Tuesday's letters: Most GOP leaders stick with Trump despite federal indictment

Despite indictment, many stand by Trump

As many have anticipated for quite some time, former President Donald Trump has now been indicted on charges he took classified documents belonging to the U.S. government upon leaving office in 2021.

When confronted with this he repeatedly lied about doing so. The evidence against him appears to be overwhelming. Unless he is offered and negotiates a plea deal, it would seem he is destined for a lengthy prison sentence.

The reaction this matter has received from myriad Republicans is hard to understand. While a small minority have expressed their outrage (see Chris Christie and Asa Hutchinson), most have defended his actions.

All announced Republican candidates who have commented, other than these two, have labeled the indictment as politically motivated and a weaponization of the FBI/Department of Justice.

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While all defendants under our system of justice are considered innocent until proven guilty, weak excuses, such as those advanced by partisan Republicans, only serve to further divide our country and weaken our democracy.

We need to let the judicial process play out and trust that the long-standing norms that have been established over the history of our country will ultimately result in justice for all concerned.

If not, dissension and division will continue to be the one constant going forward.

Steven Berry, Sarasota

Anti-woke governor is no Churchill

Gov. Ron DeSantis has used the phrasing of a speech by Winston Churchill in his campaign against “woke.”

He said, “We will fight the woke in education, we will fight the woke in the corporations, we will fight the woke in the halls of Congress. We will never, ever surrender to the woke mob.”

Readers of this paper may remember another political candidate who invoked the memory of a famous person. That was Sen. Dan Quayle, then candidate for George H.W. Bush's vice president, in a 1988 debate against Sen. Lloyd Bentsen.

When Quayle compared himself to Jack Kennedy, Bentsen’s quick retort was, “I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you’re no Jack Kennedy.”

DeSantis tried to mimic a wartime speech by Churchill. “We shall go on to the end … we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the hills, we shall never surrender.”

Although I did not personally know the prime minister, I have read history and I can assure Gov. DeSantis that he is no Winston Churchill.

Ike Koziol, Sarasota

Intrusive government built on sand

Quite a few years ago I worked for a multinational, multibillion-dollar corporation with a very progressive, ego-driven CEO.

A handpicked team orchestrated rapid growth, unrealistic budgeting, “vision” and heavy borrowing way into the future to greatly expand company programs.

(All sound familiar?)

Most center managers – I was one of them – saw many flaws in the corporate strategy, and when complaining about it didn’t work we began to leave. Overly expansive micromanagement and aggressive plans failed, and bankruptcy followed.

I see many similarities in what our intrusive, expansive government is doing right now. I see many Americans who are unhappy today like I was back then, knowing these programs are mostly built on a foundation of sand.

I’ll repeat what I said back then: “If something can’t continue, it won’t.”

The ride ahead is heavy with failing initiatives and cannot succeed. And we as concerned citizens must participate –peacefully, of course – more than we ever have to right this sinking ship.Al E. Bavry, Sarasota

‘Bible Thumpers’ more appropriate

I think the New College of Florida board missed the boat when they came up with the “Mighty Banyans” for the school’s new mascot.

I would recommend the “New College Thumpers,” short for “Bible Thumpers,” as more appropriate.

Kevin Kumanga, Lakewood Ranch

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Even Trump's federal indictment doesn't scare away GOP leaders