Opinion | The Republican Search for Alternatives to Trump

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In the Editor:

Re How to Make Trump Go Away, by Frank Luntz (Opinion guest essay, April 10):

Republicans are tying themselves in knots trying to come up with candidates who might appeal to Trump voters but not Donald Trump. The latest effort is this essay by Republican strategist Frank Luntz.

I laughed and groaned when I read about the search for a candidate to champion the agenda of Mr. Trump but with decency, civility and a commitment to personal responsibility and accountability. Really? How was such a thing possible?

The agenda of Mr. Trumps if one can say he has an agenda other than his own is to build a power base by stirring up resentment, resentment and division. It is inherently based on lasciviousness and indolence.

The last thing this country needs is a smoother, more effective version of Donald Trump. We need an agenda that brings us together to make America a better place for everyone, not just for some at the expense of others. We don’t need an agenda that divides, degrades and weakens us, no matter who the candidate is.

John MasonSanta Rosa, Calif.

In the Editor:

Frank Luntz’s eight suggestions to the Republican leadership on how to dispose of Donald Trump are well considered and sensible. But another reasonable thought he removed was the threat that Mr. Trump as an independent if he is not nominated for the 2024 presidential race. Even a small percentage of his hard-core base could crush the chances for a normal Republican candidate to win the general election.

Mr. is unreasonable. Trump to spend the funds he’s already raised plus some himself on a vindictive, spoiler candidacy. It’s not a mystery why Republican leaders don’t know how to escape their problem.

Davis van Bakergem St. Louis

In the Editor:

As one of an ever-growing body of independents, I eagerly read Frank Luntz’s column to see where a case could be made on behalf of Republicans. Unfortunately, there is an underlying premise that Donald Trump has done a lot of good things for the country during his term.

I failed to see them.

Granted, the economy was in good shape before the coronavirus, but I attribute that in large part to the hard work of the Obama years. The only program of note that Mr. Trump has instituted is the tax cuts that have greatly increased the swelling deficit and benefited our citizens least in need of assistance. Far from helping the disenfranchised, he milked them for his personal gain and widened the divide.

Internationally, he has alienated our longtime allies in Europe. We are left with his impact on the bureaucracy and the judiciary. Mr. Luntz means that governance by starvation is ineffective and turns the judiciary into a political body.

Not my idea of ​​a record to run.

Tony PellBoston

In the Editor:

Thanks for this great piece. Everything Frank Luntz said resonated with me, a liberal living among some very strong conservatives. He went the extra mile to really understand Trump voters and describe in detail how a Republican candidate could win over them in future elections.

It was very thought-provoking, and helped me gain a deeper insight into my neighbors and their concerns. I will remember what he wrote.

Mary HollenGreenbank, Wash.

In the Editor:

Frank Luntz offers messaging advice for Republican presidential candidates to woo MAGA voters away from Donald Trump: Listen and empathize with Trump supporters, he says, emphasize decency, civility and personal responsibility. Acknowledge Mr. Trump’s achievements and offer the mildest criticism of his presidential record and personal conduct. Make it more about the grandchildren because these mature right-wing voters care about the children’s future.

No doubt there are disillusioned Trump voters ready for a different message, but how many? Racism, misogyny and apocalyptic nihilism are the hallmarks of Trumpism. The advice of Mr. Luntz is not only critical of adopting a liberal attitude without Enlightenment values ​​but also ironic. It presupposes voters’ longing for a kinder, gentler fascism.

In the Editor:

Re After Shunning Assad for Years, the Arab World Changes Its Tune (news article, April 14):

It is disturbing to see that several Arab countries have chosen to embrace President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, whose tenure has been marked by untold atrocities and gross human rights violations. His reign of tyranny and terror should result in continued condemnation, not the new credibility Syria’s Arab neighbors are giving him.

Mass killings and widespread violence that forced millions of people to flee their homes cannot and should not be ignored when assessing the strategic importance of re-establishing formal relations with Syria and its rogue leader.

Mr. al-Assad should be reviled, not recognized.

N. Aaron TroodlerBala Cynwyd, Pa.

The Overuse of Guardianship

In the Editor:

Thanks to A Better Alternative to Guardianship, by Emily Largent, Andrew Peterson and Jason Karlawish (Opinion guest essay, April 5).

As they note, overuse of guardianship deprives people of freedom in their own lives. Caregivers are left out of important conversations about their future, they do not develop the skills necessary to make life choices and they are prohibited from entering into legal agreements, managing their money or marry without the consent of the guardians.

Because the individual is deemed legally incompetent, the guardian signs any legally binding contracts, co-signs any disbursements and, depending on the state, may be required to sign the marriage license.

For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, families are often counseled when their family member leaves school to seek care.

Nationwide data from the National Core Indicators indicate that among people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who receive services, a staggering 45 percent are under some form of care. Supported decision making, described in the essay, provides a necessary alternative to this denial of rights and agency.

Valerie J. BradleyCambridge, Mass. The writer is president emerita of the Human Services Research Institute.

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