Reader Comments

Editor: Your "How Deep Throat Changes Government?" validates a long standing suspicion that elected officials are largely irrelevant; the real power rests in completely corrupt bureaucracies, funded by a largely worthless Congress, approved by a feckless and corrupt Senate, and administered by a incompetent Executive. Nixon should have fired Felt. It also lends credence to the theory that no one lost their job after 9/11/2001 because too many CIA, FBI, and other government agencies have damning information that could implicate high public officials. Brian Lynch

Editor: While Watergate's Deep Throat, Mr. W. Mark Felt, did release critical information concerning the corrupt and unlawful practices of the Nixon administration, ultimately resulting in President Nixon's resignation, he is neither a whistleblower nor a "hero." I have represented many of both and I know. Mr. Felt was a sworn federal law enforcement officer, a Special Agent of the FBI, and an Assistant Director (the #2 official) of that agency. He was also an attorney -- an officer of the Court with all the legal obligations and responsibilities inherent to that position. When Mr. Felt became aware of illegal conduct, his sworn duty and legal obligation was to follow the law - not to make selective leaks of politically damaging information over a long period exclusively to a favorite news reporter. If he believed then-FBI Director Gray would thwart his attempt to follow the law and seek an indictment of the persons engaged in criminal conduct, he very well could have exercised his 1st Amendment rights and "gone public" -- holding his own press conference. Most, but not all, whistleblowers are mid-level professionals--certainly not someone with the "horsepower" of the #2 official in an agency. They have guts and are committed to pursuing truth and justice in a lawful manner. Judicial Watch has represented several whistleblowers and, while the press has often given their important stories good coverage, they are often quickly forgotten. Chris Farrell, Director of Investigations for Judicial Watch

Editor: "Deep Throat"(Mr.Felt) is the "Corey Clark" of the FBI.  It is sad that his family would put him through this at his advanced age for profit. He was wrong to do what he did in the manner that he did it, but to open this Pandora's box at the twilight of his life was cruel, even to me. Vickie Rennie, Hendersonville , TN

Editor: I agree totally with " GOP Revolution Dead?" by Alan Caruba. We need a new conservative party with common sense on all issues... or at least a threat of one to wake these guys up.  It scares me to think maybe there truly is a natural progression towards socialism that will eventually turn us into a France. That's a frightening thought. Greig McDonald

Editor: In regard to JB Williams' article critical of Sen. John McCain, we will NEVER vote for McCain. We'll do a write in if necessary and no contributions, no working at the local Republican headquarters for him. Bill Allen

Editor: Conservatives had better get ready to defeat John McCain in the Republican primary. Is there a good conservative candidate on the way? John McCain is a disgrace to Republicans and to all conservatives. He should be easy to defeat with early organizing. Why not file a lawsuit seeking to overturn this filibuster deal anyway. It is unconstitutional. The Senate cannot set up rules that violate the constitution. Any court speaking the English language would have to rule against these dumb rules. sonnyd@beecreek.net

Editor: Based on my own experience as a person with many failures and sins, in regard to Mr. Friend's piece on Jane Fonda apologizing, a real apology after committing a grave act like Ms. Fonda did is, yes, first an apology but then  just fade away, fade away and disappear. It should be purged in solitude, out of the public spotlight forever for the stupidity of having offended the memory those who died in duty for their country. Apology is not writing a book to cash in on the experience. And do not give me that first amendment routine to justify the lack of common sense. She is pitifully a pathetic case of pride, and may I say of human farce? It is almost more immoral than the picture she took of herself with the enemy. She may as well donate the full amount of that book to all the families of the Vietnam Veterans that she freely insulted, siding with the enemy that were killing our own. Mrs. Fonda, please, just please disappear, or join any good cause in Africa to help those in need. Who knows how many lives were lost with her aid and comfort to the enemy. Manny Lawrence, San Antonio Texas

Editor” I was in college during the Vietnam War.  I sat by and watched the "protesters" just like millions of other Americans and I am darned ashamed that I did that.  I should have done what was in my heart and stood alone if necessary carrying my sign proclaiming support for our government and our soldiers. I was part of the reason the communists (called liberals today) got away with what they did.  I can guarantee that Jane and her associates, including John Kerry and Bill Clinton, will NEVER be forgiven or forgotten.  Our government, both then and since, have been wrong to not prosecute all of them for being traitors to our country, for aiding our enemies, for dealing with our enemies and for killing our soldiers.  Unforgivable. Betty Matteson

 Editor: In response to the article about Jane Fonda and the Viet Nam vets by Sharon Hughes.  She never mentioned, and I hope she knows, that these vets were, and still are, discriminated against by employers.  My husband soon learned not to mention his service to prospective employers.  The last time he mentioned the subject in my hearing was just 2 years ago.  The epithet "baby killer" is still in used in the middle of America . Diana Goodger

Editor: What is going on? The answer is that Bush has become obsessed with his Democracy crusade. Bush is also a lame duck president and the whole Republican machinery in the Senate and to a degree in the House is suffering from battle fatigue. Republicans generally do not have the same fighting spirit as the Democrats. Tim Sullivan

Editor: I am an ex union worker, under then UFCW & Teamsters Local 63, replying to your labor comments. I recall paying dues only to support luxury living by union bosses in Florida and electing more tax-raising candidates like Bill Clinton. I won't work in a union job since dues support the bosses & their political machine while the dues members have no healthcare and no vocational training. Everyone suffers -- this applies to all AFL CIO unions, no exceptions. I don't know why unions can't band together to form a vocational education Co/Op for members? Everyone wins then. Steve Russell

Editor: I loved your column on John Bolton. T Leonard

Dear Editor: Thanks to Roe vs Wade, things may be going bad in America, but not nearly as bad as they will be in Communist China. Thanks to its anti-human one child per family policy, by 2030 China will have a historically unprecedented demographic profile: 8-4-2-1. Eight retired grandparents, four retired parents, two working age adults, and one grandchild. The only way China will possibly be able to avoid instituting involuntary mass euthanasia of the elderly and to produce enough goods and services for its retirees is for its national productivity to be several multiples higher than they are presently even in its most advanced regions. That will require massive importation of advanced industrial plant, technology, and know-how from America. Starting a trade war now with America's future and greatest customer-to-be is more short-sighted than can be expressed in words. The Smoot-Hawley re-incarnates in Congress need to be tranquilized and placed in a cool, quiet, side room and let nature take its course. Pray for Peace. Daryl Suzukawa, Danville, California  

Editor: One of your letter writers suggested that the only honorable position on Social Security at this point is for the government to pay participants their equity and ‘cash out’ the system. This attitude is not a solution; it is part of the problem. Nobody wants to face the fact that there is NO EQUITY! Social Security is a Ponzi scheme. It can pay out only as long as the current earners are willing and able to pay in. You have no account as everyone understands it. The only money the Social Security system has is in the form of IOUs backed by the promise of future taxes. As a member of the Social Security system you don’t OWN anything! You have given the government an interest-free loan from every paycheck you ever received which the government MAY eventually pay back with a tiny amount of interest (not even equal to the rate of inflation) if you live long enough to collect. Are personal accounts finally making sense to you yet? Stan Lange

Editor: Good try by David Keene in his article but Republicans cutting funding of PBS isn't going to happen anymore than the eunuchs in the Republican caucus in the Senate and the White House are going to grow some stones. Todd A. Dierdorff, Placerville, CA