Annual disappointment
Re: “Parole eligibility brings stress — Case now slated for review; Family: it would be ‘traumatic’ if killer’s sentence is cut short,” Sunday Metro story.
I am disappointed once more this year as I see the response from Botham Jean’s family stating that Amber Guyger should not be paroled, but should serve her entire sentence. While I did not personally know Jean, I know those who did and they had wonderful things to say about him. Reading about his life in The Dallas Morning News, I learned he was a wonderful example of a follower of Christ.
I cannot imagine he would want Guyger to continue to suffer for something that by all appearances was a horrible accident. His younger brother Brandon openly showed forgiveness to Amber at her trial.
Why can’t the rest of his family follow his example and do the same? What a wonderful testimony to Jean and to the world — who needs to know Jesus and his teachings.
Linda Giddens, Dallas/Lake Highlands
Kudos to Rawlings ...
Re: “Enough with the special people — Political parties and their noisemakers forget who decides elections: Regular Folk,” by Mike Rawlings, Sunday Opinion.
Great op-ed. Hope “regular people” read it! Thanks.
Kris Portmann, Mabank
... From a few ...
As one of “The American Middle” columns, I appreciate this one by Rawlings. I’m a senior citizen who hasn’t missed voting since her first vote for Dwight Eisenhower. My votes go to the individual, not the party. I’ve never been polled.
I am in awe of citizens like Rawlings, Adam Kinzinger, Alan Steelman, Arnold Holtberg and Liz Cheney and her dad, who have the courage to speak out against those of the Republican party. And I can’t help but wonder at the number of leaders who remain silent.
The Republican Party has lost its purpose and those who claim it are on a terrifying path. You of “The American Middle” — the regular folks — make yourselves heard and vote!
Anne R. Healy, Richardson
... Of the ‘Regular Folk’
So glad I consider myself and most of my friends, neighbors and family as “Regular Folk.”
Thanks, Mike Rawlings, for another great op-ed in The Dallas Morning News series on “The American Middle.” Please let common sense and regular folks help lead this country out of the “special people” and political mess we are currently in.
P.S. Mr. Rawlings, please throw your hat back in the ring. Perhaps there is a future seat opening in Austin or maybe even in Washington, D.C.
Bob Friend, Coppell
Not my party, either
Re: “I’m a Republican; I cannot vote for Trump — This is not the Reagan Republican Party I fell in love with,” by Jason Villalba, Sunday Opinion.
Me, too!
Ralph Hunkins, Colleyville
GOP policies save our republic
Poor Jason Villalba! He says he’s a staunch Republican, yet he just can’t vote for Donald Trump. He alleges that the party of Ronald Reagan now idolizes a single individual, rather than a set of guiding principles.
Nothing could be further from the truth. GOP policies seek to save our republic. It is the Democrats who’ve lost their way. They believe in ceaseless spending, inflation and debt, endless electric vehicle mandates, destruction of entire industries, illegal immigration, criminality and destruction of our treasured Constitution.
In the crazy Democratic mind, these are good things, worthy of implementation at any cost or Constitutional damage (trash the Electoral College, alter the Supreme Court, govern by executive fiat).
And Democrats aren’t honest about it. They cynically reverse long-held, but unpopular, positions to gain electoral advantage.
In short, Democrats cannot be trusted. It is said that a person who isn’t liberal as a youth has no heart; but he who remains liberal as an adult, has no brain. Seems like Villalba has stopped thinking. Granted, Trump has many rough edges, but his policies are superior. He is the man who will right our ship of state.
Better reconsider your vote, Jason.
Larry Pivnick, Dallas
These two weren’t mentioned
Interesting that The Dallas Morning News has a huge headline about a Republican who cannot vote for Donald Trump, but I don’t recall any major headlines about two famously known Democrats who have switched their lifetime status to vote for Trump and who say that the Democratic Party is not what it has been.
Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are on the campaign trail for Trump. How about that for major headline news?
Dale Strimple, Plano
Not the endangered kind
As a lifelong Republican and gun owner, thanks to Ken Paxton and Greg Abbott, I’ll be voting for more Democrats in November than I have since my first election in 1974. Paxton is a disgrace. Suing Dallas to allow guns at the State Fair of Texas for “safety” is as absurd as Archie Bunker’s idea to stop skyjacking by arming all passengers getting on planes.
After hearing the evidence against Paxton during his impeachment, I’ll never vote for any House member who didn’t vote to impeach him, or any senator who found him not guilty.
Abbott’s voucher program isn’t school choice. It’s a taxpayer subsidy for private school tuition. True school choice means letting parents choose any public school in their district or the state. Most respected private schools are full, with long waitlists.
If Abbott’s vouchers pass, the same students will attend, but tuition will rise by the voucher amount. Any legislator who supports vouchers will never get my vote.
Extremists have taken over the Republican Party. They call Ronald Reagan and Dwight Eisenhower RINOs, but the MAGA crowd are the real RINOs.
Brad Thomas, Pilot Point
Former Carrollton City Council member
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