Julia Baird’s analysis of the road Kamala Harris must endure resonates with the disgraceful treatment of Julia Gillard when in office (“So Kamala is the ‘childless cat lady’? White male power plays its hateful gender card”, July 27). One can only hope Harris has the strength to withstand the onslaught.
Vicky Marquis, Glebe
Baird’s excellent article shows the Trump camp that’s hijacked Republican politics is all about hate and unfair gender stereotypes. Compare that with Peter Hartcher’s examination of the excellent performance of the Biden government. Trump, strangely, is happy for the rich to get richer, the courts to look after him and the truth be whatever he says it is.
Geoff Nilon, Mascot
Baird rightly calls out the sexist and other unseemly remarks against Kamala Harris by right-wing Republican Party operatives and supporters. What about the personal attacks against Donald Trump by Democratic Party politicians? US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has publicly called Trump a “neo-Nazi”. It seems to me both sides of the US political fence are engaging in hateful and extremist rhetoric.
Riley Brown, Bondi Beach
Baird notes that J.D. Vance calls Kamala Harris a childless cat lady. J.D. is trying to be another Trump, only less subtle. I think I know what J.D. stands for: Just Dis.
Nevill Turbit, Russell Lea
Baird is wasting her time moralising about Kamala Harris being childless. An opinion shared in equal measure by both the right and the left in the US is that the political classes don’t represent the people any more. Whilst unfair that Harris is held to account where men are not, the fact remains that she does not relate well to the majority of Americans in the only six states that matter. The first rule of American politics is no gays, no blacks, no women and no Jews. The Democrats need to observe the rules of the game or else moralising will be all they can do.
Paul Davies, Crows Nest
Vice President Kamala Harris greets an attendee at a campaign event in Greensboro, North Carolina.Credit: Erin Schaff/The New York Times
Kamala Harris will win TIME magazine’s Person of the Year award.
Steven Baker, Engadine
As your correspondents attest, aspiring to be president of the US and having to overcome Donald Trump it is no easy task, particularly if you are female and black. Kamala Harris is apparently tough, and will need to withstand the abuse and vitriol which will come her way from Trump and his MAGA supporters. Thus far she has coped well, but will need to not only withstand Trump but call him to account over the chaos and division he creates with his lies and outrageous Project 2025 intentions. Her success or otherwise may well determine the future of US democracy.
Max Redmayne, Drummoyne
It’s remarkable that an Opinion piece can deal with the rising star of American politics, Kamala Harris, without mentioning any of the policy issues which so divide America (“TikTok … time’s up for Trump”, July 28). Not a word about the complete contrast between Kamala Harris’ position on abortion and J.D. Vance who completely opposes abortion, even in the case of rape or incest. This issue completely divides America. Policies to combat climate change are hardly mentioned, ditto Trump’s stagflationary tariff wars, nor his foreign policy isolationism. Fortunately, elections are decided by more than one’s social media image.
Bill Johnstone, Blackheath
Are Democrats looking for something to chant like the Trump supporters chant MAGA?
Make America Nice Again has a nice ring to it.
Margaret Broadbent, Dunbogan
What an interesting meeting it must have been; Trump entertaining Netanyahu at his Florida mansion. A President and a would-be president, both convicted of fraud, both convinced of their divine right to rule, both intolerant of opposition or any opinion apart from their own. What a meeting of minds it must have been; buddies from the start.
Nola Tucker, Kiama
Olympic cheers and jeers
All Australians can be justifiably proud of the wonderful performances of their medal-winning Olympic champions. But our attitude to our sportspeople who are less successful might need a bit of work. We could show considerably more grace in our acceptance of defeat. For instance, the Matildas’ loss to Germany was not a “nightmare”, but simply the case of a better team prevailing (“Nightmare start for tepid Matildas in searing French heat,” July 27).
Derrick Mason, Boorowa
After hesitantly suggesting to my husband that we have a quick look at the Olympics Opening Ceremony, we were mesmerised from start to finish. It was creative, imaginative, thoughtful, visually beautiful and fun, and a stunning tribute to French creativity and culture. Sitting on our sofa in suburban Sydney we were slightly taken aback, but isn’t it always the risk in creativity that you’ll step over a boundary or press someone’s button?
Prue Nelson, Cremorne Point
For the first time in decades I felt totally underwhelmed by an Olympic Games opening ceremony. Paris 2024 completely missed the boat by rapidly jumping from one scene of French culture to the next, without adequately explaining to its global audiences what they were supposed to represent.
Eric Palm, Gympie, QLD
A light show is projected from the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics,Credit: AP
As usual there are many nay-sayers and bah humbug observations made about the Olympics, but the spectacular, inclusive, joyous atmosphere of the Paris Opening Ceremony was hard to top for feel-good bonhomie. The world needs something to smile about and the French have delivered it in spades.
Robert Hickey, Green Point
I am profoundly disappointed that the Opening Ceremony did not give true pride of place to the guillotine. Little ones made of silver would make great souvenirs.
Ivan Head, Burradoo
Bolt’s words fall flat
Could we please have Andrew Bolt’s ultimatum in writing (“Bolt’s ultimatum over succession battle, July 27”).
Stephen McDonald, Goulburn
Somebody called Andrew Bolt has threatened to leave the employ of the Murdochs if the second son takes control of their media empire. Two questions. Who’s Andrew Bolt? And who cares?
Bill Young, Killcare Heights
That’s great news. Please take your colleagues with you, Mr Bolt.
Graham Lum, North Rocks
Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian outside her home in Sydney on Friday before the Court of Appeal judgment was handed down.Credit: Rhett Wyman
Berejiklian’s undoing her own
Gladys, you were an MP for 18 years, a minister for 10 years and premier for four. Surely you knew better ("Glady Berejiklian loses ICAC court challenge", July 26).
Peter Mahoney, Oatley
Berejiklian said, “I always worked my hardest to look after the welfare and interests of the people of NSW.” What she should have added was “and especially for the people in Daryl Maguire’s electorate”. That was what undid her, but she’s obviously not willing to accept that, despite her appeal being tossed out.
David Gordon, Cranebrook
Take the high road
It will take more than trees and a light rail to revive Parramatta Road. Travelling along it frequently, I despair at the state of the facades of every building. Broken windows, not a lick of paint and at ground level filthy windows. There must be some incentive for landlords to maintain buildings but if they can be used as a tax write-off, nothing will be done until all councils agree to a vacant occupancy tax and a hefty one at that. Perhaps a choice of paying the tax or restoring the dwelling to a state fit for human habitation. It would go partway to helping solve the housing crisis. In other parts of the world such a unique road would be a tourist attraction.
Carole Hayes, Newtown
A popular road system in many countries is a fly-over or elevated road, which could be the answer to addressing the Parramatta Road improvement. Supporting stanchions would have a comparatively small footprint and construction would offer minimum traffic disruption and be faster than ground-level roadworks.
Victor Marshall, Meander Tas
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