Aloha Gary.
I read your article (TGI Forum, Jan. 1), “Trump impeached, Kagawa eyes House open council seats” in today’s TGI. I consider you a friend even though we disagree on politics.
When you wrote referring to President Trump’s administration, “On a national and international scale, things can certainly not get much worse.” Let me remind you of what the economy is doing since Jan. 20, 2017, when President Donald J. Trump was inaugurated the 45th president of the United States.
The Trump boom is going strong. The unemployment rate recently hit its lowest mark in 50 years. All told, since President Trump’s election, our economy has added more than 7 million jobs — over half a million in manufacturing alone.
The stock market keeps breaking records: The Dow Jones and S&P 500 hit record closes again on Friday.
The working class is thriving, as are previously forgotten communities. Wages are now rising the fastest for low-income workers, and poverty rates for African Americans and Hispanic Americans have reached all-time lows.
Accountable government is back. Since taking office, President Trump has rolled back nearly eight regulations for every new one, saving American taxpayers more than $50 billion in the process — with bigger savings still to come.
Better trade deals are putting America back in the driver’s seat. Congress approved President Trump’s USMCA (United States Mexico Canada Agreement) last month— a huge win for U.S. workers, farmers and manufacturers that will create 176,000 new jobs.
Trade with China in particular is about to get a whole lot fairer. As part of a historic “phase 1” deal, Beijing has agreed to structural reforms in its trade practices and to make substantial purchases of American agricultural products.
Securing the border is paying off and making our country safer. President Trump struck new agreements with Mexico and Central American countries this year to help stop the flood of illegal immigration. Thanks to this swift action, border apprehensions fell by more than 70 percent from May to November.
On health care, President Trump is fighting to give our patients the best system on Earth. While Democrats try to take away choice, the president’s focus on affordability led to the largest year-over-year drop in drug prices ever recorded.
American interests are taking center stage abroad. Here is just one example: After years of not paying their fair share, NATO Allies will have increased defense spending by $130 billion by the end of next year.
Our great military took out the world’s top terrorist in October (Remember Conan, the hero dog who helped them do it?). Our troops are now getting the support they deserve. President Trump recently signed the National Defense Authorization Act for the 2020 fiscal year, which includes the biggest pay raises for our military in a decade.
On Dec. 31, 2019, our Iraqi embassy was attacked by Islamic militants, and did President Trump respond? Yes he did. No U.S. casualties or evacuations were reported after the attack Tuesday by dozens of Iran-supported militiamen. U.S. Marines were sent from Kuwait to reinforce the compound.
Please remember that the Obama/Clinton administrations sent no one to help our ambassador to Libya on Sept. 11, 2012, in Benghazi. Members of Ansar al-Sharia attacked the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi, resulting in the deaths of U.S. Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens and U.S. Foreign Service Information Management Officer Sean Smith. Stevens was the first U.S. ambassador killed in the line of duty since 1979.
On the other hand, President Trump responded quickly and decisively. Gary, is our ambassador to Iraq still alive? Were any Americans, military or civilian, killed during this attack on Dec. 31, 2019? Compare that to Obama/Clinton response on Sept. 11, 2012.
Did President Obama/Biden send any Havilland missiles and/or military aid to the Ukraine to help defend their country against Russian aggression, like we promised we would do? Obama did send blankets. To the Ukraine. Obama also sent $1.7 billion to the Iranian government, money that didn’t go to help the Iranian people, but was used to bolster military aggression against the U.S. and its allies.
Did Trump send military ordnance and Havilland missiles to the Ukraine after he confirmed the new president was going to follow through on his promise to deal with and prosecute Ukranian corruption? Call if quid pro quo if you want to. I call it following through on your promises and holding others to live up to their promises.
Despite Biden’s claims that everything was proper, we have video evidence of Joe Biden bragging about his role in the firing of Ukraine Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin back in 2016. Shokin was investigating corruption at Burisma Holding, a Ukranian natural-gas firm that Biden’s son Hunter had a high-paying job, receiving $83,000 monthly for three years. Hunter, Biden’s son, has no experience whatsoever in the energy position he held, has no understanding of the Ukraine or its people. Hunter didn’t even speak the Ukranian language. Biden told Ukranian president Petrov Poroshenko he would withhold a $1 billion U.S. loan unless Poroshenko fired Shokin.
Gary, I know you and I are too old to change. We’re both 65 years old. You’ll continue to believe as you do and so will I. I just hope that those who haven’t already made up their minds will consider the facts presented here and will recognize that President Donald J. Trump is the best president this country has seen since Ronald Reagan.
Promises made, promises kept!
Respectfully (your friend),
•••
Steve Yoder is the Kauai GOP county chair.
