We need moderate Republicans like Alicia Preston Xanthopoulos to speak out no matter the pushback: Letters

Jan. 9 — To the Editor:

I’m writing to commend Alicia Preston Xanthopoulos for her column Sunday, and to say “Yes, Alicia. Speaking out is worthwhile whatever the pushback.” From the left or the right. Without your voice your party will continue to veer towards authoritarianism, and continue down the path of consolidating minority rule rather than expanding its base. As it does, voices of moderation will continue to be silenced.

Preston Xanthopoulos: The majority of traditional Republicans have been silenced

For example, we are seeing unabashed gerrymandering right here in New Hampshire, which means that here as elsewhere the primaries will determine who will be elected. Whereas historically elections have been won and lost in the center, with gerrymandering they will be won or lost at the fringes. That will mean continued partisan gridlock harmful not only for the country and the state, but also for both the Republican and the Democratic parties. Dangerous for democracy itself.

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You believe you speak for the majority of your party. Well, unless you speak out Governor Sununu will sign the partisan redistricting plan while saying he doesn’t like it, just as he signed to budget rider to intimidate teachers from teaching, and several other partisan issues. He does this to curry favor with the Trump base, assuming that folks like you will vote for him nonetheless. When Judge Broderick asks where are the voices of reason within the Republican side, if that’s you we need you.

Broderick: Make no mistake. America is broken.

Of all the Republicans in Congress only Liz Cheney and her dad, former Vice President Dick Cheney, showed up for the Jan. 6 commemorations. The rest were conveniently out of town. Not even Senator Collins has had the courage to buck the intimidation and speak out, and she’s elected as a moderate. That’s how the Alan Forbes of the world remain in leadership positions. I’m sure you have read his jaw dropping logic along with the rest of us.

Jeffrey Cooper

Portsmouth

Dover Democrats stand with our teachers in support of free speech

Jan. 10 — To the Editor:

When you go to the hospital with an ailment, the competent doctor asks two questions. “What seems to be the trouble?” so that the immediate issue can be addressed. “How did this happen?” so that the issue doesn’t recur. The more honest your answers are, the better your chances of getting proper care – even if the answers embarrass you or make you uncomfortable. And you certainly don’t want someone else in the waiting room eavesdropping on your conversation.

In America, minorities and women have, on average, lower wages and poorer health outcomes than white men. That’s an ailment from which all of society suffers. Competent treatment requires that we ask, “what seems to be the trouble?” and “how did this happen?” – and honestly answering even if the answers are embarrassing or make us uncomfortable.

The “Divisive Concepts” law in New Hampshire wants to keep you from answering these questions – or even asking them. And it encourages people to eavesdrop on the conversation and report those who participate in it. The effect is that it keeps us, individually and collectively, from asking the critical questions and reading the critical history that can lead to a properly functioning society.

That’s why the American Federation of Teachers of New Hampshire and the National Education Association of New Hampshire have sued to stop this law. That's why these unions say the law unconstitutionally limits freedom of speech.

That’s why the Dover Democrats stand with them.

The Dover Dems executive committee:

Phil Hatcher, co-chair, Nancy Vawter, co-chair, Bill Baber, George DeBoer, Robert Hinkle, Walter King, Jan Nedelka, Cora Quisumbing-King, Pam Raley, Nate Stewart, Jim Verschueren, Chris Wayne, Candace Williams

Abandonment of reality, unless stopped, will lead to fall of our nation

Jan. 9 — To the Editor:

Alicia (Preston Xanthopoulos), thank you for your column about the silence of the moderate Republicans. I had given no thought of any GOP members not agreeing with the actions of those who attacked our Capitol. Having watched you become the young lady you have become, I have spent time wondering what happened to you. I should have jumped to your support much sooner. The sparks of reason you tried to ignite needed all the fuel we could muster. And I am indeed, very sorry.

Preston Xanthopoulos: The majority of traditional Republicans have been silenced

My greatest fear in these times is not COVID, or climate change. My fear is the loss of truth. Both parties spread it, but I think it became particularly visible every time the previous president spoke. This abandonment of reality, unless stopped, will lead to the fall of our nation, I have no doubt. The reason for my belief is that decent, intelligent people, on both sides have repeated the lies and extremist ideas.

The courage of Lincoln moving us toward one undivided nation is rare in his own party. The vision of Eisenhower building a national infrastructure with a graduated tax structure, Kennedy's actions because he believed education was our greatest national defense, Nixon's work to establish EPA, to help Native Americans, to sign the Paris Peace Accord, to the establishment of Title lX and so much more are steps toward a building a more perfect union.

But we have lost our way. When a former president said, "Ask not what your country can do for you..." and 20 years later another president said to ask yourself, " Am I better off now than I was four years ago?" The journey from "us" to "me" was completed.

I understand the silence now. I do not understand the continued support of the Big Lie. We soon will see.

Alicia, please continue to speak for the moderates. You do have support. I enjoy your columns, and have regained respect for the moderate GOPs. Again, I am sorry I did not show support sooner. I owe you a lunch. When it is safe, my treat.

Sheila Nudd

Hampton

Do Trump's supporters still think he won or are they embarrassed they were conned?

Jan. 9 — To the Editor:

After the election, Donald Trump asked his supporters for money to finance his legal team’s fight to prove he actually won states of Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania. His supporters gave him over $240 million.

Unfortunately for him, the evidence of fraud or vote rigging was not there. His legal team lost case after case and usually were told their claims did not come close to being evidence of wrongdoing. If there was fraud or vote rigging why did his legal team fail to find it? Why didn’t Trump fire lawyers like Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell after they lost their first two, three or four cases? Why didn’t he hire someone competent? Was it because competent attorneys refused to take the case no matter how much money Trump offered? Was it because Trump’s false claims were conning his supporters out of hundreds of millions of dollars and Rudy’s false claims were keeping the con going?

One thing is clear: Trump did not believe he had to win the election to stay in office. If the Republican attorney generals in Arizona and Georgia did not toss out Democratic votes the Republican controlled state houses in those states plus Pennsylvania would. If that did not happen, the Trump Supreme Court would keep him in office. If that did not happen, his vice president would refuse to certify the election. If that did not happen, he would call on his supporters to storm the Capitol and prevent the counting of the electoral college votes. They did, but failed.

I wonder how many Trump supporters really believe he won or just do not want to admit to being conned out of their money.

Walter Hamilton

Portsmouth

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: We need moderate Republicans to speak out: Letters