A good book

Thanks, Larry Wilson, for the column “Red Hen Press celebrates” (Oct. 2). For all of us lovers of books, it is a privilege to have such a prestigious publishing house right here in Pasadena, Red Hen Press, the “Biggest Little Indie Nonprofit Literary Publishers.”

And for Larry to have a major part in helping the owner/publisher Kate Gale move their business right here to Pasadena 15 years ago, well, I think that’s pretty cool.

I loved Kate’s quote: “I still think when you take a real book and sit down on the couch or in the backyard, it signals to the brain that you’re not working. You’re doing it for enjoyment. We all spend our working lives with hours in front of screens.”

I couldn’t agree more. I’m going to take a break from all the craziness for a while, and go grab that special book I’ve been putting off reading.

Ahhh ... so relaxing!

— William Stremel, South Pasadena,

Likely the race

Adam Schiff ran advertisements saying Steve Garvey is too conservative for California because he thought Garvey would be the easiest of primary candidates to beat. He was wrong then and now loses a TV debate and likely the race to Garvey.

Voters need only to remember Schiff lied to Congress, perpetrated the Russian hoax that cost taxpayers millions, and was never held accountable.

What positive impact has he done for his district as he amassed a personal fortune? Garvey is clearly the best choice for the Senate.

— Rod McKenzie, Altadena

Differing narratives

I appreciate Dave E. Matson’s thoughtful and temperate reply to my letter about Charlottesville and the pursuit of truth.

He acknowledges that I might be right but chooses to be agnostic on the merits. Has he seen Steve Cortez’s five-minute video at Prageru.com and Snopes.com, which I cited?

But I understand: if one really concluded that the years-long Charlottesville “narrative” of Biden, Harris, the Democratic Party and their media cheerleaders is not true, that would have painful consequences.

Mr. Matson engages in speculations and declines to confront the obvious, that Trump, who has a Jewish daughter-in-law and who specifically stated “I am not talking about White supremacists or neo-Nazis, who should be condemned totally,” was expressly limiting his “good people on both sides” to the monument controversy.

While Mr. Matson asserts that “Democrats hardly need this point,” they apparently didn’t get the memo, as this endless dishonest “narrative” has been their raison d’etre ever since Biden declared it to be the reason for his candidacy in 2020.

Mr. Matson’s attempt to finesse Harris out of complicity in this fabrication is unpersuasive. This has all been orchestrated. If indeed I am right, which I am, then Trump was not praising White supremacists and neo-Nazis, and Biden, Harris, Schiff, the Democratic Party and the “impartial,” “factchecking,” “watchdog” media have peddled a monstrous lie over the past several years.

My appeal was, for those who care about the truth, to make the attempt to find the truth, not avoid it.

— Rich Mason, Altadena

A personal issue

What a sad situation that abortion is a pivotal issue in the forthcoming federal elections.

Apparently, there is no single position which is acceptable to the majority of the voters.

Abortion is a personal moral issue which can not be resolved politically.

— Joseph F. Paggi, Jr., Pasadena

A legitimate election

Kindly pull, pull your head out of the sand, Mr. Goldstein (Oct. 2). Isn’t it pretty obvious that Trump, who attempted to subvert a legitimate election, who was key to an attack on our Capitol, is a threat to our democracy?

Add no sense of decency, an ambition for unlimited power as per Project 2025 (just fine with MAGA Republicans before it turned into political poison), and a cultic following and we have something truly scary! Don’t need a Ph.D. to figure that one out!

— Dave E. Matson, Pasadena