12/8 Letters: Republicans like me are realizing Trump isn’t upholding party ideals
GOP and Trump
Lately, the truth that many Republicans like me are realizing is that our president is not upholding the ideals of our party and our country.
His administration violates duties of office with callous indifference. And President Trump expects Republicans to fall in line behind him, regardless.
I have been most appalled by the president’s mishandling of foreign policy matters — especially the Ukraine situation — and his conduct during the Mueller investigation.
His power must be checked by other Republicans. Congress must do its duty to bring forth all of the evidence so the country can move forward. We cannot repeat Watergate. It will set Republicans back 50 years.
Andy Nilsson, Winston-Salem
GOP candidate for NC lieutenant governor, 2000
The party line
In the impeachment debates, with all the posturing and grandstanding, both sides at least tacitly acknowledge that facts presented by multiple witnesses show the president did wrong. Democrats are trying to draw attention to those facts; Republicans are striving to hide them by diverting attention to something, anything, else.
It is most distressing that the difference between the parties, whether there should be any consequences for the president’s misdeeds, is so black and white. The real world has many shades of gray, and the all-or-none partisanship we are seeing indicates the driving force is not to find truth, but to win by any means and thereby hang on to power.
America would be better served if politicians earnestly strove to follow their consciences rather than just their party line.
Thomas Wolcott, Raleigh
Nothing to hide?
One has to wonder when so many Republicans “OK” with what President Trump has done, just what is “OK” with them? If the president has nothing to hide, why does he continue to hide by refusing his minions and himself to appear before the House committees, even after he asked to do so?
To paraphrase Shakespeare “There is something rotten in Denmark” I m afraid that there is a whole lot “rotten” in DC.
William C. Devereux, Raleigh
Duke Energy
Ned Barnett’s column explaining how Duke Energy is actually inhibiting the growth of renewable power while greatly expanding fossil fuels was right on target. Duke’s reply letter from NC President Stephen De May — bragging about their commitment to renewables — was predictable corporate propaganda that clashes head-on with the official forecast Duke must file with regulators.
In its latest 15-year Integrated Resource Plan filed in September, Duke projects to be 5 percent renewable in the Carolinas by next year. In 2033, Duke projects to be 8 percent renewable — which is under the national average for utilities.
Meanwhile, Duke projects to build nearly 12,000 megawatts of generation from natural gas during that period – the equivalent of 30 large power plants — at the very time that the world’s climate scientists demand we must be closing fossil fuel projects.
No wonder Duke spends tens of millions of customer dollars every year to make people think it’s a green corporation.
Jim Warren, Durham
Executive director, NC Warn
Trade talk
I am all for improving trade with China; there are imbalances and I applaud the administration for its effort. However, stop the daily “blarney.”
It’s areas like this that make the administration appear to be in chaos, for no good reason. One day they say the deal may not be done until after the election. The next day the deal is “looking good.” This has been going on for two years to varying degrees and the stock market goes up and down like a yo-yo in reaction.
Heed Teddy Roosevelt’s advice to “speak softly and carry a big stick.” Just say you’re working on it and will make an announcement when and if you have a deal, and we will all applaud. Mature organizations simply do not act like this!
Doug Jurney, Raleigh
Don’t cut history
After reading the Dec. 6 article about cutting history classes in favor of financial literacy for NC students, as a former teacher I have to ask what seems an obvious question: Why is this not a part of the math program?
It’s a “win-win” since dealing with financial aspects of life fall into the wheelhouse of mathematics rather than history, a subject that has been woefully neglected over the last few decades, as our country’s current situation shows. If you don’t learn from history, you’re doomed to repeat it.
Jeff Gorski, Chapel Hill
UNC, Silent Sam
Regarding “UNC students, faculty voice outrage by Silent Sam decision” (Dec. 5):
The gift of what amounts to public funds in the amount of $2.5 million to the N.C. Sons of the Confederacy reeks of incompetence, corruption and racism. It is significant that it was approved behind closed doors. I am afraid that our once proud, respected state university system is foundering under the poor leadership of the last several years.
Robert G. Harrison, Durham