Letters

As an independent voter, I have been very frustrated, like many, about the candidates being offered by the Democrats and Republicans for the presidency come November, as both to me appeared unfit for office. One’s weaknesses became increasingly clear as the debilitating effects of age became apparent to all in the recent debate. The other candidate has shown his lack of fitness on numerous occasions, most clearly by his actions leading up to January 6, 2021, his despicable actions and inactions on that day, and his behavior in the aftermath.

Now, one party has dealt with their unfit candidate. The other party has had 3½ years to confront and reject their unfit candidate. Instead, Mitch McConnell blinked at the impeachment that in his heart he knew was deserved, with the prescient warning that Donald Trump has not gotten away with anything … yet! Kevin McCarthy flew down to Mar-a-Lago shortly thereafter to kiss the ring and secure funding for his congressional candidates, and the rational voices within the party were stifled.

As we head into the heart of the general election season, I know a few things.

Only one candidate is an old man. Only one candidate is a convicted felon pending sentencing, with other counts against him pending. Only one candidate has been convicted of sexual abuse, as well as paying off a porn star to silence evidence that would have cost him the 2016 election.

Only one candidate undermined the most meaningful bipartisan immigration bill since the 1980s. Only one candidate promised a bipartisan infrastructure bill that would benefit communities all over America and never delivered. Only one candidate has threatened to undermine the NATO Alliance that has provided security for the U.S. and other member countries for almost 80 years.

Only one candidate refused to cooperate with a request to return highly sensitive government documents. Only one candidate undermined effective COVID strategies that would have saved the lives of thousands.

As we wait to see the resolution of who will replace Joe Biden as the Democratic Party nominee, I don’t need to know who it will be. I know whom I’ll be voting for — or, should I say, whom I’ll be voting against.

The Republican Party has left me no choice.

Ron Schaefer

Hampton Bays