Latest news with #MarkZ.Barabak
Los Angeles Times
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Letters to the Editor: An old ballot measure isn't more important than fairness in our national elections
To the editor: I strongly disagree with Mark Z. Barabak's column lambasting Gov. Gavin Newsom's proposal to counter Texas' threatened redistricting ('Gavin Newsom is threatening to end-run California voters. It reflects a terrible trend,' July 23). When Proposition 20 passed in 2010, California voters still believed that our democracy was protected by a system of checks and balances. But things have radically changed since then. Project 2025, a plan connected to several in President Trump's administration and with which his policies have so far closely aligned, means to undermine the very foundations our system is built on. California is under threat, with the federal government taking away funding and trampling our state's legal authorities. If Republicans in Texas and elsewhere essentially help rig the 2026 elections through mid-decade redistricting, those of us who still believe in democracy have to fight back by winning state-level elections and making sure Texas Republicans can't disproportionately grab power in the national election. It would be naive to prioritize protecting a 15-year-old ballot measure when fairness in our elections is at stake. I appreciate that Newsom recognizes this and I support his proposal. Judith Lipsett, Claremont
Los Angeles Times
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Letters to the Editor: ‘Winning an election doesn't entitle you to respect. Being an honorable person does'
To the editor: Columnist Mark Z. Barabak criticizes state Democrats for interrupting San Diego Assemblymember Carl DeMaio on the floor last week, saying he should be 'treated with respect' ('By stooping to conquer, Sacramento Democrats show their pettiness and arrogance,' June 29). I would disagree. Winning an election doesn't entitle you to respect. Being an honorable person does. Their antics are what John Lewis referred to as 'good trouble.' Normalizing the actions of any person that wins an election by showing them respect is how we got in our current situation. Ray Lancon, San Marino .. To the editor: Thank you, Barabak, for reminding us that, in this age of MAGA chaos, we should all practice more decorum. KD Peterson, San Diego
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Letters to the Editor: If Trump is so against illegal immigration, why doesn't he bolster legal channels?
To the editor: I have been closely following the recent unrest in Los Angeles and thought Mark Z. Barabak's column was the best analysis of President Trump's mishandling of the protests against the ICE raids ('Putting the bully in bully pulpit, Trump escalates in L.A. rather than seeking calm,' June 9). Barabak so correctly wrote that Trump was 'launching an assault on the Constitution and the limits of presidential power.' In terms of the two subjects of the "bully pulpit" and presidential powers, I am baffled why pundits in the media have yet to point out an omission in Trump's harsh anti-illegal-immigrant agenda. If he is so hardline against undocumented migrants who break laws to come here, why hasn't he used his pulpit and his presidential power to honor all of the prospective immigrants in Mexico and the Central American countries who have gone through the right channels by obeying the immigration laws and have been on waiting lists for several years to come to the U.S.? With the stroke of a pen, he could grant them automatic green cards and a fast track to citizenship for obeying our immigration laws, which would in effect benefit his own public uncompromising stance against undocumented immigrants. The bottom line is that Trump is ignoring a policy that would actually highlight his administration's stance on adhering to legal immigration. Salvador Montoya Ortega, Bakersfield This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Letters to the Editor: If Trump is so against illegal immigration, why doesn't he bolster legal channels?
To the editor: I have been closely following the recent unrest in Los Angeles and thought Mark Z. Barabak's column was the best analysis of President Trump's mishandling of the protests against the ICE raids ('Putting the bully in bully pulpit, Trump escalates in L.A. rather than seeking calm,' June 9). Barabak so correctly wrote that Trump was 'launching an assault on the Constitution and the limits of presidential power.' In terms of the two subjects of the 'bully pulpit' and presidential powers, I am baffled why pundits in the media have yet to point out an omission in Trump's harsh anti-illegal-immigrant agenda. If he is so hardline against undocumented migrants who break laws to come here, why hasn't he used his pulpit and his presidential power to honor all of the prospective immigrants in Mexico and the Central American countries who have gone through the right channels by obeying the immigration laws and have been on waiting lists for several years to come to the U.S.? With the stroke of a pen, he could grant them automatic green cards and a fast track to citizenship for obeying our immigration laws, which would in effect benefit his own public uncompromising stance against undocumented immigrants. The bottom line is that Trump is ignoring a policy that would actually highlight his administration's stance on adhering to legal immigration. Salvador Montoya Ortega, Bakersfield
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Letters to the Editor: Democrats need to find more effective strategies than stooping to name-calling
To the editor: I appreciate columnist Mark Z. Barabak's report on the Democratic Convention in Anaheim, but it was very disappointing to read that name-calling and profanity (common with Republicans) have now become the language of Democrats ('Yelling, finger-pointing and cursing galore as California Democrats gather near Disneyland,' June 2). President Trump degraded all political rhetoric with his daily cursing and insulting, but I always expected that Democrats would not succumb to his level (remember 'when they go low …"?). But now they are calling Trump a 'punk" and 'the orange oligarch,' and Sen. Adam Schiff even commented, "We say to bullies, you can go f— yourself.' Really? Does he think that makes him sound tougher? It certainly doesn't make him sound smarter. Instead of copying Republicans' boorish behavior, Democrats need to find a strong new leader who offers effective strategies and solutions instead of engaging in name-calling or resorting to juvenile and vulgar swearing. As a Democrat, I find it sad and embarrassing. I think it makes us look weak without any real ideas for leadership. Kendall Wolf, Encino .. To the editor: As someone who spent most of her adult life in Minnesota, it doesn't shock me that Gov. Tim Walz would use what some Minnesotans might call 'salty' or 'spicy' language when trying to make amends to California Democrats for the 2024 electoral losses. I learned early on that even the legendary 'Minnesota nice' has limits. You push Minnesotans too hard, or do something they consider far too wrong, and you might be called a 'dips—' or even worse. Still, they may later apologize for feeling compelled to employ such strong language. Mary Stanik, Tucson This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
