Convincing evidence does not convince

On Monday night, CNN released the Donald Trump tapes where he clearly states, “These are the papers and are highly confidential.” He continues, “As president, I could have declassified it. Now I can’t, you know, but this is still a secret.”

For most people, this would be the end of the discussion. Trump has clearly stated that as a former president, he can not declassify anything. But in the alternative-reality world that Trump supporters live in, it is not.

On Sean Hannity’s Fox show, the TV host tried to put a spin on the tape so that his viewers would not have to believe what they heard.

“That does not confirm for me whether or not specifically this document was declassified or not,” Hannity said with a straight face. He continued his spin: “Was that actually the real document, or was it a story that he was telling?”

In the world of Fox News, what someone clearly hears is not true, and in reference to the Jan. 6 insurrection, what one sees on TV is not true.

Why does anyone watch a news channel that lost $787 million for lying to its viewers?

To quote Thomes Paine, “These are the times that try men’s souls.”

— Rick O’connell, Centennial

Just prior to the last presidential election, more than 50 security and intelligence experts signed a letter stating they believed that Hunter Biden’s laptop had the “classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.” At the time, it seemed rather odd that they would make such a claim in light of the fact that not one of them had even seen the computer, let alone done a forensic review of the computer.

As reported in The New York Times, the FBI has since verified that the laptop in question does, indeed, belong to the president’s son.

Now, two and a half years later, a Harvard/harris poll of 2,004 adults taken in May reveals that 59% of Democrats continue to believe that Hunter Biden’s laptop is “Russian disinformation.” How is this possible?

While many political pundits have offered a wide variety of opinions, we know that, as humans, we tend to believe what we want to believe.

It has been said, “It’s easier to fool people than it is to convince them that they have been fooled.”

— Fred Ruder, Broomfield

Re: “House censures Schiff over Trump-russia case,” June 22 news story

Here the Republicans go again, flexing their muscles against political rivals, trying to convince themselves that Rep. Adam Schiff’s supposed actions are as egregious as their reigning hero, Donald Trump.

How convenient they have forgotten about denying Merrick Garland a seat on the Supreme Court then packing the Court shortly before the last election. Fast-forward to Trump’s refusal to participate in the peaceful transition of power, fomenting an insurrection and flouting every norm to salve his wounded ego.

The GOP, in large part, condones such behavior to attain the presidency once again.

It has checked its integrity at the door at the expense of responsible governance for American citizens.

— Joyce Husbands, Westminster