The renovation race is on
Just like those between-innings races featuring dental characters on the scoreboard at Coors Field, the City of Denver has its own race that is well underway. Who will finish first? Remodel at DIA? Remodel at the Denver Central Library? Or the rebuild of the 16th Street Mall? The pace is slow but somebody has to finish first. Place your bets.
Ben Eastman, Denver
The crux of our current political climate
The electorate has the luxury of believing as they will, endlessly disagreeing with their neighbor, and voting for the candidates of their choice.
But few issues are black and white. None should be used as a litmus test for any candidate because few candidates are all of one persuasion, liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican. We all possess a mixture of those traits at any one time, and those traits change over time and circumstances and issues.
Yes, we elect our representatives because we believe they think like we do most of the time on most issues. But we should also elect them to do what we resist, what we have the luxury of NOT doing — to find consensus, make compromises, find solutions, and move the country forward. Our representatives have a higher duty than just representing us or parroting party slogans and talking points. They take an oath to serve the Constitution and do what’s in the best interest of the country.
We should demand our elected officials find that middle ground called “compromise.” The Constitution itself is a product of compromise. It emerged only after innumerable concessions by strong-willed and passionate men of principle on different sides of most issues. Following their lead should be the goal of every elected official.
Our elected officials need to curb the vitriolic words of civil strife and show us “the better angels of our nature” to help heal what divides the nation. We should elect them to compromise for us. If we don’t, then each of us is part of the problem.
Kenneth T. Cook, Littleton
GOP has more worthy options
Recent opinion surveys indicate that many Republicans would recommend Donald Trump to the nation as a trustworthy candidate for the presidency in 2024, regardless of the fact that the former president and his accomplices sought to overturn the 2020 election using every devious scheme they could invent. The election of 2020 was not stolen, but only because the former president failed in his determined efforts to steal it.
Are they persuaded by Trump’s ceaseless repetition of his election theft claim, despite the investigations, court hearings and vote recounts to the contrary? A claim now so discredited that only a fool would believe it. With each repetition of the theft claim, Trump reminds us that he both lost the election and will continue to lie about it.
There are some Republicans who prefer to overlook Trump’s threats against those who disagree with him. His attacks on others have served as a cue to some of his followers to threaten those who disagree with him, thus creating a terroristic tool to intimidate the opposition. Trump has stated that he would imprison opponents if elected. These are the methods and mindset of a dictator.
Insurrection, threats of violence, violent attacks on Capitol police, irrational claims of election theft, scheming to overturn an election and chronic deception have resulted from the former president’s leadership. Nominating Trump would place Republicans in the intolerable position of needing to defend the indefensible. Republicans have alternative candidates who would be much more credible and worthy of respect than Trump.
Ralph Jacobs, Loveland
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