Don’t play politics with Afghanistan tragedy
In the aftermath of ill-fated military operations, Congress has typically avoided exploiting operational failures for political gain. Not so anymore.
A number of Republicans in Congress are calling for President Joe Biden’s impeachment. The rationale is if an American president can be impeached for just a phone call, referring to former President Donald Trump’s first impeachment, then Biden should be impeached for the error-ridden Afghanistan withdrawal. Let’s be clear. The phone call in question was not an innocent exchange of diplomatic platitudes. It was an attempt by Trump to solicit interference from a foreign government in the 2020 election through extortion and bribery, a federal crime. To downplay the significance of that assault on our democracy, and in the same breath politicize the tragedy in Kabul, is to besmirch the sacrifice made by our fallen heroes.
Jim Paladino, Tampa, Fla.
Expand Muni service
I write to add my voice to those Outer Richmond District residents who have expressed their gratitude at having the Great Highway open to automobile traffic again. I wonder how many realize that in addition to losing access to that important roadway, my neighbors and I lost all three of the bus lines (5, 18 and 31) that offered service to Ocean Beach north of Fulton. (The 5-Fulton ran only as far as Sixth Avenue for months; the 18 and 31 have only just started running again).
Suddenly, the only way for octogenarians like me to get to doctor’s appointments downtown or in Daly City, or to go grocery shopping was to drive (or call for a ride and let someone else drive). How did this help reduce car traffic? You can count me among those who will be happy to consider closing part or all the Great Highway to cars in future — just as soon as the city shows it can provide reliable public transport for the area. Not everyone can get around on bicycles, scooters or skates!
Linda Shaffer, San Francisco
Newsom fails on fires
California is burning once again. Given the climate change and our long dry summers, this is expected. But, expected does not and should not justify doing very little about it. During the winter and spring, the forests should be manicured and prepared for summer to reduce the fire danger. During the summer, when a fire starts, it should become the absolute top priority of the state to deal with it, even by calling on the National Guard, if necessary. Where is our governor right now?
Why has he not declared a state of emergency and called the National Guard yet?
Oh, I forgot: He is on the campaign trail shaking hands and kissing babies. If he had spent only a 10th of the time he spends on campaigning on fire preparedness instead, we’d be in much better shape. He is a self-declared environmentalist. Does he not know that a major forest fire pollutes more than a million cars? Obviously, the climate change is not his fault, but not decisively acting upon forest fires has been his failing. Forest fires fuel further climate change.
Sinan Kaptanoglu, Belmont
Easy recall election fix
As ridiculous as I find recall elections to be, I think there is a simpler solution going forward once this silly election has come to pass. In the future, if it’s deemed necessary to remove a governor from office by means of recall, the lieutenant governor would assume the responsibilities until the next gubernatorial election.
The lieutenant governor is the second highest office holder in the state and would become governor in the event of death, incarceration or legislative removal. This avoids the appointment of an inept/incompetent replacement with what could be a measly 20 percent of the vote and incentive for other political parties to just wait for the next election.
David McCarroll Jr., Pacifica