Letters to the editor |

Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign: Letters

Re “Harris will base platform on fake Biden successes” (Aug. 15):

In addition to COVID going around, the Harris campaign is causing new truth fatigue syndrome. Three months ago Harris was near the bottom of effective politicians, now she is awesome; failed policy on the border; nope, all is well; inflation fight will never lower the prices that shot up by 50%; look folks, inflation is almost beaten; U.S. foreign policy is in tatters; Biden/Harris policies are consequential. New truth, new vibes and feel the joy of new truths that will carry us into the White House. Frederick Douglass said it best: “there was no such thing as new truth.” And the Harris team will not turn into the team they pretend to be by just having the propaganda seven news media say so. There are just too many real news outlets speaking common sense facts to the people.

— Jorge A. Velez, Long Beach

Social Security shortfall

Re “Social Security is on an unsustainable path” (Aug. 11):

I agree with Veronique de Rugy’s assessment that “political cowardice” is keeping our elective officials from making needed changes to preserve Social Security. However, she believes exempting Social Security benefits from taxation is a bad idea.

How can having bureaucracy like the Social Security Administration distributing billions of dollars to seniors and then having the IRS take back a large percentage from tax filing be viewed as an “efficient” use of government resources?

— Phil Ripa, Oceanside

Newsom’s very expensive new photographer

Re “Newsom boosts own image on public dime” (Aug. 14):

Newsom hires a cameraman for $200,000 a year. Are the taxpayers paying this outrageous salary? I would’ve done it for half that. It’s only to take pictures when he’s out acting like he cares for us Californians, so that’s 10 days out of the year. Do the math, someone just got a great job. But why is it necessary?

— Jon Reitz, San Pedro

Tim Walz hits the campaign trail right here in Newport Beach

Will the Harris-Walz campaign have to declare to the Federal Elections Commission the glowing news articles coming from the newspaper as an in-kind campaign contribution? That puff piece about his appearance in Newport Beach (Aug. 14) left out the many criticisms of Tim Walz, and by direct association Kamala Harris. Trump nor Vance receive such grace. In fact there’s always an inch or two of a copy/paste criticism into every Trump article. Trump got a felony conviction in a NYC court for much less. Sometimes I have to do a double take to make sure I’m not subscribed to the L.A. Times when reading my copy of the paper.

— James Sisco, Westminster

Neither candidate gets a free pass from media scrutiny in the end

Re “Are Harris, Trump getting free passes?” (Aug. 13):

American political campaigns are a lengthy process. Coverage of campaigns is influenced by how campaigns are run. Trump has been running for nine years. Coverage of Trump campaigns has been embellished and derogatory. Neither candidate gets a “ free pass” from media scrutiny. The nature of  media coverage depends on who is doing the reporting. The Harris campaign is working to establish identity. It is a new story. Some media outlets report on her with enthusiasm and others question Harris’s legitimacy. One’s perception of fairness in reporting depends on which media they access. Trump’s intellectual acumen has long been a topic of speculation. It is hard to say how age affects him because he sticks to the same script. Regardless of who he debates, he will put forth his usual wandering assessments. Harris has the experience as a courtroom advocate, and attorney general, to be a formidable debate adversary.

— Mark Gilles, Lake Balboa

Intuit Dome in Inglewood

Am I the only one who thinks the Intuit Dome is the ugliest building in the world? It looks like a pile of scrap metal after an earthquake. I guess the only good thing is that if we do have an earthquake, it won’t look much different after the quake.

— Shirley Conley, Gardena