Jan. 7, 2026 7 AM PT
To the editor: The final 12 months has been stuffed with as a lot political incompetence on the highest ranges of presidency as I can bear in mind in my lifetime. However maybe essentially the most clearly backward instance of pondering and habits is within the censure of Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and his attainable demotion to observe (“Hegseth censures Sen. Kelly after warning about following illegal orders,” Jan. 5).
Again in 1972, Jim Croce sang in “You Don’t Mess Round With Jim,” “You don’t tug on Superman’s cape.” By itself, that line may inform you to not mess with heroes. Kelly is a real hero and patriot — not the form of “patriot” who storms the U.S. Capitol. If the administration needs to flex its muscle tissues and make an instance, this isn’t the man to do it with.
Kelly is a member of the Senate Armed Providers Committee. He flew 39 combat missions within the Gulf Battle. If that wasn’t sufficient, he then went on to be on 4 area shuttle flights, serving as commander on two of them.
Going after Kelly is like pulling on Superman’s cape. You simply don’t mess with fight heroes who’re additionally former astronauts.
It doesn’t take my 50 years of expertise as a scientific psychologist to know which manner the topsy-turvy psychological winds are blowing. This transfer gained’t have the impact the administration intends. Actually, it might very properly get Kelly the form of overwhelming common sympathy that propels him to run for president.
Steven Hendlin, Newport Seashore
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To the editor: When any individual enlists within the U.S. armed forces, they’re required to take an oath swearing to guard our Structure. If that individual is given an order that they deem is illegitimate underneath our Structure, they’re required by that very same oath to not perform that order.
That dedication to defend the Structure serves as a essential verify on navy authority and ensures adherence to authorized and moral requirements. Kelly and the 5 different Democratic lawmakers have been merely reminding service members of their sworn responsibility to our Structure and shouldn’t be punished for pointing that out.
Fred Shaw, Carpinteria
