Harris’ inaction on Hurricane Helene: Letters to the Editor — Oct. 2, 2024

The Issue: President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ response to Hurricane Helene.

There are many sad stories regarding the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene down south (“Who’s leading the nation?,” Oct. 1).

The death toll is rising and the flood damage is incomprehensible. Furthermore, power is out for millions, despite efforts from Con Edison to restore it.

But all FEMA can set up are loans for those affected. Loans?

America blows billions in free giveaways to Third-World potentates each year and asks for nothing in return. How about taking care of Americans first?

Rob Lobenstein

Hubertus, WI

I predict the Biden-Harris administration’s lack of action during Helene will be the October surprise that hurts Harris.

Rodrigo Saenz

Queens

As you may know, Hurricane Helene has been devastating in Florida and many other places around the country.

Hundreds are dead and entire communities are gone, having been wiped out by the terrible storm. Worse still, there are countless missing and millions of dollars in property damage.

My question is: Why is President Biden doing so little for our communities that have been destroyed and ravaged by the storm? He talks a lot about helping us, but I don’t see either him or Vice President Harris here talking to people.

That’s probably because they only care about votes. Maybe instead of sending money to Ukraine and Israel to keep two wars going they could send us more money to get our lives back.

Bert LeBlanc

Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

On the question of who’s leading the White House: The answer is President Biden — but he is leading it into hell.

Joseph Briglia Jr.

Tampa, Fla.

Where is Harris during the horrendous devastation caused by Hurricane Helene?
The most she has done was deliver an impersonal script with as much emotion as a person watching paint dry. Of course, she would not answer one question from the media.

It’s easy to be a prosecutor asking prepared questions to nervous witnesses. It is much harder, however, to answer them.

Betty Schwartz

Livingston, NJ

The Issue: The vice president’s desire to end the current filibuster rule to reinstate Roe v. Wade as law.

Vice President Kamala Harris stated she wanted to get rid of the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster-ending rule for Roe v. Wade, where only 51 votes would be enough to put back into law the protections for reproductive freedom (“Dems vs. our Republic,” Sept. 30).

However, back in 2017 when she served in the Senate representing California, she urged her Senate colleagues to preserve the filibuster when Republicans controlled the Senate. Back then, she stated: “We are united in our determination to preserve the ability of members to engage in extended debate when bills are on the Senate floor.”

So what changed? The latest campaign strategy by Harris and the Democrats clearly shows that neither she nor they seem to understand the importance of the filibuster to ensure that no one party can ram through legislation on purely partisan terms geared to the approaching November election.

Sal Giarratini

Boston, Mass.

My family is Armenian and we come from Tabriz, a city in northwestern Iran. We come from a land that has no problem with terminating unwanted pregnancies. That abortion is an issue here is a testimony to how patriarchal and religiously regulated American life is.

Arthur Saginian

Santa Clarita, Calif

Want to weigh in on today’s stories? Send your thoughts (along with your full name and city of residence) to [email protected]. Letters are subject to editing for clarity, length, accuracy, and style.