Political war games

Just do right

Regarding: “In 1 hour, Bonnen turns on both sides” (Front page, Oct. 16): There was a time, not long ago, when I considered myself fiercely independent. I smugly chastised straight-ticket voters. I believed that good and bad, smart and stupid, did not fall along party lines. I was optimistic about Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen and a fan of his predecessor, Joe Strauss.

I’m not naive. I know that virtue is largely for the cameras, not the political sausage factory. But for Republicans today, there is no end justifying the means they’ve lowered themselves to. Instead of ideas, they embrace conspiracy theories.

They’ve traded honor and courage to swear fealty to a president whose only allegiance is to himself.

Their goal is not to govern, but to wage war against Democrats, moderates in their own party, civil servants, even local governments — and they’re banking on constituents too distracted to pay attention, a strategy finally showing its cracks.

For me, the political divide is no longer Right and Left. It’s Right and Wrong. And I’ll be voting a straight ticket. Robert Campbell, Katy

Fool’s errand

Regarding “‘Chaos’ in Syria endangers U.S. forces” (Front page, Oct. 14): I fully support President Trump’s decision to withdraw U.S. troops from the Syrian war zone.

These people have been fighting each other for decades. The USA does not have to be the world’s policeman. Bring our men and women home. The parties involved need to work it out.

I hope but have my doubts that Vice President Mike Pence’s mission to meet with Turkish President Erdogan will result in a good result. And if the Russians, who back the Assad regime and now by association the Kurds, want to get involved — great. Look how that turned out for them in Afghanistan. Jon Elmendorf, Houston

Sad legacy

Regarding “As U.S. pulls forces from Syria, Assad fills vacuum” (Front page, Tuesday): President Trump has achieved his legacy at long last — not a wall or lower taxes but a whirlpool of forces in the Mideast trying to take over the place that Trump abandoned.

For someone who’s always so concerned with appearing weak, his move in Syria is a clear signal to enemies of America that our president has no strong foreign policy agenda or allies, just whims and polls.

I’m sure the Kurds got that message. Bob Gayle, Houston

Understand freedom

Regarding “LeBron keeps bowing down to China” (Sports, Oct. 16): Please be advised that Twitter is banned in China, and 1.4 billion Chinese did not see and have not heard about Daryl Morey’s tweet.

The reason I know that is I lived in China. Therefore, since China did not see “the tweet heard around the world,” I don’t see what all the hoopla is about.

Any American who thinks Morey’s tweet was out of line does not understand the word “freedom.” Mike Ganis, Houston