Editor:

On August 6, in a letter to the editor, I asked Ship Draper, Orleans County Republican Chairman, to explain in the Hub, Trump’s comment “If you go after me, I am coming for you.”

To date neither Mr. Draper, nor any other Republican has responded.

Perhaps he, and other Republican leaders believe the way to survive politically is by keeping their heads down, never take a stand, hide in the shadows, not make any comments, and pray really hard all of the legal controversy swirling around Trump will go away.

Many of us remember the old Hogan’s Heroes TV comedy show in which German guard Sgt. Schultz would avoid taking a stand or a position on anything by saying, “nothing, I know nothing.”

Could it be Orleans Republicans are thinking Schultz was on to something?

Jack Capurso

Albion High School Class 1960

Ashburn, Va.

Editor:

We live in a republic and have a republican form of government – a representative democracy. Some Americans would apparently be willing to trade what the Founding Fathers created for an authoritarian system. A few of our national political figures think characters such as Putin and Hitler are/were great – even brilliant leaders.

Many of my Republican friends have grown tired of their party’s front runner for the 2024 nomination. Some fell for it initially, but that time has come and gone.

Much of what their party has as an alternative took part in a debate last week. What follows are a few of one Democrat’s thoughts on that exchange of views.

Nikki Haley impressed me with her smarts, ability to articulate, and combativeness. Her performance suggested to me that she was ready. A ticket including Haley and Chris Christie would be formidable in my view. I thought he had a strong night as well. Asa Hutchinson seemed to be another viable candidate.

Senator Tim Scott fell short of my pre-debate expectations and was disappointing, as was Mike Pence.

My awards for the most absolutely disastrous debate night performances had to go to Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy. DeSantis seemed to utter the same tired comments repeatedly. Ramaswamy made some perceptive observations along with others that were “off the wall.” He claimed to be “data driven” in a later interview but during the debate made a comment about climate change being a “hoax”!

My goal was to keep this brief while calling attention to what may be the most important presidential race in American history.

Sincerely yours,

Gary F. Kent

Albion

Editor:

A bright thread in the fabric of our democracy endures in spite of unprecedented threats.

George Washington provided the model of moral stamina for all Americans and rejected suggestions that he should consolidate power and become king. He set the precedent that no one should serve more than two terms as president.

American spirit produced Lincoln, who led the Union through the Civil War to defend the nation as a constitutional union and succeeded in abolishing slavery. Lincoln and later Garfield may have been assassinated but those who believed in civil rights never gave up.

T. Roosevelt left his mark on the American landscape with national parks and first used the justice department to break-up big-time corporate monopoly of the 19th Century. F.D.R. and an L.B.J. were in the right place at the right time to build our country in the 20th Century.

The presidency of the first black president, Barack Obama, signaled a “post-racial” America at first, but a reaction of racial conflict shows that hate hides. Obama’s vice-president, Joe Biden, studied and learned the lessons of his predecessors. President Joe Biden has proved to be the right person to protect and further extend the great experiment of government for the people, by the people and of the people.

Corporate power is at the forefront of the political debate. A massive corporate tax cut, a billionaire cabinet in Washington and historic corporate profits unravel the fabric of our democracy.

US inflation is low. It has fallen for 12 consecutive months. Prices remain high due to corporate consolidation of markets manipulating high prices and record profits.

Low-income earners truly feel the burden, paying the steepest portions of their income for necessities. US household debt has risen nearly 50% since 2003, after adjusting for inflation. People owe more; top 3 debts are mortgage, auto loans, and student loans. Credit card debt is at historic highs.

Biden has lit a torch, a spectacular “new deal” to rebuild our economy. Historically, Americans pay more for prescription drugs than other countries. Through the Inflation Reduction Act, Medicare can finally negotiate prices to get better deals for Americans struggling to pay for drugs. Cheaper Eliquis, Jardiance, Xarelto, Januvia, Farxiga, Entresto, Enbrel, Imbruvica, Stelara and various forms of Fiasp, prescribed to treat: heart disease and clots, blood cancer, diabetes, arthritis and kidney disease, is good news for everyone, except Big Pharma.

The government can be a force for good; all politicians are not corrupt. The wind is behind us, in our sails.

Carol Nochajski

Wilson

Editor:

It is sad that so many people would rather write you and display their ignorance about claims of 2020 election fraud than inform themselves.

As lawyers lose their licenses and ringleaders are being indicted, they still are not humble enough to do their homework.

The presentation of edited tapes, testimony from people who assumed what was being talked about, made up numbers were all debunked ages ago. One Trump lawyer cried in court when the federal judge asked him to demonstrate why he should be believed.

Dozens of the major fraud allegations repeatedly presented on TV, in over 60 court cases, and in legislatures around the country were reviewed in KING v. WHITIMER.

The long-term problem with Trump and MAGA supporters is their complete lack of humility about being wrong. They prefer to think they are victims both in life and when they do not win rather than grow up. Shilled by doctrine and fueled by hate, they have joined in the creation of some of their own problems.

This is a big world. There are challenges now and ahead to tackle and work on together so we can all prosper. I am tired of tired people with tired ideas who can not be bothered to read.  They hold themselves and everyone else back.

In this case the bogus claims of election fraud are long debunked in black and white.  And to make my point, true or not, the crimes were not the false speech about fraud or the bogus claims in election cases but about the subsequent falsification of records, testimony and violence.

Conrad F. Cropsey

Albion

Editor:

Election officials take voting very seriously. Every claim of election irregularity is thoroughly investigated. Officials don’t finalize the vote until every single voter irregularity is investigated and properly resolved.

Every voting district reports the results of the election only when all voter irregularities are resolved. All election districts in the country reported their election as fair and free from any irregularities. To claim election fraud or irregularities you would impugn the integrity of every election official in the country.

Studies looking at voter fraud in the 2020 election found there was no fraud sufficient to change election results. Studies from the University of Chicago which focused on statistical claims of the Trump administration found fraud did not change the outcome. Furthermore, studies from the Brennan Center for Justice confirm that voter fraud did not change the outcome. Mr. Trump’s own campaign hired two companies, Berkeley Research Group and Simpatico Software Systems which found no evidence of voter fraud.

Not only did election officials, colleges, universities and independent organization investigate election irregularities but the major news media in Philadelphia, Detroit, Atlanta, etc. investigated all claims of election irregularities in their cities and found none. Every single claim, from mathematic irregularities to whatever, you name it. There is no evidence that voter fraud sufficiently effected the outcome of any electoral district in the country. None. Again, to claim election fraud or irregularities you impugn the reputation of every reporter for major news outlets.

Mr. Trump is free to challenge the outcomes of the vote. Indeed, Mr. Trump’s legal team filed 60 court cases challenging the election; 60 times they failed to produce any evidence of voter fraud. 60 times they couldn’t produce facts supporting their claims of election irregularities; 60 times. Mr. Trump’s claims were found to be unsubstantiated, unsupported, baseless or just plain false. 60 times; more than any other candidate in the history of this country, probably more than all other candidates combined.

Mr. Trump and his allies can make all kinds of claims to the press and social media but in a court of law facts matter; evidence matters. Mr. Trump has neither facts or evidence to support his claims.

Mr. Trump did freely question whether the election was free and fair and all the evidence — even research his campaign paid for — showed that it was free and fair.

William Fine

Brockport

Editor:

“Lies, damned lies and statistics.”

Trump was the first president to try to use the full power of the federal government to overthrow a free election. He lost all challenges brought before judges he appointed!

Are Pence, Barr and Romney the liars here?  The election was unique: “Trump or No Trump” and the individual American voter overturned the entrenched power. The Founders would have been proud.

Look at the Maricopa County, Arizona recount run by the Republican power structure. “No Trump” had 306 more votes than credited.

Stand up for the Rule of Law, the Constitution and the American voter.

Gerard M. Morrisey

Albion

Editor:

A previous contributor to this column spoke recently saying “…as an American, I am free to condemn his (former President Trump’s) behavior based on his own public speeches, writings and actions.” Of course the contributor is absolutely right, he is free to do so. However, President Trump’s efforts as a free American, to challenge what he believes were  blatant violations of a free 2020 election have been denied repeatedly.

After the 2020 “election” scores of voter poll workers and inspectors, everyday American citizens, came forward to speak under oath in front of their state legislative committees of gross procedural irregularities experienced first hand.

They did so at risk to their families, jobs and reputations. The majority of these citizens came from cities like Detroit and Atlanta – democrat strongholds. Mathematicians and researchers who crunched the “election” data and statistics testified the numbers didn’t add up, going drastically contrary to any past election statistics. Are you aware of any of these citizens’ testimonies? Have you read any articles that compare 2020 statistics with past election statistics?

Since 2020, questions raised regarding voter poll practices, illegal ballot harvesting and new election procedures passed  frantically by state legislatures have been abruptly quashed. Despite the point that these practices have been previously deemed unsavory by both sides of the aisle, the current democrat response is to scream, “BIG LIE!” Half of Americans, including a rapidly growing number of registered democrats are seeing this for what it is. Democrats have no honest way of proving election tampering did not take place.

Abrupt suppression, mocking and vilification of individuals who dare to speak otherwise is what the guilty do when they have no viable defense for their own actions. Such tactics are commonly developed on the grade school playground and perfected in the middle school lunch room.

As much as the American people deserve to hear evidence from both sides in order to intelligently decide for themselves, they won’t get it, for they have been informed very unceremoniously by the left, that they are not intelligent enough to do so.

Until Trump is allowed to challenge the 2020 results without retribution, as did his predecessors Al Gore (2000) and Hillary Clinton (2016) there will be no presentation of facts provided for you, ever.

We’ve known for more than 6 years that those who have had their delicate sensibilities damaged by Trump’s speeches, writings and actions will not allow themselves to accept the many astounding accomplishments of the Trump presidency. Are they giving serious consideration to the warnings of constitutional scholars Jonathan Turley and Alan Dershowitz?

What of the testimonies of the many poll workers who dared step forward after November 2020? Anti-Trumpers who demand “facts” fail to realize it’s hard to hear them while screaming, “BIG LIE” at the same time. Facts are not truly wanted by them. In time, the results will be catastrophic to our American way of life.

Respectfully,

Claudia & Gary Deiboldt

Albion

Editor:

I would like to personally thank all of the people and organizations who helped make the Town of Yates’ 2nd Annual Street Dance such a smashing success.

I am very grateful to the Town of Yates Highway Department, Clerk’s Office and Town Board, the Lyndonville Village Department of Public Works, the Village Trustees, the Lyndonville Fire Company, the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, the Who Dats, and the numerous food and craft vendors.

The street dances were a big draw over thirty years ago, and it is heartwarming to see young and old alike dancing in the streets again! So mark your calendars for next year’s tentative date of August 23rd, 2024 for our 3rd Annual Street Dance!

Jim Simon

Yates Town Supervisor

Editor:

I would like to thank Legislature Don Allport for being in touch with the constituency and voting to rescind the long-time theft (June 1st 1993) of an extra one penny for sales tax in Orleans County.

The sales pitch back then 30 years ago was to be just a “temporary thing.” The people should have never allowed it. Never trusted their government. (Once you open the door to anything government it never goes away).

Allen Lofthouse, myself and many conservative committee people, citizens, over the years have railed against this and any other form of taxation that has come up but it had always fallen on deaf Republican ears with every excuse imaginable not to do it.

So we stopped coming to meetings. While the county government industrial complex grows and grows in Orleans County the smart residents move to more tax and business friendly states with conservatives running them. The rest of us here struggle and stagnate as our governments continue to tax and grow.

These Republicans are the same bunch that would not give us any relief on the fuel taxes. It is refreshing to hear an elected representative put the foot down and say NO to taxation, theft.

I often wonder what does it actually mean or represent to have the name Republican in front of a politician’s name? It seems at the county level in many cases to mean “Democrat.” Don’t listen to what they say pay attention to  how they spend and vote.

Paul Lauricella

Orleans County Conservative Party chairman

Editor:

Of course, Trump is “innocent until proven guilty” but as an American, I am free to condemn his behavior based on his own public speeches, writings and actions.

The previous writer should stop shouting “election fraud” unless some actual proof can be produced. Where is it?

Free elections should be considered “Fair unless proven corrupt.”

Gerard M. Morrisey

Albion