Tucson Speaks Out: April 22 letters of the day

As a registered independent, and a conservative, I will not be voting for a person:

I’m voting for secure borders and legal immigration.

I'm voting for the police to be respected once again and to ensure law and order.

I'm voting for freedom of speech and religion.

I'm voting for the Second Amendment and my right to defend my life and my family.

I’m voting for a return of our troops from foreign countries.

I'm voting for the electoral college.

I’m voting for the continued appointment of federal judges who respect the Constitution.

I’m voting for our jobs to remain in America and not be outsourced all over.

I'm voting for the military and the veterans who fought for this country.

I’m voting to fight against human/child trafficking.

I'm not just voting for one person, I'm voting for the future of my country.

Trump, although I do not care for him, represents more of what I am voting for.

What are you voting for?

Tom McGorray

Northwest side

OJ: An American tragedy

Having grown up in Los Angeles and having sat through hours of the OJ Simpson trial, I continue to find the whole situation tragic not only for his victims but for American society OJ was "ghetto Black," raised by a single mother in poverty, given a chance to play football at a major university, and then awarded millions of dollars. He was cast into a rarefied atmosphere without a parachute. The tragedy? No one ever taught OJ the accoutrements that are supposed to accompany wealth. In short, and it is, perhaps, an indictment of our society, there was no place to teach him and take the "ghetto" out of the man. With all of the wealth, he was still an outsider!

Barbara Benjamin

Foothills

Abortion

Let's see. The Democrats are for killing unborn babies but when is the last time the Arizona Democratic governor allowed an execution for a person who was sentenced to death — never. Democrats, you have a definite double standard.

Michael Cooper

East side

Taps for the Republican Party

The Republican Party is dead. Even “traditional” members don’t speak out. Ask Romney why. Death by dark money coming through 100 organizations, with close ties with Trump cronies, like Steven Miller. Heritage Foundation is the face and publisher of their long-planned design: Mandate for Leadership, the Conservative Promise, a book widely available and summarized well on their websites. AKA Project 2025, there’s even a Presidential Administrative Academy, “Get Ready for Day One.” Training “good soldiers.” This is NOT Conservative or MAGA. Plans are harrowing for the U.S. AND the world. Name it what it is: The Fascist Party.

I’m no fearmonger, and I thank the Star for printing opinions and letters touching on this. But the news overall isn't doing its job noting what is planned. Republican, Independent or Democrat, I beseech you to inform yourself and spread the word. MAGA is a diversion via a psychopath easily manipulated through his insatiable ego. Our Constitution, equal rights, social services, and environment: all at risk.

Nancy Jacques

Northeast side

Headlines about Trump

“Hush Money” isn’t the crime.

The headlines describing Trump’s current trial use terms like “hush money” and “porn star”, but those terms trivialize the indictment. They make exciting copy, but that’s not what Trump’s been charged with. He’s being tried for falsifying corporate records and attempting to cover up what he did. The indictment is not as easy to understand as a roll in the hay with a porn star, but we should be more careful when we describe what this trial is really about.

Loring Green

Foothills

Forsaken?

I value human life from inception. For some time, I've felt that GOP polls embraced that same thought. But now I see that GOP candidates like Kari Lake and Juan Ciscomani have abandoned their positions on abortion, undeniably because they want to be elected regardless of principle. And likely on the insistence of Donald Trump. He too has changed his tune.

Our representatives in the state senate laudably maintain their convictions about abortion with their prayer sessions on the assembly floor to the satisfaction of all who value human life.

Why have Trump, Lake and Ciscomani revised their supposed convictions? Politics above principle.

Scott Lukomski

Northeast side

Republicans’ illicit
abortion scheme

Arizona legislative Republicans and state GOP had a secret plan to lie, cheat and steal their way to thwart the will of the majority of voters who will support the Arizona Abortion Access (“triple A”) citizen initiative in November. That initiative would essentially restore the standard in place under Roe v. Wade for 50 years until the U.S. Supreme Court’s own extremists tossed it out.

AZ Republicans have been caught in the act and seem to have no shame about their illicit scheme. They intend to put similarly named and misleading referenda of their own on the ballot that would actually restrict women’s reproductive health and freedom. Our legislators are supposed to represent all their constituents, not just those who voted for them, but our extremist Republicans have only their own warped agenda in mind. Voters will need to educate themselves and vote carefully this November.  

Anne Mitchell

East side

Israeli-Gaza War

To the Daily Star:

I continue to be dismayed at the lack of understanding by many Americans regarding the Israeli-Gaza War.

Israel declared war on Hamas, (not a police action), after Hamas (the elected government of Gaza) violently attached the nation of Israel.

Why are we (Western Countries) demanding an Israeli ceasefire when we should demand that Hamas surrender? Hamas started the war, and continues to call for the destruction of Israel and all Jews.

We should be clearly stating: Hamas committed heinous acts of terror against Israel, and Hamas must surrender. Only then will the fighting stop! This should be our demand. Golda Meir said in 1957: “Peace will come when the Arabs will love their children more than they hate us.”

Dawn Gunter

Midtown

Arizona manufacturing growth 

Manufacturing in Arizona is thriving, with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) $6.6 billion investment for a third plant in Phoenix creating 6,000 jobs. This success is thanks to strategic efforts by President Biden and Senators Sinema and Kelly, who championed the CHIPS and Science Act in 2022, boosting semiconductor manufacturing and benefiting Arizona.

As a first-generation Mexican-American in Arizona, I value economic growth and job opportunities for our communities. The future looks promising in the "Silicon Desert," but we must remain vigilant. Some manufacturers and labor groups warn of potential challenges from federal regulations that could hinder new facility permits, power supply for existing plants, and ongoing production.

It's crucial for the President and our senators to heed these concerns and ensure that new federal rules don't undermine their legislative achievements. Let's keep Arizona's manufacturing momentum going by advocating for balanced and achievable regulations that support our state's economic growth.

Sincerely,

Georgina Monsalvo

Douglas

'To sleep, perchance to dream'

Re: the April 19 editorial cartoon by Chris Britt

Loved the April 19th cartoon "Trump falls asleep in court". During his courtroom snooze, he was probably dreaming of Insurrection 2, his revenge list, lunches with Putin, more nights with Stormy Daniels, and who knows what else. The "Sleepy Joe" disparagement so loved by Trumpers has lost all wind behind its sails, since we now have "Sleeping Donald".

Deb Klumpp

Oro Valley