Trump's minions were busy
Re: "Trump said he erred in remark with Putin -- Amid furor, he now says he agrees with intel agencies' view that Russia interfered," Wednesday news story.
Kudos to the minions who spent the night poring over the transcripts from the Helsinki news conference to try to find a way for President Donald Trump to effect damage control without actually apologizing to the Department of Justice or the American people for his insulting and treasonous statements.
Vivian Bush, Ovilla
Wait, I said what?
President Donald Trump's future press conference: "No, no, I meant to say don't launch the missiles!!!"
George Neary, Dallas/Preston Hollow
Call it what it is: treason
Re: "Texas lawmakers condemn remarks" and "Trump agrees: No interference," Tuesday news stories.
I have no doubt that if this president's actions had been instead by President Barack Obama when he was in office, Republicans would be unanimous in calling for his impeachment.
Shame on you, Mr. President, but almost as bad is the silence from Sen. Ted Cruz and the extremely weak response by Sen. John Cornyn.
Our president should be charged with treason. Maybe then we will find out his true motivation. I have no doubt that Vladimir Putin is in some way behind it.
Charles G. Griffith, Dallas
It's the media's fault
What am I missing ? Did the Russians interfere with the election? The answer from Vladimir Putin was no. All the reports I've seen say the election was not compromised and the outcome would not have been changed. Move on.
The question about Russian involvement in U.S. elections was asked and answered. I'd like to know what was discussed involving Syria, the Middle East, China and North Korea. Since when do you have a meeting with one of the most dangerous countries in the world and start off being confrontational? What's that old saying, keep your friends close and your enemies closer?
I think President Donald Trump did a good job. The press just twists everything around as does Congress to harass and defame our president.
Doug Scag, Southlake
Minds were already made up
Who does not believe that the Russians hack here and the U.S. hacks there? Secondly how did that affect the election? I laugh at the thought that minds were not made up on who they wanted to vote against. Quit spending tax dollars on this. It is embarrassing.
Frank Wagnon, Southlake
Get the president a mirror
Remember when President Donald Trump called the campus police officer at Florida's Stoneman Douglas High School a "coward?" Back at ya,' Pres. The only difference is Trump had days to prepare, the officer had 30 seconds.
Jeff Foster, Carrollton
GOP does Putin's bidding
Dear Congress, do something. My God!
Have Republicans lost their minds? Where is the outrage? Why aren't they demanding the immediate impeachment of President Donald Trump? Why?
Start the impeachment process, protect American citizens and do your job. Unless, of course, you are somehow being manipulated by Vladimir Putin, as well. Then by all means, carry on. Do nothing.
Go down in history as being a member of the party that did Putin's bidding. Go down in history as being a member of the party that stood by idly and watched our country burn. By all means.
Suzanne Sherman, Forney
Agent's beliefs irrelevant
Re: "FBI agent, GOP clash -- At chaotic hearing, he insists texts didn't impact job," Friday news story.
Congressional Republicans are all self-righteous in proclaiming FBI agent Peter Strzok was "biased" in the FBI's investigation of Russian meddling in our election.
Are they saying someone can only investigate if they are a fan of whomever is being investigated? Were they fans of Hillary Clinton when they held the many, many investigations of Benghazi or her e-mails?
Republicans in Congress have made clear their negative opinions of Strzok, Robert Mueller and Rod Rosenstein. Will they all recuse themselves from their threatened impeachment of Rosenstein?
It is facts, not biases, that matter. Indictments are based on facts, not whether or not the investigators like the accused. If the facts are there to support the indictments, the investigators' personal opinions are irrelevant.
If we require all investigators to be supporters of the possible accused, we aren't going to solve many crimes.
Clearly the Republicans in Congress think this only applies to President Donald Trump. For the life of me, I cannot figure out why so many of them think clinging to power is more important than their honor.
Susan Sanders Wansbrough, Dallas/Lake Highlands
O'Rourke refuses PAC money
Re: "O'Rourke's objection unclear," by James Clement, Saturday Letters.
In his letter, Clement wrote "...since the candidate who says he does not accept outside money has made three fundraising trips to California to garner financial support for his campaign." U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke has never said that he doesn't accept outside campaign donations, just as all candidates accept them. (I donate my $5 and $10 to candidates in other states all the time.)
What O'Rourke did say is that he doesn't accept PAC money! Just think of it: He wouldn't be beholden to any energy, insurance or communications PACs, or PACS funded by a handful of billionaires; he'd only be beholden to the citizens.
Yet, with citizen contributions, he has managed to out-raise Sen. Ted Cruz by millions, and Cruz does accept PAC money, and is beholden to his PACs. Maybe candidate O'Rourke is "in line with what Texas voters care about."
Sandy Elkins, Plano
Highways need tax money
In case you missed it, Sens. Ted Cruz, Mike Lee and Marco Rubio have introduced a bill to reduce federal involvement in transportation systems in the United States. The Transportation Empowerment Act would slash federal fuel taxes and highway spending over five years while eliminating the Highway Transportation Fund mass transit account.
After all the talk about our failing infrastructure and the desperate need to rebuild, these senators play to the anti-tax crowd despite the consequences.
Yet another reason to support Beto O'Rourke.
James Francis, Carrollton
Why we must study history
Re: "What in the world is College Board thinking? Decision to split history course is decidedly Eurocentric, says Jacqueline Wei," Saturday Viewpoints.
While I personally understand the challenges of having "too much" history to teach in class, perhaps the AP Board, as well as our schools and various levels of school boards, should consider both the concepts discussed and the answers proposed in Wei's column.
Additional time is needed for history, geography and government classes, not less. If more people were aware or even exposed to the backgrounds and beginnings of the political and cultural events we face today, perhaps there would be a willingness to work through the problems to find solutions or common ground.
And just maybe, the United States and Texas would not be dealing with so many of our current situations with such an obvious lack of understanding and knowledge. The study of history, both American and world, is vital to the continued working of our government, the decision-making abilities of our citizens and a much-needed grace in humanity.
Vicki C. Patterson, Carrollton
Wei earns her stars
Five-star thinking, writing and maturity shown by Jacqueline Wei.
Marcus Wood, Northeast Dallas
