Letters to the Editor for Wednesday, September 3, 2008
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Published: September 2, 2008
For inspired leadership, vote Obama
In a recent letter to the editor, a writer asks about Barack Obama, “He can inspire, but can he lead?” I think the author has it backwards. The better question is, “can the candidate for office inspire?” Can the candidate inspire us to act to our better natures instead of playing to our fears? Can the candidate inspire us to do the hard things that will preserve the freedoms we cherish so greatly instead of allowing the winds of opinion to sway the agenda?
Click to sendThe News & Advance gave the conservative Christian views of John McCain’s vice-presidential pick headlines. Yet, the only qualifications stated for Sarah Palin were her opposition to abortion and her support for the traditional family. It is a sad day in America when the only qualification for the second highest office in the land is to make public statements opposing abortion as a legal option and opposing recognition of homosexual unions.
The right-wing radicals will question the leadership of a man who is inspiring many to go beyond disagreements and find room where we can work together. After all, in a politics as usual, controversy is used to create fear, radical organizations can then ask for money, and lobbyists can keep their cushy jobs. We need inspiration. We need inspired leadership. America needs Obama.
BRIAN JABLONSKI
Lynchburg
Don’t forget Barr
I’m fed up with the onslaught of negative television ads that have been polluting the airways of the past few days. I expect we will see even more between now and Nov. 4. Why can’t the politicians just tell us what they are going to do for us, and more importantly, how?
Both John McCain and Barack Obama are slinging mud like there is no tomorrow. Neither is focusing on solutions to the problems we face. Thankfully, there is a choice. Former Georgia Rep. Bob Barr, Libertarian party candidate, is also on the ballot in Virginia and he’s won my support. Barr has a record of integrity and accomplishment and his campaign is running on the issues. Bob tells us in great detail of his plans for dealing with our nation’s energy needs, the war in Iraq, our economy and so many, many more.
A few examples. Barr has a plan to increase domestic energy production. He supports the building of new refineries and expansion of the use of clean coal and nuclear resources, both of which would be a source of jobs and income to Virginians, and a boost to local economies. Barr is 100 percent pro-gun and he deserves 100 percent of the votes of gun owners and hunters everywhere. He has been a champion of gun ownership rights and was elected to the board of directors of the National Rifle Association. And lastly, he is a bright man who has the courage to stand up against the powerful special interests in Washington, with the experience of being a former congressman. He will fight to shrink government spending and lower our taxes. And these are only a few of the examples of his plans for a Barr presidency.
I just can’t bring myself to vote, with integrity, for the lesser of two evils. The lesser of two evils is still evil.
DANA HALE
Appomattox
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Reader Reactions
Posted by ( Individualist ) on September 03, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Fred, on 8/31 you wrote:
“Katrina-Decider-in-Chief declared today that people “can pray for those who might be suffering” from hurricane Gustav. No doubt, this would be of great help!“
“No political leader in Old Europe who(I think you meant would) ever dream of making such an idiotic statement for fear of being locked up!“
Were you averring that there is no freedom of religion, or no freedom of speech, in Old Europe?
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Posted by ( Randolph Knipp ) on September 03, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Fred, my feeling is that Luv (as a black supporting McCain) has justification I can readily understand for maintaining his anonymity. I honestly don’t feel the same compassion for many others whom I feel would not be in real danger. I trust that you will note that I have treated your request with some respect.
I do agree that there is racial prejudice in America, and probably in Europe, and Asia, ... I don’t condone it, but I recognize it and hope that by continued efforts we can minimize its impact on our relationships. With a son called “Shirley Q. Liquor”, that sometimes seems impossible. Like Palin, I have found that children often go their own ways in spite of the parents’ preferences! Some find that hard to understand.
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Posted by ( Fred ) on September 03, 2008 at 12:58 pm
commonsenseplz does not take the Huffington Post seriously. I wonder if he equally dismisses the frightening nonsense of Palin’s speech in the included video. Her time would have been better spent buying condoms for Bristol and/or keeping “sex on skates” (her future son-in-law) away.
To think that she could become the next VP is for me a deadly serious concern. Only Limbaugh running for president would scare more! With so many nuts in this country he could be elected!
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Posted by ( Bolt ) on September 03, 2008 at 12:56 pm
commonsenseplz , if you consider an uncensored and unaltered video of Sarah Palin in her own words as biased then where would you find better information on this woman’s real character ?
Senator Ted Stevens , maybe ? Recall she supported his bridge to nowhere when she seeked his political help and once in office she became against the bridge.
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Posted by ( luv2bliberal ) on September 03, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Fred,
Do you really have an SUV!!!!! BBBBBBWWWWWWWWHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I asked you a month ago if you had one and you said that you did, but I never dreamed you were simple-minded enough to tell us about plastic bags, public transportation, etc, etc, and ACTUALLY HAVE ONE!!!!!!!!!!!
lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By the way, This is an anonymous board. If you choose to become public, good for you. I, as bigjimm and Cosmo choose not to. I’m sure the two of them would prefer that you not call them cowards.
YOU GOT AN SUV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BBBWWWWWWHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!
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Posted by ( Fred ) on September 03, 2008 at 12:33 pm
For those of you who do not know what a typical Republican voter looks like, there is a beautiful picture of one on page A4 of today’s paper.
And to think that he is probably also a born-again Christian is so exciting!
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Posted by ( commonsenseplz ) on September 03, 2008 at 11:24 am
Bolt, I wouldn’t take Huffington Post anymore seriously than I do Limbaugh or Olbermann. Nice try though
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Posted by ( Fred ) on September 03, 2008 at 11:07 am
Randolph,
Why do you encourage luv’s cowardice? If I remember correctly, you were, in the past, bemoaning anonymity in this forum. You use your real name, mine is widely known. So well know in fact, that luv could snoop into my private life and claim that “Everything I [luv] found is easily accessible and public knowledge”. So do explain to me why you condone luv’s hiding under his rock and at the same time snooping on people whose name he knows?
To ascertain what is in my driveway he would have needed access to DMV records (illegal?) or drive by my house (reprehensible but maybe not surprising). Is he the kind of guy you support? If you do, you just confirm what I have always said about the latent undercurrent of fascism in America.
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Posted by ( Randolph Knipp ) on September 03, 2008 at 9:53 am
Luv, your post floored me! You realize, probably more than most, that racial preferences are in play in the voting booth. My belief is that probably 90% of blacks will vote for Obama, and probably 15% of whites would never vote for a black. It might be that these numbers will balance out and the vote carried by more rational choices, such as those you stated. But you know, I think that the racial preference is a legally valid reason for a vote, but a flawed reason in fact. I like your reasoning, but of all who post here, I would say it makes most sense that you not use your real name!
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Posted by ( Fred ) on September 03, 2008 at 9:18 am
Thanks Bolt for the link.
Just to remind myself why I should be scared of so many people in this country, let me quote a few passages from the referenced article and video [(FC) stands for Fred’s comment]:
“Speaking before the Pentecostal church [her one-time church (FC)], Palin [McCain’s sidekick (FC)] painted the war in Iraq as a messianic affair in which the United States could act out the will of God.
“Pray for our military men [some of whom routinely sexually assault their female comrades-in-arms (FC)] and women [see previous comment] who are striving to do what is right [like massacring an ungodly number of Iraqis and destroying their country (FC)]. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders are sending U.S. soldiers out on a task that is from God”, she exhorted the congregants. “That is what we have to make sure that we are praying for, that there is a plan and that plan is God’s plan”. [He vehemently denied it in our frequent conversations when I confronted Him with those assertions - those people are so stupid they make Me sick, He said disgustingly (FC)].
Religion, however, was not strictly a thread in Palin’s foreign policy. It was part of her energy proposals as well. Just prior to discussing Iraq, Alaska’s governor asked the audience to pray for another matter - a $30 billion national gas pipeline project that she wanted built in the state. “I think God’s will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that”, she said”.
What, me worried? No, just plain terrified!
Thank God, there was some good news. Bristol Palin, the pregnant seventeen year old daughter of the previously mentioned God’s spokeswoman, was unanimously nominated for “Abstinence Only” poster teen at the Republican convention. Modern-day Republicans are no longer as mean-spirited as Dan Quayle was when he castigated Murphy Brown for being pregnant out of wedlock! Republican family values “evolve”. “Life happens” said a Republican spokesman. I guessed he did not think Don Rumsfeld’s “Stuff happens” appropriate.
Bristol’s boyfriend, a hockey player, was branded “sex on skates”. I am so glad. Nothing like sport to fight the obesity so prevalent here.
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