Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D.

A number of years ago, I visited the Normandy American Cemetery in France. It was one thing to know that over 9,000 Americans were buried there, but when I actually saw the rows and rows of crosses and stars of David, that number became more real, and I was unable to hold back the tears.

To visualize the number of American deaths from COVID-19, currently over 157,000, it would take 17 such cemeteries. How can anyone hold back tears? It is predicted that that number could reach 300,000. No one can know how many of these deaths could have been prevented had there been strong national leadership and example to battle this terrible virus. Instead, our president has refused to pick up this mantle.

If the death toll does reach 300,000 as predicted, what a dreadful legacy that would be for a president who ignored some of the best expert advice the country had to offer.

— Edie Johnston, Burr Ridge

Note from KBJ: Are you watching CNN, Edie? But for President Trump, millions of Americans would be dead. He may well have saved your life.

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— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 12, 2020

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Yesterday evening, Katherine and I watched Breaking Away (1979), which I recently purchased on DVD. Neither of us had seen it in its entirety. I've known about the movie for many years, and always wanted to watch it, but until yesterday I hadn't. If I had to characterize the movie, I'd say that it's a coming-of-age movie that just happens to involve cycling. The four young protagonists could as easily have participated in a big soccer match or volleyball tournament as a bike race.

The movie was annoying. The father was obnoxious to the point of being incredible; the four high-school friends wore dirty clothing (which never happened in my neck of the woods); the plot was predictable and sappy; and things happened during the racing that would never have happened in real life (such as the Italian sticking his bike pump into a rival's wheel, causing him to crash).

In short, the movie was a disappointment. How it garnered five Oscar nominations is beyond me. Here is the trailer.

Donald Trump's approval rating is 49%. Barack Obama's approval rating at the same point of his presidency (11 August 2012) was 43%.

Here is John Nolte's latest column.

Donald Trump, our self-proclaimed genius in all things and resident pathological liar, has finally made America No. 1 in the world by having the highest number of COVID-19 deaths and confirmed cases.

As early as May 2018, Trump ignored a report from the director of medical and biodefense preparedness that a virus outbreak was our No. 1 threat and we were unprepared. When the virus began spreading around the globe, Trump delayed action, allowing the virus to gain a firm foothold.

We now have an economy on life support—30 million, and growing, are unemployed; large and small businesses are going bankrupt; and millions of families are going hungry. How can anyone support a man who has demonstrated no honor or integrity throughout his life and accepts no responsibility? November can’t come soon enough.

Larry J. Massung, San Marcos

Note from KBJ: President Trump is doing an excellent job, Larry. We're going to elect him again!