If Trump can’t reveal the ‘deep state,’ does it actually exist? | Letters

Trump pressured to expose a government ‘deep state’ | May 31

Shallow state

The conspiracy theorists who were convinced of the existence of some “deep state” with tyrants and villains supposed secret network of powerful people manipulating government decisions behind the scenes just can’t come to grips with the truth. The truth is that when theorists are unable to grasp elementary concepts like competent governance and the basic facts of historical events, they fall back on these wild fantasies to help mitigate the unease caused by their confusion.

The “state” is just not that deep.

Terry R. Arnold, Treasure Island

FBI says it will release new Epstein video | May 30

Listen for the sizzle

MAGA are furious with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel for their delay in releasing “the goods” on Jeffrey Epstein’s death in jail. Bondi, Patel, and Dan Bongino, too, have long been part of the toxic MAGA media ecosphere, pumping paranoia, lies and conspiracy theories into that too receptive set. But now these hyped-up podcasting spewers have been given real jobs — Patel atop FBI, and Bongino as his deputy. And after years of assaulting that institution from the outside, out of their own stupidity and ignorance and malign servility to Donald Trump, now they’re on the inside, and they “got nothin’.”

So it was hilarious to see them on TV last week, Bongino apparently bawling about how he hates his job, and in a Freudian slip perhaps, admitting he’s on the verge of divorce because of it. Leading the FBI is real work, Mr. Bongino. Who’d have guessed it.

And both he and Patel are now saying all their aspersions cast about Epstein’s exit were false —Epstein did hang himself, and there’s no evidence at all to the contrary. This is after their years of sowing distrust of the FBI among Americans.

The entire goal was to discredit the FBI, as it was seen by Trump as his primary antagonist. And they succeeded. This is always the equation with MAGA — wreck everything good to protect their leader. Now Patel and Bongino are in the MAGA hot seat. Let’s listen for the sizzle.

Steve Douglas, St. Petersburg

Trump pressured to expose a government ‘deep state’ | May 31

Deep state hypocrisy

The “deep state” concept is intriguing in its inconsistency. During Democratic administrations, a Republican/MAGA narrative consistently suggests the existence of a highly effective, clandestine group wielding true government power. This narrative is often juxtaposed with claims of a corrupt and inefficient surface-level bureaucracy. How such a potent “deep state” could remain concealed and effective beneath an allegedly incompetent official government remains unexplained.

Consequently, the “deep state” appears to be a construct of highly imaginative, reactionary thought, thriving where factual accuracy is of diminished importance. Furthermore, when “deep state” proponents gain positions where they can probe and indict, they notably fail to find the enemy. The focus on the Jeffrey Epstein affair, for instance, suggests the “deep state” discourse serves less to expose governmental control and more to fuel scandalous narratives and defamatory accusations for right-wing online platforms.

Jon Crawfurd, Gulfport

I teach international students in Florida. Here’s why Trump is wrong | Column, May 28

Always learning

Reading Daniel Ruth’s column, I note that he closes with the following observation:

“It has been a privilege to be around these students. Frankly, I also have a mercenary motive. Here’s a dirty little secret. I often learn more from them than they do from me.”

I am reminded of a comment often repeated to me by Edward F. Cloutier, retired professor of education at the University of Tampa:

“We are all teachers. We are all learners.”

Jim Heenan, Belleair

Yet another scandal

President Donald Trump has been caught in another scandal: He just pardoned a man who pleaded guilty to tax crimes just one month after his mother attended a $1 million a head MAGA fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago. This is a blatant quid pro quo—the sort of thing that would have led to the impeachment and conviction of any other president. With Trump it is par for the course.

Sadly, few Trump supporters will care about this suspicious action. However, MAGA folks will take great joy in watching Trump detractors whine and complain about this fishy pardon. This caused one of my friends to wonder whether we are we witnessing the death of outrage.

As a scholar who studied political rhetoric for four decades, we must be cognizant of the fact that the rules of the game have changed and the rhetorical playing field is no longer the same. Hence, the moral of the story is clear: Democrats can’t regain control if their message is exclusively or primarily a “not Trump” one; they must convince Americans specifically how they will fix the problems that negatively impact their lives the most. This then can be contrasted with what Trump has and hasn’t done. Such a message offers the best persuasive strategy for Democrats going forward.

Richard A. Cherwitz, Camas, Washington

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