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The Issue: Various controversies surrounding Defense Secretary-designate Pete Hegseth.
Pete Hegseth’s “controversy” is the same witch hunt that Justice Brett Kavanaugh was subjected to: unsubstantiated allegations from unnamed persons (“In Pete’s corner,” Dec. 5).
Hegseth should keep fighting for his confirmation, just like he fought for our country.
Paul Sedacca
Cherry Hill, NJ
Is Pete Hegseth really President-elect Donald Trump’s best choice for Defense secretary?
Hegseth host lied to Megyn Kelly that he “never” had a problem with alcohol, apparently forgetting a 2021 podcast where he all but admitted to being an alcoholic.
Then there was the email from his mother, of all people, who excoriated him for his treatment, nay “abuse,” of women.
At least Hegseth is making promises not to drink anymore if he’s approved.
Lou Maione
Manhattan
Hegseth is twice a Bronze Star recipient, Princeton- and Harvard-educated and ready for duty once again.
Opposition figures will try to cancel him, but this cultural warrior will defeat their falsehoods.
Peter Cooper
Bronxville
Hegseth embodies a profound shift from early condemnation of war crimes to staunch defense of soldiers accused of them.
As a young officer in Iraq in 2006, Hegseth labeled atrocities such as the execution of prisoners and civilian shootings as indefensible.
Yet, in later years, he portrayed convicted service members as heroes and decried the military’s prosecution of war crimes as a betrayal of its troops.
Whether his nomination proceeds or falters, Hegseth’s trajectory underscores the enduring consequences of America’s post-9/11 wars on those tasked with waging them.
Jagjit Singh
Los Altos, Calif.
Pete Hegseth is nominated to become secretary of Defense.
He’s a veteran with the knowledge needed to make the military great again and because he is a Fox News personality, “we the people” know and trust him.
Trump should go with his gut.
Michael A. Pacer
Kingman, Ariz.
My sincere hope is that Pete Hegseth is confirmed as defense secretary (“DeS now in line for Pentagon,” Dec. 4).
I don’t want Gov. Ron DeSantis to step aside.
He’s a wonderful governor.
Joanne Lee Frank
Clearwater, Fla.
The Issue: MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred weighs a drastic change to the rules of baseball.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is so focused on revolutionizing baseball with radical change, he’s blind to baseball’s biggest problem (“The Golden fool,” Dec. 5)
Rules like declaring intentional walks, having “ghost runners” to decide extra-inning games, and now proposing the “Golden At-Bat” are not helpful.
It is the strike zone, specifically the calling of balls and strikes.
It is impossible for an umpire’s human eyes to discern whether a pitch nicks the strike zone or just misses but at-bats and games turn on missed calls.
And many of the missed calls are blatant.
Time for MLB to use laser technology to improve the strike zone.
Fred Levine
Queens
Since we keeping changing the rules to baseball, I’d like to suggest a few tweaks to the MLB.
There only needs to be five hitters in the lineup, ensuring only the best hitters hit.
No need to sit through an automatic out with so many players hitting near .200.
Get the out of the offense, no one likes to watch that.
Rallies would be longer and scores higher, that’s what we want to see.
Mitchell Ratner
Desert Hot Springs, Calif.
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