Letter to the editor: GOP's self-destruction is sad

As a longtime, former member of the Republican Party, it embarrasses and saddens me to see the Grand Old Party self-destruct.

The Honorable Liz Cheney, U.S. House member from Wyoming, is now a voice in the wilderness, that rare current Republican elected official who is sufficiently honest, decent and patriotic as to preclude her from buying into or indulging the dangerous fantasy that Donald Trump won the Nov. 3 election. Her belief in democracy has earned her the wrath of party stalwarts who have joined the Trump cult of dishonesty, and who refuse to accept anything less than total, blind allegiance to the leader. Shamefully, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, his eye on becoming speaker in January 2023, is the leader of the anti-Cheney pack, believing that any dissension from the Trump line spells doom for the party.

Cheney has been ousted from her leadership position, demonstrating the accuracy once again of the adage that no good deed goes unpunished.

In order to be elected as a Republican for most offices today, total loyalty must be pledged to Trump, and his delusional insistence that he won the election must be accepted.

Beware Rep. Elise Stefanik and any other GOP representative who would succeed Cheney in leadership: If you ever dare to exert a shred of independence or refusal to in every respect follow the leader, you will be destroyed!

Oren Spiegler

Peters