On this stage, poise and attitude wins the day
Stamford, Conn.: The faceoff between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris is called a debate, but it is far from it. There will be no academicians grading arguments or awarding debating points. Logical analysis, insightful argumentation and intellectual rebuttals won’t carry the day.
The winner tonight will be judged in an entirely different context. The outcome will be determined by visceral voter reaction. Who looks and sounds better? Who can better turn a phrase or humorously call out the opponents’ ignorance will be the measure of success.
The Trump-Harris matchup is pure political theater unlike a grade school popularity contest. Harris is presented with an extraordinary opportunity to emulsify Trump if she can exploit his personality weaknesses and lack of command of the issues. She needs to deftly goad him into a meltdown and then step back to watch him implode. Of course, Harris should demonstrate her intellectual superiority and mastery of the subject matter to mollify the pundits. But the win will go to the candidate with more wit, poise and control of the stage. Harris is far better equipped under that test.
Trump bragged last week during a Pennsylvania town hall that he doesn’t need to prepare. That idiotic pronouncement opens the door for Harris. Trump’s worn-out script will be on display. Harris’ recurring theme should be Trump’s lack of preparation, demonstrated by his inability to answer questions directly and need to fill his allotted time with insults and invectives. If properly executed, Harris will get the win! Peter Janoff
Trigger words
Manhattan: To Kamala, an easy way to get under Trump’s skin: During the debate, say, “In 2020, you were fired!” You can even use his “The Apprentice” tone. Also, since “weird” disturbs him, think how well “fired” can work in campaign ads. Just suggesting. Paul Weissman
Ill-fitting
Edison, N.J.: To Voicer Gary Miller: In response to you asking if the “joyful” woman owns a dress, does the orange man own a suit that fits him? Looks like a clown costume. Diane Diamond
Duly elected
Ridgewood, N.J.: Should he be charged, Mayor Adams will have his day in court to determine his guilt or innocence. Unfortunately for the voters of NYC, they will have to wait for an election to reverse the decline in the quality of life that has been eroding NYC since former Mayor Bill de Blasio. The New Yorkers who voted for Adams and those who did not vote are responsible for the problems facing the city. There were no achievements in Adams’ career that would have supported his election, only empty promises that the voters swallowed. Ed Houlihan
Remembrance request
Toms River, N.J.: I sincerely hope the Daily News will publish the names of the 9/11 victims this year on the anniversary. It was a great sadness that the names were not published last year, unlike many prior years. Many of the victims — my sister, Patricia Fagan, among them — were native New Yorkers who faithfully read your paper daily. Surely, you can find space to remember these people who lived and worked in New York. Eileen A. Fagan
Remove from power
Providence, R.I.: Re “More protests & deaths” (Sept. 8), which reports that “Israelis again poured into the streets for another large protest over the government’s failure to secure the release of remaining hostages in Gaza”: Israelis can always just vote Bibi out / So why not abolish his power and clout / Since letting him stay on his dangerous course / Means death and destruction with pitiless force? Felicia Nimue Ackerman
Lives worth less?
Brooklyn: Susie Kantar-Cohen (“The hostages murdered by Hamas: Say their names,” op-ed, Sept. 6) bemoans the deaths of Israeli hostages, but does not mention 26-year-old Aysenur Eygi, an American activist who was killed last week in the West Bank, nor does she mention Rachel Corrie, who was crushed to death by Israeli bulldozers in 2003. Earlier this year, two 17-year-old Palestinian Americans were killed in the West Bank: Tawfic Abdel Jabbar, a Louisiana native shot in January by an off-duty Israeli officer and a settler, and Mohammad Khdour, a high school senior from Florida who was shot in the head by an Israeli gunman. I’m only scratching the surface of the atrocities committed against the Palestinian people and those who support them. However, that does not matter to Kantar-Cohen. Instead, she trumpets the odious, colonialist Zionist cause. Hers is a tribalist, provincial view of the world. Susie, please say their names! Nick Smith
Teal awareness
Brooklyn: Women should be aware of all gynecological cancers that can affect them. Constantly seeing signs for breast cancer awareness and teams wearing pink is admirable, but September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Teal is our color. It is one of the most deadly cancers for women. Please, ladies, get your ovaries checked when going for a breast exam. Ask for a Cancer Antigen 125 test and a vaginal ultrasound, and know the symptoms. We won’t be silent anymore! And teams, start sporting your teal. Help save a life. Kathy Reilly-Eliasen
Penned with purpose
Manhattan: To Voicer Steve Ditlea: Please keep your condescending non-compliments to yourself. You’re the person who made me start writing to the paper again. I’m guessing my letter still stings? Next time, give the thanks and compliments to whoever edits these letters because the one I wrote to you had a detailed dossier on your genealogy to outline your hypocrisy. They didn’t print that part. Keep your kudos and give it to the person who edited out what I found about the Ditleas. I’ve been writing to the Daily News for decades — with my maiden name, married name and pen name. There must be a reason those letters have been printed. I guess they enjoy what I have to say. That big pile of orange crap made you racists and bigots feel comfortable saying anything you want. I’m here to remind you that that time is over. I’m sure we’ll speak again. T.S. Fallani
Spend-shy
Sea Isle City, N.J.: I hope the N.Y. Giants brass and coaching staff were watching the Thursday night football game between the Eagles and Packers, because if they were, I am sure they saw what the rest of the country saw: Saquon Barkley’s three touchdowns! Who should be fired, the owners, the general manager or the head coach? For a few extra dollars, you let the best running back in the NFL walk to one of our most hated teams! Maybe it’s time to sell the franchise? Maybe the Mets’ owner would buy it. He’s not afraid to spend money on good players. Jim Fusco
Constant presence
Briarwood: Drivers, please be advised to avoid driving southbound down 84th Dr. towards Queens Blvd. in Briarwood due to a menacing homeless man who begs for money at your driver’s side window during the red traffic signal. This is aggressive panhandling and a dangerous situation with the potential for a traffic accident. The NYC Health + Hospitals recently released him back to his same sidewalk spot on the corner where he loiters, eats, drinks, urinates and sleeps. Please do not accede to this Briarwood highway robbery. Bypass shopping in Briarwood as well until his apparent license to panhandle is hereto revoked. Joseph N. Manago
Inconvenient tragedy
Bronx: If Leonard Greene (“Mayor’s cruel view,” column, Sept. 8) is upset about the NYPD’s claim that the recent West Indian Day Parade was safe and successful despite a lone gunman opening fire on the massive crowd, killing one man and injuring four others, he should understand that they’re just taking a page from the Democratic Party playbook. When 13 military servicemembers were killed and dozens more seriously injured by a terrorist bomb during the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Biden/Harris administration called it an “extraordinary success.” When millions of undocumented migrants poured across our border, along with enough fentanyl to kill our entire population, they told us that our border was “secure.” Now the mayor’s criminal justice reform commission wants us to believe that replacing Rikers Island with smaller, limited-capacity jails will make the city safer. Charles T. Compton