Rep. Devin Nunes, Jerry Dyer, President Trump and more in letters to the editor

Nunes fair game for sharp criticism

When congressman Devin Nunes walked into the hearing room for the first day of the impeachment hearings, he declared that the circus had begun. This is perhaps the only time I will ever agree with the Tulare rep. When Nunes, the No. 1 clown, arrived, the GOP circus could begin full throttle.

It’s jaw-dropping what Nunes will do to protect his fuhrer. Three months after Trump’s inauguration, Nunes was the Intelligence Committee lapdog who rushed to Trump with sensitive information on Russian election interference before the committee had seen it. As Jimmy Kimmel said the other night, calling Nunes a “lapdog” is an insult to both laps and dogs.

It’s ironic Nunes is on the Intelligence Committee. When he was criticized during the last campaign, he didn’t fire back or brush it off as most politicians do. Instead, he chose to sue. I guess he never learned that public figures are fair game where criticism is concerned. As I always heard, if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

The only positive that will remind of his sad tenure is the noun that will be added to our language: “Nunes” will come to mean “groveling syncophant; toady.”

Nunes acts like a Russian agent

There’s an expression I heard in Tennessee: “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.” Devin Nunes has fooled us multiple times and he gets a pass. I often wondered if Nunes is just a fool in politician’s clothing.

The latest allegation, coordinating on the phone with an indicted Russian agent to interfere with the 2020 presidential election, and his disregard for the U.S. Constitution, lead me to believe he is a willful participant in a covert operation to subvert American values. I have accused Nunes of being an errand boy for our corrupt president, but now he’s carrying water for the Russian dictator.

This man is hurting America and supporting Russia. If this were the 1950s and Joe McCarthy was around, he would actually have reason to point his finger at Nunes and accuse him of being a communist. Devin Nunes does more for Vladimir Putin then he does for the constituents of his district.

If you have voted for Nunes in the past, then look closely at what he stands for. A vote for Nunes in 2020 is a vote for a Russian propaganda agent and the blame and shame falls squarely on you.

Corcoran suing a good neighbor

Corcoran has filed a lawsuit against one of its neighbors, Curtimade Dairy, claiming contamination of the city’s wells with nitrates. The Curti Family started its dairy and farming business in Waukena in 1913, the year before the city of Corcoran was incorporated. In the mid-1980s the family built Curtimade Dairy a few miles outside of the city. For the past 106 years the family has been a good neighbor and supporter of the city.

If Corcoran and their leadership choose to continue litigation against Curtimade Dairy, and if successful, such a lawsuit jeopardizes not only dairy, but all agriculture producers throughout the state. Residents and municipalities could jump to conclusions and assume that farmers and agriculture, which have been the engines driving the economies of the San Joaquin Valley for over a century, are causing harm to the groundwater.

This is a landmark case, which may have devastating results, causing divide within communities. We all need to work together to find solutions to our water issues other than litigation of our neighbors.

Quid pro quo is commonplace

For the life of me, I can’t see what the problem is. All foreign aid is a quid pro quo. In relations between countries, one leader gives something to get something from another leader. Nations negotiate agreements, treaties and aid with one another behind closed doors and in secret all the time. All presidents and administrations have done so.

Just recently, out of sight of Congress and the media, President Trump, in a prisoner swap brokered by the Swiss government, traded an Iranian scientist and spy for an American citizen imprisoned in Iran — a clear quid pro quo. What is wrong with that?

Road dangers of the handicapped

A recent letter, “Be alert for people walking in traffic,” fails to acknowledge pedestrians are endangered. The writer “calls out” the handicapped in particular.

I’m one of “the handicapped.” In the last three years, I’ve nearly been hit by inattentive or speeding drivers eight times. Once I was knocked over when the driver didn’t look right as she made her turn.

Recently I was almost killed by a speeding driver who refused to stop when I was in the crosswalk. The police I called cited me to criminal court for vandalism because the car was damaged when it struck my walker. Police refused to cite the driver for violating laws for reckless driving. It’s not a crime if they don’t see it!

I have nearly been hit in the same crosswalk to St. John’s Cathedral. I’ve nearly lost my life four times walking across Fresno Street to Community Hospital. Other wheelchair and walker users tell me even worse horror stories.

How can the disabled protect themselves from seemingly uncaring drivers? Does California need a “Stand Your Ground” ordinance so the handicapped can shoot to kill reckless drivers who endanger us?

Left to grieve over all the greed

Clinton lied about sex. Trump lied about national security, to his benefit, to our detriment, to Russia’s advantage. Nixon broke laws, but in the end resigned for the good of the nation. Trump continues to resist all attempts to reveal the full extent of his lies, and the damage they have incurred to our nation. Not one Republican senator has risen to declare those actions unacceptable. This collective sin of omission will do even more damage to America than the acts of the man who, by his example, showed them how to Make America Greedy Again.

Dyer’s fitness to be Fresno mayor

The circumstances of Jerry Dyer’s apparent criminal behavior with a minor girl while he was a police officer are directly relevant to his integrity and fitness to be mayor.

He apparently committed serious crimes, yet was not fired or prosecuted. Did he lie to internal affairs investigators when questioned about his actions? Did he use his position as a police officer to threaten or do favors for witnesses to keep them silent? Can we trust him as mayor when he will not satisfactorily explain these circumstances?

If Mr. Dyer is innocent of misconduct, he should say so. If he is not innocent of misconduct, he should tell the voters why his actions do not make him unfit for office.

Poor living conditions are unacceptable

On February 2017 the city of Fresno adopted the Rental Housing Improvement Act (RHIA) as a way to address the poor housing conditions within the city. The RHIA is intended to safeguard and improve the quality of residential rental housing units by providing comprehensive and regular inspections.

It has come to our attention that there have been many issues regarding rental homes not meeting the standard appropriate living conditions. Many of the areas that are severely affected are those of low-income and multiracial families in the areas of Fresno. This is a problem because families may not be aware of their legal rights as being renters and their ability to have acceptable living conditions. Tenants should be aware of the benefits that the RHIA provides. If the landlords are not following protocols for regular inspections, they should be penalized for such violations.

For more information on the RHIA, contact the city of Fresno at (559) 621-7368 or visit the website www.fresno.gov/rentalhousing.

Need to embrace marathon, runners

After reading the letter from Jon Schwabenland (Dec. 4) regarding his being inconvenienced by the Two Cities Marathon, I’d like for him and others to see a much bigger picture.

The 2CM brings about $1 million dollars into the local communities and encourages thousands of runners and walkers to lead healthier lives. I have run marathons in every state in the U.S. and every province in Canada, and find that people everywhere embrace their local marathon by cheering the runners and helping at aid stations.

Many times, I’ve had aid stations set-up in front of and manned by churches. Over the last 20 years I’ve also coached 1,000s of local runners who have learned to love running and embrace healthier ways of living.

I’d like for Mr. Schwanbenland to think of others (Phil. 2:3) in the community and for one day of the year come up with a different plan for going to church.

Thanks Senate for Armenian vote

My father escaped from Armenia during the (1915) genocide. Before his escape, he witnessed countless atrocities, including the beheading of his father for refusing to renounce Christ when demanded to do so by Turkish soldiers.

Fortunately, with help from some missionaries, my father was able to escape from Armenia and ultimately make it to his new country, the United States. He loved his new country deeply, and was always grateful for the chance to live in a free and safe place. Despite all he endured, he was never bitter or angry. All he wanted was for the world to know about and remember the Armenian genocide.

Finally, we have a Senate that has formally recognized what happened to the Armenians. So in response to the rhetorical question "Who remembers the Armenians?" once posed by Adolf Hitler while discussing his plan of ethnic cleansing, all Americans can say, the United States of America remembers!

Trump and person of the year

How sad is it that while President Trump was being impeached, he lashed out at 16-year-old Greta Thunberg because he was runner-up to her in Time magazine’s Person of the Year. The title goes to an individual or group who had the most impact, not always good, during the year.

Greta is trying to bring awareness to global climate change. Trump is trying to bring awareness only to himself.

President Obama won the Time title twice plus a Nobel Peace Prize, which might be a reason why Trump keeps on attacking him. Trump did get the title once when he was elected and is tied with the likes of Hitler and Putin for being Person of the Year only once. Presidents Nixon and Clinton, both impeached, won the title twice, so Trump still has a chance for the next Person of the Year.

Prop. 13 debate starts to sizzle

Let’s do Prop. 13 2.0. The Prop. 13 debate is hot on the plate. Homeowners fueled by business and corporate big wigs rode a wave of tax dregs, who really didn’t buy the destruction of public education and general placating of necessary social services argument. Many people were drastically hurt when state resources dwindled to all-time lows for local public schools and general services programs.

The 1978 amendment our of our California state constitution, through a voter initiative on the ballot, led by the infamous angry Howard Jarvis, was a watershed movement, by so-called angry property taxpayers .

Needless to say, the argument still stands, local school districts and many people not well heeled have suffered under Republican moral and ethical lack of compassion, while, for a few greedy bucks stifled California’s progressive lead. Since then, many political issues, such as gerrymandering, and Prop. 187, gave California a mixed reputation.

And as is said, “ as California goes, so goes the country. “ And much to my chagrin, the country went south.

This story was originally published December 29, 2019 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Rep. Devin Nunes, Jerry Dyer, President Trump and more in letters to the editor."