Readers sound off on normalizing Trump, national referendums and Russia’s ‘de-Nazification’
We should not be letting his normal become ours
Lakewood, N.J.: Isn’t it about time for media editors, journalists, writers and news readers to cease and desist their normalizing Donald Trump and his thoughts, words and deeds? So-called professional journalists virtually kicked President Biden out of the race for age-related impairments, although he remains a well-functioning president.
Simultaneously, media people ignore the fact that Trump is now the oldest person ever to run for the office of president in the history of the United States! Obviously, he will continue to age as he sits in the Oval Office, with no intention of stepping down at the completion of his term in 2028. Will America endure a dictator in his 90s?
The media in general has abandoned all semblance of fairness and impartiality, perhaps due to the entertainment value of Trump’s appearances and rants. The moderators of the debate between Trump and Kamala Harris tried valiantly to get a straight answer, or any answer at all, from Trump while conscientiously requesting information and specifics about policies. Trump has successfully demolished the concept and reality of normalcy. The media has accepted the abnormal in Trump, and he gets passes for all his errors of judgment, yet expects his opponent to deliver cogent and compelling data!
But the worst repudiation of journalistic responsibility is pretending that Trump is mentally fully functional. Any other person who thinks, acts and speaks as he does — heavy on anger and threats of vengeance but incapable of delivering a clear sentence with accurate details — would be tagged as mentally ill. Patricia Barr
From where lies flow
Glasgow, Scotland: Who is responsible for the great division in American politics today and how it plays out in American life? The answer is simple: the side that persists in lying all the time. Believing lies can open the door to the darker side of humanity within us. Lies can corrupt. And which side is relying on lies the most? The Republicans. And who is showing more of the dark side of humanity? The Republicans, spearheaded by Donald Trump, are a bit of a stranger to the truth. I rest my case. Simple, as I said. Mark Davidson
Means mayhem
Orangetown, N.Y.: There is a new word in the dictionary. It’s “Trumpism,” defined as: creating chaos, hate, fear and violence. Al Hagan
Epic nonsense
Staten Island: Donald Trump cried out everything at the debate but “the dingo ate your baby!” Lol. Reg Amis
Checkmate
Forest Hills: I watched last week’s evisceration of Trump — oops, I mean debate between Trump and Harris. It made me think of the game of chess. Harris was able to trump Trump (pun intended) at every turn. My conclusion: checkmate, Trump guilty as charged! When it ended, I heard loud cracking sounds coming from my TV. My wife heard it, too. Couldn’t figure out what it was, and then I had an aha moment: The “glass ceiling” was finally starting to crack. The sweetest sounds I ever heard (shout-out to Richard Rodgers)! Did anyone else hear it? Mel Moskowitz
Repent and be forgiven
Itasca, Ill.: My power of forgiveness is shaken. What set me back was an MSNBC panel discussion, “Evangelicals once ‘hijacked by MAGA’ flock to Harris-Walz.” These are the same evangelicals who were instrumental in electing a candidate found liable for sex abuse, serial lying and who has 34 felony convictions. Much of this misbehavior was confirmed after he left office, but there were always red flags. A kind, forgiving soul doesn’t have to forfeit common sense or ignore painfully obvious evidence of wrongdoing. I hope Democrats welcome them with open arms. It’s the right thing to do. I’ll forgive them too, eventually. The last thing America needs is another hypocrite. Jim Newton
Immature as ever
Far Rockaway: So, I’m watching MSNBC and there’s a breaking news story: Trump wrote on Truth Social “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!” Really? Trump must not have gotten a love letter from Patrick Mahomes’ wife yet. As a matter of fact, Trump must still be reeling from the succession of gut punches from Kamala. Trump continues to prove that he is worse than ever. In short, don’t waste your vote. Ora Reed
Disagree agreeably
Peters Township, Pa.: I thank God that Donald Trump was not killed, injured or shot at in the latest attempted attack by a domestic terrorist who appears to have been politically motivated. There will always be those inclined toward violence, some of them pursuing that path for reasons we may never understand, but it is past time to attack one of the seeds of political assassinations: the rhetoric we hear from our leaders. It is past time for them to do their part to attempt to restore a measure of domestic tranquility, to think about the words they speak before they exit their mouths; to be civil. When one demeans, degrades and dehumanizes their opponent using extreme terms, when one implies that violence against foes is acceptable, we risk anarchy. Can our political figures not challenge an opposing ideology without engaging in vicious personal attacks against the proponent of that ideology? Oren Spiegler
Send vibes
Scarsdale, N.Y.: Donald Trump doesn’t need more protection from the Secret Service, FBI or the police. He needs more thoughts and prayers. That always seems to be the answer in the aftermath of gun violence. John Kern
Warped argument
Manhattan: The Democrats want to take assault-style automatic weapons like semi-automatic AR-15 guns, bump stocks and 3D-printed guns off the market. The Republicans simply say that the Democrats want to take away your guns. Why can’t everyone realize that the Democrats are simply more in favor of gun control? These assault-style weapons are not used in hunting. You are not allowed to shoot ducks or deer with a machine gun. These weapons have been used to hunt down many innocent civilians, including our former president. It is a mystery how the truth gets distorted into lies by the MAGA movement over and over again. Leonard Smoke
Put it to the people
Kent, N.Y.: Since we really have no true representation in government unless you are a lobbyist or big-money donor, there ought to be a referendum on the national ballot, or several. Let the country vote on a ban on assault weapons, women’s reproductive rights and age and term limits for the Supreme Court and other elected offices. And let’s not forget the Electoral College, a truly flawed system with no greater proof than the 2016 election. One person, one vote, majority wins. It’s so American! Rob Callen
Race blindness
West Orange, N.J.: To Voicer Andrew Ross: Columnist Leonard Greene has, and I hope he will continue to, call out things that are so blatantly clear to the Black community but are so hard for others to see. Mr. Ross, do you believe that country music is to be made and enjoyed by white people only? Before your quick response, please do a little research on the history of country music. Lonnie Bond
Who’s the Nazis?
White Rock, British Columbia: Vladimir Putin warns the West not to arm Ukraine with long-range weapons, yet China and Iran are doing just that for Russia in its continuing military attempt to annex the independent European nation. Even more hypocrisy: Putin’s Russia criticizes, then punishes, Ukraine when the latter’s forces dare to strike back against Russia’s deliberate targeting and killing of civilians and destruction of infrastructure. According to his own words, Putin is astonished and angry, as though Ukraine has no right to self defense. It reveals a great yet misplaced sense of entitlement by Putin, the classic bully whose concept of his fair share is always three-quarters of the pie. Putin has even absurdly justified Russia’s atrocious invasion of Ukraine as a necessity of “de-Nazifying” the latter nation’s democratically elected government. I say de-Nazify Russia’s Kremlin and presidency, as they are in bed with far-right European political parties like the German AfD. Frank Sterle Jr.
No tribute
Bronx: How come the Mets didn’t wear Ed Kranepool’s number on their uniforms? Ralph Canzone Sr.