1/29 Letters: Impeachment deck may be stacked against Democrats, but let the truth out

Truth matters

Regarding Jay Ambrose “Democrats get free TV ad with Trump trial,” (Jan. 25 Opinion):

I realize the N&O tries to be fair and balanced when presenting political views, but Jay Ambrose ignored or discounted countless administration witnesses who testified to the evidence Ambrose says is not there.

These witnesses are honorable citizens of this country, appointed by this administration. These very witnesses testified that the president demanded the announcement of an investigation into Hunter Biden, but did not care if the investigation was conducted.

It makes no difference if the deck is stacked against the Democrats getting a fair trial and enough votes to convict the president. I does matter that the American people get to see in detail the evidence of his misconduct. The truth does matter.

Bruce Sharer, Raleigh

Trump’s defense

Some Forum writers have said that President Trump is legitimately using his powers to deal with corruption in Ukraine. If that were the case, he could easily clear it up by releasing documents and witnesses.

He has no defense other than distraction, and what he is doing is obvious to everyone. We shall shortly see whether president Trump’s corruption has infected the entire Republican Party.

Adams Wofford, Durham

Balance of power

These Senate impeachment proceedings will define for a long time whether what President Trump has done, both in his interactions with Ukraine and in withholding of testimony and documents from the House, is constitutional.

I hope the Senate recognizes that with future administrations too much power in the administrative branch, either Democrat or Republican, can be bad for the country. It was not long ago that the Republicans were complaining about Obama’s use of executive orders.

The current administration seems to have moved the boundary so that much more power is given to the executive branch.

Janet Wolf, Garner

NC senators

At some point Sens. Richard Burr and Thom Tillis will have to take this impeachment proceeding seriously. At some point they will have to stay in chambers instead of running off to Fox News to whine about whatever tiny outrage they feel.

At some point senators will have to stop napping and playing with fidget spinners. At some point they will have to do their constitutional duty and ask for all the information, and then look at it objectively instead of with the obvious bias some have. I hope that point will be today.

It’s not too late for Sens. Burr and Tillis to put their country first.

Jennifer Johnson, Raleigh

Mark Meadows

US Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina sat in on all 17 House impeachment hearings. He said one of the benefits of asking questions of witnesses and “seeing the verbal and non-verbal cues is that you have a full context of what was said, what was meant.”

Why then, won’t Republicans allow any testimony from the major actors in the Ukraine affair? If hearing witnesses adds to one’s understanding, why refuse to hear them?

It is because Republicans believe that Trump is above the law. Otherwise, they would demand witnesses and documents. But they won’t, and I am afraid, as U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff so succinctly stated, we are lost.

Laurie McDowell, Raleigh

McDougald Terrace

Regarding “Durham housing CEO given raise, $15,000 bonus days before McDougald Terrace evacuation,” (Jan. 16):

Anthony Scott, chief executive officer of the Durham Housing Authority, should return his bonus and maybe half of his salary for not doing the job he is paid to do. And, he should go live in an apartment at McDougald Terrace until they are fixed.

He is a disgrace to the DHA and to Durham.

Donna Corbett, Sanford

Emergency vehicles

On Dec. 19 I rode in the front of an ambulance while my mother lay in the back. We traveled through Hertford and Bertie Counties to the hospital. I counted at least five vehicles whose drivers refused to move off the road for the ambulance. According to the ambulance driver, this is a frequent occurrence. My mother had fallen; she died early the next morning.

To those of you who do not clear the road for emergency vehicles: Shame on you. Not only is it state law to move over for emergency vehicles, it’s the decent thing to do. Someone you love could be in that ambulance. Someday it might be you.

I would like to see cameras installed on the front of emergency vehicles to record the selfish individuals who refuse to comply with this law. I would like to see these people fined and issued points on their driver’s license.

Kay Barber Evans, Chocowinity