Murkowski paid to play by DeVos
I recently read that Trump's choice for education secretary, Betsy DeVos, and her family, donated huge amounts of money to elect Republican senators, who are now poised to vote on her confirmation and those of the other nominees.
Five senators on the committee, who will vote on DeVos' confirmation, personally benefited from DeVos' donations. Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski sits on that committee and has received campaign funding from DeVos and her family. She accepted $43,200 for her campaign coffers.
This is "pay-to-play" politics at its absolute worst.
I hope Murkowski understands this and recuses herself from voting next week during DeVos' confirmation hearings.
— Frank Keim
Fairbanks
Intelligence in eye of beholder
I have to agree with Chuck Orr (ADN, Jan. 8). How could anyone possibly be so stupid as to think a liar, thief and sexual predator would need the help of a foreign power to get elected president when we were stupid enough to elect George W. Bush — twice?
— Cam Rader
Anchorage
Outsider frets for red Alaska
Just visited Alaska for the seventh time. Its desolate beauty never ceases to amaze. I met many residents that have moved from West Coast blue states which has me worried. Keep Alaska red! Don't let Alaska become California. As a 20-year resident of Illinois, I can tell you first-hand liberalism is a failed experiment that has decimated states like mine and California. Stay red and free Alaska!
— Mike Davitt
Chicago
Sullivan's survey had 36 issues — none on climate change
I recently received a short survey from Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan. One question asks about "the issues or topics most important" to me. Incredibly, climate change is not among the long list of 36 choices.
This glaring omission says a lot about Sullivan's awareness and concern regarding an issue already impacting many Alaskans, and guaranteed to cause even greater impacts to both rural and urban food and energy security. Or, it says a lot about the effects of all that Koch brothers money he received to secure his seat in the U.S. Senate. Either way, it's inexcusable.
— Mark Masteller
Palmer
City stoplights out of sync
Before you put cameras on traffic signals in this town, I suggest you coordinate the countdown on all the lights so when the countdown goes from 1 to 0 the yellow light activates. As it is now, when a number of traffic lights go to zero, the orange hand (don't walk) sign comes on, but the stoplight stays green. A driver anticipates stopping, but when it's still green, they keep on proceeding, then the light turns yellow or the light stays green for 10 more seconds. Consistency would help.
— Rolf L. Bilet
Anchorage
NRA behind Santiago killings
Esteban Santiago shot and killed five people and wounded 13 after getting off a plane from Anchorage to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He used a gun the Anchorage police returned to him after they and the FBI both interviewed him and he spent four days being evaluated by mental health experts. The next day after the evaluation, the police gave him back his 9 mm automatic handgun, they say, because no law exists stating a mental patient or an actively hallucinating person should not possess a handgun.
Score one for the National Rifle Association. The NRA platform, supported by the Republican Party, states everyone has the right to "bear arms" until he commits a crime, like presumably, shooting someone to death.
Tell me, what did everyone involved expect a diagnosed schizophrenic in the throes of hallucinations to do with a gun? He had received instructions on how to use it in the National Guard and allegedly told the "experts" the CIA was after him.
Individual rights in the United States are a big plus until it comes to weapons of mass destruction, which is what Santiago's gun became. A reasonable screening procedure made into a law would have prevented him getting the gun back from the police and, probably, five people would still be alive and 13 more would be without painful wounds.
Thanks again NRA, and preservers of everyone's right to bear arms regardless of record — for nothing!
— Dick Palmatier
Wasilla
Thanks Obama, for raising us up
Thanks to President Barack Obama for eight years of relative peace, significant domestic economic recovery, an absence of White House scandals, an embrace of family values and strong belief in a diverse and equal America. He kept his hands off the red button, worked with our international allies to combat terrorism and was admired throughout the world.
Most of all, I appreciate his wisdom and guidance about what is possible if only we care about others, and, more importantly, that we can make things better if we work together.
I will miss Obama's soaring, inspiring rhetoric, which is grounded in a patriot's reverence for our nation's Constitution, deep knowledge of its role in our history and profound understanding of its relevance to current events.
I am very sad this man who has honored all of us as our 44th president will be replaced by one who prefers speaking to us, and the rest of the world, through sarcastic tweets sent in the middle of the night.
Obama's love of family values was particularly important to most Americans, and that's a primary reason he is leaving with such a positive rating as president. Best luck to him and his family, and I hope to hear more from him as we find our way through four or, God help us, eight more years.
— Rodger Painter
Moose Pass
'Love your neighbor as yourself'
I am saddened to learn people are contacting Anchorage's Islamic Community Center of Alaska regarding the recent attack in Fort Lauderdale ("Anchorage mosque fields calls," ADN, Jan. 9). Additionally, reporters and media are hanging around the mosque, "looking" for a story. This suspicion despite lack of any evidence is wrong and bigoted.
The people at the community center are our friends and neighbors — our co-workers and fellow citizens.
As people of faith, we are called to speak the truth when others promote lies. As people of faith, we are called to stand alongside our neighbors when they are falsely accused, especially when such accusations put them in danger.
I call on all Alaska Christians to remember Christ's duty to "love your neighbor as yourself," by loving, respecting and protecting our Muslim brothers and sisters.
— The Rev. Matthew D. Schultz
Pastor, First Presbyterian Church
Anchorage
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