Letters to editor: Pro-impeachment rallies set for Tuesday in San Luis Obispo, South County
Impeachment rallies in SLO County
Thanks to multiple whistleblowers, we now know that Trump abused his power by pressuring Ukraine to interfere in the upcoming 2020 election. This alone is an impeachable offense, but Trump further incriminated himself by threatening to withhold military aid to Ukraine and then attempting to cover up the entire episode.
If anyone else violated the law as brazenly as Trump, they’d go to prison. There is no justice for the American people while a criminal sits in the White House. Enough! On Tuesday, Dec. 17, there will be over 500 rallies across the United States standing up and supporting the Constitution of the United States and declaring that nobody is above the law.
San Luis Obispo County has two events scheduled. The Arroyo Grande rally will be on the corners of Oak Park and Grand Avenue from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. San Luis Obispo will hold its rally at the courthouse at 5:30 p.m. Join us. For more information you can sign up at this link https://act.indivisible.org/event/attend-local-actions/149891.
Cheryl Storton, Arroyo Grande
Censure, don’t impeach
Impeachment is a mistake, even though our country needs to end the Trump presidency. For three reasons impeachment is a mistake:
1. The process is further dividing the country, which badly needs to come together.
2. Impeachment shows disrespect for the millions of people who voted for President Trump, most of whom believe he should not be impeached.
3. Impeachment will help President Trump be reelected because many voters prefer Democrats to pursue their agenda and focus on a candidate for 2020.
Many say that Congress has a moral duty to recognize the president’s wrongdoing. Yes it does. I believe his effort to force a Joe Biden investigation in Ukraine is even worse than Bill Clinton’s perjury and Richard Nixon’s attempt to have the FBI and CIA coverup Watergate. Why: The president’s attempt in Ukraine was designed to corrupt an election, the foundation of a democracy. But Congress can recognize that wrongdoing by censuring the president, which some Republicans might even join. Meanwhile, impeachment will not end the presidency. Only the 2020 election will do that, and impeachment will likely make his reelection more likely.
Andy Greensfelder, San Luis Obispo
Republicans have a choice
In his recent column (Opinion, Dec. 12), Robert Stern explains explains that Republicans don’t have a choice about supporting Trump because if they turned on him, they would be challenged in a primary by a Trump acolyte and lose their office. This speaks volumes. They do have choice, but choose not to make it.
Put another way, Stern is saying that Republican officeholders care more about their own jobs than protecting the country from an unfit president. And he never acknowledges that Republican elected officials’ fealty to Trump in part explains why the base remains loyal. If Republican officeholders would say publicly what press reports say they think of Trump privately, the Fox News base might start to have second thoughts about Trump. In that case, office holders would be doing the country a service and keep their jobs.
Rick Derevan, Atascadero
U.S. deserves better than Trump
President Trump fraudulently appropriated taxpayer money (AKA embezzlement) by attempting to use $400 million, already earmarked for Ukrainian military defense against Russian aggression, to extort and bribe Ukraine for his personal political benefit.
President Trump has obstructed Congress in its constitutionally mandated duty of oversight by withholding evidence in the form of documents and blocking witnesses from testifying and intimidating witnesses. He has violated the emoluments clause and his oath of office. He has treated the office of the presidency as an organized crime entity. This is why there is the necessity of impeachment and removal. The United States of America deserves better.
Ann Marie O’Connor, Santa Margarita