After reading Washington Post wire service articles — carried by many newspapers, including the Star Tribune — purporting to be "news" about Trump/Russia, I think they might better be described as leaks from some anonymous sources, based on evidence we can't see, suggesting there could have been this thing that happened.
Bob Jentges, North Mankato, Minn.
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Has anyone considered that the Russians are the source of the leak and that the media is now quoting the very people that it accuses of meddling in the U.S. election? That the media is being played by the very people that the media says are very bad guys?
I mean, come on, there were only three Americans in the meeting, and all of them have denied being the source of the leak.
This stuff isn't hard. Are the Dems really that dumb? Didn't the Russians leak photos of an Oval Office meeting? Is it really that easy to manipulate the American media? I guess so. Wake up, America!
Art Smith, Edina
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With regard to Trump's self-defense statement that he wanted to, and had a right to, share certain information with the Russians in the expectation that it might lead to an increase in their cooperation on antiterrorism matters: Why didn't he do that earlier through regular channels rather than wait until a face-to-face meeting to do it?
Wayne Bjorlie, West St. Paul
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I am incredulous at the double standard that currently exists in American politics. Does anyone doubt that if it had been Barack Obama who revealed classified information to a foreign ambassador, the Republicans would have already begun impeachment proceedings? Given the rhetoric during the campaign about storing classified information on insecure e-mail servers, the only consistent response from Republicans today should be "Trump for Prison!" Where is the outcry?
Kenneth Solberg, Minnetonka
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After eight years of unrelenting and vicious anti-Obama rhetoric from the right, it is disgusting to read a May 16 letter writer whining about "24/7/365 anti-President Trump pundits and supporters." In his short period as president, Trump has offered ample evidence of his unsuitability to the job, the most recent being the leak of secrets to Russian diplomats to bolster his own ego. "365?" Will he make it without impeachment?
Darrell Jensen, Anoka
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I have some advice for the May 16 letter writer who advised the "anti-Trump pundits" that their comments will come back to haunt them. You are eight years too late, and your advice should have been addressed to "anti-Obama pundits."
Jeremy Powers, Fridley
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I am shocked — shocked — to hear all this negativity presently being heaped upon our president.
If he wants to fire FBI Director James Comey for "this Russia thing with Trump and Russia," even if he wants to do it within days of the director's request for more money for "this Russia thing"; if he wants to invite Russians to the Oval Office and impress them with his great daily intel; if he wants "to find the LEAKERS in the intelligence community," as he said in Tuesday's Twitter fest, so what? He's the president, and he can do it.
The president certainly isn't a LEAKER because he's obviously not part of the intelligence community. And he'd never idly boast about his great intel. As he said on Fox News some time ago, "I don't like to sit back and gloat, because the world is fragile. Life is fragile, so I never really gloat." Fragile indeed.
Christopher Moore, Belle Plaine
BIKE LANES
Finally, someone speaks for me
Thank you, Barbara Nylen, for your May 16 counterpoint calling for common sense regarding bike lane planning. You stated exactly what I've been thinking the past few years. Why are bike lanes placed on major links to highways and freeways? Every street or avenue mentioned is one that I, too, drive frequently and experience the forced traffic congestion because of car lanes being converted to bike lanes. Cars sharing the road with cyclists is a given, but maybe we could share a road less traveled?
Kathleen Karges, Minneapolis
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I question the Star Tribune's wisdom in publishing Dave Wilson's May 16 counterpoint on the 38th Street bike lane debate. The article was filled with hyperbolic statements alleging a level of cycling advocacy coordination that frankly does not exist. While there would certainly be nothing wrong with a coordinated response from cycling advocacy groups, the simple truth is that those cyclists present at the May 9 meeting came of their own volition. Yes, Mr. Wilson, there are truly that many (and more!) Longfellow residents who care passionately about bike infrastructure.
I do not expect the Star Tribune to fact-check every anecdotal claim made in a letter. However, in this age of "alt-facts," anyone alleging that their opponents have been mobilized by a hypercoordinated "bike lobby," operated for personal gain by the advocacy groups' paid staff, certainly deserves scrutiny if not outright dismissal.
Sarah Burridge, Minneapolis
BIKE PATHS
Hey! Recognize Edina.
I read the May 15 article about how biking to work may help you live longer. The League of American Bicyclists recognized three Minnesota communities with Bicycle Friendly Awards. What was shocking and disappointing to me was that Edina was left off that list. In Edina, we are in the midst of building a $50 million bike path through the city and should get some kind of award for that. Maybe next year.
It is true that this bikeway required tens of thousands of trees to be cut down, and thousands of tons of concrete and tar to be laid, but eventually we can all proudly call it environmentally friendly. A concrete bridge has already been built over Hwy. 100 for the bikeway and another bridge over Hwy. 62 is in the works, so safety is a prime concern for all.
This new transportation corridor has the potential to add hundreds of millions of dollars in new investments like jobs, retail and housing and is a wise investment by the Edina City Council. Now that the cold Minnesota winter has left us, I have seen several people using the bikeway on pleasant weekend afternoons, so investments are sure to follow. If we can't win an award by spending $50 million, how much will it take?
Come on over to Edina and enjoy the bikeway, shop at Southdale, and have a drink and a bite to eat. That way we can all profit from this bikeway investment.
Dan Goodenough, Edina
BREAST HEALTH
Worth learning more about
Anyone with an interest in breast milk (or breasts, their own and those of others) would have their eyes opened by Florence Williams' book "Breasts: A Natural and Unnatural History." She calls lactation the "blood to milk miracle" and describes the lack of research on the human mammary gland, despite its importance in human development. Breasts "soak up pollution like a pair of soft sponges," she says, and breast milk should be "nature's perfect food" but that depends on the mother's diet and environment. At a time when regulations to ensure the safety of our diet and environment are under attack, breasts (male breasts are also vulnerable) are canaries in the coal mine.
Sherry Machen, Plymouth
CIRCUMCISION
Safe, then, yet still gratuitous
A pediatric urologist writing in the May 16 letters concludes his description of neonatal circumcision with the sentence, "The risks are minimal and the result is almost uniformly excellent."
Even if there were no risks and the results always excellent, I see no reason to perform an unnecessary surgery.
