It's not America's job to lead crusades (letter in a Missouri paper)

[lebkuchen]

Charles Wilson

Lee's Summit

To the editor:

After listening to former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani at the Republican convention talk about Iraq, I was struck by what a huge flip-flop the Republicans have done on Iraq and how confused they have become about what the president is really doing.

Initially, President Bush tried to convince us that we needed to invade Iraq because it was an "imminent threat" and had stockpiles of "weapons of mass destruction." After that was proven totally false, it was because they had "WMD program related activities." After that was proven totally false, they could "possibly have acquired such weapons and might give them to terrorists."

Now comes Giuliani, and we learn that our real reason for invading Iraq was to extend "freedom." This arrogant and dangerous view of America's "mission" is pure right-wing ideology that doesn't square with any of the public reasons given for getting the nation into the Iraq war. With such a confusing mission, is it any wonder Iraq is a mess, and we presently see no way out?

Aside from the confusion, one has to wonder what crusade the president and his right wingers will send American troops on next and how many more may have to die to extend "freedom" to some other unwilling country? Do Americans really want crusades from our government? Personally, I don't and it is kind of scary that we have such people in power.


http://www.examiner.net/stories/090404/ope_090404037.shtml

[lebkuchen]

1. and in a Colorado paper....

979 reasons to vote against Bush

Dear Editor:

To whomever vandalized my car by scratching the side with your keys and wrote, "you have no clue," at the Crystal Mill trailhead on August 7th:

I would have preferred you stuck around to enlighten me about my misinformed views instead of cowardly sneaking away. I am sorry you're offended by me keeping track of our soldier's deaths. I am deeply concerned about American and all loss of life in Iraq because of this pre-emptive war.

As of today, I have 979 reasons not to keep the current administration in office. I wonder who it is that "has no clue," especially since hindsight is 20/20.

Patti Holtz

Basalt

http://www.aspentimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040906/LETTER/109050003


Another CO paper:

Re: "Putting a moderate face on Bush, GOP," Aug. 30 editorial.

As The Post aptly noted, the Republican National Convention was designed to put a "moderate face" on President Bush and the Republican Party. Republicans are counting on the repackaging of the "compassionate conservative" myth, along with a portrayal of the incumbent as the only candidate who can keep America safe from global terror, to push undecided voters over to Bush.

The GOP is working hard to convey the idea that it is a "big tent" party that has room for everyone. It does. Unfortunately for those Republicans who were pushed into the limelight as token moderates, the tent has also been designed, shaped and heavily staked by the right wing of the party that has control of the platform committee. The message voters are getting is: The tent has room for everyone, but don't dare try to change its shape.
Daniel Morgan, Evergreen


Sen. Zell Miller asked at the Republican National Convention, "Where is the bipartisanship?" Bipartisanship has indeed been lost in Washington, but the blame lies with Republicans. Two years ago, John Kerry and John Edwards offered an olive branch to President Bush by voting in favor of force in Iraq. Now, Republicans have tragically labeled them as "flip-floppers."

No matter who wins in November, America will only move forward when politicians are willing to acquiesce. Unfortunately, this will never happen as long as those who take the first steps toward compromise are ridiculed.
Josh Friedman, Colorado Springs


In our largely two-party political system, we must all consider whether our chosen party continues to represent our views. I am not certain at what point an individual should choose to leave his party to join another that may be more reflective of his views. However, based on his speech, it is abundantly clear that Zell Miller has passed that threshold. Miller needs to quit masquerading as a Democrat and officially join the Republican Party.
Gerry Lacey, Denver


I believe that a great many people in our country truly care about the environment and the health of our planet. Yet not once in President Bush's speech at the Republican National Convention did he make any mention of these topics that should be high on any president's list of priorities. People are angry over his handling of environmental issues, as he has allowed special interests in the energy and natural resources industries to dictate policy and threaten the health of our forests, waters, air, land and citizens. With his snub of this important topic, and with his abysmal record, Bush has left his administration vulnerable to attack.

Kerry and Edwards need to jump on this opportunity. Enough people in this country truly care, and this could be an issue that tips the scales in their favor. They should not let up for a second, as Bush has absolutely no positive environmental record or vision to stand on. This is one issue that the Republicans have no counterargument for.
Richard Smith, Fort Collins

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E416%257E,00.html

[snippy]

2. This is a good letter on what should be the most important issue

in this election. Bush's Messianic obsession that it is the mission of the United States and the United States military to bring freedom to every single person on earth should dominate political discussion in this country. Bush talks about this all the time but I rarely hear anyone else either agreeing or disagreeing with him. It is a radical notion with tremendous consequences for the US military and the US taxpayer.

[democratreformed]

3. Great letters! All three of them in the above posts.

Thanks for sharing them.

[lebkuchen]

4. Letters in the Navajo-Hopi Observer (Arizona)

Questions conservative support of president

It is easy to understand why a conservative person would have voted for George W. Bush in 2000. It is also understandable and appropriate that we all rallied to the President in time of national crisis.

But has the existing atmosphere of permanent crisis forced conservatives to temper their convictions?

Do they really feel safer because we made getting Saddam more important than getting Osama?

Do they not question the wisdom of the war on Iraq, how it has been managed or what it is now costing us, economically, politically and spiritually?

Was there no conservative angst over the handcuffing and stonewalling of the 9/11 Commission, whose very existence George Bush tried to prevent?

Do any conservative voters share the distress of Republican governors over the effect an unfunded No Child Left Behind Act is having on our schools and our children?

Do conservative voters care who really wrote and are profiting from Mr. Chaney’s energy and environmental policies?

Do they realize who is and who is not benefiting from the Bush “tax relief,” and condone the debt we are leaving our children?

Are conservative voters truly satisfied with the direction of our country?

Do they honestly believe that the American Dream is available to all of our children, even if health care is not?

Being conservative means you believe in traditional values.

Do the answers to these questions reflect traditional values?



Mark McKinney

Prescott, Ariz.





Appalled at Bush campaign tactics




I have read and viewed the “slander” on television made by the Swift-boat people that dispute Senator Kerry’s war record. To say the least, it is very disturbing not only to me but to others that have served honorably.

These people state that he is unfit to serve as President, but I and other Native American veterans believe that he will make a very honorable President, when elected. Why? Because he has been tried and tested during the Vietnam War, unlike the other individual.

When Senator McCain ran as a possible candidate for President, the same tactics were used against him, why? Now, I find it odd that he now supports Mr. Bush. Tactics that the Bush campaign now uses are outrageous, distasteful and comes from a person who ran from a war, unlike Senator Kerry, who served and placed his life on the line for others.

Mr. Bush, in my opinion, will not condemn the ads but will maintain his ignorance, that he is not associated with the “boat people.”

Mr. Kerry has the strength and honor to be a man among men, unlike Mr. Bush.

George W. Robinson

Mesa, Ariz.



Warns of our country’s decline

The core values of the coming presidential election are obscured by layers diversions and smoke screens, by perverted logic and truth.

It is not about Democrats and Republicans. It is about the left brain/mind vs. the right brain/mind. It is about supremacy that results in contempt, vs. equality that produces love.

This is an election about whether there is going to be a future or not.

It is an emotional impossibility for man to continue on the present course.

The irrational drive for power and wealth and the accelerating domestic violence in America is obvious to the outside observer that America does not have its head screwed on correctly—that its brains are not in gear, that it is under mind-control.

If there is not some kind of intervention, then the decline of America will accelerate until one mind clamps down on the other and suppresses it or the other explodes in a fury and dominates the world.

Talk about terrorism…and its core values.

Tom Worbetz

Raton, N.M.



Ending pollution cost effective

Cleaning up the environment makes good economic sense. Studies by the US government show that every dollar spent reducing air and water pollution would save this country five to seven dollars in health care costs and lost wages due to sick time alone. Pollution also damages property, reduces farm crops, harms the fishing industry and hurts the tourism industry. Preventing pollution saves far more money than it costs.

Despite this, President Bush is actually working to reduce or block environmental regulation. He has revised laws to make them weaker, and even ordered the Environmental Protection Agency not to enforce existing laws.

Why? The answer is campaign dollars. The cost of cleaning up the environment would mostly be borne by big industries, which contribute heavily to the Bush campaign.

The expenses caused by pollution are paid by the general public, which does not contribute as heavily to politics. More importantly, industry sees the direct effect of environmental regulation on their wallets. Most people do not so clearly see their expenses as related to pollution, much less blame Bush for them. For Bush, saving big industry $1 makes more sense than saving the public $5.

Hailey Leithauser

Takoma Park, Md.



Puzzled by military comparisons

Bush and Cheney are puzzling, comparing military service with Kerry. Another example of government double-speak.

Kerry is a war hero, wounded in combat.

Cheney is a coward with five deferments.

Kerry is a combat veteran who returned and continued to serve his country.

Bush is a dandy, his father got him in the guard, he’s AWOL, he’s a failed businessman.

Yet Cheney and Bush claim patriotism. Government double-speak.

Dan Lavielle

Seattle, Wash.



Praises John McCain’s stance

I salute Arizona Senator John McCain for taking such a strong stand on what he called a “dishonest and dishonorable” attack ad on Sen. John Kerry’s Vietnam war record. Media reports reveal the television ad was funded in part by Texas Republicans. As a veteran, I find the ad to be repulsive and not representative of military leadership.

Sen. McCain has demonstrated moral courage by speaking out so strongly on this matter. In stark contrast, George W. Bush has remained silent on the issue—an act of moral cowardice. As Thomas Paine said, Mr. President, either “lead, follow, or get out of the way.”

Major Robert Tormey

USAF Retired

Escondido, Calif.

http://www.navajohopiobserver.com/NAVAJOHOPIOBSERVER/myarticles.asp?S=392&PubID=13011&P=1002815