Senator from Louisiana, who is the ding-dong?
Kendall Park, N.J.: Dear Sen. John Kennedy (photo): You recently referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as a “ding-dong.” While it is not an officially recognized characterization by which to describe a human being, I assume you meant that she is not so bright.
I take this opportunity to compare the careers of Harris and yourself to come to a more objective conclusion of who is the bigger ding-dong. You are 72 while Harris is 59. You have had approximately 13 more years than her to have accomplished what you have in your career. You are a United States senator. Impressive. However, Harris has matched you, and at a younger age, because she was a senator. She has actually surpassed your highest accomplishment by becoming not just vice president but the nominee for president.
But let’s not stop there. Let’s look at the path you took to becoming a senator. You failed twice before you succeeded. In contrast, Harris succeeded in her first attempt. Let’s also look at an office both of you sought to hold, attorney general of your respective states. You ran in Louisiana and failed, while Harris was twice elected as California’s. And while Harris has been a lifelong Democrat and never switched political parties, weren’t you a Democrat who changed to Republican? What was that about? Did you suddenly have a reawakening or was it because you realized that switching parties was the only way to get elected?
I remain, Mr. Kennedy, with my conclusion regarding who is the bigger ding-dong. Probal Tahbildar
Free at last
Clearwater, Fla.: Freedom is something to be cherished. Just ask Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who had been held in Russian captivity for nearly 16 months, and former Marine Paul Whelan, held for nearly three years. Both men probably thought they would never see their families again, but will soon be back on U.S. soil. Americans are seen as bargaining tools to those countries hostile to the U.S. and do not belong there under any circumstances. Let us be grateful for the return of these honorable men. And on this exceptional day of thanks, the sun appears to be absolutely radiant. JoAnn Lee Frank
Persistence paid off
Manhattan: Freedom rings today / For Evan and Paul / But America will not stop / Until Putin frees them all / It’s a time for celebration / A time for our country to rejoice / Thank you, President Biden / You never quieted your voice / Behind closed doors, you never wavered / Working tirelessly to free the hostages with all your might / Their ordeal is over / Because President Biden never gave up the fight. Phoebe Celentano
Uncaring candidate
Leonardo, N.J.: It is beyond my comprehension that a person who was president of the United State of America and hopes to return to that office can not find it in his heart to convey a joyful message of “welcome home” to our returned hostages. Eileen Steinhauer
Swap fodder
Bronx: Why do American citizens continue to visit Russia in spite of knowing for decades what Russia does with visiting Americans and those of allied nations? They end up, with the help of some made-up charges, being accused of spying and sentenced to prison or worse, a gulag, where life is known to be hell on Earth. Then, months or years later, comes the planned prisoner exchange, which is what the Russians wanted in the first place. Stop this charade. This is the greatest country in the world. Russia has nothing to offer you except a stint in prison. Stay home or visit other countries where we’re not labeled as enemies. Without Americans to trade, this entire game will end. Jose R. Roldan
Productive noncitizens
Tappan, N.Y.: Voicer Tom Nolan Sr. is bemoaning the fact that there is a “plan” to grant citizenship to DACA immigrants who were brought here as very young children. Perhaps Tom is unaware that a majority of these DACA recipients are now graduates of high school, college and many even have advanced degrees. Many of these recipients are leading productive lives, much to the benefit of all of us, as nurses, doctors and lawyers, and also provide much of the labor that is helping to build and repair our infrastructure. What is the downside to this? I have not heard of a plan to “give” green cards to 20 to 30 million undocumented immigrants. There was a plan proposed to help solve the border crisis, worked on bilaterally in the Senate, but a certain self-centered former president pressured the House to not even entertain it. Ray Hayes
Fascist figurehead
Redondo Beach, Calif.: Trump is the empty-suit front man for Project 2025. John Chevedden
Bowing out
Utica, N.Y.: Between JD Vance’s daily embarrassments and Donald J. Trump’s utterly unfathomable piece of performance art before the National Association of Black Journalists, we no longer believe that Trump/Vance will be the Republican ticket for 2024. After all, Trump already has his immunity deal from his corrupt Supreme Court and has his money from all the poor suckers who thought they were contributing to his campaign. Most of all, however, he knows he is about to lose to a woman — and a woman of color, at that. So, we expect him to say that even though all the polls have him winning bigly, he has to pull out of the race because of some bogus, spurious reason. Maybe he’ll claim his bone spurs are acting up. It doesn’t really matter as long as Kamala Harris is sworn in as America’s next president on Jan. 20, 2025. Jeff and Joan Ganeles
Melting pot mix
Tomkins Cove, N.Y.: I don’t understand Trump’s inability to understand Kamala Harris’s dual cultural background. His paternal side is German, his maternal side is Scottish. He loves golf, a game invented in Scotland. He loves fascism; no country took it to a higher level than Germany. What’s not to comprehend? My paternal side is Polish, my maternal side is Irish. I love having a Guinness with my pierogis. Doug Slotolowicz
Ad hominem
Manhattan: As usual, Trump’s campaign tactics mostly resort to character assassination of his opponent. His advisors should tell him that if he would just stick to the real issues, he’d be better off. Maybe he can’t focus on the issues because he isn’t all that knowledgeable about them and he’s too lazy to spend the time educating himself about details. That’s probably the reason he’s not too keen on debating Kamala Harris. He’s at least smart enough to know his weaknesses. Chana Schwartz
Too true?
Lima, Ohio: My old pastor had a saying when he was preaching and suddenly the church went silent: “I must have hit a nerve,” meaning he told a truth he had to have gotten from God since he wasn’t at all aware of it. JD Vance hit a nerve, since he only told the truth. He didn’t say that not having children was a bad thing or that having only cats was wrong. He said that it changes the perception of what is important. Nobody cares if that’s what you want to do. But when you attempt to change everyone else’s perception to how you view things, that makes it everyone else’s problem. Don’t feel guilty about what you’re doing. I have three kids and I live my life guilt-free. As the saying goes, “Live free and prosper.” Corlissa Arrick
Quality critique
Little Egg Harbor, N.J.: I am in total agreement with Voicer Lisa Tutino of Long Beach, L.I. I’ve been reading the Daily News since it used to cost a penny. My dad would bring it home every evening after work. It was an interesting newspaper that the teachers at school would ask us not to read. It had everything then and it was not the thin tissue it is now. Still, they want us old folks to pay like we were buying a magazine every day. The quality of the paper is not what it used to be and I still find words misspelled. That is what the teachers were all about. Rose S. Wilson