Letters to the Editor: Texas needs you, Lyle Larson

State Rep. Lyle Larson, R-San Antonio, shown here in 2019 at the Texas Capitol, recently wrote about his platform for the "perfect" statewide candidate. [KEN HERMAN / American-Statesman]
State Rep. Lyle Larson, R-San Antonio, shown here in 2019 at the Texas Capitol, recently wrote about his platform for the "perfect" statewide candidate. [KEN HERMAN / American-Statesman]
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Rep. Lyle Larson is exactly

what Texas needs right now

Re: Dec. 3 commentary, "The platform for the perfect statewide candidate."

Kudos to Lyle Larson for speaking the truth and having a clear plan that could begin to solve real problems in Texas.

It is refreshing to hear a Republican with common sense and decency who could work with Democrats and doesn't believe the lies that our current bumbling governor has swallowed in order to further his presidential ambition.

I implore you, Mr. Larson, run for governor. Let's get rid of the haters and liars who work only for their own gratification. You have offered solutions that make sense and could be used as a model for border states working with immigration services.

Your fact-based analysis of our challenges is exactly what we all need right now!

Steve Donovan, Austin

Dole worked across the aisle;

we need more leaders like him

I was visiting the World War II Memorial in 2015 when I saw Sen. Robert Dole outside greeting people. I waited in line and after introducing myself said: “Senator, my dad, Big R, was in the Navy in WWII. I brought him to see this memorial and we walked it together before he passed away. Thank you, sir, for helping to raise the funds to build this. And I also was the marketing leader for President Clinton when y’all ran against each other and I just want to say I respect you so much.”

Sen. Dole reached up with his good arm and hugged me. "You tell Bill Clinton I love him,” he said, and he hugged me again.

America needs a mighty rebirth of political leaders who can fight it out on the public stage, then talk it out and yes, even love and respect each other when they're in the private arena. Leaders trying — together — to do the right thing.

Roy Spence, Austin

Roe v. Wade reversal would

remove rights held for decades

Re: Dec. 5 commentary, "High court set to right wrongs on abortion."

Marc Thiessen, in his Dec. 5 column in the Statesman, listed several SCOTUS decisions that a later court reversed: Brown v. Board of Education - separate but equal; Baker v. Carr - voting rights; Miranda v. Arizona - right to remain silent; Lawrence v. Texas - same-sex conduct; Gideon v. Wainwright - right to counsel; and Obergefell v. Hodges - same sex marriage.

What he doesn't say is that each of these reversals expanded the rights of a particular group of citizens.

The reversal of Roe is the only reversal that takes away the rights of a huge group of citizens, a right they have had for almost 50 years.

Mr. Thiessen doesn't seem to grasp the difference.

Bob Gillispie, Driftwood

Not just an annoyance, robocalls

can present a danger to elders

I think people have had enough and I am talking about robocalls. So far today, I've received 11 of these calls.

Sometimes you can tell by the caller ID that it is a robocall but you still have to get to the phone and that can be a chore for some people, especially the infirm and elderly. These calls use several tricks. They probe the residence with one number and then call back at the same time on another number if someone answers — an effective screen.

They change their ID. I have gotten calls from UT, Dell and others only to find it is someone selling insurance, Spectrum, AT&T and others.

There must be a way to stop this annoyance as it can pose a danger to old people.

Robert Czepiel, Austin

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin American-Statesman Letters to the Editor: Dec. 10, 2021