*** “Good moral character is the first essential in a man.” [ George Washington, 12/5/1790 ]
This post is primarily built around “When character no longer matters, power becomes the only credential” [Jack Leslie, Ward Brehm; Minnesota Star Tribune; 1/1/26};
1]. “The language of our politics has grown reckless, inflammatory rhetoric and casual cruelty are no longer fringe phenomena; they have crept into the mainstream of our public life. When leaders treat fellow Americans as targets rather than citizens, the damage extends far beyond any single remark. It signals a failure of character, more than ideology, that determines whether a republic endures.”
***. “When the late J. P. Morgan was asked what he considered the best bank collateral, he replied, “Character.”
2] “A democracy can survive ideological disagreement. It can survive bad policy. It can even survive bad leaders – for a time. What it cannot survive is the steady erosion of character as a governing requirement.” [Leslie, Brehm]
***. “Nothing is more essential to the establishment of manners in a State than that all persons employed in places of power and trust must be men of unexceptionable character.” [ Samuel Adams, 1775 ]
3] “A month after the inauguration, thirty-five psychiatrists wrote a letter to the editor of the New York Times: “We believe that the grave emotional instability indicated by Mr. Trump’s speech and actions makes him incapable of serving safely as President.” [ Pulitzer Prize winner David Cay Johnston: “It’s Even Worse Than You Think” ]
***. “The most important thing for a young man is to establish a credit – a reputation, character.” [ John D. Rockefeller ]
4] “We are watching behavior once considered disqualifying become routine; rising intolerance, habitual dishonesty, contempt for democratic norms and the deliberate exploitation of division for political gain. – one rationalization at a time.” [ Leslie, Brehm ]
*** “Character is the only secure foundation of the state.” [ Calvin Coolidge, Republican U.S. 30th President ]
5] “History is clear: Democracies rarely collapse in a single dramatic moment. They weaken gradually as standards erode, boundaries blur and citizens are conditioned to accept conduct they once would have rejected outright. The danger is not chaos. The danger is normalization.” [ Leslie, Brehm ]
*** “The best index to a person’s character is [a] how he treats people who can’t do him any good, and [b] how he treats people who can’t fight back.” [ Abigail Van Buren ]
6] “A democracy can survive bad leaders. It cannot survive citizens who excuse them. When character no longer matters, power becomes the only credential. – and history tells us exactly where that leads.” [ Leslie, Brehm ]
*** The qualities of a great man are “vision, integrity, courage, understanding, the power of articulation,, and a profundity of character.” [ Dwight D. Eisenhower, World War II General, Republican 34th U.S. President ]
7] “So here is the demand: Refuse to fund politicians of either party who abuse power, distort the truth or enforce ideology through coercion rather than persuasion. Withdraw your money. Withdraw your vote. Demand civility, integrity and restraint – and vote out those who refuse to meet that standard.” [ Leslie, Brehm ]
***. “Strength of character means the ability to overcome resentment against others, to hide hurt feelings, and to forgive quickly.” [ Lawrence Lovasik ]
8]. “Every generation is tested. this is ours. the question is no longer what we believe, but what we are willing to refuse.” [ Leslie, Brehm ]
SO. – YOU tell me, just how would YOU judge Donald John Trump, and the people around him, his donors, people who wrote “Project 2025,” people in his administration carrying out his policies in general – including those that hurt American citizens? In the light of tenets of good character. – how do YOU judge the INTENT of the Trump administration’s rhetoric, actions, policies? In the light of good character how does one evaluate Trump’s 2017 tax cuts for the obscenely rich – and, his insistence these tax cuts be made permanent in 2025? HOW do these tax cuts “…promote the general Welfare..” [u.S. Constitution]???
*** “When wealth is lost; when health is lost; something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.” [Billy Graham]
9] “Trump says he does not see any reason to seek divine forgiveness because he has done nothing wrong in his entire life, an oft-made observation..” [ Pulitzer Prize winner David Cay Johnston: “The making Of Donald Trump” ]
*** “I believe today that my conduct is in accordance with the will of the Almighty.” [ Adolf Hitler ]
With Justice For All 