Like a lot of people, I want answers concerning the entire Jeffrey Epstein matter. I smell the same smoke we got for 60 years concerning the CIA connections to President Kennedy’s assassination. My advice? Release everything, now.
Next, in what’s become known as “Trump time,” the president has shut down illegal immigration, with emphasis on “illegal.” A president who actually enforces our immigration laws. Fancy that. His efforts are being purposely slowed by a handful of lower court judges across the country who fantasize that they were elected to manage public policy. Such elitist, politically driven judges are the real threat to our republic, as they arrogantly seek to overrule the collective will of the American voters. Sheer judicial arrogance.
Trump derangement syndrome notwithstanding, we’re making progress. In addition to securing our borders and deporting all those who illegally cut in line, Trump has America on track to rebalance our trade deficit, reward merit over gender and ethnicity, trim government’s size, cut taxes, and to restore American global dominance and international respect. The bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities assured a doubting world. The message? America is back. Not bad for seven months’ work. It’s called leadership – a rare commodity in Washington.
Steve Kapler, Waterloo
Attack on public TV
Congress just took an axe to public television! I’m wondering what “our” six Trump groupies representing us in Congress, opportunists that they are, will have to say when or if they would appear on Iowa Public TV or radio. Their soundbites, I’m sure, will reflect whatever the president’s handlers dictate.
Our children were raised on public television and this appears to be the single, most egregious, nonsensical thing Republicans have done to our nation as a whole.
If Iowan’s support this dreadful decision, I urge you to take a good long look in a mirror and explain to your children the rationale. This absolutely breaks my heart, even with all the horrible things this party has done to our country.
Elections have consequence’s, even more so when they don’t have truths.
Mike Leedom, Waverly
This is not peace
Steve Bakke’s recent column cries out for correction of multiple misstatements and untruths.
He states that Obama’s agreement with Iran to limit their nuclear weapon development was “like a blank piece of paper” and was “ineffective and unenforceable.” Those claims are flat-out false.
The nuclear agreement with Iran:
* Limited uranium enrichment to levels for civilian nuclear power, but not weapons.
* Reduced Iran’s number of centrifuges.
* Allowed the International Atomic Energy Agency on-site monitoring of Iran’s nuclear facilities.
The deal went into effect in 2016, after the IAEA verified that Iran had shipped 25,000 pounds of enriched uranium out of the country, dismantled and removed two-thirds of its centrifuges, and allowed international inspections of its nuclear facilities.
Following the bombing of Iran, Bakke trumpeted Trump accomplishing “peace through strength.” More likely, it’s the calm before the storm. After Trump bombed Iran, they:
* Kicked out all IAEA inspectors.
* Prepared to remove themselves from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Iran is now motivated to develop full nuclear weapons, with no limits, no independent third party inspectors, as soon as they are able. Despite what Bakke wants us to believe, this is not what peace looks like.
Dennis Harbaugh,
Waterloo
Lessons of history
What do we learn from history? What have we seen in recent history? Under Obama and Biden, America’s military power was undermined as funds were unwisely shifted to “social justice” and environmental programs. Under Biden, illegal immigration and government spending surged to unsustainable levels. Under Biden, America distanced itself from some of its most important allies including Israel, Britain and Saudi Arabia. Under Biden, America’s lack of strength emboldened our enemies, leading to the outbreak of war on two fronts and potential wars on others for which we were unprepared. But thanks to the Trump administration, it is not too late. America can rouse itself and return to greatness. As we near the tipping point of national debt and loss of military strength, we can return to health by making sacrifices to restore ourselves. Across the board cuts of 10% in government spending (except for military), combined with DOGE cuts, would bring budgets into balance. Elimination of entire departments and agencies would be enough to do this.
Our Founders had read history, especially the history of ancient Greece and Rome. Our Founders knew that the survival of a republic depends, above all, on the virtue of its people. Maybe we will start learning from history?
Dave Smith, Waterloo
The dead zone
It’s about time Gov. Reynolds leave. Her response to quetions about nitrate runoff by protestors was “regulation is not the answer.” Let’s think about that answer. Des Moines and other communities have struggled with high nitrate levels for decades. They want an answer, a real solution. Iowa’s lakes and beaches are often closed due to high nitrate and runoff levels. Iowa’s trout streams are threatened due to runoff. Her response is not an answer. There must be an answer, either regulation, state help, and further response.
The dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico is now 6,000 square miles! If runoff from Minnesota somehow made 600 square miles of Iowa useless we would be outraged. Yet we think nothing of polluting 6,000 square miles of water in our Gulf States. More needs to be done in both voluntary and regulatory solutions! It’s not just Iowa we pollute.
Harold Tuchel, Waterloo
Too late for building
I’ve been following the story on the building collapse in downtown Waterloo. Obviously it’s been deemed a hazard and the city wants to demolish it. The owner wants to preserve the building and supposedly restore it. Aside from the fact that I don’t see how that’s possible at this point, I’ve also thought something else.
Given how long he’s owned the building, I have little faith that he would start construction. If it’s sat this long, the elements have taken their toll. If it had been done sooner, I may see it being a viable option.
Now don’t get me wrong, I generally would love to see these old buildings stand. I however would have to say not this one. I understand its history and wanting to preserve it, but I think it’s too late now. I think we can preserve its history in other ways.
Theodore TePaske,
Waterloo
This is not normal
Iowans, did you get what you voted for in the last presidential election?
* I see our Iowa politicians approved unqualified persons (no prior managerial experience) to high level agency managerial positions in the government.
* Policies of on/off again tariffs. “Deals” claimed, only not to be made, actually only letters sent to countries threatening tariffs.
* Fake arrest (AI generated) of a former president in prison setting.
* Intimidation of various universities, law firms, large business, and the press. Intimidation of the media through lawsuits and verbal threats.
* Promises to immediately end war in Gaza, war in Ukraine, never cut Medicare or Social Security, or reduce the deficit. Did any of these happen?
* Arrest and deportation of all illegal violent gang members, undocumented immigrants with an arrest record, with such zeal that American citizens are arrested and deported. Even undocumented immigrants with no arrest records who have been here for years working and paying taxes.
Is this normal? Are these the actions that you support?
Get involved in your political system. Write your elected representatives. Express your feeling and opinions.
Tim Murphy, Waterloo
Honor our veterans
As a proud Vietnam veteran and proud member of great veterans organizations, I am requesting to see how many true patriots we have here in the Cedar Valley. There are a few projects honoring our vets every citizen should take pride in. First off, the 1776 project placing 1,776 American flags up in honor of the 250th anniversary of the USA. Another project is repair of the fountain at Memorial Hall and the placing of monuments at Memorial Hall and the Vietnam plazas in honor of Gen. Evan “Curly” Hultman and David Cole with brass plaques at the two locations. These are some large projects but with the businesses and citizens here in the area we can get ot done and show the vets we really do honor their service and ongoing dedication to our community.
This will be a real positive step to bring honor to the vets of the area and teach our young about their sacrifices. So get out that checkbook and send a generous donation to Memorial Hall Projects PO Box 182, Cedar Falls, IA 50613. God bless you for your generosity to a great cause.
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