The Swift-Kelce-Biden conspiracy is wrong focus. Here’s what’s really going on. | Opinion

Wrong conspiracy

All you conspiracy theorists got it completely wrong. There never was a plan for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce to endorse President Joe Biden at the Super Bowl. Travis’ post-game rendition of “Viva Las Vegas” was a coded message to Elvis — who is alive and living in Michigan —that it’s time to release a new album. Taylor is working on the title song about Apollo 11 and Neil Armstrong. It’s a ballad called “The Great American Movie Set Moon Landing Mission.”

However the breakout track is likely to be Travis’ song about getting the Covid vaccine called “I’m Well Armed Now.” Although presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy, Jr. declined to participate, the NRA is planning to use the song in its new membership drive.

America, it’s time for the truth.

Jay Hopkins, Frankfort

Primary voting

Would someone explain to me how 56,260 (Iowa) and 168,713 (New Hampshire), a total of 224,973 votes, makes former President Donald Trump the runaway candidate? Granted it’s more than presidential candidate Nikki Haley got, but it’s hardly a drop in the bucket. Only 110,298 people voted in Iowa. That’s 18 percent of registered Republicans, which means only about 9 percent of possible voters voted for Trump in Iowa. I only found a general 49 percent voted in New Hampshire’s primary and that is for both parties. A much greater number of possible voters didn’t vote for Trump. Now, he’s being hailed as conquering (certainly not a) hero. He lost a lot of possible votes. His total votes would account for only about 70 percent of Lexington’s population. Runaway winner? Hardly.

This is why primaries should be held on the same day in all states, so results from one state don’t affect the outcomes in other states. There are people who will vote for Trump just so they can say they voted for the winner, thereby making it a fact. They won’t decide on the merits of the candidate.

Trump is promising to punish Haley because she continues to defy him. Is a vicious, vindictive dictator what we want as president?

Glenna Brouse, Lexington

Government defined

The United States of America is a Republic. The Electoral College elects the President, not the people. Five times in our history our President was elected by the Electoral College against the will of the population. The last two republican presidents were not the will of the people. Therefore we are not a Democracy. To become a Democracy there must be an amendment to the constitution eliminating the Electoral College. The last Republican president is a liar, con artist, cult leader and probably the most dangerous criminal on earth. If we were a Democracy, he would be in prison.

About one third of our population will not vote and a large percentage do not care if we become an Authoritarian country. They are free loaders worshiping entertainment. Unless the masses wake up and vote this November, our Republic may become an Authoritarian country by the year 2025.

Robert Ray Lillie, Georgetown

Look, now

“Don’t look now but...” I said to my friend driving as I glimpsed a car coming at us at terrific high speed from a connecting interstate.

The collision sent our car far down the grassy median before she could stop, even as she still didn’t know what happened.

We were alive, unhurt even as the impact on my body blew out the knees of my hosiery. Our car was struck behind the post separating the front from the back, saving us both. We went to the adults and kids spewing out of the other car. They too were alive, amazingly unhurt.

I tell this story to warn Americans about the hurtling national and international crises rushing at us by one person – former president Donald Trump.

His insurrection continues, now joined by elected Republican Party officials at all levels of government. They don’t legislate or govern except to cause confusion, division, fear, harm, and cruelty.

Americans, especially hard-working voters, must start paying attention. If we don’t see the speeding dictatorship about to crash our democracy we, the United States of America, will be DOA.

“Look NOW!” Please… I beg you!

Ramona Rush, Lexington

Democracy hope

Former President Donald Trump has again made crazed inappropriate remarks about those of us who served our beloved country in unsafe conditions around the world. Indeed, some gave the ultimate by the giving of their lives.

The former president is an unhinged politician who knows nothing of loyalty and love of country. He, like all veterans, raised his right hand and swore to defend and uphold the constitution of the United States of America. Sadly, the former president has made a mockery of this pledge.

The prayer is that our God would protect us from those that would demolish or harm our democracy. Our system isn’t perfect, but people from around the world look on us as a beacon of hope. May we always be that hope.

Don Rapske, Lexington

Fair housing

House Bill 18 violates fair housing laws by specifically targeting those who use the Section 8 voucher program. Louisville passed an ordinance to say that if a renter met all requirements of a landlord, the landlord could not refuse that tenant solely because they had housing assistance from a federal program.

I managed the Section 8 programs for Louisville for 15 years, and I regularly review the yearly reports of the Louisville Metro Housing Authority (LMHA). Virtually 100 percent of voucher users fall into a category protected by fair housing laws — race, gender, familial status, having a disability, national origin or religion being the most well-known, or the household has an elderly person. I bet that the legislature did not do its homework on this — fair housing not being a priority. I do not discount them being lazy or stupid, but I believe the motivation is raw bigotry. When you look at who is left unprotected and whose rights are being championed by the legislature, the disdain for those who comprise renters is written bold.

Cathy Hinko, Louisville

Fast-tracked budget

Imagine a football game in which the goal post was moved to “fast track” the game because the clock was running down. Would this be considered good sportsmanship or fair?

This was close to how the General Assembly passed the 2024 budget in the House. A substitute budget was brought to the floor for a vote. Due to the changes, there was a call to allow the Democrats to introduce amendments. The rules of the House require bills or amendments to be filed 24 hours before they could be brought to the floor. State Rep. Rachel Roberts, D-Newport, requested that the rules be suspended in order to introduce amendments. The Republicans voted down suspension of the House rules. Her response, “If we can’t get our amendments to be in order because they are fast tracking bills through, then we’ve lost the ability to carry our constituents’ voices adequately into the process.”

Cheryl Keenan, Lexington

Trust educators

I strongly oppose House Bill 304 which requires school personnel to notify parents within two days if the student asserts a gender different from their sex assigned at birth, or requests or receives health or mental health services related to sexual conduct or behavior, sexual orientation, or sexual identity.

Unfortunately, some legislators believe they can micro-manage the lives of Kentucky’s adolescents from Frankfort. As a retired psychologist, I have treated teens contemplating suicide for fear of community or parental reaction to issues specified in HB 304. Choosing to inform parents or not, and how it might be done. must be balanced against the needs and safety of the child.

Legal requirements with no allowances for the context of a particular situation are absurd! What if the school has no knowledge of the parental situation? What if they are aware of past abuse or domestic violence in the home? What if the child threatens suicide should the parent be told? What if school personnel stumble on such information or receive it from another student?

Does HB 304 determine how they assess it before they report it? Does the need for better assessment or consultation with other school personnel change the two-day reporting period? If school personnel feel reporting to a parent is dangerous, can they seek help from a Court?

The simplest solution to these risks and questions is to trust people who work every day with our children and their families and to squash HB 304.

T. Kerby Neill, Ph.D., Lexington

Catholic context

While Robert Curran’s recent Op-Ed attempts to portray Catholics negatively in the context of the Civil War, it’s essential to recognize the complexities of these historical events. Simplistic narratives often fail to capture the full spectrum of individual experiences and motivations.

During that time Catholics, like many, were spread across the Union and the Confederacy. Their allegiances varied based on factors such as ethnicity, region, and personal convictions. Some Catholics fought for the Union, driven by a sense of duty to their country or opposition to slavery. Others sided with the Confederacy, influenced by factors such as loyalty to their state or concerns about states’ rights.

Catholic institutions played significant roles in providing support/aid during the war. Religious orders, such as the Sisters of Charity and the Sisters of Mercy, tended to the wounded and sick on both sides of the conflict, transcending political divisions to fulfill their humanitarian mission.

Rather than perpetuating divisive narratives, it’s more productive to approach history with an understanding that acknowledges the diversity of perspectives and experiences within any religious group. By doing so, we can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the complexities of the Civil War and its impact on various communities, including Catholics.

Dan Burch, Lexington

Palestinian genocide

I’m writing to express my deep concern regarding the alleged ongoing genocide and ethnic cleansing against Palestinians and the deliberate misinformation perpetuated by some media outlets. Growing up, I was taught to love God by loving my neighbor and that everyone is my neighbor. The Palestinians are our neighbors.

It’s dishonest to claim these atrocities began on Oct. 7. Seven thousand Palestinians were displaced from their homes when the illegal state of Israel was established in 1948. For 75 years, Palestinians have suffered human rights abuses at the hands of Israel; extrajudicial killings, torture, arbitrary arrests and more.

Criticizing the actions of the Israeli government doesn’t equate to being anti-Semitic. Zionism, a political ideology, shouldn’t be conflated with Judaism, a religion. Many Jewish individuals/organizations actively oppose the Israeli government’s actions.

We must question the narratives presented to us. Follow Palestinian journalists actively reporting the truth. They’re killing Palestinian children, babies, and civilians ON PURPOSE. It’s all documented.

If we’re silent regarding genocide funded by our tax dollars, we are complicit.

Can’t say you didn’t know. Together we have the power to make a positive difference.

Katy Larson, Lexington

Compiled by Liz Carey