Toomey must support an investigation of Trump

I ask Sen. Pat Toomey (R., Pa.) to evaluate President Trump's actions as if Trump were a Democrat ("Officials: President revealed U.S. intel," Tuesday). If President Barack Obama or a President Hillary Clinton had casually shared highly classified information obtained from an ally on condition that it not be shared, how would Toomey respond? Would he condemn such behavior?

The Washington Post's report indicates that the information was not shared as part of a strategic plan. Rather, the president was boasting about the United States' intelligence capabilities. It's hard to imagine any previous president or a President Hillary Clinton behaving in this way. Trump's inability to perform the basic tasks required of the leader of the free world is alarming.

It is time for Toomey to put country above party and support an independent investigation of the administration's connections with Russia and an examination of whether Trump is fit for office. Week after week, evidence of a cover-up and the president's unfitness for office grows, while the safety of Americans and our allies around the world declines.

Toomey took an oath to support and defend the Constitution. That oath demands that he speak out and support a true investigation.

|Tamar E. Granor, Elkins Park, tamar@thegranors.com

The enemies of America do not need to attack us to destroy us. Our leader, the silent majority who helped elect him, and the majority in the House and Senate are complicit with these enemies.

Daily revelations magnify the nature of our problem and the lack of guts to bridle the activities that occur. Are we immune or do not want to address what needs to be done? What will it take before the body public will realize that our potential downfall could be at hand?

Could a war be declared and our embroilment do the world great harm? If this be the case, will the generals, now in civilian clothes, have the guts to say no? Do we have the guts to do what is right?

|Arthur and Evelyn Levit, Cherry Hill

Edward G. Rendell was a great district attorney and mayor in Philadelphia and a governor of Pennsylvania, and even a sports commentator, but since then he's gone off the deep end, along with his Democratic National Convention associates, who determined that leftover money should be distributed as bonuses to volunteers and some already well-paid workers ("Wolf faults Rendell, host panel over DNC bonuses," Monday). That money was donated by and raised from organizations and individuals who wished to help the Democratic Party win elections - period.

|Edwin E. Scully, Philadelphia

I was very interested to read that the Philadelphia 2016 Host Committee paid nearly $1 million in bonuses ("DNC host group awards nearly $1M in bonuses," Friday), including $310,000 to Kevin Washo, the committee's executive director, who may also have double-dipped.

You also reported that $500 bonuses were distributed to "interns and volunteers." As a volunteer greeting out-of-town guests for two days during the week's festivities - taking time out of my business to do so - I have to assume my check was lost in the mail. But, hey, at least I got the shirt.

|Gary Frisch, Laurel Springs, g-frisch@comcast.net

I guess former Gov. Ed Rendell is so used to spreading around taxpayer dollars for partisan purposes that he is oblivious to the impropriety of dispensing public money to the chosen few. But what was especially egregious was that the committee's top three officers were still being paid in March, eight months after the Democrats packed their tent and left town.

And how many organizations dispensing this amount of public money have the same person functioning as both executive director and treasurer? That is a conflict of interest.

|Laurence Milkowski, Springfield

Gov. Wolf's request to review the $10 million that state taxpayers donated to the Philadelphia 2016 Host Committee because of a $4 million surplus is unfair. The state surely received economic benefit from the large amount of commerce that Philadelphia enjoyed that week.

I would like to have some of the money returned to Independence Blue Cross, whose subscribers unknowingly contributed $1.5 million to the event. That money could be used to slightly reduce their annual, double-digit percentage rate increase.

|Jonathan Yeagley, Berwyn, jyeag1185@aol.com

It has been a decade-plus since I was a Cheltenham High School teacher. Last week, I visited the campus and observed various learning going on in its classrooms. Besides talking with former colleagues who are dynamic and dedicated educators, I listened to a cappella choirs and a jazz band composed of Cheltenham's diverse population. Signs around the building announced the prom, club events, and several spring programs that also took place in my era.

Twenty-eight students in a world history class had just completed their Advanced Placement exam, and other Cheltenham departments were fielding the same numbers or more in pursuit of earning college credit.

Hallways were being more closely monitored, and school life continued. After the disruptions this month ("10 staffers hurt in school fights," May 5), Cheltenham High deserves positive recognition.

|Barry Sussmann, Maple Glen