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Fact checking a debate.
In presidential debates Donald Trump lies and rambles but never answers the moderator’s questions. His aim is to filibuster and create chaos so that only the corrupt candidate wins. He has corrupted the entire news media with his lies and now even the presidential debates. Third country leaders shut down newspapers and kill reporters who oppose them. Trump did worse; he labeled all news as “fake news” and gullible folks believe him. They do not fact check. He creates confusion and chaos and promises everyone that he alone has the answers.
No more traditional face-to-face debates is the answer: Put each candidate in a separate room, no assistants, no phones, no ear pieces, no crib notes and no contact with the outside, just paper and pencil. Questions will be given over a speaker or written. Candidates will have a reasonable amount of time to answer. Misspelling and grammar will be allowed as long as a real attempt at the answer is made. The moderators will then show and read the answers immediately afterward over the air so that everyone can see the actual written answers, not an interpretation of the answers. No more filibustering, no more talking over each other and no more putting up with timid moderators.
With Trump traditional debates cannot be held.
Do you have a better answer? Think.
Arnoldo Gonzalez
Brownsville
Putin’s misstep
Ukraine penetrates Russia for at least 25 square miles and Russia is stunned, does not react. Vladimir Putin does not want to destroy his own country; Russians will hold him accountable for all the destruction in their own country. It seems the Russian bear is just a paper bear with no bite.
In Ukraine, no problem. Putin kills thousands of Ukrainian innocent civilians men, women and children without batting an eye. And he on to destroy billions of dollars of Ukraine infrastructure to include people’s homes and buildings and yet, holds back when Ukraine enters and attacks inside Russia, Putin’s home. Putin chickens out, doesn’t react. That is kind of odd; what is wrong with this scenario?
Ukraine has stood firm against Russia’s attacks and made the Russian Bear blink; very soon after Ukraine penetrates inside their perimeter. That is a sign of weakness.
Russia has run out of resources to continue to fund the war in Ukraine. Time is running out for Putin to deliver this victory to Russia on a silver plate to its people. Instead he is delivering a dull plate of disappointment to its citizens, a disappointment of the destruction of the Russian economy due to Putin’s unrealistic war of ego to steal land from Ukraine for selfish reasons. What a disappointment for Russia and its leader Vladimir Putin.
Rafael Madrigal
Pharr
Amendment supported
As a proud Brownsville native and the national co-director of Move to Amend, I am committed to advocating for our community on a national level. I traveled to Chicago to participate in significant events surrounding the Democratic National Convention. My goal is to urge the Democratic Party to incorporate House Joint Resolution 54, the We the People Amendment, into their platform.
HJR 54 seeks to address the undue influence of corporate money in politics and restore power to the people. This issue is crucial not only for our community in Brownsville but also for the entire Rio Grande Valley and the country as a whole. In our region, the looming threat of fracking projects, combined with the impact of high-profile ventures like SpaceX’s launch sites, poses serious risks. While fracking projects are still under development, their potential to disrupt our environment and contribute to pollution is a grim reality that could soon affect our community. Additionally, large-scale developments often lead to gentrification, pushing up property values and making housing less affordable for local families.
By supporting HJR 54, we can advocate for a system that prioritizes the needs of our communities over corporate interests, ensuring that our voices are heard and our environment is protected. This amendment challenges existing Supreme Court doctrines that equate corporations with people and money with free speech, doctrines that have allowed wealthy interests to dominate political discourse and policy decisions that impact our daily lives. Vice President Kamala Harris took the pledge to support the We the People Amendment while serving as a California senator. Additionally, vice presidential nominee Tim Walz has shown his commitment by cosponsoring HJR 48 (the precursor to HJR 54) and supporting related state legislation during his time in Congress. Currently, HJR 54 has 86 cosponsors, including its lead sponsor, Rep. Pramila Jayapal. To advance this important amendment, I urge readers to contact their representatives, such as Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, and ask them to cosponsor HJR 54. You can also sign the Move to Amend petition to show your support for this critical legislation.
Your involvement helps ensure that our call for a more equitable system that addresses corporate influence and protects our environment is heard.
Alfonso Saldana
National co-director
Move to Amend.org
Brownsville
Editor’s note: We welcome your letters and commentary. Submissions must include the writer’s full name, address and daytime telephone number for verification. Letters of 200 words or fewer will be given preference. Submissions may be edited for length, grammar and clarity. Letters may be mailed to P.O Box 3267, McAllen, Texas 78502-3267, or emailed to [email protected].
