Generals calling Trump a fascist

Re “Harris decries Trump after his reported fascination with Hitler” (Oct. 24):

As a former junior officer in the military I can assuredly say that generals in “general” like to be able to give orders (which are in itself fascist) and don’t like to be ordered around. Just try to disobey them and see what happens! The Constitution gave overall command to our democratically elected civilian leaders. MacArthur was fired by Truman during the Korean War for trying to start a land war in Asia with China. JFK during the Cuban Missile crisis had to quash Gen. Curtis Lemay to stop him from bombing everyone into the Stone Age. Lincoln was famous for having trouble with his generals. The real fascists are the military men who want to be in charge of the president, not the other way around. If they can’t stand working for Trump, they can resign.

— Angelo Summa, Mission Viejo

Legal immigration

Re “Do not let your humanity slide” (Oct. 20):

I am 74 years old and I have never met an American citizen who has opposed legal immigration; therefore, we have not let our humanity slide. What is dehumanizing is the author using children and selected heartbreaking stories to justify illegal immigration that has resulted in the murder, rape and deadly fentanyl overdoses of American citizens.

I also have to caution: more illegal immigration will not humanize anyone; particularly, when the U.S. government spends billions of dollars to support the illegal population while spending virtually nothing on U.S. citizens whose lives were destroyed by two recent hurricanes.

— Paul Lawendowski, Long Beach

Phillips 66 refinery closure

Another result of the new ABX2-1 law and other laws is that one of the two Phillips refineries will close. So now the new powers of the California Energy Commission will force the remaining eight refineries to “conserve” (that means store) more refined gasoline to guard against “supply shortages.” According to Gov. Gavin Newsom, this will stop “Big Oil” from gouging and the public.

The reality outside Sacramento is that there will be less gas available, so the price will go up, not down. Supply and demand strikes again. Add this cost to existing and escalating inflation. Once again, another law is forcing more drivers to convert to EVs, assuming they can afford to. More control. More dictatorial oversight. More nonsense. Big Oil is not the problem, Sacramento is the problem.

— Hayden Lening, Claremont

Keys to the presidency

Susan Shelley’s Oct. 20 critique of Allan Lichtman’s “13 Keys to the White House” misinterprets his framework. Lichtman, with a proven record, defined the criteria, so claiming he’s “wrong” is misguided.

For Key 3 (no serious contest for the incumbent), Shelley argues the Democratic primary was contested because Kamala Harris took over after Biden stepped aside. But the party overwhelmingly rallied behind her, which aligns with Lichtman’s definition. On Key 8 (civil unrest), Shelley points to protests and social tensions, but Lichtman defines unrest as sustained instability during the election. While unrest exists, it doesn’t meet that threshold. Finally, Key 13 (the challenger is uncharismatic): Trump excites his base, but Lichtman’s definition requires broad appeal, which Trump lacks. Harris, however, may fit the bill.

Shelley’s deviations from Lichtman’s definitions weaken her critique. Therefore, Harris is poised to become the first woman, and one of mixed race, to shatter the ultimate glass ceiling in American politics.

— Elaine Neff, Mission Hills

Trump’s words

Re “Trump denigrates Harris as ‘lazy,’ invoking racist trope” (Oct. 23):

Once again, the newspaper proves itself to be nothing but a DNC newsletter with biased election coverage in its supposed “news” section. Trump called Harris lazy because with only two weeks to go before election day, she takes the day off with no campaign events scheduled, while Trump had events in Florida and North Carolina on the same day. This after Harris calls Trump “exhausted.”

— Grant Rose, Orange