Letter to the editor: Sad state of today's politics

Thank you for two excellent but disturbing articles in recent editions.

The Associated Press’ description of the tension between Rep. Liz Cheney and House Republican Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy couldn’t better illustrate the tension within the Republican Party (“No. 2 House Republican backs Cheney ouster over Trump barbs,” May 5, TribLIVE)

McCarthy’s need to solidify the party following the Trump era with its loss of lawmaker seats is understandable. So is Cheney’s mission to discuss the wrongdoing of Jan. 6, laying the insurrection at the feet of President Trump. He wanted her out, and McCarthy did nothing to protect her top position. Very sad.

Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Leonard Pitts Jr., in his piece “Missing the days of thoughtful debate” (May 4, TribLIVE), laments what once was in politics and what is missing today. His powerful statement on his anxiety for America’s future when dealing with “some guy who thinks the Jan. 6 insurrectionists were patriots, but George Floyd had it coming” speaks volumes.

He believes there are times one must simply close one’s mind to the noise to protect it. It is hard to do.

Georgie Blackburn

Tarentum