Trump’s address to Congress

For the first time, I almost felt sorry for Democrats as I watched them during President Trump’s address. There they sat, stony faces, no expressions, holding up meaningless signs, and showing that they truly are heartless by refusing to acknowledge the special guests. How could they not have responded to the anguish on the faces of those who had lost loved ones because of their open borders? How could they have sat motionless when a child was given his great wish to become an American agent? Could there have been any more proof that the Democratic Party is dead?

— Arline George, Reseda

Raising cane

Democrat Al Green’s cane swinging at Donald Trump during the President’s address to Congress is reminiscent of another Democrat’s cane swinging when Republicans sought to move our country in a new direction. In 1856, Representative Preston Brooks, a pro-slavery Democrat, used his cane to severely beat Sen. Charles Sumner, a Republican who sought to end slavery in America.

It is stunning the ease with which Democrats claim “democracy is ending” while promoting violence to thwart the actions of democratically elected officials. Democracy is not about getting your way, it’s about citizens picking the way they want things to go and then things actually going that way.

— Jeff Roberts, Laguna Niguel

What a pitiful display of the Democratic portion of the U.S. Congress

In Trump’s speech March 4, he took a few shots, but did reach out to them for unity in joining “our” agenda. One person had to be ejected, but the rest of the Dems stood silent during all the recognitions of civilian heroes. Many had placards with “False.” One had a placard that said “When will you pay taxes” even though he pays monumental amounts of tax yearly and serves this term and his last without pay.

— Hayden Lening, Claremont

Trump/Zelenskyy

Kudos to Rafael Perez for writing a fantastic overview March 4 of the dismal, disgraceful, pathetic performance by Trump and Vance last Friday in the Oval Office. It was clear that Zelenskyy is a brave leader standing up for the truth and for his country while Trump is a bully/liar and Vance is a nasty minion doing Trump’s bidding. I am so proud of Zelenskyy and ashamed of Trump/Vance. Zelenskyy does not need to apologize for anything! If Ukraine falls, we all fall and should hang our heads in shame.

— Carl J. Doerksen, Mission Viejo

Ukraine war

Mr. Perez is wrong! President Trump is working to end the war in the Ukraine. Ukraine is a very corrupt country ranking 105 out of 180 countries with a score of 35 out of a possible 100. The previous administration wasted hundreds of billions in graft-ridden aid money and never even got a cease-fire.

The hardworking American taxpayer should not be paying for other peoples’ wars. NATO and the European Union have a legal and moral obligation to deal with this war. Zelenskyy showed up looking like a thug and demanded Americans rescue his country. No! No more foreign entanglements!

— Conrad von Blankenburg, Rancho Palos Verdes

California’s sorry state of affairs

Re “Newsom orders workers back to office” (March 5):

Why has it taken so long for Gov. Newsom to order almost half of the state government employees back to work by July 1? The balance of state employees already were back to work either in their offices or in a home/office hybrid mode. The pandemic had burned itself out over three years ago, so why the hesitancy to return to work?

In the meantime, state buildings have been underutilized and taxpayers have to continue funding their existence.

Ironically, unvetted migrants continued to receive funding. This habit of wasting taxpayer dollars is similar to what is occurring at the federal level. Empty or underutilized government buildings and employees “working” from home are not recipes for the judicious use of tax revenues. Taxpayers ought to be furious at this sorry state of affairs.

— Christian Milord, Fullerton