A Chaotic Republican Debate: ‘Turn Off the Mic!’

To the Editor:

Re “5 Takeaways From Another Trump-Free Republican Debate” (nytimes.com, Sept. 28):

Turn off the mic!

Seven people onstage at the same time. Just enough time for the evening’s bloviators to spew out their prefabricated talking points. Not enough time for discussions of substance.

And then there’s something called rules. In lieu of decorum, our debates have devolved into two hours of rudeness, interruption and incivility. Year after year, moderators exhibit little control or are completely ignored. Candidates with the least to say won’t shut up, and those with a cogent thought don’t have time to express it.

Suggestion: With a clearly displayed clock, give each candidate a prescribed amount of time for talk and rebuttal. If another candidate interrupts, turn off his or her mike. For further interruptions, deduct minutes from that candidate’s talking time.

Would candidates be receptive to such an idea? If not, why?

Karl Abbott
New York

To the Editor:

The smartest man on the G.O.P. debate stage was Donald Trump. He was omnipresent without the necessity of actual presence.

Why would he debate? He has the nomination wrapped up. The taunts (“Donald Trump is missing in action” — Ron DeSantis; “Voters deserve to hear him defend his record”— The Wall Street Journal) are futile rhetoric. Mr. Trump will not be provoked. He can continue to go about his business unscathed while watching his frenzied rivals with minuscule ratings continue to flail.

Meanwhile, Mr. Trump gets to skate into the nomination on his terms thanks to a Republican Party that can’t get enough of him. As Mr. Trump himself used to tweet, “Sad.”

William Goldman
Los Angeles

To the Editor:

I’m a very proud, lifelong Democrat. But I like to watch the G.O.P. debate because I enjoy seeing the party implode and eat its own. But I stopped after 45 minutes.

It was simply a bunch of lies, misleading statements and prepared applause lines. Not one of them has any idea how to solve America’s problems, nor do they even offer a sensible plan, or in many cases any plan, to do so.

The party will simply anoint the twice-impeached, criminally indicted former POTUS. This is what the party wants, and, in short, nothing and no one will stop this from happening. We are all watching, in slow motion, the game play out before the final out.

Ben Milano
Lindenhurst, N.Y.

Members of Congress, Still Paid in a Shutdown

To the Editor:

How is it that if there is a government shutdown, others suffer and go hungry but members of Congress still get paid? That is obviously wrong and needs to change.

Joan Pachner
Hartsdale, N.Y.

Two Views of Justice

To the Editor:

Re “More Democrats Calling on Menendez to Resign” (front page, Sept. 27):

Senator Robert Menendez is indicted by the Justice Department. Democratic lawmakers across the country call for him to resign.

Donald Trump is indicted by the Justice Department. Republican lawmakers across the country call for investigations into the weaponization of the Justice Department.

Can there be a clearer indication of which group has a higher regard for ethics, morality and the rule of law?

Barry Lurie
Philadelphia

Columbia’s Contributions to New York City

To the Editor:

Re “Columbia and N.Y.U. Expand, but Pay Little Tax” (front page, Sept. 27):

Columbia is honored to call New York home, and we are committed to being a responsible and engaged citizen of this city. While we don’t profess to be perfect, we take pride in the estimated $14.6 billion we contribute in annual economic impact to our community, according to the most recent study by New York’s Commission on Independent Colleges & Universities.

But whittling down the university’s local contributions to dollars spent ignores the broad array of commitments, large and small, that we have made to this city as one of its oldest and proudest institutional residents.

I could point to the critical role played by the university and our health care providers throughout the pandemic, including providing space and logistical support to house health care workers, or to researchers at our Climate School, who are contributing their time and resources to studying harmful algae blooms in city parks.

Most recently, our faculty and students have volunteered to help asylum seekers who are filing applications for the authorization to work.

Columbia is expanding our commitments to the city. That includes doing more to recruit, admit and support New York City’s public school students.

We know this is an all-hands-on-deck moment for New York City, and we are dedicated to contributing in every way we can to assure a bright future for it.

Gerald M. Rosberg
New York
The writer is senior executive vice president of Columbia University.

High-Quality TV Shows

To the Editor:

Re “The Era of Prestige TV Is Ending. We’re Going to Miss It When It’s Gone,” by Roy Price (Opinion guest essay, nytimes.com, Sept. 21):

Before Netflix, before Amazon, before HBO, before any of the streamers, was “prestige” content from public broadcasting worldwide. And before that was “Playhouse 90” and other prestige content from the networks of television’s early years.

Good content is not just produced by big distributors; look at the range of truly interesting shows that media creators are developing on easily accessible platforms that don’t demand big budgets and fancy pedigrees.

Open your eyes beyond your narrow West Coast view, Mr. Price. There’s a lot to like out there.

Alice Cahn
Rockland, Maine
The writer is a former head of children’s programming for PBS and vice president at Cartoon Network.

‘I Love Dogs,’ but Biden’s Must Go

To the Editor:

Re “Once Again, a Biden Dog Gives a Bite to an Agent” (news article, Sept. 27):

I love dogs more than I love most humans. That said, I feel it’s long past time that Commander, President Biden’s German shepherd, is permanently exiled from the White House to a comfortable, safe environment, such as a farm, where he has fewer opportunities to bite people.

I doubt that Mr. Biden wants this outcome, but a dog with his record of biting folks should have been sent away long ago.

Richard B. Ellenberger
Normandy Park, Wash.