Letters: Trump pro and con, Iran nuclear deal

Remember the past

John Q. Adams once said: “Power always has a great soul....” I believe today that those who do not study history should say, “Power always has great amnesia.”

Religions, politics and economics should be viewed in both their struggles to conquer and not only in what we perceive in them today. We should not allow them to cleanse the evils that were used from their messages today.

Inquisitions, massacres, caste systems, slavery, corruptions and wars; only so much that can be listed in so few words. It is important that their messages today be taken in light of their pasts.

John Nelles

Shawnee

Trump’s popularity

Pundits are surprised that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is still the front-runner in the polls for the GOP primaries. Trump appeals to the masses.

The Democrats have perfected their propaganda machine to target individual segments of the public. They promise minorities equality, women equal pay and the right to control their bodies, the climate change crowd get promises of renewable energy sources and students get free college. These are all promises made to garner votes.

Trump makes promises to a group that used to be called the silent majority. This group is comprised of a number of people who are more interested in how America is doing rather than specific issues. They view this issues in the light of a larger cause. They don't tend to be single-issue voters, so individual group promises don't sway them much.

After 6.5 years of being told we are not exceptional and should be humble, we have a candidate who is telling us that we are great. This group of people understands the nuances of what Trump is saying. They are tired of the statements being parsed by opponents and selectively edited to put candidates in a bad light.

In short, these people get it.

William Gray

Overland Park

Trump’s shortfalls

For as much as he fulfills our need for a Teddy Roosevelt-type bull in a china shop, Donald Trump suffers from Ayn Rand's void of soul and spiritual grounding, notwithstanding their common economic brilliance. Trump's Achilles’ heel becomes apparent in his sexism bordering on misogyny.

Yes, he might bully the similarly shallow misogynist Middle East leaders, Russian President Vladimir Putin and China. However, he cries and grovels when faced down by a sharp tough woman, Megyn Kelly.

She beat him up in the debate, and he knew it. OK, that's bad enough.

But “Whaaah!” Two weeks later he comes crawling back like a third-grader, shouting insults at her through the classroom door. This is telling and so demeaning of him about himself.

Presidential? He can, and does, hire and fire marriage partners at will.

It says something about what all is amiss in his soul that he has let Megyn Kelly, a brilliant tough professional newswoman, so unnerve him, and he can't fire her.

Imagine President John F. Kennedy's handing this with charm, grace and a deft sense of humor. Donald, you are letting Megyn Kelly show you up, and take you out.

Otto Rieke

Overland Park

Iran nuclear deal

The United States has made it clear to the world for years that we will protect Israel. Does anyone really think Iran is crazy enough to believe that a nuclear attack against Israel will not result in a massive military response from the U.S.?

President Barack Obama should make a public statement like President John Kennedy did, announcing to the Soviet Union during the missile crisis in which he warned Nikita Khrushchev that any missile launched from Cuba against any nation in the Western Hemisphere would be considered an attack on the U.S.

If Iran is on notice that any nuke against Israel will result in a massive U.S. retaliation, all negatives about “the deal” become academic.

Martin Kaynan

Olathe

Cuba trade, cigars

I have a confession to make. In my senior years I have become a cigar smoker like my father and grandfather before me. I am enthusiastic about the prospects of trade with Cuba.

It opens up many vistas, including travel, baseball, food, an exciting culture — and, of course, Cuban cigars. Cuba has always been considered the Rolls Royce of the cigar trade.

I view a cigar much like so many who enjoy a fine wine. I usually smoke one, outside of course, after dinner and I don’t inhale. My late father shared with me the following expression, “A woman is only a woman, but a good cigar is a smoke.”

I hope this doesn’t ignite the wrath of feminists. In fact, I think there will be a sizable market for women smoking cigars. Bienvenido, Cuba, and bring the cigars.

Steve Katz

Leawood

Clinton’s joke

Recently Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton chided how she loved Snapchat because the messages are immediately erased. Ha-ha-ha.

This Democrat has no morals or sense of responsibility. A person who is working to obtain the position once held by George Washington should be held to the highest standard.

This Democrat continues to press the borders of legality and decency. Her prevailing attitude of the rules not applying to her is appalling.

Anyone who supports or votes for Clinton is doing a huge disservice to this country.

Joe Lavender

Lenexa

This story was originally published September 1, 2015 at 9:32 PM with the headline "Letters: Trump pro and con, Iran nuclear deal."