Don’t be surprised
When you bet the farm on a psychopath like Trump, then surround him with immature people focused on chaos, you can’t be surprised when people look at your party and conclude you’re unfit to lead. Americans want responsible, level-headed people to address the nation’s problems, not those who gerry-rig the system because they can’t win any other way.
Jim Dreis
East side
Rep. Eli Crane
Crane’s land dispute
Am I the only one that is totally confused (but not surprised) that our representative Eli Crane calls the deadly conflict involving the Russian invasion of Ukraine “a land dispute in Eastern Europe”?! Gosh, he should be teaching history. Think how easy (and intellectually lazy) stating that WWI and WWII were “land disputes in Europe”. Great grasp of intricate, complicated issues, Rep. Crane.
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Shane Lindstrom
Catalina
The deaths of O’Connor and Carter
I find it incredible ironic that the passing of Sandra Day O’Connor and Rosalynn Carter, two strong and honorable women, are bookended by the expulsion of George Santos and the death of Henry Kissinger.
Two we will miss and two who will leave a black mark on history ...
Barbara Tanzillo
Downtown
Not just name-calling
Re: the Dec. 5 letter “Adjectives to describe Trump.”
The writer claims those who hate Trump provide “no substantive support” for the issues. How’s this?:
A. Fraudfeasor — Trump University; judge’s ruling in ongoing New York case
B. Sexual assaulter — $5 million adverse verdict in E. Jean Carroll trial
C. Bankrupt — six times
D. Debtor — Trump increased the deficit by 33%, Biden is currently around 9%.
E. Traitor — while not yet convicted, Trump’s involvement in the Jan. 6 insurrection was not lost on his Republican colleagues in the days following, and all one need do is listen to the tape of his call with the Georgia officials to understand his feeble yet dangerous attempt to overturn the election
And so on and so on ... I only wish this was all “fake news.” And this is the Republican choice for President??
Larry Fleischman
Northeast side
Congressman Ciscomani just gets it
Congressman Juan Ciscomani just gets it. Finding a true stalwart public servant does not seemingly come easy these days. But his leadership coming out of Arizona’s 6th Congressional District confronts the important issues facing Southern Arizona and our nation. Ciscomani has challenged the status quo by approaching key policy issues such as border security, crime, and the economy with his key understanding of their effect on all communities, especially the Hispanic and Latino populations. As a Hispanic Arizonan, I look for a public servant who can address and take action on the concerns of my community, and I have found that in Congressman Ciscomani. His record is rock-solid on these core issues, and he is what our border district needs right now.
Edmund Marquez
Northeast side
The most dangerous politician in America
Mike Johnson, the Christian White Nationalist, minus the hood, and current Speaker of the House, is the most dangerous politician in America. His hatred of others is not found in his demeanor but in his words and actions. He is fundraising because of the danger that he thinks LBGT youth pose to this country. He is shielding and protecting the rioters and insurrectionists who almost took down this country instead of allowing them to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. He refuses to admit that the previous election was not stolen and seems committed to bringing Trump back into power by whatever means necessary. He wants a nationwide ban on Abortion and is unwilling to disavow his nativist, anti-woman view of the world. I think he should have joined Santos in being expelled from Congress. We must stay vigilant and continue to call out him and others of his ilk. Vote Democrat and take back the People’s House.
James Robinett
Southwest side
The blast effect of the AR-15
The letter writer who proudly and condescendingly points out that the AR in AR-15 does not stand for “Assault Rifle” thinks that he’s making a cogent argument against those who deplore the weapon’s availability and its effects.
I couldn’t care less what it is called. What I do care about is what it can do, and has done quickly, brutally and efficiently, in the hands of mentally unstable people. A single bullet from an AR-15 style rifle lands with a shock wave intense enough to blow apart a skull and demolish vital organs. To see its effects in graphic and detailed form, the reader can go to the Washington Post and read “The Blast Effect: This is how the bullets from an AR-15 blow the body apart.”
Call it what you want, that’s what the gun does.
Peter Bourque
Midtown
Tucson warming
Re: the Dec. 5 article “Tucson’s Novembers warmed fastest since 1970.”
I take exception to this article on the warming of Novembers in Tucson. The data used may be correct, but it gives a very biased view of Tucson’s temperature increases due to global warming. It is an example of cherry-picking a data set and ignoring the big picture. Accurate statistics of a highly variable phenomenon require large data sets. If one wants to compare Tucson with other cities, a data set composed of yearly temperature averages over many years is illustrative. Using a span of 80 years gives a rate of increase for Tucson of 0.022 degrees Fahrenheit per year. The corresponding measurement for Phoenix is .058 degrees Fahrenheit per year, almost three times faster than Tucson. Many other cities in the U.S. and in the world exhibit rate increases considerably higher than Tucson. It disturbs me to see Tucson denigrated in this manner!
Douglas Granrath
Foothills
University of Arizona
It’s unbelievable that Dr. Robbins is going to put the deficit at the U of A on the backs of the sports fans by imposing a 25% increase in ticket prices. All they do is abuse the fans, now with higher prices. By the way, Dr. Robbins, have you ever sat in the metal seats at Arizona Stadium? That is torture. At some point, the fans are going to react by not purchasing tickets and supporting the student athletes. If the University of Arizona was a publicly-traded company, Dr. Robbins and Ms. Rulney would be long gone. I think it’s time for Governor Hobbs to have a long talk with the Arizona Board of Regents about the state of the University of Arizona.
Robert Davidson
West side
Pearl Harbor Day
Dec. 7, 2023, was the 82nd anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the official entry of the United States into World War II. Let us never forget the events of the war and all who were involved.
Susan Mizner
Midtown
A win-win
This is a win for the climate and a win for your pocketbook. Replace your incandescent (Edison) lights with LEDs. They are much more efficient. They use about 10% of the electricity. The savings will pay for them in a few months, and then you will be using less fossil fuel and paying less money.
Wiliam Wolfe, Professor Emeritus of Optical Sciences
Northeast side
Old Timers in Tucson
Dear Populace of our fair city:
If you can remember WHEN:
Shamrock Dairy had a herd of cows.
Wilmot was the eastern end of town.
The Indian School operated on W. Ajo.
The beautiful log hotel lorded it over Mt. Lemmon.
Two-lane Casa Grande Highway led you to Phoenix.
You could drive across town in 30 minutes.
Nogales was a pleasant place to go for shopping and dinner at la Caverna.
The CITIZEN came out every afternoon.
The CITIZEN’S Don Schellie greeted each month with RABBIT.
The CITIZEN was considered conservative.
Republicans and Democrats met and discussed politics quietly.
THEN you can call yourself an old-time Tucsonan.
Jerry Helm
Northwest side
Follow these steps to easily submit a letter to the editor or guest opinion to the Arizona Daily Star.
Humane Society’s absentee board
Re: the Nov. 3 article “Humane Society’s record is misrepresented.”
How totally irresponsible was HSSA’s Board members’ reply to reports on these pages of reprehensible HSSA practices recounted by eyewitnesses and supported by hard data? The responsible reply from a panel with oversight duties would be: “These are disturbing allegations. They will be thoroughly investigated”. Instead, we get “nothing-to-see-here.”
Animals were reportedly being euthanized without justification. If true, this would constitute animal cruelty perpetrated by HSSA executives. Is this not sufficient to arouse curiosity/concern among directors? Warrant inquiry? Apparently not. When well-attested allegations can be so casually disregarded, what other misconduct has been ignored? HSSA directors have undoubtedly shirked their oversight responsibilities. The long-awaited investigation report conspicuously omits any mention of euthanasia abuses; not surprising for a board-commissioned narrative. The board was warned beforehand. Had they recognized then HSSA’s proclivity for culling animal inventories, the pets-as-snake-food tragedy would have been avoided.
Judith Anderson
Foothills
