Letters to the Editor

Sound off!

As a global-warming activist, this weather has taken me by storm. How do I reconcile my beliefs during this Armageddon with subzero-zilla bearing down on our once-roasting planet? Am I in denial? Yes, the once-legion global-warming followers are jumping ship nowadays, but it's heart-warming knowing that I have (very little nowadays) company. As Mister Rogers would say: "Won't you be my friend?"

-- Hubbard

Thank you President Trump for making America great again! Keep up the good work!

-- Struthers

Donny "I dodged the draft" T. has done it again. In a recent speech he stated that NATO troops from other countries, during the Afghan turmoil were "standing back" and doing their part in combat thereby disrespecting our allies. When will it finally end and the MAGA lemmings realize this guy is an idiot and it is time for him to step aside?

-- Youngstown

Animals get abused. Owners arrested. It's serious. I was assaulted. I'm 72 and disabled. Police refuse to report. And no charges. I was treated at a hospital. Asssault on a senior is serious. But the city is covering up the incident. I have a video of it. I will meet with county Prosecutor county Lynn Maro because the city refused to investigate. Why?

-- Canfield

Fellow seniors: Do you think our representatives, especially at the federal level, really care about our rising health care costs? If you do, I will sell you the Market Street Bridge! They don't, because theirs is FREE! And they have the best plans available because we, the taxpayers, pay for it! In addition they get free haircuts, hairdos, etc. And, most leave office with a seven digit retirement! If you want your grandchildren to be rich, have them take a dual degree (political science & performing arts) in college.

-- Boardman

Trump's untrained military and police rejects have killed Alex Pretti, another innocent American. Obama was called the Deporter in Chief and deported 4.4 million without killing Americans. Then why does Trump allow such killings? I hope the MAGA crowd realizes that Trump doesn't care about our 1st or 2nd Amendment rights or any other amendments or laws. He's killed almost 100 people in boats that he could have captured. His goal is to subjugate us through intimidation.

-- Campbell

At a rally, Trump once told his mob to "rough him up a little on the way out" when they grabbed a Trump heckler. Trump's scofflaw order birthed the ICE homicides in Minnesota. Titular ICE leader Homan, who urged patience evaluating the killing of Renee Good, was thought to be weak. Now he is sent to Minneapolis to be thrown under the bus. If he sides with ICE, Trump will claim resulting protest demands his ouster and an insurrection order. If he sides with citizens, he'll be labelled weak and ousted.

-- Canfield

I wonder if there will ever come a day when Kristi Noem realizes what she has done -- lied about the killings of innocent people, dragged their names through the mud and further pained their grieving families, defended armed militia sent for revenge on those who disagree with the president, and did the bidding of a man who wants total obedience from his subjects. If that ever happens, I wouldn't want to be her. How could anyone live with that?

-- Youngstown

Oh, to go back to those crazy hippies and their "Peace and Love." We have lost our country's allies, we are angry and unhappy, can't pay the bills, have horrible and corrupt people in charge, Americans have been murdered by ill-trained ICE agents, and we have a president who is mentally unfit and has insulted the world leaders AND has an inept bunch in his Cabinet. But don't forget the Republicans doing little to help, or the inept Supreme Court.

-- Liberty

ICE has made several "mistakes," the most grievous being needless homicides, and no due process, not even for 5-year-olds. The others include chronic liars from the West Wing to the streets as bosses. Entering homes without judicial warrants. Forty hours of apparently faulty training. Being beer-bellied-bar-brawlers who signed on for their slice of $74 billion of your tax dollars put aside for the day they are openly palace guards of the Orange Menace. Where they go are problems they create.

-- Canfeld

When a police officer fatally shoots someone, there is always a full investigation into the justification of the shooting, and the officer may be punished when they are found at fault. Why is this same procedure not followed for ICE agents? And why does the administration automatically justify the killing?

-- Liberty

Yes, it's a shame what's going on in Minneapolis and elsewhere with ICE and the protesters. But pause for a minute and think how this could have been prevented. If Biden and his Border Czar, Kamala Harris, would have not let millions of immigrants in, many using their children as decoys, we would not have this issue. Also, many diseases; measles,mumps and polio which were previously eradicated would not be a concern for our children.

-- Boardman

"Everybody knows Cassidy Hutchinson lied" raved Sen Jordan. Everybody does not. Jack Smith had already testified her testimony was "hearsay", not a lie, re the events of 1/6. Smith knows hearsay would be inadmissible at trial. That Smith "hasn't given up" on Hutchinson's testimony only reflects he may have been seeking corroborating first-hand testimony to the same evidence when his investigation was halted only because the felon was already in office.

-- Canfield

Why would any country give Trump one billion dollars for a place on his 'Board of Peace'? I am not sure he understands the meaning of 'peace', given his alienation of our allies. He would probably pocket it to join the one and a half billion he has already fleeced from the American people. Besides, NATO is alive and well, at least so far unless Trump does something even more stupid.

-- Liberty

Letters to the Editor

Sound off!

The death of the young woman in Minneapolis was tragic. She leaves a child behind. But all the SoundOff writers forget one thing. Blocking a public road is illegal. Interfering in law enforcement activities is illegal. Driving your car at any person is illegal. This wasn't peaceful protesting. Peaceful protesting is standing on the sidewalk and yelling all you want. This woman should have been home with her child, not interfering with ICE agents.

-- Hubbard

Once again Donny's mouth belies reality. He claims nobody deserves the Nobel Peace Prize more than him. What is "peaceful" about a draft dodger who invades Venezuela, has his Gestapo on American streets, and is now threatening military force in a NATO sovereign state? Come on MAGA, quit defending this clown.

-- Youngstown

It seems Donald Trump likes to see his name on as many landmarks, public buildings or businesses as possible. With that said, Youngstown should oblige him and rename its wastewater plant to the Donald Trump Memorial Wastewater Plant. If Youngstown has a dump, it should also be renamed after him as well.

-- Canfield

A sheriff accepted $75,000 in bribes from businessmen and undercover agents. Found guilty by a jury. A businessman who owned a chain of nursing homes failed to pay $38 million in employment taxes. He pleaded guilty. Some 1,500 J6 rioters were found guilty or pleaded guilty. George Santos found guilty. Countless others. All pardoned by our corrupt president. What did he receive in return? Does this make America great? I'd be very proud if I were a MAGA voter. It speaks volumes of your character.

-- Youngstown

Trump knows lawlessness when he sees it because his massive combover and ego require much mirror time to keep them working at a level the world has never seen before. So, he often sees himself. Thank goodness -- his voter suppression, bogus investigations, economic failures, foolish foreign adventures and attacks on peaceful protesters therefore get less time.

-- Canfield

Wherever Kristi's "brave patriots" spray grannies and kids with chemical agents for filming them, larger protest follows. Trump has noticed. That's why a neo-Nazi group showed up to try provoking violence that would enable their leader to impose the Insurrection Act. He failed to do so when the Capitol was attacked. Of course, on 1/6, the declaration would not have served him.

-- Canfield

The "peace and prosperity president" has raised taxes, ruined trade, attacked minor enemies and major allies alike, destroyed efforts to make health care affordable, spread our military thin while spending $74 billion for his secret police, kidnapped a foreign leader and claimed he "will run" his country with existing junta leaders, arrested and jailed citizens with no evidence of wrongdoing, used phony security threats and claims of lawlessness to invade states that did not vote for him, made a fool of himself accepting phony awards. It's past time for his impeachment. VOTE.

-- Canfield

The Vindicator's January 17/18 issue had three of the best editorials in a long time. The MLK editorial explained how the King holiday is meant as a reminder for everyone that diversity benefits all of us. Judge Napolitano's "A lawless presidency" and how it started before Trump and how he's violating the Constitution was spot on. Robert Reich's article pointed out how making war increases Trump's grip on power, abuse and control over us. The letters to the editor and 'Sound Off' were also very strong. We must stop 47. And the way to do this is to protest and to vote out his lackeys: Bernie Moreno, Jon Husted and Mike Rulli. If you didn't read the articles, I strongly suggest that you go online and check them out.

-- Campbell

Communist nations have long stated the US downfall would come from within. Who could have guessed that it would be led by our own president. This administration has damaged this country for generations to come.

-- Canfield

I am comforted by the many SoundOffs and letters in The Vindicator regarding the Trump administration, its contradictions and its effort to erode public integrity guardrails. In "Brave New World," Aldous Huxley observed that the "really efficient totalitarian state would be one in which the all-powerful executive of political bosses and their army of managers control a population of slaves who do not have to be coerced, because they love their servitude." We will not be slaves to myth.

-- Poland

In my own opinion, everything was fine until a bunch of pompous cranks decided to Make America Great Again. Things have gone downhill ever since.

-- Austintown

The U.S. Constitution (the document,not the ship) designates the President "Commander in Chief." In view of the pirate's lust that Trump has for Venezuela's oil, for Greenland and for the Panama Canal, etc. I fear we must coin a new phrase: " Commander 'n Thief."

-- Austintown

You can give the President credit for decreasing the number of people who are trying to sneak into this country. But is it because he secured the border or because he has made this a country that no one really wants to come into anymore?

-- Canfield

I'm disappointed that Maria Corina Machado gave her Nobel Peace Prize to our president. She earned that, and it is rightfully hers alone. Only those in the inner circle know how much our leader wanted this award, but like everything else surrounding this man, they are threatened into submission and we don't know. I do admire Ms. Machado for her willingness to put her country above her ego. Something our president has demonstrated time and again that he will never do.

-- Youngstown

"Murder will out," wrote Shakespeare. Regarding a recent trigger-happy event in Minneapolis (RIP "Mother Good"). I believe that the Bard, not Kristi Noem , speaks the truth.

-- Austintown

I can go to the Las Vegas pawn shop featured on the "Pawn Stars" TV show and buy a Super Bowl ring, but that doesn't mean I was a linebacker in the Super Bowl. I hope Trump knows that!

-- Youngstown

If there's a league for lying, bragging, bullying and blaming, Trump deserves a first-place prize to suit his performance. Ms. Machado's regifted Peace Prize medal is pathetic. Trump deserves one on par with the "significant award" given to Ralphie's dad, only tackier. Maybe in faux gold. He could call it the Epstein, and hold a presser in the oval for its installation there.

-- Canfield

Letters to the Editor

Sound off!

Erick Erickson's editorial of Jan. 12 attempts to blame the victim. If Ms. Good had followed orders she wouldn't have been killed. How about if Ross hadn't stood in front of the car? And how was he able to fire a shot into the front windshield, then reach around to the driver's open window and fire two more shots that killed her, all while being run over? Then walk a half a block to the crash scene and back. He must be a brown shirt Superman. Enough with the lies.

-- Campbell

Isn't it ironic that this administration threatens military action in Iran if the government goes after protesters, but has no problem arresting and killing protesters in this country who disagree with government policies?

-- Canfield

I challenge all MAGA lemmings to hear their excuses for this. In an interview about the ICE enforcer killing the lady in the car, Donny on Friday said, and I quote, "I ALWAYS protect law enforcers." How then does he justify that he casually watched for 3 hours the Jan. 6 rioters and then DOUBLED DOWN by PARDONING those that attacked the Capitol police?!

-- Youngstown

Kristi Noem called the woman who was murdered in Minneapolis a "domestic terrorist." She was trying to get away from the ICE agents, not run them over. She just dropped her 6-year-old son off at school! The criminals who attacked our Capitol on Jan. 6 to overthrow an election were called "peaceful protesters." Does this make sense to you? Is this what our country has become? Do you agree with this?

-- Youngstown

The anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection made me think of our Pledge of Allegiance, which ends "with liberty and justice for all." Is it justice when our president pardons those criminals who attacked our nation's Capitol and police force, causing injury and death? These people were tried and found guilty by our court system and were serving their sentences. How anyone can support this man, and think he is good for this country is beyond me.

-- Youngstown

Late Friday night the DOJ opened a criminal investigation against Jerome Powell and the Federal Reserve. 47 and AG Bondi did this as vindication against Powell for not lowering interest rates even more, though they claimed it was about expenditures at the federal building renovation. 47 professed that he did not know about this; however, just two weeks ago he spoke about it publicly! Just another lie from the pathological liar. The Federal Reserve is an independent, apolitical agency that must remain such.

-- Canfield

Erick Erickson's Jan. 12 column stated that Renee Good would be alive had she not "substituted politics for religion." Meanwhile, the MAGA-sphere mixes politics with religion. Ephesians 6:5 reads, "Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear ... just as you would obey Christ." Is this the MAGA mantra? Are we supposed to be neutral and act like sheep regardless of the injustice? Let us not forget what Hermann Goring said: God gave the savior to the German people.

-- Poland

Puppy shooter Noem declared Renee Good to be a "domestic terrorist" with no evidence. With no evidence, she now ignores a judicial order allowing members of Congress to do unannounced oversight of ICE facilities because they are funded by Trump's OBBB tax bill, not regular revenue. The OBBB and regular revenue arises from your taxes. Congress controls funds from your taxes. You voted for the GOP, and their darling dictator. Enjoy your investment. Until Trump's masked gravy seals come for you.

-- Canfield

Vice President JD Vance said that the ICE agent who fatally shot the woman in Minneapolis is doing a very important job for the United States of America and deserves a debt of gratitude. The debt of gratitude the president paid to the officers that were injured at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, was to pardon their assailants. One guy supposedly defending himself warrants praise while an entire police force defending our Capitol is shown total disdain. Sheer lunacy!

-- Poland

Trump has declared his presidential powers are constrained only by his "morality".

He has tried, and continues trying, to overthrow legitimate elections. He has pardoned criminal insurrectionists. He has withheld authorized aid to Ukraine attempting to bully them to bear false witness. He has withheld funds authorized by Congress from states that did not vote for him. Too many more Trump lies, 30k+ by some fact checks, exist to be listed here. So, just ask what morality guides this rogue.

-- Canfield

Trump and the cowardly Republican Party are leading America down a dark road. No Republican has sounded the slightest objection to Trump's unconstitutional, illegal and immoral actions at home or across the world. Voting Democratic seems the only hope to reverse our national and international decline.

-- Canfield

Would that Congress tell, and make stick to Trump, the same order the mayor of Minneapolis gave Trump's masked secret police after they shot a citizen of that city. Trump must be impeached. If Congress hasn't the spine, every member should expect to be voted out at our earliest convenience. Impeach Trump. VOTE.

-- Canfield

I urge parents to listen to their pediatricians about their child's inoculations. Robert Kennedy, head of the nation's health, has instituted new rules with absolutely NO medical education, with just his personal wacky opinions. Opinions are not facts.Years and years of current vaccinations have proven to ensure the health of children worldwide against childhood diseases. Following these new rules could endanger their lives. Please safeguard the lives of your children and consult with your doctors.

-- Liberty

This is happening so frequently it must be stopped! Several times a week another emaciated dog , usually dead or near death, is shown on TV. Today, a once beautiful, large dog was shown with ribs showing and starving. Instead of just giving the perpetrator a fine, send them to jail for one year. And give them one small meal a day with a glass of water.

-- Boardman

The Trump administration was quick to applaud the use of deadly force when an officer felt threatened in Minneapolis.Video evidence showed that was clearly not the case. Viewing the video evidence from Jan. 6, 2021,

and using their logic, the steps of the U.S. Capitol should have been littered with dozens of dead bodies on that tragic day! Some of the same people that Dear Leader later pardoned.

-- Struthers

We need to change some traffic laws to make everyone safer. Allow the police to confiscate cars driven by suspended or unlicensed drivers no matter who may own the car. That would demand compliance where most voluntarily follow the laws to be licensed, registered and insured. Protect us from those like the recent 16-year-old in Youngstown with no respect for any laws.

-- Columbiana

Letters to the Editor

Sound off!

Your 1/5/25 publishing of "Ohio congressional reaction"--all Republicans--to the Maduro kidnapping is interesting. It illuminates the gerrymandered, voter-suppressed electorate of Ohio. The four quoted, Husted, Moreno, Joyce and Rulli, are all in lock-step with the Fuehrer. At least our government's historic penchant, since WWII, of clandestine regime changes, by force, in countries all around the world, is no longer happening behind closed doors. And it also confirms that the inmates are now running the insane asylum.

-- Boardman

Trump is hoping for a win-win with his invasion of Venezuela. First he is trying to change the story from Epstein and second he is planning on stuffing more money into his pockets. He said we're going to run the country, take back our oil and give back to the people. Again he's lying if he wasn't then he would have returned the country to the duly elected president. He plans to threaten their vice president into giving up the oil. Which she and big oil will pocket.

-- Campbell

A smiling sycophant, the speaker of the House, has explained why a plaque commemorating the patriotic police defense of the Capitol against Trump's insurrectionist 1/6 mob is yet to be installed at the Capitol. He is lying. Trump incited the mob, protected the mob, pardoned the mob and doesn't want a plaque commemorating national heroes where his pals chose to defecate. As in his dark-of-night AI tweets, Trump favors fascism and feces.

-- Canfield

Sen. Mark Kelly has greater patriotism, public service and honor in his little toe than the Pistol Pete freight car in Trump's clown train Cabinet. Hegseth's threats to Kelly for speaking the truth illustrate how pathetically fragile is Petey-plays-with-guns' ego. It's time Congress found its powers to impeach secretaries as well as presidents.

-- Canfield

WHERE IS CONGRESS? Are they asleep? Will they let this administration just run amok, going after any country and claiming OUR nation will now run them? Innocent people were killed in this raid. Maduro is corrupt, but then so is the Honduran president Trump pardoned. OUR people need help with basic needs, especially health insurance NOW! Is there anyone in this administration with common sense? Unchecked power has taken over their brains, and it needs to be STOPPED! Lord help us all.

-- Liberty

Mr Puskas: Are you confusing socialism with communist dictatorship? Do you not like your Social Security account? Or your unemployment insurance? Or Medicare? Those are logical, reasonable socialist programs that benefit common people. But you should not like the greedy capitalism of non-tax-paying billionaire corporations too big to fail that get bailed-out by unwitting, innocent taxpayers, such as GM did before closing Lordstown, or big banks did during the 2008 banking crisis; corporate socialism for billionaires -- zilch for us.

-- Boardman

How can our invasion of Venezuela be seen as any different than Putin's invasion of Ukraine? Trump has also validated China's takeover of Taiwan. Trump is using video game strategies as international diplomacy.

-- Canfield

One person can send 15 thousand service personnel and their equipment nearly 3,000 miles to attack and seize an indicted foreign dictator, but 535 members of Congress can't push their party affiliations far enough to remove a domestic convicted felon and Constitution scofflaw from the White House. Voters can do that job and I hope they remember his spineless enablers and boorish advisers as well. VOTE.

-- Canfield

Star Parker's pervasive nonsense got loose again in her column printed in the December 31-January 1 edition of The Vindicator. She supports RFK's alarmist opinion about the nation's declining fertility rate as a national security threat and says that the "struggles of those who live secular lives take place in a backdrop of meaninglessness." A secular life is a free will option based on intellectual honesty and the U.S. population grew from around 218 million in 1976 to 340 million by 2025. Hardly a decline.

-- Poland

Putin started the war with Ukraine, not the opposite. Putin will not stop till he controls all of Ukraine. No matter what Trump says, he will not end up helping Ukraine as he has always idolized Putin and his dictatorship; there is also a bit of fear of Putin no matter how tough Trump thinks he is. Zelenskyy and Ukraine are in a no-win situation dealing with a liar and a despot.

-- Liberty

Dear Representatives: Regarding HB638, to designate President Donald Trump Freedom Highway. PLEASE, NO!!! Never forget January 6, 2021!!

-- Poland

Let me get this straight. An ego-maniacal draft dodger ordered an "invasion" of a sovereign country and says we (Him) will run this country. A man who couldn't run a casino (and five other bankrupt companies) is going to run another country! Isn't this the same philosophy the Hitler and now Putin espouse? When will the MAGAS wake up and realize that this clown is demented?

-- Youngstown

A recent article in the opinion page of the Vindicator talked about mail-in ballots. The new law requires mail-in ballots arrive by Election Day. The writer, David Skolnick, first had to throw a negative remark about President Trump, which is typical of letters in The Vindicator. Why is this such a big issue with Democrats? I vote by mail most of the time and I always mail my ballot in about three weeks before the election. If you want to vote by mail, don't wait until the last minute. Remember, you can't go to the polls the day after the election so why should mail in ballots be accepted.

-- Hubbard

In that Donny "I can do anything I want" Trump likes to put his name on everything, I have a suggestion. Going forward we should honor the Jan. 6 riot by renaming it "The Donald Trump Day of Infamy." All good Americans could show their support by wearing black arm bands. Sleep well, Donny.

-- Youngstown

If you have been to Lower Bears Den Picnic Area and noticed the damage to the grass, the trees cut down, the creek full of sawdust and no vegetation left, you can thank Mill Creek Park. This is quite contrary to what they're claiming that the deer are destroying the vegetation. What they are doing is removing the food for the deer. This is all in their master plan to remove all the deer in the park.

-- Poland

Letters to the Editor

Sound off!

Fireworks are terrifying to wildlife, pets, veterans, children, disabled and the elderly! They are not necessary and dangerous. Please rethink setting off explosives. Celebrate safely without fireworks.

-- Poland

270,000 federal jobs eliminated, almost 300,000 immigrants deported or still in horrible cells -- this administration has raised the U.S. debt over $2 trillion. Ballrooms, bathrooms, marble arm rests, arcs, gold-plated junk everywhere, new personal jets, vans and BMV cars for ICE, ($50,000 sign-up "bonus" ICE job offers), redoing the KENNEDY CENTER, cutting funding and health insurance for the needy, and millions spent on golf trips via jet travel. Tariffs / taxes. And we are saving money?

-- Liberty

I want to thank Dr. John Vlad for his letter on Dec. 27 regarding childhood vaccinations and for dispelling misinformation that has been promoted by many, including the CDC under Trump's watch. We need professional citizens to speak out the truth in these uncertain times. I appreciate his work in his field and his commitment to our community.

-- Poland

To John Bassetti: Loved your Ode to Liquor Store #109. It was clever, funny and a much-appreciated mood lift.

-- Poland

So, we buy a TV. Need to pay for cable. Have to pay for Netflix, Prime, HBO, etc. Then we are forced to watch commercials, mostly about drugs that we can't afford. Can anyone explain this?

-- Boardman

Ed Puskas, your column on Trump and Reagan in the Dec. 20 paper was fantastic! I enjoyed reading it so much. Thank you for writing it and I would love to read chapter two! You are good!

-- Canfield

To the people who voted for Trump: Do you agree with his arrogance of renaming the Kennedy Center and the Institute of Peace with his name, illegally, I might add? Where will it end? This narcissistic behavior is unbelievable, never before seen in our country. I never hear any disagreements about this among MAGA faithful. They either agree or are as gutless as he was when he refused to admit he lost in 2020. Continue to bow to the pitiful, draft-dodging Trump! You are all complicit!

-- Youngstown

Since both the Tribune Chronicle and The Vindicator are owned by the same company, and have the same newsroom and staff, why don't you simply merge these publications into one great newspaper serving the entire Youngstown-Warren area? The savings from not composing two newspapers should more than make up for the revenue lost by eliminating any dual-subscription customers you might have. Call it "The Vindicator, a Tribune Chronicle publication" or vice versa. If you are in doubt, just make this one of your daily poll questions.

-- Youngstown