Editor:

Responding to Paul Lauricella’s post, so full of untruths about Nate McMurray and hateful stock lies that it’s hard to know where to start.

Let’s begin here: Aren’t we tired of the divisiveness? Patriots are abandoning the truth to Russians – consistently identified by Trump’s own appointed intelligence agencies – as actively spreading lies for the precise reason of dividing us and weakening democracy.

The red-flag warning words, “socialist radicals” always precede words of fear, not fact, to persuade people. It is the Trumpian way. But Americans are smart. Hoards of Conservatives across this country are lamenting the death of family values and fiscal responsibility, leaving the GOP, and actively fighting against it through groups of Conservatives like the Lincoln Project.

People are onto the desperate last breaths of fear-mongers trying to steal the future from average working folks. Groups like the large gathering of Republicans, Independents and Democrats: farmers, ministers and teachers, who came to Albion last week to support Nate McMurray for Congress are tired of the empty rhetoric. Years of control by Republicans who presume we will vote for them brought us together. We are through being taken for granted.

Politicians like Trump and Chris Jacobs have lied to us and distorted the Conservative movement by mishandling the economy. Their policies bring small temporary gains to hard working farmers, teachers and others: everyday folks trying to eke out a living, but burden us for generations to come by rewarding the rich and punishing the working class. They’ve added trillions of dollars to our national debt.

This all happened before Covid-19 but has been dramatically worsened by the Trump administration’s “hands-off” no-plan-policy and lies about the seriousness of Covid-19. Hospitals in the Midwest have no ICU beds open and Covid-19 is spreading like wild fire because we continue to be misled by our federal government. We have a long road ahead of us because of these failures.

After years of Republican control our Congressional District has the worst job market in the entire country, according to the Wall Street Journal. We are sick and tired of politicians scaring us into voting for them promising help, then doing nothing for us. Neither Chris Jacobs nor his predecessor Chris Collins even bother to talk with voters on the street or in town halls. Average people just don’t count as far as they’re concerned.

Nate McMurray knows we do count because he knows struggle. He grew up in a poor family with seven kids and a young widowed mother who worked three jobs and had her husband’s social security benefits to barely make ends meet. Nate wants us all to have the opportunities he realized through grit and hard work. He fights policies that do not benefit us, whether offered by Democrats or Republicans. He is a gun owning corporate attorney – a capitalist who supports the second amendment.

Let truth and civility, not hateful lies, guide you as you vote.

Nate McMurray is the right choice for Congress.

Cindy Fleischer

Mendon

Editor:

I have already voted for Joe Biden. There are many reasons why. One, he will use the presidency and the power of the federal government to fight the Covid-19 crisis.

He and President Obama used this ability to lead the country out of the 2008 financial crisis. Covid-19 is an area where Trump and his sycophants have been failures. Please read the recent letters to the Hub that support Trump. Most do not even acknowledge the Covid crisis. And none of these writers backed up Trump’s first Covid lie, back in March or so, or his latest lie that we’ve beaten Covid-19.

I  voted against Trump because he has taken the country’s traditional blind eye (exploited mostly by the Republican party) of this country’s racism to an incredible new low.

I’m 81 and remember Richard Nixon’s southern strategy. Nixon, using the coded language of “law and order”, appealed to all the bigots in this country that hated the civil rights acts of the 1960s.

And then, 20 or so years later, Ronald  Reagan gave his first campaign speech, which upheld states’ rights, about 10 miles from where three civil rights workers had been murdered. A bit of definition here: “states rights” was the principle behind which the white murderers were acquitted.

Reagan also talked of welfare Cadillac queens, while admitting he really knew of none. Then came George H.W. Bush’s Willie Horton ads which played on white fear of blacks. Nixon, Reagan and Bush all exploited this white fear while, on the surface, officially condemning it. Then came Trump. He not only does not condemn racism, he praises it. He said there were “good people on both sides” in Charlottesville. He very recently  told the Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by.”

Trump’s praise is a new low which, to their credit, a few Republicans have condemned. We can hope these Republicans will help vote Trump out.

Some of these Republicans started the Lincoln Project, the subject of a recent 60 Minutes show.

One founder was Steve Schmidt, a senior advisor in McCain’s presidential campaign. In 60 Minutes, Schmidt said Trump made him realize how naïve he had been about the embedded racism in the Republican Party. Schmidt is to be commended for the acknowledgement of his naivety.

This is the second most important election since the country’s third election when George Washington chose not to run for a third term. He’d been unanimously elected in the first two and knew that that unanimity could continue to third and later terms, thereby setting the president up as a de facto monarch.

Trump has clearly stated his desire to be a monarch by musing about deserving a third term.

Washington’s lesson has stood us in good stead for over 220 years. Please terminate Trump now and make George Washington proud!

Dennis Seekins

Lyndonville

Editor:

Definition of cronyism: The appointment of friends and associates to positions of authority, without proper regard to their qualifications.

If Ed Morgan was so worried about the right person getting into the highway superintendent position to replace him, maybe he should have attended the Town of Murray Republican Committee meeting to observe the interview, ask pertinent questions and cast a vote. Instead, in usual fashion, he sent his secretary to the meeting to place a vote for him.  Since your good choice didn’t win the committee vote, you and your buddies have supported this individual to run against Dirk Lammes. Dirk’s opponent is running on popularity, instead of qualifications.

Ed, you know darn well Dirk Lammes is the most qualified for the job. You had a thousand questions for Dirk about his techniques when he put the booster pump station in Murray those years ago. Dirk ran the job and yes, Dirk also ran machinery. He bid on that job, ran his own numbers. He can do it all.

Dirk does paper work all the time. Reports, pay apps, administrative, payroll, bids, contracts, insurance, personnel. The details of the job are what you make them. Dirk will redefine it.

Art Knab

Murray

Editor:

As a group of Orleans County Democrats, we are writing this in support of Diane (Bower) Shampine who’s running for Orleans County Clerk.

Our primary reason, as Democrats, for strongly endorsing Diane Shampine is her extensive experience in working in the Clerk’s Office. She’s been a file clerk, appointed Deputy Clerk and since January 2020, she has been the acting Orleans County Clerk.

At any time, a person with Diane Shampine’s experience would be an expected choice for a demanding position such as County Clerk. During the pandemic, it has been an additional challenge to continue to serve the residents of this county but Diane Shampine has risen to that challenge.

We urge you voters who are still to cast your ballot to look to the Conservative Party line candidate and please vote for the only candidate with the experience necessary to efficiently and effectively run the Orleans County Clerk’s office and that person is Diane Shampine.

Thank you.

Mary Beth Lindsay, Clarendon

Nate Lindsay, Clarendon

Debbie Monacelli, Village of Holley

Mark Monacelli, Village of Holley

Anne Smith, Clarendon

Lynn Vendetti, Fancher

Mark Bower, Village of Holley

Editor:

In response to Jeanne Crane, recently retired Democrat Party chairwoman. I made the assumption that you were probably getting out because your party had become so radical anti-American that no one with any common sense could in good conscience belong to a party that so hates one’s country. Let alone be a representative.

I was wrong. I stand by my statement that Nate McMurray is a radical socialist and even worse. Jacobs voted party lines 16 out of 19 votes. I see it as he voted to make the country better and those 3 votes he didn’t does not make me happy.

I can tell you he votes with the traitorous Democrats a lot more on other votes. You should like him. The Postal Service had problems long before Chris Jacobs’ vote. It’s called labor unions and mismanagement. I like the Post Office and I use it all the time in my business but I would have been very mad if Jacobs had voted the other way. I’m glad he made that mistake.

I and the Conservative Party of NY supported Beth Parlato, a real conservative. She didn’t win. We love the country so we are backing Chris Jacobs because on his worst day he is better than someone who belongs to the Democrat, America-hating party like Nate McMurray. The fact that he is a Democrat in this climate makes him the enemy of his country in my book. Not someone that loves it. A politician that loves this country would never ever belong to the Democrat Party.

Nate McMurray, if he wins and that is very doubtful, would as a Democrat oversee the destruction of this country as Democrats in Congress want to transform it. That wasn’t said carelessly or falsely but by listening to his own words.

I am not fooled by him nor is anyone with any common sense. The Democrats have very ill intentions for this country and people who do not agree with them if they win. I ask voters to save the seat. Yes that seat or any seat in this country should never be filled by a Democrat.

We see this by all the lunatics that are mayors and governors or city councils controlled by these Democrats throughout the country who allow violence and destruction of property, murder, looting, hatred for police just doing their job, brainwashing in the education system.

Nate McMurray is not a nice guy especially after what he said about terminal cancer patient Michael Caputo.

“I wish death on no one,” the candidate wrote on Twitter. “But this man will enjoy the best public healthcare imaginable. While denying millions the same, and lying about a virus that’s killing us.”

“My pity is limited,” McMurray added.

You say he’s endorsed by 26 labor unions like that is good thing. You say he will fight for health care, yes he will fight for single-payer government-controlled healthcare. To ruin everyone else’s health care like Obama did. So let me let the readers in one more time on the dangers of voting for a radical socialist Democrat like Nate McMurray. He, like all Democrat gun grabbers, is out to abolish the Second Amendment. Says radical leftist Congressman Brian Higgins isn’t aggressive enough. Says he doesn’t like Trump. He wants to Un-Trump NY 27. He wants Medicare and weed for all. He supports open borders.

He is endorsed by the communist Working Family Party. He is endorsed by the radical public employee unions AFL-CIO and NYS Teachers Unions that bleed the taxpayers dry and protect incompetence in this state.

He will push the Anti-American Agenda 21 globalist policies of the UN, the Democrat Party and be a lap dog to Nancy Pelosi.

Democrat politicians are the most incompetent, are purposefully destructive and hateful to all America stands for and they all must be driven from office through the electoral system or we will not have a country.

Give the entire Democrat Party in the NY State Senate, the House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate and for president of the United States a decisive defeat at the ballot box or our country is over as we know it.

With all sincerity.

Paul Lauricella

Lyndonville

Orleans County Conservative Party Chairman

Editor:

People have or will have voted soon. I just heard an astute observation. “Where or what is the Republican platform?” Indeed, they did not adopt one.

The final saw is “People are not dying from Covid; the huge increase in deaths this year is a billing issue.” Some platform.

In fact, if most of the country voters turn out for Biden it will mean that issues like good health and economy through subsidized private insurance and stimulus to avoid depression won. It will be an endorsement for good equal pay, taking on climate change, helping farm trade,  inclusiveness and the like. We will have adopted what was once tilted towards modern Democratic concerns

That would be what happened in the 1830s when the Whig party members voted in the Democratic Party’s ideas. The Whigs disintegrated and all that remained was the “Do Nothing” faction which was anti-Irish, anti-Germany, anti-Catholic, anti-immigration and anti-Italian – to point these folks were barred from public employment in some cities. It too quickly fell apart under its own weight once exposed to the light of democracy.

Hatred over good ideas is not sustainable in a democracy. Epithets over ideas is not sustainable in a democracy. That’s the history lesson, here and elsewhere.

So in a few days, or weeks, we will find out if we are still a capitalist democracy or a country dominated by private power, private wealth with rulers and undeserving  and contemptable servants. When the election is viewed according to these issues and not epithets this is a heck of an inflection point.

It’s the same point we were at when the Declaration of Independence was penned and stated: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the               pursuit of Happiness.”

In it the laws of nature and God to advance these rights were declared to take priority over the laws of government and man. They are the greatest sentences in our founding document.

In sum this election is about the historic fight of personal rights against hate by voting to advance our founders’ reliance on natural law to  secure life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all.

Tory or Patriot? Your vote marks you and history awaits.

Conrad F. Cropsey

Albion

Editor:

I would like to take this opportunity to go on record as enthusiastically endorsing Nadine Hanlon for the office of County Clerk.

Nadine is an exceptional individual and a professional of the highest caliber. Having been in public service to my community for over thirty-five years, I have both seen and worked with many tremendous individuals – Nadine is one of the finest I have ever met.

I won’t go into detail with regard to her professional experience and qualifications. They have been well publicized throughout the campaign and they are sterling. There is, however, more that I would like to offer as you decide who will lead the Office of County Clerk in the future.

I have known Nadine Hanlon both personally and professionally for thirty years. Nadine has worked effectively and efficiently in the Clerk of the Legislature office for fourteen years. She brings excellent credentials to this position and also holds the Records Management Officer position for the County.

The County Clerk’s duties require thorough, timely and accurate filing of official records. The department oversees both the Department of Motor Vehicle’s Office and the Pistol Permit Office within the County. It requires the level of professionalism, experience, and personal attention that Nadine Hanlon readily possesses.

She has a thorough understanding of the importance of superior work in all tasks that she undertakes and has the requisite personal attributes to deal cordially with the public. She is exceptionally dedicated and stands ready to work the long hours needed for the position. There are precious few in any field today who could claim to possess the depth of knowledge, character, savvy and preparedness that she has.

Nadine also possesses sound management skills, communication capabilities and problem solving expertise. She is focused, has integrity and discretion, and enjoys a well-earned reputation for reliability. She is of good character; trustworthy; is someone in whom you can be confident; is someone with whom colleagues can work well. Moreover, she is also a good and decent person.

All of these attributes in addition to her considerable experience make her the candidate of choice for the job. Period.

Throughout my own life, I have known people who’ve made an undisputed impact in the lives of others; people who will long be remembered for having made a tangible difference through their service to others. Nadine Hanlon is one of those people.

Much more could be written here at the risk of losing the most important part of what needs to be said: Nadine Hanlon is extremely dedicated to her vocation and has proven herself to be an invaluable asset to the County of Orleans and its citizens. Simply put, public service and service to others are her calling. It is obvious she has so much to offer. The County of Orleans is indeed lucky to have Nadine Hanlon and will be a better place because of her.

It is my privilege and honor to endorse Nadine Hanlon for Orleans County Clerk– the Republican endorsed candidate and the candidate endorsed by Senator Robert Ortt.

Vote integrity, leadership, professionalism and experience. Vote Hanlon.

Christopher M. Busch

Medina

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Editor:

I would like to ask that all Shelby voters to join our family and friends in voting for Craig Stalker as a write-in candidate for Councilman for the Town of Shelby.

Being born and raised in Shelby, Craig would like to serve the residents on the Town Board. We know he will have the best interests of the residents while keeping spending and our taxes down.

Craig’s father (the late Dale Stalker) served many years on the Shelby Town Board. Craig’s dad instilled the values of the town in him at an early age. Therefore he would like to follow in his father’s footsteps working for the people of the Town of Shelby.

We know Craig will do a great job therefore we are asking you to join us in supporting Craig Stalker by writing his name on the ballot for Councilman of the Town of Shelby.

Sincerely,

Sharlene Pratt

Medina

Editor:

I have always thought very proudly of myself as an educator. Although I was only a teacher by trade for 16 years, deep down inside I have always been and always will be a teacher.

As you mature and evolve into an adult with a compassion for shared learning experiences and a commitment to fostering academic excellence in your students you are constantly invigorated by their successes, as well as their challenges. It is truly the greatest profession to which you might aspire; it is an honor to be an educator.

I mention this not that the intent of this letter is to be about me, but it is about how truly valuable a quality educational experience is at any level, in any community and at any time in history.

Very sadly and very honestly when I awoke the morning of November 9, 2016, I was overcome with the realization that the public educational system of the United States had failed us. And I felt guilty and ashamed because despite our best efforts to educate and enlighten our students; ignorance had won, and America had lost.

It is inconceivable to me that any woman could have voted for POTUS in 2016 or could so again in 2020 as he is a misogynist who treats women as chattel. In the same way, I cannot believe that any African American or member of any ethnic minority group could support him knowing that he is a racist autocrat who has put your children in cages and unapologetically embraces radical White Supremist terrorists like the Proud Boys.

Although I had not been a teacher for quite some time, in 2016 I felt personally guilty that the national electorate had failed our nation and elected a President who lacks integrity and dishonors the truth with impunity.

It does not take a constitutional scholar to know that this man was not who our Founding Fathers had envisioned in their design of this great nation.

Socrates, who was among the greatest of the Ancient Greek philosophers, believed that knowledge was the ultimate virtue, best used to help people improve their lives. He wrote that “The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance.”

It is imperative today and always that we use our gift of the ballot for good and be proud that as an educated populace we are empowered to reject the evils of ignorance; even when found in residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

RBG ut vos RIP.

Doug Miller

Albion

Editor:

If you look on the Orleans Hub Letters to the Editor, you will see a letter written by Pat Eick. This is why we need change in the Town of Shelby. Her letter is highly inaccurate.

Not only was Ryan Wilkin’s application turned in past the deadline that it was due, but Pat Eick (Republican Committee Chairperson) was not even present at the time of the interviews. So my question is how can she talk as if she was there first hand and knows how the interviews went with each candidate?

From what I was told at the interview before I left from the committee “just so you know there is another interview from an application that was turned in tonight.” So was it that Mr. Wilkins interview went better than mine or was it the result of a friend doing a friend a favor without the community’s best interests in mind? It clearly has nothing to do with him being the stronger candidate.

If the Shelby Republican Committee would have done a little research, they would have found out that Ryan Wilkins has many views which are contrary to many members on the Town Board. He was a registered Democrat from 12/13/05-3/2020 and then changed to non-affiliated from 3/2020-6/30/20 when he changed to Republican effective 6/30/2020.

Not only that but there seems to be some confusion amongst the Shelby Republican Committee from the Letter to the Editor from Pat Eick. She claimed Mr. Wilkins was chosen to fill the vacancy due to Kenneth Schaal’s passing, but that wasn’t the case. The position that was open, was Jeff Smith (Councilman) being he moved to Town Supervisor after the Supervisor resigned

FYI, the Hub must have been notified because they edited the article rather than leave it and post a whole new article. Is this the direction you want to see our Town moving towards? People that hold elected office that are unsure of what’s going on?

Also I think it’s important that the Town of Shelby residents know where Mr. Wilkins stood on the following proposal from a few years back.

Mr. Wilkins was a big advocate of the dissolution of Medina (One Medina) which would’ve merged Ridgeway, Medina and Shelby, as can be seen in many of his posts on social media.

This would’ve had a huge impact on our community by raising property taxes for anyone outside the village (Shelby & Ridgeway), and could have resulting in lose our police department, losing  our paid Village Fire Department and losing our ambulance service.

Those are just a few of the things we would be impacted by in our community and we can’t have someone sitting on the board that thinks let’s just throw the burden onto those people in the Towns neighboring the Village of Medina.

Instead of dissolving our Village I myself think we need to continue to find ways to share services and cut costs with the Village of Medina. I’ve been a registered Republican for the past 18 years or since I was able to register. I will always consider all views from everyone in the community when making a decision and will always try to make the best decisions for the Town of Shelby. We have to preserve the values, land and the community that makes us who we are as Town of Shelby residents!

Craig Stalker

Write-in candidate Shelby Town Councilperson

(Editor’s Note: Eick contacted the Orleans Hub soon after her letter was posted and apologized for making a mistake about the vacancy, which was then corrected to say the seat was open due to Jeff Smith being appointed town supervisor.)

Editor:

I would like to take a moment to thank the former Highway Superintendent for shedding light on the diverse responsibilities of the position. As the Supervisor of Holley’s Department of Public Works, I agree experience matters.

As a former contractor I was responsible for budgets, bidding, equipment purchases, personnel and leadership. You get up pre-dawn lace up your boots and set the tone for the day and often work late after dinner preparing for the next day. In the end there is no better education than risking your own home to build a successful business. You understand that it’s your employees who make it happen. Mutual trust and respect are earned in time and it takes management and employee cooperation to succeed.

I also interviewed for the Murray Highway Superintendent endorsement. The underlying theme of the interview was experience. The questions were direct and all business. They were interested in experience in roads, water and leadership qualities.

Mr. Morgan repeatedly acknowledges experience matters. From Dennis Mandigo’s 20 years of experience to the Town of Murray employees with “the operational skills and “experience” to maintain the high level of service that you, the residents, have come to expect and deserve.”

It is the years of practical, hands on, highway project experience that train an individual, allowing him to accumulate the wisdom and gain the knowledge to be able to most effectively LEAD and administer a highway department.

When you go to the polls on November 3rd, elect a highway Superintendent who understands the inner workings of the highway business from the ground up. Someone who will lead the Department with the experience learned over decades in the industry. Someone who understands the administration as well as the operational requirements with a proven track record.

David Nenni

Superintendent of Public Works, Holley

Editor:

As in his personal life, Trump’s driven US into deep debt (and Illness). Current targets: the Vote and Post Office.

As former GOP strategist and Bush appointee, Rick Wilson, entitled his book, “Everything Trump Touches Dies.”  Very harsh and maybe not everything.  But … 4 bankruptcies, hurting and destroying many subcontractors, investors, workers.

He has 28 major business failings, with the same trail of destruction. He couldn’t even make it at gambling and selling booze.

He has a record of dodging taxes, fines, debts, commitments, the Army, marriage, family responsibilities.

He’s apparently personally $400 million in debt.

Now, he’s driven this country into unbelievable debt (with no discernible plan to change things) and with huge tax cuts that further enriched the super-rich.

He’s polarized genders, races, police, religions, classes, the military.

He defies scientists and his own advisors. He gambled on Covid, choosing business over health, and failed both. Just like he did in Atlantic City, now he’s failed not only business, but lives as well.  We’re 1/5 of both deaths and cases in world, but we’re only 1/18th of the world population.

Now he’s attacking the vote and the U.S. Postal Service.

He’s hampering voting, using a $20 million fund to sue states trying to make voting safer, especially for elders.

He’d crush the US Postal Service, started by Benjamin Franklin, with 245 years of service. another show of disrespect for elders, and voters, and history.

Maybe Wilson is right: Everything he touches dies, or kills? And worse, he doesn’t seem to care.

Bob and Marg Golden

Waterport

Editor:

I am writing this in letter to highlight one of the candidates for Orleans County Clerk, Nadine Hanlon.

As this election season has unfolded and I had the unique opportunity to hear each candidate in the race for county clerk give their “sales pitch.” In my opinion Nadine is the most prepared for the position and is poised to make it a more efficient and effective office. She was the only candidate to share a vision to improve access to services and take the office to the next level.

I encourage voters to check out the resume Nadine has built over her career – it’s quite impressive. In brief, she has an education beyond a Bachelor’s degree, she has served in many volunteer roles, and has held countless leadership positions.

Nadine is certainly not the “Know Nothing” her opponent’s mailer would lead you to believe. Only desperate and inferior politicians with contemptible campaign managers distribute such repugnant propaganda.

Nadine has run her campaign absent a campaign manager and absent negativity. The fact that a county clerk candidate would even need a campaign manager calls into question the candidate’s long-term suitability for the job. Nadine is truly an honorable person who has let her achievements, abilities, and leadership experience stand up on their own.

While both candidates have been Orleans County employees for a significant amount of time, only Nadine was named “Employee of the Year” by her peers… Your choice for county clerk really is a simple decision to make.

Chris Caufield

Clarendon

Editor:

I am writing to urge support for Shelby Town Council candidate Ryan Wilkins. Ryan has been a Village of Medina resident for 47 of the last 49 years, and Ryan has been a resident of the Town of Shelby for 45 of the last 49 years.

The Shelby Town Board has not had a Village of Medina resident as a member since 2017. When interviewed here is what the committee saw in Ryan:

• Being a Village of Medina resident, Ryan would be able to share with the Town Board a village perspective.

• Ryan does not have any family members seated on the current Town Board.

• Ryan would like to expand the current “shared services” with the village and other area municipalities (water savings, shared fuel farm, cooperation of labor force).

• Ryan would like to ensure the best value is received from the money taxpayers pay in taxes to the Town of Shelby.

• Ryan would like to explore enhancing resident’s services without creating additional tax burden.

• Ryan would like to explore the creation of a regional ambulance service by enhancing the services provided by the Village of Medina.

These are a few of the many reasons Ryan received the Republican endorsement from the Shelby Republican Committee.

Skip Draper

Medina

Former Shelby Republican Chairman

Editor:

There are Republicans I would have voted for over Joe Biden, but I would never vote for a person who, in my view, is as depraved as Donald Trump.

Reading Judge Punch’s recent letter was encouraging, though not particularly surprising. How about that? Another Republican—along with Mitt Romney, John Kasich, Bill Weld and numerous others—with courage.

Our accidental, aberrational President is deplorable as a leader. It sickens me to think teens such as the ones I had the pleasure to work with for decades are hearing some of his rhetoric dressed up as “tweets”.  He referred to the highly respected Dr. Fauci as an “idiot” not long ago. That wasn’t strange enough, so he called someone else a “dumb (read a synonym for a child without an acknowledged father)”.

As a Democrat whose nephew is a deputy sheriff, I am offended by the notion that Joe Biden wants to “defund” the police because less than one-tenth of one percent are “bad apples” of one sort or another.  No one I know—black, white, or brown—thinks most in law enforcement are evil. I rarely miss an opportunity to thank those doing conscientious law enforcement for the dangerous work they do.

Heaven forbid that Donald Trump performs as President the way he runs his business ventures.  He will never pay our Nation’s bills any more than he has his own and will likely bankrupt the Nation the way he has so many of his businesses. My condolences to anyone who has ever worked for Mr. Trump expecting to be paid. Good luck getting paid if you ever do any work for Mr. Trump.

Isn’t it swell that he puts corporate lobbyists and those with histories of polluting and otherwise destroying the environment in charge of our regulatory agencies? (Of course, he could not do so without a complicit United States Senate to approve his appointments.) The environmental groups I support leave no doubt about which candidate is preferable if we are to save the planet.

But none of what people such as Judge Punch, Joe Gehl, Doug Miller, and I say makes any difference if voters use the cover of the secret ballot to reinstall a President who believes he is above the law and money is everything.

Your readers will have to look at themselves in their mirrors and think of some line of baloney to give their children and grandchildren should any of them ever ask how such a con man got elected President—twice!

Sincerely,

Gary Kent

Albion