The Trump impeachment debacle calls for penalties on both parties, for roughing the public

Can politicians learn anything from pro football besides punting on balanced budgets and blocking useful legislation? Probably not, but there are other parallels.

About 20 years ago, when the struggling Chicago Bears played the equally woeful New Orleans Saints in a nail-biter, one of the play-by-play announcers remarked that it was an exciting game between two really bad teams. That’s what the current presidential campaign/impeachment debacle feels like: a titanic scrum between two bumbling giants that almost no one can stand.

On second thought, tedious is probably a better word than exciting. When a starting quarterback is about to return from an injury, teams try to weigh the risk of him returning too soon vs. the chance of losing the next game(s) without him. Teams may make the wrong decision, but they agonize over the pros and cons.

I don’t see similar deliberation from Democrats in their hasty march to impeach President Trump, or thoughtful rebuttal from Republican lawmakers. One side piously points fingers while the other shrieks “fake news” and scours every corner for scapegoats.

Have Democrats considered that removing Richard Nixon required bi-partisan and public support? Do Republicans factor in the long-term effects even if impeachment fails? Remember, Gerald Ford was a one-term president.

Between the Trump team’s disgraceful middle school-level petulance and the Democrat’s dour, school-marmish finger-pointing, it’s hard to feel noble backing either side. Penalize both teams — for roughing the voter.

James Newton, Itasca

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Thanks to vaping, I quit smoking

I would like to thank both columnist Jacob Sullum and your news organization for writing and publishing the common-sense article “Black market pot — not vaping — most to blame for lung disease outbreak,” in the face of mass misinformed media coverage and ignorant public opinion.

I have been tobacco-free with greatly improved general health for 10 years, after 30 years of smoking, all due to vaping and all manner of related flavored products.

Michael Stomiany, Countryside

Why does Trump do what evil dictators want?

It’s worth wondering why President Donald Trump does things evil dictators like him to do.

Like ignoring Russian boss Vladimir Putin’s interference in our elections. Like giving a pass to Saudi Arabia’s crown prince for the murder of a Washington Post columnist. Like accommodating Turkey’s anti-Kurd leader by removing troop support for allied Kurdish forces fighting ISIS in Syria. Like giving North Korea’s Kim Jung Un the one thing he always wanted — equal status with the head of the world’s most powerful nation.

It would be no surprise if Trump’s decisions in the first three cases were influenced by his big-money interests in those countries. As for North Korea, Trump told Kim he sees great potential for part of his country becoming a Trump-like resort.

Eddie Stone, Northbrook