To the Editor:
Re “Haley Will Vote for Trump, however Withheld Endorsement” (information article, Could 23):
Nikki Haley provides her title to the ever-growing listing of distinguished Republicans who at one time or one other have been on file as being extremely vital of Donald Trump, together with questioning his health for workplace, and have modified their tune.
What stands out about Ms. Haley, and which makes her cravenness all of the extra disheartening, is that she offered herself as a critical, considerate candidate, one who had no illusions concerning the myriad risks that Mr. Trump poses to the nation.
Her finally falling according to so lots of her fellow sycophantic Republicans to help Mr. Trump, a person whom I believe lots of them detest in non-public, speaks volumes about how the G.O.P. has been completely co-opted in a fashion that locations political expediency and, within the case of potential vice-presidential candidates similar to Ms. Haley, private ambition over precept and respect for the rule of legislation.
Mark Godes
Chelsea, Mass.
To the Editor:
Years into America’s flirtation with fascism, it could be straightforward to roll your eyes and ask your self, “What did you count on?” at Nikki Haley’s announcement that she is going to vote for Donald Trump this yr.
However each time one other politician demonstrates the dearth of braveness to face as much as the insanity embodied by the attainable election of Mr. Trump as president once more, we transfer as a nation and a society inexorably nearer to the racist, xenophobic world that Mr. Trump inhabits and towards which he pushes us.
True, political braveness is uncommon, and we all know that far too nicely at this level — we all know that the Liz Cheneys of the world are far outnumbered by the Marco Rubios, the Elise Stefaniks, the J.D. Vances and now, sadly, the Nikki Haleys. However that reality doesn’t reduce the duty to name out cowardice when it’s seen and when it does harm to the nation.
Ms. Haley’s resolution to do what she thinks greatest for her personal political future injures the remainder of the nation. She had the chance to make some extent and take a brave stand had she introduced that she would vote for President Biden this yr. The a part of this nation that stands for decency in public life might have used her assist.
It’s a unhappy assertion for all of us that she selected to forgo that path to keep up her political viability in a celebration with not a shred of the decency that her now moribund braveness may need exemplified.
Marc Springer
Brookline, Mass.
To the Editor:
Re “Nikki Haley, Ever Pragmatic, Tries to Maintain Her Choices Open,” by Katherine Miller (The Level, nytimes.com, Could 23):
Nikki Haley’s resolution to help Donald Trump displays the G.O.P. institution’s rising consciousness that they might want to seek out one other Republican presidential candidate due to his attainable felony convictions, well being points or each.
It’s no accident that Ms. Haley’s announcement got here inside days of his protection staff’s poor exhibiting within the present trial, by which Mr. Trump dozed, and amid whispers about his diminished bodily and psychological capability.
If his candidacy collapses, Ms. Haley is aware of that her solely probability to place herself because the G.O.P.’s most suitable choice for unifying the get together’s factions entails supporting Mr. Trump (particularly since he organized to have Lara Trump, his daughter-in-law, put in as co-chair of the Republican Nationwide Committee), so she swallowed arduous and did what wanted to be carried out.
Elaine Carmichael
Sturgeon Bay, Wis.
Blaming the Missus
To the Editor:
In “Blaming the Spouse By no means Goes Out of Fashion” (Opinion visitor essay, Could 23), Jennifer Weiner suggests a optimistic strategy to view Justice Samuel Alito’s attribution of the flag incident to the missus.
Certainly, Ms. Weiner writes, highly effective males recently have had a penchant for casting blame upon their wives, however in doing so, she says, they’re really recognizing the ladies’s company and empowering them: “When a Supreme Courtroom justice blames his spouse, he’s additionally acknowledging that his spouse has the flexibility to behave on her personal concepts, has a thoughts confoundingly of her personal.”
Ms. Weiner sees this as a welcome change from a time when girls had been seen as weak victims.
Maybe. However let’s take a broader look. Martha-Ann Alito’s husband, Samuel, was the first driving pressure behind the Dobbs resolution that toppled Roe v. Wade. The affect of throwing the abortion query again to the statehouses has been devastating.
After the success of ladies within the company, tutorial and political sectors, after higher entry to contraception and abortion, after #MeToo — sure, girls turned empowered. Maybe blaming the spouse is an acknowledgment of her power and energy.
However is it additionally a mirrored image of males’s concern and even anger, a priority that if she positive aspects, he loses? And, even darker, does the necessity to management her trigger him not solely to forged blame however to rob her of bodily autonomy as nicely? And in that case, are we heading towards Gilead of “The Handmaid’s Story”?
Marla Allegre
Santa Maria, Calif.
Maligning Justice Merchan
To the Editor:
Re “An Assault on Justice Merchan Is an Assault on the Rule of Legislation,” by Jonathan Alter (The Level, nytimes.com, Could 21):
Rising from the felony courtroom proceedings in Manhattan on Tuesday, former President Donald Trump addressed the media and made some insinuations about Justice Juan Merchan. He urged these listening to “have a look at the place he comes from.”
As Mr. Trump nicely is aware of, Justice Merchan “comes from” Colombia. He immigrated to the USA when he was 6 and has change into one of the revered and skilled New York State judges.
I don’t assume Mr. Trump must be reminded that his grandfather, Frederick Trump, “got here from” Germany. He immigrated to the USA when he was 16 and have become a profitable businessman. However most of all, he was the patriarch of a household that at some point would come with the forty fifth president of the USA.
And naturally, Melania Trump “comes from” Slovenia.
This author “comes from” Ecuador. I immigrated to the USA once I was 17 and joined the navy of my adopted nation a yr later, the place I served faithfully and meritoriously for 20 years.
I don’t consider that the place one “comes from” issues very a lot. It’s what one does when one “will get right here” that’s vital in life.
To make use of an individual’s origins to malign her or him is unbecoming of a former or future president of the USA.
Dorian de Wind
Austin, Texas
A Caregiver’s Story
To the Editor:
Re “How Caregivers Can Are likely to Their Personal Wants” (Nicely, Science Instances, Could 21):
As a lady in my 80s, I used to be the only real caregiver for my husband, who was non-ambulatory and in a hospital mattress in our lounge for 2 years earlier than he died. With the help of outpatient nurses, I realized how one can flush IVs and alter dressings, and I noticed protocols that stored him protected. The each day listing of duties was intense.
As a result of he may very well be left alone for intervals of time, he inspired me to be energetic by myself. I took Osher Lifelong Studying Institutes courses at Duke, labored out within the gymnasium, went to live shows, hiked within the woods. I really feel fortunate that I had the prospect to handle my husband and nonetheless have an excellent life.
Helen Drivas
Durham, N.C.
