Tri-City Herald letter writer says Rep. Dan Newhouse should be Speaker of the House | Opinion

Newhouse could be great speaker

With the divided Republican party holding a slim majority in the House of Representatives, partisan selection of the Speaker has resulted in a weakened office. A tiny minority of extreme right-wing members of the party are calling the shots. Any single Representative of either party can call for a vote challenging the Speaker.

News media largely treat the choice of Speaker to be purely partisan. The state of Ohio recently got out of that partisan box, and minority Democrats implemented a strategy that is bipartisan to elect a moderate Republican as Speaker.

The national Democratic Party can choose the next Speaker of the House of Representatives by nominating and largely supporting the least-objectionable Republican. That person is a man who voted to impeach the 45th president and was nonetheless reelected, Congressman Dan Newhouse of Washington State.

With 2/3 (or all) of Democrats supporting him, and 2/5 (or a handful) of Republicans, the Freedom Caucus and similar crazies can be thrown out of power. Those with some sense of the future may welcome a way out. If Dan Newhouse is selected as Speaker, the great gift it gives to the Republican Party is a chance to move beyond the 45th president and his MAGA doctrines. The house might just become functional with a more moderate Speaker.

It would be bipartisan!

Dan Strom, West Richland

Take time to vote if you want change

It’s time for a change of leadership in Washington state. Starting with Gov. Jay Inslee. You do not have the right to tell me what kind of car I can drive, how many or what kind of guns I can own, I cannot use natural gas to cook, or heat my house. Our elected representatives also need to go. They are responsible to keep him in check.

Our state attorney general needs to go to. He spends our money suing companies instead of keeping us safe. We are a sanctuary state. What kind of state welcomes illegals?? We spend thousands of dollars advertising abortions “Come to Washington state we will help you kill your baby.”

What kind of people are we? George Washington would be sick from seeing what we did in his name. What we need is representatives who love our state, who have morals. common sense and refuse to drink the kool aid! We need term limits, in-person voting. Which brings me to a very important point. Many people on the East Side of the state feel it’s a waste of time because they have been conditioned that King County has the biggest voting county and they overrule our vote.

In our last election, less than 50% voted. People couldn’t or wouldn’t even fill out a paper ballot and return it. And we wonder what the heck is wrong with our state! When you look at the root cause of all our problems, such as homelessness, panhandlers, drugs, dealers, thugs, and thieves, we are 90% of the problem. So when you don’t vote, you are stuck with the consequences. Now a little history for you. Hitler was elected by one vote. If you love America, this state, your family, then vote!

Ira Johnson, Kennewick

No worries now about telling truth

Gee, now that the Republicans seated the gaslighter of all gaslighters, a person who expressed lie after lie after lie without nary a peep out of his preferred party, I mull over the opportunity to do the same once I rid myself of the sense of wrong doing, forsaking any sense of morality while proclaiming “doing it for my country,” I know at least there’s a good chance to find approval on one side of the aisle where lying just doesn’t seem to matter. Nor to many voters.

To wit: my reconstituted CV: Graduated from Stanford at 18, Johns Hopkins with a Masters at 19, earned a PhD at UCal at 24. Served with the Green Berets in multiple combat missions with numerous medals. Lost several members of my family in 9/11. One of the advisors to prove fusion is extremely possible. Family members work in the Vatican and live near a synagogue. Retired as a financial consultant for over thirty banks. Read the Harvard Classics. Speak several languages fluently, including Klingon. Own a red cap, tie. Support charities, turning down one nominating me for sainthood.

Finally I end in remembering the words that might have fired up George Santos’ ambition and be a proper motto:

“What, me worry?”

Bink Owen, Walla Walla