An assassination attempt appalls any sensible person. That aside, as a political matter, the last thing Democratic operatives want is for someone to point a gun at Donald Trump. Politicians gain sympathy points for attempts upon their lives. If an attempt succeeded, the GOP would put forward replacement candidates for president and vice president whom undecided and independent voters almost certainly would regard as preferable to Donald Trump and JD Vance.
Furthermore, as it is today, many people plan to vote for Trump because they can’t stand the Democratic Party, and many people plan to vote for Kamala Harris because they can’t stand Donald Trump.
If Donald Trump is gone, the Democratic Party will lose those votes.
— Jim Crispin, Wheaton
Claim of slander is laughable
It is extremely disturbing, and very frightening, that we’ve had another possible assassination attempt targeting Donald Trump. But he and his campaign staff are now blaming Democrats’ “rhetoric” for encouraging these incidents. That kind of talk is bold and incendiary in itself.
Trump calls Joe Biden “crooked Joe,” Hillary Clinton “crooked Hillary,” Kamala Harris “comrade Kamala” and Jack Smith “deranged Jack Smith.” He calls the free press the “enemy of the people.” He tried to overturn the 2020 election and caused Americans to lose faith in our electoral system. And he allegedly incited the Jan. 6 attack on our nation’s Capitol.
If he doesn’t like anyone calling him a threat to our democracy, then he should stop threatening our democracy. Because that is exactly what he is doing!
For Trump to cry that he’s being slandered when his whole campaign is based on the slandering of others is irony on steroids. Make no mistake. He is without a doubt a grave danger to this country and even the world. And we need to keep saying it!
— Judy Weik, Oak Park
An appeal Harris should make
Here’s what I wish we’d hear Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris say: “Folks, there is far too much anger and violence in society today and a great deal of it is connected to the current political moment. Tim Walz and I are now calling for anyone who is a supporter of any parts of the Democratic ticket to stop making any threats or engaging in violence or any intimidation of our opponents. That’s what they are, opponents, not enemies. We need to turn down the heat, and it’s up to the leaders in this country to do everything possible to reduce the level of anger and hatred. I call on Donald Trump and JD Vance to join me in making it crystal clear that they do not want or welcome or support any type of hatred or violence in defense of one point of view or one candidate. Those who engage in that type of behavior are not patriots, and they do not make this a greater country. We are one large community, and we need to act like good neighbors.”
— Charles Cole, Evanston
Similar to falsely yelling ‘fire’
How is it that Donald Trump and JD Vance have not been indicted for lies they have spread regarding legal immigrants and their eating habits in Springfield, Ohio? Clearly, their assertions are akin to falsely yelling “fire” in a crowded theater or calling in a fake bomb threat at a school.
Given these greatly divided and highly charged times, they have clearly put lives in danger, as well as disrupted schools and increased anxiety levels of the citizens, perhaps to a dangerous level. And yet they continue to persist in telling their lies, knowing they’re not true, as Vance has indicated. This is far too serious to be dismissed lightly.
— David Wieck, Batavia
Advice for the two candidates
It appears that virtually everyone in the world feels compelled to offer comments about our presidential race — even the pope. My advice for all is to mind your own business.
As far as the two candidates are concerned, my advice is: Republican nominee Donald Trump needs to smile more as he always appears to be mad at the world. Democratic nominee Kamala Harris needs to wipe that phony smile off her face and stop laughing at serious questions.
One final prediction: Trump has said, “There will be no third debate.” My prediction is that he really wants Harris to agree to debate him on Fox News, and if she does consent to that, he will agree to another debate. However, just as I don’t have much faith in polls, I don’t think we would learn much new if there is another debate.
So, on with the show.
— Dan Schuchardt, Glen Ellyn
Trump should hear himself
I find it laughable that the candidate who says, “There will be blood,” and who says he will imprison his enemies can now claim that the “left” is responsible for the attempts on his life. He claims their rhetoric is inflammatory. Perhaps he should replay some of his speeches and try listening to them.
— Joy Orlowsky, Northbrook
If Project 2025 becomes reality
A MAGA victory in the November election holds the real possibility that the oft-denied Project 2025 agenda developed by MAGA operatives to turn their grievances into policy would be the playbook used to govern.
Should Project 2025 be the new administration’s path to governing, even if only for the first six months in office, every part of our democracy could be destroyed.
The president would have absolute power without accountability. Tens of thousands of nonpartisan civil servants would be reclassified as political appointees under presidential control and replaced with MAGA loyalists. The Department of Justice and FBI would be directed by the president.
Dodd-Frank banking regulations would no longer be in place to protect against large bank failures.
The Department of Education would end, and public education money would be diverted to private and religious schools. Programs addressing climate change would end, and the Environmental Protection Agency would be weakened. Oil drilling, coal mining and natural gas extraction would be fast-tracked as regulations to reduce environmental harm would be removed. Big corporations and oil companies would be deregulated, given free reign to exploit at will. The U.S. would be removed from international climate agreements.
The Affordable Care Act would be repealed. Medicare and Medicaid would be privatized or end.
There would be more tax cuts for the rich and higher taxes for everyone else. Individual income tax would be two flat rates: 15% and 30%. The corporate tax rate would be slashed from 21% to 18%. Capital gains and dividends tax would be cut to 15%. Tariffs would result in a national sales tax. The retirement age would be raised for Social Security.
Project 2025 would gut labor rights and remove worker protections. It rejects the belief that abortion is health care, and a nationwide abortion ban with no exceptions would likely be imposed.
When you cast your vote in November’s election, give thought as to whether you want a MAGA or America’s brand of democracy going forward.
You can’t have both!
— Jerry Hanson, Elkhorn, Wisconsin
Trump-supporting candidates
The fourth estate owes it to the public to help hold political candidates accountable for their positions or silence on critical issues.
The earth-shattering silence of Republican candidates to their leader’s repeated attacks on immigrants should not be simply ignored. In the recent presidential debate, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump referred several times to millions of people pouring into our country. He said they come from “prisons and jails, from mental institutions and insane asylums,” that “they are taking over our towns. They’re taking over buildings. They’re going in violently. … And they’re destroying our country. They’re dangerous. They’re at the highest level of criminality, and we have to get them out.”
Candidates who identify with Trump should be asked, point-blank: “Do you agree with Mr. Trump on his virulent attacks on immigrants? Do you agree that millions of people are pouring into our country, even 21 million monthly, as he said, to be specific? Do you believe that immigrants are taking over our towns, eating our pets and destroying our country?”
Is it not time to push these candidates beyond their face-turning silence?
— The Rev. Martin Deppe, Chicago
Why amendment matters
Regarding the letter “Amendment’s historical context” (Sept. 19): When the Colonies went to war with England, their government didn’t issue its citizenry the latest military hardware and send them to boot camp. The people brought their own weapons, and they were the same as what the British troops had.
As for militias, the militias were every able-bodied male, and their reason for being was a counter to the power of the federal government. That would make no sense if they didn’t have arms comparable to federal forces.
We have always had millions of guns in our country. Our problem is that we have lost our moral grounding as a nation because we have marginalized religion in our culture. We discarded it as the remnants of a more primitive and unenlightened past, and we are discovering that we have lost our soul that bound our people together.
Our Founders noted in the Federalist Papers (No. 46) that the American people were “armed” and free, while the people in Europe were unarmed and ruled by kings.
— Larry Craig, Wilmette
Ignorant of political science
When you hear a candidate calling his rival a “Marxist, communist, fascist, socialist,” you know you are listening to someone who is completely ignorant of history and political science.
If you are comfortable with that type of individual having his hand on the nuclear codes and red button, then go right ahead and vote for Donald Trump!
— Jack Lieberman, Morton Grove
Vote to protect your rights
As we enter this election cycle, I encourage everyone to take the time to research the candidates on their ballot and make an informed choice. The stakes are high; your vote matters. People have died to protect our right to choose our leaders. Let’s not squander this opportunity. Vote and vote informed.
We live in the most amazing country in the world. America was built by immigrants seeking refuge from persecution and people just pursuing a better opportunity for themselves and their families. The Pledge of Allegiance states, “And to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” Let’s think about what that means. Let’s agree on certain inalienable rights, including:
- In this great county, our children should be free to go to school without fear of being shot or killed.
- Every woman should be free to control what happens in her own body. Government should not create laws that criminalize a woman’s health care decisions.
- Every citizen should be free to worship or not as they see fit.
- No one should be at risk for harm or death when being pulled over for a traffic stop.
- Every citizen should be able to earn a living wage that enables them to support themselves and/or their families.
The essence of the American Dream is that every man, woman or child has the chance to succeed by hard work and determination. We need leaders who support this ideal. We need leaders who are committed to defeating hate, racism and divisiveness.
I love America. I love the possibility and the reality of the American Dream. But it’s at risk. As we prepare for this election in November, we need to recognize that there are people sowing lies, hate and fear. They do not have your interests at heart, regardless of what they say. Rather, they are seeking to drive wedges between neighbors, friends and family members. They are seeking to take control and deny citizens their basic human rights. They are only interested in power and themselves.
As Americans, we are better than this discourse. We have more in common with each other than those who seek to divide us will admit.
If you love this amazing experiment called America, vote to protect your rights. Vote for candidates who support your ability to make your own decisions. Vote for a president who cares for you and your dreams.
— Sally Munn, Crystal Lake
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