After an attempt at sleep, having watched one of the Democratic debates, I woke up with a singular thought — that I did not want to watch any Democratic candidate debate President Donald Trump next fall. No matter who the Democratic candidate is, Trump will inevitably devolve into the same accusations, conspiracy theories and shenanigans he did before, no doubt be degraded by his confused mind and bizarre reality.
This time, however, he would be aided and abetted by his enablers in the House, Senate and Republican Party machine. The dirty pool would be on steroids.
It became apparent to me that there was only one way to stop this, and that is for him not to take the stage in the first place. Think it can’t be done? Well, it can.
There are viable Republican candidates running in the Republican primary. My personal favorite is former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld. Assuming I lean in this direction, how could I in not, in good conscience, cast my vote for Weld? Did I mention he believes in climate change? The cold, hard truth is that only a groundswell of support for another Republican candidate will turn this ship around. A primary win for Weld in New Hampshire would shake some sense into the party elite.
I have been donating to my favorite Democratic candidate(s), but now it’s time for me to lend my support to the Republicans. Being an independent, I get to do this without guilt or hesitation. I know how important a “sane” debate is — how important it is to stick to truth and the facts.
I also know how important a good night’s sleep is — that before I go to bed, I will need to look at myself in the mirror with a clean conscience knowing I did all I could do to stop the destruction of our democracy, economy and environment, which is happening right before my eyes. Best check I ever wrote.
I know I will have to do more, but at least I can sleep.
HOPE STRAGNELL
Canaan
In this day and age, in which split infinitives and misplaced apostrophes are becoming frighteningly common, I must implore readers of the Valley News to take a stand before it’s too late. I am referring, of course, to the multitudes who insist on pronouncing the year wrong, a trend with which I have had to deal for two agonizing decades.
Surely we can all agree that the year 1776 is properly pronounced “seventeen seventy-six,” not “one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six,” and that the year 1945 is “nineteen forty-five,” not “one thousand nine hundred and forty-five.”
Why, then, would anyone refer to the year 2019 as “two thousand and nineteen”? Would you refer to the year 1919 as “one thousand nineteen”? Of course not — it’s “nineteen nineteen.” So 2019 is “twenty nineteen.” Got it?
Now is the chance for those who care for all that is right and good to redeem themselves. Join me, won’t you, in resolving to refer to the upcoming year as “twenty twenty,” and not “two thousand and twenty.”
You may think I have more important things to worry about.
I don’t.
Charlie Buttrey
Thetford