Orchestrating death and calcifying his legacy
Manhattan: Reflecting on the tumultuous period during President Trump’s management of the COVID-19 crisis, perhaps we should consider showing our support for service members by making noise outside our windows each evening. These service members have been called into yet another unnecessary conflict by a leader whose actions are widely questioned. Many Americans, already overwhelmed by social issues and unmet needs, are weary of such a war and the mixed messages that accompany it.
It is deeply concerning how this unprincipled figure has jeopardized lives, seemingly to divert attention from his own questionable actions and to further the interests of his family. Such behavior leaves a troubling legacy.
In a future where democracy is revitalized, Trump’s controversial tenure may be deemed illegitimate, staining his legacy in the annals of history. It might be prudent to erase the influence of Trump and his movement, making them as forgettable as discarded waste. Phil Vanaria
Bobblehead base
Rockaway Point: It’s unfortunate, but it seems like the Trump administration and its followers are engaged in a perpetual “Family Feud.” Regardless of how nonsensical Trump’s answers may be, his supporters consistently rally behind him with unwavering approval. Patricia J. Murphy
Accomplished assassin
Gillette, N.J.: To Voicer Ken Derow: While I concur that Trump’s decision to target Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was “highly successful,” it also resulted in the loss of U.S. military personnel. This contradiction is particularly frustrating to me as a veteran. The operation also affected civilian lives. Is that acceptable? Trump managed to divert attention from critical issues like the Epstein case and undermined the Constitution further. If he decided to target someone like you with military force, would you rely on the Constitution or his oath to protect you? Landon McDonald
Fortunate son
Neptune, N.J.: There are people suggesting that Barron Trump should be sent to Iran. Let’s not be absurd; Barron, like any other child, shouldn’t be subjected to such a fate. Vince Nardiello
Nonchalant
Richmond Hill: There’s still much controversy over the necessity of the war on Iran. One motive cited is threats on Trump’s life by Iranian agents. It was his desire for revenge, as expressed in his statement, “They tried twice. Well, I got them first,” and without any concern for consequences to the U.S.A. and other countries. It’s hard to imagine that he planned this invasion with any consideration for Americans now stranded and at great risk, and without any advance evacuation plans for the more than 1 million citizens abroad. His indifference to our soldiers dying for this illegal war is disturbing. The president seems so casual about the lost lives and would not answer questions regarding their deaths. He also didn’t want the media focusing on them. “That’s the way it is. Likely be more.” Ene Kelly
Not all there
Staten Island: During a Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House, Trump shifted from talking about the war in Iran and lost lives of U.S. service members to updates about the construction of his new ballroom. Bizarre, to say the least. Yeah, construction noise can be such an inconvenience. Not like war. Not an ounce of human empathy, not a shred of human decency. Dementia in plain sight. Michael Rosenkrantz
Too old to sit
Manhattan: Brad Lander’s call for expansion of the Supreme Court and term limits for the justices is politically understandable but impractical to implement. A constitutional amendment is both time-consuming and a challenging undertaking. A more realistic approach to court reform would be an amendment requiring retirement at age 80. Sadly, we continue to live in the legacy of the court’s decision in Bush vs. Gore. Roger B. Adler
Just ‘cuz?
Darien, Conn.: When Trump fires someone like Kristi Noem, will we citizens receive the thoughtful explanation that we are due? Dan Singer
A building storm
Manhattan: In his decision to free a man unlawfully detained by ICE, West Virginia Federal Court Judge Joseph Goodwin wrote, “Antiseptic judicial rhetoric cannot do justice to what is happening. Across the interior of the United States, agents of the federal government — masked, anonymous, armed with military weapons, operating from unmarked vehicles, acting without warrants of any kind — are seizing persons… and imprisoning them without any semblance of due process.” This judge wrote Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s script for him. Schumer must not cave to the GOP and keep the Department of Homeland Security shuttered until this ceases. Yet, ICE may be beyond reform. DHS is on a buying spree of warehouses to turn into up to 15,000-unit concentration camps to house people from newborns to the elderly. How much less than no medical treatment can be provided? The logistics of sending all these people out of the country are daunting. What then? Jeff Natt
Cash cow
Manhattan: Though Trump’s attempted ban of congestion pricing was blocked, most people don’t appreciate the con job the MTA and Gov. Hochul have done rebranding the pig’s ear of endless money into the bottomless pit of MTA bailouts as a favor for residents and motorists. They don’t even mention the MTA’s $1 billion windfall, saying the expeditious flow of traffic was what they intended. Of course, money is secondary. Perhaps the media, even if it thinks congestion pricing is a good idea, could review the billions that a bloated MTA, which never wins anything substantial in labor contract talks, already collects in surcharges on for-hire cars, telephone bills, general sales tax, etc. The public better wake up, because the creativity of the MTA, and Hochul’s gouging of a disinterested and unwise public, have no limits. John Brindisi
Disputed genesis
Goshen, N.Y.: The NCAA states that the term “March Madness” was popularized by H.V. Porter in 1939, who used the term for Illinois high school basketball, and was popularized for college basketball by CBS broadcaster Brent Musburger in 1982. This is wrong on both counts. I’ve discovered that Indiana basketball used the term since at least 1930, and this predates its use by Illinois basketball in 1939. Also, on March 6, 1979, the Daily News published the article “March madness: Real cage season begins” by Mike Lupica. This is before 1982. Could you please get the NCAA to respond to this? Barry Popik
