Nikki Haley for Republicans

Nikki Haley hasn’t won | Feb. 21

Republicans have lost the popular vote in seven out of the last eight presidential elections. And it could easily become eight out of the last nine if they continue their support of Donald Trump. Trump’s legal perils will continue to cause more erosion of support. Yet they have a candidate in Nikki Haley who polls consistently better than Trump against Joe Biden. She’s energetic, passionate and has the background for the job. And importantly, she’s decades younger than the competition.

Haley’s donations continue at a brisk pace and despite her continued primary losses she is not showing any signs of dropping out. To win a general election against Joe Biden, the Republican candidate has to move independents and moderates, something she can do. If her prospects look better after Super Tuesday with open or semi-open primaries and Trump’s legal perils continue, maybe the unexpected will happen. We’ll see.

George Chase, St. Pete Beach

Religious persecution

Alabama Supreme Courts rules frozen embryos are “children” under state law | Sept. 21

The embryos that an Alabama Supreme Court ruled are children have no skin, no bones, no organs, no brain and no heart. They are nothing but an extremely small group of cells that you cannot see with the naked eye. These embryos are nothing but the possibility of a child. An embryo can form and die in a woman without her ever knowing it. However, the ruling by the Alabama court forms the basis for accusing someone of wrongful death of a human being for their loss even if accidental.

I see this decision as nothing but a purely political decision in support of the anti-abortion movement as I cannot intelligently or logically call that tiny group of cells a human being. Freedom of religion is being denied to Americans by politically motivated courts. Freedom of religion is my freedom guaranteed by the First Amendment, and I am not willing to give it up. If I am not allowed to force you to follow my religion then you are not allowed to force me to follow yours. It does not matter how superior you believe your religion is to mine. It is in the Constitution because many came to America to avoid religious persecution in Europe. If you force me to follow your religion, you are religiously persecuting me. This is a precious freedom just like the rest of our freedoms, such as the freedom of speech that I am exercising right now.

Susan Chassee, St. Petersburg

No choice for Democrats

Want to vote in Florida’s presidential primary? Remember this deadline. | Feb. 16

The Florida Democratic Party, channeling their inner autocrat with a dash of comedic flair, decided democracy needed a diet, slimming down the primary selection to just Joe Biden. Seems they think Florida Democrats are either too stupid to decide or don’t deserve a choice.

In this spirit, Florida Democrats are now facing a choice as varied as a dinner menu featuring only water. One has to wonder why the patrons of this one item menu are not complaining?

Doug Longfellow, Tampa

Tampa Bay Times appreciation

Navalny’s mother appeals to Putin | Feb. 21

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To paraphrase the Beatles, “I read the bad news today, oh boy,” referencing a number of articles and letters in Wednesday’s paper, to wit: the accelerating demise of our coral reefs due to climate change; a man who is accused in a bankruptcy case of taking millions of dollars designated for the care of disabled people; the outrage of citizens from Shore Acres and other infrastructure needy areas at the city of St. Petersburg potentially giving hundreds of million of dollars for a new baseball stadium while these other desperate needs go unaddressed; and, finally, a plea from the mother of Vladimir Putin critic Alexei Navalny for the return of his body to give him a decent burial after his apparent torture and murder in a Russian penal colony. Even so, Donald Trump, Tucker Carlson and other MAGA cohorts sing the praises of this murderous tyrant.

I said to my wife, “At least we have the Tampa Bay Times that continues to publish articles like this, which if these zealots had their way would never see the light of day.” Thank you, Tampa Bay Times.

Joseph J. Ferrandino, Land O’ Lakes

Measles is no joke

Vaccine hesitancy grows — and so do measles outbreaks | Feb. 21

Measles is no joke. It is certainly not a “routine” childhood disease as some people characterize it. I grew up and went to school before the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine was developed in the 1960′s. I remember the occasional classmate not showing up, having died of an infectious disease, measles among them. The fatality rate for measles is significantly less than 1%. But even a fraction of everyone is a lot of people — and everyone I knew used to get measles. I, personally, contracted mumps when I was 15. I ran a very high fever and could have died. We should all be grateful for the vaccine campaigns that vanquished horrible diseases, including smallpox, polio and measles.

In the mid-1960s, I was in Pakistan and Afghanistan where I saw old men being led around by little boys because all the flesh on their face, including their eyes, had been eaten away by smallpox sores. They looked much worse than any pictures of smallpox victims I have ever seen in books. The image would make a vaccine enthusiast out of anyone.

Pete Wilford, Holiday

Wrong choice

The Times Editorial Board recommendation for Clearwater mayor | Editorial

While both candidates for Clearwater mayor are qualified, I believe Kathleen Beckman is the better choice. She has been extensively involved with issues and will be a voice for the disadvantaged, affordable housing, sustainability and neighborhoods. Without her, that voice is silenced. She will ensure those needs are heard at City Council meetings, while balancing business growth and development which is so vital to Clearwater’s continued progress. She is an advocate for all of Clearwater and understands compromise is the lubricant that allows progress to be made. She is best positioned to achieve success for all of us.

Patrick Raftery, Clearwater

Ageism is rampant

Should Florida schools teach children about communism? | Feb. 21

Florida legislators have proposed a bill to teach the history of communism in all grades in public schools. It’s an interesting suggestion, although trying to explain Karl Marx in a first grade class may be a challenge.

Meanwhile, controversy about age and ageism continues in American culture and politics. The hostility expressed toward senior citizens is explicit and it’s seldom questioned. The United States is becoming an age segregated society.

Some politicians, both left and right, rage about the elders who campaign for public office. It has been suggested that presidential candidates in their 70s and 80s be tested to see if they are “mentally competent.”

What’s needed, in all grades, is helpful information about aging and ageism. The different age groups should be encouraged to help each other. All people should look forward to aging. Start with lessons in kindergarten. It will do some good in Florida.

Robert Murphy, St. Petersburg

Oh the irony!

Woman dies after protection is denied | Feb. 18

Only in Florida do we “err on the side of caution” when purchasing books for our libraries, but not when protecting victims of domestic violence.

Ginger Brengle, Clearwater