Fresno Bee letters: On Russia’s Putin, gas prices, congressional race and more

Putin made mistake, West is unified

Here we go again. First it was Adolf Hitler, and now it is Vladimir Putin. The game plan is still the same. Destroy your perceived enemies as well as Western democracy and shape the world in your own image.

He drew a line in the sand for the West not to cross, but he has made a critical mistake. He has determined the Western world does not have the stomach to stop him. He also made Europe dependent on his oil and gas in the hopes that when he was at that point with Europe, he could then proceed with his mission. At this point he appears to be wrong.

Western democracies are joining together to do just that, stop him. The alternative is to let this evil human being fulfill his grandiose dreams of world power with him as its ruler. Not until hell freezes over.

Pain at the pump of Biden’s making

“A picture is worth a thousand words.” A cartoon in the Fresno Bee, labeled, “Pain at the pump, “ depicted a man filling his gas tank.

His rear end was scorched from a smoking hose behind him labeled, “Russia.” There is certainly some truth to this cartoon, however, it’s incomplete.

America experienced pain at the pump, immediately, when President Biden took office and gave an executive order turning America from an oil exporter to an oil importer by handcuffing the American oil industry. As a result, gas prices increased, exponentially, fueling inflation.

Additionally, he approved the oil pipeline from Russia to Germany, thus giving Russia even more control of our oil situation.

Now, we have Russia invading Ukraine, which puts more pressure on oil imports, resulting in increased prices at the pump; thus the cartoon. However, Biden had the option to take the handcuffs off our oil industry, reducing, “pain at the pump.” Yet, he has refused to do so, thus punishing Americans with even higher gas prices and increased inflation.

So, returning to the cartoon, we can make it complete. Simply visualize the hose labeled, “Russia,” extending to the hand and arm of a grinning Biden as he points to the end of the hose. Or, as Paul Harvey used to say, “And there’s the rest of the story … good day.”

Contrary to letter, Conway is qualified

Timothy McKeever states that none of the four Republican candidates to replace Rep. Devin Nunes (Elizabeth Heng, Michael Maher, Connie Conway and Matt Stoll) are qualified to hold public office, apparently because he disagrees with various statements they have made or positions they have taken (letter, Feb. 27).

Candidate Connie Conway has held public office for more than 14 years. She served on the Tulare County Board of Supervisors for eight years, and chaired the board for two of those years. She was a member of the California Assembly for six years and was minority leader for four years. Her resume includes a term as president of the California State Assembly of Counties.

One may disagree with Ms. Conway on specific issues, but such disagreements in no way support the conclusion that someone with her history of public service is not qualified to hold public office.

Water votes by Costa, Radanovich

Why is the Central Valley’s Friant Dam water being diverted to the ocean?

In 1992, legislation was passed that began the process of taking Valley CVP water and sending it to the ocean without human benefit. In that legislation, Friant Dam was protected from Friant water being flushed to the ocean. It stated only an act of Congress could change that.

That act of Congress occurred in 2009 when Valley Congressional Representatives George Radanovich and Jim Costa co-sponsored, negotiated and voted for the 2009 San Joaquin River Restoration Act that’s redirecting Friant Dam’s farm and city water to the ocean.

Costa and Radanovich partnered with Diane Feinstein to divert Valley water to the Bay Area. Their actions have destabilized our Valley economy.

Friant Dam was built in the 1940s for three purposes: Flood control, irrigation and hydroelectric production. For more than 60 years, Friant Dam provided Valley cities and farms a stable fresh water source they could rely on, even in times of drought.

Jim Costa and George Radanovich changed that, and their votes are destroying the Valley economy. Now they want your vote to represent the same Valley area. Jim Costa and George Radanovich cannot be trusted with your vote.

Section 3 and Jan. 6 rioters

I think Bee readers should ponder what the Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution says should happen to the Jan. 6 insurrectionists.

“No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President or Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who having previously taken an oath, as a member of . . .” [lists all public officials] “to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.”

Are all elected and appointed public officials, both federal and state, obliged to obey and enforce all provisions of the Constitution—or just some of them? Is the attorney general of the U.S. bound by the mandate of Section 3?

Conservatives, move to Russia and Putin

The far right American Putin supporters who rally behind him should be offered a one-way plane ticket to Russia and be forced to live under his oppressive regime. Maybe then they will realize all the freedoms we have here and quit whining about how they are losing their country. Really? How bad is it here?

Especially the lack of Christian love shown by many evangelicals who have lost the true meaning of Jesus’ message and replaced it with prosperity above all else. Our fate will be determined by by our creator.

I have determined the reason Trump has so many supporters is because they want to emulate him and justify their hate. That was evident on Jan. 6, 2020. The topper for me was when Trump said he hasn’t done anything to ask God to forgive him for. Actions speak louder words, so keep on grabbing Mr ‘T’

I am not being judgmental, just using discernment.

Mexico, explain your Russia stance

It’s totally disappointing after hearing, through the news media, that Mexico would not participate in sanctioning Vladimir Putin for his brutal attack and human rights violations on Ukraine. Short of sounding melodramatic, my emotions quickly boiled, but quickly settled to a sad demeanor.

Albeit, being one totally ignorant of the motives and or policies Mexico may have concerning the existential situation in the region, my reaction may be premature. However, there is a line one could draw in the present destruction of Ukraine ….the slash and burn deserves, being a post graduate student of international relations, an explanation of the inane diplomatic position being employed by my country of ancestry. Suffice it to say, Mexico’s decision is by its government and not the majority of the people of Mexico. I see no “silver lining” for their refusal to sanction.

Mexico is doing remarkably well presently and historically in its human rights record while deserving kudos for the treatment of Central American refugees at their borders.

It just sadly boggles my mind accepting the possibly, or should say puzzling to me, that the Mexican government gains no positive political positioning in the Western Hemisphere by resisting sanctions, vis a vis, what’s playing out in the tragic account, beset on the world by a mad man.

Sweeping misdeeds under the rug

Conservative politicians are creating yet another alternate reality in order to pander to their base. Their new bogeyman is “critical race theory.” Forget the fact that critical race theory has never been taught in K-12 schools or that most of the folks opposing it freely admit that they don’t know what critical race theory is. Conservatives have now redefined critical race theory as being any teaching of racial history that might make white people feel “uncomfortable.”

In another example of MAGA bullying, supporters pushing this agenda have taken to making threats of violence against the lives and safety of duly elected school officials, their families and anyone else who disagrees with their philosophy.

Unfortunately, their efforts have been successful in some states, and those students will no longer be able to evaluate the true facts of our nation’s history.

Excluding the factual teaching of our treatment of Native Americans, the enslavement of African-Americans and the internment of Japanese-Americans denies us the truth of our history. The censoring of historical facts will never result in more harmonious relations between races, and can only serve to further divide us. Sweeping our misdeeds under the rug is not the solution.

This story was originally published March 20, 2022 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Fresno Bee letters: On Russia’s Putin, gas prices, congressional race and more."