To the Editor:

President Trump’s campaign staff met with a Russian attorney in Trump Tower to discuss inside “dirt” about opponent Hillary Clinton in June 2016. The information has finally surfaced after months of denial by the Trump folks. Trump’s son, “Little Donnie,” has finally admitted to the fact. After the Tower meeting, Russia released damming emails about Clinton and the inside workings of her campaign staff. Did the Trump folks collude with an enemy of the United States to swing an election? It sure looks like it.

America could have done better without Trump or Clinton in 2016, but I guess we had a bad choice in 2016. I liked Kaisich, Bush, Christie — anybody but Trump.

President Trump is a lying dog, in my opinion, an obnoxious New York bragger with low-energy smarts; all talk and little knowledge about history or world events. He would flunk a high school American history course. In fact, Obama is looking pretty good right now.

The administration has long denied any collusion with Russia, but Little Donnie finally admitted the truth in released emails. Also present at the meeting was Trump son-in-law, weird, shell-shocked Jared Kushner, who now has top U.S. security clearance, and Paul “the Capo” Manafort, then-campaign manager and former Russian representative against Ukraine’s independence. Yes, Manafort dined and cozied up to Vladimir Putin at a get-together in Moscow a few years earlier. Hmm.

All of them had previously lied about meeting with any Russians, as have Attorney General Jeff Sessions and fired former NSA chief Michael Flynn. The Trumps and lies are synonymous — they are like peanut butter and jelly.

Even S.C. Republican Trey Gowdy, who headed up the Benghazi investigation on Clinton, has joined the chorus against Trump’s lies: “If you had contact with the Russians, don’t wait until The New York Times figures it out.”

I haven’t heard much from our esteemed Congressman Mark Meadows about his erstwhile buddy Trump. Meadows, it seems, is far too busy figuring out how to hurt poor people and help the rich get richer, especially on healthcare.

Just remember Rep. Mark “gerrymander” Meadows’ creed: “Afflict the afflicted, and comfort the comfortable.” In other words, make the rich richer and the poor poorer — and never, ever let the electorate  know how badly they have been fooled.

I noticed Meadows has recently moved closer to the airport in Asheville so he can be closer to Washington, where the Florida or French (?) native is truly focused. Meadows reportedly said moving to the airport area from Cashiers saved him three or four hours of drive time to the airport. Yes, Meadows loves the Washington spotlight. He certainly hasn’t had too many town hall meetings. Why meet with the masses? When you’re gerrymandered like Meadows, you are truly a One-eyed Jack in the Kingdom of the Blind.

James Budd

Bryson City