From Martha F. Sterling-Golden:
Alexander Bolton’s Jan. 19 article, “Frist aims nuke at the Dems,” points out yet another disturbing step in the relentless march toward ideological domination by the fundamentalist right. This administration has the view that there must be no opposing voice in the media, on the streets, or in the well of the Senate. Half the voters who turned out in November are being shoved into a ditch by these bullies. Frist and the members of this administration ought to be careful how far they go.
We may be in the ditch, but we won’t stay there. And we will remember.
Bath, Maine
North Carolina swings
From Charles P. Gilliam:
In a Jan. 19 letter to the editor, Robert Brantley of Alexandria, Va., writes about a recent Dick Morris column. Brantley wrote that “Morris refers to North Carolina and South Dakota as swing states. They are not. They are conservative, Republican states. In fact, North Carolina has not supported a Democrat for governor since 1976.”
In fact, North Carolina supported a Democrat for governor in 1976, 1980, 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004, and tends to vote Democrat in most state wide races.
Finally, a Republican who is not former Sen. Jesse Helms or not running for president should not count on having the advantage in a statewide race in North Carolina.
Darien, Conn. (formerly of Thomasville, N.C.)
Get Thucydides right
From George A Cohen:
Your Jan. 12 article (“
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”) indicates that Thucydides was a “journalist” during the Peloponnesian wars. Actually, if I remember my Naval War College days correctly, he was historian, usually considered the very first “modern” historian, who wrote his famous history well after the war was over.
Just trying to keep the facts straight.
Lexington Park, Md.
Kucinich’s away game
From Lawrence J. McDonald:
The Great Falls (Mont.) Tribune recently reported that Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) was the guest speaker at the Montana Human Rights Network’s Martin Luther King Day fundraiser.
Montana? On Martin Luther King Jr. day? Why? According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are only 2,752 African-Americans in the entire state of Montana (0.3 percent of a total population of 917,621), while Kucinich’s hometown, Cleveland, is home to 243,986 African-Americans (51 percent of a total population of 478,403).
Why would he choose to speak in Montana? Especially since the failed presidential candidate has all but disappeared from his own congressional district. And this is acceptable? Apparently, it is. At least it is with the Cleveland Plain Dealer, who inexplicably endorsed Kucinich for a fifth term.
You’ve got to give the vagabond politician credit, though. He’ll go just about anywhere to speak, as long as he’s assured of a rapt audience. Maybe that’s why he hasn’t appeared in Cleveland in more than three years.
Fairview Park, Ohio
Charity starts at home
From Michael Urbanski:
Recently, I’ve heard a lot about how generous Americans are. This country does give millions of dollars in food and money to other countries in need. I’m very much in favor of that.
But as a single unemployed American male whose unemployment ran out in November and who has not had any luck getting hired at the worst of jobs, I wonder … I’ve applied for welfare and called every charity and church I could find, but no one will help a single male with no children. There are no vouchers or money for single males in need. Applying for food stamps is a nightmare. A person could starve to death waiting for them.
I’m getting evicted from my apartment this month. I will probably live in my car. I wonder, would I get the help I need if I weren’t an American? Who will help Americans if America doesn’t?
Toledo, Ohio |
