Cameron is making promises on abortion he knows he’ll never have to keep | Opinion

Cameron on abortion

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron is so indignant in his current ad shaming Gov. Andy Beshear. But Cameron is just proving that he himself knows no shame and has questionable ethics. His “new” stance on abortion is meaningless. He hasn’t said that he supports, agrees with or will work for exceptions. He merely says he’ll rubber-stamp what the GOP legislature passes.

He knows that the majority of those legislators are, like him, not pro-life, but merely pro-birth, so he is unlikely to need to sign any changes. He appears to want women to wait until they’re at death’s door for help.

If he was ethical, he would speak out against the PACs running ads against Beshear that use a speck of truth they twist into an ocean of lies. Those ads are despicable. Beshear’s pandemic choices were to save lives.

The GOP leadership promotes a culture of death: no or sub-par health care; no living wage; no food security; no housing. And yet, we keep voting them into office. Just look at Cameron’s friend, U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who thinks Christmas is about gun ownership. Yep — a culture of death.

Glenna Brouse, Lexington

What legislation?

Ky. Attorney General Daniel Cameron has said he would sign legislation to allow abortions in the case of rape or incest if it reached his desk. He pointedly did not commit to advocating for this legislation, but it really doesn’t matter. He knows there is a far greater chance of a July snowstorm in Las Vegas than Kentucky’s legislators ever presenting him with such a bill. It’s easy to make promises that you know you’ll never actually have to keep.

Jay Hopkins, Frankfort

A bridge in Brooklyn

If anyone thinks Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron will sign any bill that allows for abortions caused by rape or incest, well, I’ve got a bridge in Brooklyn for sale cheap.

Cameron and his band of merry Frankfort troubadours appear to want to declare that they have legal title to every woman’s reproductive system and can do whatever they want. Expect that Cameron, if elected governor, will try to ram through some of the more obscene restrictive measures that Republicans are proposing in other states: banning all birth control sales; paying a bounty to rat on any Kentuckian who has an abortion; arresting anyone for murder who has had an abortion; arresting anyone who helps a Kentuckian secure an abortion; arresting anyone who uses a Kentucky state highway to travel out of state for an abortion; publishing abortion recipients addresses, and God knows what else.

If you vote for Cameron, you are saying it’s okay to abuse a woman’s basic right to privacy and freedom. Cameron and friends are coming after you. Make no mistake of that. Don’t be deceived.

Gene Lackhart, Lexington

Thiessen tirade

The odious Marc Thiessen strikes again. It would take too much ink to refute his recent confusing and unfocused tirade (“Impeachment inquiry was clearly inevitable”) point by point. In this rambling piece, he fails to elaborate on “the charge of inciting the Jan. 6, 2021 riot” and he equally dismisses former President Donald Trump’s “attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election.” (Yes, Trump won in 2016, but he LOST in 2020.)

In a nutshell, Thiessen has spent much of his career villainizing Democrats and espousing radical right-wing dogma. Anyone who believes Trump did nothing wrong is delusional. It is clear from the Jan. 6 Commission’s report that Trump is a dangerous traitor, and an enemy of democracy. The proof is all on audio and video.

Michael Worley, Lexington

Investigate Comer

We should be investigating U.S. Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.). It appears he is working for Russian President Vladimir Putin by attempting to fabricate scandal where there is none. It’s an attack from within and is no service to the U.S. or Kentucky. It’s political drama, posturing, and staging. If innuendo is his standard for evidence that demands investigation, there is plenty of that to go around.

We need to look at the Dark Money sponsors and where they are getting their money from. It’s seems apparent that there are some borders not defended when it comes to billionaires buying their citizenship, and then later buying Congress members, through Dark Money contributions. That in of itself is suspect.

If we are going to question motives and behaviors, we don’t need to look very much further than U.S. Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Comer. All of them have rendered comfort to the insurrectionists, as well as aided and abetted the sedition of Jan. 6. They should be subjected to the 14th Amendment; Section 3 and removed from Congress.

There’s a lot more meat and all sorts of dressing on the burger of sedition and treason on Comer’s part, and only poison air for a “nothing burger” they are trying to suffocate democracy with.

Robert Moreland, Lexington

Self-assessing politicians

On a recent CBS News broadcast, U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) was asked whether Congressmembers in the 75-plus age group should be subjected to some kind of testing to see if they have the mental capability to serve in Congress. She responded that she thought public officials in that age group “should self-assess in an honest way” about their mental capacities to serve. I was tempted to think, like the old joke, “must be a freshman, a sophomore would know better.”

Self-assess? Honestly? We’re talking about politicians here. You know what U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) would respond if you asked him that question? Given that he could respond. Period.

Ralph Derickson, Lexington, Kentucky

Political expiration age

An often-repeated complaint is the age of our elected politicians. The voters want younger law makers with fresh new ideas. The introduction of term limits and restrictions on election spending would be an excellent start. The young and those who are very capable are unable to seek office due to the outrageous expense of campaigning. Corporate donors, organizations like the NRA, political action committees, and “Dark Money” have changed the ideal of public service. It is an unspoken quid pro quo. In exchange for monetary contributions, law makers will be “cooperative.” It is doubtful that these changes will come about because those who make the laws would not benefit - much like the fox guarding the hen house.

Cheryl Keenan, Lexington

Urban Service Area

With the ongoing discussions regarding the expansion of the Urban Service Area, I think it is important to remember that our community still has a need to encourage infill and redevelopment. Increasing density and developing long underutilized property plays a vital role in smart growth of our community.

The problem often is that there is a reason the property has been overlooked or the surrounding neighbors might have concerns about new development in their area. When done right, there is a way to create a win-win for the property owner and the neighborhood. For example, back in 2018, we worked with the South Hill Neighborhood to compromise on new housing that replaced a dilapidated government building at on High Street. The project was unanimously approved and supported by the neighborhood. Unfortunately, it still hasn’t been built as the Blue Grass Trust continues to fight the neighborhood in an effort to get rid of a building the neighborhood considers to be a continuing eyesore for downtown.

Infill and redevelopment can be hard and quite costly. But we must come together as a community in order to make it a reality. I believe Lexington can and will.

Woodford Webb, Lexington

Dress code

I have long that American civilization was in decline. The senate dress code changes confirm my fears.

Ted Oldham, Georgetown

Reality denials

In recent months we seen devastating loss of life and property on Maui, massive Canadian wildfires, continuing triple digit temperatures, California wildfires, tornadoes in Michigan, storms never before seen in southern California, hot ocean waters, worldwide flooding disasters, monster hurricanes and storm surges over Florida. Yet, right-wingers still deny climate change!

These same folks swallow whatever comes from MAGA world, no matter that January 6 really did happen, that classified documents were illegally taken to Mar-a-Lago, that false elector slates really were formed with intent to overturn the 2020 election. Denials of confirmed fact go on and on.

It’s equally regrettable that many just don’t care. The vast majority of folks remain good and well-meaning, but germs of discontent, grievance, bigotry and gullibility have erupted, driven by lies, vile slander and cockamamie conspiracy theories. Truth becomes whatever one wishes, sacred vows become hollow mutterings, dedicated teachers and public servants are labeled sinister agents and craven legislators remain silent as death threats serve political ends.

In the first GOP debate, a number of candidates offered hope for a responsible Republican administration, yet polls strongly favor those candidates most dangerous to democracy.

What in heaven’s name has happened to us?

Ernest Henninger

Keillor performance

Recently, at the Lyric Theater, I listened to a monologue from a person you might have heard about — Garrison Keillor. For many years, he hosted “A Prairie Home Companion” on National Public Radio (NPR). Keillor was, and still is, very much in love with this country. His show is a comfort for many of his loyal listeners.

For some of us, the man is an institution. When I think of Minnesota, or the Midwest, I think of Keillor. They all go together for me - a member of a certain generation and with maternal roots in the upper mid-west.

Unfortunately, I have never met any of my maternal kin in from that area. This remains a sad gap, like an absence of a sense of place and belonging. Keillor helps to fill that void with tales from Lake Wobegon and the quirky, all too human characters he tells us about.

Keillor seems now conscious of his mortality. Now 81, he accepts his future, whereas I fight it. Listening to his expressions of care for his fellow Americans permits me to take my mind off stuff like current politics. Thank you, Mr. Keillor. You are valued. You are remembered.

Paul Winther, Lexington

Compiled by Liz Carey