Super Tuesday boosts the two front-runners: #tellusatoday

Letters to the editor:

The GOP presidential candidates have degraded themselves and become nothing more than a three-ring circus with Donald Trump as the ill-mannered, flamboyant clown. We remember President Reagan’s 11th Commandment: Thou shall not speak ill of fellow Republicans (“Super Tuesday frames the race: Our view”).

Make no mistake, Trump is no Ronald Reagan! Whatever happened to the Republican Party’s principles of all-inclusive and compassionate conservatism? Has the Republican Party no shame? “Go out there ... and win just one for the Gipper!” Bench Trump!

Rick Schreiner; Norwalk, Calif.

I have listened to Republican elected officials say they will not support Trump if he gets the nomination. My response is they better listen to the voters who put them in office and can vote them out.

Trying to sabotage Trump would put a Democrat in office in November, and I don’t want another four years like the past eight. Liking Trump or not is not the issue. It should be what the voters want. Candidates need to get back to the issues and stop the mudslinging.

If the Republican Party is not careful, it will suffer, and it will not be Trump’s fault but the ones in office now.

Diana Stafford; Gallatin, Tenn.

POLICING THE USA: A look at race, justice, media

We asked what followers thought about Hillary Clinton’s and Donald Trump’s key wins on Super Tuesday. Comments from Twitter are edited for clarity and grammar:

Where is this country going if these are the only choices we have? The two-party system is not working.

— @JeffOstach

I can’t believe the level of support for Donald Trump.

— @QueenbeeAxs

It’s because he speaks to many things people are upset about, right or wrong.

— @david_furnish

I believe @HillaryClinton has worked so hard her entire life and will be the perfect Democrat for the job. So happy!

— @jrussellnoll

The huge support for Trump on #SuperTuesday has convinced me that the trending hashtag should be #SuperScaryTuesday.

— @Andrea_Krok

Guess it’s going to be a woman with more than three decades worth of governing experience vs. The Thing.

— @kashmere2u

I am losing my freaking mind over here! I cannot believe these two are the best we have!

— @wilkibairn

The GOP is a shambles, and in a year when they should run the table, all they’re doing is running their mouths.

— @twintersr

Comments from Facebook are edited for clarity and grammar:

Clinton has ideas, ability to make them work

We don’t have to like Hillary Clinton. Just know she will work hard and protect us. Hillary has a lot riding on this for her not to do a good job! Hillary will pressure herself to do a great job because: She will be the first woman president; she will aim to equal or be better than her husband’s administration; she wants the Democrats to continue leading.

— Tony Tone

Say what you will about Bernie Sanders. He is running an honest campaign (save for some exaggerated stats) and recognizes the issues of politicians being bought.

Not only that, but he realizes that we need to take care of our home country instead of focusing on overseas efforts.

— Timothy Jones

Bernie has ideas. Hillary has the ability to make them work.

— Walter Lampton

Hillary is in the pocket of Wall Street and Washington elites. Bernie is the real reformer.

— Matthew Williams

Trump will do what’s right

This election is bigger than Republicans or Democrats. The economy is on life support. ... We need someone to correct the country’s problems and fast. No social issue is more important than jobs and national security. Trump will get the job done and do what’s right without any lobbyist interference.

— Mitch Cumstein

A Trump presidency scares me. Even if you somehow agree with his views, I wonder what motivates a billionaire like him to want this job? What’s in it for him? If you really think he’s doing this out of the kindness of his heart to “make America great again,” you are insane.

— Rosey Denise

Folks, it’s not the end of the world if Trump wins. Lots of other countries have had bad leaders and have survived them. Trump will be a one-term president if all his claims turn out to be false. We will move on in four years. Remember President Carter?

— Ernie Helton

For more discussions, follow @USATOpinion or #tellusatoday.