After much weeping, moaning and gnashing of teeth (on both sides), a panel has recommended to “disappear” the statue of Christopher Columbus from Schenley Park (“Pittsburgh Art Commission recommends removal of Columbus statue from Schenley Park.”) and the mayor agreed. The “art commission” has no problem with a “worthy Italian American.”

I submit for consideration putting Bruno Sammartino on the vacated pedestal. He fits the bill — a trustworthy Italian admired by everyone. He certainly has a statuesque presence, although every minute of his long career must be investigated by the FBI, NSA, CIA, Lt. Columbo, Gov. Tom Wolf (His Highness) and many others. Only then can his image ascend to its rightful place.

All hail Bruno!

Jerry “Vinyl-Man” Weber, Swissvale

Voting straight party is irresponsible

I’ve never responded to any letters to the editor but am often amused by them. Dr. Daniel Bernstein’s letter “Sheriff Albert’s move to the right and facts about left” left me with no other choice but to respond.

I’m a registered Democrat in Westmoreland County, and I am very proud to say I vote for who I believe is the best candidate based on character and his or her platform. To vote straight party is something an uninformed, irresponsible person does. I believe a good portion of our problems in government today are from that same recklessness done in the past. The system allows us to vote across party lines for that reason.

Wake up, people. The childishness we’ve seen from both parties is an embarrassment to our country and to democracy itself. Grow up!

Bryan Harhai, Greensburg

What could possibly go wrong with mail-in voting?

First off, I agree with the Dems: Mail-in voting is safe, safe, safe, free of problems, and we should all do it every second, because it’s wonderful.

With my wife being in one of the select groups at risk if she got covid-19, I petitioned for an absentee ballot. I figured there would be throngs of voters this election and didn’t want to take a chance on carrying infection to her. So:

On July 10, I filled out the online form and requested an absentee ballot. I got an email saying, “We have received your application. We will process it, and this is your application number. 1494777”

On July 20, I got an email saying, “Your ballot application is being processed.”

On Aug. 13, Taxsylvania’s Department of State emailed me and said all was copacetic with my application.

Then on Sept. 26 I got an email saying that “Your ballot is on the way.”

I got it and filled it out, and on Oct. 2 got an email saying, “Your official ballot has been received timely, and recorded.”

It’s all good, right? And this morning, Oct. 7, I got an email that said: “Your ballot is almost ready, and it’s being prepared for mailing. If you do not receive your ballot in the next 10-14 days, please contact your county election office. If you have questions concerning your ballot, please contact ALLEGHENY County at (412) 350-4500.”

The Dems are 100% correct. We must expand mail-in voting. What could possibly go wrong?

James F. Cataldi, Moon

Evangelicals have chance to break their deal with the devil

All right, Christian evangelicals, you’ve gotten what you wanted. There is no way the Democrats can block the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett as Supreme Court justice. (Actually, she seems to be a thoroughly decent and qualified person.) The conservative viewpoint will dominate the court for years to come. Roe v. Wade and Obamacare are probably toast.

To achieve your political goals, you chose to support President Trump, a vile grifter. You knew who he was back in 2016 — Jeb Bush, Lindsey Graham, Mitt Romney, Nikki Haley and the “Access Hollywood” tapes all told you so. You had ears but did not hear. You had eyes but did not see.

Are you happy with what you hear and see in the news today? This is Trump’s America, the America you helped create. You made a deal with the devil, but now you have a chance to get out of your contract. You can help to cleanse this stain on the history of our country by voting him out of office.

Richard Krepski, Highland Park

Trump on white supremacy

In an Oct. 1 White House briefing, reporters John Roberts (Fox) and Paula Reid (CBS), in an apparent coordinated effort, turned the event into a circus by badgering press secretary Kayleigh McEnany with their claim “the president hasn’t denounced white supremacy,” despite him having done so numerous times.

I think we should require Roberts and Reid to denounce white supremacy every 30 seconds when filing a report.

A manager can stand beside them with a stopwatch and signal when the comment is needed. “Today at the White House, President Trump met with the visiting prime minister of Hungary to discuss … I’m John Roberts, and I denounce white supremacy! … trade and other issues important to the two nations.”

Additionally, at report’s end, say the phrase twice — “I’m Paula Reid, and I denounce white supremacy, I’m Paula Reid, and I denounce white supremacy.”

After all, we need to be 100% sure.

Meanwhile, Joe Biden refuses to answer as to whether he will pack the Supreme Court or why his son Hunter’s investment firm in 2014 was wired $3.5 million by [the wife of former mayor of Moscow] [a Russian oligarch] (choose one) [source: U.S. Senate investigation]. No one asks Biden what exactly his message telling African Americans to vote for him, and if they don’t “then you ain’t Black,” means.

The noooz always shows us the tape of Trump saying in the violent clashes in Charlottesville in 2017, “you also had people that were very fine people, on both sides,” but they cut the tape where he adds, “I’m not talking about the neo-Nazis and the white nationalists, because they should be condemned totally.”

“Reporting”? CBS or See-BS?

Carl Colpo, Burgettstown

US is not ‘leading world’ in covid-19 deaths

Death! Our media proclaim that the U.S. leads the world in covid-19 deaths and that it’s President Trump’s fault. The article “‘Unfathomable’: U.S. death toll from coronavirus hits 200,000” shockingly equated it as equivalent to a 9/11 every day for 67 days.

But we are a nation of 330 million people. Of course we have a higher death toll than say, the U.K., with 66 million. We have five times more people. But multiply the U.K. covid-19 death toll by 5 to adjust for population and the sum is 210,000 dead. Using the same parameters, Italy’s toll would be 198,000, Brazil 235,000, Spain 227,000 and Sweden 194,000.

It’s beyond coincidence that the U.S. covid death rate according to population is just about the same in many countries. The real question is, why aren’t we higher than average, given that we are the global hub of airline traffic, tourism and commerce which “mainlined” infection into our country?

According to the CDC, smoking kills nearly 500,000 in the U.S. annually, not to mention the astronomical costs of related diseases. In Pennsylvania the perennial death toll from smoking is 22,000, and so far from covid-19, 8,300. If you are like me, you don’t know anyone who died from covid-19, but you can name a dozen deaths by smoking.

“Two weeks to flatten the curve” was an insidious lie. The gullibility of our citizens is frightening. Sweden never shut down completely, is on its way to developing herd immunity and is getting back to normal.

Dan Shellhammer, Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County

Trump has given us back our pride

Hate President Donald J. Trump or love him, he has brought respect back to our great nation. He has created an economy that is envied by the world. He has created jobs and brought manufacturing home. He has eliminated crippling regulations; improved the lives of all Americans, especially minorities; he has restored our military strength; and he has given us back our American pride.

Now what about Joe Biden? He has served as a government public servant for 47 years. Suddenly, he has all the answers and knows how to strengthen and guide our country. Why now? Why not during his 47 years in office? He says all the right words, but do his words have any meaning, or are they just empty promises for election?

On Nov. 3, my vote is going to Donald J. Trump. He has kept his campaign promises while dealing with the constant bias of the press and the despicable antics of the Democratic Party. Trump is strong enough to beat the swamp and sensible enough to fight for our great nation and the lives of all American citizens.

Jeanne Shields, North Huntingdon

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