Trump’s prioritizing politics over qualifications in cabinet picks

Can we have a show of hands from the people who voted for Trump but are horrified by his choices in filling his cabinet? The worst of which are Matt Gaetz and Pete Hegseth.

Rep. Matt Gaetz, a staunch ally of Trump, is an unconventional and, many argue, unqualified pick for the role of Attorney General. Known for his controversial statements, legal troubles, and inflammatory rhetoric, Gaetz’s appointment will raise serious questions about the impartiality and integrity of the Justice Department if confirmed. While Gaetz is a vocal defender of Trump, his background as a Florida congressman with limited legal experience make him an unfit candidate for one of the highest law enforcement positions in the country.

The Attorney General is tasked with upholding the rule of law, investigating corruption, and ensuring the fair application of justice. Gaetz’s lack of a legal background and his involvement in various controversies would undermine the public’s trust in the Justice Department, making it more likely to be perceived as politically motivated rather than dedicated to upholding the law impartially.

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Similarly, the choice of Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News personality with little military or defense experience, to serve as Secretary of Defense raises alarms. Hegseth’s career was primarily based on media commentary, not military or strategic leadership, making his qualifications for overseeing the U.S. Department of Defense questionable. The Secretary of Defense is responsible for shaping national security policy, leading military operations, and managing defense personnel. This role demands a deep understanding of military strategy, international relations, and defense infrastructure — qualities Hegseth, despite his enthusiastic rhetoric and minimal military experience, lacks.

Leadership requires more than media presence and political alignment—it requires competence, knowledge, and the ability to navigate complex, high-stakes issues. In both cases, these appointments seem to reflect short-term political considerations rather than long-term national interest.

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Douglas Brown, New Castle

Concerns about election password leaks

Is anyone concerned about the password leak from our Secretary of State’s office as reported by Channel 9 news? Could it have anything to do with our state still trending left in the election when even liberal California shifted right? Even the recent PI poll would suggest that our area trends right. We are supposed to have a “gold standard” election. What does that even mean?

Following the most recent oops from the SOS office I think it is our civic responsibility to start questioning the need for and the validity of the machines. Jena Griswold said that as our elections become more complex they will need to keep asking for more resources from the people. How would more resources have prevented her leak? We also have the situation in Mesa County where postal workers were able to corrupt the mail in ballots. Has this happened elsewhere? What other “problems” have occurred in our election process that we have not been made aware of?

I believe that most voters have trusted our elections because we have been told to do so. Also, the machines are so complex that the average person cannot hope to figure out how they can possibly corrupt our vote. Our Constitutional Republic is built on a foundation of accurate counting of votes cast by legal voters. A possibly tainted vote threatens the bedrock our Constitutional Republic. While at a Frontier Museum this summer I saw a sign that Election Day was a National Holiday. Perhaps it is time to go full circle and have one day, one vote with picture ID on paper ballots counted locally by citizens who have the best interests of the people?

I urge you to contact your county clerk and commissioners to request that Griswold be held accountable and an assurance that we have free and fair elections with complete transparency in the future.

Deanna Janckila, Carbondale

Ski towns and the ‘paradise paradox’

I attended the sold-out presentation of “Feel It All,” a documentary created by renowned skier Drew Peterson hosted at TACAW and sponsored by HEADQUARTERS (Headq.org), a local nonprofit that focuses on prevention, and the Aspen Hope Center (aspenhopecenter.org), a local counseling center. 

Peterson discusses his history of depression, the stigma of living with suicidal ideation; his fight to overcome alcoholism in a world that glorifies champagne spraying on the podium; and his dependency on outdoor recreation as a coping skill. 

Those who suffer with the multiple forms of mental health support and the necessary preventions and treatments to address their serious diseases. More than anything else, Drew deserves medals for his bravery in using his celebrity to highlight the needs of those suffering silently.

Our resort areas and communities that support the ski towns suffer from the “paradise paradox,” with suicide rates documented as two to three times higher than the national average (14 per 100,000), according to Colorado School of Public Health. Causes often referenced are exponentially rising housing costs, cost of living vs. wages disparity, isolation, and lack of mental health resources.

Living in a ski community makes the need for understanding the crisis in mental health awareness all the more acute, leading Drew to call local schools and offer screenings for students. He was told by the schools that his film would not be shown. How upsetting in today’s world that a peer-led resource such as this film is denied to young communities with the needs for awareness on these issues. Mental health is a national crisis. The surgeon general puts loneliness at the top of health care concerns. The more we expose our community to these issues, the more we talk authentically; the more we understand, the stronger and more resilient we become as a community. May we hold each other’s hands and hearts by developing community toolboxes of coping skills. Let’s take a step by sharing this film with students, SkiCo employees, hospital workers, first responders and more.

Sally Sakin, Carbondale

We all need to do our part to keep the roads safe

With winter coming, I feel it’s important to talk about a concern we all face: unsafe driving. Our roads are full of risky behaviors — speeding, tailgating, and other aggressive actions — that get even more dangerous in the winter.

I’m asking everyone to please talk with family, friends, and coworkers about driving safely. Let’s all work together to make sure everyone gets home safe. This means having winter tires when needed, slowing down, and leaving a few minutes earlier if you’re often rushing. Stay aware of your surroundings and remember that speeding or driving a bigger vehicle doesn’t make anyone better or more important. Safety on the roads is something we all share responsibility for.

Paz Leiva, Rifle