We should not let his normality become ours
Lakewood, NJ: Isn’t it time for media editors, reporters, writers, and readers to stop normalizing Donald Trump and his thoughts, words, and actions? So-called professional journalists have all but ruled President Biden out of the race on age grounds, even though he remains a functioning president.
At the same time, the media ignores the fact that Trump is now the oldest person to ever run for president in US history! He will of course continue to age as he sits in the Oval Office, with no intention of stepping down at the end of his term in 2028. Will America tolerate a dictator over 90 years old?
The media in general has abandoned any pretense of fairness and impartiality, perhaps due to the entertainment value of Trump’s appearances and diatribes. The moderators of the debate between Trump and Kamala Harris tried valiantly to get a direct answer, or any answer at all, from Trump while dutifully asking for information and policy details. Trump has successfully demolished the concept and reality of normalcy. The media has accepted abnormality in Trump, and he gets excuses for all his errors of judgment, but expects his opponent to provide compelling and convincing data!
But the worst breach of journalistic responsibility is to pretend that Trump is mentally functional. Anyone else who thinks, acts, and speaks like he does—full of anger and threats of revenge but unable to utter a clear, detailed sentence—would be labeled mentally ill. Patricia Barr
Where lies flow from
Glasgow, Scotland: Who is responsible for the great division in American politics today and the way it manifests itself in the lives of Americans? The answer is simple: the side that persists in lying all the time. Believing lies can open the door to the darker side of humanity within us. Lies can corrupt. And which side relies more on lies? The Republicans. And who shows the darker side of humanity more? The Republicans, led by Donald Trump, are somewhat alien to the truth. I have no other argument. It is simple, as I said. Mark Davidson
Means chaos
Orangetown, NY: There’s a new word in the dictionary. It’s “Trumpism,” defined as: creating chaos, hatred, fear, and violence. Al-Hagan
Epic Nonsense
Staten Island: Donald Trump shouted everything during the debate except “the dingo ate your baby!” LOL. Reg Friends
Checkmate
Forest Hills: I watched the Trump evisceration last week – oops, I mean the Trump-Harris debate. It reminded me of a game of chess. Harris managed to beat Trump (pun intended) every time. My conclusion: checkmate, Trump guilty! When the debate ended, I heard loud cracking noises coming from my television. My wife heard it too. I couldn’t figure out what it was, and then I had a moment of wonder: the “glass ceiling” was finally starting to crack. The sweetest sounds I’ve ever heard (shout out to Richard Rodgers)! Anyone else hear it? Mel Moskowitz
Repent and be forgiven
Itasca, Illinois: My power to forgive is shaken. What set me back was an MSNBC panel titled “Evangelicals Once ‘Hijacked by MAGA’ Are Rushing to Harris-Walz.” These are the same evangelicals who helped elect a candidate convicted of sexual abuse, serial lying, and 34 felony convictions. Much of that misconduct was confirmed after he left the White House, but there were still red flags. A kind and forgiving soul does not have to abandon common sense or ignore painfully clear evidence of wrongdoing. I hope Democrats welcome them back. It’s the right thing to do. I will forgive them, too, eventually. The last thing America needs is another hypocrite. Jim Newton
Immature as always
Far Rockaway: I’m watching MSNBC and there’s a breaking news story: Trump wrote on Truth Social “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!” Really? Trump probably hasn’t gotten a love letter from Patrick Mahomes’ wife yet. In fact, Trump must still be reeling from Kamala’s punches. Trump continues to prove he’s worse than ever. In short, don’t waste your vote. Now Reed
To disagree pleasantly
Peters Township, Pennsylvania: I thank God that Donald Trump was not killed, injured, or shot in the latest attempted attack by a domestic terrorist who appears to have been politically motivated. There will always be those inclined to violence, some of them for reasons we may never understand, but it is high time we address one of the sources of political assassinations: the rhetoric we hear from our leaders. It is high time they do their part to try to restore some inner peace, to think about the words they say before they say them, to show civility. When we demean, degrade, and dehumanize our opponents with extreme language, when we imply that violence against our enemies is acceptable, we risk anarchy. Can’t our political figures challenge an opposing ideology without engaging in vicious personal attacks on the promoter of that ideology? Oren Spiegel
Send vibrations
Scarsdale, NY: Donald Trump doesn’t need more protection from the Secret Service, the FBI or the police. He needs more thoughts and prayers. That always seems to be the response to gun violence. John Kern
Distorted argument
Manhattan: Democrats want to take assault-style automatic weapons, like AR-15 semi-automatic rifles, striker stocks, and 3D printed guns off the market. Republicans simply say Democrats want to take away your guns. Why doesn’t everyone realize that Democrats are simply more pro-gun control? These assault-style weapons are not used for hunting. It is illegal to shoot ducks or deer with a machine gun. These weapons have been used to hunt down many innocent civilians, including our former president. It is a mystery how the truth is twisted into lies by the MAGA movement over and over again. Leonard Smoke
Make it available to the people
Kent, NY: Since we don’t really have representation in government unless you’re a lobbyist or a major donor, there should be a national referendum, or several. Let the country vote on banning assault weapons, women’s reproductive rights, and age and term limits for the Supreme Court and other elected offices. And let’s not forget the Electoral College, a truly flawed system that is no better evidence than the 2016 election. One person, one vote, majority wins. How American! Rob Callen
Racial blindness
West Orange, NJ: To reporter Andrew Ross: Columnist Leonard Greene has exposed, and I hope he continues to do so, things that are so obvious to the black community but so hard for others to see. Mr. Ross, do you believe that country music should be created and enjoyed only by white people? Before you answer quickly, please do some research on the history of country music. Lonnie Bond
Who are the Nazis?
White Rock, British Columbia: Vladimir Putin has warned the West not to arm Ukraine with long-range weapons, but that is exactly what China and Iran are doing to Russia in its military bid to annex the independent European nation. More hypocrisy: Putin’s Russia criticizes and then punishes Ukraine when its forces dare to retaliate against Russia’s deliberate attacks on civilians and destruction of its infrastructure. In his own words, Putin is astonished and angry, as if Ukraine has no right to self-defense. This reveals a deep but misplaced sense of entitlement on the part of Putin, the classic tyrant whose concept of his fair share is always three-quarters of the pie. Putin even absurdly justified Russia’s atrocious invasion of Ukraine as a need to “denazify” the latter nation’s democratically elected government. I say denazify the Russian Kremlin and presidency because they are in cahoots with far-right European political parties like the German AfD. Frank Sterle Jr.
No tribute
Bronx: How come the Mets didn’t wear Ed Kranepool’s number on their uniforms? Ralph Canzone Sr.
