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Letters to the Editor, Jan. 11 Wednesday Jan 11, 2017 at 12:01 AM An important lesson You know, I am with Trump on a few things. How can you denigrate Putin, when you are indebted to him? How can you condemn his interference and disruption of our democratic electoral system, when you fall all over yourself gushing with admiration at Putin’s strength and qualities of leadership, while trying to destroy the credence of the presiding U.S. president? Why would you bring more attention to being caught in lies, false claims, and promises? Oh, by blaming the “lying” media? Of course you’d discredit those who check and hold your feet to the fire. Why would you want Americans to know who you are and what you believe, when it might make you look like an authoritarian wannabe, and a traitor to American values? One thing is true. Trump will teach us all an important lesson. Penny Keenan Medford Great column Right on to Emma Ewing of Brookings (Columnist for a Day, Jan. 1), with her guest article on opening purchases. The Packaging industry deserves a reward for making opening of purchases so difficult, especially for us older folks. D.W. Linn Ashland Trump and Putin It’s easy to imagine the great hue and cry from the GOP if the presidential election result were reversed and Russian hacking was deeming to have helped Hillary. I have high confidence that we would be hearing demands for an invalidated election, impeachment, and the like. Now, it would appear most Republicans would just as soon the whole issue go away. One also wonders why the Russians and Putin were so invested in seeing Trump win. Other than the fact that Hillary had challenged Putin’s legitimacy and aroused his ire, another reason seems apparent: it does not take a degree in psychology to see that the way to Trump’s favor is to flatter him, which Putin did and will continue to do to ply favors. I’m not against an attempt to thaw relations between the USA and Russia based on mutually beneficial goals. But I am against a partnership of two egomaniacal narcissists whose interests are in inflating their own power. Bruce Van Zee Medford Will Pompeo follow the law? Our U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden is a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence that will hold hearings this week on Trump's choice to lead the Central Intelligence Agency, Mike Pompeo. Please join me in communicating the following concern and request to Senator Wyden: I am extremely alarmed over statements that have been made by President-elect Trump and by some of his cabinet nominees. I urge you to protect human rights by ensuring Mike Pompeo gets asked this question at his confirmation hearing: Torture is a crime. Will you follow the law if confirmed as CIA director? Dave Garcia Medford