Letters: Readers discuss Ken Jennings’ slip, Nancy Pelosi’s power grab and the Chiefs
Come on, Ken
Like throngs of others, I was enamored with the recent “Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time” tournament. However, my admiration for eventual champion Ken Jennings became quite tarnished when he said “me and a friend” instead of “a friend and I” in a taped interview aired on KMBC on Jan. 7 and 11.
He knows better than that. We must follow the rules of grammar at all times.
- William Hathorne, Kansas City
The fix is in
As Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell sets up the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump by a kangaroo Senate, I am awed by the perversity of the Republicans’ audacity in the face of the truth.
This is part of McConnell’s plan for the protection of this president.
- Robert Godwin, Kansas City
Let truth out
Wednesday’s front-page story, “Blunt says Senate will limit press access during Trump trial,” gave me the chills.
That any senator would restrict our right to know, to ban the press, to keep the American people in the dark about what will be discussed at the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump is a further breakdown of representative government.
Freedom of the press is the backbone of our democracy. The press exists to keep what government does transparent, to keep government honest.
It is up to us, the people, and perhaps Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, to see that the press and the public are given complete access to witness testimony, documentary evidence and Senate debates.
Restricting press and public access to the information the people need to make decisions goes against the very protections our Constitution gives us.
A biblical reminder also comes to mind, from John 8:32: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”
- Richard Kline, Liberty
Need to know
Wednesday’s story about Sen. Roy Blunt’s stance on transparency during the Senate impeachment trial certainly was proof that our senators do not want us to know the whole story.
I would not ever consider voting for anyone who is so afraid of the voters finding out the truth of what has happened. Unfortunately, Blunt seems to think that Missouri voters are not intelligent enough to see through his and the Senate’s posturing.
I’m tired of seeing the rest of the world disrespecting our wonderful country. This is not what the men and women of our armed services have given their lives for.
- Susan Uttech, Oak Grove
On the other foot
A question for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the other congressional Democrats: If all circumstances were the same except the president were a Democrat, would you be doing the same thing?
- Bill Windes, Overland Park
Royal aspiration?
We have in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi the biggest reason I have ever seen for term limits. We have a speaker who has decided she should have more power than the president or the Constitution.
When the Democrats wanted impeachment, she held it up and didn’t listen to Republicans. Then she held up Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in an attempt to force him to set up the trial the way she wants. She also decided to impose more of her power over the president by trying to take away some of his power in dealing with Iran.
Term limits are a must. Maybe the House and Senate should come up with a new government position of “queen” for Pelosi.
- Rich Ewoldsen, Linwood, Kansas
Fox, fires
The author of a letter to the editor Jan. 9 castigated Fox News for not covering the wildfires in Australia on its website, which he says he visits regularly. (10A)
However, on its cable television network, Fox News — usually on the “Special Report” program at 5 p.m. — has reported on and provided video of those fires almost nightly since mid-November at least.
- Rich Kiper, Leavenworth
Mad about it
The youth of The Star’s headline writers showed when they missed a great opportunity after the Chiefs’ playoff win over the Texans. Many older readers would have chosen the headline, “What, me worry?”
- Terry Crabbs, Kansas City
This story was originally published January 17, 2020 at 5:00 AM.