Voters should reject racism and misogyny

I was intrigued by the headline, “GOP leaders: Keep the party polite” (July 25), in The Baltimore Sun. What a welcome relief to see the word “polite” in an article about politics!

But, as I read, I felt the need to make an editor’s pen to the piece. Where the Associated Press writes that Donald Trump “has a history of racist and misogynistic attacks that could turn off key groups of swing voters,” shouldn’t it, instead, read, “should turn off all voters?”

— Paul Norfolk, Eldersburg

Hogan is once again MIA on renewable energy

Is Larry Hogan running for a third term as Maryland’s governor? For someone aspiring to represent Maryland in the U.S. Senate, he sure does like to harp on local populist themes rather than address issues of national importance. He had his chance to make Maryland less dependent on power transmission lines from the west by supporting offshore wind development but decided that conflicted with climate change hoax orthodoxy (“Larry Hogan: No to Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project,” July 25).

In the past four years, the country has produced a record amount of energy from renewable and traditional sources. A Republican-led Senate would squander half of these resources.

— Eric Greene, Annapolis

Who’s the real threat to democracy?

In his thoughtful letter to the editor, Robert C. Erlandson asks the rhetorical question, “Who is the threat to democracy” (“Mixed emotions after Biden drops out: Is he heroic? Are Dems deceptive?” July 22)? Fair question.

The writer refers to attempts to remove former President Donald Trump from some state ballots. But these petitioners were citing existing laws that barred insurrectionists from holding office. They made their arguments in court, and they lost. The system worked.

Erlandson also suggests President Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the race and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris thwarted the will of 14 million primary voters. But under our system of government, primary voters aren’t actually voting for a candidate; they are voting for delegates who will make the final nominating vote. Democracy preserved.

So, who is the threat to democracy? Perhaps it is the political party that engaged in a far-ranging, multi-pronged campaign to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. That endeavor, based on the fictitious assertion that the election was rigged, started with legitimate legal battles. When those measures failed, pressure campaigns were waged against lifelong Republican officials, sweeping lies were told about election workers and voting machines, and wild schemes were devised by a cadre of Trump supporters.

The effort culminated on Jan. 6, 2021, when Trump summoned a mob of angry, misinformed protesters to pressure Republican senators to accept slates of fake electors, throw the electoral process into doubt and turn the final certification process back to the states and, ultimately, to the Republican-friendly U.S. House of Representatives. This devious plan almost worked, but Vice President Mike Pence chose democracy over party and did the job that he was legally obligated to do. That was a courageous stand that U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance, now running for vice president on the GOP ticket with Trump, has already stated that he would not have taken.

Hope that answers your question.

— Mitch Vitullo, Columbia

Biden chooses not to run and it’s the GOP left unhappy

The Republicans complained that President Joe Biden was too old for a presidential candidate. So, Biden stepped away and now the GOP — terrified by Vice President Kamala Harris — grumbles his decision was undemocratic, unfair and selfish (“Trump and Harris enter 99-day sprint to decide an election that has suddenly transformed,” July 29).

What we have here is a classic example of Republicans getting what they wished for.

— Grenville B. Whitman, Rock Hall

Dam repairs could turn out to be reasonable if lake conveys

It does seem an injustice for what the Maryland Department of the Environment is asking of homeowners living around Aspen Lake Dam and Reservoir, just west of Hampstead in Carroll County (“State threatens legal action if residents don’t repair Aspen Lake Dam in Hampstead,” July 26).

However, $150,000 doesn’t seem that expensive — if the state is willing to deed the lake, dam and easement around the lake to whoever pays for the repairs.

— Kenneth Farkas, Rosedale