Letters on GOP convention, Trump, puppy mills
Sharp contrast at conventions
As I watched the Republican National Convention, I saw very little but the promotion of hate, anger and fear. Other than the plagiarism, and the using of artists’ songs without permission and against their wishes, the only other things it had going for it were constant attacks on Hillary Clinton and the nearly complete lack of diversity among its delegates.
There was nothing new. No, hope, no enlightenment – just an ugly darkness and the continuation of the 30 years of disparaging Clinton.
Then I watched the Democratic National Convention. I saw confidence, optimism and hope. I saw artists who not only were happy to have their songs at the convention but in some cases sang them themselves. I saw a convention that mirrored America with its diversity of people. In fact there were as many black people giving speeches on night one of the DNC as there were black delegates total at the RNC.
Donald Trump stated that he alone can fix it. Clinton stated that we can fix it together. I do not want to be a servant to a dictator who can do everything himself. I want to be a part of the community that together will keep this great country on the right path.
Jim Giles, Wichita
Failing grade
Donald Trump recently disavowed any responsibility for the GOP convention. His behavior says a lot about the kind of president he would be.
The convention was like a midterm exam, and it got a failing grade. Trump’s first response was to deny any personal responsibility for the poor quality of the convention, saying that all he did was show up to make speeches. As usual, by implication he was pointing the finger at everyone on his team, though I assume he would give a free pass to his family, because they are new to politics.
I’m sure his behavior would not change as president. He would be too busy to adequately prepare for his duties; he would always blame any missteps on everyone else; and he would surround himself with yes-men whose sole responsibility would be to stroke his ego, rather than provide competent counsel.
As he has been unable to identify any meaningful sacrifices he has made to date, it seems reasonable to conclude he will be unable, or unwilling, to make the sacrifices necessary to serve as president.
Joseph Kuttler, Wichita
Vindictive tripe
Columnist Cal Thomas said he would like to see Donald Trump “shake up Washington” so he can “watch the expressions on the smug faces of the left” (“Trump hit mostly high notes in speech,” July 27 Opinion).
What vindictive tripe.
It is apparent from his comments in previous columns that Thomas doesn’t offer his support because Trump has clearly defined solutions for the “terrible condition” he claims our country is in. Or because Trump has shown that he comprehends the complexity of today’s challenges. Or because Trump, who has no foreign policy experience, would favor the spread of democracy and human rights over the tyrannical rule of men like Saddam Hussein, Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin. Or because Trump has the temperament or even the maturity (given his adolescent remarks about women’s bodies, their menstrual cycles and what they do in the bathroom) to be leader of the free world.
Thomas simply wants to see Washington shaken up.
That Thomas ignores Trump’s inadequacies and seeks only reprisal against people who don’t share his extreme views reveals that he is as shallow in thinking as is the presidential candidate he supports.
But if Thomas wants to shake things up in Washington, here’s an alternative proposal: replace the out-of-touch, do-nothing Congress.
D. Paul Jensen, Wichita
Ban puppy mills
A statement by Bill Brown, the state’s animal health commissioner, about wanting to keep dog breeders in business was not only very disturbing but completely misguided (“Kansas 3rd on ‘Horrible Hundred’ list of puppy mills,” July 29 Eagle).
We do not want the hundreds of puppy mills in Kansas. Any money they generate is bloody with tortured, mistreated, neglected animals.
These mills should at the very least be stringently regulated, which they’re not. The goal should be to shut them down permanently and ban them from operating in Kansas.
Robin Ragland Smith, Wichita
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This story was originally published August 3, 2016 at 12:04 AM with the headline "Letters on GOP convention, Trump, puppy mills."