Jan. 6 rioters were not heroes. Those who say they were are not leaders: Letters
Jan. 4 — To the Editor:
Every once in a while as more time has elapsed since the worst disaster to befell the Republican Party left office in disgrace, I have had hope that sanity might slowly return to the Party of Lincoln. Then I read a piece by the chairman of the Portsmouth Republican Committee and I realize the cancer is still there. Mr. Forbes, January 6th had nothing to do with honorable patriots protesting for fair elections. And I really believe you know that. But it is politically useful to keep spreading lies about what has been characterized by independent organizations as the most free and fair election in the entire history of our country. I really cannot believe that people in leadership positions of local Republican organizations still believe and propagate the disinformation associated with the 2020 election.
I have mentioned this before in many letters in these pages. I was once a loyal Republican. I used to attend all of the rallies at the Scamman Farm, and was proud of the people with whom I shared these rallies. I donated to Republican candidates and causes. If the Republican Party is represented by people who think like you, Mr. Forbes, I will continue my absence from this once honorable party.
The healing of the Republican Party begins when members regain their sanity and call out the actions of Jan. 6 for what it was. An anti-American, anti-Constitutional riot stirred up by a despotic narcissist who could not care any less about the values of our Republic and our Constitution. Those involved were not heroes, and those that applaud their actions should not be leaders.
Eric R. Christian
Eliot, Maine
Claims election was stolen make no logical sense
Jan. 4 — To the Editor:
Have you ever noticed how easy it is for some people to believe in things for which there is no objective evidence? Santa Claus, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, stolen presidential election? I don’t know if guest columnist Alan Forbes believes in the first three, but his belief in the fourth is just as ridiculous.
Since Mr. Forbes thinks that the election was stolen, I have to wonder: Which election? Republican officials were on the same ballot as Mr. Trump, and these Republicans did remarkably well in the election, picking up seats in local legislatures (such as here in New Hampshire) and in the House of Representatives. Does Mr. Forbes somehow think that election officials and election machines and paper ballots all across the country were somehow able to magically take votes away from Trump while adding them to other Republicans? Clearly that makes no sense. I mean, if you’re going to steal an election, don’t just steal one tiny part and lose the rest.
More: Commentary: Those who went to D.C. on Jan. 6 wanted fair and transparent elections
Mr. Forbes quotes highly suspicious (and fanciful) numbers regarding how many Americans think the election was stolen, but that is actually irrelevant. If 60% of people believe the Tooth Fairy is real, does that make it real? Obviously not. What all those people supposedly believe about the election doesn’t matter when the people who were in charge of the election, both Democrat AND Republican, deemed it free and fair. Numerous federal judges, including those appointed by Republican presidents, agreed. Even Mr. Trump’s own U.S. Department of Homeland Security Undersecretary Chris Krebs said the 2020 election was the most secure in history. (We can probably thank Mr. Trump for that; his constant assertions that the election would be “rigged” undoubtedly prompted election officials all across the country to be especially vigilant.) Mr. Forbes completely ignores all that objective evidence in the service of his fever-dream fantasy.
Finally, Mr. Forbes asserts that the people who stormed the capital just wanted fair elections. (It’s a good thing I wasn’t drinking coffee when I read that or I would have spit it all over the table.) His assertion is just an astounding rejection of objective reality. Were all those armed and violent insurrectionists chanting “Free elections!”? No, they were chanting “Hang Mike Pence!” Apparently, Mr. Forbes thinks that the best way to fight for free elections in a democracy is to attack the nation’s capitol, assault police officers, and threaten to murder the vice president.
Not a single one of Mr. Forbes’ assertions comports with reality. But, hey, he can believe what he wants. Perhaps in his next column he will tell us how he put a tooth under his pillow and found a dollar there the next morning.
Jim Mastro
Dover
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So Republicans who lost were cheated but those who won got there fair and square?
Jan. 4 -- To the Editor:
I am amazed that Alan Forbes believes that the last election was stolen. He is apparently a true believer. I like that. This is a rare and wonderful thing. Anyone who unquestioningly believes Donald Trump is worthy of my attention.
I can see that Alan Forbes also believes that the Republicans who were elected got there fair and square.
Alan, I have a unique investment just for you. You do not want to miss this great opportunity.
Bring cash.
Bill Kingston
New Castle
Those who built a noose for Pence only wanted a fair election?
Jan. 4 -- To the Editor:
Portsmouth Republican Party Chairman Alan Forbes wrote that that those who rioted at the "Capital" (sic; it's "Capitol," Mr. Patriot Man) on Jan. 6 did so because they wanted a "fair and transparent election." It's worth repeating: according to Republican Party Chairman Alan Forbes, those who built a noose and scaffold to hang the vice president only wanted a "fair and transparent election."
It's also worth repeating that according to Republican Party Chairman Alan Forbes, those who assaulted police officers at the Capitol on January 6 only wanted a "fair and transparent election." And according to Republican party Chairman Alan Forbes, the QAnon supporter who was convicted of threatening to kill the speaker of the House and the mayor of Washington, D.C. on Jan. 7 (after he brought an arsenal of weapons to the Capitol) only wanted a "fair and transparent election."
Republican Party Chairman Alan Forbes also thinks the election was "stolen." I guess he's just waiting for the right time to produce the evidence. Maybe he should hurry up, before those "patriots" in search of a "fair and transparent election" get any more ideas.
Eric Kane
Exeter
Letter writer failed to provide facts to support her Democratic arguments
Jan. 4 — To the Editor:
In response to Georgia Bennett’s letter of Dec. 29 titled “We will not tolerate the destruction of our democracy,” I clearly have to respond. Just what is it that I have to let go of? My point of views or opinions? I’m somewhat puzzled as you didn’t quite mention anything in particular. It’s sort of like you left the participle dangling. You mentioned we have a new president who is fighting on. Such an interesting statement. Fighting on for what? Nobody, including him, appears to know. It would have been somewhat redeeming if you mentioned something positive this new president has done. But, alas, you’re pen stopped dead in its tracks.
Now, you did mention that we will not tolerate the destruction of our democracy. Yet, you did fail to mention just how our democracy was being destroyed. The pen ran out of ink. I love how Democrats rant on about how this democracy is under siege. They drape themselves with the American flag and the Constitution like patriots of yore. Now, our democracy was indeed in danger. It was endangered when the Obama administration got its hands caught in the till when it surfaced that they were spying on the Trump campaign. Imagine that, Americans spying on each other. This shakes the very foundation of our Constitution. Or perhaps when Hillary devised and promulgated the now seriously debunked Russian Hoax. All done to perhaps cover up her e-mail scandal as well as unseat a duly elected president.
So Ms. Bennett, if, in the future, should you have this desire to address the state of our democracy/Constitution, please do so by incorporating at least one fact into your argument. Your letters then may contain an ounce of credibility.
Dan Hurley
Dover
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Jan. 6 rioters were not heroes: Letters
