"It's time to begin impeachment inquiry" Letter to the editor Harold Chorny

Dear Editor:

An impeachment inquiry should begin now. Continuing the stonewalling of investigations is weakening our democracy by normalizing President Trump's lawless behavior.

He said he would accept assistance from foreign countries in order to win an election. Our intelligence agencies have indicated that multiple foreign countries are preparing attacks on the next election. Trump takes no action to protect us and even refuses to acknowledge the threat. He is determined to win re-election with no regard for the welfare of the nation.

When foreign influence occurs, we will again be in the difficult position of proving that welcoming acceptance of interference is sufficient proof of conspiracy and treason. The soul of the Republican Party has been sold and they will not help us. We cannot remain passive with such serious threat. It is time for Democrats to act. They need the power of an impeachment inquiry to gather the facts and then perhaps move to impeach, leaving the soulless Republicans to do as they will.

Publishing history

Daily Freeman 7-29-19

"Democrats 1968; Republicans 2019" Letter to the editor Tom Denton

Democrats 1968; Republicans 2019

Here’s a thought experiment directed to a specific demographic group:  older Americans.  And to a subset of that group:  self-described “reluctant” Trump supporters who dislike, maybe even abhor, the man but voted for him and might again because of his policies on taxes, abortion, and judges.  Go back to 1968, the year Democratic Governor George Wallace of Alabama, running as an American Independent for president, won nearly 14% of the popular vote and 46 electoral votes of five Southern states—George Wallace, known for his defiant promise, “segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever”; George Wallace, who ran again in 1972 until he was struck down and permanently crippled by a would-be assassin. 

Knowing what you know about the Democratic party then and now, can you imagine a scenario in which Wallace somehow took over the party’s banner and managed to be elected president?  In fact, Democrats repudiated him and chose Hubert Humphrey as their candidate against Nixon.  But imagine that in a three-person race he somehow slipped into the White House.  Do you think Wallace would have taken over the Democratic party and made it in his own image?  Do you think Democratic voters would have swallowed him whole because he espoused some populist policies that suited their agenda?  Would they have accepted the label of champions of America’s segregationists?

Nah, probably not—right?  So what about your Republican party?

Publishing history:

NP Times                   7/25/19

Shawangunk Journal  7/26/19

Times Herald-Record 7/22/19

"Thank you, Rep. Delgado and Democrats, for addressing climate crisis" Letter to the editor Kitty Brown

Dear Editor:

I was so glad to see the climate crisis at the top pf the Democratic debate agenda. I am equally grateful to Rep. Antonio Delgado for his recent votes to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the crown jewel of our nation's National Wildlife Refuge system. The Trump administration used the 2017 tax bill to allow oil and gas drilling in this critical habitat, a wilderness refuge that belongs to all Americans.

Delgado supported H.R. 1146, the Arctic Cultural and Coastal Plain Protection Act, and it has just passed out of the Natural Resources Committee in the House, where I hope it will pass.

And just this week, Delgado voted for an Interior appropriations bill that makes it harder for the Trump administration to lease our public land to the highest oil industry bidder.

We must restore protections to stop destructive oil exploration and drilling. The Arctic Cultural and Coastal Plain Protection Act will keep drills out of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and Delgado’s commitment to this climate crisis solution is appreciated.

Thank you, Congressman, for representing our district's widespread support for protection of America’s public lands.

Kitty Brown

Publishing history:

Kingston Freeman 7/4/19