Friday's letters: Concerns about elections chief, credit to whistleblower, buzzwords, more
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New elections chief buys into Big Lie
Gov. Ron DeSantis has appointed Cord Byrd, former House member, as secretary of state. In recent remarks, Byrd said that, due to voting irregularities in other states, he could not acknowledge Joe Biden as president.
We can only hope Byrd is watching the hearings of the U.S. House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection. Listening to numerous highly placed officials from his own Republican Party as they dismiss all claims of voter fraud should convince him that the 2020 election was free and fair.
As our secretary of state, in charge of elections, he should say so publicly. The last thing we need are leaders who stoke the flames of obvious lies to get votes.
More: How to send a letter to the editor
This fall we will have a chance to elect a governor whose values and demeanor result in thoughtful and effective appointments to key positions. DeSantis has not shown us that ability.
Laurie Ulrop, Punta Gorda
Accepting election results key to survival
Our country has a host of troubles.
We must halt the damaging effects of climate change. As body bags pile up, when will our legislators enact strict gun safety measures? Federal legislation must guarantee voting rights for all eligible citizens in order to reverse restrictive voting laws.
Women should have the right to seek a safe abortion. Vladimir Putin’s aggression must be halted.
To tackle these issues, our democracy must survive. But will it?
Millions of Americans believe that the 2020 presidential election was stolen and see violence as a means to correct it. Many respected Republican leaders promote this lie and encourage violence.
Where have the decency, norms and customs gone that have held our country together? To survive, election results must be respected and accepted. Officials who are elected to certify election results must carry out their duties and be loyal to the Constitution.
We face a serious domestic threat to our democracy. As columnist David Brooks wrote, now is the time for Congress to uncover the weaknesses in our democratic system and find the means to correct them. I pray that our democracy will continue and thrive!
Bonnie Sussman, Sarasota
Disarming criminals can be dangerous
In reference to “Officers could learn to disarm, not kill,” June 18:
Unfortunately, many readers believe that there is some magical way to disarm criminals. After all, didn’t Robert Duvall disarm that knife-wielding punk in the movie “Secondhand Lions”?
The letter writer states that he is an Army veteran who received training in the disarming of knife-wielding attackers. That’s all well and good in the confines of a controlled environment, where your training partner rarely goes full tilt and with deadly intention.
In disarming a criminal, the police officer would have to assume his skill level is superior to his attacker, and the attacker, even if not skilled, would not get in a lucky stab or cut.
A 1982 study showed that a threatening person carrying a knife should not be allowed within 21 feet of an officer. This principle is still taught in police academies today.
It was determined that an officer cannot react fast enough to shoot his attacker should the perpetrator be inside this distance.
My best friend, a retired homicide detective, said this: “Disarming sounds like a good idea. But what that writer failed to understand is I have no desire to be stabbed or cut, even if it’s just a little bit.”
J. Randall Short, Sarasota
COVID findings vindicate whistleblower
I read with interest the Palm Beach Post editorial in the Herald-Tribune on June 20, confirming what you’d already cited in at least two recent articles, that the DeSantis administration did in fact significantly misrepresent Florida’s early pandemic data (“Better COVID data needed across state”).
How is it then that in none of these pieces is there even a passing reference to Rebekah Jones’ contention that the new findings support the position that got her fired?
Does she still not qualify as a legitimate and shamefully maligned whistleblower?
Carla Koeffler, Sarasota
Give voters info, not buzzwords
I was returning books to the library last week when approached by volunteers distributing campaign material for School Board candidates.
What caught my eye was the statement that “woke socialists” are not wanted on the School Board. It appears that the writers of the campaign material:
Have no idea of what a socialist is.
Prefer to offer slogans and buzzwords instead of enumerating positive goals of the candidates.
These folk will not get my vote.
Juliette Muscat, Sarasota
Cheney and Pence deserve medals
Even though I am a diehard Democrat, I would really like to nominate Republicans Liz Cheney and Mike Pence for the Congressional Medal of Honor.
What courage!
Alice Cotman, Sarasota
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: New elections chief doubts election results, whistleblower correct
