Debate’s scary moment ( It wasn’t about the fly)
We just finished watching the vice presidential debate and listening to the NPR and CNN commentary, and I was very surprised that nobody discussed the answer that hit me the most. When asked what would they do if President Trump refuses to give up power in case of a Joe Biden victory, while Kamala Harris reassured the audience about a peaceful transfer of power, Vice President Mike Pence never committed to that and just repeated over and over that Trump is going to win.
I found that to be the scariest moment in the debate and I hope that it will be addressed by the press in the coming days and that America as a nation is getting ready to defend our democracy, even though at this point I don’t know as citizens what we can do if it comes to that.
Michelle Bergtraun, Berkeley
Misdirected energy
In case you missed the vice presidential debate, Mike Pence repeated the mantra “unleash American energy” several times in reference to the Trump policy on the environment. It is essentially an updated ( and more obfuscated) version of Sarah Palin’s cries of “drill, baby, drill” from 2008. Whereas dealing with climate change will require collective action, regulation, and sacrifice, the Trump administration offers the standard GOP approaches of deregulation and allowing the market to decide.
I understand the market argument, and I agree that it applies to some areas of our lives, but the problem with that approach in this regard is that we do not have the luxury of time. It is our markets and individual actions that have largely put us in this position, and now it is time for a concerted and sustained approach to ensuring that humanity as we know it has a future.
Scott Godfrey, Oakland
Not worth watching
As much as I desired to watch the Pence/ Harris debate Wednesday evening, I finally turned it off in frustration. It is simply too difficult to watch something as important as this without microphone cutoff switches to eliminate the continual interruptions, as well as the ramblings that continued after a candidate’s time limit.
Richard Svendsen, Calistoga
Democracy in peril
Those who worry about the future of our democracy should focus on Vice President Mike Pence’s answer to moderator Susan Page’s question about his role in the peaceful transition of power if he and President Trump lose the election.
Instead of giving the simple answer dictated by the oath of office he took on Jan. 20, 2017 — “of course there will be a peaceful transition of power” — he obfuscated, cited unfounded voter fraud allegations and didn’t pledge to follow the Constitution he swore to uphold. He should be asked to clarify his position on the potential transition of power at noon on Jan. 20, 2021.
Craig Griffin, Berkeley
Who’s the monster?
This week, the president of the United States called Sen. Kamala Harris a “communist” and a “monster.” This from a man whose incompetence and negligence in dealing with the coronavirus has led to the death of over 211,000 Americans.
“Monster,” Mr. President? Maybe you should ask the family members of those 211,000 Americans who they think is a “monster.” Vote.
Al Comolli, Millbrae
Leader without shame
I am responding to the writer (“Stop the hate against Trump,” Letters, Oct. 7) who was disgusted by all the negative letters to The Chronicle concerning President Trump. First of all, we do not blame Trump for getting the virus; we simply shake our heads at the fact that he refused to wear a mask to protect himself and others. We do not blame him for all the deaths, but for the ones that could have been prevented had he only acted sooner. You claim that Democrats have no shame when it is your hero who has none.
Elizabeth Larson, San Francisco
Felled by the hoax
During the past winter and spring, President Trump frequently tweeted and pontificated on television that the coronavirus was “a Democratic hoax” and would soon disappear. Failure to acknowledge the problem finds the United State with over 7 million cases and over 200,000 deaths. Ironically, not admitting to the seriousness of the situation has made him one of the victims. I would call it poetic justice, except that he will get outstanding care ( as every president should) and come through unscathed. The rest of us will continue to suffer the consequences of his ignorance and arrogance.
Claire Lieske, Vallejo
Follow the scent
The vice presidential debate fly, currently the most famous insect in the world, proved one thing conclusively: Donald Trump isn’t the only member of this administration whose use of hair products is excessive in the extreme.
William Raffetto, Moraga
Lies attract flies
As many debate viewers noticed, a fly landed and stayed on Vice President Mike Pence’s hair for more than two minutes. Given Pence’s failure to admit to the scientific basis for climate change and his denial of President Trump’s poor response to the coronavirus pandemic, the fly landed where flies often do, except this time it was on political waste.
Anthony DeGuzman, Daly City