The first letter writer here asks a question I see a lot- `can you imagine people win World War II complaining the way liberals complain about Bush and Iraq today?' The answer, quite honestly, is no, I cannot.
I can't imagine Harry Hopkins revealing the name of a spy in petty revenge for disagreeing with Roosevelt.
I can't imagine a WWII where Joe Kennedy never got shot down because he was teaching at a community college.
I can't imagine a WWII where John Kennedy was never in PT109, arguing the position he coveted 'was taken by blacks and hispanics.'
I can't imagine WWII where there was no Rosie the Riveter, because it was cheaper to outsource her job to India.
I can't imagine America hiding the bodies of its sons as they come home hidden in the dead of night.
And I can't imagine Americans in WWII torturing, murdering, and raping, and the government covering it up.
The Daily Pulse is posted every day at My Left Wing.
More "I can't imagine" about World War II:
I can't imagine WWII without a draft.
I cannot imagine Harry Truman skipping WWI because he had "other priorities."
I can't imagine fighting WWII without gas rationing, even if the profits go to the enemy.
I can't imagine fighting WWII against Spain because they were fascist and easy to beat, while ignoring Germany and Japan.
I can't imagine starting a war against Japan after Pearl Harbor, but then pulling all the aircraft carriers and submarines out of that war to attack Sri Lanka.
I can't imagine WWII in which we tell the Russians and the British they were "old Europe" because they wanted to fight the Germans first instead of agreeing with us that Japan should be the priority, and cutting our alliances as a result.
So the answer is no, I can't imagine having the same criticism of Roosevelt that I have of Bush. But not because I am worse. Because WWII was better.
Hernando Today (Sarasota, Florida)
Terrorists are laughing at us
It's amazing to me how people for various reasons want to see the President fail in the war on terrorism. It all stems from the belief that somehow the 2000 election was stolen. ...
Can anyone imagine this sort of rhetoric during World War II? Back then, the people rallied behind the president to defeat our enemies, even the opposition party toned down their remarks for the sake of nation.
Sadly,we have become a nation of self-serving intellectuals, narrow-minded politicians, PACS, and fringe groups. ...
The terrorists are laughing us, for they see us for not having the stomach to fight. They see us as a bunch of whining crybabies and, on that part, I am afraid they are right.
Peter Stathis
Spring Hill
Letters to the Editor
Hernando Today (Sarasota, Florida)
This is a pleasant tirade. Just sit back and watch it. Can anybody account for Armando's whereabouts recently? Has he been on the west coast of Florida in the last week or two?
Is he simply a Bush basher?
A recent letter from a "regressive" Republican attempts to rationalize the actions of our president and our elected officials. He claims that Bush was not grandstanding.
That's right; we fabricated his flight back to Washington to sign a bill he could have signed in Crawford. And we made him quiet down after his approval rating on the Schiavo issue plummeted.
Gosh, we're powerful and creative. ...
What is laughable is that our president and these extremist fundamentalists, who demonstrate their monopoly of our elected government, want us to believe they "err on the side of life".
When did this begin and where is their evidence?
G.W. Bush never erred on life's side as Governor of Texas when he refused to grant clemency for a single death row inmate, even when the cases were dubious. ...
Abortion?
You're kidding? This is the Right's height of hypocrisy. Give more economic and social hope to women and our youth? They don't. Give women and children food, shelter and clothes -- they're against it. Whether it's from the government or businesses, they want you to believe abortions will end if they are illegal. They want women to have kids, but don't care about them living in squalor. Their spin? Some women just love killing kids -- it's fun for them. And while some churches try to help these people, they just don't have the financial ability to counteract the tide against them. ...
Why can't otherwise intelligent people realize that the policies of the right wing always support the super rich at the expense of the people?
Why do we allow ourselves to be fooled by these power-hungry people of greed at such great cost to the future of our country?
Wake up, turn off Faux News and give the Right an honest look. If you do, you may not turn liberal, but the extreme right wing will lose all its power.
Jim Striegel
Spring Hill
Letters to the Editor
The Daily Star (Oneonta, New York)
Oh my. More Christian vs. "Christian." The second sentence really says it all.
opinion not shared my most
This concerns the recent letter to the editor by Rev. Wright in which he stated that "God forgives even gays." I wonder if God also forgives self-righteous people who use the language of faith and religion to further increase fear, hatred and divisiveness?
Rev. Wright should remember that his beliefs and opinions are just that -- his own beliefs and opinions and not others'. ...
Deborah Blue, Oneonta
Letters to the Editor
Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tennessee)
O'Connor was the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court. Sure, there is another one there now, but where is it written that half the country is adequately represented by a token? What does the appointment of a man to fill the first woman's seat say, if anything?
Court needs gender balance
I understand that Justice Sandra Day O'Connor is disappointed that President Bush did not nominate a woman to replace her on the Supreme Court, and that even first lady Laura Bush is disappointed. I share their disappointment. ...
To say that there isn't one woman jurist in the entire country who is more qualified than John Roberts is to once again belittle many fine women who should have been nominated to fill this vacancy, and at least the next two or three.
I look forward to the day when women will be fairly represented in our country and throughout the world.
Don Enss
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Letters to the Editor
Lansing (Michigan) State Journal
As bizarre as it seems, there are still a LOT of people in this country that think the worst thing that happened to prisoners under American care was a little fraternity mischief. We, in our little liberal cocoon, sometimes miss just how successful the propaganda has been. We must understand that to understand why the Defense Department was willing to so blithely ignore a federal court, and refuse to release the photographs.
Torture is reality
I was appalled by Carol Van Drie's July 14 Viewpoint, which mocked prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. She dismissed reports of widespread torture and abuse as fabrications of the Red Cross.
Is she unaware that these reports have been substantiated by authorities such as our own FBI?
She opines the worst thing the prisoners confront is being overfed. She must have missed the FBI reports citing physical abuse, sleep deprivation and sexual humiliation. The Los Angeles Times reported in 2004 that at least two detainees in Afghanistan and Iraq had been tortured to death by U.S. captors.
It is obvious that our military and civilian leaders have concluded that torture is an acceptable interrogation technique. If Van Drie believes that we should be torturing prisoners, she should say so.
But to merely close her eyes and pretend it is not happening is the worst sort of ignorance: willful.
Todd Tennis
Lansing
Letters to the Editor
Lansing (Michigan) State Journal
The amount of hatred the conservatives have for both liberal and Muslims, and their willingness to make gross and inaccurate generalities about both, are astounding. But after the Swift Liars debacle, nothing should surprise me. Just look at what is going on right now in Ohio, where Hackett, the Iraqi veteran, is getting Swift Boated all over again.
Column crosses line
Keith Kelly's July 12 Viewpoint is clearly an expression of his frustration at the ongoing "War on Terror." Nonetheless it disturbs me on two points:
- American liberals have condemned the recent terrorist bombings in London. Kelly is impugning the patriotism of Sen. John Kerry, et al, is an embarrassment to this writer, a long-time conservative.
- Kelly's demand that moderate Muslim leaders condemn every Islamic terror attack has been met. A perusal of papers shows Islamic religious figures here, in Europe, North Africa and across Asia have issued statements condemning the terrorists' murder of civilian non-combatants. Islam is a largely decentralized faith with no single spokesperson; individual religious leaders can only do so much, just as individual Christian leaders can.
Perhaps Kelly could spare us his assigning religious guilt to all Muslims for the acts of a few terrorists - and observe the line between righteous and self-righteous indignation.
Daniel Rathbun
Charlotte
Letters to the Editor
Lansing (Michigan) State Journal
The Republicans', including Bush's, refusal to take care of veterans should be a front page story every day a soldier comes home from Iraq with a wound. But it isn't. Why not? And, more important, how can we make it so?
Where's aid for vets?
With a more than $1.2 billion budget shortfall for veterans' health-care services, a predicted increase of 103,000 men and women will be returning wounded, injured or disabled from Iraq and Afghanistan needing these medical services.
Every Democrat in the U.S. Senate voted for an amendment to provide an increase in the needed veterans funding; all but one Republican senator (Arlen Specter) voted against it. This amendment failed to win approval in two procedural votes cast largely along party lines. ...
Some facilities are even unable to hire new health-care employees or purchase new medical equipment. This threatens the quality of care for our current veterans as well as those returning home from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.
President Bush, is this mission really accomplished?
Jim McGaugh
Lansing
Letters to the Editor
Battle Creek (Michigan) Enquirer
I think this one is astroturf. Google "Bush Roberts `home run'" and see what you get.
Court nomination is a home run
President Bush has hit a home run in nominating Judge John Roberts to replace Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court. The president has selected a qualified man of solid character to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. A keen mind, years of relevant experience and the near-universal respect of those in the legal community make him a highly qualified candidate for the highest court in the land.
By all accounts, this was a bold and uncompromising choice by our president, to select a nominee who will interpret the Constitution and not attempt to rewrite it. Once again we should be grateful George Bush is our president.
The liberals are irate, terrified and have already begun their war of inflammatory words, accusing Roberts of being too radical to serve. That's just code for their disappointment that his judicial philosophy leads him to interpret the Constitution, not use it as a springboard to create law. ...
Bruce Lenardson
Plainwell
Letters to the Editor
The Leaf Chronicle (Clarksville, Tennessee)
Hey guys, watch out. Effie is threatening us with her vote. We better not ask any questions of Roberts, after all, that is obstruction. Our job is to consent, and nothing more. It turns out the "advise" part was just a typo.
President's appointment should be honored
As a citizen and a voter who has never missed an election, even when working overseas, I trust the president's selection for the U.S. Supreme Court. I also believe that Judge John G. Roberts will fulfill his duties and obligations once approved for the position.
Obstructionists, asking questions on issues that could come before the Supreme Court, I suggest hands off.
I am sick and tired of all the games and political circuses they are playing. Keep in mind I will use my most precious weapon, my vote, appropriately.
EFFIE MARSHALL
Clarksville 37043
Letters to the Editor
The Leaf Chronicle (Clarksville, Tennessee)
This is just for balance. Sometimes, we all fall into the habit of looking where something is from, muttering "red state," and rolling our eyes. This letter, from the same paper as the Effie letter, on the same day, could have been written by any one of us.
How many more freedoms are we willing to let go?
Our legislators did the popular thing of the moment by voting to extend the Patriot Act. We are on a very slippery slide to losing more freedoms in this country.
How many civil liberties and freedoms are we going to lose in the coming months and years for the cause of feeling safer?
Everyone wants themselves and their families to feel as safe as possible, but not at the cost of their freedoms.
Have the terrorists succeeded in doing something that every conflict and war we have had since the revolution, has not been able to do? Have they made America start taking away the civil liberties of its citizens?
It is only a few of our liberties now, but they can only take away more in the future to make us feel safer. We can never guarantee our complete safety, but we must always guarantee our complete freedoms.
LEONARD BOGARD
Oak Grove, Ky 42262
Letters to the Editor
The Macomb (Mount Clemens, Michigan) Daily
One of the biggest stories at the demise of this Administration, whether by course of time or by scandal, will be the retrospective study of the treatment of the last two Presidents by the media. Once Bush is gone, and especially if we win, we will look back with amazement at just how free a ride he was given. We can only hope that the arrogance that goes with such treatment means the free ride goes through a grand jury and ends with impeachment or resignation.
Democracy gains in Iraq as it disappears in U.S.
According to Chad Selweski's column, "Bush presides over the misinformation administration," it would seem that our president and his administration have manipulated the news for the last four years.
We are just shocked (not really) that this was not your headline story on Page 1A.
It's amazing the Clinton administration was charged with everything from robbing a convenience store to the Chicago fire and the San Francisco earthquake. Now we have an administration that lied and cheated its way into the White House and has continued every day since, and it makes the back pages.
Why are we not shouting from the rooftops, "The president lied!"?
Our country is spending billions of dollars every day to establish a democracy in Iraq, and we don't even have one here in the United States.
TOM and CLARA LORIA, Clinton Township
Editorial Page Editor
The Macomb (Mount Clemens, Michigan) Daily
This will tell you the mindset we are going up against. Here is a horrific case the letter admits is "like a back alley abortion," on teenager uses a baseball bat to abort his girlfriend's 25 week pregnancy. And what is the writer's conclusion? That we need MORE laws to prohibit "the brutal and inhumane procedure of abortion." Wouldn't more laws create MORE stories like this, rather than fewer? Under what tortured logic can this terrible crime lead one to believe even more limitations on abortion are the way?
Case calls for tougher anti-abortion law
I am writing about Chad Halcom's article on the teen abortion case. I am a 20-year-old Eastpointe resident. I experienced a miscarriage in late October that gave me a new respect for life. The teen abortion with a baseball bat makes me cry every time I read about it. The court's logic is absolutely flabbergasting. ...
I am concerned about the lack of common sense in Michigan laws. How can there not be a law prohibiting the brutal and inhumane procedure of abortion?
What the teens did is the same as a back-alley abortion. The boyfriend and the girl should both be on trial.
If she was 25 weeks pregnant, the baby was more than viable. It has a heartbeat at about eight weeks, and at 20 weeks the mother can feel the baby. Not only can you feel the baby, but you cannot hide it by wearing baggy clothes. ...
I am disgusted with what has happened over the past five years. We really need to do some work.
JOLENE TENGLER, Eastpointe
Editorial Page Editor