I noticed a couple of recent opinion pieces making false claims about the Republicans’ efforts toward bipartisan legislation.

When Joe Biden asked all politicians to stand against violence in politics, not one Republican stood up. In 2006, George W. Bush wanted to make a deal on immigration, Mitch McConnell said “no,” it would help the left. Biden gave them all they asked for in 2024; Trump said “no.” It doesn’t matter who tries to deal with the extreme right wing. When Trump promised “no matter what” he’d make a deal on the border in 2018, Tom Cotton and Jim Jordan called him and told him it might help the left. No deal.

Mr. Sarvinas (“Is hypocrisy a virtue now?” Nov. 9) accuses the left of the rights practices that condemn consensus, while Mr. Dorsey (“For Democrats, it’s political posturing at any price,” Nov. 8) says Democrats are incompetent, immoral and outright con artists. Once more, the shoe is on the wrong foot. Can someone tell me what it would take to begin negotiations with the party of President Donald J. Trump? Unconditional surrender?

As Trump rapidly slips into dementia, so obvious it’s undeniable, they continue to mix civilian and military without regard to what happened in the American Revolution. Ancient Rome forbade it as disaster; they were correct. They can only lie about the economy for a little while. Covering lies with lies doesn’t hide anything in the end. That end is never good.

Ask Rep. Jared Golden.  

Rudolph Ziehm
Sabattus