Reader Comments

Editor: Kudos!  I just loved your editorial “Poor Personnel.” As a matter of fact, former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton, at the Bradley Foundation’s Awards in May, made similar remarks about the political appointees getting swallowed up by the bureaucrats.  Tish Leonard

Editor: Thank you in “Poor Personnel” for pointing out that the Emperor is not wearing any clothes. Whenever I am required to telephone or go to a Social Security office, a Veterans Hospital, etc., I must struggle to not lose my temper at the utter inept and lazy people that the law demands I support via my taxes. I have yet to encounter a public employee at any level of any government that is capable of even pretending to have respect for the taxpayer and especially the value of the taxpayer's time! Knowledge of just how much opportunity has been lost over the past six and a half years because no one in the Bush Administration felt it necessary to arm the Justice Department with unwavering ability, conviction, principle and dedication to the pursuit of all matters just or evil -- makes me weep.  Instead the Administration has muddled along with a Justice Department known more for its peaceful coexistence and under-the-radar pursuits. Thus when the Schumers and the Levins detect a moment of non-combative inclination, they pounce -- with their friends in the media in tow! As I said above: inept and lazy.  Those two descriptions are not permitted if one works at McDonald's or Target or WalMart or anywhere in private business that I know of; if you don't understand the meaning of the word "rush," you're gone.  And the fact that we not only pay salaries for no actual work, but their lifetime medical bills and Cadillac retirement!  IT IS JUST TOO DISGUSTING!!! Thanks for listening. Billie Dickey; Pearblossom, CA

Editor: Right on!  The article “Big Government Plan Fails” by Marc Rotterman says it all about what's wrong with the GOP.  I love Mr. Bush, but he has gone astray by miles and so has the GOP.  The RINO'S are destroying any chance the GOP would have to make progress and Bush's position on immigration isn't even close to where we should be headed. There was nothing right about the Senate immigration bill. It was a lie and BS from the get-go.  This is a major reason John McCain will soon drop out as he should.  Unfortunately we don't have a strong candidate to bring the party back into line. Tom Taylor

Editor: Marc Rotterman in “Big Government Plan Fails” is correct. This needs to be said more often. Bush's numbers are down, more so I believe because he has betrayed his base with ridiculously senseless spending based on a silly "new tone" policy which has garnered neither respect from Democrats, nor loyalty from Republicans. His narrow-mindedness has single-handedly ruined Republican's chances of being a majority party again, at least for awhile, just enough time to let the country go down the tubes with Democrats at the helm. We need another evolution, and fast! Linda Rapoza

Editor: I am in complete agreement with Alan Caruba’s sentiments in “Need To Lose.”  This last election, I voted Democrat (for the first time in my life) to punish the Republicans whom, I believe abandoned their core principles and the American people.  Thusly, I abandoned them.  We replaced one devil with another.  What choice did we voters have?  Endorsing a corrupt Congress only gives them permission to become even more corrupt in the future.("Corrupt Congress" is sort of redundant, isn't it?)  We should change the song "God bless America" to "God help America" Pat De Esposito

Editor: Alan Caruba's statements in “Need To Lose” are well thought out and show a sound grasp on the situation in the Republican party.  However, the conclusion in the last paragraph of his piece is completely unacceptable.  For Republicans to sit back and wait for the party to wake up by refusing to vote will leave the country to the Democrats, who with each new success will engineer a complete, total and permanent takeover of the management of our country. Robert F Hamilton, Pembroke Pines, FL

Editor: In regard to Alan Caruba’s “Need To Lose,” the real root of the problem is that the average U.S. citizen no longer trusts any of their elected representative to actually do what's best for our country. We can't believe them any more to do what they say and say what they do. They look to only be following the money (read campaign funding & kickback). And that is truly sad and unsettling. Gray Sands, Franlkin TN

Editor: The articles by Rotterman and Caruba are right ON!  This Republican will not support the party until some sanity and uncommon sense is once again displayed.  George S. Morris

Editor: Rotterman and Caruba prove that our system is broken.  We need a viable third party that represents the People and that isn't beholden to special interests.  Unity08 has money behind them...and the time is finally right. Check out _Unity08.com_ (http://unity08.com/)Joyce Romano, Redondo Beach, CA

Editor: I just finished reading (and re-reading) Spencer Warren's moving tribute to John Wayne upon the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his birth.  This is truly a great article about a genuinely great American. I grew up in the 1950's and 1960's watching Wayne win the west.  But I didn't truly appreciate him until I was able to watch some of his earlier movies, such as The Quiet Man (my personal favorite, but then again like Ford, I am of Irish extraction and somewhat biased), The Searchers and Stagecoach. I do not like the fact that Wayne sat out WWII in Hollywood, especially when others actors (James Stewart leaps to mind) were being true heroes, but I can understand his decision in hindsight, even if I do not agree with it. Too bad that we don't have a movie hero of John Wayne's stature now, we could certainly use one. Thanks for the opportunity to walk down memory lane with the Duke once more. Steve Maguigan

Editor: I agree with George Liebmann’s article “Nationalizing Crime.” I have long thought that naming say, a murder (for instance), a "Hate Crime", is ridiculous in, and of, itself.   Duh, does it matter to the deceased that they were "hated"?  They were murdered, after all, how can that be made worse?  It seems to be saying in some way that the life of one person is more valuable than that of another and  that perhaps one crime of murder will be prosecuted harder than another?  I do not like the idea of having categories or sectors of persons who may be  protected more than others.  And when the crime is of another nature, perhaps non-violent, does being in one of the chosen categories of protected  people become a political maneuver to dole out harsher punishment to the  perpetrator than another person committing a crime against a  "non-protected" individual--that because it was not a "hate crime", it  bears lesser punishment?  The whole thing fails to make sense.  In theory, at least, all citizens are entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of  happiness.  In fact, though?  I think there is inherent danger of  abuse of power and justice by "hate crime" bills. Carol

Editor: Regarding Dan Calabria’s “Anti-Immigration” I have never sent comments in the past but I feel obligated to do so now. He hit the nail on the head. My wish is that more people read such articles. Maybe that will wake them up. I hope Mr. Calabria keeps writing. He has my support. Nick Giuliano

Editor: I’m not with Carey Roberts on “Wimbledon Equal Pay.” Showing past problems does not change the problem of pay inequality. Women deserve equal pay. If they had been since the beginning they would have as many big names today. How about the temper tantrums and the rest among the men? No, you picked on the women. Geraldine Nelson

Editor: Hear! Hear for Carey Roberts on “Wimbledon Equal Pay.” I am a female and a major fan of tennis. I adore watching Wimbledon. But, as far as men vs women in appeal.....men win hands down.  I have been sick of the women whining. Whatever happened to equal pay for equal work?  Unfortunately, it will never be equal entertainment. Thank you, Maureen Coffey