Letters to the Editor

Recently, the Tyler Morning Telegraph published a letter from one of its readers. This letter was in response to Louie Gohmert’s complaints about the process into the possible impeachment of President Donald Trump (Tyler Morning Telegraph, Nov. 29).

The reader went on to say “I am a Republican. I am also an American, a taxpayer and a lawyer.”

The reader chided and reminded Congressman Gohmert of an old legal saying, “If you have the facts, pound on the facts. If you don’t have the facts, then pound on the table.” And the reader indicated our congressman and Trump’s defenders were pounding the table.

I would like to remind the reader that recent congressional hearings, the $40 million Mueller investigation, 1,500 subpoenas and the FBI have yet to find any criminal activity committed by the president; none of the slew of many witnesses called by congressional Democrats during hearings could identify any crime the president may have done.

There was no Russian collusion, no extortion, no quid pro quo, no nothing! Only made up charges and fabricated lies by Adam Schiff and Nancy Pelosi have come about as a result. The story and charges by these people change on a daily basis. Yet the reader said Trump “withheld millions of dollars of aid from Ukraine in order to take heat off his buddy Putin for Russian interference in the 2016 election, and to try and get dirt on a possible 2020 opponent in the presidential election.”

Counselor, give us a break here. Last time I read in the newspapers, Ukraine received its money and the Javelin anti-tank missiles they requested. The Ukraine leader was not even aware money was being held back, even if for a very short time, by the Trump administration. This evidence came out in recent congressional testimony by Ambassador Gordon Sondland, who also said there was no quid pro quo since he was in on the phone call; the only direct witness to hear the conversation. This is in stark contrast to the Obama administration, which provided Ukraine only blankets and meals ready to eat (MRE), while caught on a hot microphone moment, telling then Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that he’d have more flexibility to do things after the election and to pass the message on to Putin while Russia and Ukraine were in armed conflict.

If the reader has evidence Trump committed any crime, he evidently is the only person who apparently knows about it since everything else Trump has been charged with has been discredited completely. What will Trump be charged with next? Will it be for Jimmy Hoffa’s disappearance?

The impeachment process now taking place in Congress is merely a political matter because Democrats are unhappy with the outcome of the 2016 election. The various public and secret hearings and investigation that have taken place are activities in search of a crime, not an investigation for an actual crime.

The activities are a kangaroo court with the president denied due process of law and the Democrats writing the rules of the game. What part of this does the reader not understand? If he were in the same boat as Trump, he would expect nothing less.

As I see it, the reader claims to be a Republican, but I question that statement. But it does seem the reader contracted a case of Trump Derangement Syndrome. And to basically convict Trump in his letter to the editor without a fair trial goes counter to the nation’s laws. Kangaroo justice has no place in this nation.

Perhaps the reader should heed his own advice: “If you don’t have the facts, then pound on the table.” Start pounding, counselor.

J. Armstrong

Tyler

Use funds OF Irresponsible ICE for beneficial causes

Despite the fact that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection separated thousands of children from their parents at the border — and we still do not know the exact number of these separations because these agencies did not document which children belong to which parents at the time of separation — the Senate has introduced a bill that would increase funding for ICE and CBP to over $26 billion.

Congress must hold these agencies accountable for those family separations and for the continuing cruel mass incarceration of immigrant children and families by cutting funding for the most inhumane elements of the Trump administration’s immigration policy, starting with cutting $4.74 billion for ICE detention and removal operations, and $5 billion for a wall at the southern border.

That’s at least $9.74 billion of our tax dollars that could be used to lift up our children and communities instead of tearing families apart.

How else should we be using that money? For that same amount, Congress can increase funding for K-12 public schools by 60% or quadruple federal funding for substance use and mental health programs.

Congress will be making final decisions on a budget in the next week. It is imperative that they use our hard-earned tax dollars to strengthen our families and communities, rather than funding cruel and unnecessary immigration policies.

Mary Whitehead

Tyler

Has Democratic Party been hijacked?

I grew up in the South at a time when, as a general statement, most of the Southern states voted Democrat. McClellan and Fulbright were the two senators from Arkansas back in the ‘40s.

There were issues between the two parties but never a question as to whether the individuals of each party supported the Constitution of the United States, the Bill of Rights or the laws that govern the country we live in.

Both parties loved our country. I still believe that there are many all across our nation who vote for someone from their area to represent them in Washington, who will best support their ideas.

However, it appears to me that the party I grew up supporting has been hijacked by those in the position of leadership in Washington today.

That leadership sets the rules as to what can be discussed and voted on. Individuals elected to represent their districts have no voice unless they are in agreement with the leadership.

So, I ask you, has your party been hijacked?

Dale White

Tyler