Good two-fer from McCaa, Cothrum
Re: “American elections have always been contentious, starting with slings and arrows in 1800,” by John McCaa; and “Ho-hum ballot is par for historical course,” by Dallas Cothrum, Sunday Opinion.
What great columns by McCaa and Cothrum.
McCaa, thank you for refreshing my memory of some of the past contentious political campaigns. I also learned a new fact: that the first female candidate, Victoria Woodhull, ran for the presidency way back in 1872. What a firecracker she was, and never mentioned in any of my history classes.
Cothrum reminded us of other “ho-hum ballots” throughout the years. His sentence, “Thus far, Trump’s most historically significant impact has been effectively killing the Republican Party” hit the nail on the head for me.
I think a lot of voters, especially in Texas, can relate to this statement in this election year.
Patricia Link-Bewley, Murphy
Lifelong Republican struggles
I have been a Republican my entire adult life spanning five decades, which has included doing past grassroots work and serving as precinct chairman. I’ve lived in a red state, Texas, for 56 years. I live in a very conservative, staunchly Republican neighborhood in North Dallas.
I have friends with a wide range of political philosophies and ethnic backgrounds. Included among these are conservative Republicans. I do my best to respect other political/social points of view.
In past years, I supported Republican candidates. More recently, my support for Republican candidates has waned as the primary process has produced consistently more extreme-right candidates to whom I cannot relate. To this point, I have remained a registered Republican to vote in the primary elections for more centrist candidates.
In this election cycle, I no longer am extending my support for the Republican nominees for Texas Senate nor for president. Perhaps if enough Republicans cross party lines in this election, the Republican party will be forced to change and put forth candidates in future elections that represent what I view as a wide swath of the American political middle that feels unrepresented.
Larry Brasel, North Dallas
Not a clear choice
Re: “America is at crossroads, but center must hold — If the middle collapses, both sides cave into dust; read Yeats’ ‘Second Coming’ for insight,” by Christopher de Vinck, Saturday Opinion.
I am a great fan of Mr. de Vinck’s writing but was seriously taken aback by his comments, “We have a clear choice in this November election. Do we choose thugs or do we choose wisdom?”
This misrepresents the very problem we citizens have this election. Who exactly are the “thugs” being referenced? Who exactly offers clear “wisdom”? For many party loyalists, these are apparently easy questions to answer.
However, for those of us who have spent a lot of time doing our due diligence on all of the pertinent issues, it is clear that we do not have a clear choice. There are despicable “thugs” on both sides of the ballot; there is respected “wisdom” on both sides of the ballot. The personalities, demeanor and stated philosophies of the two candidates at the top of the ballot are both of great concern.
Consequently, the voters must try and balance their personal worldviews with the misleading information coming from both sides of the ballot. Although de Vinck has arrived at a “clear choice,” for many of the rest of us, not so much.
K.J. Gentrup, Roanoke
Well said, Mr. de Vinck
I do not know where to start in praising de Vinck’s column. It should be mandatory reading for every citizen of the United States.
I am so afraid for our country at this time. I keep hearing “I am conservative, so I must vote for our Republican candidate.” This is not a reason to vote Republican. You must vote for the integrity of the candidate. Our Republican candidate falls far short of integrity.
Being 86 years old and having four granddaughters and six great-grandchildren, I am concerned for our future.
I read de Vinck’s column religiously every week. Some I keep to read again later. Thank you so much for your incredible columns.
Nancy Park, Grand Prairie
Pay the State Fair vendors!
Re: “Fair Park Vendors owed $6 million — Meanwhile, nonprofit, operator debate misspent donor funds,” Thursday news story.
It is unbelievable that the city of Dallas is dealing with State Fair vendors not receiving the money owed to them.
This is absolutely not right and our City Council must get to the bottom of it. The vendors need to be paid and the people responsible for this fiasco must be held accountable.
Barry Rothschild, Dallas/Preston Hollow
State Fair letdowns
I am disappointed with the State Fair of Texas. I am a 96-year-old with a walking handicap. The handicapped parking area was moved and I found it to be rather far to walk to the mobile-scooter rental area. A shuttle cart would have helped.
In the Creative Arts, I was disappointed with the 2024 cookbook. I won a blue ribbon for a canning entry but the recipe was not included in the book while many second-place recipes were. I left wondering why, and I am still wondering why.
William Wehmeyer, Temple
Thanks for the fact checks
Thank you for publishing the PolitiFact fact checks of Donald Trump’s town hall and the Kamala Harris interview on Fox. With so much false and misleading information being spread, it is very valuable to see fact-checking of both candidates in The Dallas Morning News.
Please continue doing this. My only suggestion would be to include the PolitiFact Truth-O-Meter graphic as part of the articles.
Bill Maina, Dallas
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