Letters

Reader Thomas Jones [“Stop Name Calling,” Letters, March 7] wants to talk issues but then devolves into the same name calling he claims to abhor.

Mr. Jones slanders Joe Biden by disparaging his “cognitive abilities” while ignoring facts like Special Counsel Robert Hur’s praise of Biden’s “photographic” memory. No mention by Mr. Jones of the many gaffes by Donald Trump, however.

Mr. Jones ignores the accomplishments by this administration. The bipartisan infrastructure deal, CHIPS Act, PACT Act for veterans, environmental advances and much more. Manufacturing and semiconductor production are returning, drug price relief is happening, lead pipes are being replaced, international alliances are being strengthened, and we’d have a bipartisan border deal if not for Trump’s meddling.

Now, let’s look at some of Mr. Trump’s work over his four years.

Removed scientists from the Wuhan lab and cut funding from the World Health Organization before the pandemic, then gave himself a “10 out of 10” for his coronavirus response (thousands dying daily, hospitals stretched beyond capacity, refrigerated trucks used as morgues, supply chain and product shortages, etc.). Suggested ingesting bleach as a cure.

Suggested using nuclear weapons to redirect hurricanes. Disclosed top-secret programs to the Russians days after taking office. Charged the U.S. government over $2.5 million for stays at his golf properties. Passed tax laws that benefited the upper 10 percent and cost the Treasury over $2 trillion to date, even though he promised the cuts would pay for themselves.

Promised a return of manufacturing jobs and an infrastructure bill, neither of which happened. Pushed for tariffs against China that cost U.S. companies over $46 billion and another $1 billion to $2 billion in subsidies to farmers to offset losses that we, the consumers, ultimately paid for.

Saluted a North Korean general. Disparaged veterans (“losers and suckers”), Gold Star families, law enforcement and more. Overruled intelligence officials to give Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump security clearances. Changed policy to favor China days after daughter Ivanka (still a government employee) landed coveted trademarks from China. Tried to weaken NATO while praising autocrats such as Vladimir Putin, Kim Jung Un, Viktor Orbán, etc.

Largest peacetime increase to the budget deficit of any president. Claimed to “only hire the best,” yet 40 of 44 cabinet members now refuse to endorse him while calling him “an idiot,” “unhinged,” intelligence of a “kindergartner” and more. Asked the military about shooting peaceful protesters in American cities and towns.

I haven’t even touched on the election denialism, the attack on the Capitol on January 6, the erosion of women’s rights or many of the other problematic issues from Trump’s time in office.

We have our candidates and we can see their results. Isn’t that what should matter?

Harry Mainzer

East Quogue

According to the official transcripts, Hur complimented Biden on his memory in a very specific instance, saying the president appears “to have a photographic understanding and recall” of details of his house in Wilmington, Delaware — Ed.