Ray Lehman writes that dealing with the GOP extremists will be like herding cats for Speaker-Designate Paul Ryan.
To the Editor:
Well, the testimony is over. Will the ninth time be the charm for the tea party? Not likely.
After eight other investigations into the American tragedy in Benghazi, Libya, the U.S. House's "Select Committee on Benghazi" - led by Stan Laurel lookalike Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C. -- has found that there is no "there" there. So did the earlier investigations.
It is now time to disband this taxpayer-funded political hit squad that has reportedly cost Americans over $4 million. It is about as useful as the 50-some failed House votes to roll back the Affordable Care Act.
The House of Representatives, run by the Republicans, is about as dysfunctional as possible. But when you're a party that hates government with a large fringe element that sends representatives with specific instructions to gum up the works, dysfunction is about the best you can expect - if not complete chaos.
Also: Editorial: Boehner flees the crazy caucus
Outgoing House Speaker John Boehner has had enough of dealing with the reactionary crew that was sent to him and is retiring. It's looking like former vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan will have his demands met in order to take over as speaker. He'll be trying to do something akin to herding the cats that wore out Boehner.
The conclusion you can draw from this is that this particular iteration of the Republican Party has proven to be a failure at governing. It should be held accountable and be replaced ASAP. Anarchy in the name of smaller government is a dismal failure.
Roy Lehman
Woolwich Township
Don't bend bathroom genders
To the Editor:
I read with interest recent articles about the City Council in Philadelphia planning a bill to label many public bathrooms as "gender neutral."
If this happens in Philadelphia, it can happen in New Jersey.
I can well imagine a little girl going into one of these bathrooms and perhaps seeing a pervert exposing himself to her. I can also imagine men looking under stall doors and taking cell phone pictures of women and little children. Men have been known to do this many times.
What is happening to this world? Better to let there be separate bathrooms for those who don't identify with the gender of their birth.
Ethel Ashenfelter
Glassboro
One euthanized cat is too many
To the Editor:
Regarding the article "South Jersey animal shelter wrongly euthanized cat, owner says" earlier this month:
Reading the story about Moe, whose Stratford owner was looking for the cat, just really disgusted me!
(Gloucester County Animal Shelter officials claim Moe was euthanized after just one day - and not held a minimum of seven days, as per state law for strays - because the cat was too difficult to handle.)
Some years ago the Times reported on more than 3,000 cats euthanized at this shelter in one year alone. For 2014, the shelter reported 1,839 euthanized cats, which is one too many.
This reaffirms my own stand that I would never adopt a kitten from this so called "shelter." The operators need to look up the meaning of "shelter" in the dictionary.
My sincere sympathy to Moe's owner.
Joy Frederick
Pitman