LETTERS: Non-MAGA Republicans have other choices; trust matters in presidential race
Give Dems a chance
Blake Burleson wrote a wonderful guest column for the Waco Trib [ "There are no excuses this time," Oct. 1] that described how many of our neighbors in McLennan County, while Republicans, may not be the MAGA right wing. I believe he is correct.
I was born in 1952 and at that time, and until many years later, the Democratic Party ruled Texas.
As I was growing up the party was divided between the conservative wing and what was then called the liberal wing, which would now be called the moderate wing. At that time there was no or little Republican Party presence in Texas.
Over time, the party became fractured. Those who used to be conservative Democrats migrated to the Republican Party as did many of those who were what we called moderate Democrats while the extreme liberal faction took over the party.
As statewide elections have proved, this has changed the dynamics of Texas politics. I believe the last Democrats to win a statewide election were Ann Richards for governor in 1990 and Bob Bullock for lieutenant governor in 1994.
Many of us who were moderate Democrats had no candidate to support for many years and thus voted for (and supported) various Republican candidates, usually picking the ones that seemed to be the best, based on our beliefs. Many of them turned out to be and were open to all opinions. They also didn't ask how much you contributed to their campaigns. They just, as they had pledged, represented all of us.
Unfortunately, the worm has turned. The GOP now has become subservient to its new Lord and master. Instead of standing for principles, Republicans now seem to bow to whatever MAGA spouts from the mouth of Trump. I am sorry if this insults any of you, but it seems to be true.
This year we have a variety of Democratic candidates that you, even if you're a good Republican, could support — if not with a donation, then with your vote. I am not getting into the presidential election (although you could figure that one out), but look at Colin Allred for Senate, who beat incumbent U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions in 2018 in Dallas, Dr. Mark Lorenzen for Congress, Erin Shank for state representative in District 56, Albert Hunter for state representative in District 13 and Jeremy Davis for McLennan County commissioner in Precinct 2. These are all good people who will represent you well.
Marjorie Kultgen, Waco
Trust matters
When I read the Aug. 27 letter by Cheryl Bohde, I was surprised that there are some who didn't understand her prior letter of July 9. Without mentioning names, she pointed out our civic duty to elect a trustworthy, decent president. I concur.
The aging Donald Trump continues to lie about almost everything. Since his followers could no longer deny the facts, they started trying to point to his competition as doing the same. They also tried to find some criminal activity to pin on the current president — unsuccessfully. During his entire adult life, President Biden has served with honor.
Trump knows he has attracted many who know and don't care that he is not presidential material. Hopefully, those can reconsider and provide the honest candidate with the opportunity to help correct areas of concern.
Betty Wagner, Waco
