Readers Write: Attempted Trump assassination, polarization, immigration, addiction

Opinion editor’s note: Strib Voices publishes letters from readers online and in print each day. To contribute, click here.

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Kudos to the Secret Service for preventing an attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a Florida golf course. I assume the ex-president’s protection level was already higher after the shooting in Pennsylvania. Perhaps his security needs to be further intensified. Kudos also to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for their good wishes for Trump and their condemnation of political violence in general.

Trump fomented violence on Jan. 6, 2021, and he resisted pleas to stop the rioters storming the Capitol during the official count of Electoral College ballots. His statements about acting as dictator for a day and using the presidency to pursue his political enemies demonstrate that he would continue to threaten our democracy should he be re-elected. During a previous campaign, he joked about not losing voters even if he shot someone “in the middle of Fifth Avenue,” and he urged attendees at his rally to “knock the crap out of” any protesters they encountered. During protests after George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis, he tweeted, “When the looting starts, the shooting starts.” All the same, he deserves protection against the same type of violent acts he advocates.

We are better than this. The United States has a mechanism for the peaceful transfer of power. We must keep Trump alive and well so that we can use our votes to reject his ugly vision for our nation, which is based on dividing us against ourselves and genuflecting to a tyrant who demands loyalty to his every abomination. We must keep Trump on the ballot so that we can make the deliberate choice to reject violence, to preserve sanity in government and to reclaim patriotism for those who support democracy and the rule of law.

Jeff Naylor, Minneapolis

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On Sunday, after the latest assassination attempt on Trump, presidential candidate and current Vice President Harris sent out a bland reaction post on X (formerly Twitter).

I would have had much more respect for Harris if she would have held a Sunday night news conference at the White House and then announced (without the teleprompter): “As much as I despise Trump and want him to lose the election, these assassination attempts on him are going to end, effective immediately.

“Tonight, former President Trump is going to get the maximum amount of Secret Service and local law enforcement protection that he deserves and needs, until Election Day.

“I met with President Joe Biden just a few hours ago and he has given me his full support going forward. And he will be briefing you folks tomorrow morning.

“That’s it. Have a good night everyone.”

I’ll bet Harris would have gained more respect and more votes among many American citizens with my above fantasy news conference.

Neil F. Anderson, Richfield

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Trump was just trying to relax on the golf course after a week of fanning the flames of xenophobia when a second attempt on his life was thwarted.

Instead of reflecting on how stirring up hatred and being so friendly with the National Rifle Association might have led to these crimes aimed at him, his main message was: “I will NEVER SURRENDER!”

That sounds like something a two-bit dictator would say in the same situation. Surrender?! Maybe say you will survive or something less narcissistic instead?

As for his other claim of “I AM SAFE AND WELL,” the second adjective would be questioned by many.

Laurie Eckblad Anderson, Minneapolis

Dear President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris (and liberals in general):

In many public appearances you repeat that ex-President Donald Trump is going to destroy our democracy. This may come as a surprise to you, but he didn’t destroy our democracy, and he will not destroy our democracy (”All of us make up the ‘real’ America,” Readers Write, Sept. 16).

The reason you may think that conservatives think that liberals hate America (I do not) is due to the policies implemented during the Biden/Harris administration and the current Walz administration.

We have every right to put our ideas, thoughts and conclusions forward without liberals suggesting we are arrogant for doing so.

Conservatives do respect the Constitution and tend to include it in their thinking. I seldom hear any liberal reference the Constitution in any manner except to change it to their liking.

Your fellow American,

Gwen Kienholz, Baxter, Minn.

Saturday’s Star Tribune quoted JD Vance’s spokespeople denouncing the recent bomb threats in Springfield, Ohio, saying, “Sen. Vance condemns these threats and believes that those responsible should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.” I completely agree and submit that Vance himself, and Trump, who of course inspired him, are among “those responsible.” After Trump accused Haitian immigrants living in Springfield of eating fellow residents’ cats and dogs — and then doubled down on his accusation by including geese living in Springfield’s parks — and after Vance parroted Trump’s ridiculous and subsequently debunked statements to his Ohio constituents and the world, what can one logically expect other than the violence displayed by Trump’s followers? What does it take to believe these ridiculous stories? Moreover, how many times will Trump’s followers allow him to insult their intelligence? Surely, we’re smarter than this, and, as it concerns Trump, better judges of character. Sadly, racism is usually explained by one’s fears and sense of insecurity, and probably also some degree of disappointment with ourselves and our lives. The net result: Trump goads his followers into myriad, sometimes violent, prejudicial assaults on immigrants, with allegations ranging from stealing jobs and eating cats and dogs to murder and rape. Personally, I am much more concerned about a adjudicated sex abuser in the White House than I am about the border-related accusations Trump and his followers largely manufacture.

Dan Haugen, Plymouth

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Trump was right about one thing in last week’s debate. The president of the United States cannot impose legislation; it has to go through Congress. Perhaps that is why, after nearly 10 years of promises, he still hasn’t shown us his wonderful, tremendous, beautiful, health care plan that would replace Obamacare.

In reality, we don’t need fantasy plans that can’t realistically be implemented within our existing separation of powers. Perhaps a concept of a plan is enough. What we actually need from a candidate for president is evidence of their character and their governing philosophy.

What is their vision of the United States’ position in the world? What is their economic philosophy? How do they see the role of government? How should government support everyday Americans, small businesses, large businesses? Will they govern representing all of us or just their cronies? What are their beliefs surrounding our social safety net? Do they respect democracy and the rule of law? How will they make decisions?

One candidate has shown repeatedly that he will believe any crazy story he’s been told without questioning or asking for evidence. He throws out inflammatory stories as if they are hand grenades with no consideration of the truth or the potential damage. The most recent examples include newborns being murdered in Minnesota, children getting sex-change operations at school and immigrants eating family pets. His amplification of that false rumor has caused bomb threats in elementary schools.

Think about it. Do you want a president who is this gullible as our commander in chief? Seriously, can he be trusted with the nuclear codes?

Rochelle Eastman, Savage

Once again we hear the story of evil doctors who prescribe medication to ease their patients’ intolerable pain and turn them into drug addicts (”One man’s fight to end his opioid addiction,” Sept. 14).

Many people (including myself) have taken OxyContin and similar medications for episodes of acute pain, used them responsibly and have not chosen to go out and buy illegal street drugs when our prescriptions ran out.

Prescription opioids do not lead inevitably to drug addiction. Let’s not blame the drugs or the doctors.

Elaine K. Murray, Minneapolis