Biden's State of the Union speech, Trump and bipartisan immigration bill, toll evaders, daylight saving time

Reactions to Biden’s speech to Congress

President Joe Biden came out like Secretariat in his State of the Union address “Biden makes his case for second term,” News, March 8]. He called out former President Donald Trump, although not by name, the GOP and the Supreme Court’s actions. He went at them on women’s rights, civil rights, immigration, Ukraine and Israel.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson sat behind Biden, smirking, shaking his head and rolling his eyes. So much for the Republicans’ view of a supposedly docile old man who could barely speak.

The GOP members’ shouting was loud and clear. They stayed seated even when Biden called for stronger laws against online child predators and safety measures for artificial intelligence. The president made me proud that I am a Democrat.

— Ben Milano, Lindenhurst

Joe Biden was simply passing the buck when he mentioned “shrinkflation” about the reduced sizes of snacks. Inflation under Biden has driven up the price of almost everything. So some companies are giving you less instead of raising prices through the roof.

All Biden is doing is saying look over there, not at me.

— Kevin Mullen, Holtsville

I hope Special Counsel Robert Hur witnessed Joe Biden, a “well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory,” delivering his strong address. Congratulations to the president for lacing into Donald Trump’s cult worshippers.

Biden again called on Congress to pass stricter gun laws, “demanding a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.” Though attempting to place blame for mass shootings can be a scattershot approach, it was Republicans who forced the expiration of the ban on assault weapons.

And let’s not forget to congratulate the person who provided the Republicans’ immediate rebuttal, Alabama Sen. Katie Britt, who seemed to be auditioning for an Off-Broadway play and failed her vice-presidential tryout.

It’s odd that a party that seems to say women can be wives, mothers and stateswomen would place their spokesperson in a kitchen. But Republicans are right: Women can be mothers and stateswomen — they just can’t be in control of their own reproductive rights.

— Robert LaRosa Sr., Whitestone

That was a speech? Joy Behar of “The View” thought it was “fabulous”? Really? Screaming and behaving the way Joe Biden did was not very presidential.

Vice President Kamala Harris’ chair must have had needles sticking into her — she kept popping up and clapping while Mike Johnson could only shake his head.

— Enrica Bilello, Bellmore

Trump’s effort to halt bill shows it’s good

Donald Trump’s pressuring Mike Johnson to stop passage of the bipartisan immigration and border security bill indicates that it would work “Biden-Trump rematch worries many,” Opinion, March 7].

The bill should be passed and quickly implemented for the greatest and longest-lasting effect.

— Ric Kranz, Garden City

Let’s get tolls paid with a proven method

So, ways to stop toll evasion are getting support [“Plan to prevent toll evasion gains steam,” News, March 8]. However, the article may have missed the most important way to prevent it.

Get rid of E-ZPass and go back to manual tolls. Just like in the past, the tollgate does not go up until the driver pays the toll to a collector or pays with a credit card, etc. How many drivers would evade the tolls with this back in force? It would also restore jobs lost because of E-ZPass.

All ways to improve the system should be considered, not just politically expedient ones. If there is no other way to gain access to the road ahead without paying the toll first, rather than collecting it at a later date, there should be no more toll evasion.

— Edward Stroh, Rockville Centre

Don’t spend time debating clock change

Every year, actually twice a year, when we move our clocks ahead or back an hour, we learn about the studies that proclaim health damage, from loss of sleep to heart attacks [“Clock change remnant of war, hunger for sun,” News, March 8].

Many have traveled by air east or west crossing one or multiple time zones. Some people do it routinely every week. The impact on us is often called “jet lag.” After minor adjustments, we are usually fine. Changing our clocks an hour twice a year should not be a major trauma.

If we remained on standard time, we would greet the first day of summer’s dawn on June 20 at 4:22 a.m. That untimely sunrise would be more likely to cause me to awaken early and really lose sleep.

I look forward to warm summer evenings in which darkness approaches around 8:30 p.m., not 7:30. Let’s keep daylight saving time.

— Richard Jones, Dix Hills