Gee, I wonder what Fox News’ Tucker Carlson will do with all that insurrection video | Opinion

An unreliable narrator

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is giving 42,000 hours of video footage of the Capitol invasion to Tucker Carlson, Mr. Fair-and-Balanced, whose show “Patriot Purge” suggested the insurrection was staged by Donald Trump’s foes.

I wonder what Carlson will do with that footage to “prove” the break-in was no big deal. I would guess he’ll at least pick a clip of a guy standing alone in a restroom to show how innocent it was.

- Graham Donathan, Benbrook

Election task force politics

Words matter, especially when wielded by the powerful. Tarrant County District Attorney Phil Sorrells, County Judge Tim O’Hare and Sheriff Bill Waybourn are focused on their political needs, not real-world ones, in creating an election integrity task force in Tarrant County. (Feb. 28, 1A, “Lawmakers consider increasing penalty for illegal voting”)

There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud in Tarrant County that requires a task force. These distorted needs and dubious statistics can sustain public attention, but they could lead to political aggression, criminal threats or violence.

Tarrant County has an apolitical elections office that can handle voting integrity issues.

- Les Smith, Grapevine

Loans issued in bad faith

The student lending system is failed and finished. Today, 1 in 5 adults holds student loans, 85% were underwater before the pandemic and Texans alone owe $141 billion, mostly to the federal government. This is $10 billion just in interest leaving the state for Washington, D.C. These debt-holders vote and are mostly Republicans or independent, not liberals.

All Republicans in Congress should restore bankruptcy rights to those affected by this big-government, predatory loan scam. They should fight for their constituents, not the government and colleges getting rich from it.

- Jacque Abron, Midlothian

Jordan was a leading light

Conservatives are nostalgic for the good old days. But as shown by Attorney General Ken Paxton and other self-described family-values Republicans, abiding by one’s principles, not just professing them, is key to public trust. It requires integrity, the kind exhibited throughout her political career by the late Barbara Jordan, who first entered Congress 50 years ago.

Let’s remember and cherish her intelligence and old-fashioned integrity that gained the respect of Texans across the political spectrum.

- George W. Aldridge, Arlington

New comics for the birds

I knew as soon as the artist behind “Dilbert” made the news for racist comments that I’d seen the last of it in this paper. (March 1, 1A, “To our readers)”

That’s no big deal, but the replacement comics, frankly, are terrible. Bring back “Curtis.” At least that strip is funny.

- Jeff Murray, Fort Worth

US is what made China’s might

Regarding the commentary “The US should deter — not provoke — Beijing over Taiwan” by Jessica Chen Weiss in Sunday’s paper (5A): Every time I read about or hear politicians talk about the possibility of war with China, no one addresses the big elephant in the room. That elephant is that the people of the United States have largely financed China’s growth into a powerhouse with our massive imports of Chinese-made goods. Plus, we borrow a lot of money from China, paying in return many millions of dollars in interest.

Why should we be so worried about provoking the Chinese? If, God forbid, any provocation from us should lead to war, the money spigot would be immediately cut off. Don’t think for one minute that doesn’t give China pause for thought.

- William Brown, Arlington

Paxton is a stain on Texas’ honor

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton richly deserves impeachment for abuse of office and criminal acts. The latest is the settlement for a violation of the whistleblower’s act with a potential $3.3 million cost to taxpayers. (Feb. 26, 4C, “Why should taxpayers bail AG Paxton out?”)

Paxton is accused of interfering in criminal proceedings against a businessman who provided him benefits, including hiring his ex-girlfriend. In addition, he might have violated the whistleblower statute by firing his hand-picked top aides for reporting his abuses to the FBI.

The state constitution does not specify grounds for impeachment, but they would certainly include crimes and misdemeanors. Paxton’s abuses of power are a crime. Removing him from office would protect the state from his future misdeeds.

- Neil Cohen, Austin