To the Editor:
As I drive around the town of New Scotland and through the other towns of Albany County, I take notice of all the signs supporting Republican candidates running for local town political positions. I am wondering and supposing that most of our local Republicans running for office voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020.

When they voted for Trump in 2016, I can forgive them for that because they probably weren’t really aware of his character and potential to increase division in these United States of America. Nor were they possibly aware of his proclivity and predisposition toward extreme narcissism and selfish behavior. 

They didn’t seem to realize his inclination toward childlike name-calling of anyone who disagreed with him or challenged him.

Trump is fond of bullying people and calling out personal insults like “loser.” Republicans voted for Trump in 2016 while not accepting the accusations previously made by women about his misogynistic behavior and sexual harassment toward them.

Republican voters quite hypocritically disregarded the video evidence showing Trump being interviewed by Billy Bush and stating that he knowingly pursued married women and said referring to all women, “Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything.”

If you’re a Republican, especially if you’re a Republican woman, how do you support a man like Trump when he treats women as though he is above them and they are not to be respected?

I say Republicans are hypocrites because they have happily seen Eliot Spitzer and Andrew Cuomo leave the office of New York State governor because of sexual, misogynistic bad behavior but they have excused Trump. Now I will admit that I voted for Spitzer, and Cuomo once, but only once. 

When I found out about Cuomo’s narcissistic and misogynistic bad behavior, I did not vote for him again. If you condemn bad behavior of the opposing political party, you must condemn it within your political party. That’s where I was going with this letter in part. After all of the unacceptable bad behavior and actions Trump has shown us during his four years as president, how could you be voting for him a second time?

Republicans have many other respectable and honorable potential candidates who would not embarrass the office of the president of the United States. I may not agree with their agenda but I know a man I can respect when I see one, and Trump is a man only a fool would respect! 

He ultimately shamed our whole country and revealed the weaknesses of our democracy when he instigated and incited an insurrection of our capitol and democratic due process on Jan. 6, 2021. He exposed the vulnerability of our nation’s capitol to our enemies, while leaving the citizens of the United States feeling shame of what’s becoming of our nation.

Right now, I’m being led to believe the Republican Party is diminished and we have a new party called “Trumpers”!

“Trumpers” have thrown ethical behavior that was commonplace between Republicans and Democrats out the window by supporting Trump’s lies and fascist fits of narcissism. The Republican Party cannot find a more honorable man than Trump to nominate for president in 2024?

That is a very sad comment!

There are so many character flaws to a man like Trump. Too many for me to cover right now. But I will say that almost every general and appointee Trump raved about and installed in his administration and later resigned have commented on his negative behavior and psychological shortcomings. You have to believe these people because they act respectable and clearly articulate the problems with President Trump.

So finally what I wanted to tell you, is the same thing I ultimately told a Republican candidate for the New Scotland Town Board who came to my door:

“I would never ever vote for someone in my town that I perceived as having voted for Donald Trump the second time in 2020. I would say they lacked good judgement and, after all the examples of unacceptable behavior by Trump’s administration, if they voted for him again, they are devoid of the ability to make good decisions concerning my hometown!”

Candidates for town offices that continue to support Donald Trump should not be in charge of our towns!

They obviously have poor judgement!

Timothy J. Albright

Meadowdale