puffins at Cannon Beach — before it’s
too late” (The Seattle Times, July 12) are
alarming.
This presents an opportunity for a ban
on drones now. A petition with this informa-
tion is vital to the protection of an important
tourist attraction for Haystack Rock National
Wildlife Refuge and Marine Garden Island
Sanctuary.
Cannon Beach is a tourist-based econ-
omy. Cannon Beach is recognized by National
Geographic as “One of the 100 Most Beauti-
ful Places on Earth.” These rare birds are part
of our economic engine.
Drone owners do not respect the 2,000-feet
rule concerning the distance they are asked
to maintain away from the puffins’ nesting
ground on Haystack Rock. Puffins are part of
our identity, and it is up to us to save this crit-
ical breeding place. Other beach towns have
already banned drones.
JOYCE LINCOLN
Cannon Beach
‘Beauty and the Beast’
is a must-see event
I
went to the Peninsula Association of Per-
forming Artists’ musical production of
“Beauty and the Beast” July 7. What an
enjoyable and fantastic performance — the
amazing cast, the music, the choreography,
the costumes.
Although for the majority of the cast it was
their acting and singing debut, they all per-
formed very capably under the creative direc-
T
he replacement of Supreme Court Justice
Anthony Kennedy must wait until after both
the November elections and the conclusion of
the Mueller investigation.
Sen. Mitch McConnell illegitimately changed
the rules in 2016, when he deemed President
Barack Obama would not fill the Scalia vacancy,
and made the nation wait 10 months until an
election for the will of the people to be heard.
He cannot move the goalposts again and
fill the vacancy immediately when we have
an upcoming election in just four months. The
same standard must apply now. These actions by
McConnell are unfair and malicious, and they
break apart our democratic foundations.
Furthermore, President Donald Trump is
under a lawful investigation as to the role of his
campaign in Russia’s attack on our 2016 elec-
tion, and possible obstruction of justice. This
investigation has led to 17 indictments and five
guilty pleas thus far. Under no circumstances
should President Trump be allowed to place a
justice on a court that may ultimately rule on
issues that arise from the investigation.
This is not about Democrat vs. Republican,
liberal vs. conservative, or pro vs. anti-Trump.
This is about the fundamental structure of our
democracy. Do not let them dismantle it before
your very eyes.
ERIC HALPERIN
Gearhart
Ranchers of other names
wouldn’t be pardoned
R
egarding the editorial “Pardoned ranchers
don’t deserve praise,” (The Daily Astorian,
July 12) methinks that if said ranchers’ surname
was Hammacho or Hamaad, there would have
been no pardons.
RD SMITH
Gearhart