Uthmeier/corruption link was ironic

When I looked at the photograph on the front page of Friday’s Sentinel, I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. The photo dealt with criminal charges brought against the mayor of Kissimmee. I have no idea whether those charges are warranted, and the fact that an arrest had been made was not the cause of my confusion.

Look closely at the photo. On one side of the photo is a large sign asserting “Prosecuting Public Corruption.” On the other side of the photo stands our acting attorney general looking to the sky with an angelic look on his face. The not-so-subtle message is that he is aggressively fighting corrupt officials to the benefit of all Floridians. Of course, this is the same attorney general who was allegedly instrumental in the Hope Florida scandal involving what a grand jury found to be the theft of $10 million of public money.

I am reminded of the statement made years ago during the McCarthy years: “At long last sir, have you no sense of decency?”

— Mark O. Cooper, Altamonte Springs

Kissimmee mayor arrest was well-timed

I’m not saying the Kissimmee mayor didn’t deserve to be charged with a crime. But, I do find it very interesting that acting Attorney General James Uthmeier waited until two weeks before he’s up for election to charge her, while at the same time he has refused to investigate alleged criminal misconduct by the governor and his wife. And this comes days after, in a purely political move, Uthmeier filed charges against former Cuba president Raul Castro — charges that I believe are so meaningless he might as well have filed against a ham sandwich.

In my view, this past week has had little to do with justice and everything to do with Uthmeier’s political ambitions and getting re-elected.

— Alan J. Beam, Orlando

Use your powerful voice and vote

With the midterm elections finally reaching the finish line, we are being assaulted with the last desperate attempts of candidates trying to sway our votes. The ads are getting increasingly nasty, and some of the accusations are incredibly hard to believe, probably because they are also not true.

We are also hearing a constant barrage of threats about possible attempts to suppress our voting rights such as: seizing voting machines, sending ICE agents to polling places, refusing to let women who have changed their name due to marriage vote because it doesn’t match their birth certificate, suing various states over “illegals” on their voting rolls, refusing to seat a duly elected nominee, etc.

If your vote wasn’t so powerful, they wouldn’t be trying so hard to take it away from you. It is your superpower!

Think of it as your chance to write an annual employee performance review. Here is your opportunity to talk back to your government. Never let anyone or anything take that away from you.It only takes a few minutes, and you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you helped your country change for the better.

Vote like you mean it.

— Mary Sharpe, Lady Lake

Is Trump guilty of treason?

We have banned imports of Russian oil since they invaded Ukraine. Donald Trump signed a law last month, imposing sanctions on Russia, freezing their assets and imposing high tariffs on countries importing Russian oil. First he waived the import ban, allowing Russia to sell millions of barrels of diesel fuel. Then he issued an executive order waiving sanctions and tariffs. Russia will now have billions so Putin can kill more Ukrainians and allow him to continue providing aid to Iran, endangering Americans and our allies in the Middle East.

Trump blames Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for Russia’s war and is calling for him to be replaced because he has refused to “make a deal.” This would require Ukraine to capitulate and cede large parts of their country taken by force. Trump also blames Ukraine’s bombing of Russian refineries for high gas prices when Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz is clearly the culprit. How dare Ukraine fight for its life and sovereignty?

None of this is surprising given Trump’s constant praise of Putin. Ukraine is our ally; Russia is our enemy. The Constitution defines treason as giving aid and comfort to our enemies. I believe Trump is openly aligning with Putin and giving aid and comfort to Russia.  He has railed against claims of collusion with Russia as a hoax for years. In my view, those denials ring especially hollow now. As the old saying goes, “If the shoe fits …”

— Vinny D’Assaro, Winter Park

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