McConnell, Klippert, appalled at Audra Byrd and other Herald letters to the editor
Has McConnell had an epiphany?
A long existing Republican party that helped to protect democracy until recently is now becoming the biggest threat to our nation. The party of Lincoln is now the party of Trump.
Documents subpoenaed by the Jan. 6 House Committee from former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows further demonstrate how Trump allies tried to overturn the 2020 election. These documents show many elected and appointed Republicans were attempting to prevent a legitimately elected president from taking office by inappropriate or illegal actions, and includes some local election board members, state legislatures, Congress, and the executive branch.
Despite unproven claims of voter fraud by our former president and several ballot recounts, this group is also passing new election laws in several states that restrict voter access, the excuse being that these laws are necessary to prevent voter fraud.
Senate Minority Leader McConnell may have had an epiphany. In the past, he has accused the Jan. 6 House Committee as being partisan. According to the Washington Post, on at least two recent occasions, he stated the Jan. 6 attack was a horrendous event and thought what the committee is seeking to find out is something the public needs to know.
William Petrie, Richland
Klippert: Explain your fraud claims
In a Tri-City Herald article on Jan. 3, Brad Klippert stated, “You and I both know, as we watched the news on various channels, if you happened to take a look at Maricopa County, all of the fraudulent activity with their audits, I firmly believe that similar activity took place in multiple areas, including Washington state.”
I asked Brad Klippert and his staff, “Can you share what fraudulent activities took place and in what districts in Washington state?”
I received no response except for an email thanking me for my concern.
I did receive a phone call where it was recommended that I read more newspaper articles or attend a town hall.
If there were fraudulent activities in Washington, why does Brad not want to share this information? Maybe it does not exist?
David R. Coleman, Richland
Wearing a mask sign of respect
An open letter to those not masking,
I miss smiles exchanged with strangers in the store. I think I have said, “Excuse me,” loudly enough to pass in an aisle, only to realize that it echoed in my head much more loudly than the sound which escaped the temporary covering over my mouth.
My choice to mask while in public indoor spaces is my choice. But it actually goes deeper. I mask to protect those around me who are vulnerable. Often it is not obvious who fits this category. Those who cannot see a parent or a client or a friend for fear of carrying this virus to them. The adult in the store whose vulnerable child is at home, risking entry to grab one fundamental item they are out of — diapers, milk, or toilet paper.
My choice to protect myself and others is one of respect. Can it please work both ways? When community members choose not to mask, especially indoors, they begin to disenfranchise me. Now I must choose to attend a meeting and have my voice heard or engage with someone vulnerable, which is my work. I deserve the same respect that I afford your loved one.
Carrie Hallquist, Richland
Work together for a better country
A response to “TV changed, promotes Biden:”
This letter goes to show how incredibly disillusioned, uninformed and just plain ignorant the Right has become. People need to wake up, explore the facts and truth, and quit spewing garbage about our current president and democracy.
When one stands up and supports a president who threw our veterans, generals, CIA, FBI, and our country under the bus, they too, know little about democracy. Furthermore, the presidential position needs to be taken seriously, not just when they feel like it. You can’t run the country in pajamas!
Trump had no clue, idea or plan. He only wanted the position for his personal gain. He was looking to form an autocracy and did nothing for this country other than divide us further apart with lies, false hopes and ignorance. How embarrassing!
Mr. Langford, if you are a true American, you really need to stop and seek the real truth and change your outlook and not support Donald Trump and others like him. We have a great country and will continue to do so as long as we unite, work, support and stand together as human beings, not political figures!
Dennis Fiskum, West Richland
GOP: Let’s get back to normal
Republicans: Consider disassociation from the crazy anti-democracy lies, deceits and strategies of the Trump, Bannon, Alex Jones, Tucker Carlson mob.
The Republican Party has careened into something contrary to the party it was when I was a young Republican precinct committeeman in 1965, fighting against the efforts of the John Birch Society to take over my party. Steve Bannon’s destructive tactics, tearing down the country at the community and precinct level, are torn from the crazy 1965 John Birch Society playbook, but amplified with more anger and violence.
Please vote against anti- democracy Trump MAGA Republican crazies running at all levels, especially the local level. Please split yourselves off from the part of your party which has become angry, crazy, and deceived by the lies of Trump, Bannon, Jones, Carlson, and their ilk. Please talk your Republican friends down from the ledge. Please challenge the crazies in the primaries. If that doesn’t work, perhaps you need to cross party lines until the crazies become tired, and then reconstruct your party with someone truthful at the helm who understands democracy.
A return to normalcy doesn’t have to happen immediately. It just needs to happen, one step at a time.
Pete Riggle, Kennewick
Wearing no mask reveals character
As a taxpayer of the City of Richland, I am appalled that Audra Byrd, an elected school board member to help guide the education of our children, objected to wearing a mask at the recent Richland School Board meeting. Obviously, she has not been personally affected by COVID-19. It is a small thing to wear a mask to help protect those around us who are most vulnerable. Even more appalling is her stance that masks should be “optional.” Seat belts are not optional, no shoes, no shirt, no service is not optional, drinking and driving is not optional. A civilized society follows rules for the good and protection of everyone. Only a selfish, narcissistic person would make mask wearing all about themselves. Not willing to don a mask and be slightly uncomfortable to protect the community says volumes about your character, Ms. Byrd.
Janet Peterson, Richland
China will gain if Ukraine invaded
If Russia invades Ukraine, China will end up owning Russia and here is my prediction and why. Ukraine will put up one great fight and maybe lose the battle. But Russia will lose many of their planes, equipment and soldiers. Their military will be depleted to the point that China will cross into Russia with a multi-million army and take over Russia. (They need the land and raw materials to support their massive amount of people). Russia may resort to using nuclear weapons and China will respond in kind. Goodbye Putin and Russia for believing that China’s president is a good and honest friend. Let’s hope The U.S. stays out of the ruckus and remains the only world superpower. Hello WWIII.
Rudy Tomich, West Richland
Tiny units not his place for living
Tiny apartments? More like nursing home rooms without nurses. Last resort living for elderly people without family or friends to help them and with rent that probably consumes most or all of their income. To just sit there in front of the TV waiting for the grim reaper. Is this what life in America for old or disabled people has come to? How depressing.
Dennis Rockwell, Kennewick