Espinal’s canine, Portman’s Trump vote

Photos of Espinal showed consolation,

The camaraderie that dogs can offer

While reporting on Edith Espinal and her return home and family after more than three years in the sanctuary, the only constant in all of the photos is that she clings to her dog Bella. I can relate.

Around this time last year, Columbus Humane, along with many other animal shelters, endeavored to find a permanent home for their animals. It had been about a year since I hadn’t had a canine companion, so I made an appointment to take a look. I came home with a cute little beagle who had come from the Portsmouth animal shelter where they didn’t have the resources to do the extensive dental work required. Adopting him was the best thing that happened to me last year. I don’t want to think about how the last 12 months would have been without him.

Since he originally came in as a stray, he was given the name “Mr. Wiggles”. I planned to change it but when someone asked me what it was and I told them it always made them smile so I kept it.

Mr. Wiggles has given me many opportunities to smile during this difficult time, and I am sure Bella did the same for Edith Espinal during her personal three year “ban”.

Syd Lifshin, Columbus

What’s worse: the crazy politicians

or the people who put you in office?

When I read a story by Rep. Madison Cawthorn that tweeted about Vatican City in need of the COVID-19 vaccine and said it didn’t sound legal to him, I wondered, does he even know where and what the Vatican City is?

Tommy Tuberville from Alabama was elected to the Senate and didn’t even know what the three branches of government were. Ted Cruz leaves during a crisis, returns and makes a few excuses when asked, and then finally admits the truth. I’m not even going to dwell on the agents and senators advocating completely insane conspiracy theories when there is no evidence.

I think everyone can and will be elected, but what does that say about the people who vote them? Obviously, they don’t look very well at their candidates, or they just don’t care.

This surprises me these days when information is available to almost everyone. I think this is the new normal.

Robert Connor, Columbus

Quick reminder: first change

applies to laws of Congress

Congress must not enact law that respects the establishment of a religion or prohibits its free practice. or restrict freedom of speech or the press; or the right of the people to peacefully assemble and apply to the government for redress for complaints.

Please note the term “Congress”.

Mike Kindt, Ashville

Portman’s vote on Trump was correct

because it reflected the will of Ohio voters

In the past few days there have been more than a few letters expressing writers’ wishes that Ohio State Senator Rob Portman be dismissed because of his role in the House’s plan to indict former President Donald Trump .

I differ from those written views, and here is one reason: In the February 15 shipping article entitled “How’s the Nation Feeling After the Acquittal?” It stated that “the actions of the senators are essentially direct of what they hear from.” their constituents. “Well, hallelujah.

Our senators were finally doing what the people at home sent them to Washington to do. What a concept. Wouldn’t it be great if all senators and representatives from both parties listened to the votes of their voters? After all, they work for us.

Jean Hayward, Upper Arlington

Portman’s constitutional claims were

shredded during impeachment

I respond to Richard D. Rogovin’s Wednesday letter (“Portman had constitutional support in the Trump vote”) that Senator Rob Portman’s vote to acquit former President Donald Trump had constitutional support because Trump had already resigned.

First, that claim was thoroughly invalidated during the impeachment process as Trump was still in office at the time of impeachment. And the only reason the trial took place after he stepped down was because Senator Mitch McConnell purposely delayed it until Trump left.

As demonstrated during the trial, impeachment takes precedence over public office in US history. Finally, almost all constitutional scholars agree that the Founding Fathers certainly did not intend in his final days in office to protect a rogue president from being held accountable for crimes such as rioting.

Portman, along with 42 other Republican senators, voted to dodge the issue so as not to upset Trump supporters and avoid the wrath of the former president.

Ron Wolf, Upper Arlington

This GOP is at the side of the QAnon believer

Greene in Congress is an outrage

Weeks ago I saw a video of the new member of Congress, QAnon conspirator Marjorie Taylor Greene, chasing Parkland massacre David Hogg, who claimed he had “used children as barriers.”

I remembered her watching a webinar with Mark Barden, who lost his 7-year-old son in the Sandy Hook massacre, and talking about his efforts to prevent further school shootings. Greene has denied Sandy Hook even happened.

Republican party leaders knew what QAnon was standing for when Greene ran for Congress – including a conspiracy theory that says our government is controlled by pedophiles who worship Satan, who former President Donald Trump would one day overthrow. That didn’t matter; It was good for another GOP seat.

Now they know that not only does she mock gun violence survivors, but she also denies the truth about their loss and suffering. They also know that she “liked” comments calling for violence against Democrats.

If the Republicans were really concerned about breaking the division and seeking unity, they would have expelled Greene from Congress. Instead, they put her on the House Education Committee, leaving it to the Democrats to vote for her removal. It is an insult to parents who are still grieving for their murdered children.

Beverly Masek, Strongsville

Republicans are faced with a big question

when you think about the future of the party

Some believe the nation needs a two-party political process; a conservative republican party to balance a liberal democratic party.

After losing the presidency and the Senate, many Republicans wonder about the future of their party. The longtime Conservative Republican asks, “Is there a place for me in a Trump-led Republican Party?” That is not the right question.

Conservatives believe in ownership and less government. Their view is that with enough desire and hard work, anyone can succeed. They point to the many examples of those who rose to the top despite the difficult circumstances of their birth.

Yes, there are exceptions to the rule and they deserve recognition. However, there are no exceptions to the rule that if someone starts the race far behind others, it is very likely that they will end behind them.

The Republican Party has been in jarring opposition to social security, universal health care, childcare, higher minimum wages, job security, environmental regulations, immigration reform, and other advancement programs.

The real question a doubting Republican should ask: “Am I really selfish enough to be a Republican?”

WM Goldberger, Columbus