To the editor:
Based on the recent results in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, I believe Democrats lost an opportunity to gain a House seat by running a very progressive candidate. But despite a 9.5 percent Republican win, it was still an embarrassment for Republicans, and if the Democrat opponent was more moderate, the outcome may have been different. Why do I feel this way?
In the previous election, Trump and the Republican candidate for that seat won by more than 20 percent, and this time around, Aftyn Behn, a liberal Democrat in a ruby-red district, had Kamala Harris and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stump for her. This lead me to anticipate a 30 percent loss.
But the Republican, Matt Van Epps, won by less than half of the 2024 tally, causing a political reporter to predict that if a Republican won their seat by less than 10 percent in 2024, classifying it as competitive today, they are likely to lose in the 2026 midterm elections. But there may be a way for Republicans to regain a modicum of their dignity.
By any measure, Donald Trump’s presidency has been a disaster, both foreign and domestic. It is not necessary to mention his failings, but a glaring fault is ignoring congressional approval when required by the Constitution. With his overall approval rating under 40 percent, the final straw that should cause Republicans in Congress to put country ahead of politics is Trump apparently abandoning our allies by ceding the Far East to China and Europe to Russia while claiming South America for himself.
China’s leader, Xi Jinping, has been aggressively circling Taiwan and recently announced his intention to unite Taiwan to mainland China, with a strong reaction from Japan, but none from Trump. (As for riots in Iran caused by a failed economy, Trump has threatened to intercede if people are killed.)
Putin has ignored Trump’s efforts to cobble together peace between Russia and Ukraine. Trump’s comments and actions have indicated he will do what needs to be done to placate Putin, all the while apparently not recognizing that without Europe and us standing in the way, Ukraine is only the first step Putin will take as he moves on other former Soviet states. Maybe that is OK with Trump.
Trump also announced Europe needs to be responsible for their own safety and should no longer rely on us, basically abandoning our strongest allies.
As for South America, regime change in Venezuela is the beginning. Trump will use tariffs, our military might, and any other means at his disposal to create his vision in the Far East, Europe, as well as here with the cost being our standing in the world. Everyone knows Trump’s word means nothing and we cannot be relied on while he is in the Oval Office. Republicans cannot deny they are seeing this. What are they going to do about it?
Frank Gunsberg
Great Barrington
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