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Pasco Letters to the Editor

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 18, 2008

Defining Moment?

Regarding "How Bunting Shaped GOP Nomination," Tom Jackson, Feb. 14:

If Bill Bunting, the self-anointed leader of guns for everyone, actually transformed the Florida Republican Party overnight into a single-issue party to secure John McCain's nomination, as Jackson claims, it must have put most Republicans on notice that their party has been taken over by the gun rights' absolutist!

One would wonder what Pasco Republicans must be thinking about this transformation of their party into a single-issue organization led by Bunting and his wife. I bet not a single Republican in Pasco would dare to say otherwise.

If Republicans think other issues are important, or even more important, it's time to speak up!

Remember, President Bush said he would sign a bill to extend the law that had banned 19 models of assault rifles if Congress ever sent him such a bill. That would have radically redefined his presidency away from the gun lobby.

The promise by McCain that he would, in a heartbeat, sign a national right to bear arms bill if he received it would also define his candidacy by anointing gun rights as the most important issue for his presidency.

Bunting had one wish and chose a national right to bear arms bill that would immediately destroy all existing gun control laws and make it illegal to pass any further controls on firearms.

McCain is a great American hero for his service in Vietnam, but for him to throw it all away for the support of gun rights radicals is disgusting. I just hope we find out that Jackson's comments can't be verified.

ART HAYHOE

Wesley Chapel

McCain's Assurances

When the words "Second Amendment" are mentioned, the name Bill Bunting usually follows, as well it should.

The gun owners of Florida, all 6 million of us, owe much to this man. He is in the vanguard of men and women fighting for the one right in our Constitution that is always under assault by anti-gun politicians.

Elected officials here in Pasco County, as well as the governor, owe much to this man. Gun owners are a very loyal and informed group of people. We know who our friends are, and we know who our enemies are. And we don't forget either.

We remember the people who all of a sudden support the Second Amendment after years of trying to destroy it, such as Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney, which is one reason why they are no longer in the presidential race.

Although many of us are not pleased with some of the things that John McCain has done, let's hope his promise to Bunting to support the Second Amendment is real.

We Republicans are tired of RINOs (Republicans in Name Only) in our party. If McCain is elected and turns on us, we will remember that also, which in my opinion will help destroy the Republican Party.

JOHN DIGAETANO

Wesley Chapel

Tainted Money

If the bill passes that would add a sales tax to adult entertainment so Granny can get a haircut, perhaps Bill Bunting will contribute a portion of National Rifle Association monies to day care for the working poor.

Our education system is depending on gamblers, Granny will depend on hookers and our babies could depend on gun owners. Unless, of course, it is a Mexican baby.

PENO HARDESTY

New Port Richey

A Good Combination

Letters recently featured in The Pasco Tribune from Fern Williams and Joseph Treshler raised important points which I would like to address ("David Versus Goliath" and "Good Public Policy," Feb. 13).

Williams' concerns about the environment are genuine and were addressed in a recent editorial that referred to our environmental safeguards as more than adequate. We vastly exceed the most stringent Florida Department of Environmental Protection standards.

And yes, we are a private company that does aim to make a profit on our business, but that is no different than the other companies now involved with disposal of the county's waste, whether at the incinerator or trucking it to landfills.

The fact is, in coming years our composting and recycling project would save taxpayers approximately $500 million, and some of that money could help fund curbside recycling. We have completed hundreds of projects in 18 states and have an excellent performance record.

In dozens of public presentations, we have consistently maintained that the incinerator is a vital part of any solution to the county's solid waste challenges. We have also maintained that our proposal is financially, and environmentally, better for all of Pasco County when compared with proposals to expand the incinerator.

In the 15 years since the incinerator was built, newer technologies have emerged that are cleaner and cheaper. That does not mean we should abandon our investment in older technologies, but neither does it mean that we do not employ newer technologies that can save taxes and preserve the environment.

JOHN ARNOLD

Dade City

Party's Decision Praised

On Feb. 9 the Pasco Democratic Party voted overwhelmingly to support the Florida Democratic Party in its decision to honor the results of the Jan. 29 presidential preference primary, which was set by the Republican-controlled state Legislature. No other realistic option exists that could replicate this open and fair election.

Florida Democrats reported a record turnout of 1.75 million voters Jan. 29, which is a higher number than Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and New Hampshire combined. The turnout included 41.59 percent of Democratic voters in Pasco County and record numbers of military, African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians, veterans, seniors and youths.

As this vote was made possible by a state-run system that allowed every registered Democrat in Florida to vote, the Pasco Democratic Party feels it would be a disservice to the state's Democrats to discount the primary results by holding a second, smaller and exclusive election of any type.

A second primary or a primary caucus would not only be cost prohibitive, but it would also be debilitating to the Democratic Party in Florida.

We support the decision of the Florida Democratic Party to move forward with the Congressional District Caucuses set for March 1, when Florida Democrats will select the representatives to the Democratic National Convention in August.

ALISON MORANO

Wesley Chapel

The writer, a Democrat, is the executive director of the Florida Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. The writer is president of the Second Amendment Club of America, Tampa Bay chapter. The writer is project engineer for Angelo's Recycled Materials. The writer

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