Letters to the editor: Risch, Bundy, vote by mail, Supreme Court

Risch

Jordan vs. Risch. The editorial board’s endorsement of Ms. Jordan commenced by stating what she considers a serious problem: Risch photographed asleep during a post-midnight impeachment hearing. Let’s set aside his energetic work during over 20,000 hours of his current term. What she and the editorial board miss is noting the multiple Senate seats that were empty! Many of his colleagues took 2-3 hours “restroom breaks” and were fully absent. Risch’s accumulated knowledge and wisdom meet Senate challenges.

Walter Donovan, Boise

Risch

Sen. Jim Risch hasn’t earned a third term.

In 2016, Risch voted against the confirmation of President Obama’s nominee for Secretary of Education. It was an empty, partisan indulgence which invoked the ire of GOP Senate Education Committee Chair Lamar Alexander. Risch had also voted against ‘No Child Left Behind’ law. The Coeur d’Alene Education Association publicly criticized Risch.

In 2018, Risch threatened to shut down the U.S. government by blocking a funding bill, unless an attached bill renaming a forest honoring deceased former Idaho Gov. Cecil Andrus was removed. Embarrassing national headlines mocked Idaho and painted Risch as a vindictive loser.

In 2019 Risch became Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair. Headlines still dog Risch as “a lackey,” “doormat” and for “losing control of his committee.” Risch’s pathetic leadership hasn’t served the president or the country.

July 2020, Election Year: Risch introduced a bill addressing the strained China-U.S. relationship. So what had Risch been doing the past 11 years regarding China? Nothing.

Risch says he’s running to protect us from “socialists.” More importantly, who’s going to protect us from Jim Risch?

Susanna Martin, Eagle

Bundy

Ammon Bundy certainly never misses a chance to show what a self-centered, selfish jerk he is. With the virus spiking, one would think he could wear a mask to help the common good. The people who suffered from his act of selfishness were the kids who just wanted to play football.

Jane Gabbert, Boise

Vote by mail

A vote for voting by mail. In mid-September I mailed a completed request for an absentee ballot to the Ada County Elections. On Oct. 2, I received my ballot and voted. Having completed the process as per the clear and complete instructions enclosed with my ballot, tomorrow morning I will return it via the same U.S. Postal Service. Kudos to the Postal Service and the Ada County Elections staff.

Charlene Martindale, Boise

Supreme Court

The guest commentary by Marc A. Thiessen is an artistic piece from a cherubic writer designed to defend the actions of a political party based on power alone without respecting the constitutional requirements detailing how a Supreme Court justice is to be selected. In brief, the president is required to present a candidate to the Senate members who have a duty to examine the candidate’s integrity, record regarding their knowledge of the law and their success (or lack thereof) with respect to having their body of case law. We the people do not need a justice on the Supreme Court whose major accomplishments have been achieved playing wiffle ball, consulting a deity or consuming alcohol to develop a proper litmus hue. The Thiessen screed needs to be read for what it is -- tit for tat by congressional brat. I urge our two Idaho Senators to vote against any Supreme Court candidate until the Senate treats their constitutional duty with appropriate gravity.

Every president regardless of party affiliation shall not be denied their constitutional duty to present a qualified candidate for Senate confirmation.

Mark Peterson, Eagle