Trump and impeachment: Letters to the editor, Dec. 22, 2019

Withholding Ukraine aid was flat-out wrong

To simplify the timeline: the military aid for Ukraine that was approved by Congress was held up at the direction of Donald Trump for almost two months and then was released only after the whistle-blower complaint became public, That was aid meant to help Ukraine confront Russia's military aggression; so such a long delay probably cost lives as well as our reputation.

Just because Ukraine finally received the aid doesn't mean Trump didn't abuse his authority in withholding it, especially for personal gain. If you really want to clarify just how bad that really is, replace the name "Trump" with "Obama" or "Clinton" in any of the news articles you read and then you can't help but get the perspective.

Hanson uses tired GOP talking points

Victor Hanson’s op-ed regarding a possible coup reflects the same playbook used by Trump. There was no attempt to defend the president’s actions, most likely because he could not come up with a viable defense. Instead, misdirect by attacking witnesses, refer to purported misdeeds by the previous administration and claiming the president’s actions are more favorable to Ukraine than Russia.

It really just boils down to Trump placing more importance on his political future instead of the security of the United Sates of America. If that seems far-fetched, read the David French op-ed in Time magazine. This impeachment is about an abuse of power, plain and simple.

Nunes is a cartoonish character

Too far out on a limb. Those are the words of Rep. Nunes during the recent impeachment inquiry to describe the constitutionally supported hearings. Irrational statements by Nunes typically provoke an anger response, but now I feel pity.

Forget political party for a minute and ask yourself, what principles does Mr. Nunes stand for that impact the Central Valley? Mr. Nunes is more focused on suing his own constituents and peddling debunked conspiracy theories that support a corrupt president. I feel sorry for this man who has become a cartoonish caricature of Washington politics and a hollowed out, shadowy version of his former self. He’s an embarrassment to our district and California.

The limb Mr. Nunes sits on is unstable and flimsy. Let’s embrace a new political vision that focuses on the Valley. Phil Arballo and Andrew Janz have ideas that promote Central California. Both support economic prosperity for all, affordable and accessible health care and humanitarian and environmental efforts that address the issues that impact our area, such as homelessness and poor air quality. Put the Valley and American ideals first and volunteer your time and money in support of candidates who want to make a difference for us.

U.S. Senate, please honor your pledge

Dear U.S. Senate: I write to you not as a constituent, but a fellow American.

Our country faces a constitutional crisis which may determine our future as a nation. Shall we continue to follow the rule of law and honor the principles of our Constitution — or will we be subject to one man’s and one party’s abandonment of the ideals on which this nation was founded?

“These are the times that try men’s souls,” wrote Thomas Paine, urging Americans to stand up against British tyranny. Once again we must decide whether our constitutional government can survive.

I appeal to you to honor your oath of office and your commitment to American ideals. When you sit as a juror in the impeachment trial of the president, please honor this pledge.

This story was originally published December 22, 2019 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Trump and impeachment: Letters to the editor, Dec. 22, 2019."