Supporters arrive Saturday before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event at the Butler Farm Show in Butler, Pa.
No fascists in sight
Steven Brown published a diatribe yesterday (October 7) in a Guest Opinion stating his admonition that Trump and his supporters are fascists. His credentials are that he was a chemistry teacher for 37 years, as if that gave him license to slander patriotic Americans who have accepted Trump as the only person at this time who can restore the America that we have loved and supported for centuries.
If you would only check out the thousands who attended the rally Saturday in Butler, Pa., you would see happy faces of solid citizens, many who came hours early and spent the whole day. I didn’t see an angry faces nor did I see any fascists.
Steven Brown should be ashamed for categorizing true Americans as fascists.
Jack Walters
Northeast side
Bad ‘journalism’
Did you recently receive the Tucson Standard in your mailbox? Have you read free copies of Arizona Business Daily, SW Arizona News, North Pima News or Pinal Today, five of 17 occasional “newspapers” here in Arizona run by Metric Media, LLC?
As legitimate local newspapers have gone out of business or have struggled to stay afloat, Metric Media LLC, supported by right-wing advocacy groups, have stepped into the void. Metric Media now owns over 1,200 such “news” outlets across the United States and bill themselves as representing the “community voice.”
According to the Columbia (University) Journalism Review, the vast majority of the articles in these papers were written algorithmically, with less than one fifth of 1% with a human byline. Additionally, these partisan-backed news sites masquerade as local news outlets and “fail to adhere to basic journalistic standards.” They coordinate content with groups who support Donald J. Trump, so be aware.
Mitchell Anderson
Catalina
Challenge to media and politicians
As far as I know, no media outlet nor any politician is talking about the national debt. Does anyone even care that our national debt is now at $35 trillion? And just the interest on the debt is at least $1 trillion?
I challenge the U.S. media and politicians to step up and talk about this issue. What can be done about it? Let’s not continue to “kick the can down the road.”
Karen McKee
West side
Don’t say his name
I am a 93-year-old Jewish man. My father taught me not to love anything that couldn’t love me back and to hate nothing. I think there is an exception. I won’t honor him by saying his name, but a would-be dictator is spewing hate with every breath. He has broken nearly every one of the 10 Commandments including ‘thou shalt not kill’ by getting others to do so. His daughter married an orthodox Jew and converted to her husband’s faith making his grandchildren Jewish. Without an explanation or how, he said if he loses the election blame the Jews. His equally hateful running mate had called him another Hitler. I pray that he is soundly defeated and the American way of life, under the US Constitution and the rule of law, continues.
Dave Glicksman
Northwest side
LD 17 like never before
My wife and I have lived in Arizona for over 20 years, and we have never seen so many media buys for our LD 17 Democratic candidates. For the first time, we have seen YouTube saturated with targeted ads for our worthy nominees Kevin Volk and John McLean. Similar ads for them are showing up in different media outlets.
We even got a letter, yes, a real stamped letter, thanking us for our contributions from the Volk campaign. That kind of voter outreach takes organization and money.
I’m not sure that the Arizona Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee has ever backed any Democrat running in LD17 since we’ve been here. But it looks like they are now.
If advertising works and blitzing is occurring in other gettable LDs this way, Democrats might have a real chance to turn the Arizona Legislature Blue. We hope so.
Peter Bakke
SaddleBrooke
Election joy?
Think about it! A few powerful non-democratic countries like North Korea, China, Russia must be gleefully rubbing their hands together, giddy with joy at the prospect of our fighting with each other over the election. They probably can’t wait. Free and fair elections, in our precious and beloved USA without the drama can show them what democracy means and put them back in their place. How about it?
Linda Rothchild
Midtown
Arizona’s eleven votes
On September 24 at a rally in Pennsylvania, Trump stated that “It should be illegal to criticize the Supreme Court.”
And “Those who criticize judges should be tossed in jail.”
So if he is returned to the White House, how long before he says, “Those who criticize the Executive shall be tossed in jail for a period not to exceed 10 years, or the end of my dictatorship ... whichever comes first.”
Do I really think that could happen? No, because much as he’d like, he will not be allowed to change the Constitution.
But two things scare me: The fact that nobody seems to have been bothered much by this rhetoric, and that it looks as though Arizona ‘s eleven electoral votes will go to a would-be dictator.
Thank God and the first amendment to the Constitution, I don’t have to fear writing this letter. I hope that never changes.
David Hatch
Southeast side
So sorry
To the small minds in league with Donald Trump, who have allowed him to deflate truth to a non-essential element, I ask, “What do you want out of this historical folly?
Are you wishing to retake the country from the women who have become a little too much? Or is it to release the meanness that liberal America has bottled up? It has been peeping out since the golden boy took charge of your mind.
Of course, that rude behavior, if he is elected, will go from a trickle to a flood. Trump has already promised to snuff out his opponents or send them packing to prison. Truth and freedom are just a few of the words that are relabeled to mean their opposite.
My fellow citizens, you will not be happy with Trump as President once he has his dark wish of complete command. He cares nothing for your needs. He enjoys lying to you because you won’t stretch your mind to hear his lunacy.
Ron Lancaster
North side
Character and honesty
I am a former Republican, in remission, and in recovery. I am aghast that half of our country supports a candidate with the following faults:
1. Lies continually, 30,000 and counting; one can’t trust a thing he says.
2. Convicted by a jury of his peers of 34 felonies.
3. Convicted of sexual abuse.
4. Spearheaded a coup on our government.
5. Has a significant number of former allies and aides who say “No more Trump” — ie: Mike Pence, Bill Barr, James Mattis, Mark Esper, Rex Tillerson, John Bolton, John Kelly and on and on ... Any one of these should render the candidate unelectable.
Character and honesty are important. Perhaps the most important traits of a leader. Trump offers neither.
Bill Boaz
SaddleBrooke
The solution is Prop 140
Re: the October 3 article, “Both political parties are off kilter.” Kimball Shinkoskey discusses how political rhetoric, while sounding good, is meaningless for those of us trying to assess the reasonableness of choosing any political party over another. He also succinctly describes the ideological flaws with both major parties in the US.
There is a solution to the problem of finding ourselves with Constitution-ignoring political leaders who only espouse the worst of what each party offers. We need to reform the way those leaders are elected. Fortunately, there is a proposition on this year’s ballot that moves toward that solution. Voting yes on Prop 140 will bring about a greater opportunity for choosing candidates that are untethered to the extremes of either party. It will encourage election of leaders who are more pro-Constitution, and less susceptible to party politics. In this year’s November election, we need to vote yes on Prop 140.
Sally Lee
Foothills
Support Rex Scott
I am writing to express my strong support for Rex Scott in the upcoming election. As a dedicated public servant, Rex has consistently demonstrated his commitment to our community through his initiatives focused on sustainable development, education, and public safety. His ability to listen to constituents and address their concerns sets him apart as a leader who truly values the voices of the people.
Rex’s vision for our future includes fostering economic growth while preserving our natural resources, ensuring that our children receive a quality education, and enhancing community engagement. He understands the importance of collaboration and inclusivity, and his track record speaks volumes about his dedication to making our community a better place for everyone.
I urge my fellow citizens to support Rex Scott. Together, we can build a brighter future for our community.
Melinda Gomez
East side
Lawbreakers
Dear Editor,
Today, on my morning walk to the Tanque Verde wash on Wentworth Road between Tanque Verde Road and Speedway, I saw several Harris/Walz signs and one Kirsten Engel sign thrown into the wash. I have a photograph of this criminal act. It is profoundly upsetting that law-breaking, morally reprehensible, unpatriotic and un-American, most likely Trump supporting, cowards perpetrated this crime. It is illegal to remove political signs and furthermore, it is also illegal to litter the wash. In the big picture, this will not matter one whit. It says far more about these pathetic criminals, none of it complimentary or positive. I will drive down there today and retrieve the signs and put them back up, a Sisyphean task, but one I will continue to undertake.
Anne Lane
Northeast side
