We Are in Dangerous and Uncharted Waters

By Dan Rather, Dan Rather's Facebook Page

30 December 17

e have been bombarded with evidence - evidence that we are in dangerous and unchartered waters, evidence that the President of the United States lies with abandon, evidence that there is much more to the Russia attack on our democracy than was initially believable, evidence that there is an authoritative streak amongst our current national leadership, evidence that our allies are dismayed and our adversaries are emboldened.

There have been so many headlines, so many tweets and quotes, so much cacophony that it is easy to feel what more can there be that surprises or dismays us. How much lower can President Trump take the tenor of our national discourse or America's standing in the world?

All of this is a lead up to an article that boggles the mind out of the New York Times. Here is President Trump unscripted and away from sycophantic aides who explain away his ignorance, cruelty, and anti-democratic values. This is President Trump unchecked and it is a sobering, even frightening sight to behold.

Imagine if these quotes were printed without our current context. Does this sound like a president? I think we know how history will judge that answer. The question is what lies in the gap of time between now and then. How much damage can be done?

Every Republican elected official or business leader who seeks to normalize this Administration must be forced to answer, is this normal? Is this sane? Is this democratic? Frankly, is this American?