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Editor, News-Register:
As we watch the Trumpers trying mightily to destroy America's democracy by building a crusade based on lies and antidemocratic nonsense, I wonder who was the worst Republican rogue we have had to put up with.
A rogue person is a person that violates fundamental American values, among them are liberty, peace, and the rule of law.
Here is my list of the top worst of the most dangerous GOP rogues:
1. Donald Trump
2. Richard Nixon
3. Dick Cheney
4. Rupert Murdoch
5. Joseph McCarthy
Donald Trump is number one, not because he vigorously denied he was popularly trounced in two elections, was impeached twice, lied continuously, did grievous harm to our environment and institutions, and, yes, colluded with the Russians, but mostly for his criminal attacks on our democracy, such as the "Big Lie" and especially the insurrection on our Capital, at a precious moment of reflection on our democracy, no less.
The honor of the second spot belongs to Richard Nixon, the only American President to resign office in disgrace.
What galls me the most about Nixon is that he could have taken up Johnson's peace initiative and ended the Vietnam War in 1969, instead of prolonging the war for the unfounded dream of getting credit for winning the war.
Nixon's dream (our nightmare) ended in 1975 with 20,000 more dead Americans and hundreds of thousands more dead Asians.
Number Three is Dick Cheney not because he got a $35 million golden parachute when he left Halliburton to become Vice President, and then gave them a $7 billion sole-bidder contract for work in Iraq, but because he led President W. Bush by a leash into the stupid quagmire of war in Iraq where it is estimated by experts that over one million people died violently.
(James Madison wrote that "no nation can maintain its freedom in the midst of continuous warfare.")
Number four is Rupert Murdoch, a man whose 24 hour of lying poison (Fox News, N.Y. Post, Wall Street Journal Editorial Page, etc.) is destroying American democracy and rule of law.
Murdoch gave us four -- Roger Ailes, Bill O'Reily, Sean Hannity, and Tucker Carlson -- of the most destructive propagandists in American history.
A fifth spot goes to Joseph McCarthy who narrowly beats out Mitch McConnell and Rush Limbaugh for my last spot.
Tail gunner Joe (as he was called even though he was never in combat) was the Trump forerunner in lying and destruction of innocent people.
He lied continuously about the number of communists in the State Department (called "deep state" by Trump).
I wish I had space to cover the current crop of repubs scurrying to lie their way onto the ugly rogue list: Josh, Ted, Tom, Kevin, Elise, Marjorie, Matt, Ron and the rest of the gang advocating the "Big Lie."
My fervent wish is that the current Republican Party is finally destroyed by these rogues and their ilk and is rebuilt into a vibrant, responsible, alternative party to the democrats, that is dedicated to our values.
Enough of the present Republican Party that is devoted to the grave harm of the Rogue Gallery.
Bill Bryant
St. Clairsville