Letters to the editor, March 23, 2024

Many thanks to volunteers Birdie Boltz, Amber Brown, Madi Davis, Robin Haas, Jan Hart, Suzanne & Wes Luhr, Denise Marquiss, Kevin McKinney, Sherri Means, John Michael, Brett Ralston, Jennifer Sheaffer, Judy & Wayne Sutherland and G Winkle for helping to bundle and deliver 3,750 flowers to fellow Laramigo’s.

We couldn’t have done this without donations from Killian Florist, Safeway and Walmart and the work space provided by the Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence. All the proceeds benefit Relay for Life and helps support individuals fighting cancer.

Pam Brekken

Laramie

Trump and Republicans

I have only voted Republican twice in a general election since 1964 when I was first qualified to vote in a general election. As an “observer” of Republican politics, however, I see a horrible marriage between Republicans and Donald Trump.

Strangely, I do not see Donald Trump as a Republican, but as an imposter Republican out to use the Republicans for their realizing they are becoming a “minority party.” Trump knows Republicans are apt to lose elections due to their becoming less in number than Democrats — especially in so-called “swing states” — and so he is presenting himself as a “savior” who can lead them to victory; and strangely, they are falling for it. Why?

Because they know that something has to change to allow them to win in elections; and good ole Trump can lead them to victory without having to win “democratically.”

It is an “end justifies the means” situation. If they are to win by votes, they have to minimize voting by making it hard for legal citizens to vote and by trying to disqualify many who have voted. That means they have to shout “fraud” to be able to challenge elections. If they lose; and good ole Trump has been shouting the same for a long time.

I clearly remember him shouting that if he were to lose in 2016, it would be because of “fraud.” That is the magic word — fraud; and as Trump has declared his “means to an end” by demanding that election officials prove him wrong when he shouts “fraud,” so has the minority Republican party followed.

What else can they do? They can’t win by being a majority because they have become a minority party. If they are to win, they have to reduce voting and voters.

Look at yourselves, Republicans. Am I right? If so, pick someone among you who is a “real Republican.” If you follow Trump, his mantra of fraud will encompass you. You can win without being assisted with shouts of fraud if you change to adjust for a democratic future by compromising to do so.

Francis William Bessler

Laramie

What will you choose?

Isn’t it amazing how Donald Trump claims to know what everyone else is thinking and feeling, like how critics of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “hate everything about Israel?”

Who’d have thought the person who belittles and insults his own cronies and their families (“Little Marco” and Ted Cruz’s wife), disrespects serving, injured, and fallen troops and their families, mocks people’s physical challenges (such as Michael J. Fox with Parkinson’s disease and Biden’s stutter), dehumanizes women, migrants, and basically anyone not him could possibly be so sensitive and empathetic?

Writing off a person or person entirely based on a characteristic or imagined feelings and hatred is simplistic and fails to distinguish between the person and the action that Trump dislikes. It is a childish evasion of the actual issues involved. Trump can’t handle issues. He’s like a small child who gets mad and can only respond with “I wish you were dead.” Trump may be an adult master manipulator, but emotionally is a child lashing out when he doesn’t get his way.

Will you do the same, or do you care enough to recognize the humanity of others and to try to understand the issues? Will you endorse violence instead of cooperative problem solving?

Those in Congress who worked on a bipartisan immigration bill, to which Democrats compromised and included much of what Republicans wanted, only to see Republicans refuse to vote for it after Trump told them not to clearly have shown they are not dedicated to solving the problem, just playing on fears to get votes in November.

What will you choose?

Carol Smith

Laramie