Today's comments were selected because they highlight the diverse reactions our readers are having to the anonymous op-ed penned by a senior Trump official and published in The New York Times. The op-ed criticizes Trump as being misguided, erratic and amoral. Readers also discuss the merits of Andrew Scheer's leadership.
From: Trump blasts unsigned New York Times op-ed by senior official as ‘gutless’
President Donald Trump comments on an opinion piece that a senior administration official published anonymously in the New York Times during an event with law enforcement personnel at the White House in Washington, Sept. 5, 2018. Trump denounced the piece, whose author said that advisers to the president were deliberately trying to thwart his ambitions from the inside, as a “gutless editorial.”DOUG MILLS/The New York Times News Service
I despair for Canada that we are victimized by Trump, and denied the economic prosperity that we were on the cusp of achieving until he was elected. But he was elected, and that is a national disgrace. I think America has learned a lot, and will be less inclined to take its institutions of democracy, justice, and freedom for granted.
Revelations such as this, and the puerile non-presidential responses they provoke, make me embarrassed for the U.S., despite the harm they have foisted on the world with the terrible choices they made. What an awful mess. The end of Trump's tenure, and the restoration of reason as a pillar of global relations, cannot come too soon. - Black Swan
These people didn’t stop Trump from gutting the EPA, passing the colossal tax giveaway to the rich, or the crazy tariffs, or separating mothers and children, or getting Trumpists appointed to the Supreme Court. They are only protecting their own positions. If they actually cared about anything besides themselves they would not work him. - sageantoine
The op-ed was amazing. The fact that the author is unnamed is understandable, although it does take away from the piece because it is hard to assess exactly how much context the author has, and what their biases are. Consider: it would have different connotations if it was written by Wilbur Ross, as opposed to John Kelly, and be different again entirely if it was a member of Trump's legal team. Regardless, it is fascinating reading. It is simultaneously both surprising and entirely plausible, but makes so much sense when you think about how the White House has carried on basic function for so long amidst such apparent chaos. - K McIntyre
For more on this topic, read Lawrence Martin's column What was the New York Times thinking?
What else readers are talking about:
From: Can Andrew Scheer lead conservatives to success? a contributed column by Bob Plamondon
Well reasoned article. Scheer seems like a milder, doesn’t want to offend anyone, younger brother of Harper. I’m not a Trudeau fan (to say the least) but don’t find Scheer appealing whatsoever. Scheer must be replaced for the conservatives to have any chance. Pity that it might take a wasted election to make that come about. - Booflette
This article is a bit harsh. It has always been difficult to keep Conservatives under the same tent. Under Mr. Harper, there was unity because he imposed it and enforced it. That does not seem to be Mr. Scheer's approach. He may end up paying for that. - Mr. Costanza
Sheer is merely leader-in-waiting. He has demonstrated that he has neither the intellect nor the fortitude to keep the disparate factions in line. Watch for another leadership race in early 2020. Maybe by that time the CPC can come up with someone compelling. - WhistlingInTheDark
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