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Friday's letters: Graham deserves a nation's thanks

 
Published July 29, 2016

Graham's persistence pays off | July 18, editorial

Graham owed a nation's thanks

Ideologically, I was not always on the same page as Bob Graham, whether he was serving as our governor or as our senator. Nevertheless, I always had — and still have — the utmost respect for him. As someone who no longer has any skin in the game (in other words, he is not running for office), I admire the fact that he is dogged in his efforts to ensure that we all know what connection, if any, the Saudis had to the 9/11 attacks. His motives are pure, and that is something we do not often see in these times.

I long for the days when the likes of Bob Graham walked the halls of Congress.

Bruce Barnes, Safety Harbor

Democratic convention

Unify to defeat Trump

As a 68-year-old lifetime Democrat and a Bernie Sanders supporter who wrote in May that I could never support Hillary Clinton and would write in Bernie's name on Election Day, I'm writing to state that after listening to Bernie at the convention, I will be voting for Hillary.

Bernie is right: The revolution that he helped create has just begun. What Bernie stands for is more than just Bernie. It's the taking back of our corrupt political system run by corporations, the wealthy and Wall Street. We the people who supported Bernie because of his ideas and honesty must not let Donald Trump and his friends take our country down the dark road he follows.

Bernie's right. We do have more in common with Hillary. That doesn't mean we should abandon our revolution. It means we should be watchful, use our voices when we need to be heard and work with Hillary to change the way of doing business in our political system.

It wasn't hard for me to come to this conclusion. Life is full of disappointments. We live in a democracy. Hillary got more votes. I hope Bernie's followers will think about what he has been saying and come to the same conclusion that I have.

James Harris, Wesley Chapel

A corrupt coronation

After jeering at the so-called negative, disorganized Republican convention, and after decrying GOP disunity, we are now treated to the spectacle of the Democrats and their second big email scandal. It's not enough that even the FBI thinks Hillary Clinton was extremely careless with her emails; we now find that the party itself has done its best to assure the coronation of their nominee by using emails to attack Bernie Sanders.

Amazingly, from the party that always defends minority rights and political correctness, we now see that Sanders' religion has been mentioned as a possible detriment to his nomination. Debbie Wasserman Schultz has accepted the blame, been relieved of chairing the convention and is in disgrace. Anyone who believes Clinton did not know about or approve this action is naive. Having been caught with their skulduggery exposed, the party of the big riggings wants to blame Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.

Helen Richard, Clearwater

Millions disenfranchised

For years the Democratic National Committee has accused the Republican National Committee of disenfranchising voters. The DNC now owns that lofty title by disenfranchising the 12,029,699 Americans who voted for Bernie Sanders, some of whom worked tirelessly for the cause of their candidate. All their efforts and all their votes were for nothing as the DNC worked behind the scenes to ensure that its pick, Hillary Rodham Clinton, was the winner of the Democratic primary.

Leslie Gomillion-Cushing, Hudson

Protesters make their voice heard | July 26

Historical amnesia

A 24-year-old Bernie Sanders supporter in Philadelphia is quoted as saying, "We did eight years of Bush and nothing that bad happened." Really? Two unfunded deadly wars, a financial crisis we're still sorting out, Citizens United, etc. No, I guess nothing really bad happened at all.

Richard Lawrence, St. Petersburg

Trump lashes out; says Clinton needs naps July 26

Disgraceful behavior

Before I had read this article, I had not yet made an absolute decision whom I was going to vote for. But after reading it I cannot, as a mature adult, bring myself to vote for someone who spews so much hate and ignorance. I learned at a very early age that it was not nice to call people names or to make fun of anyone. To see a man who wants to be the leader of the greatest country in the world do this very thing is a disgrace. It's unfortunate that Donald Trump's parents did not do very well in teaching him manners and respect.

For all of you out there who support this type of person, I ask: What are you telling your children if or when they ask why is it okay for a 70-year-old man to call names and make fun of people but we can't?

Danny Herzog, Pinellas Park

Latvian women, Dutch men tallest | July 26

Taller and smarter

In reference to countries with the tallest people, the Flynn Effect is a trend in the last 100 years of people getting taller being associated with people also having higher IQs. This has been noted only in developed countries.

It is also of interest that the article stated that the United States is the 37th-tallest country. In a World Health Organization health ranking, the United States is 37th from the top in national health.

Quentin Onstine, Seminole

A toxic plan for Florida July 25, commentary

Setting limits

The only acceptable amount of pollutants in my drinking water is 0.00 parts per million.

Jack Kennedy, Tampa

Backup plan

I'll bet Gov. Rick Scott stocked up on bottled water.

John O. Chico, St. Petersburg