Bee reader’s letter: There are many reasons Kevin McCarthy does not deserve re-election

Reasons to not support Kevin McCarthy

In my opinion, Rep. Kevin McCarthy does not deserve to be re-elected to the House of Representatives. Why not?

Because McCarthy displayed his fecklessness when he initially condemned Donald Trump’s Jan. 6 coup attempt, then after visiting Trump in Mar-a-Lago, suddenly, he began defending Trump’s treason.

Worse, McCarthy used his leadership position to block any attempt to investigate the Jan. 6 insurrection, thereby attempting to insure Trump would not be held accountable.

Next, McCarthy opposed legislation designed to provide relief from our recent American battle with inflation, legislation drafted to create computer chip manufacturing in the United States, legislation created to combat climate change, and, legislation designed to allow Medicare to bargain drug prices.

Finally, despite strong evidence that Trump violated national security laws by hoarding highly classified material, McCarthy defended Trump’s grave national security breaches and, irresponsibly, attacked federal law enforcement agencies.

Make no mistake, Kevin McCarthy has shown that he puts partisan politics and abject loyalty to Donald Trump ahead of our national security, the welfare of our American citizens and his oath of office to defend the Constitution. In my opinion, Kevin McCarthy does not deserve to be re-elected to the House of Representatives.

Record lottery earnings, few winnings

I want to initiate an audit for the California Lottery. Why? I believe that, from being a daily customer, that the board and/or administrators are scamming the poor residents of California. I would say their behavior is comparable to the NFL Hall of Famer, Brett Favre and others who misspent millions of dollars allocated for the poor.

What am I saying with this comparison? California Lottery laws specifically state that the lottery is for funding public education. Question: What percentage is to be designated to public education? According to a Sept. 8 Bee article, the lottery reported record revenues of $8.4 billion, with about $1.86 billion going to schools. What percentage of record revenue has to go to schools? What is the designation for the other $6.14 billion?

What I do know is, if you buy 100 of the $5 Scratchers, with loads of $500 prizes, over $30,000 worth, and win nothing, what’s up with that? How about the poor guy who has little money for bills, taking his last $10 to buy a Scratcher with loads of $50 and $100 prizes. Liar, liar, pants on fire! It’s just scandalous is what it is.

Campaign of silence helps no one

“Shy candidates” seems like an oxymoron, but that seems to be the case locally. The local Democratic Party cancelled its debate because of lack of candidate participation. Now the League of Women Voters has withdrawn its collaboration with the Citizens Climate Lobby for a political forum because our rules prohibit us from participating if only a single candidate from a race is willing to participate. Unfortunately, that is the case. And I just learned about another planned forum which only has two candidates ready and willing to speak up.

This “campaign of silence” is an insult to the public. How are we supposed to vote intelligently if the candidates only want us to see their prepared expensive attack ads on television? Shouldn’t we have the opportunity to hear them debate, or at least discuss, in person? It seems like candidates are using a strategy of non-participation to avoid sharing their views with the public.

Something needs to be done. Perhaps in order to get on the ballot you have to sign a pledge that you will participate in at least two non-partisan debates or forums. Or maybe The Bee shouldn’t endorse anyone who won’t participate in these public educational events

Get real bad guys, not hot-dog vendors

What has our law enforcement come to? There was a Mexican music festival at Save Mart Center in Fresno. There were hot dog vendors in the parking lot selling bacon-wrapped hot dogs like they always do after any sporting event or concert. I ususaly buy one or two and they are really good.

I watched a video of the health department and some police officers dumping a 16-year-old Hispanic male vendor’s merchandise in the trash. I am assuming because he doesn’t have a permit. None of these guys have permits. They are just trying to make a little extra money. Legally, but no. Throw away perfectly good food.

This is the most ludicrous thing I have heard of. We have lots of crime. But this is what Jerry Dyer and the rest of our public officials are worried about? What a joke. This is an embarrassment to our city at the expense of hard-working vendors who aren’t asking for handouts. How can they stoop this low? Focus on the real problem: The shootings that take place every day in our city.

A slap at Jim Sweeney by Fresno State

As a former Fresno State football player, I was sad to learn that the Jim Sweeney Field sign was removed the week of Sept. 1, which would have been Coach Sweeney’s 93rd birthday. I played from 1976 to 1980, and my last game was the first game played in the new Bulldog Stadium. There would be no Bulldog Stadium without Jim Sweeney and his Red Wave.

I understand that removing the field sign was a part of the controversial stadium-naming agreement with Valley Children’s. I cannot fathom why the administrations of either organization thought it was imperative to remove the sign honoring Coach, which should have been left in perpetuity. In doing so, Valley Children’s and Fresno State have unnecessarily insulted the Sweeney family and all of Coach’s former players.

Change the name so it does not offend

“Squaw Valley residents vent anger” was on a recemt front page. This place-name issue spotlights an ugly history of malicious treatment of California indigenous people in the 19th century, where at least 90% of their population died. But it was clear that the crowd at this public meeting were not interested in listening to the facts of history or the moral arguments to make a change.

Among their arguments against change was that they were not alive when the worst atrocities happened; that it was not them personally who had dispossessed the Yokut people of their lands, so, why should they be held account for past wrongs ? I would ask these people to consider: are you an American ? Do you assume the rights, privileges and identity of being American ? If so, then you must also accept the consequences of the history of the American people. Cherry-picking only the “good parts” of history is hypocrisy.

Every American is morally bound to right past wrongs of our history. Need a precedent, an example ? In 1988 President Regan apologized to all of the Japanese-Americans for their racist and unjust internment during WWII.

Just change the name.

Magsig meeting get out of hand

Nathan Magsig, Fresno County Supervisor District 5, let the mob rule recently at the Bear Mountain Library. The meeting was supposed to be about a possible name change for our local community. The mob yelled, clapped, and made threats during the entire meeting as individuals tried to talk. Our supervisor did nothing other than try to claim that he was being neutral on the issue.

It was obvious that he was not. I have lived in the area for 41 years and this was the worst showing of bad behavior that I have ever seen at a public meeting. Our public officials must do better at providing for civil discourse at public meetings.

This story was originally published October 8, 2022 at 5:30 AM with the headline "Bee reader’s letter: There are many reasons Kevin McCarthy does not deserve re-election."