Although I wish him no personal ill, the absence of Mr. Beem’s opinion column due to his protracted illness was a breath of fresh air. But, here he is back again  (“RIP, GOP” Dec. 20) spewing the kind of divisive rhetoric, half-truths and innuendo which are just what this already strongly polarized country does not need.

He asserts that “progressives work to improve society and conservatives the status quo.” If by weakening our military, disputing that there is a border crisis and seeking to block solutions, creating safe havens for criminals in sanctuary cities, advancing absurd proposals for health care and “clean energy,” advocating abolition of Second Amendment rights to self-protection, and stalling much-needed legislation consequent to preoccupation with impeachment meet his standard for societal improvement, then I guess he is correct.

He argues that Mr. Trump imposed a quid pro quo conditioning the receipt of U.S. military aid to Ukraine on an “investigation of a political rival.” All evidence indicates that is not so. There is no Democrat truth and Republican truth. Truth is not partisan, Mr. Beem.

I know it is an opinion piece, but do we really need such?

Stuart Spigel
Arrowsic