Tucson speaks up: Letters to the editor for the week of Aug. 19, 2022
- Updated
Our weekly round-up of letters published in the Arizona Daily Star.
- Robert and Terry Ryan, Midtown
- Updated
On August 15, NPR Radio aired a piece from the NYT Daily Beast regarding "Carried Interest Taxation." I learned a lot, mostly, what a financial windfall the carried interest provision is for private equity firms! Even Donald Trump campaigned in 2016 to stop this huge tax loophole. However, just like all Trump's promises (except for the largest tax reductions for the wealthiest Americans), his calling for the end of carried interest tax, was just another lie. Then, Sinema single-handedly held up President Biden's, and the the rest of the United States Senate's, desire to finally do away with said loophole. Either she is not understanding of this giveaway to wealthy equity traders, or she is in their pocket and a recipient of thousands of dollars in donations from private equity firms. Shame on you Ms Sinema. One more lie to get re-elected. We voted for you once, there won't be a second mistake.
Robert and Terry Ryan
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Jan Wieberdink, Northwest side
- Updated
Our government decided my granddaughter should go to pretend school and pretend learn for a year and a half. No worries it was for her own good. Pete Buttigieg says if you don't like the price of gas buy an electric vehicle. $50,000 for a car and a charging station at the house, it's for my own good. John Kerry says we will be done using natural gas in 10 years max. I should see about changing to electric heat, electric range and an electric water heater. It's for my own good. I'm reminded of the movie Cool Hand Luke. When Luke was given his first set of ankle chains the warden of the prison road crew told Luke the chains would be good for him. Luke replied, "I wish you'd stop being so good to me Cap'n. I wish you'd stop being so good to me government.
Jan Wieberdink
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Frank Montez, East side
- Updated
Bravo Liz Cheney. A woman with more courage than Mitch McConnel and Kevin McCarthay; who are consumed with thirst for power at any cost. McCarthay and McConnel could have ended trump's chances by speaking out against and conitnuing to do so after Jan. 6 2020. Trump is a clear and present danger to our Democracy. There is not much more for me to say other, in 2024 even as a life long Democrat I could possibly vote for Liz Cheney to become the country's First woman President. The people need a leader be a cut above us "ordinary folks" As an aside the men and woman of the "Lincoln Project" Truly belief in "In order to form a more perfcet Union" Frank Montez Veteran of 32 years.
Frank Montez
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Elain Geary, East side
- Updated
Re: the August 16th letter "Mar-a-Lago raid". Due to the fact that the country is so divided, and there are so many lies being pushed, the DOJ is moving very slowly. They are doting every i, and crossing every t: so that their case against the former president will be INDISPUTABLE. Trump is pushing his people to intimidate (with force) any one who speaks against him. That is what a BANANA REPUBLIC is, Whether you liked Trump's presidential policies or not, he is trying to overthrow our democracy with his rhetorical statements and his mob boss actions. Due to the outrageous behavior of the former president, our country has had to treat him differently than other presidents.. No President from our life time has challenged and broken our rules of law the way he has. If character & democracy still matter: We must make that a bigger focus on who is eligible to run. Beware of those who won't accept election results and fact check your info.
Elain Geary
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- William Jones, East side
- Updated
Re: the Aug. 15 letter "Climate activists fooling themselves."
The answer to what climate activists understand is yes, it is known that CO2 remains in the atmosphere for decades and that other countries are still using a lot of fossil fuels. Will it end? Yes. What happens is the issue. Is the writer suggesting doing nothing?
The economics of alternative energy is comparable to fossil fuels today. If the total cost of producing CO2 was priced into fossil fuels, the economics become very favorable for alternative energy. The cost of fighting wildfires averages over $2 billion/year, and there were more than $140 billion insurance company losses for extreme weather events in 2021. China is rapidly deploying solar and wind energy production aiming for 1/3 of their energy production is renewable by 2025. Climate activists are far from being naïve. I would argue that Republicans live in distant past. Don’t Look Up!
William Jones
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Peter Strauss, Northwest side
- Updated
Confidential, top secret.
Apparently, Trump wants to release information on what was taken from Mar-a- Lago. These are secrets that could damage this country's security.
Is this enough to make you realize he doesn't care about you or this country?
His narcissism makes him feel everyone is against him, and "fake news" just adds to this feeling. Does his congenital lying (oh, all politicians lie) tell you anything? He expects loyalty, but doesn't give it in return.
Allowing a mob of ARMED rioters to destroy our capital, harm and kill police, try to hang Mike Pence, just to overturn a legitimate election. Aside from many of his close advisors telling him he lost, many dozens of court cases telling him he lost, and NO substantial proof he won.
Voting ONLY party line is no longer good enough. This is not to be political, just reasonable and patriotic.
Peter Strauss
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Updated
Build them, they will come
Re: the Aug. 5 letter “Road repair.”
The letter writer wondered what he was missing because the much-needed road repairs on Oracle Road were being paced by the construction of sidewalks along Oracle when he rarely sees pedestrians on a particular stretch of Oracle Road.
Perhaps there is a dearth of pedestrians because there has never been sidewalks? Chicken meet egg. Egg meet chicken.
Mark Patterson
Oro Valley
Street safety
Tucson has the distinction of ranking No. 13 nationally for pedestrian deaths. Our city streets feel, look and sound like the the Indy 500 racetrack. Speed limits are ignored and when in a hurry, drivers press the metal to the pedal. I haven’t seen a traffic policeman since before the pandemic. To those in charge, do something.
Susan Freud
Midtown
More useful rain total
The daily report of rain totals taken from a gauge at the airport is almost always misleading and frustrating (except, I guess, for those living very near the airport). As a recent article about monsoon progress showed, rain amounts vary widely around the city and suburbs. While the airport seems to be having a miserable monsoon, other areas, notably parts of the Foothills, are apparently receiving hefty amounts of rain.
More useful during monsoon season would be daily totals measured at a few places in addition to the airport. Or perhaps one number, an average of several spots.
Brent Harold
Foothills
Climate activists
Re: the Aug. 15 letter “Climate activists fooling themselves.”
The answer to what climate activists understand is yes, it is known that CO2 remains in the atmosphere for decades and that other countries are still using a lot of fossil fuels. Will it end? Yes. What happens is the issue. Is the writer suggesting doing nothing?
The economics of alternative energy is comparable to fossil fuels today. If the total cost of producing CO2 was priced into fossil fuels, the economics become very favorable for alternative energy. The cost of fighting wildfires averages over $2 billion each year, and there were billions more in insurance company losses for extreme weather events in 2021. China is rapidly deploying solar and wind energy production aiming for one-third of their energy production to be renewable by 2025. Climate activists are far from being naïve. I would argue that Republicans live in distant past. Don’t Look Up!
William Jones
East side
Eliminate eyesores
The number of voter signs for recent elections seems to have quadrupled since 1984, which explains the hundreds of voter signs cluttering hundreds of our street intersections, standing askew on the medians, and trashing our neighbors’ front yards. Adding further to the disdain of voter signs. Some voters acknowledged they voted for a candidate because of their signs … they liked the looks of the candidate or voted for them because they had more signs than the other candidates. Really?
Pima County stats for the Aug. 2 election show votes from 36% of registered voters. All those signs for that few? That’s overkill! Adding more fury, signs for the November election are going up next to still standing Aug. 2 signs. There may be a handful of voters who like these signs but for the rest of us, stop this endless barrage of useless litter.
Cathey Langione
Marana
Stop hating; try being fair
The following are words that appeared in letters today, Aug. 17: Egotistical, low moral standards, heinous, flim flam man, crass comments, mendacity, deceit, denigration of our country’s basic values, lies, misinformation, conspiracy theories, serial lying dictator wanna-be. Writers hating Trump and Republicans in general. Imagine carrying this hatred around in your head. For what purpose? Too bad these people don’t give us examples. Look in the mirror, read what you wrote. Try being fair. Trump’s economy did the country very good. Biden is hurting average citizens.
Gerald Jurries
Green Valley
Stop being so ‘good’ to me
Our government decided my granddaughter should go to pretend school and pretend learn for a year and a half. No worries, it was for her own good. Pete Buttigieg says if you don’t like the price of gas, buy an electric vehicle. $50,000 for a car and a charging station at the house, it’s for my own good. John Kerry says we will be done using natural gas in 10 years max. I should see about changing to electric heat, electric range and an electric water heater. It’s for my own good.
I’m reminded of the movie “Cool Hand Luke.” When Luke was given his first set of ankle chains, the warden of the prison road crew told Luke the chains would be good for him. Luke replied, “I wish you’d stop being so good to me, Cap’n.”
I wish you’d stop being so good to me, government.
Jan Wieberdink
Northwest side
Federal judge is biased
Bruce Reinhart is the federal magistrate judge in south Florida who signed off on the search warrant for Trump’s home. He is a former federal prosecutor. He has made political donations to both Obama and Jeb Bush. What is disturbing are his biased comments on social media about Trump. After Trump had criticized U.S. Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., relating to his questioning of the 2016 election results saying he did not see Trump as a legitimate president (perfectly OK for Democrats to question elections results), Trump responded citing the poor state of Lewis’ 5th district in Georgia and how he should be focused on improving that instead. Reinhart then posted on Facebook, “John Lewis is the conscience of America. Donald Trump doesn’t have the moral stature to kiss John Lewis’ feet.” In June, Reinhart disqualified himself from handling a Trump v. Clinton lawsuit related to the 2016 election citing his lack of impartiality.
Daniella Constantini
Sahuarita
Border wall
I think the idea of erecting a barrier wall in the desert on the U.S. southern border is just stupid. The terrain is inhospitable and essentially naturally impassible, There are hundreds of corpses in the Pima County morgue to prove that. The road required to build and maintain a wall makes the landscape on our side more easily traversed, not less. An unguarded wall barely delays well equipped smugglers. A guarded wall must be guarded 24/7 by three shifts of officers. Patrols are easily timed and evaded. The East German Wall failed to be impervious even with shoot-to-kill orders.
On the other hand, modern technology allows passive surveillance of 100% of the border, 100% of the time. Helicopters will easily outrun any smuggling vehicle. One can hold the arrestees and wait for mass transport to arrive. We can construct facilities to hold them as long as the law requires. No wall required, just three strands of barbed wire.
David P. Vernon
East side
Water and Pima County
Excellent research and recommendations on Arizona water are at the University of Arizona Law Library. For example, “Arizona water policy: management innovations in an urbanizing, arid region,” 2007; it is available online through the UA libraries. Moreover, there is a water resources center as part of the university library, and there is a database for water, “The Hydrologic Database,” that is the foundation for the United States Bureau of Reclamation’s Database of Record.
This and much more information is available online and at the UA library. I found this information after a very brief search on the UA library online catalog.
I recommend that the city and county contact the local libraries for information on Arizona water, that they hire a researcher to read and summarize relevant information on Arizona and Pima County water before spending money on research that has already been done.
Mary Sasse
Northeast side
Not another vote for Sinema
NPR Radio recently aired a piece regarding “Carried Interest Taxation.” I learned a lot, mostly, what a financial windfall the carried interest provision is for private equity firms. Even Donald Trump campaigned in 2016 to stop this huge tax loophole. However, just like all of Trump’s promises (except for the largest tax reductions for the wealthiest Americans), his calling for the end of carried interest tax, was just another lie.
Then, Sinema single-handedly held up President Biden’s, and the rest of the United States Senate’s, desire to finally do away with said loophole. Either she is not understanding of this giveaway to wealthy equity traders, or she is in their pocket and a recipient of thousands of dollars in donations from private equity firms.
Shame on you, Ms. Sinema. One more lie to get re-elected. We voted for you once; there won’t be a second mistake.
Robert and Terry Ryan
Midtown
Water education is lacking
Re: the Aug. 14 article “Colo. River agreement not likely by deadline.”
In the article about the Colorado River, Terry Goddard, president of the Central Arizona Project’s governing board, said the people don’t realize we are in a serious situation. The people he referenced is the public at large, meaning you.
I want to say the people (us) have had no instructions on what to do. Have we been told to water our lawns only once a week? No. Has there been a moratorium on new pools? No. Other restrictions installed to save water? No.
Those restrictions or recommendations are for us, supposedly set up by you and the other highly paid people to implement. All we read about is a new business is coming to Arizona.
Rain and snow have not replaced our yearly water supply for the past 30 years. You guys have been kicking this water shortage can down the road for that long. Now you want to study the problem.
Jose Salgado
Northeast side
Mar-a-Lago raid explanation
Re: the Aug. 16 letter “Mar-a-Lago raid.”
Due to the fact that the country is so divided, and there are so many lies being pushed, the DOJ is moving very slowly. They are dotting every “i,” and crossing every “t,” so that their case against the former president will be indisputable. Trump is pushing his people to intimidate (with force) anyone who speaks against him. That is what a Banana Republic is.
Whether you liked Trump’s presidential policies or not, I think he is trying to overthrow our democracy with his rhetorical statements and his mob boss actions. Due to the outrageous behavior of the former president, our country has had to treat him differently than other presidents. No president from our lifetime has challenged and broken our rules of law the way he has.
If character and democracy still matter, we must make that a bigger focus on who is eligible to run. Beware of those who won’t accept election results, and fact-check your info.
Elain Geary
East side
GOP primary
I find it hard to believe that an honest man like Rusty Bowers could lose his primary while election denier extremists such as Lake, Masters and Finchem could win theirs. What does that tell us about Arizona’s Republican Party?
It shows that it is still firmly in the grip of disgraced former President Trump. It also shows that the party learned almost nothing from the 2020 election. Even the Cyber Ninjas, after spending millions of dollars looking for bamboo paper, concluded that President Biden had won the Arizona presidential contest by more votes than had previously been announced.
I think all three of the above want to make voting more difficult for Arizona citizens, doing away with ballot drop boxes, early voting, mail-in voting, and requiring more ID to vote. The ultimate goal, of course, is that only Republicans will vote, assuring our trio of easy victories. With Finchem in charge of elections, those steps may not even be necessary. Watch for the big fraud.
Rick Smith
Foothills
Liz Cheney, courageous woman
Bravo, Liz Cheney. A woman with more courage than Mitch McConnell and Kevin McCarthy, who are consumed with thirst for power at any cost. McCarthy and McConnell could have ended Trump’s chances by speaking out against and continuing to do so after Jan. 6, 2021. I think Trump is a clear and present danger to our democracy. There is not much more for me to say. In 2024, even as a lifelong Democrat, I could possibly vote for Liz Cheney to become the country’s first woman president. The people need a leader be a cut above us “ordinary folks.” As an aside, the men and woman of the “Lincoln Project” truly believe in “In order to form a more perfect Union.”
Frank Montez,
veteran of 32 years
East side
- Norman Patten, Midtown
- Updated
A former President said, and I paraphrase: “ the Mafia commits the crime then pleads the 5th." Innocent people don’t plead the 5th." Thank you Mr. Trump. According to recent reporting, in a deposition before the NY Attorney General, you plead the 5th Amendment 440 times! Folks, a Montmartre street artist couldn’t give a better self-portrait. Thanks, Donald for letting everyone see exactly who and what you are!
Norman Patten
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Bruce Joffe, South Tucson
- Updated
The former Oval Office Occupant, and hyenas echoing him, are braying that the Warrant-approved FBI search was unwarranted. The former OOO is calling the FBI's legal confiscation of unspecified materials a "break-in." His enablers spew fear to followers of their fantasies, that this FBI raid could happen to any of them.
The FBI needs very compelling reasons, backed by evidence, to obtain a legal search warrant. FBI's standing policy is not to comment on ongoing investigations. That leaves the hyenas unchallenged when pretending the raid is baseless. If true, then the fOOO could verify his claim by revealing the Warrant to the public. He has a copy; it's only the FBI that can't reveal the Warrant.
The fOOO should put up or shut up. If his past behavior does not warrant a legal search Warrant, then show us the Warrant! Let's see the FBI's reasons for obtaining legal approval.
Bruce Joffe
South Tucson
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Waid Reynolds, Green Valley
- Updated
Crazy seems to be a firm requirement for Republican candidates these days. We certainly have a boatload of ranting, lying, Trump kissing nuts running for office in Arizona! The Republican Party used to be the party of sensible conservatives like John McCain. Worship of The Orange Messiah radically changed that! The Party has been overrun by lying, election-denying, xenophobic, racist, vitriol-spewing extremists who are clueless about solving real problems. Unlike Democrats, they have no ideas and no platform for improving the lives of Americans. Energizing the Republican “base” with anger, hatred, and fear is their sole strategy for winning. Once in office their goals are one-party rule achieved by controlling and falsifying election results; taking away voting (and other) rights; and ultimately installing The Orange Messiah as Amurika’s all-powerful fascist dictator.
GOP? No, there’s nothing “Grand” about the new Republican Party and its loony candidates. Save freedom and democracy - vote for Democrats!
Waid Reynolds
Green Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Mark Patterson, Oro Valley
- Updated
Re: the Aug. 15 letter "Climate activists fooling themselves."
A brilliant idea! Let’s not even try, let’s do nothing.
Mark Patterson
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Dave Glicksman, Northwest side
- Updated
On August 16th, a writer said the raid on a former president's residence was unprecedented. True.
On August 16th a writer said the raid pn a former president's residence was unprecedented. True
Trump took classified documents, some could be harmful to this national's security, without secure storage was unprecedented too. And why did this excuse for a leader take them in the first place? Who had access to them, more importantly who did Trump share them with? A president like no other who praised the world dictators and falsely claimed the election was rigged because he lost. Judges that he appointed threw his lawsuits out for lack of evidence. A president who acted more like a Mafia Don than a head of state.
Nixon, whose crimes were petty in comparison, must be rolling in his grave thinking he was born too soon, before the GOP morphed to a party first. mode.
When will the Trump supporters see through this shame? What more will it take?
Dave Glicksman
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Sonia Maxwell, Northeast
- Updated
Mr. Trump.
My son-in-law said I should write this. It’s a theory that has been brewing in my brain for quite some time as I watch the world activities. Most important point…Mr. Trump is not dumb. Then why so much effort to keep fanning the fires of a stolen election? We know he is egotistical and a person with low moral standards (treatment of women, lies). We also know he is VERY MOTIVATED by money. Can’t get enough of the green stuff. But why so much effort to get back in the White House? Why is it so important to him? I think it’s about $$. I think he had some far reaching plans to make some kind of deals with who knows who or where that would result in a huge windfall for him. I don’t think Putin would have invaded Ukraine if Trump were still in office. They were close…buddies? I’d love for someone to “follow the money” and see if my little theory has any validity. He needs the White House to make some more money on a level that has previously eluded him.
Sonia Maxwell
Northeast
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- John Johnson, Foothills
- Updated
As a #Never Trump Republican, I still find obnoxious some of the spleen vetting letters that appear here, and have this question: "Is it okay to lie if you are a Democrat or from the left?" I offer as one specific "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022." Even the Administration has not been able to find a respected economist who disagrees with the non-partisan CBO that the act does nothing of the sort.
But that's OK; we are indulging in how Trump lies; that we do also doesn't matter.
"If you like your doctor, you can keep him."
OOPS.
John Johnson
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- George Ball, Midtown
- Updated
Anyone who handles classified information and removes that information from the controlled environment like Trump did, would be facing far more scrutiny than Trump. Anyone working with classified information is subject to the rules of handling classified information. Taking classified information out of the area (especially SCI) without proper authorization and following document handling procedures could result in loss of your job and potential criminal charges. Trump was and is subject to all of the same restrictions regardless of being a former president. Why is it that Republicans think that he should be above the law? Trump wanted to "get Hillary" for her emails but feels he is being persecuted. The GOP has decided that he can make up his own rules. I wonder when the GOP will realize they have been, and continue to be, duped by one of the greatest con-men in history. If you want Trump again, be careful what you wish for! America doesn't need a dictator.
George Ball
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Darrin Styles, Midtown
- Updated
Today, August 15, marks the one year anniversary when Biden disastrously withdrew our troops from Afghanistan. The Taliban rapidly moved into Kabul and took over. The chaos at the airport with people clinging onto our military aircraft departing from the Kabul airport. The suicide bomber who killed 13 of our brave service members. Our drone attack killing an innocent family of seven. The $billions in military equipment left behind by the military for the Taliban to use. Biden promised to get every American out of Afghanistan. That did not happen. Hundreds if not thousands of Afghans were left behind who had cooperated with our military. Some have been beaten and killed by the Taliban. The country is starving as international assistance has dwindled. Girls are no longer allowed to attend school and women have to cloak themselves from head to to toe. Al-Queda terrorists still use the country as a refuge. Other nations saw us as being incompetent and weak. And Biden still claims this as a success!
Darrin Styles
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Pat Madea, Northwest side
- Updated
A very recent article on water negotiations cited: "Fourteen tribal governments, including eight in Arizona, say the U.S. has wrongly left them out of negotiations over major future cuts of Colorado River water use."
Why is this not surprising? Tribal governments should have been the FIRST ONES INVITED to the negotiation table, not have to petition for a seat.
How's this "negotiation" supposed to work, anyway, without tribal input? All the state governments get together and figure out what they're going to do and then tell the tribes: "This is what we're going to do? Take it or leave it." Hey, maybe move the tribes to another reservation away from their current location so they won't have a demand on the water? Not surprising. So typical. Blatant disenfranchisement, again, of Indigenous peoples and tribal governments.
Pat Madea
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Daniella Constantini, Sahuarita
- Updated
Bruce Reinhart is the Federal Magistrate Judge in south FL, who signed off on the search warrant for Trump’s home. He is a former federal prosecutor. Reinhart was recommended for U.S. Magistrate by former FL Republican Governor Rick Scott. He has made political donations to both Obama and Bush. What is disturbing are his biased comments on social media about Trump. After Trump had criticized Representative John Lewis, D-GA, relating to his questioning of the 2016 election results saying he did not see Trump as a legitimate president (perfectly ok for Democrats to question elections results), Trump responded citing the poor state of Lewis' 5th district in Georgia and how he should be focused on improving that instead. Reinhart then posted on Facebook, 'John Lewis is the conscience of America. Donald Trump doesn’t have the moral stature to kiss John Lewis’s feet.' In June, Reinhart disqualified himself from handling a Trump vs Clinton lawsuit related to the 2016 election citing his lack of impartiality.
Daniella Constantini
Sahuarita
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- David Beryhill, Sahuarita
- Updated
I believe 2 things about Donald Trump. One, he is only every interested in something that makes him money or brings him power. Second, anything at Maralago was for the specific purpose of number one. The question is...how did he plan to make money off of the files. What was in the files and who would he make money off of?
David Beryhill
Sahuarita
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Larry Gray, SaddleBrooke
- Updated
What do you call an Arizona senator who took money from Wall Street while killing a tax on investors - a "Sinema Roll".
Larry Gray
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Deb Klumpp, Oro Valley
- Updated
Trump supporters interviewed by Tim Steller at the polls expressed beliefs that because of Democrats, the country is headed towards communism, socialism, and a host of other ills. One elderly couple stated they know their votes in 2020 were not counted. How do they know this? Why, someone told them so! A letter writer described these beliefs as "sad". Sad, yes - but it goes far beyond sad. It is frightening and dangerous that a significant number of seemingly otherwise intelligent people have, against all reason, bought the lies, misinformation and conspiracy theories set forth by Trump. They are unwavering in support of a twice-impeached, serial lying dictator wanna-be. They support the extremist candidates who bow to Trump, no matter that these extremists are set on destroying the fabric of our country. Our democracy hangs on a precipice - not because of Democrats, but because Trump has succeeded in brainwashing and weaponizing gullible, easily led people who, like their cult leader, have no interest in truth or facts.
Deb Klumpp
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Amanda Blakely, Vail
- Updated
Let's do a review of the USDOJ and FBI's actions related to the Trump. They used agents to entrap newly appointed National Security Advisor General Flynn. They used unverified information from the Steele dossier to initiate the Russia collusion criminal investigation. FBI agents falsified affidavits for FISA warrants to spy on team Trump. A USDOJ attorney pled guilty to knowingly providing and using false information to obtain a FISA warrant. The same USDOJ and FBI that bent over backwards to accommodate Hillary Clinton during the Classified Information criminal investigation that USAG Lynch insisted on calling a "matter." Classified materials were found on her personal server. No FBI search warrants done at her NY or D.C. homes. But we have FBI agents armed with AR15s storming Trump's residence seizing boxes of records believed related to classified National Archives records. All occurring within three months of the November elections, in which there are numerous candidates, including Kari Lake, running for office endorsed by Trump. I think this was politically motivated, again.
Amanda Blakely
Vail
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Updated
Teacher shortage
Re: the July 22 article “TUSD has significant staffing shortages.”
I saw Arizona has a shortage of 2,500 teachers and is relying on substitutes to fill gap. My daughter’s teacher years ago told us she was quitting. She loved teaching but could earn more and not have to deal with parents who think they know better. Now you have people with no qualifications telling them how to teach. Republicans have demonized teachers and people who don’t even have children in a district show up at school boards pushing false narratives. Add on the Republican push to fund private schools at the expense of public schools, and why put up with it?
Craig Miller
Northwest side
Not surprising who’s at table
Re: the Aug. 10 article “Tribes say they have been left out of river talks.”
A very recent article on water negotiations cited: “Fourteen tribal governments, including eight in Arizona, say the U.S. has wrongly left them out of negotiations over major future cuts of Colorado River water use.”
Why is this not surprising? Tribal governments should have been the first ones invited to the negotiation table, not have to petition for a seat.
How’s this “negotiation” supposed to work, anyway, without tribal input? All the state governments get together and figure out what they’re going to do and then tell the tribes: “This is what we’re going to do? Take it or leave it.” Hey, maybe move the tribes to another reservation away from their current location so they won’t have a demand on the water? Not surprising. So typical. Blatant disenfranchisement, again, of Indigenous peoples and tribal governments.
Pat Madea
Northwest side
A day at the polls
Re: the Aug. 13 letter “A day at the polls.”
Thank you to the letter writer. My experience as a poll worker in Fairbanks, Alaska, in the 1970s was also exhausting and rewarding. Many different ideologies in one group working together for the benefit of all. I was afraid that might have changed in today’s political climate. Thank you and your cohorts for your day at the polls.
Sandra Rosenberg
Northeast side
Democracy on the brink
Re: the Aug. 3 article “Festival of democracy gone these days.”
Trump supporters interviewed by Tim Steller at the polls expressed beliefs that because of Democrats, the country is headed toward communism, socialism and a host of other ills. One elderly couple stated they knew their votes in 2020 were not counted. How do they know this? Why, someone told them so!
A letter writer described these beliefs as “sad.” Sad, yes — but it goes far beyond sad. It is frightening and dangerous that a significant number of seemingly otherwise intelligent people have, against all reason, bought the lies, misinformation and conspiracy theories set forth by Trump. They are unwavering in support of a twice-impeached, serial lying dictator wanna-be. They support the extremist candidates who bow to Trump, no matter that these extremists are set on destroying the fabric of our country.
Our democracy hangs on a precipice — not because of Democrats, but because Trump has succeeded in brainwashing and weaponizing gullible, easily led people who, like their cult leader, have no interest in truth or facts.
Deb Klumpp
Oro Valley
Upgrades for Santa Rita Park
Re: the Aug. 13 article “Park upgrades come with concerns for homeless.”
What to do with the homeless during upgrading? The answer is simple. “The Homing Project” (thehomingproject.org), i.e., THP. THP has begun plans for housing 100 homeless in individual living units within a gated village setting, providing complete onsite recovery services. THP has current funding from a start-up grant plus donations but will need about $3 million to complete current goals. The article sets groundbreaking in about a year. By then THP will have 100 living units in place.
It’s amazing that the city can plan and pay for this project without including the homeless. Any passerby can see that the homeless are a daily fixture of the park. As THP is part of the solution, it seems appropriate for the city to assist in part of THP’s funding. As a board member of The Homing Project, we are committed to helping the homeless in our community and understanding that they are as much a part of our community as you and I.
Richard Spaulding
Midtown
Asylum seekers bused to D.C.
Kudos to those nonprofits’ in Washington, D.C., for providing food and shelter to over 1,000 asylum seekers bused there by Arizona Gov. Ducey over the past three months. And to the D.C. attorney general who is offering a $150,000 grant to those same non-profits. But wait! All that is unnecessary. And expensive.
COVID tests, food, lodging and help planning travel to their sponsors all over the U.S. are already generously given in Arizona by non-profits with the financial help of county and federal government grants. Why bus them to D.C?
And those 37 bus rides from Yuma to D.C. at a cost to AZ taxpayers of $3 million, or $2,200 per immigrant? Asylum seekers’ travel from AZ to their sponsors is already fully paid for by their sponsors.
How much of your tax money are you willing to give to unnecessary political stunts?
Sara Busey, Casa Alitas
volunteer
Green Valley
Campgrounds for homeless
The homeless situation in Tucson is worsening, and now due to gentrification and inflation, everyday Tucsonans are being forced onto the streets. Even senior citizens on fixed income have been forced out due to investors raising their rent. Tucson needs a proactive government, not a reactive one. Reflecting on economic predictions for 2023, there will be increased inflation, and more everyday people will be forced out of their homes.
A KOA-style of campground can allow people to pay a rent they can afford and also provide employment at the site as well. This would be quick to design and would provide electricity, cooking, indoor showers, restrooms, laundry and basic dignity. Veterans could assist with building and safety. Tucson could be a role model for the nation as homelessness is going to keep increasing everywhere. There is a shameful hubris in Tucson governing that reflects as we only help border crossers find homes, jobs, food, clothing, etc. and that American citizens are irrelevant, they can sleep in a ditch and use an outhouse.
Cheryl Kelli
Downtown
Senator’s action
What do you call an Arizona senator who took money from Wall Street while killing a tax on investors? A “Sinema Roll.”
Larry Gray
SaddleBrooke
Afghanistan disaster
Aug. 15 marked the one-year anniversary when Biden disastrously withdrew our troops from Afghanistan. The Taliban rapidly moved into Kabul and took over. The chaos at the airport with people clinging onto our military aircraft departing from the Kabul airport. The suicide bomber who killed 13 of our brave service members. Our drone attack killing an innocent family of seven. The billions in military equipment left behind by the military for the Taliban to use.
Biden promised to get every American out of Afghanistan. That did not happen. Hundreds, if not thousands, of Afghans who had cooperated with our military were left behind. Some have been beaten and killed by the Taliban. The country is starving as international assistance has dwindled. Girls are no longer allowed to attend school, and women have to cloak themselves from head to to toe. Al-Qaeda terrorists still use the country as a refuge. Other nations saw us as being incompetent and weak. And Biden still claims this as a success!
Darrin Styles
Midtown
Let’s be clear
I believe two things about Donald Trump. One, he is only ever interested in something that makes him money or brings him power. Second, anything at Mar-a-Lago was for the specific purpose of No. 1. The question is, how did he plan to make money off of the files. What was in the files, and who would he make money off of?
David Beryhill
Sahuarita
Lies are lies
As a #NeverTrump Republican, I still find obnoxious some of the spleen-venting letters that appear here, and I have this question: “Is it OK to lie if you are a Democrat or from the left?” I offer as one specific example the “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.” Even the administration has not been able to find a respected economist who disagrees with the non-partisan CBO that the act does nothing of the sort.
But that’s OK; we are indulging in how Trump lies. That we do also doesn’t matter.
“If you like your doctor, you can keep him.”
OOPS.
John Johnson
Foothills
Dumb and dumber
Milton Berle once said, “You can lead a man to Congress, but you can’t make him think.”
The current gaggle of Republican members of Congress exemplify how true that is. Being retired, I have the luxury of being able to watch these idiots espouse their views daily in support of Donald Trump, the most heinous man ever to occupy the White House, an obvious flimflam man. They support his crass comments, mendacity, deceit, and denigration of our country’s basic values — and they do it with a righteous attitude.
And just when I thought it couldn’t get any dumber, our own Rep. Gosar is the icing on the stupidity cake by saying we must “destroy the FBI.” And sadly, as we can never underestimate the power of human stupidity, the people of the 4th Congressional District elected this fool.
Carl Foster
Green Valley
Trump is not dumb
My son-in-law said I should write this. It’s a theory that has been brewing in my brain for quite some time as I watch the world activities. Most important point … Mr. Trump is not dumb.
Then why so much effort to keep fanning the fires of a stolen election? We know he is egotistical and a person with low moral standards (treatment of women, lies). We also know he is very motivated by money. Can’t get enough of the green stuff.
But why so much effort to get back in the White House? Why is it so important to him? I think it’s about dollars. I think he had some far-reaching plans to make some kind of deals with who knows who or where that would result in a huge windfall for him. I don’t think Putin would have invaded Ukraine if Trump were still in office. They were close … buddies? I’d love for someone to “follow the money” and see if my little theory has any validity. He needs the White House to make some more money on a level that has previously eluded him.
Sonia Maxwell
Northeast
DOJ, FBI motivation
Let’s do a review of the DOJ’s and FBI’s actions related to Trump. They used agents to entrap newly appointed National Security Advisor General Flynn.
They used unverified information from the Steele dossier in the Russia collusion criminal investigation.
FBI agents falsified affidavits for FISA warrants to spy on Team Trump. A DOJ attorney pled guilty to knowingly providing and using false information to obtain a FISA warrant.
The same DOJ and FBI that bent over backward to accommodate Hillary Clinton during the classified information criminal investigation that Attorney General Lynch insisted on calling a “matter.” Classified materials were found on her personal server. No FBI search warrants done at her New York or D.C. homes.
But we have FBI agents storming Trump’s residence seizing boxes of records believed related to classified National Archives records. All occurring within three months of the November elections, in which there are numerous candidates, including Kari Lake, running for office endorsed by Trump. I think this was politically motivated, again.
Amanda Blakely
Vail
Classified information
Anyone else who handles classified information and removes that information from the controlled environment like Trump did would be facing far more scrutiny than Trump. Anyone working with classified information is subject to the rules of handling classified information.
Taking classified information out of the area (especially sensitive compartmented information, SCI) without proper authorization and following document handling procedures could result in loss of your job and potential criminal charges.
Trump was and is subject to all of the same restrictions regardless of being a former president. Why is it that Republicans think that he should be above the law? Trump wanted to “get Hillary” for her emails but feels he is being persecuted.
The GOP has decided that he can make up his own rules. I wonder when the GOP will realize they have been, and continue to be, duped by one of the greatest con men in history. If you want Trump again, be careful what you wish for! America doesn’t need a dictator.
George Ball
Midtown
- Darrel Hochstettler, Vail
- Updated
I found this article amazingly out of touch with reality. In this article Biden is portrayed as one of the greatest presidents. To compare him with Roosevelt, Johnson or Reagan is ludicrous. Our national image through to the debacles of all of Biden's attempts at foreign policy is a disgrace. The Afghan withdrawal ranks at the top of one of Americas greatest military failures. Even his own party wants him out. His war on climate change is ill-conceived and is causing pain to to poorest in America because of economic stress from which we will never recover.
A second term for Biden would be utter destruction of our country and even his own party will certainly block such a move.
The Inflation Reduction Act as projected by the CBO will contribute 367B to the deficit over 10 years. Other analysts predict much worse results. In a letter to Senator Graham the CBO predicts that the effects of this bill on inflation is negligible.
Darrel Hochstettler
Vail
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- James McLin, East side
- Updated
I am very disappointed in the prescription drug payment limitation of $2000 going into affect in 2025. This law will save me around $5000 per year and I wish it would be effective for 2023.
When most federal laws that are passed, the due date is usually the next calendar or fiscal year. By making it effective 2025, this will cost many seniors serious amounts of money paid to the drug companies.
James McLin
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Andrew MacLeod, Foothills
- Updated
If the documents collected by the FBI at former president Trump's Mar-A-Lago resident were so sensitive and top secret how is it they were left to be included in his personal possessions that left the White House?
Andrew MacLeod
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Eric Flohr, Midtown
- Updated
Republicans: tell me again why Donald Trump shouldn't have to obey the law?
Eric Flohr
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Rick Singer, Oro Valley
- Updated
The NRA argues that guns don’t kill people. People kill people. I agree.
Gangs, drug dealers, carjackers, religious fanatics, parade-watcher hunters, school kid hunters, grocery shopper/employee hunters, ex-spouse/ex-girlfriend hunters, music fest hunters, and people mentally unfit to own firearms - sadly, they kill people with guns on their own. The NRA doesn't deserve blame, or a tarnished reputation.
One could only imagine the horror if these criminals had hammers, instead of guns. Glad I could clear that up.
Rick Singer
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Ken Newman, East side
- Updated
Mr. Carlson, the author of the op ed piece about the Inflation Reduction Act In Friday’s Star, did not acknowledge any of the emerging technologies in his assessment of the renewable energy industry. Hydrogen fuel cells and vanadium flow batteries will revolutionize energy storage very soon, making it more feasible to reduce the use of fossil fuels that contribute to making our planet uninhabitable for human beings. We need to be optimistic and act to do what we can in order to preserve our home.
Ken Newman
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Marty Jacobs, Green Valley
- Updated
The U.S. Dept. of Justice released the federal search warrant done by FBI agents at Trump's Mar a Lago estate. Reportedly they seized boxes of documents some containing classified materials. Here is a list of the federal statutes cited in the search warrant: 18 USC 793 — Gathering, transmitting or losing defense information ; 18 USC 2071 — Concealment, removal or mutilation ; 18 USC 1519 — Destruction, alteration or falsification of records in Federal investigations. Now, these same statues could have easily been used to obtain search warrants for Hillary Clinton's residences in New York and Washington, D.C. where she had used a private server to conduct government business. She became the subject of a criminal Mishandling of Classified Materials Investigation. She and her staff had deleted 30,000 emails from her private server housed at her residence claiming them as personal. However, thousands were forensically retrieved and found to be government related and some contained classified information. No federal search warrants done in her case or charges brought against her.
Marty Jacobs
Green Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Mary Zimmerman, SaddleBrooke
- Updated
For all those Democratic and Independent voters who don't think midterm elections are important, you need to vote this year like your country depends on it, because it does. If Kari Lake, Mark Finchem, and Abraham Hamadeh prevail,, 2022 will be the last free election Arizona will ever have. No Democrat or even moderate Republican, if there are any left in Arizona, will ever be elected. While Democrats are trying to deal with climate change (yes, there is such a thing), the economy, drug prices, and veteran's health, the Republicans offer nothing but the myth of a stolen election. I can't understand the magic that "Trump Endorsed" holds for a lot of Republicans. What is it about a self-serving, lying narcissist that is so appealing? There is a quote often attributed to Upton Sinclair that says, "when Fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag, and carrying a cross. This sounds like a lot of Republican politicians to me.
Mary Zimmerman
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Sean Bruner, West side
- Updated
Richard Carlson's ridiculous, pessimistic column concluding: "Welcome to the Black Hole of climate policy: Throw in $400 billion and nothing happens." is just one more roadblock in achieving a climate neutral world. According to the Wikipedia entry on 100% renewable energy, "Recent studies show that a global transition to 100% renewable energy across all sectors – power, heat, transport and desalination well before 2050 is feasible." In addition to presenting incorrect facts and unsupported logic, Carlson ignores the technical strides that have been made in renewables. Many current problems will be solved as the technology advances. "According to the 2013 Post Carbon Pathways report, which reviewed many international studies, the key roadblocks are: climate change denial, the fossil fuels lobby, political inaction, unsustainable energy consumption, outdated energy infrastructure, and financial constraints." Add Carlson's name to that.
Sean Bruner
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Carl Olson, West side
- Updated
So when will justice finally deal real consequences for bad behavior? I keep hearing legal eagles saying you must prove intent. So smashing windows in the capital building, hitting police with flag poles and then illegally entering that building doesn't show intent to do illegal things?
A former employee taking boxes of valuable information after losing the job, and hiding them in a new residence, isn't enough to charge said crook with theft? The govt has charged lesser people with taking information and putting it on the internet with treasonous acts. Yet now we must put up with idiots shooting at govt employees. Great.
Men paying underage girls doesn't constitute a crime of them having sex with minors. Certainly that is obvious intent.
When after 7 years, long years of enduring this corrupt behavior, will we see consequences. Must the country continue putting up with slime? Oh right, take the Fifth to hide illegalities.
Carl Olson
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Christine Flanagan, Northwest side
- Updated
The lesson to draw from the Supreme Court decision on abortion is this: Single Issue Voting works. Many thought Christian voters would reject Donald Trump who has no moral compass. His vow to appoint judges who would oppose abortion secured their vote, along with that of other abortion opponents.
¬¬Now the issue that counts is climate change. The political litmus test for candidates is acknowledging climate reality and vowing to face the hard choices that confront us. Failure to elect them will eventually force millions of American families to flee from climate disasters, heat, drought, social unrest, loss of property value, and bankrupt economies. The migration of climate refugees is already happening.
Bickering over social issues amounts to rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. None will matter if we lose the habitability of our cities, our southern states, our coastlines, and ultimately, our planet. It is happening. Vote climate.
Christine Flanagan
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Rich Barnes, East side
- Updated
A line was crossed today August 8th that has never happened in the history of the Republic.
Raiding a former President’s Residence.
We are in for hard times in our Country. Politicization of Justice and FBI.
These things happen in Banana Republics !
The FBI, DOJ and CIA need to be sacked.
Where are we headed ?
Jan. 6 defendants held without due process, murders and thugs being put back on the streets without bail and little old ladies sent to prison for less serious charges.
Worried about Authoritarian Government ?
Wait til they come for you!
Rich Barnes
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Updated
All is not lost
Re: the Aug. 3 article “Festival of democracy gone these days.”
During the primary elections I worked a 12-hour shift as a Democratic Party poll observer at a voting center in northwestern Pima County. Given the noise about the integrity of the election process, I expected a difficult day. But my Republican poll observer counterparts were friendly and easy to work with on the few issues that came up. The poll workers from both parties, who put in hours before and after the polls closed, were efficient and helpful. For various reasons, a number of people had to use a provisional ballot. Those people were polite and patient while the poll workers made sure they got to vote. I highly recommend volunteering to work at the polls. It will restore your faith that, notwithstanding our differences, Americans can still share respect for each other and the voting process that is central to our system of government.
Eileen Hollowell
Oro Valley
COVID origins
Re: the July 27 article “UA official: COVID originated in Wuhan market.”
It would seem to be appropriate to give credit where credit is due. On July 27, the Star ran an article about the likelihood of COVID-19 coming from a Wuhan, China, seafood market, rather than being leaked from the Wuhan virus laboratory. The same information appeared in the Star in an article by columnist Tim Steller on Dec. 1, 2021, almost eight months earlier. If that wasn’t good journalism, I don’t know what is, most particularly in this present day and age. I appreciated the article back when it originally appeared and people were hoping to find the Chinese Lab at fault. I appreciate it even more now. Kudos to Mr. Steller.
Henry Rosenbaum
Foothills
Climate and inflation
Re: the Aug. 12 article “Act won’t deliver on climate, inflation.”
Richard Carlson’s ridiculous, pessimistic column concluding, “Welcome to the Black Hole of climate policy: Throw in $400 billion and nothing happens,” is just one more roadblock in achieving a climate neutral world. According to the Wikipedia entry on 100% renewable energy, “Recent studies show that a global transition to 100% renewable energy across all sectors — power, heat, transport and desalination well before 2050 is feasible.” In addition to presenting incorrect facts and unsupported logic, Carlson ignores the technical strides that have been made in renewables. Many current problems will be solved as the technology advances. The Wikipedia entry states, “according to the 2013 Post Carbon Pathways report, which reviewed many international studies, the key roadblocks are: climate change denial, the fossil fuels lobby, political inaction, unsustainable energy consumption, outdated energy infrastructure, and financial constraints.” Add Carlson’s name to that.
Sean Bruner
West side
Sen. Sinema: What’s best for Arizona?
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema voted for the Inflation Reduction Act only after Democrats agreed to keep the carried interest tax loophole in the bill, which allows the private equity industry to pay significantly fewer taxes than ordinary Americans. Many of Sinema’s top campaign contributors have ties to the private equity industry.
Although her spokesman states Sinema makes decisions based on “what’s best for Arizona,” these firms buy businesses with borrowed money, gut them to achieve short-term profits, which destabilizes them and causes 20% to fail.
Recently, private equity has invested in small businesses and communities by buying fishing quotas, local newspapers, and a Hispanic grocery chain with stores in Arizona. Private equity money has saturated the Phoenix real estate market, turning first-time homebuyers into renters. More troubling, private equity firms investing in nursing homes have pressured these homes to generate high, short-term profits to the detriment of quality of care and containment of Medicare costs.
Sen. Sinema, is this really what’s best for Arizona?
Cindy Bordelon
Downtown
Santa Rita park homeless issue
Re: the Aug. 13 article “Park upgrades come with concerns for homeless.”
We need to pay some attention to the plight of other cities that tried to accommodate those experiencing homelessness in their park spaces. While the Star story quoted a very sympathetic homeless woman, it’s always a much more complex problem than lending a helping hand to those in need. I don’t know what to do and much brighter folks than me have tried and failed to solve it. All I can do here is point to Portland, Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles — cities with hearts that tried and mostly failed. Parks became anything but the spaces where the public would want to spend any time.
The adage “hard cases make bad law” applies here as a cautionary tale. I say be careful about dividing up public park spaces for homeless accommodation. As big as your heart may be, I doubt any solution like that would work out. It has been tried by cities with good intentions and much more money, and it has failed fairly miserably.
Rick Rappaport
Oro Valley
One more time
Republicans: tell me again why Donald Trump shouldn’t have to obey the law?
Eric Flohr
Midtown
Your vote is critical
For all those Democratic and Independent voters who don’t think midterm elections are important, you need to vote this year like your country depends on it, because it does. I fear if Kari Lake, state Rep. Mark Finchem, and Abraham Hamadeh prevail, 2022 will be the last free election Arizona will ever have. No Democrat or even moderate Republican, if there are any left in Arizona, will ever be elected. While Democrats are trying to deal with climate change (yes, there is such a thing), the economy, drug prices, and veterans’ health, the Republicans offer nothing but the myth of a stolen election. I can’t understand the magic that “Trump Endorsed” holds for a lot of Republicans. What is it about a self-serving, lying narcissist that is so appealing? There is a quote often attributed to Upton Sinclair that says, “when Fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag, and carrying a cross.” This sounds like a lot of Republican politicians to me.
Mary Zimmerman
SaddleBrooke
$150 million Tucson surplus
Re: the Aug. 14 article “City has $150M surplus to spend.”
Being the father of a former high school math teacher and being a former math tutor myself here in the Tucson area, I know the value of hiring teachers with credentials and experience. Why not allocate a portion of Tucson’s $150 million to hiring teachers to fulfill the dire shortage that is occurring in our area?
We must do something dramatic though, to compete with other areas. How about a $50,000-$100,000 bonus payable after five years of continuous exemplary service teaching children in the Tucson public school system? What better investment can we make than that for an education of our children and grandchildren?
Len Laskowski
Northwest side
Unfair criticism of the NRA
The NRA argues that guns don’t kill people. People kill people. I agree.
Gangs, drug dealers, carjackers, religious fanatics, parade-watcher hunters, school kid hunters, grocery shopper/employee hunters, ex-spouse/ex-girlfriend hunters, music fest hunters, and people mentally unfit to own firearms — sadly, they kill people with guns on their own. The NRA doesn’t deserve blame, or a tarnished reputation.
One could only imagine the horror if these criminals had hammers, instead of guns. Glad I could clear that up.
Rick Singer
Oro Valley
Biden’s 2nd term would be destructive
Re: the Aug. 14 article “2nd terms would be study in contrast.”
I found this article amazingly out of touch with reality. In this article, President Biden is portrayed as one of the greatest presidents. To compare him with Roosevelt, Johnson or Reagan is ludicrous. Our national image due to the debacles of all of Biden’s attempts at foreign policy is a disgrace. The Afghan withdrawal ranks at the top of one of America’s greatest military failures. Even his own party wants him out. His war on climate change is ill-conceived and is causing pain to the poorest in America because of economic stress from which we will never recover.
A second term for Biden would be utter destruction of our country and even his own party will certainly block such a move.
The Inflation Reduction Act as projected by the CBO will contribute $367 billion to the deficit over 10 years. Other analysts predict much worse results. In a letter to Sen. Lindsey Graham, the CBO predicts that the effects of this bill on inflation is negligible.
Darrel Hochstettler
Vail
Consequences for behavior
So when will justice finally deal real consequences for bad behavior? I keep hearing legal eagles saying you must prove intent. So smashing windows in the Capitol building, hitting police with flag poles and then illegally entering that building doesn’t show intent to do illegal things?
A former employee taking boxes of valuable information after losing the job, and hiding them in a new residence, isn’t enough to charge said crook with theft? The government has charged lesser people with taking information and putting it on the internet with treasonous acts. Yet now we must put up with idiots shooting at government employees. Great.
When, after seven long years of enduring this corrupt behavior, will we see consequences? Must the country continue putting up with slime? Oh right, take the Fifth to hide illegalities.
Carl Olson
West side
Mar-a-Lago raid
A line was crossed Aug. 8 that has never happened in the history of the Republic. Raiding a former president’s residence.
We are in for hard times in our country. Politicization of Justice and FBI. These things happen in Banana Republics. The FBI, DOJ and CIA need to be sacked.
Where are we headed? Jan. 6 defendants held, in my view, without due process, murders and thugs being put back on the streets without bail and little old ladies sent to prison for less serious charges.
Worried about authoritarian government? Wait til they come for you!
Rich Barnes
East side
Hold your nose if necessary
The lesson to draw from the Supreme Court decision on abortion is this: Single-issue voting works. Many thought Christian voters would reject Donald Trump, who has no moral compass. His vow to appoint judges who would oppose abortion secured their vote, along with that of other abortion opponents.
Now the issue that counts is climate change. The political litmus test for candidates is acknowledging climate reality and vowing to face the hard choices that confront us. Failure to elect them will eventually force millions of American families to flee from climate disasters, heat, drought, social unrest, loss of property value and bankrupt economies. The migration of climate refugees is already happening.
Bickering over social issues amounts to rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. None will matter if we lose the habitability of our cities, our southern states, our coastlines, and ultimately, our planet. It is happening. Vote climate.
Christine Flanagan
Northwest side
Disappointed in prescription drug date
I am very disappointed in the prescription drug payment limitation of $2,000 going into affect in 2025. This law will save me around $5,000 per year and I wish it would be effective for 2023.
When most federal laws that are passed, the due date is usually the next calendar or fiscal year. By making it effective 2025, this will cost many seniors serious amounts of money paid to the drug companies.
James McLin
East side
Who was responsible for documents?
If the documents collected by the FBI at former president Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence were so sensitive and top secret, how is it they were left to be included in his personal possessions that left the White House?
Andrew MacLeod
Foothills
Desert being misused
The Desert Southwest is called the Desert Southwest for a reason — it is a desert. Deserts exists in areas of very little rainfall. Why are we using up so much water trying to grow crops in the middle of a desert? A desert is much more suited for solar panels and wind generators.
Conversely, why is our government paying incentives for putting up solar panels and wind generations in the Midwest? This is prime cropland. It is much more suited for growing the food we need.
If our government is giving billions of dollars in climate change incentives, use them where they will do the most good.
Thomas Wenzel
East side
- Boris Slovek, Green Valley
- Updated
The narrative from climate activists is that we need drastic CO2 reduction to save the planet. Biden and Democrats are doing their best to get people into electric vehicles, that ironically use electricity mainly produced from fossil fuels. The Biden administration is spending billions of tax payer money on their climate change agenda. I wonder if climate activists know that current CO2 levels will remain in the atmosphere for decades to centuries? China remains the world's #2 CO2 emitter and India is #3. Russia's primary source of income is their sale of oil and natural gas. Do you really think they will ever end that? China and India are buying millions of barrels of oil from Russia now, despite the Ukraine war. Few of the 193 countries that signed onto the UN Climate Change deal in 2015 have met their pledged CO2 reductions or monetary commitments. I think climate activists, who are mainly Democrats, are naïve in thinking their efforts will change the weather or "save the planet."
Boris Slovek
Green Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Ila Abernathy, Midtown
- Updated
Thomas Wenzel’s perspectives on inevitable, natural climate cycles [STAR, July 30] are well presented but incomplete. They ignore the reality that populous technological societies can and do exacerbate such cycles – and even alter them, as would occur with nuclear winter.
Back when I worked at the University of Arizona Poetry Center and took extra classes (already had a Master's in English Lit), I audited a course taught by "stellar" planetary scientist Brad Smith, in charge of planetary imaging for Voyager and with an armload of national and international awards. He was also a fantastic teacher.
When talking about first life on earth, Smith remarked these simple organisms were all anaerobic, consuming carbon dioxide from the early atmosphere and spewing out oxygen, profoundly (and negatively) affecting their surface survival.
Dr. Smith added a polite warning, already manifest in the late 1980's – that this was the first case on earth of an organism's poisoning its own atmosphere.
Thank you, Brad Smith.
Ila Abernathy
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Keith Carver, Northeast side
- Updated
The official definition of the controversial term 'Assault Rifle' has now been recognized by all involved parties.
Assault Rifle; Def: Any of a number of wannabee versions of the original Mattel Real-Kill(M16), designed for the defense of this country now used by needy types to pose for selfies while they prance across social media.
Also, the guy who jumped up in the firefight, struck a pose and corrected his bro, who had screamed for the loan of a 'Clip' instead of a 'Mag'? The NRA enshrined him into their hall of fame.
Keith Carver
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Lavon Sumption, Tubac
- Updated
Donald Trump, carried Spoiled Brat Complex into Old Age:
- treated presidency, US Govt as Trump plaything
- shouted current themes loud/long to 'believers'
- Election 2020 crushing defeat - Brat couldn't accept
- shouted FRAUD against voting system's security/accuracy
- organized attack on capitol to stay in power - illegal, failure
- demanded states 'find' Trump votes; 50 law suits; no fraud
- insulted poll workers working for secure, accurate results
Unindicted criminal, twice impeached, once defeated Brat for president?
No thanks, Trump baggage overload; one term enough!
L
Lavon Sumption
Tubac
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Ruth Hanon, East side
- Updated
I am weary. I am exhausted from 'fighting'. Now our candidates in Arizona say they are 'fighting' for us. I don't want more fighting. I want candidates who ask, "What do you, the people, need, want'"? I need to hear our candidates say, "I'm listening, I'm problem solving, I'm cooperating and want to work with all parties'.' Where is the representation of the people, for the people? Why do candidates not tell us about themselves and what they can do rather than attack the other party? Where is cooperation? Where is problem solving? Why do we hate those who have different opinions? Why are we blaming rather than solving? Please, I am so tired.
Ruth Hanon
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Bette E Richards, Northwest side
- Updated
Good job Border Patrol officers. I must be missing something because it seems the better job you do stopping drugs and undocumented the more criticism you get. Why is it that more arrests lead to comments that you are doing a lousy job? Why is it that more arrests lead to comments that more and more drugs and undocumented are getting into the country? I would think that more arrests actually mean you are doing a better and better job of stopping drug traffic and stopping illegal entry into the country, but I guess not. All I hear from the politicians is that you are doing a lousy job and just can't manage at all. What is it? How can it be that more arrests mean more getting though? It doesn't make sense to me.
Bette E Richards
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Jim Crumpacker, SaddleBrooke
- Updated
In 2000 the Florida recount continued into December, with GW Bush the presidential winner, beginning the debate over election security.
In a 2005 report the Commission on Election Reform, chaired by former president Jimmy Carter (D) and Washington insider James Baker (R), cited concerns about early voting, mail ballots and voter ID among potential causes of fraud.
Education institutions also produced voting studies. CalTech, MIT and Harvard are the best known. One conclusion noted we have provided convenience for voters, while sacrificing security and accuracy.
Harvard's Election Integrity Project ranked our 2012-2018 national elections 57th and last among world democracies, according to U.S. News & World Report. Addressing a wide range of problems, Harvard rated American voting with Mexico and Panama in insecurity. Costa Rica, Chile and Scandinavian countries rated as securest.
So some Americans wish to expand voter roles at any cost, while others are committed to preserving the integrity, security, secrecy, trust and reliability of the system as originally structured.
And the beat goes on.
Jim Crumpacker
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Gavin Kayner, Northwest side
- Updated
Editor, Apparently Trump was recently in state to stage a rally and people actually attended! This after the man has repeatedly shown us exactly what he is: a pathological liar, a woefully ignorant misogynist--indeed, a psychopath (see the 7 signs - he addresses all of them). It continues to be frightening to think so many people are willfully allowing themselves to be deceived by this man. A man who nearly caused the downfall of the very country such folks supposedly want to make great again (ah, irony).And more astonishingly - these supporters send part of their wages to this self-proclaimed multi-millionaire! Send him money! What a marvelous scam! It wouldn't matter if Trump were president and waved a wand and lowered gas prices to $2, or exorcised inflation, or cured cancer he would yet remain the psychopath who would be king. Crown him again at your peril.
Gavin Kayner
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Cindy Soffrin, Northeast side
- Updated
Old sayings tend to fit many circumstances perfectly.
Former President Trump has, over the years, expressed his disdain for people who assert their Fifth Amendment right to not testify under oath if they feel they would be incriminating themselves.
It looks like Trump has changed his mind. In denigrating Hillary Clinton and her staff in 2016 for asserting their Fifth Amendment rights, Trump had this to say: “The mob takes the Fifth. If you’re innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?” In 2014 he said, “If you are innocent, do not remain silent. You look guilty as hell!”
I must say I agree with him. And he does look "guilty as hell".
Cindy Soffrin
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Rosalinda Vasquez, South side
- Updated
The trend started in 2020, with Trump surging with Latino voters. That trend has continued with numerous Latino conservative Republicans, esp. women, running for office. The Democrat party has been taken over by mostly white elitist suburban progressives. The Latino culture still is machoistic. I think they are turned off by today's Democrat party of wokism, gender neutrality, transgenderism, central government dictates, etc. Many Latinos are Catholic and are pro-life. And yes, many Latino-Americans believe the border is out of control and crime rampant in cities across the country, with Progressive District Attorneys' revolving door policies for criminals. Latino-Americans are patriotic, and do not like Progressive Democrat's continual denigration of our country. It is ironic that during this political re-alignment, that Biden's de facto open borders policies have allowed entry of hundreds of thousands of Latinos. He and other Democrats believe that one day they will obtain citizenship and vote Democrat. But if the ongoing realignment of Latino voters trend continues, that could very well change.
Rosalinda Vasquez
South side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Janet Pipes, Northwest side
- Updated
The law requires the FBI to give Trump an inventory of what they found when they entered his home. If Trump wants to claim the search was a witch hunt and he had no government property in his home, Trump should release the search inventory.
Janet Pipes
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Robert Ryan, Midtown
- Updated
I am, and have been a proud registered Democrat since my first vote at 18 years old. I have voted for Republican candidates over these many years, when I believed they supported issues important to me and my family. John McCain, a man of honor, I voted for. However, at this important juncture in our democratic process, I would enthusiastically support Liz Cheney for President. President Biden has done an exceptional job elevating America's lost respect in foreign and domestic policy. He deserves credit for bringing our country to a more stable participant in world affairs and ACTUALLY putting "America First" (not his own bank account). However, Ms. Cheney has demonstrated an exceptionally courageous stance in standing up to the Trumpian-Party. She IS a proud American more interested in the continuation of democracy than her own political future. SHE IS A TRUE AMERICAN PATRIOT. Please RUN Ms Cheney!
Robert Ryan
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Antone Hagen, Sierra Vista
- Updated
Former president Trump took boxes of documents and photos to his private residence in Florida after leaving office. They did not belong to him. These belonged in their proper storage container for classified material and/or turned over immediately to the National Archives. What possible reason could he have for keeping these documents? Did he use them for leisure reading? Was it to let them rot in basement storeroom so they never come to light? Were they material for a new book? Maybe they were to negotiate with agencies within our government? Maybe to negotiate with a foreign government? So many unanswered questions. Only he can stop the speculation by explaining what he was going to do with the documents.
Antone Hagen
Sierra Vista
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Terry Ford, Catalina
- Updated
I believe in law enforcement and our legal system and fully support those who dedicate their lives to protect us and our freedom.
But when politicians use the system for political power we all lose.
I see this head hunt of the Democrats persuing Trump it is like the old Roadrunner vs Wiley Coyote cartoons. The Dems throwing everything Acme has at Trump. He "Beep beep" and zooms away.
Pols let the legal system handle it.
Terry Ford
Catalina
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Updated
Save our schools — again
Like nearly all Arizonans, I know the value of public education and the payoffs that it provides to families, neighborhoods and the state economy. Yet our Republican Legislature is intentionally starving our public schools. They’ve severely cut funding and overturned popular initiatives that support our schools, disregarding the will of the voters. Currently, Arizona ranks last in the nation in education funding. And the latest legislative attack, a universal voucher expansion, would siphon $1 billion a year or more from woefully underfunded neighborhood schools to private, religious and home schools.
Arizona voters said “No” to these vouchers by a 2-to-1 margin in 2018. Because our Legislature defied us, we must do it again. Please sign the Save Our Schools petition before mid-September, so that we may, once again, vote to fund our public schools. You may find petition locations at teamsosarizona.com. Please take the time. Much is at stake.
Elizabeth Lyons
Midtown
Represent the people
When will members of Congress learn that they are elected to represent the people, not to foster their personal views? Maybe Liz Cheney understands this now while she looks at her election results. Good on the citizens of Wyoming for speaking up and dropping this dedicated Donald Trump-hater who failed to do her elected job.
Don Flood
Green Valley
A proud RINO
I have been a Republican since Ronald Reagan. Today I am considered a RINO by this party. And why not? If you don’t believe 2020 was a free and fair election, I can’t vote for you. If you don’t think Donald Trump and all his insurrectionist allies deserve jail time, if you believe the government has a right to control a woman’s body, that climate change is a hoax, if you support school vouchers and refuse to fund public schools, if you voted to decertify my vote, I can’t vote for you. Are you OK with Supreme Court justices that lie in their confirmation hearings? Are you OK with gerrymandering and voter suppression? Then I can’t vote for you. In Helsinki, Trump showed the world his complete subservience to Vladimir Putin, the new fascist warmonger in Europe. How can that not concern you? No Republican running for office meets any of my conditions. I will vote straight Democrat. Watch the Jan 6 hearings.
William Garrity
Foothills
Arizona primaries
I am a registered Independent who opted for an early ballot by mail. I never received a ballot. On voting day, I went in person and had to select a major party before I could vote. I was told by the election volunteer that I did not receive a ballot because I was a registered Independent.
Since Independents make up one-third of the voters, I feel that to exclude their voter participation is undemocratic in our primaries. If they were included in the primary voting system, then more moderate candidates would be elected for the general election. A ballot should list all the candidates regardless of political affiliation.
Victor Panizzon
Northwest side
Latinos appreciate Democratic values
Re: the Aug. 12 letter “Latinos fleeing Democratic party.”
Latinos and Catholics are not monolithic in their thinking. I am a bilingual, bicultural social worker, went to Catholic schools 11 years, am pro-choice, and lived/worked in Tucson over 70 years. I worked with many disadvantaged and underrepresented populations, and as such, take umbrage at the assumptions and misconceptions stated in this letter. The majority of communities of color that I have interfaced with are grateful for health care access, voting rights, educational opportunities, etc., all resources that Republicans are trying to cut/gut/take away.
We need both parties; what concerns me are people that believe “the big lie.”
Regarding open borders — they are not. Migrants who enter illegally are arrested and prosecuted in federal court every day.
The term “machismo” is often misunderstood. These men have courage, honor, dignity, and want what is best for their families. They have not forgotten what is is like to receive help, and are willing to give a helping hand to others when needed.
Linda V. Otero
Green Valley
Thanks, Dems, for more IRS agents
I wanted to thank Democrats in Congress for passing the Inflation Reduction Act along a partisan vote that almost doubles the IRS budget and will add over 80,000 new agents and auditors. They will have more employees than the FBI, etc. The legislation says the intent of hiring so many IRS agents and auditors is to target those earning over $400,000 and corporations, but they are not prohibited from auditing others like you and me. I believe that is exactly what will happen. Higher earners and corporations have attorneys and accountants representing them, and they are more difficult to audit and intimidate than average earners. I think small businesses filing as “C” corporations will be targeted, too. Remember under Barack Obama, the IRS, lead by Lois Lerner, targeted conservative groups, and her computer just happened to crash eliminating two years of emails that investigators had sought. Average working Republicans, Independents and Democrats will not be immune from being audited now. Thanks to Democrats Chuck Schumer, Joe Manchin, Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema.
Alberto Torres
Northwest side
Who will certify November election?
In Arizona, four officials must certify final election results: the governor, the attorney general, the secretary of state and the chief justice. If Gov. Doug Ducey and Attorney General Mark Brnovich hope to have a future within what I consider the Republican cult, will they certify the November 2022 election if Democratic candidates win? If the cult GOP candidates win this round for any of those three offices, Gov., Sec. State, or AG, they will almost certainly refuse to certify any Democratic wins in 2024, e.g., president. This may be Arizona’s last chance at a free and fair election, or maybe 2020 was.
Hollace Lyon
SaddleBrooke
Autocrats win by casting doubt
If an autocratic leader considered Western democracy as an existential threat, what could be their best offensive strategy? Military action and cyber-attacks would likely result in mutually assured destruction. The one thing they might focus on is something they don’t have and could not result in retaliation. That one thing is free and fair elections and the peaceful transfer of power. If serious doubt about the sanctity of election results could be instilled in the voters, they have succeeded. The winner does not have the validity needed to effectively govern, their opponents could continually cast doubt on the results of current and future elections, and voters would either not vote or believe their votes would not be counted. Unfortunately, foreign governments don’t have to bother. Donald Trump and his supporters are doing their job for them.
Donald Davis
East side
GOP energized after FBI raid
I believe the FBI’s unprecedented raid of former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence has energized his 70 million supporters to vote in November. Supporters view the Jan. 6 investigation being conducted by seven Democrats and two Republican Trump-haters as purely political, the hearings timed for the upcoming elections. They also believe that the investigations of him in New York and Georgia being conducted by Democrat prosecutors are politically motivated. They know that the three-year “Russia collusion” investigation of Trump relating to the 2016 election was politically motivated and so was his first impeachment done by all Democrats. Democrats have been out to destroy Trump and his family since his first announcement for running for president. His supporters view the raid on his home as another politically motivated investigation done by a still corrupt DOJ and FBI coming 90 days before the midterm elections. I believe 70 million Trump supporters are now energized to donate, fundraise and vote for Trump-endorsed Republican conservative candidates in November!
Marsella Mavis
Northwest side
A dangerous ideology
A recent letter to the editor espoused a dangerous ideology swirling about the Republican Party base. That is, the overbroad concept of “states’ rights.”
I have spoken to Dobbs v Jackson supporters who say that overturning Roe v. Wade was returning the issue to the states and strengthening the voice of the people. They are wrong.
The Supreme Court decision was flawed because it ignored the idea of a reflective Constitution for a false divine one. The Catholic Church couldn’t deny the sun is the center of the universe. As such, its view of the Scripture Bible became one of guidance, not of literalism. By overturning Roe v. Wade for the reasons given in its decision, the court has opened the door to anti-American counter-revolutionism that can not assimilate newer concepts, much like the Taliban or ISIS can’t accept women as equals.
This issue of “states’ rights” has played out before. Isn’t having over 600,000 killed in the 1860s over “states’ rights” enough death for our country?
Matt Somers
Midtown
Words matter
Was it a “raid” on Mar-a-Lago or was it a “rule of law” search warrant? Was Kari Lake “ambushed” by a CNN reporter inquiring about her election fraud claims or was it a reporter asking questions? Is the IRA ‘s $400 billion for addressing climate change just another “politically motivated” rape of the public purse or would that money reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030?
Sticks and stones might break my bones, but name calling in today’s polarized world will hurt more than any stick imaginable.
Rick Rappaport
Oro Valley
The idea of the soul
Anti-abortionist Christians argue that an immortal soul is born when sperm penetrate an egg: this idea is not Biblical. The ancient Hebrews did not believe in any soul or afterlife: you slept forever when you died (Ecclesiastes 9:4-10; you could be revived by witchcraft, but not for long: 1 Samuel 6-28). In Jesus’ time the idea of resurrection became popular, and Jesus is said to have argued it with over-traditional Sadducees (Matthew 22: 23-33). Paul taught that the dead would be raised, in their bodies, on the last day (which he thought was imminent) and ascend along with the living (1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18). Luther, Milton and many other Christians were mortalists, teaching that the soul died with the body but arose finally. Hebrews believed that the child did not become a real person until well after birth
The idea that we can know better, without any scriptural warrant, is typical of the holier-than-thou.
Herbert Schneidau
Foothills
Thankful for sane response
Re: the Aug. 17 letter “DOJ, FBI motivation.”
Finally, a sane response. Thank You!
Linda Schaub
Southeast side
Terry snub
I’ve enjoyed Greg Hansen’s columns for decades, but I can’t read his “Top 100 Teams” series. I followed his “Top 100 Sports Figures” series and was gravely disappointed when Jason Terry did not make his list. I challenge Greg to rewatch the opening NCAA Tournament game for the 1997 Wildcats. Miles Simon and Michael Dickerson, combined, took 10 3-point shots, missing all but one. Terry took only one 3-point shot, at a critical time, and made it. Plus, he had five steals in that game. Without him, the Cats do not make it to the second round and Lute Olson never wins a national championship. He was also pivotal in the national championship game. No Terry, no championship. He played all four years at Arizona and then went on to have a 19-year NBA career. Exclusion from Top 10 is a monumental error. But “Top 100?” Wow, just wow!
Louis Hollingsworth
West side
Trump doesn’t care about US
Confidential, top secret.
Apparently, Donald Trump wants to release information on what was taken from Mar-a-Lago. These are secrets that could damage this country’s security.
Is this enough to make you realize he doesn’t care about you or this country?
His narcissism makes him feel everyone is against him, and “fake news” just adds to this feeling. Does his congenital lying (oh, all politicians lie) tell you anything? He expects loyalty, but doesn’t give it in return.
Allowing a mob of armed rioters to destroy our capital, harm and kill police, try to hang Mike Pence, just to overturn a legitimate election. Aside from many of his close advisors telling him he lost, many dozens of court cases telling him he lost, and no substantial proof he won.
Voting only party line is no longer good enough. This is not to be political, just reasonable and patriotic.
Peter Strauss
Northwest side
- Don Flood, Green Valley
- Updated
When will members of Congress learn that they are elected to represent the people NOT to foster their personal views. Maybe Liz Cheney understands this now while she looks at her election results. Good on on the citizens of Wyoming for speaking up and dropping this dedicated Trump hater who failed to do her elected job.
Don Flood
Green Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Herbert Schneidau, Foothills
- Updated
Anti-abortionist Christians argue that an immortal soul is born when sperm penetrate an egg: this idea is not Biblical. The ancient Hebrews did not believe in any soul or afterlife: you slept forever when you died (Ecclesiastes 9:4-10; you could be revived by witchcraft, but not for long: 1 Sam. 6-28). In Jesus' time the idea of resurrection became popular, and Jesus is said to have argued it with over-traditional Sadducees (Matthew 22: 23-33). Paul taught that the dead would be raised, in their bodies, on the last day (which he thought was imminent) and ascend along with the living (1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18). Luther, Milton and many other Christians were mortalists, teaching that the soul died with the body but arose finally. Hebrews believed that the child did not become a real person until well after birth
The idea that we can know better, without any scriptural warrant, is typical of the holier-than-thou.
Herbert Schneidau
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Stuart Sellinger, Northwest side
- Updated
President Biden’s Build Back Better Bill bill included funds to fight climate change, provide child care for children under the age of six, provide universal preschool for all three and four year olds, provide up to four weeks of paid family and medical care per year, and extend the pandemic-era child tax credit.
With few exceptions, every GOP senator and representative voted against the bill and it was defeated. Today, the GOP is determined to reject the Inflation Reduction Act which creates a 15% corporate minimum tax rate, allows Medicare to negotiate the price of prescription drugs, extends Affordable Care Act premium subsidies, invests in climate protection, and closes a tax loophole which benefits the wealthy.
Our total poverty rate of 14.7% and our child poverty rate of 17% seem of no concern to the GOP. Thirty one million Americans lack health coverage and another thirty eight million have inadequate health coverage. Let them go to the emergency room, advises the GOP.
Have they no compassion.
Stuart Sellinger
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Rick Rappaport, Oro Valley
- Updated
Was it a "raid" on Mar a Lago or was it a "Rule of Law" search warrant? Was Kari Lake "ambushed" by a CNN reporter inquiring about her election fraud claims or was it a reporter asking questions? Is the IRA 's $400,000,000,000 for addressing climate change just another "politically motivated" rape of the public purse or would that money reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030?
Sticks and stones might break my bones but name calling in today's polarized world will hurt more than any stick imaginable.
Rick Rappaport
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Linda Schaub, Southeast side
- Updated
I agree there should be consequences, but this letter writer is woefully ignorant (Trump’s boxes held declassified documents. Last month he offered to let them see what he has) but makes a pass on the following:
1. How about the 30 million documents Obama has sitting in a warehouse?
2. How about Hunter Biden’s laptop that the FBI refuse’s to investigate?
3. How about “the Big Guy” getting a 10% kickback from China?
4. How about Hillary’s personal home server containing CLASSIFIED documents?
5. How about Hillary’s 33,000 “bleached” emails? What was SHE hiding?
6. How about the FISA report, Steele Dossier, and Russian collusion that were proven to be false?
7. How about the $50 mil in damages from the riots and lives lost, yet Kamala participated in collecting funds for those arrested?
8. What about the BILLIONS of dollars of equipment left in Afghanistan and the people left behind?
When will we see the consequences for these corrupt and illegal behaviors?
Linda Schaub
Southeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Matt Somers, Midtown
- Updated
A recent letter to the editor espoused a dangerous ideology swirling about the Republican Party base. That is, the overbroad concept of "States' Rights".
I have spoken to Hobbs v Jackson supporters who say that overturning Roe v. Wade was returning the issue to the states and strengthening the voice of the people. They are wrong.
The Supreme Court decision was flawed because it ignored the idea of an reflective Constitution for a false divine one. The Catholic Church couldn't deny the sun is the center of the universe. As such, its view of the Scriptured Bible became one of guidance, not of literalism. By overturning Roe v. Wade for the reasons given in its decision, the Court has opened the door to anti-American counter-revolutionism that can not assimilate newer concepts, much like the Taliban or ISIS can't accept women as equals.
This issue of "State's Rights" has played out before. Isn't having over 600,000 killed in the 1860s over "States' Rights" enough death for our country?
Matt Somers
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- THOMAS MCGORRAY, Northwest side
- Updated
To the tune of "I never get Maggie Alone"
I never see Hunter alone
Hunter dear, you don't go out alone
Seems that you have a FBI chaperone
When you go out no matter where you’re bound
There ‘s always somebody around
You bring your father, your mother
Your uncle and one other,
I never see Hunter alone
We got his laptop. His emails
And photos of his females
But we never see Hunter alone
There were the Chinese, the Ukrainians
And even some Albanians,
But we never see Hunter alone
There was the “big guy”, his mother
His uncle and one other
But we never see Hunter alone.
The FBI revised it, the media hides it
And Big Joe, he denies it.
So we never get Hunter alone
Because of his father, his mother
.His uncle and one other.
We can never, see Hunter alone
His taxes were unpaid, the IRS made a raid
His taxes were repaid
By the big guy, his mother,
His uncle and one other
Still we never see Hunter alone
THOMAS MCGORRAY
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- William Garrity, Foothills
- Updated
I have been a Republican since Reagan. Today I am considered a RINO by this party. And why not? If you don't believe 2020 was a free and fair election I can't vote for you. If you don't think Trump and all his insurrectionist allies deserve jail time, if you believe the government has a right to control a woman's body, that climate change is a hoax, if you support school vouchers and refuse to fund public schools, if you voted to decertify my vote I can't vote for you. Are you OK with Supreme Court justices that lie in their confirmation hearings? Are you OK with gerrymandering and voter suppression? Then I can't vote for you. In Helsinki Trump showed the world his complete subservience to Putin the new facist warmonger in Europe. How can that not concern you? No Republican running for office meets any of my conditions. I will vote straight democrat. Watch the Jan 6th hearings.
William Garrity
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Marsella Mavis, Northwest side
- Updated
I believe the FBI's unprecedented raid of former president Trump's Mar a Lago residence has energized his 70 million supporters to vote in November. Supporters view the January 6 investigation being conducted by seven Democrats and two Republican Trump haters as purely political, the hearings timed for the upcoming elections. They also believe that the investigations of him in New York and Georgia being conducted by Democrat prosecutors are politically motivated. They know that the three year "Russia collusion" investigation of Trump relating to the 2016 election was politically motivated and so was his first Impeachment done by all Democrats. Democrats have been out to destroy Trump and his family since his first announcement for running for President. His supports view the raid on his home as another politically motivated investigation done by a still corrupt USDOJ and FBI coming 90 days before the midterm elections. I believe 70 million Trump supporters are now ENERGIZED to donate, fund raise and vote for Trump endorsed Republican conservative candidates in November!
Marsella Mavis
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Alberto Torres, Northwest side
- Updated
I wanted to thank Democrats in Congress for passing the Inflation Reduction Act along a partisan vote that almost doubles the IRS' budget and will add about 80,000 new agents and auditors. They will have more employees that DHS, the FBI, etc. The legislation says the intent of hiring so many IRS agents and auditors is to target those earning over $400,000 and corporations, but they are not prohibited from auditing others like you and me. I believe that is exactly what will happen. Higher earners and corporations have attorneys and accountants representing them, and they are more difficult to audit and intimidate than average earners. I think small businesses filing as "C" corporations will be targeted too. Remember under Obama, the IRS, lead by Lois Lerner, targeted conservative groups, and her computer just happened to crash eliminating two years of emails that investigators had sought. Average working Republicans, Independents AND Democrats will not be immune from being audited now. Thanks to Democrats Schumer, Manchin, Kelly, and Sinema.
Alberto Torres
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Gerald Jurries, Green Valley
- Updated
The following are words that appeared in letters today Aug. 17. Egotistical, low moral standards, heinous, flim flam man, crass comments, mendacity, deceit, denigration of our country's basic values, lies, misinformation, conspiracy theories, serial lying dictator wanna-be. Writers hating Trump and Republicans in general. Imagine carrying this hatred around in your head. For what purpose? Too bad these people don't give us examples. Look in the mirror, read what you wrote. Try being fair. Trump's economy did the country very good. Biden is hurting average citizens.
Gerald Jurries
Green Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Linda Schaub, Southeast side
- Updated
Re: the Aug. 17 letter "DOJ, FBI motivation."
Finally, a sane response. Thank You!
Linda Schaub
Southeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Donald Davis, East side
- Updated
If an autocratic leader who considered western democracy as an existential threat, what could be their best offensive strategy? Military action and cyber-attacks would likely result in mutually assured destruction. The one thing they might focus on is something they don’t have and could not result in retaliation. That one thing is free and fair elections and the peaceful transfer of power. If serious doubt about the sanctity of election results could be instilled in the voters, they have succeeded. The winner does not have the validity needed to effectively govern, their opponents could continually cast doubt on the results of current and future elections, and voters would either not vote or believe their votes would not be counted. Unfortunately, foreign governments don’t have to bother. Donald Trump and his supporters are doing their job for them.
Donald Davis
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
More like this...
- Robert and Terry Ryan, Midtown
On August 15, NPR Radio aired a piece from the NYT Daily Beast regarding "Carried Interest Taxation." I learned a lot, mostly, what a financial windfall the carried interest provision is for private equity firms! Even Donald Trump campaigned in 2016 to stop this huge tax loophole. However, just like all Trump's promises (except for the largest tax reductions for the wealthiest Americans), his calling for the end of carried interest tax, was just another lie. Then, Sinema single-handedly held up President Biden's, and the the rest of the United States Senate's, desire to finally do away with said loophole. Either she is not understanding of this giveaway to wealthy equity traders, or she is in their pocket and a recipient of thousands of dollars in donations from private equity firms. Shame on you Ms Sinema. One more lie to get re-elected. We voted for you once, there won't be a second mistake.
Robert and Terry Ryan
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Jan Wieberdink, Northwest side
Our government decided my granddaughter should go to pretend school and pretend learn for a year and a half. No worries it was for her own good. Pete Buttigieg says if you don't like the price of gas buy an electric vehicle. $50,000 for a car and a charging station at the house, it's for my own good. John Kerry says we will be done using natural gas in 10 years max. I should see about changing to electric heat, electric range and an electric water heater. It's for my own good. I'm reminded of the movie Cool Hand Luke. When Luke was given his first set of ankle chains the warden of the prison road crew told Luke the chains would be good for him. Luke replied, "I wish you'd stop being so good to me Cap'n. I wish you'd stop being so good to me government.
Jan Wieberdink
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Frank Montez, East side
Bravo Liz Cheney. A woman with more courage than Mitch McConnel and Kevin McCarthay; who are consumed with thirst for power at any cost. McCarthay and McConnel could have ended trump's chances by speaking out against and conitnuing to do so after Jan. 6 2020. Trump is a clear and present danger to our Democracy. There is not much more for me to say other, in 2024 even as a life long Democrat I could possibly vote for Liz Cheney to become the country's First woman President. The people need a leader be a cut above us "ordinary folks" As an aside the men and woman of the "Lincoln Project" Truly belief in "In order to form a more perfcet Union" Frank Montez Veteran of 32 years.
Frank Montez
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Elain Geary, East side
Re: the August 16th letter "Mar-a-Lago raid". Due to the fact that the country is so divided, and there are so many lies being pushed, the DOJ is moving very slowly. They are doting every i, and crossing every t: so that their case against the former president will be INDISPUTABLE. Trump is pushing his people to intimidate (with force) any one who speaks against him. That is what a BANANA REPUBLIC is, Whether you liked Trump's presidential policies or not, he is trying to overthrow our democracy with his rhetorical statements and his mob boss actions. Due to the outrageous behavior of the former president, our country has had to treat him differently than other presidents.. No President from our life time has challenged and broken our rules of law the way he has. If character & democracy still matter: We must make that a bigger focus on who is eligible to run. Beware of those who won't accept election results and fact check your info.
Elain Geary
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- William Jones, East side
Re: the Aug. 15 letter "Climate activists fooling themselves."
The answer to what climate activists understand is yes, it is known that CO2 remains in the atmosphere for decades and that other countries are still using a lot of fossil fuels. Will it end? Yes. What happens is the issue. Is the writer suggesting doing nothing?
The economics of alternative energy is comparable to fossil fuels today. If the total cost of producing CO2 was priced into fossil fuels, the economics become very favorable for alternative energy. The cost of fighting wildfires averages over $2 billion/year, and there were more than $140 billion insurance company losses for extreme weather events in 2021. China is rapidly deploying solar and wind energy production aiming for 1/3 of their energy production is renewable by 2025. Climate activists are far from being naïve. I would argue that Republicans live in distant past. Don’t Look Up!
William Jones
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Peter Strauss, Northwest side
Confidential, top secret.
Apparently, Trump wants to release information on what was taken from Mar-a- Lago. These are secrets that could damage this country's security.
Is this enough to make you realize he doesn't care about you or this country?
His narcissism makes him feel everyone is against him, and "fake news" just adds to this feeling. Does his congenital lying (oh, all politicians lie) tell you anything? He expects loyalty, but doesn't give it in return.
Allowing a mob of ARMED rioters to destroy our capital, harm and kill police, try to hang Mike Pence, just to overturn a legitimate election. Aside from many of his close advisors telling him he lost, many dozens of court cases telling him he lost, and NO substantial proof he won.
Voting ONLY party line is no longer good enough. This is not to be political, just reasonable and patriotic.
Peter Strauss
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Build them, they will come
Re: the Aug. 5 letter “Road repair.”
The letter writer wondered what he was missing because the much-needed road repairs on Oracle Road were being paced by the construction of sidewalks along Oracle when he rarely sees pedestrians on a particular stretch of Oracle Road.
Perhaps there is a dearth of pedestrians because there has never been sidewalks? Chicken meet egg. Egg meet chicken.
Mark Patterson
Oro Valley
Street safety
Tucson has the distinction of ranking No. 13 nationally for pedestrian deaths. Our city streets feel, look and sound like the the Indy 500 racetrack. Speed limits are ignored and when in a hurry, drivers press the metal to the pedal. I haven’t seen a traffic policeman since before the pandemic. To those in charge, do something.
Susan Freud
Midtown
More useful rain total
The daily report of rain totals taken from a gauge at the airport is almost always misleading and frustrating (except, I guess, for those living very near the airport). As a recent article about monsoon progress showed, rain amounts vary widely around the city and suburbs. While the airport seems to be having a miserable monsoon, other areas, notably parts of the Foothills, are apparently receiving hefty amounts of rain.
More useful during monsoon season would be daily totals measured at a few places in addition to the airport. Or perhaps one number, an average of several spots.
Brent Harold
Foothills
Climate activists
Re: the Aug. 15 letter “Climate activists fooling themselves.”
The answer to what climate activists understand is yes, it is known that CO2 remains in the atmosphere for decades and that other countries are still using a lot of fossil fuels. Will it end? Yes. What happens is the issue. Is the writer suggesting doing nothing?
The economics of alternative energy is comparable to fossil fuels today. If the total cost of producing CO2 was priced into fossil fuels, the economics become very favorable for alternative energy. The cost of fighting wildfires averages over $2 billion each year, and there were billions more in insurance company losses for extreme weather events in 2021. China is rapidly deploying solar and wind energy production aiming for one-third of their energy production to be renewable by 2025. Climate activists are far from being naïve. I would argue that Republicans live in distant past. Don’t Look Up!
William Jones
East side
Eliminate eyesores
The number of voter signs for recent elections seems to have quadrupled since 1984, which explains the hundreds of voter signs cluttering hundreds of our street intersections, standing askew on the medians, and trashing our neighbors’ front yards. Adding further to the disdain of voter signs. Some voters acknowledged they voted for a candidate because of their signs … they liked the looks of the candidate or voted for them because they had more signs than the other candidates. Really?
Pima County stats for the Aug. 2 election show votes from 36% of registered voters. All those signs for that few? That’s overkill! Adding more fury, signs for the November election are going up next to still standing Aug. 2 signs. There may be a handful of voters who like these signs but for the rest of us, stop this endless barrage of useless litter.
Cathey Langione
Marana
Stop hating; try being fair
The following are words that appeared in letters today, Aug. 17: Egotistical, low moral standards, heinous, flim flam man, crass comments, mendacity, deceit, denigration of our country’s basic values, lies, misinformation, conspiracy theories, serial lying dictator wanna-be. Writers hating Trump and Republicans in general. Imagine carrying this hatred around in your head. For what purpose? Too bad these people don’t give us examples. Look in the mirror, read what you wrote. Try being fair. Trump’s economy did the country very good. Biden is hurting average citizens.
Gerald Jurries
Green Valley
Stop being so ‘good’ to me
Our government decided my granddaughter should go to pretend school and pretend learn for a year and a half. No worries, it was for her own good. Pete Buttigieg says if you don’t like the price of gas, buy an electric vehicle. $50,000 for a car and a charging station at the house, it’s for my own good. John Kerry says we will be done using natural gas in 10 years max. I should see about changing to electric heat, electric range and an electric water heater. It’s for my own good.
I’m reminded of the movie “Cool Hand Luke.” When Luke was given his first set of ankle chains, the warden of the prison road crew told Luke the chains would be good for him. Luke replied, “I wish you’d stop being so good to me, Cap’n.”
I wish you’d stop being so good to me, government.
Jan Wieberdink
Northwest side
Federal judge is biased
Bruce Reinhart is the federal magistrate judge in south Florida who signed off on the search warrant for Trump’s home. He is a former federal prosecutor. He has made political donations to both Obama and Jeb Bush. What is disturbing are his biased comments on social media about Trump. After Trump had criticized U.S. Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., relating to his questioning of the 2016 election results saying he did not see Trump as a legitimate president (perfectly OK for Democrats to question elections results), Trump responded citing the poor state of Lewis’ 5th district in Georgia and how he should be focused on improving that instead. Reinhart then posted on Facebook, “John Lewis is the conscience of America. Donald Trump doesn’t have the moral stature to kiss John Lewis’ feet.” In June, Reinhart disqualified himself from handling a Trump v. Clinton lawsuit related to the 2016 election citing his lack of impartiality.
Daniella Constantini
Sahuarita
Border wall
I think the idea of erecting a barrier wall in the desert on the U.S. southern border is just stupid. The terrain is inhospitable and essentially naturally impassible, There are hundreds of corpses in the Pima County morgue to prove that. The road required to build and maintain a wall makes the landscape on our side more easily traversed, not less. An unguarded wall barely delays well equipped smugglers. A guarded wall must be guarded 24/7 by three shifts of officers. Patrols are easily timed and evaded. The East German Wall failed to be impervious even with shoot-to-kill orders.
On the other hand, modern technology allows passive surveillance of 100% of the border, 100% of the time. Helicopters will easily outrun any smuggling vehicle. One can hold the arrestees and wait for mass transport to arrive. We can construct facilities to hold them as long as the law requires. No wall required, just three strands of barbed wire.
David P. Vernon
East side
Water and Pima County
Excellent research and recommendations on Arizona water are at the University of Arizona Law Library. For example, “Arizona water policy: management innovations in an urbanizing, arid region,” 2007; it is available online through the UA libraries. Moreover, there is a water resources center as part of the university library, and there is a database for water, “The Hydrologic Database,” that is the foundation for the United States Bureau of Reclamation’s Database of Record.
This and much more information is available online and at the UA library. I found this information after a very brief search on the UA library online catalog.
I recommend that the city and county contact the local libraries for information on Arizona water, that they hire a researcher to read and summarize relevant information on Arizona and Pima County water before spending money on research that has already been done.
Mary Sasse
Northeast side
Not another vote for Sinema
NPR Radio recently aired a piece regarding “Carried Interest Taxation.” I learned a lot, mostly, what a financial windfall the carried interest provision is for private equity firms. Even Donald Trump campaigned in 2016 to stop this huge tax loophole. However, just like all of Trump’s promises (except for the largest tax reductions for the wealthiest Americans), his calling for the end of carried interest tax, was just another lie.
Then, Sinema single-handedly held up President Biden’s, and the rest of the United States Senate’s, desire to finally do away with said loophole. Either she is not understanding of this giveaway to wealthy equity traders, or she is in their pocket and a recipient of thousands of dollars in donations from private equity firms.
Shame on you, Ms. Sinema. One more lie to get re-elected. We voted for you once; there won’t be a second mistake.
Robert and Terry Ryan
Midtown
Water education is lacking
Re: the Aug. 14 article “Colo. River agreement not likely by deadline.”
In the article about the Colorado River, Terry Goddard, president of the Central Arizona Project’s governing board, said the people don’t realize we are in a serious situation. The people he referenced is the public at large, meaning you.
I want to say the people (us) have had no instructions on what to do. Have we been told to water our lawns only once a week? No. Has there been a moratorium on new pools? No. Other restrictions installed to save water? No.
Those restrictions or recommendations are for us, supposedly set up by you and the other highly paid people to implement. All we read about is a new business is coming to Arizona.
Rain and snow have not replaced our yearly water supply for the past 30 years. You guys have been kicking this water shortage can down the road for that long. Now you want to study the problem.
Jose Salgado
Northeast side
Mar-a-Lago raid explanation
Re: the Aug. 16 letter “Mar-a-Lago raid.”
Due to the fact that the country is so divided, and there are so many lies being pushed, the DOJ is moving very slowly. They are dotting every “i,” and crossing every “t,” so that their case against the former president will be indisputable. Trump is pushing his people to intimidate (with force) anyone who speaks against him. That is what a Banana Republic is.
Whether you liked Trump’s presidential policies or not, I think he is trying to overthrow our democracy with his rhetorical statements and his mob boss actions. Due to the outrageous behavior of the former president, our country has had to treat him differently than other presidents. No president from our lifetime has challenged and broken our rules of law the way he has.
If character and democracy still matter, we must make that a bigger focus on who is eligible to run. Beware of those who won’t accept election results, and fact-check your info.
Elain Geary
East side
GOP primary
I find it hard to believe that an honest man like Rusty Bowers could lose his primary while election denier extremists such as Lake, Masters and Finchem could win theirs. What does that tell us about Arizona’s Republican Party?
It shows that it is still firmly in the grip of disgraced former President Trump. It also shows that the party learned almost nothing from the 2020 election. Even the Cyber Ninjas, after spending millions of dollars looking for bamboo paper, concluded that President Biden had won the Arizona presidential contest by more votes than had previously been announced.
I think all three of the above want to make voting more difficult for Arizona citizens, doing away with ballot drop boxes, early voting, mail-in voting, and requiring more ID to vote. The ultimate goal, of course, is that only Republicans will vote, assuring our trio of easy victories. With Finchem in charge of elections, those steps may not even be necessary. Watch for the big fraud.
Rick Smith
Foothills
Liz Cheney, courageous woman
Bravo, Liz Cheney. A woman with more courage than Mitch McConnell and Kevin McCarthy, who are consumed with thirst for power at any cost. McCarthy and McConnell could have ended Trump’s chances by speaking out against and continuing to do so after Jan. 6, 2021. I think Trump is a clear and present danger to our democracy. There is not much more for me to say. In 2024, even as a lifelong Democrat, I could possibly vote for Liz Cheney to become the country’s first woman president. The people need a leader be a cut above us “ordinary folks.” As an aside, the men and woman of the “Lincoln Project” truly believe in “In order to form a more perfect Union.”
Frank Montez,
veteran of 32 years
East side
- Norman Patten, Midtown
A former President said, and I paraphrase: “ the Mafia commits the crime then pleads the 5th." Innocent people don’t plead the 5th." Thank you Mr. Trump. According to recent reporting, in a deposition before the NY Attorney General, you plead the 5th Amendment 440 times! Folks, a Montmartre street artist couldn’t give a better self-portrait. Thanks, Donald for letting everyone see exactly who and what you are!
Norman Patten
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Bruce Joffe, South Tucson
The former Oval Office Occupant, and hyenas echoing him, are braying that the Warrant-approved FBI search was unwarranted. The former OOO is calling the FBI's legal confiscation of unspecified materials a "break-in." His enablers spew fear to followers of their fantasies, that this FBI raid could happen to any of them.
The FBI needs very compelling reasons, backed by evidence, to obtain a legal search warrant. FBI's standing policy is not to comment on ongoing investigations. That leaves the hyenas unchallenged when pretending the raid is baseless. If true, then the fOOO could verify his claim by revealing the Warrant to the public. He has a copy; it's only the FBI that can't reveal the Warrant.
The fOOO should put up or shut up. If his past behavior does not warrant a legal search Warrant, then show us the Warrant! Let's see the FBI's reasons for obtaining legal approval.
Bruce Joffe
South Tucson
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Waid Reynolds, Green Valley
Crazy seems to be a firm requirement for Republican candidates these days. We certainly have a boatload of ranting, lying, Trump kissing nuts running for office in Arizona! The Republican Party used to be the party of sensible conservatives like John McCain. Worship of The Orange Messiah radically changed that! The Party has been overrun by lying, election-denying, xenophobic, racist, vitriol-spewing extremists who are clueless about solving real problems. Unlike Democrats, they have no ideas and no platform for improving the lives of Americans. Energizing the Republican “base” with anger, hatred, and fear is their sole strategy for winning. Once in office their goals are one-party rule achieved by controlling and falsifying election results; taking away voting (and other) rights; and ultimately installing The Orange Messiah as Amurika’s all-powerful fascist dictator.
GOP? No, there’s nothing “Grand” about the new Republican Party and its loony candidates. Save freedom and democracy - vote for Democrats!
Waid Reynolds
Green Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Dave Glicksman, Northwest side
On August 16th, a writer said the raid on a former president's residence was unprecedented. True.
On August 16th a writer said the raid pn a former president's residence was unprecedented. True
Trump took classified documents, some could be harmful to this national's security, without secure storage was unprecedented too. And why did this excuse for a leader take them in the first place? Who had access to them, more importantly who did Trump share them with? A president like no other who praised the world dictators and falsely claimed the election was rigged because he lost. Judges that he appointed threw his lawsuits out for lack of evidence. A president who acted more like a Mafia Don than a head of state.
Nixon, whose crimes were petty in comparison, must be rolling in his grave thinking he was born too soon, before the GOP morphed to a party first. mode.
When will the Trump supporters see through this shame? What more will it take?
Dave Glicksman
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Sonia Maxwell, Northeast
Mr. Trump.
My son-in-law said I should write this. It’s a theory that has been brewing in my brain for quite some time as I watch the world activities. Most important point…Mr. Trump is not dumb. Then why so much effort to keep fanning the fires of a stolen election? We know he is egotistical and a person with low moral standards (treatment of women, lies). We also know he is VERY MOTIVATED by money. Can’t get enough of the green stuff. But why so much effort to get back in the White House? Why is it so important to him? I think it’s about $$. I think he had some far reaching plans to make some kind of deals with who knows who or where that would result in a huge windfall for him. I don’t think Putin would have invaded Ukraine if Trump were still in office. They were close…buddies? I’d love for someone to “follow the money” and see if my little theory has any validity. He needs the White House to make some more money on a level that has previously eluded him.
Sonia Maxwell
Northeast
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- John Johnson, Foothills
As a #Never Trump Republican, I still find obnoxious some of the spleen vetting letters that appear here, and have this question: "Is it okay to lie if you are a Democrat or from the left?" I offer as one specific "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022." Even the Administration has not been able to find a respected economist who disagrees with the non-partisan CBO that the act does nothing of the sort.
But that's OK; we are indulging in how Trump lies; that we do also doesn't matter.
"If you like your doctor, you can keep him."
OOPS.
John Johnson
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- George Ball, Midtown
Anyone who handles classified information and removes that information from the controlled environment like Trump did, would be facing far more scrutiny than Trump. Anyone working with classified information is subject to the rules of handling classified information. Taking classified information out of the area (especially SCI) without proper authorization and following document handling procedures could result in loss of your job and potential criminal charges. Trump was and is subject to all of the same restrictions regardless of being a former president. Why is it that Republicans think that he should be above the law? Trump wanted to "get Hillary" for her emails but feels he is being persecuted. The GOP has decided that he can make up his own rules. I wonder when the GOP will realize they have been, and continue to be, duped by one of the greatest con-men in history. If you want Trump again, be careful what you wish for! America doesn't need a dictator.
George Ball
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Darrin Styles, Midtown
Today, August 15, marks the one year anniversary when Biden disastrously withdrew our troops from Afghanistan. The Taliban rapidly moved into Kabul and took over. The chaos at the airport with people clinging onto our military aircraft departing from the Kabul airport. The suicide bomber who killed 13 of our brave service members. Our drone attack killing an innocent family of seven. The $billions in military equipment left behind by the military for the Taliban to use. Biden promised to get every American out of Afghanistan. That did not happen. Hundreds if not thousands of Afghans were left behind who had cooperated with our military. Some have been beaten and killed by the Taliban. The country is starving as international assistance has dwindled. Girls are no longer allowed to attend school and women have to cloak themselves from head to to toe. Al-Queda terrorists still use the country as a refuge. Other nations saw us as being incompetent and weak. And Biden still claims this as a success!
Darrin Styles
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Pat Madea, Northwest side
A very recent article on water negotiations cited: "Fourteen tribal governments, including eight in Arizona, say the U.S. has wrongly left them out of negotiations over major future cuts of Colorado River water use."
Why is this not surprising? Tribal governments should have been the FIRST ONES INVITED to the negotiation table, not have to petition for a seat.
How's this "negotiation" supposed to work, anyway, without tribal input? All the state governments get together and figure out what they're going to do and then tell the tribes: "This is what we're going to do? Take it or leave it." Hey, maybe move the tribes to another reservation away from their current location so they won't have a demand on the water? Not surprising. So typical. Blatant disenfranchisement, again, of Indigenous peoples and tribal governments.
Pat Madea
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Daniella Constantini, Sahuarita
Bruce Reinhart is the Federal Magistrate Judge in south FL, who signed off on the search warrant for Trump’s home. He is a former federal prosecutor. Reinhart was recommended for U.S. Magistrate by former FL Republican Governor Rick Scott. He has made political donations to both Obama and Bush. What is disturbing are his biased comments on social media about Trump. After Trump had criticized Representative John Lewis, D-GA, relating to his questioning of the 2016 election results saying he did not see Trump as a legitimate president (perfectly ok for Democrats to question elections results), Trump responded citing the poor state of Lewis' 5th district in Georgia and how he should be focused on improving that instead. Reinhart then posted on Facebook, 'John Lewis is the conscience of America. Donald Trump doesn’t have the moral stature to kiss John Lewis’s feet.' In June, Reinhart disqualified himself from handling a Trump vs Clinton lawsuit related to the 2016 election citing his lack of impartiality.
Daniella Constantini
Sahuarita
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- David Beryhill, Sahuarita
I believe 2 things about Donald Trump. One, he is only every interested in something that makes him money or brings him power. Second, anything at Maralago was for the specific purpose of number one. The question is...how did he plan to make money off of the files. What was in the files and who would he make money off of?
David Beryhill
Sahuarita
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Deb Klumpp, Oro Valley
Trump supporters interviewed by Tim Steller at the polls expressed beliefs that because of Democrats, the country is headed towards communism, socialism, and a host of other ills. One elderly couple stated they know their votes in 2020 were not counted. How do they know this? Why, someone told them so! A letter writer described these beliefs as "sad". Sad, yes - but it goes far beyond sad. It is frightening and dangerous that a significant number of seemingly otherwise intelligent people have, against all reason, bought the lies, misinformation and conspiracy theories set forth by Trump. They are unwavering in support of a twice-impeached, serial lying dictator wanna-be. They support the extremist candidates who bow to Trump, no matter that these extremists are set on destroying the fabric of our country. Our democracy hangs on a precipice - not because of Democrats, but because Trump has succeeded in brainwashing and weaponizing gullible, easily led people who, like their cult leader, have no interest in truth or facts.
Deb Klumpp
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Amanda Blakely, Vail
Let's do a review of the USDOJ and FBI's actions related to the Trump. They used agents to entrap newly appointed National Security Advisor General Flynn. They used unverified information from the Steele dossier to initiate the Russia collusion criminal investigation. FBI agents falsified affidavits for FISA warrants to spy on team Trump. A USDOJ attorney pled guilty to knowingly providing and using false information to obtain a FISA warrant. The same USDOJ and FBI that bent over backwards to accommodate Hillary Clinton during the Classified Information criminal investigation that USAG Lynch insisted on calling a "matter." Classified materials were found on her personal server. No FBI search warrants done at her NY or D.C. homes. But we have FBI agents armed with AR15s storming Trump's residence seizing boxes of records believed related to classified National Archives records. All occurring within three months of the November elections, in which there are numerous candidates, including Kari Lake, running for office endorsed by Trump. I think this was politically motivated, again.
Amanda Blakely
Vail
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Teacher shortage
Re: the July 22 article “TUSD has significant staffing shortages.”
I saw Arizona has a shortage of 2,500 teachers and is relying on substitutes to fill gap. My daughter’s teacher years ago told us she was quitting. She loved teaching but could earn more and not have to deal with parents who think they know better. Now you have people with no qualifications telling them how to teach. Republicans have demonized teachers and people who don’t even have children in a district show up at school boards pushing false narratives. Add on the Republican push to fund private schools at the expense of public schools, and why put up with it?
Craig Miller
Northwest side
Not surprising who’s at table
Re: the Aug. 10 article “Tribes say they have been left out of river talks.”
A very recent article on water negotiations cited: “Fourteen tribal governments, including eight in Arizona, say the U.S. has wrongly left them out of negotiations over major future cuts of Colorado River water use.”
Why is this not surprising? Tribal governments should have been the first ones invited to the negotiation table, not have to petition for a seat.
How’s this “negotiation” supposed to work, anyway, without tribal input? All the state governments get together and figure out what they’re going to do and then tell the tribes: “This is what we’re going to do? Take it or leave it.” Hey, maybe move the tribes to another reservation away from their current location so they won’t have a demand on the water? Not surprising. So typical. Blatant disenfranchisement, again, of Indigenous peoples and tribal governments.
Pat Madea
Northwest side
A day at the polls
Re: the Aug. 13 letter “A day at the polls.”
Thank you to the letter writer. My experience as a poll worker in Fairbanks, Alaska, in the 1970s was also exhausting and rewarding. Many different ideologies in one group working together for the benefit of all. I was afraid that might have changed in today’s political climate. Thank you and your cohorts for your day at the polls.
Sandra Rosenberg
Northeast side
Democracy on the brink
Re: the Aug. 3 article “Festival of democracy gone these days.”
Trump supporters interviewed by Tim Steller at the polls expressed beliefs that because of Democrats, the country is headed toward communism, socialism and a host of other ills. One elderly couple stated they knew their votes in 2020 were not counted. How do they know this? Why, someone told them so!
A letter writer described these beliefs as “sad.” Sad, yes — but it goes far beyond sad. It is frightening and dangerous that a significant number of seemingly otherwise intelligent people have, against all reason, bought the lies, misinformation and conspiracy theories set forth by Trump. They are unwavering in support of a twice-impeached, serial lying dictator wanna-be. They support the extremist candidates who bow to Trump, no matter that these extremists are set on destroying the fabric of our country.
Our democracy hangs on a precipice — not because of Democrats, but because Trump has succeeded in brainwashing and weaponizing gullible, easily led people who, like their cult leader, have no interest in truth or facts.
Deb Klumpp
Oro Valley
Upgrades for Santa Rita Park
Re: the Aug. 13 article “Park upgrades come with concerns for homeless.”
What to do with the homeless during upgrading? The answer is simple. “The Homing Project” (thehomingproject.org), i.e., THP. THP has begun plans for housing 100 homeless in individual living units within a gated village setting, providing complete onsite recovery services. THP has current funding from a start-up grant plus donations but will need about $3 million to complete current goals. The article sets groundbreaking in about a year. By then THP will have 100 living units in place.
It’s amazing that the city can plan and pay for this project without including the homeless. Any passerby can see that the homeless are a daily fixture of the park. As THP is part of the solution, it seems appropriate for the city to assist in part of THP’s funding. As a board member of The Homing Project, we are committed to helping the homeless in our community and understanding that they are as much a part of our community as you and I.
Richard Spaulding
Midtown
Asylum seekers bused to D.C.
Kudos to those nonprofits’ in Washington, D.C., for providing food and shelter to over 1,000 asylum seekers bused there by Arizona Gov. Ducey over the past three months. And to the D.C. attorney general who is offering a $150,000 grant to those same non-profits. But wait! All that is unnecessary. And expensive.
COVID tests, food, lodging and help planning travel to their sponsors all over the U.S. are already generously given in Arizona by non-profits with the financial help of county and federal government grants. Why bus them to D.C?
And those 37 bus rides from Yuma to D.C. at a cost to AZ taxpayers of $3 million, or $2,200 per immigrant? Asylum seekers’ travel from AZ to their sponsors is already fully paid for by their sponsors.
How much of your tax money are you willing to give to unnecessary political stunts?
Sara Busey, Casa Alitas
volunteer
Green Valley
Campgrounds for homeless
The homeless situation in Tucson is worsening, and now due to gentrification and inflation, everyday Tucsonans are being forced onto the streets. Even senior citizens on fixed income have been forced out due to investors raising their rent. Tucson needs a proactive government, not a reactive one. Reflecting on economic predictions for 2023, there will be increased inflation, and more everyday people will be forced out of their homes.
A KOA-style of campground can allow people to pay a rent they can afford and also provide employment at the site as well. This would be quick to design and would provide electricity, cooking, indoor showers, restrooms, laundry and basic dignity. Veterans could assist with building and safety. Tucson could be a role model for the nation as homelessness is going to keep increasing everywhere. There is a shameful hubris in Tucson governing that reflects as we only help border crossers find homes, jobs, food, clothing, etc. and that American citizens are irrelevant, they can sleep in a ditch and use an outhouse.
Cheryl Kelli
Downtown
Senator’s action
What do you call an Arizona senator who took money from Wall Street while killing a tax on investors? A “Sinema Roll.”
Larry Gray
SaddleBrooke
Afghanistan disaster
Aug. 15 marked the one-year anniversary when Biden disastrously withdrew our troops from Afghanistan. The Taliban rapidly moved into Kabul and took over. The chaos at the airport with people clinging onto our military aircraft departing from the Kabul airport. The suicide bomber who killed 13 of our brave service members. Our drone attack killing an innocent family of seven. The billions in military equipment left behind by the military for the Taliban to use.
Biden promised to get every American out of Afghanistan. That did not happen. Hundreds, if not thousands, of Afghans who had cooperated with our military were left behind. Some have been beaten and killed by the Taliban. The country is starving as international assistance has dwindled. Girls are no longer allowed to attend school, and women have to cloak themselves from head to to toe. Al-Qaeda terrorists still use the country as a refuge. Other nations saw us as being incompetent and weak. And Biden still claims this as a success!
Darrin Styles
Midtown
Let’s be clear
I believe two things about Donald Trump. One, he is only ever interested in something that makes him money or brings him power. Second, anything at Mar-a-Lago was for the specific purpose of No. 1. The question is, how did he plan to make money off of the files. What was in the files, and who would he make money off of?
David Beryhill
Sahuarita
Lies are lies
As a #NeverTrump Republican, I still find obnoxious some of the spleen-venting letters that appear here, and I have this question: “Is it OK to lie if you are a Democrat or from the left?” I offer as one specific example the “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.” Even the administration has not been able to find a respected economist who disagrees with the non-partisan CBO that the act does nothing of the sort.
But that’s OK; we are indulging in how Trump lies. That we do also doesn’t matter.
“If you like your doctor, you can keep him.”
OOPS.
John Johnson
Foothills
Dumb and dumber
Milton Berle once said, “You can lead a man to Congress, but you can’t make him think.”
The current gaggle of Republican members of Congress exemplify how true that is. Being retired, I have the luxury of being able to watch these idiots espouse their views daily in support of Donald Trump, the most heinous man ever to occupy the White House, an obvious flimflam man. They support his crass comments, mendacity, deceit, and denigration of our country’s basic values — and they do it with a righteous attitude.
And just when I thought it couldn’t get any dumber, our own Rep. Gosar is the icing on the stupidity cake by saying we must “destroy the FBI.” And sadly, as we can never underestimate the power of human stupidity, the people of the 4th Congressional District elected this fool.
Carl Foster
Green Valley
Trump is not dumb
My son-in-law said I should write this. It’s a theory that has been brewing in my brain for quite some time as I watch the world activities. Most important point … Mr. Trump is not dumb.
Then why so much effort to keep fanning the fires of a stolen election? We know he is egotistical and a person with low moral standards (treatment of women, lies). We also know he is very motivated by money. Can’t get enough of the green stuff.
But why so much effort to get back in the White House? Why is it so important to him? I think it’s about dollars. I think he had some far-reaching plans to make some kind of deals with who knows who or where that would result in a huge windfall for him. I don’t think Putin would have invaded Ukraine if Trump were still in office. They were close … buddies? I’d love for someone to “follow the money” and see if my little theory has any validity. He needs the White House to make some more money on a level that has previously eluded him.
Sonia Maxwell
Northeast
DOJ, FBI motivation
Let’s do a review of the DOJ’s and FBI’s actions related to Trump. They used agents to entrap newly appointed National Security Advisor General Flynn.
They used unverified information from the Steele dossier in the Russia collusion criminal investigation.
FBI agents falsified affidavits for FISA warrants to spy on Team Trump. A DOJ attorney pled guilty to knowingly providing and using false information to obtain a FISA warrant.
The same DOJ and FBI that bent over backward to accommodate Hillary Clinton during the classified information criminal investigation that Attorney General Lynch insisted on calling a “matter.” Classified materials were found on her personal server. No FBI search warrants done at her New York or D.C. homes.
But we have FBI agents storming Trump’s residence seizing boxes of records believed related to classified National Archives records. All occurring within three months of the November elections, in which there are numerous candidates, including Kari Lake, running for office endorsed by Trump. I think this was politically motivated, again.
Amanda Blakely
Vail
Classified information
Anyone else who handles classified information and removes that information from the controlled environment like Trump did would be facing far more scrutiny than Trump. Anyone working with classified information is subject to the rules of handling classified information.
Taking classified information out of the area (especially sensitive compartmented information, SCI) without proper authorization and following document handling procedures could result in loss of your job and potential criminal charges.
Trump was and is subject to all of the same restrictions regardless of being a former president. Why is it that Republicans think that he should be above the law? Trump wanted to “get Hillary” for her emails but feels he is being persecuted.
The GOP has decided that he can make up his own rules. I wonder when the GOP will realize they have been, and continue to be, duped by one of the greatest con men in history. If you want Trump again, be careful what you wish for! America doesn’t need a dictator.
George Ball
Midtown
- Darrel Hochstettler, Vail
I found this article amazingly out of touch with reality. In this article Biden is portrayed as one of the greatest presidents. To compare him with Roosevelt, Johnson or Reagan is ludicrous. Our national image through to the debacles of all of Biden's attempts at foreign policy is a disgrace. The Afghan withdrawal ranks at the top of one of Americas greatest military failures. Even his own party wants him out. His war on climate change is ill-conceived and is causing pain to to poorest in America because of economic stress from which we will never recover.
A second term for Biden would be utter destruction of our country and even his own party will certainly block such a move.
The Inflation Reduction Act as projected by the CBO will contribute 367B to the deficit over 10 years. Other analysts predict much worse results. In a letter to Senator Graham the CBO predicts that the effects of this bill on inflation is negligible.
Darrel Hochstettler
Vail
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- James McLin, East side
I am very disappointed in the prescription drug payment limitation of $2000 going into affect in 2025. This law will save me around $5000 per year and I wish it would be effective for 2023.
When most federal laws that are passed, the due date is usually the next calendar or fiscal year. By making it effective 2025, this will cost many seniors serious amounts of money paid to the drug companies.
James McLin
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Andrew MacLeod, Foothills
If the documents collected by the FBI at former president Trump's Mar-A-Lago resident were so sensitive and top secret how is it they were left to be included in his personal possessions that left the White House?
Andrew MacLeod
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Rick Singer, Oro Valley
The NRA argues that guns don’t kill people. People kill people. I agree.
Gangs, drug dealers, carjackers, religious fanatics, parade-watcher hunters, school kid hunters, grocery shopper/employee hunters, ex-spouse/ex-girlfriend hunters, music fest hunters, and people mentally unfit to own firearms - sadly, they kill people with guns on their own. The NRA doesn't deserve blame, or a tarnished reputation.
One could only imagine the horror if these criminals had hammers, instead of guns. Glad I could clear that up.
Rick Singer
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Ken Newman, East side
Mr. Carlson, the author of the op ed piece about the Inflation Reduction Act In Friday’s Star, did not acknowledge any of the emerging technologies in his assessment of the renewable energy industry. Hydrogen fuel cells and vanadium flow batteries will revolutionize energy storage very soon, making it more feasible to reduce the use of fossil fuels that contribute to making our planet uninhabitable for human beings. We need to be optimistic and act to do what we can in order to preserve our home.
Ken Newman
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Marty Jacobs, Green Valley
The U.S. Dept. of Justice released the federal search warrant done by FBI agents at Trump's Mar a Lago estate. Reportedly they seized boxes of documents some containing classified materials. Here is a list of the federal statutes cited in the search warrant: 18 USC 793 — Gathering, transmitting or losing defense information ; 18 USC 2071 — Concealment, removal or mutilation ; 18 USC 1519 — Destruction, alteration or falsification of records in Federal investigations. Now, these same statues could have easily been used to obtain search warrants for Hillary Clinton's residences in New York and Washington, D.C. where she had used a private server to conduct government business. She became the subject of a criminal Mishandling of Classified Materials Investigation. She and her staff had deleted 30,000 emails from her private server housed at her residence claiming them as personal. However, thousands were forensically retrieved and found to be government related and some contained classified information. No federal search warrants done in her case or charges brought against her.
Marty Jacobs
Green Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Mary Zimmerman, SaddleBrooke
For all those Democratic and Independent voters who don't think midterm elections are important, you need to vote this year like your country depends on it, because it does. If Kari Lake, Mark Finchem, and Abraham Hamadeh prevail,, 2022 will be the last free election Arizona will ever have. No Democrat or even moderate Republican, if there are any left in Arizona, will ever be elected. While Democrats are trying to deal with climate change (yes, there is such a thing), the economy, drug prices, and veteran's health, the Republicans offer nothing but the myth of a stolen election. I can't understand the magic that "Trump Endorsed" holds for a lot of Republicans. What is it about a self-serving, lying narcissist that is so appealing? There is a quote often attributed to Upton Sinclair that says, "when Fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag, and carrying a cross. This sounds like a lot of Republican politicians to me.
Mary Zimmerman
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Sean Bruner, West side
Richard Carlson's ridiculous, pessimistic column concluding: "Welcome to the Black Hole of climate policy: Throw in $400 billion and nothing happens." is just one more roadblock in achieving a climate neutral world. According to the Wikipedia entry on 100% renewable energy, "Recent studies show that a global transition to 100% renewable energy across all sectors – power, heat, transport and desalination well before 2050 is feasible." In addition to presenting incorrect facts and unsupported logic, Carlson ignores the technical strides that have been made in renewables. Many current problems will be solved as the technology advances. "According to the 2013 Post Carbon Pathways report, which reviewed many international studies, the key roadblocks are: climate change denial, the fossil fuels lobby, political inaction, unsustainable energy consumption, outdated energy infrastructure, and financial constraints." Add Carlson's name to that.
Sean Bruner
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Carl Olson, West side
So when will justice finally deal real consequences for bad behavior? I keep hearing legal eagles saying you must prove intent. So smashing windows in the capital building, hitting police with flag poles and then illegally entering that building doesn't show intent to do illegal things?
A former employee taking boxes of valuable information after losing the job, and hiding them in a new residence, isn't enough to charge said crook with theft? The govt has charged lesser people with taking information and putting it on the internet with treasonous acts. Yet now we must put up with idiots shooting at govt employees. Great.
Men paying underage girls doesn't constitute a crime of them having sex with minors. Certainly that is obvious intent.
When after 7 years, long years of enduring this corrupt behavior, will we see consequences. Must the country continue putting up with slime? Oh right, take the Fifth to hide illegalities.
Carl Olson
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Christine Flanagan, Northwest side
The lesson to draw from the Supreme Court decision on abortion is this: Single Issue Voting works. Many thought Christian voters would reject Donald Trump who has no moral compass. His vow to appoint judges who would oppose abortion secured their vote, along with that of other abortion opponents.
¬¬Now the issue that counts is climate change. The political litmus test for candidates is acknowledging climate reality and vowing to face the hard choices that confront us. Failure to elect them will eventually force millions of American families to flee from climate disasters, heat, drought, social unrest, loss of property value, and bankrupt economies. The migration of climate refugees is already happening.
Bickering over social issues amounts to rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. None will matter if we lose the habitability of our cities, our southern states, our coastlines, and ultimately, our planet. It is happening. Vote climate.
Christine Flanagan
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Rich Barnes, East side
A line was crossed today August 8th that has never happened in the history of the Republic.
Raiding a former President’s Residence.
We are in for hard times in our Country. Politicization of Justice and FBI.
These things happen in Banana Republics !
The FBI, DOJ and CIA need to be sacked.
Where are we headed ?
Jan. 6 defendants held without due process, murders and thugs being put back on the streets without bail and little old ladies sent to prison for less serious charges.
Worried about Authoritarian Government ?
Wait til they come for you!
Rich Barnes
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
All is not lost
Re: the Aug. 3 article “Festival of democracy gone these days.”
During the primary elections I worked a 12-hour shift as a Democratic Party poll observer at a voting center in northwestern Pima County. Given the noise about the integrity of the election process, I expected a difficult day. But my Republican poll observer counterparts were friendly and easy to work with on the few issues that came up. The poll workers from both parties, who put in hours before and after the polls closed, were efficient and helpful. For various reasons, a number of people had to use a provisional ballot. Those people were polite and patient while the poll workers made sure they got to vote. I highly recommend volunteering to work at the polls. It will restore your faith that, notwithstanding our differences, Americans can still share respect for each other and the voting process that is central to our system of government.
Eileen Hollowell
Oro Valley
COVID origins
Re: the July 27 article “UA official: COVID originated in Wuhan market.”
It would seem to be appropriate to give credit where credit is due. On July 27, the Star ran an article about the likelihood of COVID-19 coming from a Wuhan, China, seafood market, rather than being leaked from the Wuhan virus laboratory. The same information appeared in the Star in an article by columnist Tim Steller on Dec. 1, 2021, almost eight months earlier. If that wasn’t good journalism, I don’t know what is, most particularly in this present day and age. I appreciated the article back when it originally appeared and people were hoping to find the Chinese Lab at fault. I appreciate it even more now. Kudos to Mr. Steller.
Henry Rosenbaum
Foothills
Climate and inflation
Re: the Aug. 12 article “Act won’t deliver on climate, inflation.”
Richard Carlson’s ridiculous, pessimistic column concluding, “Welcome to the Black Hole of climate policy: Throw in $400 billion and nothing happens,” is just one more roadblock in achieving a climate neutral world. According to the Wikipedia entry on 100% renewable energy, “Recent studies show that a global transition to 100% renewable energy across all sectors — power, heat, transport and desalination well before 2050 is feasible.” In addition to presenting incorrect facts and unsupported logic, Carlson ignores the technical strides that have been made in renewables. Many current problems will be solved as the technology advances. The Wikipedia entry states, “according to the 2013 Post Carbon Pathways report, which reviewed many international studies, the key roadblocks are: climate change denial, the fossil fuels lobby, political inaction, unsustainable energy consumption, outdated energy infrastructure, and financial constraints.” Add Carlson’s name to that.
Sean Bruner
West side
Sen. Sinema: What’s best for Arizona?
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema voted for the Inflation Reduction Act only after Democrats agreed to keep the carried interest tax loophole in the bill, which allows the private equity industry to pay significantly fewer taxes than ordinary Americans. Many of Sinema’s top campaign contributors have ties to the private equity industry.
Although her spokesman states Sinema makes decisions based on “what’s best for Arizona,” these firms buy businesses with borrowed money, gut them to achieve short-term profits, which destabilizes them and causes 20% to fail.
Recently, private equity has invested in small businesses and communities by buying fishing quotas, local newspapers, and a Hispanic grocery chain with stores in Arizona. Private equity money has saturated the Phoenix real estate market, turning first-time homebuyers into renters. More troubling, private equity firms investing in nursing homes have pressured these homes to generate high, short-term profits to the detriment of quality of care and containment of Medicare costs.
Sen. Sinema, is this really what’s best for Arizona?
Cindy Bordelon
Downtown
Santa Rita park homeless issue
Re: the Aug. 13 article “Park upgrades come with concerns for homeless.”
We need to pay some attention to the plight of other cities that tried to accommodate those experiencing homelessness in their park spaces. While the Star story quoted a very sympathetic homeless woman, it’s always a much more complex problem than lending a helping hand to those in need. I don’t know what to do and much brighter folks than me have tried and failed to solve it. All I can do here is point to Portland, Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles — cities with hearts that tried and mostly failed. Parks became anything but the spaces where the public would want to spend any time.
The adage “hard cases make bad law” applies here as a cautionary tale. I say be careful about dividing up public park spaces for homeless accommodation. As big as your heart may be, I doubt any solution like that would work out. It has been tried by cities with good intentions and much more money, and it has failed fairly miserably.
Rick Rappaport
Oro Valley
One more time
Republicans: tell me again why Donald Trump shouldn’t have to obey the law?
Eric Flohr
Midtown
Your vote is critical
For all those Democratic and Independent voters who don’t think midterm elections are important, you need to vote this year like your country depends on it, because it does. I fear if Kari Lake, state Rep. Mark Finchem, and Abraham Hamadeh prevail, 2022 will be the last free election Arizona will ever have. No Democrat or even moderate Republican, if there are any left in Arizona, will ever be elected. While Democrats are trying to deal with climate change (yes, there is such a thing), the economy, drug prices, and veterans’ health, the Republicans offer nothing but the myth of a stolen election. I can’t understand the magic that “Trump Endorsed” holds for a lot of Republicans. What is it about a self-serving, lying narcissist that is so appealing? There is a quote often attributed to Upton Sinclair that says, “when Fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag, and carrying a cross.” This sounds like a lot of Republican politicians to me.
Mary Zimmerman
SaddleBrooke
$150 million Tucson surplus
Re: the Aug. 14 article “City has $150M surplus to spend.”
Being the father of a former high school math teacher and being a former math tutor myself here in the Tucson area, I know the value of hiring teachers with credentials and experience. Why not allocate a portion of Tucson’s $150 million to hiring teachers to fulfill the dire shortage that is occurring in our area?
We must do something dramatic though, to compete with other areas. How about a $50,000-$100,000 bonus payable after five years of continuous exemplary service teaching children in the Tucson public school system? What better investment can we make than that for an education of our children and grandchildren?
Len Laskowski
Northwest side
Unfair criticism of the NRA
The NRA argues that guns don’t kill people. People kill people. I agree.
Gangs, drug dealers, carjackers, religious fanatics, parade-watcher hunters, school kid hunters, grocery shopper/employee hunters, ex-spouse/ex-girlfriend hunters, music fest hunters, and people mentally unfit to own firearms — sadly, they kill people with guns on their own. The NRA doesn’t deserve blame, or a tarnished reputation.
One could only imagine the horror if these criminals had hammers, instead of guns. Glad I could clear that up.
Rick Singer
Oro Valley
Biden’s 2nd term would be destructive
Re: the Aug. 14 article “2nd terms would be study in contrast.”
I found this article amazingly out of touch with reality. In this article, President Biden is portrayed as one of the greatest presidents. To compare him with Roosevelt, Johnson or Reagan is ludicrous. Our national image due to the debacles of all of Biden’s attempts at foreign policy is a disgrace. The Afghan withdrawal ranks at the top of one of America’s greatest military failures. Even his own party wants him out. His war on climate change is ill-conceived and is causing pain to the poorest in America because of economic stress from which we will never recover.
A second term for Biden would be utter destruction of our country and even his own party will certainly block such a move.
The Inflation Reduction Act as projected by the CBO will contribute $367 billion to the deficit over 10 years. Other analysts predict much worse results. In a letter to Sen. Lindsey Graham, the CBO predicts that the effects of this bill on inflation is negligible.
Darrel Hochstettler
Vail
Consequences for behavior
So when will justice finally deal real consequences for bad behavior? I keep hearing legal eagles saying you must prove intent. So smashing windows in the Capitol building, hitting police with flag poles and then illegally entering that building doesn’t show intent to do illegal things?
A former employee taking boxes of valuable information after losing the job, and hiding them in a new residence, isn’t enough to charge said crook with theft? The government has charged lesser people with taking information and putting it on the internet with treasonous acts. Yet now we must put up with idiots shooting at government employees. Great.
When, after seven long years of enduring this corrupt behavior, will we see consequences? Must the country continue putting up with slime? Oh right, take the Fifth to hide illegalities.
Carl Olson
West side
Mar-a-Lago raid
A line was crossed Aug. 8 that has never happened in the history of the Republic. Raiding a former president’s residence.
We are in for hard times in our country. Politicization of Justice and FBI. These things happen in Banana Republics. The FBI, DOJ and CIA need to be sacked.
Where are we headed? Jan. 6 defendants held, in my view, without due process, murders and thugs being put back on the streets without bail and little old ladies sent to prison for less serious charges.
Worried about authoritarian government? Wait til they come for you!
Rich Barnes
East side
Hold your nose if necessary
The lesson to draw from the Supreme Court decision on abortion is this: Single-issue voting works. Many thought Christian voters would reject Donald Trump, who has no moral compass. His vow to appoint judges who would oppose abortion secured their vote, along with that of other abortion opponents.
Now the issue that counts is climate change. The political litmus test for candidates is acknowledging climate reality and vowing to face the hard choices that confront us. Failure to elect them will eventually force millions of American families to flee from climate disasters, heat, drought, social unrest, loss of property value and bankrupt economies. The migration of climate refugees is already happening.
Bickering over social issues amounts to rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. None will matter if we lose the habitability of our cities, our southern states, our coastlines, and ultimately, our planet. It is happening. Vote climate.
Christine Flanagan
Northwest side
Disappointed in prescription drug date
I am very disappointed in the prescription drug payment limitation of $2,000 going into affect in 2025. This law will save me around $5,000 per year and I wish it would be effective for 2023.
When most federal laws that are passed, the due date is usually the next calendar or fiscal year. By making it effective 2025, this will cost many seniors serious amounts of money paid to the drug companies.
James McLin
East side
Who was responsible for documents?
If the documents collected by the FBI at former president Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence were so sensitive and top secret, how is it they were left to be included in his personal possessions that left the White House?
Andrew MacLeod
Foothills
Desert being misused
The Desert Southwest is called the Desert Southwest for a reason — it is a desert. Deserts exists in areas of very little rainfall. Why are we using up so much water trying to grow crops in the middle of a desert? A desert is much more suited for solar panels and wind generators.
Conversely, why is our government paying incentives for putting up solar panels and wind generations in the Midwest? This is prime cropland. It is much more suited for growing the food we need.
If our government is giving billions of dollars in climate change incentives, use them where they will do the most good.
Thomas Wenzel
East side
- Boris Slovek, Green Valley
The narrative from climate activists is that we need drastic CO2 reduction to save the planet. Biden and Democrats are doing their best to get people into electric vehicles, that ironically use electricity mainly produced from fossil fuels. The Biden administration is spending billions of tax payer money on their climate change agenda. I wonder if climate activists know that current CO2 levels will remain in the atmosphere for decades to centuries? China remains the world's #2 CO2 emitter and India is #3. Russia's primary source of income is their sale of oil and natural gas. Do you really think they will ever end that? China and India are buying millions of barrels of oil from Russia now, despite the Ukraine war. Few of the 193 countries that signed onto the UN Climate Change deal in 2015 have met their pledged CO2 reductions or monetary commitments. I think climate activists, who are mainly Democrats, are naïve in thinking their efforts will change the weather or "save the planet."
Boris Slovek
Green Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Ila Abernathy, Midtown
Thomas Wenzel’s perspectives on inevitable, natural climate cycles [STAR, July 30] are well presented but incomplete. They ignore the reality that populous technological societies can and do exacerbate such cycles – and even alter them, as would occur with nuclear winter.
Back when I worked at the University of Arizona Poetry Center and took extra classes (already had a Master's in English Lit), I audited a course taught by "stellar" planetary scientist Brad Smith, in charge of planetary imaging for Voyager and with an armload of national and international awards. He was also a fantastic teacher.
When talking about first life on earth, Smith remarked these simple organisms were all anaerobic, consuming carbon dioxide from the early atmosphere and spewing out oxygen, profoundly (and negatively) affecting their surface survival.
Dr. Smith added a polite warning, already manifest in the late 1980's – that this was the first case on earth of an organism's poisoning its own atmosphere.
Thank you, Brad Smith.
Ila Abernathy
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Keith Carver, Northeast side
The official definition of the controversial term 'Assault Rifle' has now been recognized by all involved parties.
Assault Rifle; Def: Any of a number of wannabee versions of the original Mattel Real-Kill(M16), designed for the defense of this country now used by needy types to pose for selfies while they prance across social media.
Also, the guy who jumped up in the firefight, struck a pose and corrected his bro, who had screamed for the loan of a 'Clip' instead of a 'Mag'? The NRA enshrined him into their hall of fame.
Keith Carver
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Lavon Sumption, Tubac
Donald Trump, carried Spoiled Brat Complex into Old Age:
- treated presidency, US Govt as Trump plaything
- shouted current themes loud/long to 'believers'
- Election 2020 crushing defeat - Brat couldn't accept
- shouted FRAUD against voting system's security/accuracy
- organized attack on capitol to stay in power - illegal, failure
- demanded states 'find' Trump votes; 50 law suits; no fraud
- insulted poll workers working for secure, accurate results
Unindicted criminal, twice impeached, once defeated Brat for president?
No thanks, Trump baggage overload; one term enough!
L
Lavon Sumption
Tubac
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Ruth Hanon, East side
I am weary. I am exhausted from 'fighting'. Now our candidates in Arizona say they are 'fighting' for us. I don't want more fighting. I want candidates who ask, "What do you, the people, need, want'"? I need to hear our candidates say, "I'm listening, I'm problem solving, I'm cooperating and want to work with all parties'.' Where is the representation of the people, for the people? Why do candidates not tell us about themselves and what they can do rather than attack the other party? Where is cooperation? Where is problem solving? Why do we hate those who have different opinions? Why are we blaming rather than solving? Please, I am so tired.
Ruth Hanon
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Bette E Richards, Northwest side
Good job Border Patrol officers. I must be missing something because it seems the better job you do stopping drugs and undocumented the more criticism you get. Why is it that more arrests lead to comments that you are doing a lousy job? Why is it that more arrests lead to comments that more and more drugs and undocumented are getting into the country? I would think that more arrests actually mean you are doing a better and better job of stopping drug traffic and stopping illegal entry into the country, but I guess not. All I hear from the politicians is that you are doing a lousy job and just can't manage at all. What is it? How can it be that more arrests mean more getting though? It doesn't make sense to me.
Bette E Richards
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Jim Crumpacker, SaddleBrooke
In 2000 the Florida recount continued into December, with GW Bush the presidential winner, beginning the debate over election security.
In a 2005 report the Commission on Election Reform, chaired by former president Jimmy Carter (D) and Washington insider James Baker (R), cited concerns about early voting, mail ballots and voter ID among potential causes of fraud.
Education institutions also produced voting studies. CalTech, MIT and Harvard are the best known. One conclusion noted we have provided convenience for voters, while sacrificing security and accuracy.
Harvard's Election Integrity Project ranked our 2012-2018 national elections 57th and last among world democracies, according to U.S. News & World Report. Addressing a wide range of problems, Harvard rated American voting with Mexico and Panama in insecurity. Costa Rica, Chile and Scandinavian countries rated as securest.
So some Americans wish to expand voter roles at any cost, while others are committed to preserving the integrity, security, secrecy, trust and reliability of the system as originally structured.
And the beat goes on.
Jim Crumpacker
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Gavin Kayner, Northwest side
Editor, Apparently Trump was recently in state to stage a rally and people actually attended! This after the man has repeatedly shown us exactly what he is: a pathological liar, a woefully ignorant misogynist--indeed, a psychopath (see the 7 signs - he addresses all of them). It continues to be frightening to think so many people are willfully allowing themselves to be deceived by this man. A man who nearly caused the downfall of the very country such folks supposedly want to make great again (ah, irony).And more astonishingly - these supporters send part of their wages to this self-proclaimed multi-millionaire! Send him money! What a marvelous scam! It wouldn't matter if Trump were president and waved a wand and lowered gas prices to $2, or exorcised inflation, or cured cancer he would yet remain the psychopath who would be king. Crown him again at your peril.
Gavin Kayner
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Cindy Soffrin, Northeast side
Old sayings tend to fit many circumstances perfectly.
Former President Trump has, over the years, expressed his disdain for people who assert their Fifth Amendment right to not testify under oath if they feel they would be incriminating themselves.
It looks like Trump has changed his mind. In denigrating Hillary Clinton and her staff in 2016 for asserting their Fifth Amendment rights, Trump had this to say: “The mob takes the Fifth. If you’re innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?” In 2014 he said, “If you are innocent, do not remain silent. You look guilty as hell!”
I must say I agree with him. And he does look "guilty as hell".
Cindy Soffrin
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Rosalinda Vasquez, South side
The trend started in 2020, with Trump surging with Latino voters. That trend has continued with numerous Latino conservative Republicans, esp. women, running for office. The Democrat party has been taken over by mostly white elitist suburban progressives. The Latino culture still is machoistic. I think they are turned off by today's Democrat party of wokism, gender neutrality, transgenderism, central government dictates, etc. Many Latinos are Catholic and are pro-life. And yes, many Latino-Americans believe the border is out of control and crime rampant in cities across the country, with Progressive District Attorneys' revolving door policies for criminals. Latino-Americans are patriotic, and do not like Progressive Democrat's continual denigration of our country. It is ironic that during this political re-alignment, that Biden's de facto open borders policies have allowed entry of hundreds of thousands of Latinos. He and other Democrats believe that one day they will obtain citizenship and vote Democrat. But if the ongoing realignment of Latino voters trend continues, that could very well change.
Rosalinda Vasquez
South side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Janet Pipes, Northwest side
The law requires the FBI to give Trump an inventory of what they found when they entered his home. If Trump wants to claim the search was a witch hunt and he had no government property in his home, Trump should release the search inventory.
Janet Pipes
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Robert Ryan, Midtown
I am, and have been a proud registered Democrat since my first vote at 18 years old. I have voted for Republican candidates over these many years, when I believed they supported issues important to me and my family. John McCain, a man of honor, I voted for. However, at this important juncture in our democratic process, I would enthusiastically support Liz Cheney for President. President Biden has done an exceptional job elevating America's lost respect in foreign and domestic policy. He deserves credit for bringing our country to a more stable participant in world affairs and ACTUALLY putting "America First" (not his own bank account). However, Ms. Cheney has demonstrated an exceptionally courageous stance in standing up to the Trumpian-Party. She IS a proud American more interested in the continuation of democracy than her own political future. SHE IS A TRUE AMERICAN PATRIOT. Please RUN Ms Cheney!
Robert Ryan
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Antone Hagen, Sierra Vista
Former president Trump took boxes of documents and photos to his private residence in Florida after leaving office. They did not belong to him. These belonged in their proper storage container for classified material and/or turned over immediately to the National Archives. What possible reason could he have for keeping these documents? Did he use them for leisure reading? Was it to let them rot in basement storeroom so they never come to light? Were they material for a new book? Maybe they were to negotiate with agencies within our government? Maybe to negotiate with a foreign government? So many unanswered questions. Only he can stop the speculation by explaining what he was going to do with the documents.
Antone Hagen
Sierra Vista
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Terry Ford, Catalina
I believe in law enforcement and our legal system and fully support those who dedicate their lives to protect us and our freedom.
But when politicians use the system for political power we all lose.
I see this head hunt of the Democrats persuing Trump it is like the old Roadrunner vs Wiley Coyote cartoons. The Dems throwing everything Acme has at Trump. He "Beep beep" and zooms away.
Pols let the legal system handle it.
Terry Ford
Catalina
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Save our schools — again
Like nearly all Arizonans, I know the value of public education and the payoffs that it provides to families, neighborhoods and the state economy. Yet our Republican Legislature is intentionally starving our public schools. They’ve severely cut funding and overturned popular initiatives that support our schools, disregarding the will of the voters. Currently, Arizona ranks last in the nation in education funding. And the latest legislative attack, a universal voucher expansion, would siphon $1 billion a year or more from woefully underfunded neighborhood schools to private, religious and home schools.
Arizona voters said “No” to these vouchers by a 2-to-1 margin in 2018. Because our Legislature defied us, we must do it again. Please sign the Save Our Schools petition before mid-September, so that we may, once again, vote to fund our public schools. You may find petition locations at teamsosarizona.com. Please take the time. Much is at stake.
Elizabeth Lyons
Midtown
Represent the people
When will members of Congress learn that they are elected to represent the people, not to foster their personal views? Maybe Liz Cheney understands this now while she looks at her election results. Good on the citizens of Wyoming for speaking up and dropping this dedicated Donald Trump-hater who failed to do her elected job.
Don Flood
Green Valley
A proud RINO
I have been a Republican since Ronald Reagan. Today I am considered a RINO by this party. And why not? If you don’t believe 2020 was a free and fair election, I can’t vote for you. If you don’t think Donald Trump and all his insurrectionist allies deserve jail time, if you believe the government has a right to control a woman’s body, that climate change is a hoax, if you support school vouchers and refuse to fund public schools, if you voted to decertify my vote, I can’t vote for you. Are you OK with Supreme Court justices that lie in their confirmation hearings? Are you OK with gerrymandering and voter suppression? Then I can’t vote for you. In Helsinki, Trump showed the world his complete subservience to Vladimir Putin, the new fascist warmonger in Europe. How can that not concern you? No Republican running for office meets any of my conditions. I will vote straight Democrat. Watch the Jan 6 hearings.
William Garrity
Foothills
Arizona primaries
I am a registered Independent who opted for an early ballot by mail. I never received a ballot. On voting day, I went in person and had to select a major party before I could vote. I was told by the election volunteer that I did not receive a ballot because I was a registered Independent.
Since Independents make up one-third of the voters, I feel that to exclude their voter participation is undemocratic in our primaries. If they were included in the primary voting system, then more moderate candidates would be elected for the general election. A ballot should list all the candidates regardless of political affiliation.
Victor Panizzon
Northwest side
Latinos appreciate Democratic values
Re: the Aug. 12 letter “Latinos fleeing Democratic party.”
Latinos and Catholics are not monolithic in their thinking. I am a bilingual, bicultural social worker, went to Catholic schools 11 years, am pro-choice, and lived/worked in Tucson over 70 years. I worked with many disadvantaged and underrepresented populations, and as such, take umbrage at the assumptions and misconceptions stated in this letter. The majority of communities of color that I have interfaced with are grateful for health care access, voting rights, educational opportunities, etc., all resources that Republicans are trying to cut/gut/take away.
We need both parties; what concerns me are people that believe “the big lie.”
Regarding open borders — they are not. Migrants who enter illegally are arrested and prosecuted in federal court every day.
The term “machismo” is often misunderstood. These men have courage, honor, dignity, and want what is best for their families. They have not forgotten what is is like to receive help, and are willing to give a helping hand to others when needed.
Linda V. Otero
Green Valley
Thanks, Dems, for more IRS agents
I wanted to thank Democrats in Congress for passing the Inflation Reduction Act along a partisan vote that almost doubles the IRS budget and will add over 80,000 new agents and auditors. They will have more employees than the FBI, etc. The legislation says the intent of hiring so many IRS agents and auditors is to target those earning over $400,000 and corporations, but they are not prohibited from auditing others like you and me. I believe that is exactly what will happen. Higher earners and corporations have attorneys and accountants representing them, and they are more difficult to audit and intimidate than average earners. I think small businesses filing as “C” corporations will be targeted, too. Remember under Barack Obama, the IRS, lead by Lois Lerner, targeted conservative groups, and her computer just happened to crash eliminating two years of emails that investigators had sought. Average working Republicans, Independents and Democrats will not be immune from being audited now. Thanks to Democrats Chuck Schumer, Joe Manchin, Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema.
Alberto Torres
Northwest side
Who will certify November election?
In Arizona, four officials must certify final election results: the governor, the attorney general, the secretary of state and the chief justice. If Gov. Doug Ducey and Attorney General Mark Brnovich hope to have a future within what I consider the Republican cult, will they certify the November 2022 election if Democratic candidates win? If the cult GOP candidates win this round for any of those three offices, Gov., Sec. State, or AG, they will almost certainly refuse to certify any Democratic wins in 2024, e.g., president. This may be Arizona’s last chance at a free and fair election, or maybe 2020 was.
Hollace Lyon
SaddleBrooke
Autocrats win by casting doubt
If an autocratic leader considered Western democracy as an existential threat, what could be their best offensive strategy? Military action and cyber-attacks would likely result in mutually assured destruction. The one thing they might focus on is something they don’t have and could not result in retaliation. That one thing is free and fair elections and the peaceful transfer of power. If serious doubt about the sanctity of election results could be instilled in the voters, they have succeeded. The winner does not have the validity needed to effectively govern, their opponents could continually cast doubt on the results of current and future elections, and voters would either not vote or believe their votes would not be counted. Unfortunately, foreign governments don’t have to bother. Donald Trump and his supporters are doing their job for them.
Donald Davis
East side
GOP energized after FBI raid
I believe the FBI’s unprecedented raid of former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence has energized his 70 million supporters to vote in November. Supporters view the Jan. 6 investigation being conducted by seven Democrats and two Republican Trump-haters as purely political, the hearings timed for the upcoming elections. They also believe that the investigations of him in New York and Georgia being conducted by Democrat prosecutors are politically motivated. They know that the three-year “Russia collusion” investigation of Trump relating to the 2016 election was politically motivated and so was his first impeachment done by all Democrats. Democrats have been out to destroy Trump and his family since his first announcement for running for president. His supporters view the raid on his home as another politically motivated investigation done by a still corrupt DOJ and FBI coming 90 days before the midterm elections. I believe 70 million Trump supporters are now energized to donate, fundraise and vote for Trump-endorsed Republican conservative candidates in November!
Marsella Mavis
Northwest side
A dangerous ideology
A recent letter to the editor espoused a dangerous ideology swirling about the Republican Party base. That is, the overbroad concept of “states’ rights.”
I have spoken to Dobbs v Jackson supporters who say that overturning Roe v. Wade was returning the issue to the states and strengthening the voice of the people. They are wrong.
The Supreme Court decision was flawed because it ignored the idea of a reflective Constitution for a false divine one. The Catholic Church couldn’t deny the sun is the center of the universe. As such, its view of the Scripture Bible became one of guidance, not of literalism. By overturning Roe v. Wade for the reasons given in its decision, the court has opened the door to anti-American counter-revolutionism that can not assimilate newer concepts, much like the Taliban or ISIS can’t accept women as equals.
This issue of “states’ rights” has played out before. Isn’t having over 600,000 killed in the 1860s over “states’ rights” enough death for our country?
Matt Somers
Midtown
Words matter
Was it a “raid” on Mar-a-Lago or was it a “rule of law” search warrant? Was Kari Lake “ambushed” by a CNN reporter inquiring about her election fraud claims or was it a reporter asking questions? Is the IRA ‘s $400 billion for addressing climate change just another “politically motivated” rape of the public purse or would that money reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030?
Sticks and stones might break my bones, but name calling in today’s polarized world will hurt more than any stick imaginable.
Rick Rappaport
Oro Valley
The idea of the soul
Anti-abortionist Christians argue that an immortal soul is born when sperm penetrate an egg: this idea is not Biblical. The ancient Hebrews did not believe in any soul or afterlife: you slept forever when you died (Ecclesiastes 9:4-10; you could be revived by witchcraft, but not for long: 1 Samuel 6-28). In Jesus’ time the idea of resurrection became popular, and Jesus is said to have argued it with over-traditional Sadducees (Matthew 22: 23-33). Paul taught that the dead would be raised, in their bodies, on the last day (which he thought was imminent) and ascend along with the living (1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18). Luther, Milton and many other Christians were mortalists, teaching that the soul died with the body but arose finally. Hebrews believed that the child did not become a real person until well after birth
The idea that we can know better, without any scriptural warrant, is typical of the holier-than-thou.
Herbert Schneidau
Foothills
Thankful for sane response
Re: the Aug. 17 letter “DOJ, FBI motivation.”
Finally, a sane response. Thank You!
Linda Schaub
Southeast side
Terry snub
I’ve enjoyed Greg Hansen’s columns for decades, but I can’t read his “Top 100 Teams” series. I followed his “Top 100 Sports Figures” series and was gravely disappointed when Jason Terry did not make his list. I challenge Greg to rewatch the opening NCAA Tournament game for the 1997 Wildcats. Miles Simon and Michael Dickerson, combined, took 10 3-point shots, missing all but one. Terry took only one 3-point shot, at a critical time, and made it. Plus, he had five steals in that game. Without him, the Cats do not make it to the second round and Lute Olson never wins a national championship. He was also pivotal in the national championship game. No Terry, no championship. He played all four years at Arizona and then went on to have a 19-year NBA career. Exclusion from Top 10 is a monumental error. But “Top 100?” Wow, just wow!
Louis Hollingsworth
West side
Trump doesn’t care about US
Confidential, top secret.
Apparently, Donald Trump wants to release information on what was taken from Mar-a-Lago. These are secrets that could damage this country’s security.
Is this enough to make you realize he doesn’t care about you or this country?
His narcissism makes him feel everyone is against him, and “fake news” just adds to this feeling. Does his congenital lying (oh, all politicians lie) tell you anything? He expects loyalty, but doesn’t give it in return.
Allowing a mob of armed rioters to destroy our capital, harm and kill police, try to hang Mike Pence, just to overturn a legitimate election. Aside from many of his close advisors telling him he lost, many dozens of court cases telling him he lost, and no substantial proof he won.
Voting only party line is no longer good enough. This is not to be political, just reasonable and patriotic.
Peter Strauss
Northwest side
- Don Flood, Green Valley
When will members of Congress learn that they are elected to represent the people NOT to foster their personal views. Maybe Liz Cheney understands this now while she looks at her election results. Good on on the citizens of Wyoming for speaking up and dropping this dedicated Trump hater who failed to do her elected job.
Don Flood
Green Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Herbert Schneidau, Foothills
Anti-abortionist Christians argue that an immortal soul is born when sperm penetrate an egg: this idea is not Biblical. The ancient Hebrews did not believe in any soul or afterlife: you slept forever when you died (Ecclesiastes 9:4-10; you could be revived by witchcraft, but not for long: 1 Sam. 6-28). In Jesus' time the idea of resurrection became popular, and Jesus is said to have argued it with over-traditional Sadducees (Matthew 22: 23-33). Paul taught that the dead would be raised, in their bodies, on the last day (which he thought was imminent) and ascend along with the living (1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18). Luther, Milton and many other Christians were mortalists, teaching that the soul died with the body but arose finally. Hebrews believed that the child did not become a real person until well after birth
The idea that we can know better, without any scriptural warrant, is typical of the holier-than-thou.
Herbert Schneidau
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Stuart Sellinger, Northwest side
President Biden’s Build Back Better Bill bill included funds to fight climate change, provide child care for children under the age of six, provide universal preschool for all three and four year olds, provide up to four weeks of paid family and medical care per year, and extend the pandemic-era child tax credit.
With few exceptions, every GOP senator and representative voted against the bill and it was defeated. Today, the GOP is determined to reject the Inflation Reduction Act which creates a 15% corporate minimum tax rate, allows Medicare to negotiate the price of prescription drugs, extends Affordable Care Act premium subsidies, invests in climate protection, and closes a tax loophole which benefits the wealthy.
Our total poverty rate of 14.7% and our child poverty rate of 17% seem of no concern to the GOP. Thirty one million Americans lack health coverage and another thirty eight million have inadequate health coverage. Let them go to the emergency room, advises the GOP.
Have they no compassion.
Stuart Sellinger
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Rick Rappaport, Oro Valley
Was it a "raid" on Mar a Lago or was it a "Rule of Law" search warrant? Was Kari Lake "ambushed" by a CNN reporter inquiring about her election fraud claims or was it a reporter asking questions? Is the IRA 's $400,000,000,000 for addressing climate change just another "politically motivated" rape of the public purse or would that money reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030?
Sticks and stones might break my bones but name calling in today's polarized world will hurt more than any stick imaginable.
Rick Rappaport
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Linda Schaub, Southeast side
I agree there should be consequences, but this letter writer is woefully ignorant (Trump’s boxes held declassified documents. Last month he offered to let them see what he has) but makes a pass on the following:
1. How about the 30 million documents Obama has sitting in a warehouse?
2. How about Hunter Biden’s laptop that the FBI refuse’s to investigate?
3. How about “the Big Guy” getting a 10% kickback from China?
4. How about Hillary’s personal home server containing CLASSIFIED documents?
5. How about Hillary’s 33,000 “bleached” emails? What was SHE hiding?
6. How about the FISA report, Steele Dossier, and Russian collusion that were proven to be false?
7. How about the $50 mil in damages from the riots and lives lost, yet Kamala participated in collecting funds for those arrested?
8. What about the BILLIONS of dollars of equipment left in Afghanistan and the people left behind?
When will we see the consequences for these corrupt and illegal behaviors?
Linda Schaub
Southeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Matt Somers, Midtown
A recent letter to the editor espoused a dangerous ideology swirling about the Republican Party base. That is, the overbroad concept of "States' Rights".
I have spoken to Hobbs v Jackson supporters who say that overturning Roe v. Wade was returning the issue to the states and strengthening the voice of the people. They are wrong.
The Supreme Court decision was flawed because it ignored the idea of an reflective Constitution for a false divine one. The Catholic Church couldn't deny the sun is the center of the universe. As such, its view of the Scriptured Bible became one of guidance, not of literalism. By overturning Roe v. Wade for the reasons given in its decision, the Court has opened the door to anti-American counter-revolutionism that can not assimilate newer concepts, much like the Taliban or ISIS can't accept women as equals.
This issue of "State's Rights" has played out before. Isn't having over 600,000 killed in the 1860s over "States' Rights" enough death for our country?
Matt Somers
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- THOMAS MCGORRAY, Northwest side
To the tune of "I never get Maggie Alone"
I never see Hunter alone
Hunter dear, you don't go out alone
Seems that you have a FBI chaperone
When you go out no matter where you’re bound
There ‘s always somebody around
You bring your father, your mother
Your uncle and one other,
I never see Hunter alone
We got his laptop. His emails
And photos of his females
But we never see Hunter alone
There were the Chinese, the Ukrainians
And even some Albanians,
But we never see Hunter alone
There was the “big guy”, his mother
His uncle and one other
But we never see Hunter alone.
The FBI revised it, the media hides it
And Big Joe, he denies it.
So we never get Hunter alone
Because of his father, his mother
.His uncle and one other.
We can never, see Hunter alone
His taxes were unpaid, the IRS made a raid
His taxes were repaid
By the big guy, his mother,
His uncle and one other
Still we never see Hunter alone
THOMAS MCGORRAY
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- William Garrity, Foothills
I have been a Republican since Reagan. Today I am considered a RINO by this party. And why not? If you don't believe 2020 was a free and fair election I can't vote for you. If you don't think Trump and all his insurrectionist allies deserve jail time, if you believe the government has a right to control a woman's body, that climate change is a hoax, if you support school vouchers and refuse to fund public schools, if you voted to decertify my vote I can't vote for you. Are you OK with Supreme Court justices that lie in their confirmation hearings? Are you OK with gerrymandering and voter suppression? Then I can't vote for you. In Helsinki Trump showed the world his complete subservience to Putin the new facist warmonger in Europe. How can that not concern you? No Republican running for office meets any of my conditions. I will vote straight democrat. Watch the Jan 6th hearings.
William Garrity
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Marsella Mavis, Northwest side
I believe the FBI's unprecedented raid of former president Trump's Mar a Lago residence has energized his 70 million supporters to vote in November. Supporters view the January 6 investigation being conducted by seven Democrats and two Republican Trump haters as purely political, the hearings timed for the upcoming elections. They also believe that the investigations of him in New York and Georgia being conducted by Democrat prosecutors are politically motivated. They know that the three year "Russia collusion" investigation of Trump relating to the 2016 election was politically motivated and so was his first Impeachment done by all Democrats. Democrats have been out to destroy Trump and his family since his first announcement for running for President. His supports view the raid on his home as another politically motivated investigation done by a still corrupt USDOJ and FBI coming 90 days before the midterm elections. I believe 70 million Trump supporters are now ENERGIZED to donate, fund raise and vote for Trump endorsed Republican conservative candidates in November!
Marsella Mavis
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Alberto Torres, Northwest side
I wanted to thank Democrats in Congress for passing the Inflation Reduction Act along a partisan vote that almost doubles the IRS' budget and will add about 80,000 new agents and auditors. They will have more employees that DHS, the FBI, etc. The legislation says the intent of hiring so many IRS agents and auditors is to target those earning over $400,000 and corporations, but they are not prohibited from auditing others like you and me. I believe that is exactly what will happen. Higher earners and corporations have attorneys and accountants representing them, and they are more difficult to audit and intimidate than average earners. I think small businesses filing as "C" corporations will be targeted too. Remember under Obama, the IRS, lead by Lois Lerner, targeted conservative groups, and her computer just happened to crash eliminating two years of emails that investigators had sought. Average working Republicans, Independents AND Democrats will not be immune from being audited now. Thanks to Democrats Schumer, Manchin, Kelly, and Sinema.
Alberto Torres
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Gerald Jurries, Green Valley
The following are words that appeared in letters today Aug. 17. Egotistical, low moral standards, heinous, flim flam man, crass comments, mendacity, deceit, denigration of our country's basic values, lies, misinformation, conspiracy theories, serial lying dictator wanna-be. Writers hating Trump and Republicans in general. Imagine carrying this hatred around in your head. For what purpose? Too bad these people don't give us examples. Look in the mirror, read what you wrote. Try being fair. Trump's economy did the country very good. Biden is hurting average citizens.
Gerald Jurries
Green Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Donald Davis, East side
If an autocratic leader who considered western democracy as an existential threat, what could be their best offensive strategy? Military action and cyber-attacks would likely result in mutually assured destruction. The one thing they might focus on is something they don’t have and could not result in retaliation. That one thing is free and fair elections and the peaceful transfer of power. If serious doubt about the sanctity of election results could be instilled in the voters, they have succeeded. The winner does not have the validity needed to effectively govern, their opponents could continually cast doubt on the results of current and future elections, and voters would either not vote or believe their votes would not be counted. Unfortunately, foreign governments don’t have to bother. Donald Trump and his supporters are doing their job for them.
Donald Davis
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
The Mount Rushmore of Arizona Wildcats men's basketball players
