Letters: Michelle Obama back in the news

With all the events occurring in our country — fires and shootings in California — was it really newsworthy to put a teaser photo of Michelle Obama on the front page of Newsday [“Michelle Obama opens up,” News, Nov. 10]?

It seems obvious that she would really like to sell her book! If she is well thought of, then people will buy it.

Pat King, Merrick

In her book, Michelle Obama says she will never forgive President Donald Trump for perpetuating the racist birther conspiracy against her husband.

I will never forget her saying, “For the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country because it feels like hope is finally making a comeback.” She said it in 2008 during her husband’s presidential campaign, only later clarifying that she was proud to see so many people turn out to vote.

Frank Venis, East Rockaway

Consider both sides of national politics

Seeing the headline of your Nov. 11 editorial, “Setting the table for compromise,” I began reading a piece that I hoped would bring us all together. Shame on me. Instead, the headline proved a ruse.

The editorial focused on President Donald Trump and his misdeeds. One line was devoted to antifa and the vicious criminal trespass at the home of Fox News host Tucker Carlson. But what about Rep. Jerrold Nadler saying he might investigate Justice Brett Kavanagh, perhaps to impeach him, and further probe Trump? No mention of that.

What about Rep. Nancy Pelosi saying she would not step in the way of investigations if she is chosen as speaker? No mention of that. Not even a mention of how moderate Democrats like my member of Congress, Kathleen Rice, advocate a change to a less divisive speaker. No, the Newsday editorial board prefers to continue to fan leftist radical flames. Please do not insult readers by calling for compromise and then pointing the finger at just one side.

Richard LePetri, Rockville Centre

Before the election, I endured countless commercials, persistent phone calls and multiple mailings from candidates whom I had seldom, if ever, heard from before. Most of this material contained accusations against opponents and lacked specifics on issues.

The election results basically reinforced that this country is pretty equally divided between both major parties. Yet both declared victory, vowed to confront the other and to push their agendas.

How can this type of politics be beneficial to our country? If all we do is elect officials who spend their terms trying to undo what previous administrations enacted, we are doomed to mediocrity at best and inertia and divisiveness at worst. What happened to the idea that the two-party system should foster civil debate about issues? What happened to compromise, tolerance and respect for those who have different opinions? How can our society identify as only “blue” or “red” and vote accordingly without regard to candidates’ records and positions?

Unless we again embrace the aforementioned concepts, I fear for the country and world we leave to our children and grandchildren. It is our responsibility to give them better.

Richard Plantamura, Islandia

I am a 73-year-old independent voter. I feel that Donald Trump and Barack Obama have been the two most divisive presidents of my lifetime. One has a sharp tongue and the other a silver tongue, but both divide. The problem is that their supporters don’t recognize it because they are so busy blaming the other side that they don’t see their own!

We have become addicted to 24-hour cable news that continually demonizes and denigrates. There are good people who love this country with opposing views. I suggest to liberals that you occasionally watch Fox News, and that conservatives watch some CNN.

When I suggest this to family and friends, they say they don’t want to hear the other side.

Well, there you have it! We are so busy shouting that no one is listening!

Dick Coleman, Mount Sinai

Angry at Trump for not visiting cemetery

During his visit to France, the president of the United States could not ride 50 miles to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial to honor the thousands of U.S. soldiers who died defending freedom 100 years ago because of a little rain [“Trump misses memorial,” News, Nov. 11].

How anyone who has ever served, how anyone one who has ever valued freedom, could follow this self-aggrandizing man is incomprehensible. Despicable does not go far enough.

Richard M. Frauenglass,Huntington

How many millions of miles did Donald Trump travel while campaigning to win the presidency? And what about the many miles he’s traveled as president for rallies that inflate his ego — instead of doing his job at the White House?

From now on, his red hats should read “Make America great again, but the hell with dead American soldiers.”

Richard Siegelman, Plainview