Tucson Speaks Out: April 21

Quoting the bible?

So, Secretary of State Pete Hegseth quoted the bible in his own sly way of seeming important. The quote, it turns out, wasn't from the bible at all but from the movie Pulp Fiction. Fiction pretty much explains it, doesn't it? Attempting to show knowledge but instead revealing how you spend your Bible-reading days, watching movies. It would be funny if it wasn't so ridiculous. From the prez on down, they are a mishmash of mediocrity. And we actually have these buffoons in places of importance in our government. The whole world laughs as our politicians careen and stumble. Jokesters all.

Philip Reinecker

East side

Washington Post editorial

I'm not surprised that the owner of the Washington Post approved of the editorial, "Africa proves resilient after cut in U.S. aid." I am surprised that the Arizona Daily Star chose to reprint it on its Opinion page on April 15.

Too bad this editorial can't be read by the six hundred thousand people, mostly children, who lost their lives as a direct result of Donald Trump's and his chainsaw-waving head of the Department of Government Efficiency, "reckless shutdown of USAID. Reputable sources have estimated that tens of millions of African lives were saved by USAID.

Self-reliance is an admirable value. So is providing food, medicine and shelter to those who need it. We shouldn't put a happy face on having put USAID into the wood chipper. Food stamps, Medicaid, Social Security and Medicare just might be next. First they came for the Africans...

Dave Gallagher

Foothills

The cost of arrogance

How does Trump think he is going to control Iran's ability to develop a nuclear weapon? He could invade Iran, and we would be in another protracted Iraq-type war with thousands of casualties, including American soldiers. He could also enter into an agreement with Iran regarding its generation of enriched nuclear material, or a nuclear weapon. It’s interesting that before Trump’s illegal war, we already had such an agreement. In fact, that agreement was reached over a 15-month discussion with Iran and involved input from other countries and was supervised by international nuclear inspectors. Well, here we are reinventing the “deal” after loss of lives, including American soldiers and thousands of Iranians and the cost of oil shooting up. What a brilliant move by our arrogant resident idiot. When is this clown show going to end? Resist and vote us out of this mess.

Peter Morales

Midtown

Voters want ideas, not failed legal maneuvers

State Senator Alma Hernandez prevailed in court after a challenge by her opponent, Rocque Perez, sought to remove her from the ballot based on a non-enforced campaign finance timing provision. The court’s rejection of that effort is significant—it underscores that the claim did not meet the governing legal standard.

That matters because campaigns are, at their core, about earning voter support. Instead of presenting a compelling case on policy, priorities, or leadership, Perez chose to pursue a legal maneuver that failed. Voters are entitled to weigh what that decision says about a candidate’s judgment and approach to public service.

Senator Hernandez is now properly on the ballot, where she belongs. She has demonstrated the ability to withstand scrutiny and continue making her case to the electorate.

Arizona voters deserve a contest grounded in ideas, records, and vision — not unsuccessful attempts to narrow the field through the courts.

Kent Blumenthal

Green Valley

How President Trump can declare victory

It is common knowledge that our reason for being involved in Iran (now) is because our President's ego requires some assurance of his power; i.e., His manhood, his strength.

As a man approaching 80 years, his vitality is top priority. So, I believe that since he is going to become a father again, by his current wife, they could make that news public. Then, in the interest of being magnanimous, he could issue a proclamation to, in effect, restore the arrangement that his predecessor, B. Obama, has/had with Iran and just skate away from the issue.

Could you imagine the plaudits he would receive. The Pope, Muslims and most Jews would welcome his 'good fortune'. Even the U.S. War Department (except Hegseth) and armed forces would applaud him. The most lasting and valuable blessing would be from Christians, welcoming another Christian into this world.

God bless us all.

Vincent Allen

Northwest side

Ciscomani and RFK Jr. in Marana

Desperate Juan Ciscomani recently bragged about RFK, Jr., visiting Marana to meet local health leaders. These leaders were presumably excited about RFK’s investments in nutrition and preventive services, and availability of federal grants to help local health facilities. Juan didn’t mention that the amount of money available through one grant ($400,000) is tiny compared to the lost federal funds for Medicaid and health insurance subsidies that Juan “proudly” voted for - over $3.4 billion per year statewide, and approximately $400 million just in CD-06.

Of course, health care leaders come to these events acting happy. They need to try to get whatever resources they can. But no one should think for a minute that Ciscomani and Kennedy are not hurting healthcare in our region, or that health center leaders are truly supportive of what they have done.

As a resident of CD6, with friends and family struggling to keep their healthcare coverage, I find Ciscomani’s attempts to whitewash his actual voting record deeply offensive.

James Lewison

Foothills

Re: 'The faith-based tech boom is here'

“My time is your time.”

AI has met the yawning void of modern unfulfillment with the ultimate inspirational app.

“Very good, proceed.”

Not unlike the famously indifferent OMM 0910 confession booth depicted in the movie THX 1138, in which Robert Duvall desperately seeks counsel, a mindless surrogate of Christ now assists you through internal conflicts with faux spiritual guidance.

“Could you be more ... specific?”

With stunning graphics and seeming omniscience powered by a sprawling network of energy-sucking, water-wasting data centers, this very well may be the church of the future.

“I understand.”

For a mere $1.99/minute a cleverly deterministic algorithm promises the equivalent wisdom of any garden-variety ministerial mountebank.

”Yes, fine.”

It would seem that the computer revolution was always fated to converge on this moment.

“You are a true believer...Thou art a subject of the divine, created in the image of man, by the masses, for the masses.”

The Christ avatar encourages you to upgrade to the premium package.

“Be happy.”

Robert Gavlak

Midtown

Data centers and solar energy

Mr. Curran, on April 19, advocated the use of solar power and battery storage to operated data centers in Southern Arizona. For information, a normal data center requires 100 MW of energy every hour, enough to supply a city of 100,000 households. Massive AI data centers consume as much as 600 MW of energy. It would be extremely helpful if Mr. Curren would state the capital and operating costs, in cents per kilowatt hour, of a solar-battery installation that would provide a continuous supply of 100 MW for the 12 hours of darkness. Then, just for fun, compare those costs to the natural gas generation facility of the same magnitude. Another interesting fact would be the expected life of each facility before replacement is required. Actual information, instead of supposition and unsubstantiated hope, would be most informative to all of us who ask reasonable, reasoned questions and don’t accept a plan without solid, irrefutable facts and data to support the plan.

Loyal M Johnson Jr.

Oro Valley