Dazed and confused

To the Editor:

The writer of the letter “Common sense opinions” (Sept. 25) said she had previously solicited positive letters about Joe Biden, got no response, and she's still waiting. Normally, I'd write in support of him, but lately I've felt utterly gobsmacked by this administration's dubious explanations of the haunting visuals coming out of Afghanistan and from our southern border; toss in the COVID confusion surrounding masks and vaccination mandates, plus rising inflation and soaring national debt… all very unsettling! In the White House, prodigious pussyfooting predominates, with pompous press person Psaki in point position, laboring to rationalize and sanitize the damning images and hard facts swirling around us.

President Biden relies on conclusions reached by his “best and brightest minds,” who apparently gaze through rose-colored lenses when calculating risks and outcomes in dicey circumstances. His failure to heed the counsel of his most experienced military advisors generated an egregious underestimation of the Afghanistan situation, resulting in a blundering, deadly exit plan. Biden gets surly when the tough questions come, yet remains (curiously) confident with his presidential performance, despite considerable evidence to the contrary… That's always been Donald Trump's M.O., but I never expected it from Joe.

Maybe folks never responded because folks may feel as I do — stunned and saddened that recent events unraveled as chaotically as they did. It's difficult to offer praise when nothing seems praiseworthy. Now, having said all that, please don't construe it as any endorsement for Trump's GOP. For me, this was a lesser-oftwo-evils election, but I hadn't counted on being so thoroughly disillusioned by my choice. If President Biden will heed more prudent advice as our country moves forward, smarter decisions and better outcomes should follow.

Until then, I'm still waiting, too. Shannon Mills

Columbia