THE WASHINGTON TIMES

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Spencer made own bed

U.S. Navy Secretary Richard Spencer chose poorly when he decided to argue with the commander in chief about Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher. He chose to punish a decorated warfighter for taking a picture that thousands of in-theater vets and news photographers have taken in every war; and he chose to cross swords with the president and the secretary of Defense.

November 25, 2019

EDITORIAL: Kanye West’s journey of Christian faith is worth joining

"The darker the night, the brighter the stars." So said Dostoevsky, and as the nation gropes through the murky era of recrimination marked by presidential impeachment, Kanye West's invitation to join in his dazzling affirmation of faith is lighting up the buzzsphere. Detractors, perhaps blinded by the light, say it's all about the Benjamins. To the contrary, it's all about new beginnings.

November 24, 2019

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Stifling speech is undemocratic

As an academic and scholar, I was saddened to read of the efforts by some to prevent Ann Coulter from speaking at the University of California, Berkeley ("Ann Coulter 'Adios, America!' speech spurs protests, arrests at Cal-Berkeley," Web, Nov. 21). The essence of democracy is the willingness to hear and debate alternative points of view, regardless of whether we agree with them. Universities, as bastions of academic scholarship and creative thinking, should be the last place on Earth to ban anyone with different perspectives from expressing those perspectives. It is the willingness to conceive of and discuss ideas outside the spectrum of conventional thinking that propels humanity forward. I fear for our society as we dangerously censor and abuse people who disagree with us instead of civilly debating them. This is what happens in fascist dictatorships, not in true democracies.

November 24, 2019

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Truman made best possible choice

While I usually agree with Andrew Napolitano, his claim in "The dangers of a Trump imperial presidency" (Web, Nov. 21) that President Truman "killed hundreds of thousands of innocent Japanese civilians at Hiroshima and Nagasaki" needs context.

November 24, 2019

EDITORIAL: Medicare For All takeover of U.S. health care hotly contested at Democratic debate

Just as it had been in each of the four previous 2020 Democratic presidential debates, the proposed Medicare For All takeover of the nation's health care and health insurance systems was hotly contested in their fifth face-off Wednesday night in Atlanta.

November 21, 2019

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: State Dept. ruined relations

George Kent, deputy assistant secretary at the State Department, alledgedly overheard a July 26 phone call between President Trump and Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland, in which the two discussed investigations that President Trump wanted Ukraine to pursue. Mr. Kent also said Mr. Trump told Mr. Sondland that Mr. Trump didn't care about Ukraine.

November 21, 2019

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Financial ‘statement’ unlikely

If you believe President Trump will release his financials prior to the election, I shall sell you a used car as new or even a government-financed bridge in New York ("Trump promises to release 'statement' on his finances before electio" Web, Nov. 21). As is true of most billionaires, the finances of Mr. Trump present a picture of legal tax evasion, and in his case a history of failed financial efforts. While neither of these should disqualify him for running for or holding office, their disclosure would remove any picture of invincibility.

November 21, 2019

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Trump, not Obama, gave real aid

Democrats keep focusing on the negative effects of the Trump delay in providing aid to Ukraine, but they forgot that first, when Russia invaded the Crimea region, then President Obama did not offer any real assistance to Ukraine.

November 21, 2019

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Release whistleblower info now

What Rep. Adam Schiff is hiding reveals the truth ("Democrats' star witness shoots down 'bribery,' cover-up claims," Web, Nov. 19). Mr. Schiff's witness, Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, an obvious anti-Trumper, showed his illusions of grandeur by saying: "I am the director for Ukraine. I'm responsible for Ukraine. I'm the most knowledgeable. I'm the authority for Ukraine for the National Security Council and the White House." Mr. Vindman complained about "outside Influencers" interfering with his work.

November 20, 2019

EDITORIAL: Buzz plus blather doesn’t add up to impeachment

A straightforward message can emerge unintelligible when whispered around a circle. Much more distorting than a children's game, apparently, is the free-flowing art of diplomacy. Destruction-minded Democrats hope to deploy disagreements over every murmur and recollection of a phone call to evict President Trump from the White House. Reasonable people may disagree over meaning, but only the senseless would angle for impeachment.

November 20, 2019

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Stop making up crimes

So Roger Stone was convicted of lying to Congress ("Roger Stone criminal trial attended by a parade of 'alt-right' personalities," Web, Nov. 17). Wait a minute — I thought a "liar" who was convicted of lying to liars was forgiven for 1,000 years.

November 20, 2019

EDITORIAL: Michael Bloomberg, Deval Patrick make 2020 Democratic presdeintial field denser, loopier

What does it say about the Democratic presidential field of 18 (give or take) wannabes still vying for the party's 2020 nomination when two more are only now jumping into the race, just days ahead of the fifth candidates' debate on Wednesday night [Nov. 20] in Atlanta?

November 19, 2019

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Equality least likely in socialism

Just after participating in the writing and signing of the U.S. Constitution, Benjamin Franklin was asked what sort of government the Founders had made. He is said to have responded, "A republic, if you can keep it." Recent events and trends suggest we may be losing it. But public schools no longer teach history, logic or critical thinking, so people don't know what they don't know -- and don't know what that means.

November 19, 2019

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Obama, Clinton and real meddling

If you can't find anything wrong, simply make something up and put it on national TV nonstop. That's what passes for principle with Washington Democrats, anyway, and those who have never read the Ten Commandments, as they seek revenge on our startlingly successful president.

November 19, 2019

EDITORIAL: Beijing eroded Hong Kong’s freedoms, now protesters want self-determination

The Chinese government may have succeeded in ensuring that the protests wracking Hong Kong have not spread outwards onto the Mainland. But one thing is for certain: Many months into the anti-Beijing demonstrations that have riled the capitalist entrepot, Beijing has manifestly failed to pacify Hong Kong. Indeed, if nothing else, the protests against Communist rule appear only to be gaining in intensity, if not size.

November 18, 2019

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Student-athlete pay a bad idea

Dennis Lennox makes no case for paid student athletes ("College should pay student athletes," Web, Nov. 17). OK, big-time college sports result in millionaire coaches, super-successful athletic-gear makers and big income from TV — without easing skyrocketing tuition costs for other students. But those facts don't justify making a few student athletes professionals.

November 18, 2019

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: British deep state exists, too

There is significant media speculation about the existence and the power of a deep state in the United States and in other nations. Jed Babbin ("How politicians in U.S. and U.K. frustrate the will of the voters," Web, Nov. 18), attributes the British Brexit problems to members of Parliament and the media, while America's current difficulties result from those in government and the media who were and are horrified that Donald Trump was elected president.

November 18, 2019

Impeachment schedule

A look ahead at the week's scheduled impeachment inquiry testimony.

November 17, 2019

EDITORIAL: Trillions for solutions to global warming would punish the U.S. economy

Laughter may be the best medicine, but it likely won't heal the headaches endured by worryworts troubled over the state of nature. At a time when climate-change crusaders are struggling to maintain their hold on the public's concern for the cause, their earnest efforts are getting punked. Indignity is vexing, but at least it beats indifference.

November 17, 2019

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Youth need more value teachings

Sadly another mass shooting has happened at a school ("2 dead, several injured in California school shooting; gunman caught," Web, Nov. 14). As usual, there will be more time spent on the aftermath and little acknowledgement over the deep social roots, created over the past 40 years, that produce these senseless acts.

November 17, 2019