Grateful for show of support for immigrants

Thank you, Santa Cruz Sentinel, for the picture and article on Friday’s front page (Nov. 8) in support of our immigrant community. It was a thrill to know that our county’s leaders have pledged to do everything possible to continue the services our friends and neighbors count on.

Thanks for letting us know. Thanks to those leaders for their outspoken commitment.

— Rachel Lowe, Watsonville

Why ‘ultra-left’ Democrats taught party a lesson

Lots of tearful handwringing by Democrats since Tuesday, but the causes of this “surprising” defeat seem clear.

How could Trump beat Kamala (note that Trump is usually referred to by his last name and Vice President Harris by her first name)?

For the second time, an extremely qualified woman was beaten by a white male carnival barker. Is it possible that much of the country is not quite ready for a female president?

In 2016, ultra-left Democrats stayed home because they didn’t like how Bernie Sanders was being treated by the DNC. In 2024, ultra-left Democrats stayed home because they didn’t like the Biden/Harris Middle East policies. So they taught the Democratic party a lesson, and we ended up with Donald Trump again.

It seems that indignant Democrats are willing to sacrifice the future of the country and possibly the world to score moral points rather than win.

The Democrats need to decide whether outcomes matter or whether to stick with self-righteous indignation. Our children depend on it..

— Ron Morse, Scotts Valley

Newsom’s ‘fight’ vs. Trump excludes many voters

Just three days out from the election and I read that Gov. Gavin Newsom is ready to spend unlimited taxpayer money fighting any and all proposals that President-elect Trump might make.

“We rejected him. ...We rejected his values. ... We rejected his agenda,” the governor said.

By current count, 33 of California’s 58 counties and over 40% of California voters actually do support Trump, his values and his agenda.

Newsom’s “we” excludes lots of “us.”

— Steven Ward, Santa Cruz

‘Nation dodged a bullet’ by defeating Harriz-Walz

Like Donald Trump, the nation dodged a bullet on Tuesday.

Kamala Harris told NBC that Biden was “capable in every way” after his disastrous debate performance, where what most of us already knew was put on national display. Harris was either unperceiving, dimwitted, or untruthful.

Against the inflation/border overrun/military disaster of her administration, The View host asked if she’d have done anything differently from Biden. After a blank look, she offered a now-famous reply that even if honest was politically the dumbest. Charles Cooke of the National Review offered that “She’s wildly, catastrophically, incontestably out of her depth.”

Running mate Tim Walz said that “There’s no guarantee to free speech on misinformation or hate speech.” What a colossal misunderstanding about the First Amendment! Walz’s claim is as alarming as the UK now jailing citizens for “grossly offensive” tweets. Three cheers for the Declaration of Independence.

Kudos to the electorate for preserving us from these two.

— Tom Pennello, Santa Cruz

Not his fault that people voted for Trump

I woke up Wednesday morning close to despair after Donald Trump was elected president. Then on Sunday (Nov. 10) I read Fareed Zakaria’s Commentary and learned it was my fault. Because I thought people fleeing oppression and violence should be treated humanely, that attempting to overthrow the U.S. government by force should have consequences, and that all human beings are entitled to a minimum of respect, to include calling them by their name, I made people vote for Donald Trump.

No. It isn’t my fault.

— Stephen Brown, Santa Cruz

No justification possible to explain voting for Trump

To those who voted for Trump. I’m tired of hearing your justifications.

You voted for a rapist. You voted for a felon. End of discussion.

— Barbara Halliday, Santa Cruz