Document text
Letters to the Editor, Feb. 11 Saturday Feb 11, 2017 at 12:01 AM Misusing Senate rules The Senate Republicans, led by Mitch McConnell, forced Sen. Elizabeth Warren off the podium when she was reading a letter by Coretta Scott King and a speech by former Sen. Edward Kennedy which shed light on Alabama Senator and attorney general nominee Jefferson Beauregard Sessions' proven track record of overt racism. How so? The Senate has a rule that senators may not disparage a fellow senator in the Senate. This rule may have some merit, keeping the Senate proceedings from becoming personal name-calling matches. But wait a minute. Jefferson Beauregard Sessions was nominated for a Cabinet post, attorney general. The discussion was not about Senator Sessions in his capacity as senator, but about him as Cabinet nominee. Because of McConnell’s heavy-handed censorship, Elizabeth Warren could not present evidence of Jefferson Beauregard’s lack of fitness to be attorney general. McConnell stretched this Senate rule to cover something it was not meant to cover. And for good measure, let’s not forget that McConnell blocked consideration of President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland. This violated his constitutional duty to consider Judge Garland and to advise and consent on that nomination. McConnell and the Senate Republicans ignore the Constitution and misuse Senate rules to suit their goals. And watch out, they will shortly vote to eliminate the filibuster in order to confirm Judge Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, another major breach of the Senate’s agreed rules and customs. Art Buck Ashland A loose cannon Did he really say that? Likely you have asked yourself this, too, when Donald Trump threw out a whopper or outright lie. As president his lies take on a sinister dimension because he now wields great power. His trail of falsehoods can pave the way for actions that can lead us into crisis and disaster. Case in point: The other day, President Trump addressed members of the military at the U.S. Central Command in Florida. Referring to terrorist attacks, he stated, “It’s gotten to a point where it’s not even being reported, and in many cases, the very, very dishonest press doesn’t want to report it. They have their reasons and you understand that.” Now these are our men and women in uniform who put their lives on the line when ordered into action by the president. He baldly lied to them. If he is willing to lie to them in such a casual manner, will he use lies to send them into harm’s way? We have a loose cannon at the helm in the White House. My fear is that he will take our nation into a devastating war. It probably won’t be because he has been influenced by lies told to him, rather it will be because he is psychologically unstable and constantly creates lies. I hope our members of Congress are beginning to consider the application of the 25th Amendment. President Trump’s words to the military betray the confidence and trust they place upon him as commander in chief. This is treachery. Manuel De Aquino Ashland