LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

To the Editor:

Over the past several months I have been pointing out the reasons the Trumpista Party (AKA the Republican Party) is the most dangerous organization in the world and also a great threat to the future of the democratic-republic of the United States. Because of the supermajority of 60 votes in the Senate needed – required only by Senate rules – to address vital issues facing our republic, the only hope we have is to do something about the filibuster – an anathema that would’ve horrified our Founding Fathers.

Democrats and Trumpistas are equally divided in the Senate 50-50 with Vice President Kamala Harris breaking any tie. Only 7 “Republicans” broke from 43 Trumpistas to vote to convict Mr. Trump in his impeachment trial for inciting the Jan 6 insurrection. Not one broke from the Trumpista opposition to support the American Rescue Plan (the Covid Relief Act), which passed using reconciliation. Getting 10 GOP votes to prevent a filibuster on non-budget bills is impossible.

Trump used one of his many Big Lies to refer to the “do-nothing Democrats” in Congress. The Democratic-controlled House passed over 200 popular bills, but they died in the Trumpista-controlled Senate. Fortunately, those bills are steadily being reintroduced, and many are being improved to meet the current challenges: the Equality Act, the For the People Act, the John

Lewis Voting Rights Act, and two acts to strengthen and fill loopholes in background checks for gun purchases. All these, and more, have strong support from American voters but will go nowhere because of the filibuster.

Mitch McConnell (the Grim Reaper) is now the minority leader in the Senate. He is an adamant opponent of democracy and has vowed to do everything he can to prevent majority rule. When he was the majority leader, he protected his fellow Trumpistas from having to vote against popular legislation by preventing House bills from coming to a floor vote. He is also an adherent of Reagan’s belief that almost

anything the government does is bad, so he did everything necessary to prevent anything from becoming law that the people would greatly benefit from. With the filibuster, he can continue obstructing and sabotaging while being in the minority.

Now, there’s the problem – or asset – of the Democratic Party: It is not a monolithic party like the Trumpistas who goose-step in loyalty to their party no matter what the issue; many Democrats march to different drummers. Neither Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) nor Sen. Kyrsten Senima (D-AZ) favors ending the filibuster. It is vital to the republic that the Democrats not pressure either of them to the point that they leave their party and lose their precarious majority.

The first step to reform the filibuster may be to restore the talking filibuster as it was originally intended: Prevent a vote until the filibusterer can no longer hold the floor. Manchin has indicated he would consider this. If the talking filibuster doesn’t allow anything from getting done, then he may be willing to consider something else. Reform is essential.

David Offutt El Dorado

To the Editor:

TV commercials have gotten stupid and more stupid with the years. For example, Porgreesive Insurance needs a new mascot to better promote their product. Flo looks like a witch, and does nothing for them, not to mention her crude and embecilic behavior. I also have a problem with the ad depicting a little girl stabbing her father in the backside and causing him to spill everywhere, to boot. I would have busted a little girl’s behind for such. Also, why use chopsticks to eat Chinese food, when you are eating it in the US?

I often eat Chinese food, myself, but the Chinese eateries, here and elsewhere, brought me a fork, no questions asked. Why be a show off, and needlessly spill? I thought it was bad enough when it was advised that one should buy stove top stuffing, so some rude kid will stay for supper, at his home. Companies should promote their products in a civil and mature way.

Leslie Putman El Dorado

To The Editor:

We have problems in our world today. Racial hate, Sexual harrassment, Terrorism, The Immigration problem on the Mexican border and just general trouble. This racial hate against African and Asian Americans has got to.stop. Also there should be laws against racial slurs and name calling. Whether it’s stupid, dumb or retarded the police need to start writing citations with stiff fines. Even for the racial.names. The public schools have cracked.fown on it.

.For the Sexual harrassment, I don’t doubt that it happened, but it’s suppose to stop sexual discrimination. Like a boss who wants sexual favors to get a woman to get promotions in the company. Now people are getting touchy. They don’t want to be touched or if anyone touches them or even makes a comment they yell sexual harrassment. It could be telling a woman that they look pretty. This problem with Andrew Cuomo wanting him to resign. One woman accused him and.many. more were coming out of the woods saying that he sexually harrassment them. Now it’s establishing boundaries. Leave the touch me nots alone.

For the Terrorism get the guns out of the hands of terrorists. Have background checks. Put up metal detectors at places forbidden for fire arms.

The Mexican border. Are they not.of the human race. I use these words from the ghost of Christmas present in the 1984 Christmas Carol where George C. Scott played Ebenezer Scrooge. They are human beings with feelings. There shouldn’t be any discrimination against them, because they want to live in the U.S. Former President Trump labeled them as rapists, murderers and drug dealers. I got news for him the white race is no different. There are whites that do the same thing.

..In a few weeks, it’s going to be Easter. The resurrection of our Lord and.Savior Jesus Christ. Someday he is going to come back. To take his.people home.to heaven. Get your heart right before it’s too late.

Donald Putman El Dorado