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

Here.

Donald Trump's approval rating is 49%. Barack Obama's approval rating at the same point of his presidency (6 May 2012) was 49%.

In these horrific times of the coronavirus, when most of the news has been dire, I had found some news that was very uplifting and gave me a bit of hope. As it turns out, while much of the world has been staying home, the air quality has been drastically improving worldwide. It was reported that in places in India, people have reported being able to see the Himalayas for the first time in decades. People who have asthma have gotten relief from the air being so much cleaner as car and truck emissions have been reduced. The sky is bluer. This has been some “proof” that we (humankind) are responsible for much of climate change.

My bit of hope was dashed recently when I read that the Trump administration has gutted an Obama-era rule that required the country’s coal plants to cut back emissions of mercury and other health hazards from coal- and oil-fired power plants. Environmental Protection Agency chief Andrew Wheeler—who just happens to be a former coal lobbyist—was largely responsible for getting the rule reversed. Since most of the news is (rightly so) focused on the coronavirus, I wonder what else the Trump administration might be doing under the radar to dismantle everything the past president put into place to protect us.

NANCY L. HAMMOND

Hampton

Note from KBJ: We elected Donald Trump to eliminate costly and unnecessary regulations, Nancy. If you don't like it, elect someone else.

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The Fake News has reached an all time high!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 6, 2020

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Here.

Here.

Yesterday evening, Katherine and I watched Cross Creek (1983), which I saw in 1990 (probably on cable television), but which Katherine had never seen. The movie is gorgeous! It's the true story of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, who divorced her husband in New York and moved to an "isolated orange grove" in Florida to write. Her immersion in the local community led to the novels Cross Creek and The Yearling.

The acting, by the likes of Mary Steenburgen, Rip Torn, and Peter Coyote, is impressive, to say the least. The musical score is superb. The plot is easy to grasp, the scenes riveting, and the dialogue interesting. My only complaint is that there are no subtitles on the version I own. All in all, a great movie.

Here is the trailer.

Re “In his TV interview, Biden didn’t end the Tara Reade story. No one could” by James Pindell (Ground Game, May 1): After following the Tara Reade story in some detail, I’ve decided to embrace the old adage that the truth will set you free. For anyone other than Reade and former vice president Joe Biden, the truth is we don’t know what happened, and it is unlikely we’ll ever know. So I can’t adjudicate this case. More important, I don’t have to.

Reade is certainly free to prosecute her claim, and Biden to defend himself against it, as they deem fit in the court of public opinion. For me, Biden continues to be head and shoulders above the “I accept no responsibility,” “do me a favor” incumbent in the White House, and this is irrespective of any consideration of substantive policies (think: children in cages) and competence.

We can’t change the past. Elections are about the future. The future of the country will be better under Biden than under the incumbent by every measure. Everything else is just noise, and acknowledging this fundamental truth does not disrespect Reade or make critics of Brett Kavanaugh hypocrites. It is just a fact of life that we have to meet it as we find it.

Meanwhile, I wish that all prospective female running mates could take this approach and abstain from being either a shield or a sword for Biden on this issue. They can keep their dignity by stopping the abhorrent practice of a woman carrying water for a man on a sexual harassment or assault charge by focusing on how they and their running mate can secure a better future for the country.

Vivian Tseng

Concord

Note from KBJ: Barack Obama put the children in cages, Vivian. Have you been getting your "news" from CNN?

Governors should let roads and highway construction begin before heavy traffic starts, which will be soon. Some Governors never stopped, which proved to be very smart. They built and fixed roads during long no traffic periods. Also, saved big dollars!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 5, 2020

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