Short-sightedness is not a good look

Richard Fein’s Jan. 27 column “Can anything good happen with Trump?” is worrisome. Not since Vichy France have I read such an apologist piece.

While I earned only a bachelor’s in political science, as compared to Mr. Fein’s master’s, I may have gotten the better bang for my buck. His support of Trump’s ultimatum that NATO members increase their defense spending to 5% of GDP conveniently omits that the U.S., with a rate of 2.9% of GDP per the Congressional Budget Office in 2024, falls well below his extortionate demand and is even projected to shrink to 2.5% by 2034 — in Trump’s fourth term.

Government accountability? Co-President Elon Musk will be too preoccupied pushing far-right agendas in Germany and sending people to Mars in 10 years to worry about the price of government screwdrivers. Ironically, the DOGE will itself become a sham for grift, and not even Vivek Ramaswamy will be around to temper Elon’s eccentric impulses.

The Israeli-Hamas ceasefire was primarily former President Biden’s success; Trump did little more than say that, if it didn’t happen, “All hell will break loose.” Reminds me of Reagan’s 1981 antics with our Iranian hostages, or taking underserved credit for the fall of the USSR. Undocumented people convicted of crimes do need to go; as for the rest, my popcorn’s ready while laughing at Trumpers raging over $10 oranges.

Fein reminds me of Max Detweiler from “The Sound of Music”: “The thing to do these days is to get along with everybody.” I don’t concur. Resist.

Lawrence Lewis

Spencer