Project 2025
I wonder how many readers know about or are familiar with Project 2025. Developed under the auspices of the Heritage Foundation, it sets out a specific Republican Party plan of action in the event Donald Trump wins the upcoming election for President. Whether you cheer it or fear it, all RESPONSIBLE voters should know about it. You can easily find it in either complete or summarized form on the internet by doing a title search. It’s something the media should look into also.
John Liwski
Southeast side
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold speaks Thursday in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington.
Supreme Court
In the Supreme Court 1964 Jacobellis v. Ohio case, Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart famously stated regarding hardcore poronography, “Perhaps I could never succeed in intelligibly doing so but I know it when I see it”. Regarding the Colorado case just heard in the Supreme Court regarding Mr. Trump’s attempt to overthrow the government, Colorado attorney, Jason Murray, should have answered the multiple peppered questions to him from SCOTUS about the definition of insurrection and Section 3 of the 14th Amendment as, “Your Honor, perhaps I could never succeed in intelligibly doing so but I know it when I see it”. Come on man! We all know it when we saw it.
John (Jay) Van Echo
West side
I support the University of Arizona!
Dear Editor,
As a proud Mom of a Wildcat and an educator in Tucson, I follow carefully the articles about the U o fA. What I see throughout the articles and the letters to the editor is a deep love for OUR University. Our community and particularly our students, need the university to continue to be a world class education and research powerhouse. I know, firsthand, how the U of A excels at research — my son is a graduate student and his work has led him across the country as he collaborates with businesses and professionals dedicated to sharing scientific ideas. This has all become possible for my son, due to the incredible support he’s received from OUR university. President Robbins — We are all on Team UA right now! Bear Down! We support you!
Sincerely,
Jackie Picton
Oro Valley
Biden should resign
The impromptu press conference President Biden held on the evening of February 8, 2024 conveyed much. He took zero personal responsibility for his collection of documents found at his home. Truman’s buck didn’t stop with him, because Biden instead laid the blame at the feet of his staffers.
Then by attempting to contrast or foil his own situation as somehow better versus the yet to be resolved former president’s pending matter at Mar a Lago for unlawful retention is not the point. Is it not plain to see that we are at a crossroad in our American experience. Echoes of being told that it was a perfect call and/or but I did nothing wrong. Sound familiar? These two baby boomer era men should step aside. Each blinded by their ambitions and animus. Let us retire them. Somehow may Harris or Haley steer us through this messy process we call democracy.
Kevin Gillooly
Downtown
Democracy vs autocracy
Robert Kennedy once said “Democracy is messy and it’s hard. It’s never easy.”
I believe it is messy and hard because you have to care about and make decisions for the common good. We cannot give everyone everything they want, but we can do our best to be fair and consider everyone’s rights. On the other hand, autocracy is selfish and arrogant. Those who embrace it are angry because they can’t get everything they want so they turn to a sociopathic “miracle worker” that promises quick fixes.
Democracy wants to solve the border crisis by doing what is good for the country and also for the immigrants, which can be hard. If you’re a MAGA Republican, your Dictator Trump can get you what you want quickly by just throwing all the immigrants out, building a big fat wall, and not letting anyone in. Not hard at all if you have no heart.
Arletta Lewis
East side
So much for blind justice
Re: the Feb. 10 article “Probation for ex-Arizona prisons boss in armed standoff”
Disgraced former Arizona Department of Corrections Director Charles Ryan has reached a plea agreement with the Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell.
In January of 2022, the Tempe Police Department submitted two felony counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer. The county attorney did not present those charges to the grand jury. They ultimately indicted Ryan on a count of disorderly conduct involving weapons and unlawful discharge of a weapon.
Recall that when two Tempe police officers arrived at Ryan’s residence, he (who had discharged a handgun inside his home) pointed the gun at them. If you or I did that, we would have been shot. And, if we survived, we would be serving a prison sentence. But, not Ryan. He got probation.
Rachel Mitchell should be ashamed of herself for this inexcusable kowtowing to a person of privilege.
Bernie Bennett
East side
Let’s not give up
Re: the Feb. 9 article “The US can’t be like Nordic”
In summary, the author’s opinion is sadly defeatist.
If we give up on bettering ourselves and our country, we certainly “can’t be like Nordic countries.”
Wayne Bretl
Sahuarita
Sympathetic, well-meaning
The Special Council’s report on President Biden’s retention of classified documents states that “Mr. Biden would likely present himself to a jury, as he did during our interview with him, as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.” I’ll take sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly, and poor memory over crass, dangerous, elderly, and poor memory.
Kendall Kroesen
Midtown
UA budget debacle
What I want to know is why Lisa Rulney, (the ex-CFO of the UA) has been able to be reassigned as the “senior advisor to business operations” for $500,000 per year (yikes!) when she who took “responsibility for overestimating our days cash on hand ratio” — what a crock! In the private sector she would have been booted and investigated. As the UA defers important infrastructure projects Rulney gets to keep making mistakes for a ton of cash. Fire her!
Lynda Stertz
West side
Impending real estate catastrophe
Re: the Feb. 10 article “Arizona’s housing headache hits home for Realtors”
As a native Arizonan, I’m alarmed at the prospect of so many real estate agents “leaving the field”.
And what’s happening up there in Maricopa County seems a tragedy. Why, an Actual Real Estate Professional maintains that there should be 20,000 homes for sale and there’s only a measly 8,900! And gosh, we all know how sparse and underdeveloped Maricopa County has become.
I don’t see any sense of entitlement here. Arizona has long catered to the developers. Would it be fair to stop now? Where will all the poor folks from Michigan live?
I myself know of a couple postage stamp-sized areas of remaining open desert in north Tucson that are crying for the blade!
We all need to sacrifice. Longer lines, crowded roads and schools, no water, dead cacti are a small price to pay to ensure job security for these (some part-time) professionals.
Timothy George
North side
Trump presidency
For those who truly abhor another Trump presidency, your best option, given his polling numbers vs. Biden, would probably be to register as Republican and vote for Nikki Haley in the March 19th primary. You still have time to register or change your registration, but must do so by 11:59 a.m. Feb. 20, 2024. Visit www.servicearizona.com if you are so inclined. It is easy and only takes a few minutes.
John Bentley
Foothills
UA misguided layoffs
Re: the Feb. 9 letter “7 places to cut overpaid University executives”
Last week I attended the United Campus Workers Arizona demonstration outside the UA administration building to show solidarity with the union against the misguided layoffs of custodial workers due to the ongoing financial crisis. We chanted “CHOP FROM THE TOP!” which is the obvious answer to get the UA out of its financial crisis, instead of cutting positions from some of the lowest paid employees.
The letter writer outlined a number of administrative positions at the UA that should be cut immediately, I’d like to move to add President Robbins to the chopping block. His leadership got us into this mess. Robbins makes $816,000 per year plus $171,000 that is added to his retirement fund annually, as well as a $10,000 automobile allowance to name some of his other perks. Let’s put an interim president in place who is willing to make a modest salary in solidarity with campus workers. Chop from the top!
Sadie Shaw, TUSD
Governing Board
Downtown
Christianity a cult
Re: the Feb. 11 letter “Mankind is mankind’s demise”
According to the letter writer “No real religion tells you to kill others who do not believe in their version.” Guess he hasn’t read Jesus’s words in Luke 19:27: “But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them in my presence” (New American Standard Bible). That gave permission for the Crusades and for some sects of Christians (Protestants) to torture and burn others (Catholics, for example). So I’m sure the writer would argue that Christianity is not a “real religion” but a cult. Right?
Ron Terpening
Northwest side
Trump’s hypocrisy
How ironic that grifter Donald Trump, known for not paying his personal bills and stiffing cities for the cost of security at his MAGA rallies, urges Russian to invade our allies whom he claims don’t pay their bills.
Keith Schaeffer
Midtown
The human factor
Re: the Feb. 12 article “Students help patients in need”
This story on the Desert View High School precision manufacturing and drafting students traveling to Peru to fit prosthetic legs they had designed and made was exciting. Thirty-odd years ago, when the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) deployed 3-D printers into the public domain, I was part of a federally-funded public-private task force looking at “The Human Factor and Robotics” in the real world where new technology often gets derailed because it threatens human skills. Robotics still does, but at least this tool has broadened humans’ ability to positively interact with each other. Our ability to turn technology into a positive force is the only thing that has kept this species on the planet. It seems we are at war with ourselves whether to make emerging technology work for our species or lead to our demise. The trip to Peru demonstrates the former. Felicidades!
Polly Parks
Downtown Keep things in perspectiveWith the seemingly endless coverage about President Biden’s age and his gaffes when public speaking, the important takeaway here is that Trump telegraphed he will give Russia a green light to attack NATO nations in Europe, if he gets back in office.
I’ll vote for the nice elderly gentleman with the stutter instead of the sociopathic elderly narcissist who wants to start WWIII.
Jennifer Larson
Northwest side
The 22nd Amendment
Re: the Feb. 12 letter “Conflating opinions with facts”
This letter writer stated that we should not be concerned about Trump being a dictator for life because of the 22nd Amendment. I admit, this attitude concerns me because we have just spent the last 7 years watching Trump utterly trample the Constitution when it suited him.
Not only has he made many statements about retaining power and shredding the Constitution, he has certainly acted without restraint. We know that his properties made millions from foreign nationals in defiance of Article 1, Section 9. We know he completely disregards the separation of powers provisions. Of course, we all saw how he tried to illegally remain in power after losing the 2020 election. He argued that the 14th Amendment doesn’t apply to him. Justice Kagan implied to his attorneys that we might be right back here arguing about the application of the 22nd Amendment in 2028 if he wins a second term.
He should not get a second chance to be a dictator.
Jennifer Larson
Northwest side
NATO, US
The worst president of our time just recounted his conversation with a President of a NATO country stating, “You didn’t pay? You’re delinquent? No I would not protect you.” “In fact I’d encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You’ve got to pay. You’ve got to pay your bills.” This this the same guy that was sued more than 3,500 times for not paying his contractors. What’s really puzzling are his supporters that turn a blind eye even though the facts could blind them.
John Bingham
Northwest side
Cognitive test for Biden
Special Counsel Hur released a bombshell report detailing that Biden has willfully mishandled classified documents going back to his time as a Senator and Vice President. He did not have the authority to de-classify documents. Classified documents were found at four locations, including in boxes sitting unsecured on his garage floor. Some were Top Secret. He revealed classified information to his “ghost writer” for a new book. However, Hur declined to prosecute Biden because he believed that a jury would find him too old and feeble minded. Now team Biden is attacking the Special Counsel and USAG Garland. Ok for Democrats to do that, but not for Trump. The public has watched for three years as Biden has stumbled, been confused, fumbled his words and made gaffe after gaffe. If he wants to dispel questions about his memory, all he needs to do is take a series of cognitive tests administered by an independently chosen Neurologist and reveal the results to the public. Trump should do the same.
Ivan Stanski
Marana
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