Polis needs these emergency powers
Re: “Polis’ edicts are not unconstitutional and that is the problem,” May 17 opinion column
If I were to teach a lesson in cognitive dissonance, I would entitle it, George Brauchler’s column. He decries how excessive the governor and health departments have been in their power, yet admits it was done so through the democratic process of both parties at the behest of the people. He then insinuates that the economy is more important than the lives of Coloradans, thus betraying the pro-life views of his party.
No question the economy is taking a hit because of the pandemic, but there is nothing arbitrary about how Gov. Jared Polis has handled it. The governor has used science, reason, and the rule of law in determining the best course of action to saving as many lives as possible and has the support of a solid majority of Coloradans.
Perhaps Brauchler’s talents might be better put to use by teaming up with Democrats to find ways to prevent this from happening again or, at least being better prepared the next time.
Gerry Camilli, Englewood
Brauchler’s recent pieces in The Denver Post, and especially the one on May 17 regarding Gov. Polis’ edicts related to the COVID-19 lockdown have convinced me he has now taken over the role of The Postap resident “ankle biter.” He devotes his entire column to complaining about the governor’s powers, but concedes that the law granting these powers was sponsored by the Republican legislature in 1992. His point seems to be that these powers should be unconstitutional, but I suspect that his real objection is that said powers are being exercised by a Democrat.
Brauchler’s tract provides ammunition for the so-called “patriots” who stand on the capital steps brandishing high powered weapons demanding liberty. There is not a single constructive suggestion in his piece addressing what he thinks should have been done to prevent our hospitals from being overwhelmed by COVID-19 victims and to contain spread of the virus. Since Brauchler is now a columnist for The Post, I challenge him to write a piece addressing in detail his recommendations for how the COVID-19 outbreak should have been handled by the governor. He says now is the time to choose between carping and leading. Letap see him “put his money where his mouth is.”
Kenneth Schroll, Highlands Ranch
Obamagate is a concern
Re: “Obamagate is a fake scandal; there is a real one,” May 16 opinion column
Michelle Goldberg’s op-ed mentioned that “unmasking” is “the routine practice by which national security officials find out the names of Americans who appear on intelligence intercepts of foreign actors.”
Setting aside whether such actions are, in fact, “routine,” her most egregious omission is that many of the Obama officials who unmasked General Flynn were not national security officials. (Examples include the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., the ambassador to Italy, the secretary of treasury and 5 of his underlings, the deputy secretary of energy and the ambassador to Turkey to name a few; this is not the complete list.) She also conveniently failed to point out that leaking the identity of an unmasked person is a felony. Both of these facts undermine her contention that this is a “ludicrous pseudo-scandal.”
John Grinney, Denver
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