Super PACs should have no place in our valley politics

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Weeks before the recent election, I learned that a Super PAC was established for the sole purpose of supporting Grace Garner’s re-election for Palm Springs City Council (and concurrently mayor). The single largest donation was $49,000 from the owner of Spencer’s Restaurant. In addition, there was a second donation of $20,000 from another businessman.

While these actions are apparently not illegal and the use of Super PACs has become endemic in U.S. politics, it indeed breaks from the norm for small-town politics.

My biggest question concerns why this was not more widely reported and why this community effectively permitted special interests to influence this hometown election for a single council member with little criticism. I was shocked that Garner failed to denounce these actions, particularly when the Super PAC funded attack ads that literally criticized her opponents face and smile. I found her response to be abhorrent and not indicative of political integrity or honesty.

I may be a minnow swimming upstream in a pool of trout, but I think it is time we do something to control PACs throughout the country and subject all political donations to the same individual limits.

Roy Dean Varga, Palm Springs

I wonder if Desert Sun's endorsement of Wallis helped him win

With Democrat Christy Holstege losing the seat for the 47th Assembly to Republican Greg Wallis by a paltry 85 votes, it seems we can confidently blame The Desert Sun for its misbegotten endorsement of the eventual winner.

Ms. Holstege has a respectable track record as a city council member, civil rights lawyer and former mayor here in Palm Springs, whereas Mr. Wallis is...an aide to Chad Mayes? Mr. Mayes at least vacated the Republican Party to become an Independent out of disgust for the party's lack of decency, whereas Mr. Wallis has stubbornly held on to the GOP.

The Desert Sun seems to have confidence that he will support abortion access, LGBTQ+ rights and climate change mitigation, but based on what? Empty words?

In the future, perhaps the paper can do us a favor and simply remain silent. Speaking as a Palm Springs citizen and a Desert Sun subscriber, that would do us all a great favor. We, after all, have to live with the consequences.

Joseph Carman, Palm Springs

Marjorie Taylor Greene spoke of seditious conspiracy

Only a few days ago, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene publicly stated that with the aid of Steve Bannon, the insurrection of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, would have succeeded. If she spoke in concerted agreement with other congressmen or others, it is amazing that they do not, apparently, realize they have committed the crime of seditious conspiracy, or maybe they don't care, according to Title 18, section 2384 of the U.S. Code.

The Department of Justice should indict and convict them if evidence, which appears to exist, substantiates the elements of this very serious crime. As the DOJ refrained from prosecuting these highly elected congressional oath takers, why do we elect them to Congress when it is a body charged to protect us against the very conduct they espouse?

Stan Sanoff, Palm Desert

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Super PACs should have no place in our valley politics