College football to immigration: SW Florida readers share opinions in letters to editor

Letters to the editor should be 250 words or less. Include your name and city or community of residence. Guest opinions should be 600 words or less and include a brief summary of the author’s credentials relevant to the topic. Guest opinions may include a head shot of the author. For the Fort Myers News-Press, email submissions to mailbag@news-press.com and for the Naples Daily News to letters@naplesnews.com

College football deflated

Division I College Football has become disgraceful. What used to be a wonderful part of college has now become so materialistic, commercial, and political that words like "portal" and "opt-out" are as common as "blocking" and "tackling."As a former college coach, I think what the NCAA Selection Committee did to Florida State was wrong. However, what the FSU players did to their team and fans was worse. I am afraid what happened to the Seminoles in the Orange Bowl is a precursor to what is going to happen to Division I College Football.

John Pastore, Naples

Potentially deadly prank

Swatting has gained in popularity and is potentially very dangerous for the person being swatted. For those readers that don’t know what swatting is, let me briefly explain. A person calls the authorities (perhaps 911) to falsely report something nefarious is happening at the “target’s home or at some other location where the target” may be staying. The false story might include things like gunshots or screams. The purpose of the false story is to cause police to rush to the scene with guns drawn ready to put down the would-be assailant. In this situation, pandemonium can ensue and anything can happen. The police just might accidently shoot the “target” by mistake. Lately, there have been an increasing number of swatting incidents reported, including one involving Florida Senator Rick Scott. Fortunately nobody was injured.Law enforcement needs to immediately develop new procedures to deal with these incidents. Consider the following ideas:

1. The 911 operator should insist on a name, location of the caller, and a call back number from the person (swatter) reporting the incident which is then tested while the police are on their way. If the call back number is bogus, the police should be immediately notified that their mission may be a swatting incident and to proceed with caution (no drawn guns). Most cell phones today have GPS locators so you can find out where the person is that is reporting the incident.2. More serious effort should be devoted to finding the person submitting the false report.3. Because of the potentially deadly outcomes that might result, anyone found guilty of swatting should serve a long term in prison (let’s say five years) and if the swatting incident has a deadly outcome then the penalty can go up from there all the way to life in prison.Think about the taxpayer resources wasted by one incident and imagine the tragic consequences which could ensue.Duncan Russell, Cape Coral

Immigration reform

It's clear that the migrant situation has gotten out of hand, more so now that sanctuary cities are also complaining about all the migrants being bused to them. They are starting to get a taste of what has been happening in small border towns. For the past 40 years the same phenomenon has been going on regarding immigration reform. The party out of power wants immigration reform knowing that the party in power will reject it. It's time for both parties to get together and develop a comprehensive immigration reform system. One such system would involve work related visas for all those migrants who are seeking work, which I assume is most of them. Many countries have applied such a system successfully. We know that these migrants are necessary for many areas of our job market even though many large employers of illegal immigrants prefer it to be that way so that they can keep them in what amounts to indentured servitude. This election season, one of the criteria I will use to choose who gets my vote is, are they willing to cross party lines for a comprehensive immigration bill.

Kenneth Wetcher, Naples

Harvard ex-president

After a horrific ill timed press conference followed by plagiarism accusations, we thankfully and finally got the resignation of Harvard President Claudine Gay. Unfortunately she and others are suggesting that racism and sexism played a role. With the pervasive failed attempts obvious in American business regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion programs it appears the racism and sexism occurred when she was hired.John McWilliams, Fort Myers

Abandoning an ally

During the war in Syria the U.S. supported the Kurds, a group that Turkey has wanted to eliminate for years because the Kurds were seeking independence.  The Kurds proved to be a highly effective ally in the fight against Syria until one day when President Erdogan of Turkey called the president of the U.S. and asked him to stop assistance to the Kurds, which he did immediately.  This betrayal towards an ally established a new low for U.S. credibility and left the Kurds vulnerable to the possibility of extinction at the hands of the Turkish military.  One guess as to who that president was.

Now we have the Russian president, an individual admired by that same bastion of courage, has invaded Ukraine in an attempt to re-incorporate it with the Soviet Union.  Obviously ex-President Trump is sympathetic with Putin's objectives and has indicated he "could end the war in a day."  We know how that would end for Ukraine.

The U.S. as well as numerous NATO affiliated nations have provided Ukraine with weapons and monetary assistance in an attempt to stop the Hitler-like takeover of friendly nations.  But now we're seeing a gradual reluctance by the Party of Trump to continue that support and funding for future fighting.  Once again we're witnessing Republican members of Congress willing to abandon an ally because they are unable to think for themselves and refuse to take action of which Trump wouldn't approve, We've got red hatted mouth-breathers running around supporting these cowardly actions, and most of them don't have a clue as to what's happening.

More people should stop parroting the Orange Jesus and remember when America stood up and reflected values. The problem, I believe, is the red hats − they're too tight and cut off blood flow.  Loosen them up, start thinking, and maybe we can become a nation admired around the world once again.

Robert F. Tate, Naples

Currency solution

There were two notable developments this past week concerning money laundering, drug and human trafficking, and the rampant underground economy.  The U.S. Treasury has just launched the new Financial Crimes Enforcement Network to gather criminal information. Plus President Biden has asked banks and credit card companies to weigh in on whether a national digital currency is feasible.  While like so many well intentioned government initiatives the glaring obvious is not being considered.

Why not attack the financial motif of all this criminal activity?  Let’s put a gigantic crimp in these illegal activities by eliminating $100 and $50 bills from circulation.  Here is an example of the impact such a dramatic change would bring about.  Suppose a $1 million drug deal is going down and it will be funded with 10,000 $100 bills.  In other words, you would need a suitcase to fit all those bills and importantly it would weigh almost 20 pounds.  But if that drug deal were funded instead by $20 bills now the criminal would need two giant duffel bags that would weigh about 100 pounds. Can you imagine the logistics problems a fivefold increase in size and weight would cause the drug or human trafficker, the kidnapper, or the local house/industrial builder.

Best of all is that eliminating $100s and $50s from circulation would not cause any hardship to the law abiding citizenry if they had to deal exclusively with $20 bills instead. A simple solution to a big problem.

Bruce Cumming, Estero

Monosynaptic Democrats

Regarding the handful of monosynaptic Democrats who frequently dominate these pages bloviating about Donald Trump or Ron DeSantis in a Republican town, one must wonder why? Is it to cover up their subconscious guilt for voting for the worst president, vice president and inept appointees in American history?They know the fundamental change promoted by Barack Obama is continuing at a rapid rate. They know the justice system is no longer a level playing field and prosecution depends upon who you are. They know there is deliberate lawlessness and anarchy in our major cities. They know that inviting millions of undocumented invaders to cross our borders is wrong, incredibly expensive and a potential Trojan horse.They know our national respect and national defense is seriously weakened since 2020, and they know the world has become a much more dangerous place as two wars rage and others are being threatened. They know the oath to protect the fundamental right of free speech is being violated when one is told what pronouns to use or the mention of voter fraud is called anarchy.They know the massive national debt is unsustainable and threatens our whole economy. They know a national ID card is elementary and is now needed more than ever; and they really should feel guilty if they don’t want America to become great again, or worse, if they are dreaming of a one-party dictatorship.

Robert Strohaver, Naples

MAGA nitwits

With all the discussions of unfairness in keeping a candidate off the ballot in 2024, it’s simply a matter of protecting voters from themselves. If they desire to put forward a person who has 91 federal indictments against them, one conviction of rape and an attempt to overthrow their government to stay in power, then the legal system will need to step in to keep these deluded extremists from harming the country and themselves any further. I’ll never understand how a more vile and despicable person could even be considered for the office as commander-in-chief but, in order to prevent such a disaster from occurring, I’m afraid the MAGA nitwits will have  to deal with not seeing their hero’s name on any ballot as he has already broken countless laws and flagrantly pledges to continue doing so. Now is the time to put the orange blowhard out to pasture.

Glenn Chenot, Cape Coral

Trump an urgent threat

This month marks three years since the January 6 insurrection — a direct attack on our democracy, our freedom to vote, and a preview of how far Trump is willing to go to cling to power. January 6th was the violent and deadly culmination of a months-long criminal conspiracy after the 2020 election, when Trump attempted to stop the peaceful transfer of power for the first time in American history.But even as he faces multiple indictments for this criminal conspiracy he led, Trump is still running for president in 2024.If elected to a second term, Trump pledges to weaponize the Department of Justice to seek revenge against his political opponents, to pardon himself and his allies for crimes they commit, and to deploy the military against demonstrators exercising their First Amendment rights — all while purging the federal government of anyone who doesn’t agree with him.After seeing how far Trump was willing to go on January 6th, we should take these campaign promises seriously. Trump and his allies pose an urgent threat to our democracy, our fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law. It’s up to all of us to ensure they do not return to power.Lyn Baudreau, Cape Coral

Where are true Republicans?

Trump is currently before the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington D.C. claiming presidential immunity from his actions on January 6.   Sixteen Republicans, including Ty Cobb (Trump’s former lawyer), Bill Kristol (former chief of staff to Vice President Dan Quayle), lawyer George T. Conway III, former Governor William F. Weld and former Congressman Tom Campbell, are there too making their arguments against Trump’s immunity from their conservative point of view.

Their brief demonstrates a conservative view of the Constitution. These 16 argue that the Constitution’s text omits any reference to presidential immunity and that the Framers could have put one in had they intended to shield the office from prosecution; this is conservative originalism.  Plus they see no basis in the Constitution for Trump’s argument that prosecution must be preceded by impeachment.

As for a president being a king, they cite Richard M. Nixon’s pardon, unnecessary if he was immune. In true conservative tradition, they contend that government is not all-powerful, a idea which appears foreign to a MAGA government.

They argue that an immunity defense would destroy the concept of separation of powers. The Constitution rests on a structure in which the three branches hold different powers, with no branch dominating the others.  The very structure of the Constitution is designed specifically to prevent a tyrannical figure like Trump from seizing all functions and powers of government.  No incumbent should be allowed to fix the outcome of his own election.

The arguments of 16 patriots are a rebuke of those Republicans who continue on a journey with Trump into authoritarianism and chaos, since they believe that only if Trump loses in court, can the GOP continue as a legitimate pro-democracy right wing party.

Why are only 16 Republicans adhering to Republican principles? Have other Republicans thrown in the towel out of fear of recrimination by Trump?  They could eliminate that fear by keeping him out of office.

Sally Lam, Naples

Hypocrites and sycophants

Was there ever a bigger non-event than the Republican Party primaries this year? Trump will win the nomination easily. His opponents can’t bring themselves to aggressively attack him for his many negatives. They could show a little character, a little integrity, if they pointed out his narcissism, his misogyny, his instinct to lie, and his legal troubles.

Except for Christie, none of them want to be too negative about Trump. They fear political retribution and they want to be considered for the Veep job. The great equivocator from South Carolina, Nicki Haley, is the favorite. The politics is clear. Trump-Haley would be a formidable ticket.There are two types of Republican voter, those who have drunk the Kool-Aid and are hopeless, and those who know what Trump is but fear him. The second group is exemplified by Senate leader McConnell and House Speaker McCarthy. In the immediate aftermath of Jan. 6, they both said Trump was “responsible” for the insurrection. It didn’t take long for them to change their tune. Spineless hypocrites? Definitely. Truthful Republicans like Cheney and Romney are not welcome in Trump’s party.

It’s a given that the border crisis has to be addressed. Once that priority is dealt with, the Democrats can point to Biden’s many accomplishments. More importantly, it’s their job to focus on all the Trump negatives, and be thorough and persistent about it — Billy Bush tapes, Trump Foundation, Trump University, comments about veterans, etc. Make sure that people know that Trump tried to steal a presidential election. That’s a big deal. The 91 charges he faces point to his disregard for American democracy. Voters who will listen to reason have to appreciate what a dictatorial and vengeful Trump, and his handpicked idiotic sycophants, will do to our democracy.

Kevin McNally, Bonita Springs

Colorado court questioned

The Supreme Court of the state of Colorado has made a judgment that Donald Trump cannot appear on the Colorado 2024 primary election ballots for U.S. president, because of crimes he committed against the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution pertaining to the January 6 incident.  What happened to the rule of law that says "Innocent until proven guilty?"  As far as I know Mr. Trump has not been "proven guilty" of anything relating to January 6, and not even tried nor even officially charged with such crimes.  Also, I am wondering how a state court can even make such a judgment relating to a federal office, especially since the unproven crimes were not committed in Colorado. I would say that the four judges on the Colorado court who voted for this ruling do not know the law nor are worthy of sitting as supposedly unbiased judges on such a high state court.

Wayne Sherman, Naples

Dangerous times

President Biden reversed Trump and removed the Houthi's from the terrorist list. Now they are attacking us and threatening shipping in the area. President Biden has our strategic oil reserves around the lowest in history. Our support of Ukraine has severely reduced our military supplies. Russia has invaded Ukraine. Israel is at war with Hamas and tensions in the Middle East could well explode into a much wider war. China is threatening Taiwan and causing tensions in the area with Japan and the Philippines. North Korea is firing intercontinental ballistic missiles. All this should have us very concerned about what is happening worldwide and how dangerous times are concerning potential further military action. While all this is going on, we are told that President Biden has improved our standing in the world and among our allies. It seems like the same message they give us that the economy is great when we know different when we go to the store to buy something. Add to this all the civil unrest by pro Hamas groups and our universities unable or unwilling to contain antisemitism. The Left supported the civil unrest during the Trump administration during the George Floyd protests and riots. That support has now come home to roost.

Ron Wobbeking, Naples

Meaningless percentages

The race for candidates is beginning to heat up and I have some advice for TV hosts. Please stop throwing percentages at us. They are meaningless, and at the very next news segment we will be bombarded with a different set.

Also, when TV hosts have several guests, they seem to let them all talk over each other so that no one is listening to anyone and all we get is noise.

Finally, stop running the same,  long ads over and over and over again. Makes us switch stations.

Marian Lauck, Naples

Us vs Them

To all people who subscribe to an "Us vs Them" worldview:Please indulge me here.Close your eyes and mentally travel with me upward through the clouds and continue beyond into the darkness of space. Keep going until our Earth is just a tiny blue marble floating all alone in the vastness of space.OK, now please point out "Them."

J. Cant, Naples

Democracy or autocracy

Voting in 2024; OH so simple. Our intelligence (FBI, CIA) found evidence of China, Russia and Iran interference in our 2022 elections and predict increases in its severity in 2024. Dictators' power is threatened by democratic leanings, especially by young people, in those countries. Our intelligence communities are made up of nonpartisan, often retired military on whom we can rely for honesty and integrity. The dictators of these countries' goals are to undermine/destroy our democracy by supporting Trump’s clearly defined and frequently stated goal of becoming an autocratic dictator.

Even though the Republican Party no longer functions as a political entity Trump’s supporters sustain a pseudo-Republican identity. Thus, voting decisions in 2024 election are so simple; if you favor autocratic dictatorship for America vote for Republicans. If you favor a Constitution-based country with functioning federal and civil courts based on laws supportive of our freedoms you vote for Democrats. Issues such as immigration, abortion, the economy, etc. pale in comparison to whether self-proclaimed dictator Donald Trump wins in 2024. Disregard hidden, disguised, artificial intelligence lies and misrepresentations on Fox News and social media platforms from China, Russia and Iran. Incidentally, the $148 million jury penalty for Giuliani’s Trumpist lies about the election may cause sources such as Fox News to think again about perpetrating Trumpian lies.William Pettinger M.D., Bonita Springs

Meaningless words

Senator Lindsey Graham, an off-again, on-again rival-supporter-critic-enabler of former President Trump has come to the defense of the ex-president’s hateful and dangerous rhetoric by brushing off his remarks because “words don’t matter.”

The South Carolinian was responding to the Hitlerian terminology castigating his foes as “vermin” and blaming immigrants for “poisoning the blood of our country,” among other Trumpian degradations.

But it’s not only the Republican frontrunner who needs Graham’s defense. The two other leading GOP contenders have uttered some disturbing words. A few months ago, our Governor DeSantis asserted that slavery was beneficial to the subjugated people because it gave them the opportunity to learn unspecified “skills.” Given the opportunity to revise his remarks, he doubled-down on them.

And then there was Nikki Haley, Graham’s Palmetto state cohort, who last week infamously said that the Civil War was caused by a desire for “freedom” and “rights” of slaveholders and due to “capitalism,“ nary a mention of the word “slavery” until her handlers recognized her blunder and sent her out to the media to fix it, which she failed to do, also doubling-down on her reluctance to use the “S” word.

Perhaps the “words” that these GOP leaders used to articulate their position don’t “matter” to Graham, the lexicography expert, but the underlying mindset they reflect is disturbing.

That’s something that linguistic apologist Graham ought to know well. Running against Trump for the nomination in 2016,  he uttered memorable words in calling his opponent a “xenophobic, race-baiting bigot... I think he’s crazy… he’s unfit  for office.”

So, for Senator Graham, words really don’t matter, especially when he says them.

Marshall H. Tanick, Naples

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Trump, Biden, politics: SW FL opinions shared in letters to editor