Retired colonel: I am one of Trump’s ‘suckers.’ He’s a threat to our nation

Trump’s GOP

As a former life-long Republican, I’ve concluded the Republican Party is no longer the party of national security. I speak as a retired Marine colonel with 33 years of active and reserve service. I am one of Donald Trump’s “suckers.”

I fought in Vietnam and was mobilized during the first Persian Gulf War.

The estrangement from the Republican Party started with the George W. Bush administration. One thing I’ve learned is that we can’t kill our way to victory. American influence around the globe is a combination of our military power, economic prowess, and the esteem in which we’re held by fellow nations.

Trump is an existential threat to our nation. He is ignorant on many issues and refuses to learn. His bullying, disrespect and dishonesty are unconscionable. The GOP should be banished to the hinterlands for keeping silent.

The Democratic Party is far from perfect in the arena of national security, but the party and its candidates are the far better alternative.

John R. Booth, Cary

Gun buying

Far from “Donald Trump’s fake fear” (Sept. 3 Editorial), people buying guns at a rate 145 percent that of last year are responding to antifa-fueled rioting, at least 19 leftist cities either cutting police budgets or considering it, and the “Ferguson effect,” wherein police, persecuted for enforcing laws, avoid making arrests. The result is exploding homicide.

New gun buyers finally realize what we’ve said for decades: the police can’t protect you. That includes in Raleigh, where a business owner reporting arson told a TV station: “We called 911. We got nothing …(The dispatcher) said we will not send anybody out if it’s going to put our people in danger. …I said, ‘look I don’t think y’all understand, we’re not calling for the fun of it. There is three blazes going on across the street. There are people that live around these houses.’”

Does that really sound like “desperate fiction”?

F. Paul Valone, Raleigh

Poll workers

Regarding “Some North Carolina counties struggle to recruit poll workers.” (Sept. 7):

I understand from this article and the Wake County Board of Elections that in most counties, poll workers who work during early voting are required to work “every weekday and several weekend days from Oct. 15 to 31.” In a time when there is a pandemic and a shortage of workers, does this make sense?

I, too, am concerned about the impending shortage of poll workers and so signed up to work. Given that I have a full-time job, I offered to work some weekdays and weekend days during the early voting period. I was told that working early voting was an “all or none” decision.

Requiring that early voting poll workers work all weekdays selects for retired people who are older and more susceptible to COVID complications. This policy should be reconsidered for health and safety reasons, and to get younger people involved in the process.

Michael Soboeiro, Raleigh

Sen. Thom Tillis

President Trump is spreading more lies and misleading statements by telling N.C. voters to vote twice, a practice that is against the law.

It is disturbing to hear those words from a president, but even more disturbing is that our senator, Thom Tillis, has not condemned Trump’s comments.

Everyone needs to vote in this election. And we need to elect people who truly care about our state and our country.

Ellen Reeves, Raleigh

Abortion

Columnist Justin Perry gave a masterful critique of the hypocrisy of pro-life advocates in his article “What a pro life false prophet looks like” (Sept. 8 Opinion). He exerts a truly Christian perspective in noting the lack of consistent follow-up for forced births and for a number of related healthcare matters. No one advocates abortion, but we cannot ignore the unintended consequences of unwanted births. Our community needs a comprehensive plan for the issue of unwanted pregnancies, not a religion-based shaming.

Robert M. Edwards, Cary

Thanks, strangers

Regarding “Trail emergencies,” (Sept. 6 Forum):

I am the woman who had the bike accident Aug. 30 on the American Tobacco Trail. I wanted to add that although it took emergency personnel quite some time to respond, it took no time at all for bikers, walkers, runners, adults and kids to stop to aid me and my friend.

Folks were quick to offer water, cool towels, or their cellphones. Many, including the letter writer, spent a beautiful Sunday morning staying with us until EMTs arrived. Then, they helped my friend get our bikes up to the park so her husband could get them home.

With so many negative stories in the news, I wanted to highlight the goodness that exists in the hearts of strangers who take time to help others on an otherwise beautiful Sunday at the ATT. Thank you to all who helped.

Christine Qubeck, Apex