Letters: Midterm election ‘clown show’; Vote pro-life

Midterm election ‘clown show’

“Send in the clowns” is a familiar refrain from the Sondheim song of the same name, which happens to be perfectly fitting for the current state of midterm election jitters. Old carnival or big-top circus clowns were sent in to distract the audience from the worst performances when the situation was so dire or pitiful — or both.

So, thank the Republicans for the tent full of bozos whose questionable judgments underscore Mitch McConnell’s statement that “candidate quality matters.” Among those who have us gasping in the aisles are:

• Hershel Walker’s split decision on abortions as well as his bizarre thinking on climate legislation;

• Mehmet Oz’s dual citizenship and so-called Pennsylvania residency;

• Doug Mastriano’s far-right social media support and Confederate army attire in his Army War College faculty photo;

• JD Vance’s transition from a hillbilly Horatio Alger to a venture capitalist sellout;

• Greg Abbott’s use of migrants as pawns, busing thousands to NYC and DC;

• Ron DeSantis’ reckless antics, in service to the lunatic fringe of the GOP, which he hopes will propel him to a seat in the Oval Office;

• Ron Johnson’s statement that January 6 was not an “armed insurrection (... but it) did teach us how you can use flagpoles, that kind of stuff, as weapons.”

Then there’s Donald Trump, on the speaking circuit once more, QAnon anthem playing in the background, as he bloviates to his swaying Seig Heil-saluting minions. Now that’s the greatest clown show of all!

Vote pro-life

Vote pro-life on Tuesday. A baby’s life depends on you.

Crime not a blue-state issue

Crime rates rise and fall for varied and complex reasons — and one murder is one too many.

Reducing violent crime requires data-proven solutions, from reducing gun violence, establishing Community Violence Intervention teams, to providing adequate social services.

While the issue of crime dominates the nation’s most competitive races, with Republicans blaming the increases on Democrats, the rhetoric is oftentimes alarmist and potent — and frequently inaccurate.

After years of decline, crime rose during the COVID-19 pandemic, plaguing all areas of America — and so-called “red” states currently have the nation’s highest murder rates.

According to numerous studies, per capita murder rates in 2020 were 40% higher in states won by Donald Trump than states won by Joe Biden.

The homicide rate in Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco district is actually 50% lower than the murder rate in Bakersfield, Kevin McCarthy’s home district, which is also governed by a MAGA Republican mayor.

Eight of the 10 states with the highest murder rates for 2020 voted overwhelmingly for Donald Trump. Mississippi, with the nation’s third highest murder rate, has 10.6 murders per 100,000 people. By contrast, some blue states, such as NY, had only 4 murders per 100,000 people, or less.

Nobody knows for sure what caused the crime surge, but we do know that Republican candidates are lying about it being a blue-state issue: It’s a red state murder problem.

Crime is extraordinarily complex. When you vote on Nov. 8 remember that Republicans are better at blaming than they are at solving crime issues.

Political discourse descending to dangerous levels

The attack on Speaker Pelosi’s husband is another reminder how the political discourse has descended to dangerous levels. Threatening to break a Representative’s knees is not acceptable political practice, anymore that putting your fist through the chessboard and scattering the pieces is an acceptable way to play chess.

Once in our history such dangerous levels were reached. Preston Brooks brutally beat up Representative Charles Sumner, right there in Congress, because he did not like what he said. And what happened afterward? The Civil War. The bloody grounds of Shiloh. The burning of Atlanta and Columbia, Sherman’s March to the Sea. The brutal bloodletting of those years followed the debasement of the political discourse.

Nowadays there are politicians that are willing do bring the political discourse down, who encourage violence in their followers, who make excuses for the brutal insurrection of January 6, pretend that it was a peaceful protest, and who stoke the lies that led to that insurrection.

Do they want another General Sherman ravaging their countryside?

This election, make sure that neither Oz nor Mastriano get elected, because they are unthinkingly doing their best to bring another Civil War to us.

A fighter with a vision for House District 82

After a year and a half of running to be your representative for the 82nd District, I’ve had thousands of conversations. I hear how hard times are right now. Prices have been rising, and it’s getting more difficult to stretch a paycheck.

I understand how people are feeling, and know how critical outside support can be during an economic crisis.

My childhood was faced with many challenges — my mother passed away when I was ten, and my father struggled with addiction. If not for his union-negotiated pension, we may not have been able to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table. I also had access to excellent public schools, and was able to work my way through college with a sustainable living wage. All of this set me and my family up for future success.

When I go to Harrisburg, I’ll fight for working people to provide relief today and build an inclusive economic future. On day one, I will advocate for policies that reduce the burden on families by lowering prescription drug prices, easing child care costs, and raising the minimum wage. Looking ahead, I want to revitalize manufacturing in Centre County by attracting the green energy industry to the area. The opportunity exists — and the time is right — as we transition to renewable energy resources.

We need a fighter who has the vision for and belief in the people of this region. I welcome this challenge, and hope to have your support on Nov. 8.

Questions for Oz

Questions for Dr. Oz: 1. You want to be a U.S. Senator. Why do you insist on keeping your Turkish citizenship? A true patriot cannot pledge allegiance to our flag, and yet be able to flee to another country when the going gets tough. You claim that if elected, you will then become only a U.S. Citizen. Why wait until after the election to prove your allegiance to the U.S., and can we really trust you not to keep your Turkish citizenship? 2. You are a Sectarian Muslim, and the world has been made better by many sectarian Muslims. However, Salman Rushdie was recently stabbed for writing a book that was thought to be offensive. Do you condemn the attacker? 3. Doug Mastriano holds that the U.S. was founded as an explicitly Christian nation, and should be reclaimed as such. But, John Adams stated, “The United States is not founded on the Christian religion.” Do you support those who believe that the USA should be a Christian nation? 4. Religions have done much good for our values and morals. However our founders left Europe to avoid the problems caused by state supported religion. Will you uphold the Constitution’s intent to keep church and state separate? Citizens of Pennsylvania should know where you stand on these questions.