Source: Google images.
Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president this year, visited Washington State Saturday. State Sen. Steve Litzow (R-Mercer Island) of the 41st Legislative District (Southern Sammamish) took a strong stand against his own party’s nominee. So did Rob McKenna, a Republican, the former attorney general and candidate for governor here and then Chris Vance, former chairman of the state Republican Party and candidate opposing incumbent US Sen Patty Murray (D-Washington).
Sammamish Deputy Mayor Ramiro Valderrama, running as a Republican for the State House in the 45th District (northern Sammamish), as yet hasn’t taken a position supporting or opposing Trump.
I’ve been following presidential elections since 1968 and voting in them since 1972. I’ve seen George Wallace, then the Alabama governor, run against “pointy-headed” liberals, appealing to racist instincts. I’ve seen then US Sen. George McGovern (D-SD), a former World War II US bomber pilot in Europe, run on a far-left campaign. I’ve watched the two major parties go in wrong directions (by my standards). I watched outsider Ross Perot in 1992 and 1996. I like outsiders who are squeaky wheels (hence, supporting Valderrama for City Council last year).
But I’ve never seen anything like Trump. His destructive approach to everything and everybody is mind boggling.
I understand the desire for an outsider. I voted for Perot, twice, because I didn’t like the Republicans or Democrats way back then. But there has been no positive campaign messaging from Trump, 
only platitudes, often contradictory. He doesn’t stand for the American values I grew up understanding. Trump is the biggest self-proclaimed victim in American politics and the biggest crybaby since Newt Gingrich didn’t get the seat he wanted on Bill Clinton’s Air Force One.
Especially disturbing are his constant attacks on those who criticize him and even those who don’t.
- Attacking POWs: Trump’s attack on US Sen. John McCain (“he’s a hero only because he got captured”) and POWs in general (Trump only “likes people who don’t get captured”) was not just an insult to McCain, it denigrated all POWs who ever fought for their country and were captured by the enemy. Veterans should be appalled by Trump’s attitude toward them.
- Supporting torture: The United States fought several wars in which our servicemen were tortured. If Trump knew our history—which has become obvious he does not—he would know the Japanese used water boarding against our POWs (and much worse), which our government and people condemned. Nazi Germany tortured. Torture was used in the Korean and Vietnam wars. Supporting torture techniques is the antithesis of what America is supposed to be about.
- Lies and more lies: Trump notoriously labeled rival Sen. Ted Cruz as “Lyin’ Ted.” Trump may have had a point, but his own veracity is mind-boggling.
- Libel Laws: Stung by criticism and critical stories, Trump said he wants to change the libel laws so he can sue the media more easily.
- Backflips: Trump should be a gymnast. He was pro-choice before he was against it. He was for punishing women for abortions before he was against it. He was for Planned Parenthood before he was against it before he was for it. He was friends of Bill and Hillary before he wasn’t. It’s enough to make you dizzy.
- Admiring a Despot: He claims he’s good friends with Russia President Vladimir Putin because they appeared on the same 60 Minutes program. But they never met; the segments were filmed separately. Trump praised, one of today’s most notorious thugs–and accepted Putin’s praise.
- International experience: Trump points to his “international experience” through his ownership of Miss USA.
The list can go on and on and on.
We have terrible choices this year for president. It’s enough to make one a Libertarian.
Sammamish Comment 
Former US Senator Jim Webb,a democrat,said he would never vote for Hillary for many well known reasons.He will vote for Trump as he has at least a 50/50 chance of upsetting the status quo effectively and positively.Voting Libertarian is appealing ,but a waste of a vote.I am an independent and will vote for Trump.One can argue ad infinitum,but that’s what it all boils down to,and I think like many millions more that he will win! Thanks,Tom M
I agree with Mr. McMahon. I voted for President Obama in 2008 as I believed that our political system was broke and we needed “hope and change”. In my opinion all what we got was “change”, not hope. Our political system is broken and millions of Americans have responded for change with their support for Trump AND Sanders. Bernie Sanders is all but out of the race in part due to the establishment electoral control of the Democratic process with super delegates. Hillary Clinton represents the political establishment that got us in our present mess against which Americans are rallying.
Donald Trump may not be perfect but he represents the voice of millions who want to see a significant change in the direction of our country and reform of our political process. I believe Mr Trump is the best candidate to deliver on this promise. He will receive my vote.
I agree with you Scott. Trump is a horrible human being by any metric.
Hillary Clinton may be a career politician, but she will certainly not be a disaster for the country like Trump would be. She EASILY gets my vote in this contest.
Just wanting “change” isn’t enough. It has to be change in the right direction too.
Hillary Clinton is already a disaster.Libya,Syria,Egypt, and the Ukraine have been a disaster on her watch.The Clinton Foundation is a slush fund and corrupt.She is a perpetual prevaricator . By all accounts, if you have paid any attention to the details of her e-mail abuses,she is at the very least,guilty of gross negligence,if not outright unlawfull behavior.As usual,she will escape prosecution by virtue of Obama and the DOJ sweeping it aside.What a great choice by the Democrats!!!
Frankly I am very disappointed in Ramiro. I supported Ramiro both financially and as a volunteer in the last city council campaign. I have been a straight Republican party-line voter my entire life, however, I will never vote for Donald Trump, and honestly I have serious issues with any elected official that does support him.
The fact that Ramiro makes a big deal about his anti-Racism event at City Hall, and then declines to take a position on a man that didn’t disavow David Duke and the KKK for 24 hours out of fear of upsetting his supporters, is the epitome of hypocrisy.
I have relatives that support Trump. Universally, they are the folks that refer to “the blacks causing problems”, have no formal education beyond grade school, no understanding of the basic tenets our Constitutional Republic, and whose #1 issue is fighting gun control. They also blame government for every single problem under the sun, accepting no personal responsibility for their current situation at all. They watch reality TV during the day and are wooed by promises from a strongman who wishes to destroy our system of government that has existed since 1789.
Let me be clear, as a conservative, I hate government, I hate gun control, etc. However, anyone with a shred of knowledge about the founders, their beliefs, and writings, knows that they intentionally designed the system to make it as difficult as possible for someone like Donald Trump to become President. Read Federalist No 10 and tell me that James Madison wasn’t referring to factions like Donald Trump’s.
For all the talk from the Trumpsters about “unfairness” and us living in a democracy while Cruz was fighting for a contested convention… news flash, we live in a republic, not a democracy. We have the electoral college because the founders didn’t trust the people to directly select a President, essentially putting a line of defense in place in case the people made a terrible mistake. We didn’t have direct election of Senators for over 100 years because the founders didn’t trust the people to make decisions like this.
Needless to say, Hillary is just as despicable and evil. I’ll be leaving my ballot blank this November, and I might just do that for the State House race as well, unless Ramiro takes a clear stand against what Donald Trump is standing for.