USA TODAY's Editorial Board: Trump is 'unfit for the presidency'

[brinny]

The bottom line is this: Donald Trump is simply not mentally fit or qualified to be president.

1. He’s completely unstable and unpredictable: The last thing anyone should want in a leader of any kind is someone who they can’t have reasonable expectations for or rely upon as any sort of beacon of sanity. When all hell is breaking loose, a true leader is someone who everyone seeks out to guide them through the chaos. Say what you want about Hillary Clinton, President Obama, George W. Bush, Mitt Romney, John McCain, Bill Clinton, John Kerry — they’re at least fairly predictable, collected and emotionally stable individuals. Even as much as I disliked Bush, I’ll fully admit that he did a great job in the days and weeks immediately after 9/11 uniting the country.

The last thing this country needs is a president who we never know what he’s going to say or do from day to day or even hour to hour.

2. It’s very easy to manipulate him: This sort of ties in with #1 in that he’s so arrogant and thin-skinned, anyone who wants to can goad him into making an absolute fool out of himself publicly. All anyone has to do is take a few shots at his ego (and especially his business record) and you can send him off into unhinged Twitter tirades filled with misspelled words and the vocabulary of a 9-year-old. It’s not a good thing when a 70-year-old man is so immature that the slightest bit of criticism sends him off into embarrassing hissy fits like a toddler whose parents didn’t buy them any candy at the store. This country doesn’t need a Commander-in-Chief who our adversaries can easily outsmart because they know they can lure him into some sort of conflict by simply insulting him.

It should terrify everyone reading this that someone who’s this easily manipulated and emotionally unstable is one election away from possibly having our nuclear codes.

3. He has repeatedly shown he goes after those who he feels are in his way: The truth is, Donald Trump is a bully. He likes to wield his power and money to go after those who he feels are in his way or who he simply doesn’t like. Just look at his comments concerning reports that the Russian government was behind the email hack at the DNC. Instead of showing actual concern that a foreign government might be committing espionage against an American political party hoping doing so might manipulate our election — he encouraged them to do some more.

The truth is, all he cares about is himself and his agenda. He’s proven time and time again that he’ll use any means necessary (including encouraging espionage against the United States) if he feels it will benefit him in some way. This is someone who’s targeted members of the press who’ve been critical of him; has tried to strong-arm a moderator out of a debate because he was scared to face her; and has repeatedly shown that there really isn’t a level to which he will not stoop just as long as he feels it will give him some sort of edge or weaken an opponent.

In November, we’re electing a president — not a leader for an organized crime syndicate.

4. He believes conspiracy websites are credible news sources: It’s one thing for some ordinary right-wing fanatic to think Drudge, Breitbart and InfoWars are “credible news sources” (they’re not) — it’s quite another when someone wanting to be President of the United States views these fringe, radical blogs and websites that claim the federal government is behind most of our mass shootings as “legitimate sources of information.”

5. He’s woefully and completely unqualified to be president: I say with absolute certainty that Donald Trump has no idea how many members there are in Congress nor does he understand the responsibilities and duties required of each house. I would be shocked if he even knew that the Speaker of the House is third in line for the presidency. This is someone who doesn’t know how government works, is completely clueless about foreign policy and would struggle to point out Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Pakistan, India and Afghanistan on a map.

This isn’t about opposing a candidate because I disagree with their policies (even though I definitely do). This is about opposing a candidate because he’s so utterly and completely unqualified for the job that his incompetence (combined with everything else on this list) makes him the most terrifyingly dangerous presidential candidate in our lifetime.

dangerous in that he has killed anyone and/or is murderously homicidal?

 

[MarkFL]

He probably hasn't committed several violent felonies, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't be a danger to the country.

 

[psalms 91]

Can you picture his finger on the nuclear trigger and someone offends him like poor Miss Universe, or perhaps a mom and dad of a dead serviceman or a woman who he doesnt think is good enough? Enough said

 

[brinny]

He probably hasn't committed several violent felonies, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't be a danger to the country.

Such as?

 

[MoreCoffee]

The words a President of the USA speaks in public (and even in private) influence many people for good or ill. Let's pray that whoever is elected they will speak and act with wisdom and that God will grant them wisdom for the sake of the nation and the world.

 

[brinny]

The words a President of the USA speaks in public (and even in private) influence many people for good or ill. Let's pray that whoever is elected they will speak and act with wisdom and that God will grant them wisdom for the sake of the nation and the world.

Gotta agree with you there, sir. That is my prayer exactly.

 

[MarkFL]

Such as?

I've posted two lists each giving several reasons why Trump would be a liability. I'm not sure what you're after here.

 

[brinny]

I've posted two lists each giving several reasons why Trump would be a liability. I'm not sure what you're after here.

on the list there was nothing definitive describing in detail how Trump, specifically would be a danger to our country.

 

[MarkFL]

on the list there was nothing definitive describing in detail how Trump, specifically would be a danger to our country.

We read those lists very differently then.

 

[brinny]

We read those lists very differently then.

perhaps.

however without specifics it's conjecture.

and unfortunately conjecture can go both ways.

 

[Stravinsk]

The words a President of the USA speaks in public (and even in private) influence many people for good or ill. Let's pray that whoever is elected they will speak and act with wisdom and that God will grant them wisdom for the sake of the nation and the world.

I wouldn't want to pray in confidence for such a high likelihood of being disappointed.

 

[MarkFL]

perhaps.

however without specifics it's conjecture.

and unfortunately conjecture can go both ways.

These behaviors in Trump have been observed, and I would say it's much more than conjecture that they are dangerous behaviors for a potential POTUS.

 

[brinny]

These behaviors in Trump have been observed, and I would say it's much more than conjecture that they are dangerous behaviors for a potential POTUS.

i didn't see any specific observations described.

it seemed very vague, and thus verged on conjecture.....almost like wishful thinking.

 

[Stravinsk]

The article is pointless at the end of the day.

Both candidates represent the illusion of choice. It really doesn't matter which one gets elected, the major policy decisions will get made by the power brokers (big corporations, big banks) behind the scenes, as usual. Presidents are figureheads, mostly. The ones that really take their oath seriously and try to affect change that is inline with the US Constitution and for the good of the people either get marginalized or murdered.

 

[MarkFL]

i didn't see any specific observations described.

it seemed very vague, and thus verged on conjecture.....almost like wishful thinking.

You might have to click on the link in the OP and follow links from there to discover all the specific data backing the statements made.

 

[MoreCoffee]

I wouldn't want to pray in confidence for such a high likelihood of being disappointed.

I try not to limit my prayers to what I think may have a high likelihood of happening anyway.

 

[Josiah]

The the first time in its 148 year history, the San Diego Union-Tribune Newspaper has not endorsed the Republican for the presidency. For the first time in 148 years, it has endorsed the Democrat - although noted that she too is entirely unfit for the office; she simply is the lesser of two EVILS. They endorsed an "evil" candidate.

How sad.

 

[psalms 91]

What is sad is those who support Trump, it lends one to wonder if they hold the same views of women, blacks, and latinos that he does

 

[MoreCoffee]

What is sad is those who support Trump, it lends one to wonder if they hold the same views of women, blacks, and latinos that he does

His stated views on nuclear weapons is very alarming.

 

[psalms 91]

His stated views on nuclear weapons is very alarming.

Yes it is I dont really understand how anyone can vote for him