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Sunday's letters: Come out of your coma, GOP

 
Published May 18, 2016

Trump, Ryan pledge GOP unity | May 13

Come out of your coma, GOP

As a legal immigrant, a proud and grateful American citizen for 55 years, a successful entrepreneur and a Republican for the same amount of time, I am appalled at the stupidity of the Republican "old guard." They don't get it. Perhaps I represent a new but growing segment in the Republican Party that doesn't care about their "conservative" hang-ups but cares about common sense.

Specifically my 10 commonsense points:

1. I don't care if two women or two men want to get married.

2. I don't care if Bruce Jenner wants to become a woman.

3. I think abortion is an issue between a woman and her conscience. It's not the government's business.

4. I support immigration reform the key element of which is 100 percent assimilation of our language, culture and values.

5. I believe in reality — integrate the 11 million illegals who are here with very specific hurdles but give them hope.

6. I also insist on immediate deportation for law-breaking immigrants here legally or illegally.

7. I believe the governing elite should submit themselves to the same laws, rules and conditions we all work under.

8. I believe in shutting the federal and state larders for elected officials.

9. I support a strong military with leadership that makes a worldwide statement of integrity, respect and strength.

10. I believe in equal opportunity and pursuit of their happiness for everyone.

Donald Trump appeals to folks like me. I'm 73, go to work every day, have created thousands of new jobs and pay an amazing amount of taxes each year — which I don't mind. I just want the Republicans to come out of their coma. The voters have spoken — Trump is the man — so get behind him. Carry him on your shoulders and make sure that the left-wing cabal doesn't get their hands on the ability to print money.

Peter Sontag, Clearwater

Times buys Tribune | May 4

A voice that matters

Friends say, "What does it matter that the Tampa Bay Times bought the Tampa Tribune?" It matters. The voice of the press in America has been the great denominator between democracy and totalitarianism. The voice of our free press has helped determine the course of history in our republic. Our free press has been a beacon to the world. Yes, it matters if our major newspapers merge. It matters because our press has been our voice. Yes, we have other social media now. Yes, we have instant gratification of letting our feelings known to everyone and anyone who will listen. But that release of emotion does not always make a better voice. The American press has consistently been the conscience, the heart, the voice of many. So to all those in charge of the Tribune and the Times: You inherit a vast legacy. Keep giving voice to all and keep exposing those parts of our society that we need to improve.

Yvonne Neff Woods, Tarpon Springs

Against Trump, with the GOP | May 8

Make room on the right

I share Reihan Salam's issues with Donald Trump. I have been a somewhat right-leaning moderate my whole life. I don't believe in handouts but I do believe in stronger gun control. I do believe that health care must be reformed but President Barack Obama did it wrong. Etc.

Under tea party influence the GOP majority has outright refused to negotiate or compromise. This was not how our forefathers saw our government being run. Now the GOP is in the midst of a great schism that will yield two conservative movements: the hard-right tea party and the more moderate conservatives, such as myself. While this would probably result in a Clinton administration next year, I think it would be healthy for the GOP in the long run.

I, like Salam, I will not vote for Trump. Likewise, I will not vote for Hillary Clinton. If a third party conservative is brought forth I will certainly consider him or her, but for now, it looks like I will vote for Mickey Mouse because he most represents what our government depicts right now.

Kevin Bock, Brooksville

Frontier promises to fix it | May 13

Look out for customers

So Frontier Communications and Attorney General Pam Bondi have met to address growing concern about service reliability and confidence in internet service reliability and performance. I'm left to wonder what happens if Frontier fails to deliver on action plans and improved performance promises? Will Frontier be subject to financial penalties if they continue to disappoint customers? What are the actual service level targets that Frontier is measured against for reliability? Who is responsible to provide oversight and regular progress reports that Frontier corrects their problems in a reasonable amount of time, and to the satisfaction of its customers?

Bondi can do considerably more to guarantee personally that she has Florida consumers' backs when allowing this dreadful change to occur.

R. Glen Coleman, Tampa

Facebook peels back news curtain | May 13

Why stop with Facebook?

So Republican leaders in Congress are investigating Facebook, a private corporation, for favoring liberal positions in their "trending topics" section. Such blatant hypocrisy. Can this be the same Republican Party whose appointed majority on the Supreme Court ruled that corporations have untrammeled rights to free speech just like people?

While they are at it, perhaps these legislators will investigate the fact that millions of Floridians are pretty much limited in access to far right wing talk shows on TV. Or, why not investigate the restrictions Florida's Republican Legislature has placed on physicians to speak to their patients about gun violence or abortion options? Or what about Gov. Rick Scott's admonition to state employees not to mention "climate change." Shouldn't these restrictions on free speech also be investigated?

Edward A. McCann, Madeira Beach