Leaders of the Free World fawning over tyrants
Brooklyn: Vice President JD Vance was correct to point out to European leaders in Munich that there is a growing “censorship from within” in Europe. However, that threat is coming primarily from Russia and Hungary, two nations where freedom of the press and freedom of speech have largely disappeared under the war criminal Vladimir Putin and the autocrat Viktor Orban.
Censorship and political persecution have also increased in the non-European NATO member Turkey under the militant Islamist Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has destroyed the pro-Western democracy created a century ago by the secularist Kemal Ataturk.
Of course, Vance was not referring to these three nations since he knows that President Trump is a strong admirer of their leaders and wishes to emulate them. No, he was referring to stable democracies like Germany and France, which are faced with a growing threat from ultra-right-wing political parties.
Vance and Trump are particularly upset that none of the main political parties in Germany are willing to form a coalition government with the pro-Russian, anti-Ukrainian and neo-Nazi AfD, or “Alternative For Germany.” Vance actually denounced a so-called “firewall” against right-wing parties and even met with AfD’s leader, Alice Weidel, in a blatant case of interference with the upcoming German national elections.
What further proof is needed of the moral and intellectual bankruptcy of this administration? Dennis Middlebrooks
Ally betrayal
Omaha: Calling President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a dictator is a slap in the face to all Americans and our allies. And to think I voted for you? Tom Dahulick
Monarchic whim
Long Branch, N.J.: Five-hundred years ago, the people of England awoke to find that they were no longer a Catholic country, they were now Protestants. On Thursday morning, Americans awoke to discover that America now supports Putin in his war against Ukraine and that Zelenskyy is an unelected dictator who started the war with Russia. To make matters worse, Trump has begun negotiations with Putin to end the war but did not invite Zelenskyy. Lenzy Kelley
One for us
Cornwall, N.Y.: I just want to thank President Trump for helping out the middle class and the struggling working people. He killed congestion pricing while the Democrats were trying to kill the middle class again. Trump should send Elon Musk and his team to open up the MTA books and look into all the wasteful spending. The money they’ve been stealing over years is outrageous. Raymond Grosskopf
Federally fickle
Boynton Beach, Fla.: The Trump administration’s revocation of federal approval for congestion pricing is an additional example of reneging on commitments signed by the U.S. — no surprise, since this has long been the reputation of the Trump Organization in business. Our long-term reputation with businesses, local governments and other countries will impact our dealings with others forever. People will hesitate to make agreements that risk not being honored. Andrew LeWinter
Humorless
Newton, N.J.: Maybe Alan Dershowitz should stick to his malpractice of law rather than try to be a media critic (“50 years of ‘SNL’ is just not funny,” op-ed, Feb. 20). The “SNL” 50 show was funny and poignant (for the cast members who have died). Dershowitz, who is a MAGA loyalist, obviously has his panties in a twist over such things as Tom Hanks’ “Black Jeopardy!” skit and other barbs directed at Fat Hitler. Yet, he sat through the whole three hours when, if he wasn’t enjoying himself, he could have changed the channel. Speaks volumes about the snowflakes on the right. Michael Schnackenberg
Satirical savior
Midland Park, N.J.: Alan Dershowitz, how dare you berate, in your words, “the rarely funny” Stephen Colbert. His humorous nightly monologue preserves my sanity each and every day as we are subjected to the inaneness of Trump and his totally unqualified minions while they slice and dice our beloved country to shreds. Mary Jo McDonough
Exclusionary
Henderson, Nev.: Kaya Walker, president of NYU’s College Republicans of America chapter, has resigned after calling Barron Trump “sort of like an oddity” on campus. She added that “he goes to class, he goes home” and that a professor joked that Barron “doesn’t really belong here” because NYU is known as a liberal school. I find it odd that a professor who I bet publicly supports diversity and inclusion would joke about a student whose political views may be different than his own. David Tulanian
Step in, kick out
Kew Gardens: Gov. Hochul needs to remove Mayor Adams from office. He has sold his soul to Trump to be pardoned in return for favors. Hochul needs to stand up and protect our democracy. This is an embarrassment to our state. Leslie Duzant
Paid by the public
Flushing: Who came up with the ridiculous 8:1 ratio of matching funds for NYC elections? Why not make it a 1:1 or 2:1? In this cycle, we have given almost $3.7 million to Brad Lander, $2.8 million to Zohran Mamdani, $2.2 million to Zellnor Myrie, $1.1 million to Jenifer Rajkumar and $1.9 million for Mark Levine for the upcoming primaries, all taxpayer funds. In the 2021 election cycle, NYC taxpayers paid a mind-boggling $124 million in matching funds to candidates in numerous citywide races, many of whom had no chance of winning. What is the grand total going to be in this cycle? The NYC Campaign Finance Board is playing fast and loose with our money. Where is the accountability? Craig Louttit
Depraved ditty
Manhattan: Very clever of Voicer Lawrence Freedland to turn the horror of 10/7 and Israel’s smashing victory over Hamas and Hezbollah into a cute little poem. It inspired me to write my own. I started by listing the points I’d want to make; tens of thousands of dead Gazan women and children, destroyed hospitals, genocide, war crimes, no schools, no homes, no electricity, no water or sewage treatment, starvation and disease. I failed. No matter how I tried, I couldn’t come up with a light little ditty with that subject matter. How did Larry manage to do it so simply? I guess being blinded by hatred aids in creativity. Steven Davies
Protect life
Brooklyn: To Voicer Karl Bean: It is an act of mercy to force a victim of rape or incest to have their child. Who is the creator of life? God. Only God has the right to give and to take life. That includes cats and dogs, who should not be put to sleep. Why should an unborn baby get the death penalty through abortion? Lastly, another term for pro-choice is pro-death. Wanda Lucci
Not offended
New Hyde Park, L.I.: I read with some interest Jonathan Zimmerman’s article about sports teams’ names and rituals (“Why is the K.C. team still called the Chiefs?” op-ed, Feb. 9). I am a sports fan of more than 70 years. I am a traditionalist, but I am not a racist. The Cleveland baseball franchise will always be known to me as the Indians. The Washington football team will always be the Redskins. The present name, the Commanders, is somewhat of an embarrassment considering our present commander in chief. Are most Native Americans that upset about names of our college and professional sport teams? I have not seen it. Fortunately, Atlanta still has its Braves and Chicago its Blackhawks. Perhaps these nicknames are on the hit list. I do not find these names derisive or divisive. Sometimes the concept of political correctness goes too far. John C. Macklin
Gated in
Manhattan: To Voicer Charlie Pisano: Regarding high turnstiles being installed by the MTA in subway stations to thwart fare-jumpers, might I point out that this is a safety hazard and a huge security issue? Lest anyone forget 9/11 or any other terrorist attack, or a blackout and loss of power, or fire! No one will be able to get out of the station and will perish! Making it so difficult to exit the station is a terrible idea. Where is the thought process for making subway stations impossible to exit safely? Carrie Tassa
