McCain’s performance at hearing an embarrassment Robert E. Lee is much more than Confederate hero; he’s a U.S. hero That little blinker on your car was not put there for decoration

Watching Sen. John McCain’s questioning of former FBI Director James Comey, I was embarrassed. His meandering and obvious inability to remain focused makes public the need for Sen. McCain to step down. Arizona deserves better representation.

— Harvey Kronen, Scottsdale

McCain most obtuse of senators questioning fired-FBI director

Of all the senators addressing Mr. Comey at Thursday’s Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, Sen. McCain was the most obtuse.

Like Sen. John Cornyn before him, he focused his questions on issues related to Hillary Clinton’s email server. He also refused to accept Mr. Comey’s explanation of that matter being “closed” but not that of the Russian involvement in the 2016 campaign, which is just starting, despite it being explained to him more than one time.

It seems obvious that Sen. McCain, like so many others, are trying to change the subject. The conduct of President Trump during his brief tenure has been in so many ways un-presidential and at times shameful. It is no wonder the senator wishes to distance himself from him.

— Dick Perez, Anthem

What do you do when your pro-baseball team sues you?

The commissioner of Major League Baseball and the Arizona Diamondbacks continue to press forward with their claim that it is the obligation of the Maricopa County taxpayers to pay for repairs to their ballpark, this despite the multi-billion dollar TV contract the Diamondbacks just signed.

In a county with an average family income of approximately $55,000, it is outrageous that the team wants the taxpayers to come up with another $187 million. If you believe this is wrong, I implore you to not spend your hard earned dollars with a company that is suing you, but instead spend them with the thousands of other great Arizona businesses that are not suing you.

— Kevin Blazer, Scottsdale

Trump’s Tweets are breaking the fourth wall to speak to backers

On Netflix’s House of Cards, Kevin Spacey regularly turns from the drama to make a side comment to the audience. These side bar comments are conversational and not part of the record of the drama.

In fact the players are not even allowed to hear them. I view Donald Trump’s tweets as essentially the same. He is not talking to the principal players, press included. In fact the players are simply listening in on a conversation between Mr. Trump and his peeps.

He is the president but, like all of our presidents, he is also human. Unlike all before him, Mr. Trump has the courage to speak his mind to the world without all of the filters which keep us from knowing what our politicians really think.

In this context, the accuracy of his tweets meets the standard for conversation between friends. The eavesdropping-drama players should should chill and get on with identifying and solving the problems we face. Working hand in hand with Donald Trump would put them a long way down that road.

— Richard Boland , Chandler

Mainstream media provoke discord among all the races

Every day I meet people with different cultural/ethnic heritages than me. I meet them in the grocery store, bank, gas station, post office and all of us are very cordial and thoughtful to each other, e.g., holding a door open, letting a person with fewer groceries proceed to the head of the line.

There is never any hostility among us. We actually say thank you and maybe engage in brief banter. My question is this:

Why the mainstream media are hyping hatred between U.S. cultures? I am not seeing it in my daily life.

— Mary Carlton, Tempe

Please remind the mayor of Phoenix that Robert E. Lee is not a Confederate hero, rather an American hero. His service in the war with Mexico 1846-1848 is the reason we have this land. To know where we are, we need to know where we have been.

— Paul Jaquith, Gold Canyon

We’ll get over Trump when you start taking some civics classes

I’m quite OK with writing to The Republic without being published — it’s important you know what your readers are thinking.

However, you’ve printed numerous letters telling Democrats to “get over the election and move on and just accept Mr. Trump,” You need to publish a response to these letters.

Here’s what I originally wrote (but I’m sure other writers have sent similar letters):

People who write that those opposed to Mr. Trump and his policies should simply “get over” having lost the election display an abysmal understanding of how our government works.

Mr. Trump is not a king or emperor (as much as he’d like to be) — citizens do not owe him obeisance by divine right. He works for us, all of us.

When he and his administration take steps that undermine the integrity of our democracy (Russia), harm the citizenry (Trumpcare), reduce the U.S.’s standing in the world (climate change), and weaken our economy (EPA and education), it’s our duty to speak out, protest and most importantly to hold Mr. Trump and his enablers accountable.

A 5th-grade civics class would understand this.

— Michael Jonas , Scottsdale It’s called a turn signal, folks. Use it. Please... — Margie Rubenstein, Scottsdale

We have seen the terrorists and they are ink-stained wretches

EJ Montini was absolutely correct in his column “The terrorists are already here.” They are masquerading as journalists and columnists. To quote Winston Churchill, “An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.”

— Richard Koehler, Clarkdale

Trump used London terror strike to try to get his travel ban

Just one day after a terror attack in London killed seven people, a 23-year old American pop star, Ariana Grande, stood in front of a massive crowd in Manchester, England and encouraged the world to unite in love.

The theme of the various celebrities joining her in this benefit concert was to assure the terrorists that even in the face of their atrocities “we need to show are not scared.”

These young entertainers encouraged the world to rise above hate and violence by continuing to live our lives in love, not fear. That same day, the president of the United States chose to mock the mayor of London — in a tweet — for having encouraged his citizens to remain calm.

The same message, incidentally, that the mayor of New York shared with his city on Sept. 11, 2001. The benefit concert, which raised over $4 million dollars for victims of the Manchester bombing two weeks ago, was a show of support.

Entertainers sharing their talents in a message of love and hope. The mocking tweet was an “I told you so” sent to encourage fear in hopes of garnering support for his politically motivated travel ban. You tell me. Who should just shut up? — Sandi Glauser, Gilbert