Personal attributes top policy
Manhattan: With only a few weeks away from Election Day, one can reflect on the similarity of the Democratic candidates for President between now and 2008. Eight years ago, when the current President was elected, voters looked up and saw that the Democratic candidate was a man of color, and welcomed the opportunity to personally participate in the making of American history by voting for the first black man to serve as President of the greatest nation in the world. Policy and principles were not a contributing factor. Just the candidate’s skin color, and that he would be a “first.”
Now, eight years later, voters have the opportunity to personally participate in the making of American history by voting for the Democratic candidate, who is a woman and would be the first woman to serve as President. Again, policy and principles are not contributing factors. But, in this case, gender is. Let us pray that all registered voters will go to the polls and vote intelligently. Dolores Grier
The vote is safe
Queens Village: Donald Trump is warning about voter fraud, but he is an idiot. There is no way you can vote more than once, at least here in NYC. I have voted my whole life and every year when you vote, you sign a book and your signature is listed there. Maybe they do it differently in other states, but here, we don’t cheat. Joan Silaco
Plenty of checking
Glendale: To answer S.E. Cupp’s column, “Donald’s most dangerous idea” (Aug. 17): We already have pretty extreme vetting for immigrants? I guess she hasn’t heard about the 11 million illegals, and what about the millions of visa overstays that are here already. This place is so crowded, you can’t even find a parking space, and you get our politicians and media tells us that we need more. We need someone with common-sense policies. W. Poje
Trump’s wordplay
Manhattan: How is it that Donald Trump, who has had the benefit of attending the best schools and of getting the best education money can buy, has such poor command of the English language? At least that is what his campaign would like us to believe. We can all agree that as we watch him at any of his innumerable rallies or press conferences, we cringe as we get a front row seat at the raging freak show that is his mind, and bear witness to a disturbing and rambling stream of thoughts that have absolutely no transitional element to them. We also watch him stitch together arguments with the petulant eloquence and sophistication of a prepubescent 11-year-old. But most of all we constantly watch him put his foot in his mouth thanks to his incredible talent of always saying the wrong thing. He will never apologize or take back any of his comments. He can’t both be this populist genius who will alone solve all of our problems, and at the same time be an idiot who needs his spokespersons to constantly “interpret” what he meant to say. His supporters must realize that when you find yourself constantly having to defend ignorant, hateful, divisive, racist rhetoric, you should just accept what is plainly evident to the rest of the country — that to us he might be saying inexcusable, hateful things, but to you he speaks that ugly brand of truth that is music to your intolerant, hateful ears. Stop making excuses for him, we are not buying it. Geidy Perez Storch
Paying ransom
Brooklyn: With all due respect, Mr. President, the fact that you’re talking in riddles now confirms you paid for hostages. You could have given it straight to the American taxpayers, who have been paying since they were old enough to file. If Iran were so friendly, there would be no ransom to be paid. Hopefully, it won’t cost us in blood one day. Salvatore Dragotto
Keep him locked up
Toms River, N.J.: I think that Mark David Chapman should be paroled when John Lennon is able to get up on a stage and perform again (“Set Lennon killer free, 5 people say,” Aug. 19). Murderers such as Chapman should never walk free again. Period! Theodore A. Mannschreck
A kick too far
Medford, Mass.: Hope Solo’s suspension is an outrage. It didn’t show much sportsmanship for Solo to call her opponents “cowards,” but so what if she thought that and then said it? She can be judged by her teammates and fans. At least she was honest. This is once again a case of corporations taking the color out of sports. Corporations want ducks to all walk in their straight line. Any deviation from the accepted mantra of John Corporation is met with ruination for the players. This has taken all the fun out of sports. The NFL did it to Tom Brady. Tom’s not Mr. Corporate, so he gets squashed with unfair penalties and sanctions. Play it their way or don’t play at all. If Solo gets six months, what does Ryan Lochte get for faking a robbery? Nothing so far. Interesting. Adrienne Monestere
A dance too far
Saint Paul, Minn.: Ryan Lochte should not be on “Dancing with the Stars” or anywhere else he can earn adoration or money. He is a liar, a disloyal member of his Olympic team and an embarrassment to his family and supporters. I often watch “Dancing with the Stars” because I find it to be entertaining. If and when he appears on that program, I will not be tuning in. Watching it gives support to the sponsors who are paying him, and I can’t do that. If I read that he has been voted off (hopefully in the first elimination), then I would consider watching the show without him. Myra L. (Cookie) Montgomery
Unneeded shield for cops
Manhattan: Re “All new blue wall” (Aug. 25): The police do an extraordinary service for this city, and with that service comes a great responsibility to the people they serve, including being as transparent as possible. Section 50-a of the state’s Civil Rights Law was originally meant to prevent criminal defense lawyers from using personnel records when cross-examining the police. Now, however, this exemption has given law enforcement a way to keep personnel records hidden from the public. In the Assembly, I introduced legislation to modify or repeal this section of the law. The pretense that such information would harm police officers is false, as there are precautions in place to protect the records of all public employees from unsubstantiated Freedom of Information Law requests. For those who have the most power over our lives, it is time to hold them to the highest standards of accountability. Assemblyman Daniel O’Donnell, chair, Correction Committee
‘Today’ will not be tomorrow
Flatonia, Tex.: My favorite person is Willie Geist and I am terribly disappointed with him being replaced by Billy Bush. Lorraine Nilson
Ditto
Hobbs, N.M.: Willie Geist, you are going to be great wherever you are, but I did look forward each morning to you being part of the trio on “Today.” Patsy Kerbo
Extortion and lifesaving
Amherst, N.Y.: Greed, greed and more greed is going to result in the downfall of the society we live in. How dare Heather Bresch jack up the price of EpiPens? Parents are struggling to provide this medication to their children. Even if an EpiPen is not used, once it expires, they need to buy another. I don’t know how these people sleep at night. The pharma companies need an overhaul. Karen Hartrich
God bless America
Whitestone: The glue that binds America together is respect for our beliefs and love for each other. I’m grateful for those who protect them and group hugs to all and feel lucky to be born in the U.S.A. S. DeFelice
Will work for pay
Bronx: I feel extremely upset that because I lack computer knowledge, I am unable to land a job. I am a healthy male and feel that my lack of computer skills should not prevent me from finding employment. I need to work and want to work. These rules should be outlawed. Please give me work so I can pay my bills. I am totally disgusted. Leo Barta
Fighti ng back
Brick, N.J.: It takes one person to stand up to a bully. When I was in high school, a boy was always picking on a smaller boy. I told this bully to stop picking on him. I said if it continues, he should try picking on me. It stopped. Anthony P. Gentile
A bridge of honor
Albany: We request that the new Tappan Zee Bridge be renamed the “Tappan Zee Veterans Memorial Bridge” to honor all veterans. Lawrence Goswick, commander VFW Post 7462
