Donald Trump is a cult leader who continues to engage in corruption and supports The Big Lie

To the editor: Donald Trump has finally been indicted for his horrific attempt to destabilize our democracy on January 6, 2021.

It’s an important step toward accountability and I’m thankful that our legal system is working as intended. But, it’s hard to feel any relief when Republicans in Congress are even now actively trying to enshrine Trump’s crimes into law. 

Former Guy Trump arrives for a campaign rally to preach about "The Big Lie", in Erie, Pennsylvania. 

(Sue Ogrocki / Associated Press)

The American Confidence in Elections Act should be called the Big Lie Act, since it will finish what Trump started.

If passed, it would make it easier for dishonest politicians to challenge election results, increase the corporate and dark money influence in our elections, disenfranchise millions of voters, block states from running voter registration programs and empower the spread of disinformation. It is designed to help Donald Trump regain power, despite his indictments.

The fact that Trump has been charged with a whole list of new, serious crimes, along with all his other indictments and convictions shows us once again that the former president and his MAGA enablers in the House are a grave threat to our democracy and our country.

Trump in courtroom before magistrate

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We deserve and demand fair, free and open elections, not shameless power grabs and endless corruption.

Ken Rosen, Beverly Hills, California

Ukrainians are justifiably proud about President Volodymyr Zelensky

President Zelensky gets standing ovation after speech to Congress:

Full transcript in The New York Times.

"Your money is not charity,” President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine told Congress on Wednesday, "but rather an investment in “global security and democracy". 

Echo opinion published in the Los Angeles Times: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky showed American politicians what patriotism looks like.

By Paul Thornton the Los Angeles Times letter editor:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s speech to Congress on Wednesday (December 21, 2022) didn’t please everyone. 

A few cynics weren’t thrilled that he showed up to the White House and on Capitol Hill looking like, well, a commander in chief fighting a war. (Hello? Zelensky had just left the front lines of the Ukraine, handing out medals to the country's brave defenders!) 

I’ll tell you who Zelensky’s speech pleased: our readers. 

In fact, several readers wrote letters comparing him favorably to Winston Churchill and other wartime heroes. A handful made unfavorable comparisons — but only of certain American politicians to Zelensky. Perhaps that helps explains the quibbles over the Ukrainian president’s fashion choices.

Presudent Zelensky had been with the Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines of the waar, just one day before leaving for Washington D.C. to speak to the U.S. Congress.

To the editor: The president of Ukraine showed the world what a true hero looks like. This short, slightly chubby comedian is truly a man among men.

What isn’t widely known is that although he could justifiably declare that he will stay in power indefinitely, he isn’t doing that.

Zelensky models to us all courage, perseverance and humility. 

If all our leaders in the U.S. would emulate these qualities, the ideals of the American dream could come to fruition.

We can be proud that this brave man is keeping his eye on the star, and with the help of the U.S. and other allies, he is sure to achieve his objective.

From Barbara H. Bergen, in Los Angeles

And this....To the editor: As I listened to Zelensky’s speech, my first thought was what could have happened in Afghanistan after the U.S. withdrawal if President Ashraf Ghani had stayed and united his country, as Zelensky did, instead of fleeing.

Had he stood with his citizens, worked to implement a peaceful transition and showed the world Afghanistan was strong, Afghanistan could now have a totally different outcome where women could go to school and have stronger employment.
Zelensky inspired; Ghani fled.

From  Debbie Cassettari, in Chino Hills, California

To the editor: Yes, Zelensky was able to address a joint session of Congress with an impassioned and insightful speech, and in a foreign language for him.

Yes, he has been able to represent his country to the world, with dignity and gravitas, despite his youth and diplomatic inexperience.

And yes, he has been able to inspire and guide Ukraine through the most difficult circumstances imaginable.

But let’s not forget the very first days of the war. Intelligence services warned of a quick and decisive Russian victory. No one would have criticized Zelensky for seeking safety and setting up a government in exile, considering the danger and his responsibilities to his wife and young children.

Yet in the face of a massive Russian army, assassination squads and mercenaries, he chose to stay in Kyiv, exhibiting extraordinary courage.

Ukrainian courage!

To all the evil Republicans who still adhere to the Trump-Putin axis and celebrate the “brave patriots” who overwhelmed an outnumbered U.S. Capitol Police force to invade and defile the heart of our democracy on January 6, 2021, I suggest you consider the Ukrainian president to learn the meaning of true bravery and patriotism.

One thing is for sure: You will hear no claims of heel spurs from Volodymyr Zelensky.

From Joel Jaffe, Beverly Hills, California



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Los Angeles Times - Trump is a failed human being

If Trump remains a bully, John McCain's funeral won't be the last he isn't invited to

Echo opinion letter published in The Los Angeles Times:

To the editor: Well, what do you know? It seems the president (Drumpf!) may be human after all, as he is reportedly “deeply wounded” by having been excluded from Sen. John McCain’s funeral and other momentous events at which grace, decorum and compassion are called for.
What did President Trump expect? To continue without consequence bullying and humiliating people in his attempt to cover up his bottomless well of insecurities and feelings of inferiority, unconscious though they may be?

We reap what we sow, Mr. President. And even if he were familiar with this basic truth, he’d think it didn’t apply to him.

Carol P. Surface, Beverly Hills CA

MaineWriter- IMO, Donald Trump is a failed human being.  He can't muster the dignity to behave with decorum in the face of national tragedies, proven with Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and in his callous call to the brave widow of the Green Beret La David Johnson: "Trump did disrespect my son and my daughter and also me and my husband," Jones-Johnson said (reported in The Washington Post)....Trump made comments that upset the widow. Rep. Frederica S. Wilson (Fla.) says Trump told Myeshia Johnson that her husband, Sgt. La David T. Johnson, “knew what he signed up for.” Appearing on MSNBC's “Morning Joe”, Wilson added that the widow was in tears after the call and lamented that Trump “didn't even remember his name.”