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President Kennedy assassination

November 22, 1963, was a historically tragic, world-changing day. Those of us of a certain age well remember exactly where we were upon learning the 35th President of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, had been gunned down in Dallas, Texas. So recently, on the 62nd Anniversary of this horrific tragedy, I was truly disappointed when reading the AZ Daily Star, there was only a small mention of it in the "Today In History" section. No major story and how it honestly fits into the most impactful events of our Nation. But to its credit, albeit in small print, it did mention his being laid to rest. I wished our paper had explained how his death still reverberates in our politics, six decades later. This history lesson is vital to our younger readers. Who knows how this charismatic, 46-year-old, might have influenced our world. Only if this country had had a chance to find out, surely we would be better off. JFK, Rest in Peace.

Butch Farabee

Oro Valley

The next president

This country desperately needs a leader who is a hero and who is a decent person. I think that person should be Mark Kelly, Senator from Arizona. I say, Mark Kelly for president.

Richard Winkler

East side

Illegal orders

Re: Nov. 25 article "Pentagon investigating Sen. Mark Kelly".

Now is the time for all good men and women to watch the movie "A Few Good Men" and read about the My Lai Vietnam War massacre. Both are about following illegal orders.

Now, President Trump, who got five military deferments, is calling for the persecution of Mark Kelly, who served, with honor, as a Navy fighter pilot.

Let's be crystal clear: This Trumpian agenda is an un-American disgrace.

Helen Murphy

Sierra Vista

Fat slob

President Trump called Illinois Governor JB Pritzker a "big fat slob" during a speech criticizing the man for not wanting federal troops to descend on Chicago. Trump certainly has the right to disagree with someone for something and almost anything. But what kind of a statesman stoops so low as to denigrate a man in the fashion he did? And if there is ever a case of "the pot calling the kettle black," it is Trump. I'd guess that Trump is 175 pounds overweight. I suppose to the "never wrong" Trump the presidency allows him to say whatever he wants whenever he wants without fear of reprisal. I have news for you Donald, it doesn't and you are flat out wrong for being so disrespectful. In my mind, a quality president should be a shining example of integrity, morality and politeness. Is this Trump in any manner?

Philip Reinecker

East side

Vote No on RTA Next

Thank you, Living Streets Alliance, for taking a strong position against RTA Next (Propositions 418 and 419). LSA has been an advocate for decades for safe streets that are accessible for all users and all modes of transportation. Speaking out now about this very flawed plan provides a contrasting view to all the rhetoric presented by RTA supporters.

I am a no vote as well. The RTA 1 track record for the last 19 years is one of mismanagement and lack of accountability. Only 19 of the 35 roadway projects in RTA 1 have been completed. A third of the funding dedicated to bike and pedestrian facilities, wildlife linkages, and transit was reallocated to roadway expansion to cover the shortfall in funding and higher-than-expected costs.

I fear that history will repeat itself if we vote to give the RTA another 20 years and $3 billion. The voters now have the opportunity to provide the oversight that has been lacking by voting no on RTA Next.

Ruth Reiman

Midtown

Put up or shut up

Mr. McConnell has again graced us with his opinion in an op-ed; or maybe, it's another debate? Curiously, he still hasn't answered my LTE question addressed to him on March 31.

He and the other loquacious horsemen of the MAGapocalypse have plenty to say except when it comes to the amoral, sex-abusing, murdering, misogynistic, misanthropic, mendacious, racist, traitorous, thieving, fraudulent, felonious criminal elephant in the room. Ignoring real, obvious contradictions prevents internal conflicts with questionable beliefs.

Since Mr. McConnell refuses to extol a moral imperative that compelled him and others to vote for DJT, I will open the question to all MAGAs everywhere: "What was the moral imperative that confirmed your multiple votes for DJT?" What could DJT possibly achieve for all of us that would then equivalently absolve him of all of his documented, grievous sins?

If you can't answer that, you should rethink your support.

Rick Cohn

West side

Juggling plates

I grew up in the Golden Age of television and remember Sunday evenings watching the "Ed Sullivan Show." There were many stars and novelty acts that captured our imaginations and made us laugh. I still have memories of the jugglers and most of all the plate juggler Eric Brenn. Today, my analogy to this is Trump attempting to balance spinning plates. He keeps adding to the number of reprehensible “plates” he spins, but we now see him faltering and plates about to fall and break. The first plate will probably be the Epstein/Maxwell plate followed by the MAGA plate and many others.

Alan Barreuther

Foothills

Admitted refugee reviews

Please, please, please, all of you who follow a higher power, spiritual leader, supreme being, prophet(s), traditional and non-traditional faiths, please stop and look at what is happening in our country to your fellow humans. Every one of us was created, depending on your belief, by a power greater than ourselves and starts our lives in the exact same way. Some of us win the birth lottery by being born in one of the richest and most developed countries in the world and have opportunities that most humans do not. How, for the love of your faith, can you support an administration that treats humans the way this one does? And now, out of spite and hatred, Donald Trump, Stephen Miller, J.D. Vance, et al. want to remove highly vetted UN refugee families who are already here legally, establishing their new lives and contributing to our communities in so many ways. Please think about that as you practice your faith.

Mark Hanna

Foothills

Kelly outsmarts Trump again

Instead of responding to Senator Kelly’s video on illegal orders with a “duh,” Trump took the bait and showed, once again, his true colors as a wannabe dictator by threatening to court-martial a national war hero. Now every member of the military who hasn’t seen Senator Kelly’s video is going to watch it and every member who has is going to watch it again. And, everyone knows Senator Kelly is telling the truth, and Trump is lying. Trump's gaslighting and belittling of the military is a disgrace.

I’m a 31-year retired Air Force fighter pilot and Colonel. In the military, if it’s illegal, immoral or unethical we don’t do it. To Donald Trump, that’s breakfast, lunch and dinner. Trump doesn’t understand that every member of the military is specifically taught that they must refuse to follow illegal orders … duh. And, dumb narcissists like Trump are easy marks for skilled intelligence operators like Putin.

Pat DeConcini

Midtown

Turkey

Look closely, and you can tell the wrong turkey got pardoned.

Donald Bernier

Midtown

Holiday gifts

This season, let’s celebrate Tucson and fight against the oligarchy at the same time. Give experiences instead of corporate trinkets. Give memberships to the Desert Museum, Reed Park, Tohono Chul, or the Botanical Gardens. Give tickets to any of our exciting live theaters, the Biosphere, the Loft or local sports events. Give gift certificates to any of our wonderful restaurants. Give stays at our dude ranches. Give the gift of services such as spas, meal delivery or house cleaning. Shop only at our locally owned gift shops and bookstores. And of course, donations to local charities are always welcome.

If Bezos is rich enough to lease Venice for his wedding, he is rich enough to pay more taxes. Don’t give him any more profit from Amazon until he is willing to share. And that also goes for the tech bros buying our government and trying to control us with their AI.

May this holiday season bring you and your loved ones health, wealth and wisdom.

Dee Maitland

Marana