We must deny power to scoundrels, despots
What disturbs me the most about the Donald Trump phenomenon in this country is how educated representatives of United States citizens are so willing to jeopardize the very constitutional republic in which they function. It is absolutely despicable, or as some would say, deplorable, that these individuals (House Speaker Mike Johnsons among many others) deride a fundamental tenet of our republic.
I’m speaking of our judicial system that includes the right of every American, including former presidents, to a fair trial by jury.
Following weeks of presentation of evidence, the jury, not the judge, not President Biden, not Democrats in general, found Mr. Trump guilty on 34 counts. Now we have Republican leaders in our country attacking our legal system as a weaponized instrument of politics. I suppose I should not be surprised in that the same Republican leaders publicly undermined our electoral process, and our judicial system that protects our electoral process in 2020.
Our republic is not infallible. There are inherent weaknesses that our founders recognized, yet held faith in the ability and desire of their fellow citizens to be informed and fair-minded; citizens not subjects. The founders also had faith that informed and fair-minded citizens would recognize and deny power to scoundrels and despots seeking personal enrichment and authoritarian power.
I continue to hold this faith as well. I hope that I will not be proven a fool.
Robert Landry
Hunter a cellmate for Donald Trump?
Hunter Biden has no redeeming qualities and deserves to be in jail. 1) He denied he was the father for a long time of his daughter; 2) He was kicked out of the Navy for drug use after being given a second chance; 3) He cussed about his stepmother, Jill Biden, to friends; and 4) He had a short affair with his brother’s widow.
Maybe he can be Trump’s cellmate.
Joel Blake
‘Rule-of-law’ GOP needs to speak out
It was a relief to hear “guilty” repeated 34 times in the news reports coming out of that New York courthouse. Despite all of Trump’s declarations of his immunity from prosecution, the rule of law still does exist in the United States, even for a defeated millionaire demagogue.
It was not a relief to hear the angry choruses of denial and denunciation from so many Republican officeholders. I expected to hear the usual inanities from the likes of Marjorie Taylor Greene, Marsha Blackburn and J.D. Vance, so I shrugged them off without a second thought. It was shocking, however, to hear Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, two senators with extensive legal experience and from Cuban-American backgrounds, likening the proceedings in New York to kangaroo courts in totalitarian nations.
Lawmakers who denigrate the rule of law and the judges and other officials who enforce the rule of law have no business in public office. Cruz and Rubio and the other Republican officials who defend Donald Trump ought to resign immediately, or at least suffer humiliating defeats when they run for reelection.
I am sure there are many Republicans, in public office or out of it, who support the rule of law and are relieved by the New York verdicts. Those Republicans need to speak out as loudly as their less honorable colleagues.
David Cofield
LaFayette, Ga.
Speedy Hixson streets need Barney Fife
The traffic on Hixson pike is out of control.
Motorists drive above the speed limit. Motorcyclists pass between cars.
Some drivers pass two or three cars from the turn lane. Drivers get as close as possible to intimidate others to move over. If you happen to have a few gray hairs, you forfeit your right to drive in the left lane.
A yellow light means to “hurry.” A yellow light that has just turned red means “Look out, here I come.”
I believe that is what many motorists think.
What we need is a Barney Fife policeman.
He would catch these speeders in a skinny minute.
Please slow down.
Ruth Cote
Hixson
Republicans are targets of derision
The trouble with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Sen. Ted Cruz, Rep. Lauren Boebert, and Rep. Jim Jordan, among many others, is they don’t realize people aren’t laughing with them, they’re laughing at them.
Harry Sholl
Rossville, Ga.
Ready for the future? Here’s our blueprint
In the short-term:
› Provide safe zones for certain places (schools, government facilities, social gatherings) where firearms, knives, explosives, lethal gases, selected drugs, etc., are forbidden. Legislation is required to specify safety zones/events and avoid conflicts with constitutional (First/Second Amendment) rights.
› Improve public education by using the Normal Park method.
› Develop young adult skills for students failing to complete schooling. Those with the physical and mental skills are identified and “drafted” into a short-term, city-sponsored educational system designed to prepare the individual for either a skilled occupation and/or military service. These school undertakings should seek business and federal government financial support in developing and maintaining the programs.
Future needs:
› Reduce center city auto congestion, giving Chattanooga a head start in creating a safe/enjoyable/appealing environment created by the conversion of car space/noise/pollution into enjoyable human space. Consider use of existing rail lines and roadway and AI-controlled electric transport vehicles with auto parking provided at various sites outside the city’s center.
› Plan for mid-America high-speed train service by forming a chain of communities that will lobby federal agencies for a service from Savannah, Georgia, to Portland, Oregon. The alliance of metropolitan governments such as Macon, Atlanta, Dalton, Chattanooga, Kansas City, Denver, Salt Lake City and many others would significantly benefit with a safe, cross-country, high-speed passenger train service.
Michael Mainz
Fleischmann should answer key questions
I recently received a mailing from Rep. Chuck Fleischmann touting his work for our “nuclear security” and “national defense.” Considering who he is supporting in the upcoming presidential election, here are a few questions for the congressman:
Would it be in the best interest of nuclear security and national defense to have a president who does not believe that the laws governing classified documents apply to him?
Would it instill pride and confidence in our military forces to have a president who refers to those who serve in the armed forces as “losers” and those who gave their lives in defense of our nation as “suckers”?
Would it increase the stability of our nation to have a president who, when he is convicted of committing a crime, blames the American system of justice?
Would the very essence of our nation, the right to free and fair elections, be best served by a president who attempted to prevent the peaceful transfer of power and refuses to accept election results when he loses?
I have no illusions that Rep. Fleischmann will answer these questions. He is a political turtle who pokes his head out of his shell for a few moments every election year. He will not hold a news conference, debate an opponent or answer a constituents’ questions. We deserve better.
Al Ezzell