Trump’s constituents are not enemies
Responding to the letter in Friday’s Sentinel (“Protesters are listening to the wrong info”), I completely agree with the writer that many Americans are ill-informed due to their news sources. However, I think we are each looking at different ends of the telescope. I would ask the author to put in context the following quote from Donald Trump: “I always say, we have two enemies. We have the outside enemy, and then we have the enemy from within, and the enemy from within, in my opinion, is more dangerous than China, Russia and all these countries.” He went on to say that he was specifically talking about people like California Rep. Adam Schiff. That is the entire quote. With President Trump, there is no reason to cherry-pick quotes. Unfortunately, he gives us plenty of fodder.
We protested against a president who considers anyone who disagrees with him to be an enemy. We protested against a president who has shattered the norms of the office, made Congress irrelevant, and declared emergencies where none exist. We protested a president who cut taxes for the wealthy while cutting benefits for those in need. It’s not just his divisive words but also his actions we protest.
Adam Schiff is not the enemy. I’m not the enemy. But still, I have a president who feels that I am because I disagree with his policies and actions. When our president starts calling his constituents the enemy, we should all be scared. If you aren’t, you are looking through the wrong end of the telescope.
Michael Perkins Orlando
Shutdown coverage unfair to GOP
The self-proclaimed “balanced” Sentinel should be ashamed and embarrassed for putting out completely biased news articles, the most recent example being the Associated Press headline article “GOP unity on menu in White House” in Wednesday’s paper, regarding the government shutdown. The article states, “GOP refuses to yield to Democratic demands for healthcare funds, and the shutdown drags on.“ Give me a break. Can you not tell the truth about what the Democrats want, and why it drags on? By “health-care funds,” I believe they really mean billions of tax dollars going to Medicaid for illegal immigrants. And it seems they want a trillion or so in additional taxes for liberal pet projects, many in obscure countries.
However, I believe it is the Democrats in Congress who are stalling, and all for their own self-serving political interests, as usual. Plus they calculate that they can get by with it because they have such reliable cover from the ever-biased, ever-compliant news media, the Associated Press and this newspaper being prime examples.
Wayne Windham Winter Park
Trump’s golden plans
President Trump has added yet another analogy to shooting someone on Fifth Avenue and getting away with it. No one intervened to stop the wrecking ball aimed at the East Wing. Maybe because that same projectile was used against all the guardrails.
With this seemingly unstoppable juggernaut of self-centered whims, it’s not hard to imagine a lavish, million-dollar a plate feast in the glorious golden ballroom followed by dessert: Eighteen holes at the newly repurposed Arlington National Golf Course.
Roger Popp Kissimmee
Fiddling while America burns
Friday’s Orlando Sentinel headlines made me consider antidepressants. “White House East Wing demolished”: So who’s paying for the demolition of the People’s House’s East Wing — without a historical board determining whether it matters? Sounds like a shady developer’s dream.
Then came, “NBA coach, Heat player charged in betting scheme.” Who knew La Cosa Nostra was still alive and well? And the Department of Justice left us hanging about the “unnamed Magic player.” We all knew this was coming as sports gambling exploded.
“Trump tariffs hit Port Canaveral for more than $800K” also caught my eye — proof that those “billions” Trump claims go to “the American people” actually come from us, through higher prices, tariffs, and ongoing inflation. Steak, anyone?
And another disappointment: “Court pauses Alligator Alcatraz lawsuit.” Our government seems stuck in its own swamp, stalled by congressional battles over health care — whether we get it affordably or face more squeeze. The lawsuit plans to push President Trump, the federal government, and Gov. Ron DeSantis to stop the damage — and maybe even allow taxpayers to recover funds for something meaningful, like affordable housing for workers hit hard by inflation and low wages.
Is it just me, or does it seem like the old saying “Nero fiddled while Rome burned” still applies? Except history shows Nero probably played a lyre, attempted some relief efforts, and still cleared land for his new palace. Maybe that’s the part of history we’re repeating.
Joanie Holzer Schirm Orlando
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