It was with utter incredulity that I read about the insane rantings of the Grand Old Party candidates for the 9th District U.S. House post May 9 in The Times. Their insistence on eliminating or severely reducing funds for many essential departments of the federal government is asinine since the states would be forced to take over these necessary functions without a sufficient source of additional funding.

The GOP, upon initially accepting Donald Trump as its candidate for the presidency, set the stage for this coup de grace of the demise of the already severely divided Republican Party. Most of the leading members of which (excluding Speaker Paul Ryan so far) are now racing, as are the candidates for representative, to pile on Trump’s bandwagon since he is almost assured of clinching the GOP nomination.

No thought has been given by the party to the selection of a president who is most qualified to pursue the best course for the country and retain our status as a top world leader. Also ignored is the havoc which could result from selection of a candidate totally incapable of and undesirable to serve as president of the United States.

Jim Scharnagel
Gainesville

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