Biden/Trump ages
Age difference not very relevant. Soc. Security tables Life expectancy: Biden 7.3 yrs; Trump 9.3 years. Each would probably complete the term. Three-and-a-half age difference shrinks to two as Biden has survived 3½ years that Trump has ahead of him, and each year has about a 6% probability of dying. Vote issues not age. Truman Spangrud Lt Gen USAF ret., Reagan Democrat. Lost 1992 Democratic Senate primary, although Star editorial board endorsed me.
Truman Spangrud
Foothills
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump won Louisiana's primary on Saturday, collecting more delegates after they already clinched their party nominations.
It could have happened this way …
Since midnight, Nov. 4, 2020, just following Delirious Don’s self-declared victory in his reelection, he went crazy. After finding out he lost, he became so outraged, he began to go into cognitive decline — the gradual loss of thinking abilities such as learning, remembering, paying attention and reasoning.
It may only be my opinion, but he most likely spent millions of dollars on a massive conspiracy of his own in 2020 to fix that election. However, since Biden still won by almost 8 million votes, Trump determined, in his child-mind manner, that his loss must have been “fraud.” His reaction was possibly due to the fact that he paid to rig the election in his favor. It didn’t happen the way he expected, and due to the sheer size of the vote discrepancy, he couldn’t explain why he lost.
This is likely why, rather than accepting his defeat, he lashed out at the entire election system, creating further divisions in the country. It could have happened.
Sheldon Metz
Northeast side
The Empress Lesher has no clothes
Although King Huckelberry notoriously hired cronies, his court served the same master: the county. Alas, Empress Lesher’s similar practice sees a court that serves her alone. Indeed, as she fills the fiefdom with the jester Kozachik, seeks out the high Prince Michael Ortega, and others, the process is opaque and uncompetitive to build her own power base. Verily, we must get this house in order, as the Empress has filled the County’s high halls of power with sycophants who are fearful of telling her the naked truth; too many people see her incompetent vassals failing as services end, departments close, budgets explode, and Lesher’s contempt for the common worker or intelligent skeptic drip from the top down.
Luckily, Pima County isn’t a monarchy and we beseech the Supervisors to be skeptical of these bad policies and reign in the mad Empress’s naked greed. She needs to know that incompetence is a bad color on her, and the fiefs should tell her she’s wearing no clothes.
Dennis Wall
North side
Emergency vehicles
In my opinion, it was only a matter of time before an emergency responder was injured or killed at an intersection in Tucson. Many times I have stopped at an intersection for an emergency vehicle approaching with lights and sirens blaring while traffic in other lanes kept going through the intersection.
Cars today are built more solid to keep the road noise out. I have two suggestions for car operators.
One: Crack your driver’s side window. This lets in sounds from the outside, like horns and sirens.
Two: keep your radio below 60 dB. If your radio is blasting, you still cannot hear sirens.
Please keep Tucson safe for emergency vehicles. You may need one someday.
Thomas Wenzel
East side
Fare-free transit
Recently I spent time with a dozen guest authors in town for the Tucson Festival of Books. We traveled from the University to the Mercado San Agustin, where we ate an expensive and delicious meal. All were able to return to their hotel near the University using the streetcar, without the complication of figuring out how to purchase a one-time pass or use the farebox. The streetcar is a fun, safe, and easy way for out-of-town guests to experience Tucson and contribute to our economic vitality.
I regularly park my car near the west terminus of the streetcar for meetings and other downtown errands, festivals and special events. I appreciate the City’s commitment to continuing with fare-free transit. Those opposed to this idea, such as the Tucson Metro Chamber, should help find other funding to support the maintenance and security of our public transportation, just as our roads and bridges are maintained and secured.
Diane Shifflett
West side
Thank you, President Biden
Studies show that women are too often an afterthought in medical research.
Women face health challenges that are gender-specific, including endometriosis, menopause, and an increased risk for Alzheimer’s, migraines, and more. Too often, these conditions have not received the research needed to help us understand the causes and treatments that can lead to a healthier life. The new “Women’s Health Research” program implemented by President Biden is a big step forward for women’s health.
Led by First Lady Jill Biden, the NIH will oversee the $12B in funding that promotes research collaboration and innovation between the public and private sectors.
It’s another example of good governance and how the Biden Administration takes on serious issues with targeted action.
So, thank you President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden for your commitment to this important work. And thank you to the many people behind the scenes who work to find new ways to improve the quality of life for women around the country.
Carla Andrews OHara
Northwest side
U of A president
What a guy! After he manages to run the University into an enormous deficit, Mr. Robbins agrees to resign in two years. Most organizations expect their leader to immediately take the fall for this kind of mismanagement.
Mike Peterson
South side
This is not leadership
From Donald Trump:
“We pledge to you that we will root out the communists, Marxists, fascists and radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country.”
On immigration: “... It’s poisoning the blood of our country.”
On revenge and retribution: “If I don’t get elected, it’s going to be a bloodbath for the whole — that’s going to be the least of it. It’s going to be a bloodbath for the country.”
Trump to lawyers investigating election subversion, retention of classified documents and hush money payments: “If you go after me, I’m coming after you.”
If re-elected, will Trump use the federal government against his enemies? To Univision: “Yes, If I see somebody who’s doing well and beating me ... I say go down and indict them, mostly they would be out of business ... out of the election.”
Strong leadership encourages, inspires and challenges people to do their best, connects a common purpose and builds relationships for effective communication. Do you see that here?
Rick Rappaport
Oro Valley
Faux pas in national anthem announcement
I have been attending and watching large and small, televised and non-televised, sporting events for over 65 years. Never have I heard what the arena public announcer said prior to the singing of our national anthem at the women’s college basketball championship game viewed by millions. She said “for those willing and able” please rise to honor our country with the singing of our national anthem.
Why did she add “willing” to her announcement? Was she encouraging those who disrespect our country or promoting this behavior at sporting events?
I found that including “willing” to her script was a major macro-aggression and should not be a part of any introduction to a national anthem performance.
Kenneth L Smalley
Midtown
A throne or a thorn
The country seems to be slipping under the sway of Donald Trump. Gradually, more folks are forgetting who he is and accepting his hostile world of deception. It doesn’t matter that he is scary and a creep. His election promises sound like a trip straight from the hot place; a violence-rich atmosphere and a purge of decency are on tap for any who oppose him. His goal is a throne and a thorn in our side.
And there is this: If elected, Trump will curtail minority rights and snuff the hopes of women from men’s medical interference.
In this chilling saga we are living through, an ornery hard bunch has emerged whose fire was kindled and fanned by Trump. This is a foul business among the Republicans turned nitwits that spells woe for all of us. Worse, a deep mean streak is revealed in people we thought were decent.
Ron Lancaster
North side
Hamas and SCOTUS
Hearing female hostage survivors’ accounts of the atrocities and torture committed on them by their Hamas captors, I can’t help but be reminded of the apparent attack on women perpetrated by the male-dominated majority of SCOTUS in its ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade. Hamas and SCOTUS have in their separate and demonic ways destroyed women’s rights to control their own bodies and their future lives. Hamas is a scourge upon the world. SCOTUS is not far behind. History will not be kind to either and will condemn their barbaric treatment of women. One by physical violence and the other by judicial subjugation.
David Lieberthal
Northeast side
What is it about Trump?
What is it about Donald Trump that so many of his former hand-picked appointees will not vote for him and consider him ill-fitted and too dangerous to be president? These are not members of the so-called Main Street press but people whom Trump personally chose to work for him and who have daily witnessed close-up his destructive behavior. The list of former Trump officials includes Vice President Pence, Secretaries of State Kelly and Mulvaney, Defense Secretary Esper, Attorney General Barr, National Security Advisor Bolton, White House Communications Director Ford Griffen, White House Press Secretary Grisham, and many others.
And, if that is not troubling enough, why are Russia and China, our two most dangerous enemies, working so hard to get Trump elected?
Alan Rubens
Northwest side
Climate change opinions
Re: the April 11 article “An invitation to play the climate-change game.”
The excellent opinion by Pepper Trail regarding climate change was a refreshing answer to the folks who don’t believe climate change is real and those who believe we can’t do anything to avert it. Finally, a voice stating that, no matter what, we are going to have to deal with it. There are changes happening now that we must address. The economic impact, the migration of people, the limited resources and our cooperation with each other all must be dealt with and prepared for. We are all in the game. “Roll the dice.” Live or die!
Gail Tout
East side
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