A man dividing a house against itself can’t win
Manhattan: Since former President Barack Obama quoted Abraham Lincoln when speaking to the Democratic National Convention, I thought an updated version of another famous Lincoln address might be appropriate.
An updated version of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address: Twelve score and eight years ago, our forefathers brought forth upon this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in the most important election of our lifetimes, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.
We are faced with the candidacy for president of a man who has publicly stated that he plans to be a dictator, that the Constitution should be suspended, that there will be no need for any further elections once he is elected, and that he will pardon individuals who, less than four years ago, criminally mounted an armed insurrection against our government. We can not let this happen.
It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us, that we take increased devotion to that cause — that we here highly resolve that not a single vote shall be discarded or disallowed in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth. Joel Berger
Per ruse of justice
Edison, N.J.: So, now we have seen both Barack and Michele Obama talking against Don-Old. Maybe Jim Comey should start an investigation of the Obamas. Oh, I’m sorry, he’s just going to do it when his puppet master orders him to. The MAGAs in charge of Congress have done nothing for two years other than investigate tRump’s perceived enemies. They have performed more investigations than passed any legislation. Heaven forbid the orange wins and has a MAGA Congress. Everybody and their mothers would be under investigation for anything trivial that ticks him off. Thomas Morrison
Top seller
Fairfield, Conn.: To Voicer Raymond P. Moran: On the Kamala Harris economic plan — “I will cut costs for everything, I will give you money to buy a house… blah, blah, blah” — you ask why they don’t just come out and say, “I want to buy your vote.” Mr. Moran, may I remind you that Donald Trump has not only sold off the Supreme Court, but also the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Stephen Johnson
Devoid of substance
Bronx: It seems to me that the Democrats can’t tell us why we should vote for Harris. No party positions on the economy, inflation, open borders or crime. What do the Democrats have to offer us voters? A big cup of cheering Kool-Aid. Pat Lopez
Keep it short
Brentwood, L.I.: Note to Voicer Barry Rudd (and others): There is no Congressional Medal of Honor; there is only a Medal of Honor. W.J. Van Sickle
Rule of scofflaw
Neponsit: Fresh off of Trump’s lovefest with Elon Musk, in which they chuckled about firing workers seeking a living wage, and not far off from his conviction on 34 counts of fraud, his judgment for sexual assault and a plethora of indictments for other criminal acts, comes the astonishing endorsement by the Suffolk County police union of DJT — the anti-union scab and convicted felon — for president. Do the Suffolk County police realize they’ve rewritten the definition of irony? Stephanie Rosalia
Naïve proclamations
Brooklyn: Pete Buttigieg says the Republican Party is in darkness while the Democrats are awash in “joy.” Can he name an American who is overjoyed at the immense violent crime in our country, the disastrous Southern border allowing millions of immigrants to enter our country undocumented, an economy that is making millions of Americans turn to credit (at an all-time high) that they may not be able to repay, a housing market that is out of reach of millions of potential first-time homebuyers, and foreign wars that could wreak havoc in America, if they aren’t already? Oprah says values and character matter more than anything else. She is representing a party that just kicked their original nominee to the curb. No, Oprah, what matters more is that our nation is safe and affordable for all to experience the American dream. Lydia DiBello
Oddballs
Jacksonville, Fla.: So, the worm-eaten brainiac RFK Jr. is dropping out of the presidential race he was never really in, and is endorsing the big orange guy, Trump! It figures, because two slinky, wormy guys deserve each other! Carl Hafner
Conflict for interests
Rockaway Park: We might as well face that there is not going to be a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. No one seems to point out that Trump, who will probably be convicted of some of the crimes he has been charged with if he loses the election, and Benjamin Netanyahu are in a similar situation. It is to Netanyahu’s advantage to keep the war going, as he too is under indictment for crimes in his country. The hostages, as well as the 40,000 innocent Palestinians killed, are to him nothing more than pawns in his game for his survival. Unfortunately, the longer the war continues, the likelihood that any hostages survive is minimal. The genocide of innocent people will also continue. If Netanyahu was really concerned about saving his people, he would have made a deal to bring them home by now. Anthony Johnson
Treat yourself
Great Neck, L.I.: Take a day off from worrying about cholesterol, triglycerides and your weight. Treat yourself. Beat the heat and humidity by going to your favorite local ice cream parlor and ordering a banana split. Today is National Banana Split Day. It was invented by 23-year-old apprentice pharmacist David Evans Strickler at his Latrobe, Pa., store’s soda fountain in 1904. The cost was 10 cents, which was twice the price of any other sundae. It should be properly served in a long dish, sometimes called a boat. The banana is cut in half lengthwise. Tradition has three scoops of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry, but many substitute other flavors. Add some hot fudge, whipped cream, crushed nuts, maraschino cherries and other toppings. It will put a smile on your face and bring back childhood memories of when you frequented Jahn’s Ice Cream Parlor or another emporium. Larry and Wendy Penner
Stolen trauma
Brooklyn: Lying George Santos had the nerve to wear a pin with American and Israeli flags on it, and a Star of David for good measure. This creep lied and said that his family members were victims of the Holocaust. Santos lies about being Jewish. Does anyone know what he really is? Stop disgracing my religion and remove that pin, you impostor. Barbara Barran
Immutable group
Davis, Calif.: The governmental philosophy of Hamas is that “Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it,” and that “the Palestinian people are one people, made up of all Palestinians, inside and outside of Palestine, irrespective of their religion, culture or political affiliation.” Hmm… apparently, religion, culture and political affiliation are not aspects of peoplehood. The Jews are the one people of whom it can truly be said they are one people, regardless of their current governmental philosophy. Jews speak the same language, celebrate the same holidays and worship from the same book as their ancestors did for 1,000 years before the coming of Islam. Layer upon layer of earth studied by rigorous archeological methods reveals millennia of Jewish habitation in the Jewish homeland. Julia Lutch
Muzzled outlet
Manhattan: As a journalist and longtime appreciative listener of WCBS 880 radio, I am outraged that the greedy and irresponsible Audacy corporation has been allowed to violate the First Amendment’s freedom of the press provision, which outlaws any and all actions that curtail, impede or obliterate a journalist’s or news organization’s right and/or ability to gather and disseminate information to the public. It is grievously disturbing and dangerous, especially at a time when democracy is being threatened, that no lawyers or other public figures (including politicians in an election year) have come forward to protest Audacy’s closing WCBS, whose journalistic work was so superb and necessary — and to demand accountability and the possible overturning of the corporation’s decision. Aviva Cantor