Former Vice President Joe Biden’s recent speech in Philadelphia responds profoundly to this deeply painful moment in our history, while it shows exactly what we expect from a president. I strongly urge everyone to read it.
Enough with the tear gas and strong-arm tactics to clear away peaceful and legal protestors for a narcissist’s photo opportunity in front of a church. America needs a national leader who clears the air and cares about each and every one of us, while he reminds us who we are and what we strive to be.
BOB WILLIAMSON
South Woodstock
Like Grendel, he occupies the Great Hall. Stalking ghosts of former inhabitants, he’d obliterate all memory of their being. No praise did he receive from them, only ridicule and scorn. And so he skulks and sulks, overturning chairs and tables, destroying decrees and proclamations — settled law — as he rampages and roars. Ungifted, he seeks an armored front: a red tie shielding a bulging gut, a helmet of hair, a layer of painted tan. He strives to benefit only self, has no interest in the governed. The people of Grendel’s day had memories of a king named Heremod (“Battle-Heart”), who, consumed by greed, was driven into exile. Grendel himself had his grasping right arm torn off by Beowulf. No such remedy is required today. By vote will the White House be freed of this monstrosity.
CHRISTOPHER L. CHASE
Hanover
Those of us who are fortunate enough to be sequestered in this magical part of New England should be aware of the depravity of the current Environmental Protection Agency. The New York Times recently listed the 100 environmental rules that the Trump administration is revoking or rolling back.
His administration denies climate change, but the difference in air quality since lockdown proves that a large part of pollution is man-made. Our lakes and air are cleaner, but they will not stay that way if previous protections are undone. Gasoline, oil, coal, mercury and greenhouse gases will continue to destroy our planet. All this in favor of the “heartless economy” that President Donald Trump favors at any cost.
His administration inflates the stock market for wealthy Americans. His attempt to abandon the Paris climate accord is devastating to the entire world.
Remember, Republicans, Richard Nixon was the environmental president. Remember, Christians, our planet is God-given. Remember, a vote for Trump is a vote against the New England we love and cherish.
SALLY PRINCE
New London
I don’t understand why large corporations are included in the coronavirus relief package. Many of them pay no taxes at all and we the taxpayers are bailing them out. If they pay no taxes, then the money from the relief package should be a loan for them to pay back, just like President Barack Obama did with the auto industry during the Great Recession.
Remember, large corporations have plants in other countries; are these included? Small businesses will receive $350 billion and large corporations will receive $500 billion. There are more small businesses in the country than large. What’s up?
The politicians, both Republican and Democrat, should be fair and not just think about where their reelection money is coming from. You know as well as I do that some of the money given to the large corporations will go into the politicians’ pockets, as well. The rest of the free money will go to buy back company stock.
The $1.6 trillion tax break that was handed out to the millionaires and billionaires wasn’t enough, along with the billions stolen by Wall Street from working people’s retirement accounts. Our national debt is going up and up and is now greater than the gross domestic product. Wake up America! It’s time to pull the drain plug in Washington, D.C., on both Democrats and Republicans, Senate and House, and especially the White House.
ROBERT POLLARD
Enfield
The federal judge presiding over the criminal case against former national security adviser Michael Flynn is of course right: A judge is not a rubber stamp. You might wonder why he felt the need to say that. You might also wonder why he felt the need to appoint a referee to help him decide the matter.
A lawyer who is not admitted to practice before a specific federal district court can not file a motion in a case pending before it.
A criminal case that has proceeded to judgment can not be dismissed. It has already run its course. You can not dismiss a case that has already moved on to the sentencing phase. To get rid of such a case, the proper motion to file is one to set aside the judgment.
A motion to set aside requires that good cause be shown. That almost always requires that there be an evidentiary hearing. Such motions are rare, and the granting of such motions rarer still. The moving party faces a high burden of proof.
Likewise, defendants in such a case can not merely file a motion to withdraw plea. The plea has already been accepted. They must file a motion to set aside and show cause.
Because the lawyer for the Department of Justice who filed the motion to dismiss in this case had not filed the necessary papers to be admitted to practice before the federal court for the District of Columbia, his motion was not properly before the court. No hearing of it was required. No objection to it. It was out of order.
The judge in question could have, and should have, summarily ordered that it be stricken from the record for this reason.
That is how a judge should act in the case of such a really bad motion, not appointing a friend of the court to help him decide the matter.
TYLER P. HARWELL
Perkinsville