Williams defends the flag, our values
To the Editor:
When two officers were killed in Syracuse, Congressman Brandon Williams stood with police at their funerals and honored them in Washington, D.C. When President Donald Trump was shot, Williams spoke clearly against extreme hate and political violence, and in favor of preserving our precious Union. And when Hamas-flag-carrying, anti-American, antisemitic protestors tore down and burned the American flags over Union Station and replaced them with Palestinian flags, Williams secured new American flags and organized a group of lawmakers to go to Union Station and raise the flag with the D.C. Metropolitan Police.
I am proud of Williams consistently standing up for America, its flag and its values. When he spoke about fighting to preserve our Union, I never expected him to follow through less than two weeks later by restoring our flag and preserving our Union Station!
Our country and our community needs a Congressman who stands up for our police and calls for peace when his own party is under literal fire. Our police need steadfast, consistent support — not flip-flopping from people who support cashless bail and other soft on crime policies, like current state Senators. Our flag and Union need to be protected and preserved, and folks who want to burn either of them down should not be entrusted with a role in our governance.
Thanks to Congressman Williams, that Star-Spangled Banner continues to wave over the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Missi Marzullo
Cicero
As AG, Harris was not soft on crime
To the Editor:
I just read Michael P. Russo’s letter “Good to Know Mannion is a fan of liberal Harris” in Sunday’s Post-Standard. It appears that Russo is either terrified of the concept of liberal policy, or truly does not understand what it is.
The writer spends time attacking Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris’s voting record as California’s Attorney General. He cites Harris’s “liberal” record as AG, but fails to mention that Harris was at times accused as being “too tough on crime” as a prosecutor. Her record demonstrates that she was fair and measured as AG, considering cases on their merit, not on political ideology.
Russo states he is pleased to know Democratic Congressional candidate (NY-22) John Mannion is a longtime supporter of Kamala Harris. I am pleased, as well. John Mannion is a fighter for Central New York who advocates for his constituents. Like Harris, Mannion believes in “liberal” concepts such as the strength of labor unions (he was president of the West Genesee School District teachers’ union), a strong social safety net, a woman’s right to choose her reproductive healthcare and protecting our public schools. These positions provide benefits to the people, not take them away.
In November, you have a choice to vote for someone to represent all of us in Central New York. That person is John Mannion.
Rob Santucci
Cicero
GOP should look in mirror for extremists
To the Editor:
Oh, no. The Republicans are telling us that the candidates on the Democratic ticket are dangerous extremists. Should I be concerned?
Let’s see, what would dangerous extremists do?
They would commit treasonous acts, such as attempting to prevent and invalidate the results of a legitimate election through subversion and fraud.
They would plot and direct a deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol by an armed mob in order to prevent certification of election results they don’t like.
They would illegally and surreptitiously abscond with classified documents, store them carelessly and obstruct efforts to return them to the National Archives.
They would be convicted of multiple felonies for covering up illegal payments to witnesses to their sleazy conduct.
They would appoint corrupt, politicized judges who would defy the Constitution and ignore the rule of law to help them cover up criminal misdeeds and avoid prosecution.
They would grant pardons to their friends and conspirators who have been convicted of traitorous acts against the United States.
They would disclose ultra-sensitive military and government information to unauthorized individuals, thereby compromising national security.
They would take bribes from foreign governments, secure in the knowledge that their hand-picked Attorney General would quash any investigation that could lead to accountability.
They would blatantly and boldly lie to the American people whenever it may benefit them.
They would brazenly court favor with the most dangerous dictators in the world while undermining critical allies.
They would demonstrate abject disrespect for military members and veterans while consistently undermining military leadership.
They would openly and unapologetically attempt to appeal to the most extreme fringes of the electorate by making racist, vicious statements, even some that may promote violence.
They would relentlessly and arrogantly court Christian voters, although they show absolutely no allegiance to Christian values and teachings.
They would recruit a cadre of lawyers and zealots to devise an American Mein Kampf full of dangerous and illegal acts to promote their radical agenda and attack their adversaries.
No, I think we’re good here. The Dems haven’t done these things. Can Republicans say the same of their candidates?
Kevin Corbett
Westvale
Let’s hear it for liberal values
To the Editor:
Republicans, led by Donald Trump, will repeatedly tell us that Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are too liberal for America.
Let’s look at the Oxford Dictionary’s definitions of liberal: The first one concludes with this, “Open to new ideas.” A second definition says that being liberal is having “A political or social philosophy that promotes individual rights, civil liberties, democracy and free enterprise.”
Hmm ... Isn’t that what good government is all about? Innovation (open to new ideas), protecting everyone’s rights and preserving our democracy? There is nothing wrong or even radical about being liberal. Liberals protect and promote unions. Unions brought us the 40-hour work week, a minimum wage, paid sick leave, paid vacations and healthcare for all workers. Social Security, food stamps, unemployment pay, birth control access, a woman’s right to control her body including using in-vitro fertlilization, and the right to have a lawyer when facing criminal charges are all liberal ideas. Protecting the Earth is a liberal value.
Let’s hear it for the liberals. Vote for the Democrats up and down the ballot. Let’s protect our planet, our rights and our civil liberties. These are essential to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
The choices are clear:
- An all-out effort to alleviate the climate crisis vs. continued and escalating climate catastrophes.
- A fair tax code vs. huge tax breaks for the rich and big corporations.
- Supporting women’s reproductive rights vs. a total ban on terminating pregnancies, IVF and even free use of birth control .
- Valuing Black, Brown and Native lives and rights vs. continued systemic racism.
- Supporting excellent public education vs. supporting religious charter schools.
- Medicare for all vs. leaving out the poor and sick Americans.
- A fair path to citizenship for immigrants vs. mass, militarized deportations.
- Reining in the threat from nuclear weapons vs. risking a war that would wipe out humanity.
- Protecting vital animal habitats vs. all-out drilling, mining and development.
Rick Olanoff
Syracuse
Don’t let outsiders dictate CNY’s future
To the Editor:
Regarding “How Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to help flip Rep. Brandon Williams’ House seat” (Aug. 2, 2024):
The Central New York electorate is one of the most unique voting blocs in the country. Our region is made up of hard-working, open-minded voters who demand nothing but the best from those we send to Washington, to Albany and to our local governments.
In last year’s elections, for example, the same electorate that re-elected Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, a Republican, by a landslide of 24 points also re-elected Onondaga County Comptroller Marty Masterpole, a Democrat, by 30 points. That represents a 54-point swing between the most popular Republican and the most popular Democrat, a level of swing voting simply unheard of anywhere else in the country.
In Central New York, we reward the best candidates with the best accomplishments and the best ideas with our votes. I am disappointed to read recent headlines about how outside partisan forces are trying to influence how our region votes in this election for their own power. Get ready for millions of dollars to pour into the Syracuse media market on attack ads.
This heated election year, let us discount the views of outside special interests and have a meaningful conversation about the voices we are electing to represent our community — because our home deserves nothing but the best.
Nick Paro
Salina Town Supervisor
Republican candidate for State Senate, 50th District
Liverpool
Mannion’s record, CNY credentials are solid
To the Editor:
Regarding "Comparing records, Williams bests Mannion” (Aug. 4, 2024):
George Radford’s letter is a full-throated endorsement of incumbent Rep. Brandon Williams for reelection in his contest against Democratic candidate John Mannion for the 22nd Congressional District seat. After examining the two candidates’ websites to which Radford refers, I beg to differ for the following reasons:
Williams is a Texas-born carpetbagger who has not even had the consideration to move into and become a resident of the district he purports to represent.
Mannion cites at least four legislative or constituent-driven concrete accomplishments in his New York state Senate service. Williams has no such accomplishments from his time in Washington.
Williams’ 13 positions on issues represent platitudes which, while seemingly reasonable and rational, fail to demonstrate a comprehension of the complexity and at times divisiveness of such issues and misrepresent his Congressional voting record.
None of the in-person or telephone town halls Williams conducted provided any opportunity for constituents to verbalize questions in a give-and-take format, where Williams would have had to defend his positions and record. Instead, written questions had to be submitted in advance and could be screend for controversial subjects or criticism. The result was self-serving censorship.
A reliable analysis of congressional voting records revealed that Williams’ voting has followed the dictates of Republican MAGA hyper-conservative leadership, and has been more conservative than the records of extremely conservative Republicans Claudia Tenney and Elise Stefanik, representatives in neighboring congressional districts.
Given the forgoing, the politically broad profile of the voter base in the competitive 22nd Congressional District and the superior credentials of Democratic candidate and Central New Yorker John Mannion, it is time to remove Williams and replace him with progressive moderate Mannion, a candidate of proven intelligence, compassion, character and motivation.
James Thomas Bassett
Manlius
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