The GOP just can’t stop courting Russian agents
Pasadena, Calif.: Playing into Vladimir Putin’s hand, the Republican House of Representatives allows another planted Russian spy, Alexander Smirnov (photo), to infiltrate the inner circle of Republican leadership. Smirnov, who was arrested Feb. 14 at the Las Vegas airport, was indicted for providing “false derogatory information to the FBI” about President Biden and his son Hunter.
“Again, Congress allowing Russian disinformation to come straight into the United States Congress,” said MSNBC host Joe Scarborough. “An easy, easy mark for Russian disinformation.”
Here is what today’s Republican leadership is like: “Every day, the evidence keeps mounting and the evidence that is coming in is number one of a widespread bribery scheme of Joe Biden and Hunter Biden and the entire Biden family, to extract bribes from foreign nationals,” claims Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas as he continues to put his foot in his mouth.
Contrary to the claims of James Comer, Jim Jordan and many other desperate Republicans, the FBI now has evidence that Smirnov’s tale about the bribes was totally fabricated.
“James Comer continues to embarrass himself and House Republicans,” a source close to GOP leadership told the Messenger. “He screws up over and over and over. I don’t know how Republicans actually impeach the president based on his clueless investigation and lack of leadership.”
Patriotic Americans, save our democracy from MAGA Trumpian autocracy. Let’s start by holding these dangerous politicians accountable and vote — then encourage your friends and family to vote! Richard A. French
Cold comfort
Edison, N.J.: I have seen all the reporting of President Biden meeting with the widow of Alexei Navalny, who was murdered in prison by the Putin regime. Biden showed much empathy and compassion for Navalny’s widow. I was wondering when, if ever, Mar-A-Lardo would be offering his sympathies. Seems to me that since he feels like he is Navalny, he would be rushing to the widow’s side. What thing or person could possibly be stopping him from offering his condolences? Could it be Putin? Thomas Morrison
Leadership morass
Manalapan, N.J.: Republicans, don’t forget who was also disturbed yet loved for many years: Hitler! Democrats — disgraceful. You’re exhausted? Want to give up? Marion Gargano
Democracy destroyers
San Francisco: On Friday, at CPAC, religious maniac Jack Posobiec proclaimed that his group’s goal is to “end democracy” in this country and apparently replace it with a theocracy. And they call themselves patriots? These people are PINOs (patriots in name only). Jimmy Layton
False choice
Belvidere, N.J.: Voicer John Landers initiates a thought experiment: Who do you save in a fire, a dozen frozen embryos or one child? The calculated response is primordial, not moral. What if the choice is to save only one boy or girl from the fire, and the other child dies? That’s why the calculated response is always primordial. It’s a trap for pro-lifers no matter which way you cut it. The ruse of the thought experiment is to conflict the pro-lifer’s conscience. Abortion advocates have little conscience when it comes to the unborn. For them, visible flesh and bones trumps the new members of the human race in-utero, whether embryonic or viable. Dan Arthur Pryor
Perks of personhood
Staten Island: I am going to put a couple of embryos in the backseat of my car and drive in the HOV lanes. Myra Goodman
The damage is done
Rockaway Point, L.I.: You’re too late, President Biden, to finally address the migrant problem. You’re only doing it because it’s an election year. Hopefully, you’ll lose. If my child was the nursing student killed by a migrant, I would sue Biden personally as well as the government for not protecting citizens. Regina Mangan
Birth control
Bronx: Re “NYC’s pound has gone to the dogs” (op-ed, Feb. 26): In today’s world of cutting-edge medical advancement, can’t they develop a pill that can be given to dogs and cats to sterilize them, given to them by vetted volunteers? It breaks my heart to see these animals in shelters destined for a miserable life or worse. John Cirolia
Protect wildlife
Manhattan: As New Yorkers mourn the death of Flaco (“Recall freedom-loving owl,” Feb. 25), it is worth noting that he is not alone in being killed because he flew into a building whose windows did not include bird-strike prevention measures. Hundreds of birds die needlessly every day in NYC when they fly into windows that are not bird-friendly. You would think that cultural icons like the American Museum of Natural History’s Rose Center planetarium and the new Whitney would have been required to use bird safety glass on their buildings, but they weren’t and they didn’t. Let’s use Flaco’s death as an opportunity to mandate safety glass in every dangerous cultural institution supported by our tax dollars. His tragic death would then not be in vain. Maria C. Fernandez
Going up
Manhattan: Spectrum Cable is getting too greedy. I’m a cable user since 1987. I hardly have anything and my bill went up to $141.76. They have an attitude when I dispute a bill. One supervisor said we will have to remove one internet or phone. I said I’m a low-income senior, but I still have to pay. Stop nickel-and-diming us Americans. They will not stop bleeding us all to death. Helen Murphy
Ominous rub
Melbourne, Fla.: If you get a chance, get SNY to check their televised interview of Kodei Senga last week when he was being interviewed with his interpreter at a table. Senga was sitting there rubbing his pitching shoulder during the interview. He seemed to be bothered by something. My wife and I saw it and we both said something looks wrong with his shoulder. Sure enough, it was announced Wednesday. Craig Frank
Precarious position
Brooklyn: As a current school crossing guard, let me point out what is necessary for our safety. We are at the schools every day, come hell or high water, dealing with all kinds of weather. If that isn’t bad enough, we have to deal with irresponsible drivers who don’t feel we deserve any respect and disregard us as we cross the children, elderly and handicapped. Having recently been instructed in more safety measures, we are expected to hold up stop signs and have only one hand to guide kids across the street. Do you really think this will be a better deterrent to irresponsible drivers who already don’t observe red lights and stop signs on the corners, and try to drive behind us and curse us out because we held them up for five seconds? We just have to pray real hard that we can get through our day safely. God help us! D.M. Glick
Kept in custody
Whitestone: Kudos to Arizona’s Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, who is refusing to allow extradition of the individual who committed the brutal murder of that young woman in Manhattan. For her to allow extradition to New York City would mean that “Cut ’em Loose” Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg would not keep this lowlife in jail. At least Arizona will keep him incarcerated, where he can’t victimize anyone else. Once he has done his time there, then you extradite him back to New York. By that time, hopefully, Bragg will be long gone. Gene O’Brien
Unpopular opinion
Brooklyn: So, everyone seems to support Rachel Mitchell’s stand in her refusal to extradite murder suspect Raad Almansoori, deservingly so. Everyone except, of course, Leonard Greene (“Shame on you, GOP Arizona DA,” column, Feb. 25). Shock! Ron Goldman
Historic mistakes
Jamaica: To Voicer John A. MacKinnon: From 1881 to 1903, about 30,000 Jews immigrated to Palestine. They entered legally, purchased land legally and provided job and medical benefits for the Arabs. But you claim that the Jews were occupying Arab land. The Palestinians made no effort to establish a state. They also rejected the recommendation of the 1937 British Peel Commission, 70% of Palestine for an Arab state and 30% for a Jewish state. Their leader, Haj Amin al-Husseini, remained in Germany from November 1941 to the end of the war, working to recruit Muslims to fight for Hitler. Ebere Osu
