Blame inept federal leadership for slow vaccine rollout

I would like to respond to those who have expressed their unhappiness regarding the slow progress of the COVID19 vaccine rollout, and outrage that potential problems were not addressed ahead of time.

Which vaccine should they have prepared for? The one that has to be stored in dry ice, or the ones that don’t? The one that has to be administered twice to be fully effective, or the one for which you only need one injection? The one that has four doses in a vial, or the one that has one dose per vial?

The process of developing a vaccine is as complicated and unpredictable as this virus has been, and it is a miracle that we even have effective vaccines at this point.

But if you want to play the blame game, start with the totally inept federal bureaucracy whose strategy was to turn all logistic planning over to the states, and the president who declared war on the virus ... and then surrendered.

Compassionate governor

Regarding “In praise of a governor” ( Letters, Jan. 1): I wholeheartedly agree with the author. Gov. Gavin Newsom is a great governor — not perfect, but great! He has a history of being compassionate, honest and farsighted. Harping on the dinner at the French Laundry is about as interesting and productive as the focus on Hillary Clinton’s emails.

The way Newsom has handled the pandemic crisis is admirable. Our huge California population has made this task far more difficult than that in most other states.

And he has handled it with caution, attention to science, grace and dedication. The concept of a recall election for Newsom is ridiculous. Evidently, some people don’t recognize a great governor when they see one! Instead of recalling our governor, I vote to praise him!

Reform the GOP

Regarding “GOP leaders mount drive for stronger voting controls” ( Front Page, Jan. 3): As if we needed any more proof, the Republican Party is once again showing its disdain for democracy by planning more ways to prevent people from voting.

It seems that the primary ways that Republicans win elections are gerrymandering and voter suppression. This is understandable when you consider that the party’s platform basically begins and ends with lowering taxes on corporations and the wealthy. In order for our democracy to survive, there needs to be a drastic change in the focus and conduct of the Republican Party.

The bitter divide

Sadly, as Americans have suffered so much in the last year, one would hope the new year would be a time of healing. Hundreds of thousands are dead, millions are suffering economic hardship, and the nation is exhausted by the bitter divides created over the last four years.

As the newly elected president is promising to be president to all Americans, hoping to bring the country together and enjoy bipartisan solutions to the many challenges facing the citizenry, Republicans scoff. They have squandered a perfect opportunity to put the country first and dedicate themselves to healing the great wounds present and provide support to the new administration.

Instead, they continue the bitter, fruitless efforts to overturn the election, to invalidate the legitimate votes of over 80 million Americans. To foster their own political agendas, they sacrifice

GOOD WEEK

House speaker, not one to be intimidated, summons lawmakers back to finish their constitutional duty just hours after mob breaches the U. S. Capitol.

Incoming vice president’s duties will now include breaking ties in the 50- 50 Senate, significantly boosting her clout in D. C.

Georgia Democrat gets great credit for leading a voter- participation efforts that helped Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff win Senate control for party. the good of the nation for which they care nothing. Never forget those who chose division over unity.

Better late than never

Lost amid the turmoil around the President Trump riot at the nation’s Capitol was a quiet but in some ways just as shocking development. Soon to be exVice President Mike Pence appears to have grown a spine.

Pence, who has sat stoically — some would say stupidly — by for more than 1,400 days while soon to be exPresident Trump has time and again battered the world’s oldest ( and unexpectedly fragile) democracy, finally dredged up the courage to do the right thing.

“The presidency belongs to the American people, and to them alone,” Pence wrote to Congress as many of his fellow Republican colleagues shamefully lined up in a futile effort to block Joe Biden’s election.

Make no mistake, history will view Pence as nothing more than a Trump enabler and sycophant. But on a cold, gray Washington day, he did manage to remember his oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States.

BAD WEEK

Even some of the president’s staff and leading apologists say “enough!” after he incites mob before it attacks the U. S. Capitol in dark day for America.

Simon & Schuster cancels book deal for ambitious and seditious Missouri senator who mounted baseless challenge to 2020 election.

Troubled state agency is under fire once again for delaying jobless benefits to legitimate recipients. Attention Gov. Gavin Newsom: This is on your watch.