Letters: Trump is real life Gordon Gekko

Ever since Donald Trump burst upon the scene as a bombastic Republican presidential candidate given to sweeping grandiosity, I’ve tried in vain to think: Of which outlook is he the poster boy?

With the Aug. 6 debates, it finally hit me: He’s the incarnation of Hollywood’s shifty securities manipulator, Gordon Gekko, played by Michael Douglas in “Wall Street,” whose mantra was “Greed is good!” Only winning matters. The end justifies the means. Narcissism personified. Sheer chutzpah.

Too bad, Trump fans. The real world doesn’t work that way. Even superpowers have their limits. It may take formidable ego strength to run for political office, but while disregarding reality may make for bold, fanciful sound-bites, otherwise, as sensible people know, it is a non-starter.

Colonialism is dead. There are no vassal states groveling to do our bidding, as Trump seems to imagine, as if stuck in a time-warp circa 1898, when Teddy Roosevelt ascended to the White House.

Meanwhile, stay tuned. Though destined to flame out, there may never again be another candidate quite like him. By comparison, magically he makes the rest of the GOP field look competent and normal, even those who are closeted reactionaries hoping to stymie progress and take the nation backward.

Ted Z. Manuel, Hyde Park

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James Holmes deserved death penalty

The decision in Colorado to allow James Holmes to live off the taxpayers in prison for the rest of his life is, in a word, disgusting. This spineless decision leaves the door open for any psychotic maniac to act out his distorted fantasy knowing they will get free room and board for the rest of their life. I am not a big proponent of the death penalty, but the chain of pain that this deviate caused deserves nothing less than that he meet his maker. Shame on the jury.

Ken Karlson, Wheaton

Fountain’s required reading

John Fountain’s letter to his son on Sunday — ”Lifetime of good choices adds up to a good life” — should be required reading by every teenager everywhere!

James M. McCarthy, Wilmette