Your move, GOP
Re: “GOP-led panel details Russia’s 2016 role,” Aug. 19
Now that the Senate Intelligence Committee has released its report confirming Russia’s interference in our 2016 election, what do the Republican members of the committee plan to do?
I’m talking about the acting chairman, Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.). I’m talking about Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Richard Burr (N.C.), James Risch (Idaho), Roy Blunt (Mo.), Tom Cotton (Ark.), John Cornyn (Texas) and Ben Sasse (Neb.).
Will they publicly correct the president when he continues to yell, “hoax, lies, fake news”? Will they squirm on their soft cushions, fearful of his attacks, his bullying, denigrations and putdowns? Or will they stand up for truth, to keep this from happening again and to protect our 2020 election from interference?
What words will they sputter to their children and grandchildren when, years from now, the kids ask, “How did you let this happen?”
Roz Levine
Los Angeles
I was not surprised by the Senate Intelligence Committee’s findings. The question that no one seems to ask is this: Why does Russian President Vladimir Putin put so much effort into getting Trump elected?
I think the answer lies in the fact that Trump is easily manipulated. Rex Tillerson, Trump’s former secretary of State, reportedly called Trump a “moron.” In his new book, former national security advisor John Bolton depicts Trump as an incompetent.
In his dealings with the leaders of China, North Korea and Russia, Trump has raved about the great progress he’s made. In reality, North Korea has not curbed its nuclear program, China has not come to any significant trade deal with the U.S. and Russia has not retreated from its aggression.
Authoritarians have played Trump like a yo-yo. I think we can see why Putin supports our president.
Robert Friedman
Palm Desert
Now, there is very strong evidence that Trump lied in writing to former Justice Department special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, a crime that probably would have sent anyone else to prison.
The idea that Trump simply did not recall talking to Roger Stone about WikiLeaks doesn’t even meet the standard of plausible deniability. Trump commuted Stone’s prison sentence to cover up for his campaign’s conduct in the 2016 election, which with his lies show his effort to obstruct justice.
Your article notes that Mueller’s report failed to establish a criminal conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia; however, the report also said that efforts to obstruct the investigation interfered with the ability to reach a conclusion. Trump and his operatives were not exonerated.
The evidence that former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was in secret contact with Russian military intelligence is a red flag if ever there was one.
Trump welcomed Putin’s interference in our democracy. He needs to be held accountable and removed from office.
David Bendall
Aliso Viejo
about the Democratic convention, he was probably not excited by Jill Biden; the fired-up and eloquent nurse and activist Cozzie Watkins of North Carolina; the courageous and not-young Judy and Dennis Shepard, parents of murdered Matthew Shepard; or the voices of indigenous activists Chuck Degnan, Derrick Lente, Cesar Alvarez and Kellen Returns From Scout.
When real people of all ages — disabled activists, train conductors, farmers, students, rising leaders, former presidents and secretaries of State and war heroes — are not “exciting,” it means that ageist entertainments and the cult of celebrity that brought us President Trump have won.
Social media influence and slick selfies should not matter more than selfless public service and putting forth a powerful agenda for change.
Jo Perry
Studio City
Goldberg gave me the impression that he was leaving no stone unturned, finding every reason to support a presidential candidate whose only advantage in the race is that his name is not Donald Trump.
Admittedly, the incumbent is one of the most reviled leaders in U.S. history. Still, Trump is not as bad as his ardent detractors depict him. But due to the hyper-partisan political atmosphere of an election year, anything positive has unfortunately become lost.
If the campaign platform for a candidate is that he is not the other unpopular one, then there is no choice. We are better off not changing horses at midstream.
Henry Tse
Rosemead
I was telling my friend that Biden is not that exciting when she responded, “I don’t care. I will vote for a potato to get Trump out of office.”
I think that sums up how a lot of us feel.
Trump has brought this country to its knees. Biden is a decent human being who has served our country for many years. That’s huge compared to what we have now.
Linda Mele Johnson
Long Beach
Those who are choosing not to vote for Biden because he’s not their first choice need to realize that Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg probably cannot wait another four years.
We have two new conservative justices because people allowed the perfect to be the enemy of the good in 2016.
Susan Hanley
Simi Valley