Readers react to Sen. Ted Cruz, Clay Chastain and Donald Trump

GOP backs Cruz

I am really amazed at the Republican Party for promoting Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas as the party’s only hope against billionaire front-runner Donald Trump (3-24, A2, “GOP infighting follows Western vote”).

This is asking Satan to save you from the devil.

Pat Serrone

Kansas City

Election good news

I never thought I would have a positive thing to say about all the news on the elections. But I do. I haven’t seen anything by or about Clay Chastain and his ideas on light rail lately.

Bill Betteridge

Independence

Trump in KC

There have been letters to the editor from supporters of GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump, saying the hateful ones are the protesters. I was at the rally (3-16, A9, “Pepper spray arrest video causes stir”).

I made it 22 minutes before I was escorted out. It seems yelling, “Anyone but a Republican,” is a ticket out, too.

We are not the hateful ones. It’s the one preaching building a bigger wall, identifying all Muslims and degrading women and minorities. And it’s Trump’s supporters. Do the Japanese-American internment in the 1940s or sewed-on Jewish stars ring a bell?

I stood in line with Trump supporters for two hours. I went to observe, but it didn’t end that way. Trump supporters aren’t as innocent as they make themselves out to be.

It was amusing listening to the racism and degradation of and to others while I was in line and as I was leaving the rally. Well, not amusing. How about pathetic?

Trump supporters remind me of floppers in a soccer match. Just because you cry foul for the injustices done to you does not make them true.

Remember, it is important to keep your friends close and your enemies closer. When is the next Trump rally anyway?

Paul Wickingson

Overland Park

Supreme Court

Let’s be clear. In our nation’s 240-year history, about a handful of Supreme Court justices have died in a presidential election year.

In 1864, a Supreme Court justice died in October, less than 30 days before the election. Lincoln did not nominate a justice before the election, though he had promised the next vacancy to Salmon Chase. That is the only time in our nation’s history that a president failed to nominate a justice to fill a vacant seat. During the Civil War. Less than 30 days before the election.

The Constitution is clear that the president “shall” nominate justices. Not “may.” Not “unless the vacancy opens in the last year of a four-year term.” Republicans, by refusing to even consider President Barack Obama’s nominee, are going against the entire weight of our nation’s judicial traditions.

Republican senators should do their jobs. Hold hearings on Merrick Garland, and if he is unqualified, reject him. But do your jobs and hold the hearings.

Greg Gentry

Leawood

Guantanamo plan

After watching and reading about the Kansas congressional delegation’s reaction to the idea of housing fewer than 100 Guantanamo prisoners in Kansas, it makes me wonder what has changed?

During World War II, Kansas housed several thousand German prisoners of war in far less secure facilities. Our representatives then probably considered it an honor and a duty to help.

After all, they voted for the war, and an everyone-must-do-their-share mentality existed then. They certainly did not even hint that it was a “reckless” plan.

These representatives voted for the war that created these prisoners. Are they that frightened of perhaps 30 to 60 detainees in a very secure, modern facility? Or, might it be they are just following a script that says, “If the president is for it, we are against it”?

Stephen Amthauer

Overland Park

U.S. must awaken

I do not need to ask about Kansas because Sam Brownback is governor.

I recently read that 40 percent of the country wishes the South had won the Civil War.

Is that where we are headed? Is that what a great nation means?

Does that mean that unless the white man is running the world, the world is backward, as I read in some biblical-backing newspaper a few months ago? Is there any reason we are not on par with the Germany of 1933?

We woke up in time to kick President Richard Nixon to the curb. Will we wake up in time to reject loudly and clearly Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump?

James Kilpatrick

Kansas City, Kan.

This story was originally published March 26, 2016 at 10:00 AM with the headline "Readers react to Sen. Ted Cruz, Clay Chastain and Donald Trump."