Fresno readers split on whether McCarthy deserved to be ousted as speaker | Opinion

Why McCarthy was dethroned

“Republican Kevin McCarthy lost House speakers post in vote,” (fresnobee.com, Oct. 4)

Former House Speaker McCarthy was removed from his position for one reason: He agreed to a position with the Democrats to keep the government operating for 45 days.

The reality each of us should face is that no matter which Republican wins the House speaker position, the government will close down at the end of the 45-day extension. The only question facing the nation is how long the government will be inoperative.

Oscar G. Williams

Fresno

A deal with the devil

“Deposed House Speaker Kevin McCarthy will go down in history for the wrong reasons | Opinion,” (fresnobee.com, Oct. 7)

In 2021, after Trump led the attack on our Capitol to disrupt our election, Kevin McCarthy called Trump out for his actions that injured people and caused millions of dollars in damage. A short time later, McCarthy met with Trump and struck a deal with the devil.

Since that meeting, McCarthy has protected Trump and made excuses for his actions. He has also set up investigations into other politicians that would benefit Trump. Meanwhile, McCarthy met with President Biden and made a deal to keep the government open for 45 days. Trump the disruptor openly wanted the government to shut down. And a couple days later, Trump’s House buddies take action and remove McCarthy from his position as speaker.

None of Trump’s actions are in the best interest of our country. Kevin, this is what happens when you make a deal with the devil.

Allen Rush

Fresno

Opinion

McCarthy did what was right

“Deposed House Speaker Kevin McCarthy will go down in history for the wrong reasons | Opinion,” (fresnobee.com, Oct. 7)

I’m a Democrat, but I’m neither a liberal nor an idiot. I’m a moderate, like most of us, and I’m extremely disappointed about the ouster of Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House.

McCarthy was voted out by a margin of less than a half dozen votes. Not one Democrat had the courage to back him — even after many Democrats voted with the speaker to keep the government open. McCarthy had the courage to cross party lines to do what was right for America.

McCarthy did what was right by keeping the government open and paid for it with his post.

Dan Martinez

Corcoran

Homelessness getting worse

“Homelessness reaches 10-year high in Fresno, Madera region. What’s behind the increase?” (fresnobee.com, July 28)

Clearly, the mayor’s efforts to address the homeless situation is not working. It has been more talk and little action as we see the growing amounts of trash and littered garments and a growing, more aggressive migration into neighborhoods.

Dennis Housepian

Fresno

Slippery slope in Clovis

“Clovis schools votes to cancel facility use by outside groups. LGBTQ+ group say it’s about them,” (fresnobee.com, Sept. 22)

Regarding no outside organizations being allowed to meet in a Clovis Unified School District facility: We are all human beings. We all want to be treated with kindness, tolerance and respect. When people start separating other people into groups, things get tricky, fast.

Be wise. What will your decisions look like next year, or the year after that? Remember, all people want to be treated with kindness, tolerance and respect.

Suzanne Lawson

Fresno

GOP must rethink views

“CA’s Kevin McCarthy must take action on climate change,” (fresnobee.com, Oct. 8)

Young people are demanding action on climate change. I hope that conservative leaders will recognize the importance of the youth vote and promote policies that help combat climate change.The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, “the most significant climate legislation in U.S. history,” passed the Senate with no Republican votes.

However, its generous tax credits have spurred private investment in solar and wind energy, and many of its clean energy projects are benefitting states whose senators voted against the act.

Perhaps with pressure from young voters, those conservative senators are now rethinking their stance on climate change and what to do about it.

Ruth Afifi

Fresno

Dangerous roadways

“‘Speed is the common theme.’ There’s a new plan in Fresno to improve traffic safety,” (fresnobee.com, May 24)

The new road design in Central Fresno is flawed. I was told by an attorney friend it will take someone getting killed for the road design to change back to how it was, or to be corrected.

The trash trucks have to go the wrong way down a one-way street to empty the trash cans. Now that we are down to one lane, the trucks are heading directly into traffic in the only lane available. With parking out in the streets, if you are trying to cross Wishon Avenue, your vision of oncoming cars is blocked. You now have to scoot out into traffic to see if it is safe to cross. Emergency vehicles, meanwhile, currently have to wait behind traffic to get to their emergencies. There is nowhere for cars to pull over to make way for them.

Down Van Ness Boulevard, south of McKinley Avenue, the bicycle lanes are dangerous. If someone is on a bike path, there is no escape route for them, except into the sidewalk or side of the car.

I wish more thought went into the design, as usage was never considered.

Trish Herogian-Sadler

Fresno

CA not innocent on climate

“California sues major oil companies over climate change,” (fresnobee.com, Sept. 16)

California does not seem to have clean hands in climate change matters. The state has known about the negative effects of greenhouse gas emissions since 1965, but it did nothing about it for 40 years, until Gov. Schwarzenegger’s administration, under the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006.

Fast forward to 2023. California recently sued five major oil companies. The lawsuit alleges, among other things, that since the ’50s some oil companies knew that greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels had potential global warming effects but did not disclose the information or sound the alarm.

I am not against local oil and gas production. I am just wondering who gets to be sued and who doesn’t. Lawsuits are a distraction from climate change-related efforts, and the costs will ultimately be passed on to consumers.

Kezala Mukasa

Kingsburg