Pessimism over likely Supreme Court ruling
Regarding “Court likely to deny claim of immunity” (May 13): Although I’m generally an optimistic person, I’m pessimistic that the Supreme Court, even if it rejects President Trump’s claim of immunity from criminal investigation while in office, will ultimately rule that subpoenas from Congress and the Manhattan district attorney to Trump’s accountant for tax records and banks for financial records are valid and should be enforced.
This conservativeoriented high court won’t want to be seen as doing something that might influence the outcome of the 2020 election, even though an argument by Trump’s lawyers that these subpoenas would be a distraction that no president can afford is absurd.
Obviously, this 45th president finds plenty of time to be distracted from his duties by obsessively tweeting and watching Fox News, as well as by playing numerous rounds of golf at the expense of American taxpayers.
Sergei Kuznetsov, Milpitas
Elon Musk’s defiance
Concerning “Elon Musk’s dangerous denialism” (Editorial, May 13): Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has declared “the coronavirus panic is dumb” and has defiantly chosen to reopen his electric vehicle factory in Fremont, shouldn’t worry if state officials shut down his business. His action, along with production safety lapses and company union busting, makes him the perfect person to serve as secretary of transportation.
And there might soon be an opening for that position if current office holder Elaine Chao decides to step down to help the suddenly struggling reelection campaign of someone who commented that giving aid to states to help ease the pain from the pandemic would be a “blue state bailout,” her husband, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Fiona MacPherson, San Jose
Pandemic detectives
I’m glad to read in “How 20,000 will train to be pandemic sleuths” (May 13) that librarians are among the thousands of newly trained civic workers who will act as pandemic detectives tracking coronavirus cases.
When I was a child, librarians helped to guide me toward a love of mystery books, including those written by Agatha Christie. Who knew that such people would one day turn into real life Hercule Poirots?
Luisa Westbrook, San Francisco
A wait on testing
Regarding “Newsom to allow limited openings” (Page 1, May 13): I’d generally give California Gov. Gavin Newsom high marks for his cautious approach to reopening our state’s economy while the coronavirus pandemic continues. However, now that California has exceeded 70,000 COVID19 cases and is approaching 3,000 related deaths, here’s something that mystifies me: Why did Newsom wait so long to allow pharmacies to administer virus tests across our state?
Those who are employed in malls and restaurants that are being allowed to reopen could have, and should have had, the reassurance of knowing that they had tested negative for COVID19 before returning to their jobs.
Peter Hendriksen, Yountville
Won’t be invited back
So, according to “Dr. Fauci warns of ‘suffering and death’ ” (May 13), the nation’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, testified before a Senate committee that there would be really serious consequences of suffering, death and deeper economic damage if state and local officials lift stayathome coronavirus orders too quickly?
It’s likely that Fauci, after his selfimposed quarantine ends, will no longer be invited to speak at President Trump’s press briefings. After all, how can anyone be allowed to rain on this “Let’s reopen the economy!” cheerleader in chief ’s parade?
Josephine DiCostanzo, Burlingame
Qualities of a hero
He could have been a hero. He could have won his election with nary an unkind word for his opponent. Had he embraced the earliest warnings he received from the scientific community, he could have saved lives, stemmed the unraveling of the economy and shepherded our country through this crisis. People would have forgiven much that went before and forgotten the rest if they were delivered from the pandemic. Americans are tough. Tell us the truth; we can handle it. Americans are resourceful.
Tell us what you need; we will provide it. Americans are united. We are no longer Texans or Minnesotans, Democrats or Republicans; we are Americans. He could have been a hero. Exhibit compassion with empathy and caring for lost loved ones. Show humility. Seek advice from the experts. Exhibit grace. Listen, don’t bash. Display courage. Challenge those who dismiss the situation. Evince patience. Don’t walk away because of a difficult path. Demonstrate leadership. Use the power of the office.
Order protective gear and test kits. Set up a national testing and tracking system quickly. Get the job done. That’s what an American hero would do. That is the American way.
Patricia Andrews, San Jose
Steep economic costs
Regarding “Stanford sets sights on saliva to detect virus” (Page 1, May 13): I was dumbstruck by the quote that “Stanford researchers hope to have results in the next few weeks. But it’s been a challenge to find 20 positive patients because there’s been a slowdown of new COVID19 infections in the Bay Area.” I think that Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state have done an excellent job overall of limiting the spread of the coronavirus.
However, the economic and social costs have been steep. There are almost 8 million people in the Bay Area. If Stanford can’t find 20 positive COVID19 patients on which to test its saliva test, I think it is time to move a little faster to reopen the economy.
Scott Dubin, Larkspur
Tesla CEO needs to go
My next car was going to be a Tesla. I liked the idea of buying something that supports the local community. Elon Musk is doing a brilliant job of changing my mind. I hope the Tesla board of directors will step in and remove him as the CEO and let him play with his rockets.
Mike Hrast, Danville