Jake Angeli is the ugly symbol of The Former Guy's cult to destroy democracy

Unchecked! The Former Guy intended to destroy democracy.

Echo opinion letter published in the Idaho Statesman in Boise, ID

Jake Angeli, of Phoenix AZ, had been on the list of persons the Metropolitan Police of Washington D.C. arrested after the deadly siege of the U.S. Capitol building on January 6, 2021, by supporters of The Former Guy.

Indeed, The Former Guy went too far.  At the end of his failed term as the former president, he even tried to overthrow the American government! 

• Unchecked, revoked security clearances for everyone who opposed him. 
• Unchecked, he called for the shutdown of a free press. 
• Unchecked, he focused on how to divide Americans. 

In fact, the  Trump "beer hall" style rallies risked putting the First Amendment in grave danger, as he called for attacks on everyone who did not support him. 

Judge Ellis needed U.S. Marshals to protect him because he was receiving threats over the Manafort case. 

Although the United States is supposed to be a free country. Yet, Trump and his cronies were turning it into a dictatorship. 

Unfortunately the 33 percent of those interviewed who could not name any of the First Amendment rights, are equal to the percent of intransient cultists who blindly obey The Former Guy.

Our Constitution sets out the checks and balances of the three branches of our government. Where were our Republican representatives during this four years of unchecked tyranny? 

In fact, Republicans are supposed to be the checks and balances of government. The Former Guy intended to weaken the Legislative and Judicial branches of government and empower the Executive branch. 

There is no longer a democracy when all three branches are complicit and corrupt. Donald Trump is corrupt. His intention was to weaken the two branches of America's government, while destroying the checks and balances that have worked in the past. 

Trumpziism wanted to see the "land of the free" to look like the land of tyranny and corruption. 

A free press is essential for a democracy!

Joan Ehrnstein, Meridian, Idaho

Captain Crozier is a metaphor for competent leadership: "What would Captain Crozier do?"

An echo opinion letter published in the Idaho Statesman newspaper:

Thank you Captain Crozier

To The Editor: When Captain Brett Crozier of the USS Theodore Roosevelt put his career on the line by identifying a problem and thereby saving his men from potential danger, he demonstrated genuine leadership.

Addressing problems through the “chain of command” could result in delay, indecision, or paralysis. Ostensibly, few leaders would be willing to upset this administration initially bent on denying any COVID 19 problem. As a former naval officer, I greatly admired and respect Captain Crozier’s courage to sound whatever alarms he deemed necessary to communicate the severity of the situation.

As a high ranking career naval officer, (and a U.S. Naval Academy graduate) he was well aware of the probable negative consequences of his action. Nevertheless, his concern for the well being of his men on the USS Theodore Roosevelt superseded any personal ambition of his.

Respect and loyalty from the crew were the result of his honorable leadership.

Regrettably , the captain of our ship of state (stupid Donald Trump) has no such moral conviction. This nation can observe two distinctly different leadership traits. Which type will this nation applaud, emulate or ultimately reward.

From Jim Franklin, Meridian Idaho